Saturday’s Streaking and Slumping Starting Pitchers
Streaking
Vin Mazzaro (5-2, 3.50 ERA), Oakland Athletics
Mazzaro started the season in the A’s rotation but was quickly moved over to a long relief role. He didn’t exactly flourish out of the pen, but he’s been sensational since rejoining the five-man starting unit.
The 23-year-old New Jersey native owns a 2.82 ERA in his eight starts since rejoining the rotation. Oakland is 4-4 in those eight games but the club has been an underdog in all but one of those contests.
Johnny Cueto (9-2, 3.39 ERA), Cincinnati Reds
Cueto continues to deliver for the upstart Reds. The young righty has given up two or less runs in each of his last six appearances. And he’s been a nice play for total bettors too. The under is 4-1-1 in his last six trips to the bump.
Slumping
Ubaldo Jimenez (15-1, 2.38 ERA), Colorado Rockies
Jimenez seemed like a lock for the NL Cy Young award but a recent stretch of average to poor starts over the last month has shaken things up a bit.
The Rockies don’t care what Josh Johnson or Adam Wainwright are doing. They just want to see their ace regain his top form. Jimenez’s ERA is 6.39 over his last five starts and the over is 4-1 over the same period.
His win-loss record hasn’t taken a hit thanks to some great run support from his teammates. The Rockies are still 8-2 in his last 10 outings, but bettors should know he’s not the same pitcher he was in the first two months of the season.
Scott Feldman (5-8, 5.48 ERA), Texas Rangers
Feldman is the weakest link in the Rangers’ revamped rotation. He’s given up five runs in four of his last five outings and Texas is 1-3 the last four times he’s taken the hill.
Tips and Trends
Colorado Rockies at Philadelphia Phillies
Rockies (-155, O/U 8): Colorado has lost their past 3 games to drop a full 5 games behind the National League West division lead. Colorado is in a brutally tough division, where they currently are ahead of just one team in their division. The Rockies are -0.71 and +4.36 units both SU and on the RL respectively this season. Ace pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez will take the mound today, so clearly the Rockies are confident they will earn the win. Jimenez is 15-1 with an ERA of 2.38 and a WHIP of 1.07 this year. The Rockies are 21-8 in their last 29 games during game 2 of a series. The Rockies are 2-6 in their last 8 games on grass. Colorado is 0-5 in their last 5 road games against a right-handed starter. The Rockies are 6-0 in Jimenez's last 6 road starts against a team with a winning record. Colorado is 10-1 in Jimenez's last 11 starts against a team with a winning record. The Rockies are 25-8 in Jimenez's last 33 starts overall.
Rockies are 7-3 last 10 games against a team with a winning record.
Over is 5-2 last 7 road games against a team with a winning home record.
Key Injuries - CF Dexter Fowler (wrist) is questionable.
PROJECTED SCORE: 5 (Side of the Day)
Phillies: Philadelphia is hoping consecutive pitching shutouts will be a sign of things to come. The Phillies have received strong pitching performances in back to back games from their 2 aces, Roy Halladay and Cole Hamels. The Phillies are 50-46 SU this season, 6.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves in the National League East division. Philadelphia is -9.12 and -8.29 units both SU and on the RL this year. P Kyle Kendrick is 5-4 with an ERA of 4.82 and a WHIP of 1.32 this season. The Phillies are 35-16 in their last 51 home games against a right-handed starter. Philadelphia is 1-4 in their last 5 games during game 2 of a series. The Phillies are 5-1 in Kendrick's last 6 home starts overall. The Phillies are 5-2 in Kendrick's last 7 starts on grass. Philadelphia is 7-3 in Kendrick's last 10 starts against the National League West. The Phillies are 3-7 in Kendrick's last 10 starts against a team with a winning record.
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Phillies are 4-0 last 4 home games against a team with a winning record.
Under is 4-1 last 5 games against the National League West.
Key Injuries - 2B Chase Utley (thumb) is out.
PROJECTED SCORE: 1
Atlanta Braves at Florida Marlins
Braves (-110, O/U 8.5): Atlanta has been dominant for the majority of the season, a big reason why they have a 6 game lead within their division. The only negative from a bright overall season this year is their road play, where they are only 22-27 SU. Offensively, the Braves have only scored more than 4 runs twice in their past 10 games overall. The Braves are +10.35 and +10.83 units both SU and on the RL overall this season. Atlanta feels confident anytime P Kris Medlen is on the mound, as the Braves have won 10 of the 11 games started by Medlen this season. Medlen is 6-2 this year, with an ERA of 3.31 and a WHIP of 1.17. The Braves are 4-1 in their last 5 games against the National League East. Atlanta is 14-6 in their last 20 road games against a right-handed starter. The Braves are 39-17 in their last 56 during game 2 of a series. The Braves are 35-16 in their last 51 games against a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30. Atlanta is 4-0 in Medlen's last 4 road starts. The Braves are 4-0 in Medlen's last 4 starts against a team with a losing record. Atlanta is 4-0 in Medlen's last 4 starts against the National League East. The Braves are 10-1 in Medlen's last 11 starts overall.
Braves are 19-7 last 26 road games against a team with a losing record.
Under is 6-2 last 8 road games overall.
Key Injuries - 1B Eric Hinske (foot) is questionable.
PROJECTED SCORE: 4 (UNDER - Total of the Day)
Marlins: Florida has won their past 3 games, against some of the best teams in the National League. Florida is looking to make a 2nd half push, as they want to compete for the National League Wild Card. Florida is 48-48 SU this season, 8 games behind Atlanta in the National League East. The Marlins are certainly talented enough, it's just a matter of putting all the pieces of the talented puzzle together. Florida is -0.59 and -3.25 units both SU and on the RL respectively this season. P Anibal Sanchez will make the home start tonight, as he is 7-6 with an ERA of 3.62 and a WHIP of 1.45 this season. The Marlins are 4-0 in their last 4 home games against a right-handed starter. Florida is 1-8 in their last 9 Saturday games. The Marlins are 2-5 in Sanchez's last 7 starts on grass. Florida is 0-4 in Sanchez's last 4 starts with 4 days of rest.
Marlins are 5-1 last 6 home games against a team with a losing road record.
Under is 5-0-1 last 6 games against the National League East.
Key Injuries - C John Baker (elbow) is out.
PROJECTED SCORE: 3
Saturday's FOX Notes
By Chris David
Saturday’s pro baseball action is back with its FOX slate and this week’s card features three non-divisional battles. Let’s dive right into the action.
Colorado at Philadelphia
After losing six of eight to start the second-half of the season, the Phillies got a much-needed performance from their ace Roy Halladay on Friday. The hurler gave up five hits over eight innings as Philadelphia blanked Colorado, 6-0. The Rockies have now lost six of their first nine games after the All-Star break, all coming on the road. This afternoon, they’ll turn to their ace to snap the skid.
Even though some pundits believe Colorado’s Ubaldo Jimenez (15-1, 2.38 ERA) has come back to earth, the oddsmakers still have the right-hander listed as a solid road favorite (-150) over the Phillies this afternoon. Is the price right? In his last three appearances, the Rockies have gone 1-2 and watched the Cy Young candidate get ripped for 11 hits and 11 earned runs in the two losses, coming against the Giants (8-11) and Marlins (8-9). Despite the two bad outings, gamblers still have to respect a pitcher that’s gone 8-1 with a 1.36 ERA in day games this season. Jimenez hasn’t faced the Phillies this year, but most would expect him to avenge his two performances (12 innings, 7 earned runs), both losses, against the club in last year’s National League Division Series.
Jimenez could get a chance to make a few mistakes against Philadelphia, considering the Phillies are countering with Kyle Kendrick (5-4, 4.82 ERA). He was optioned for Triple-A after getting ripped for seven hits and seven earned runs in a loss to the Cardinals (4-8) on Monday, but was recalled after Jamie Moyer went on the DL. Another bad outing would more than likely send Kendrick back to the minors, so a gutsy performance wouldn’t be surprising here. However, it’s tough to back a pitcher that’s gone 2-2 with a 5.79 ERA at home this season. The ‘over’ has gone 5-3 in his eight appearances at Citizens Bank Park.
The total on today’s game is listed at 8 ½ runs and the ‘under’ has gone 2-1 in the three meetings between the pair this season. During the Rockies’ slow start in the second-half, their offense has been held to two runs or less in six of the nine games.
Chicago White Sox at Oakland
The White Sox started the second-half of the season by losing three of four games at Minnesota but they did bounce back and captured two of three from Safeco Field against Seattle. Chicago still sits atop the AL Central but the Tigers and Twins are right on its tail.
Oakland doesn’t boast the most talent in the majors, yet it continues to be competitive and cash tickets for gamblers. The Athletics have gone 5-2 since the All-Star break, which includes two home victories over the Red Sox this week. The offense has suddenly erupted during this span, scoring 31 runs in the five wins, but just one in the lone setback. The ‘over’ has gone 4-3 in the last seven.
Unfortunately for the A’s, the attack was stifled by Mark Buehrle, who helped the White Sox earn a 5-1 victory in the first game of this series. The six combined runs never threatened the closing number and total players should make a note that Chicago has watched five of its last six go ‘under.’
Freddy Garcia (9-3, 4.37 ERA) will try to cool off Oakland again this afternoon and his career numbers (6-6, 4.98 ERA) against the club aren’t exactly impressive. Despite those stats against the A’s, Garcia has been a solid performer for Chicago this season. The club lost three of his first four starts, but they’ve gone 11-2 in his last 13 outings and it should be 12-1 if it wasn’t for the bullpen blowing a loss to Minnesota (6-7) on Sunday. The Chisox have gone 4-0 in Garcia’s four appearances against AL West opponents this season.
Despite those solid records for Garcia and the Sox, the oddsmakers have installed Vin Mazzaro (5-2, 3.50 ERA) and the A’s as short home favorites (-125) this afternoon. Mazzaro has put together five quality starts, which has watched the team go 3-2, and both of the losses came at the Oakland Coliseum.
The White Sox (20-10) and Athletics (22-10) have both performed well in afternoon games this season, making this matchup even tougher to gauge.
N.Y. Mets at L.A. Dodgers
The Mets and Dodgers will square off at Chavez Ravine this afternoon and if today’s battle is like the previous encounters, then perhaps we should expect an L.A. victory. The home team has won four of the first five meetings between the pair and all of the victories have come by two runs or more, helping the run-line cash. Last night, Johan Santana tossed seven strong innings and the Mets’ offense put up a key four-run spot in the eighth to capture a 6-1 road victory. The win snapped a four-game losing skid for New York and it also ended a streak of 17 scoreless innings.
It’s fair to say that the Mets didn’t expect a lot out of Mike Pelfrey (10-5, 4.01 ERA) when the season began but the team surprisingly won 14 of his first 17 starts. Since that impressive run, it seems like the lanky right-hander has hit the wall. In his last three starts, all losses, Pelfrey has been tagged for 28 hits and 17 earned runs in just 10 innings. On Monday, the Diamondbacks didn’t let him get out of the second, as they racked him for seven hits and six earned runs. He hasn’t faced the Dodgers this season, but he owns a 0-1 record and 5.40 ERA in two career starts.
Los Angeles will counter with Carlos Monasterios (3-2, 3.61 ERA), who’s been in and out of the bullpen this season. He was roughed up during interleague play against the Angels (5-6) and Red Sox (6-10), but the club did go 3-0 in his three starts against NL opponents.
Even though the Mets have struggled in the second-half (2-7), Los Angeles hasn’t been much better (2-7).
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