Monday's streaking and slumping starters
By JASON LOGAN
Streaking
Ricky Nolasco, Florida Marlins (15-7, 3.52 ERA)
Nolasco has had his hand in the Marlins’ recent success. The righty has four wins in his last six starts, pushing his total to 15 and Florida on the verge of a Wild Card run. His most recent effort was a seven-inning, six-hit, two-run performance versus the Astros.
Nolasco takes the mound in this make-up matchup with a 0-1 record in two career starts against the Reds. He has a 5.90 ERA over those contests.
Brandon Webb, Arizona Diamondback (21-7, 3.34 ERA)
Welcome back Brandon. After three straight horrific starts, Webb returned from summer vacation in familiar form in his previous two trips to the mound. He pitched eight shut-out innings against the Reds and seven two-run innings versus the Giants heading into Monday’s game.
That three-game skid could cost Webb a shot at the Cy Young but the race in the National League West is more of a concern for the sinker baller. Arizona is 3 ½ games behind Los Angeles.
Slumping
Zach Jackson, Cleveland Indians (0-3, 6.35 ERA)
Cleveland’s young lefty goes searching for his first win of the season in one of the most unlikely places – Fenway Park. Jackson takes his first shot at the BoSox after recording losses in three of his last four appearances.
Jackson was beat around for seven runs in just over five innings in his last start. He has a 4.66 ERA on the road, which is much more favorable than his double-figure number at home.
Todd Wellemeyer, St. Louis Cardinals (12-8, 3.66 ERA)
Wellemeyer has felt the Cards’ recent skid more than anyone. The right hander is just 1-4 in his last five starts despite posting a 3.37 ERA and a 24/9 strikeout-to-walk tally. He has received just 1.4 runs of support per game during that span.
Wellemeyer’s only appearance against the D-backs was a three-inning showing in which he was knocked around for four runs on seven hits last year.
Betting down the stretch:Top 5 MLB wagers
By JASON LOGAN
The days are getting shorter, the nights are getting colder and there are a handful of games remaining on the MLB schedule. It can mean only one thing – October is just around the corner.
Some clubs are neck-and-neck in the postseason hunt while others have been out of the playoff picture for a couple months. But regardless of current situations, there is still money to be had betting the shrinking MLB board.
Check out which teams are finishing the regular season with a bang.
Florida Marlins
The Fish are a mere five games back in the National League Wild Card race since stringing together nine wins in their last 11 games.
Florida can thank its super sexy infield which features four 30-home run hitters and a rotation that is finally healthy. The Marlins close out the season with a rubber match against the Phillies then trips to Washington and New York.
Cleveland Indians
Don’t mess with Cleveland. Gary Sheffield found out the hard way after Fausto Carmona gave him his best Nolan Ryan imitation. The Indians are perfect in their last five games thanks to solid hitting from unlikely sources like Shin-Soo Choo.
Cleveland is finally back to .500 baseball with a 77-77 record and while it’s out of the Wild Card race, the Tribe pride themselves on finishing strong. Following their series with Detroit they travel to Boston and Chicago.
Cincinnati Reds
With their win over the Brewers, the Reds improved to 7-3 in their last 10 contests Saturday. Cincy can book vacation plans for next month but still have a make-up game with the Marlins and trips to Houston and St. Louis.
The red-hot Reds can close out the season on a high note against the struggling Astros and Cardinals. Cincinnati’s arms are the second best in the NL this month with a collective 3.51 ERA.
New York Yankees
In the middle of all the history lessons and soggy eyes, the Yankees are quietly gaining steam to end the year (and life in Yankee Stadium). New York improved to 7-1 in its last nine contests heading into Sunday’s stadium swan song.
The Yanks pitching has been steady, allowing under three runs per game over the last eight. They are 6 ½ games back of Boston in the American League Wild Card standings and will face the Red Sox in Boston after traveling to Toronto next week.
Oakland Athletics
The drama in the AL West has been over for a while, but the battle for second place still rages. The A’s are just two back of the Rangers after being victories in six of their last seven.
Oakland split with Texas, edged the Angels and is currently handling Seattle with all those games coming in McAfree Coliseum. The Athletics leave home for their final games of the sked and head to Texas and Seattle. Both have stumbled down the stretch.
Baseball Today
SCOREBOARD
Arizona at St. Louis (8:15 p.m. EDT). Brandon Webb goes for his 22nd win of the season as the Diamondbacks begin a key four-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals. Arizona will try to keep its slim playoff hopes alive.
STARS
Sunday
- Prince Fielder, Brewers, homered and drove in three runs as Milwaukee topped Cincinnati 8-1.
- Jamie Moyer, Phillies, the 45-year-old pitched six strong innings in 90-degree sunshine to help Philadelphia beat Florida 5-2.
- Ryan Garko, Indians, went 4-for-4 with five RBIs as Cleveland beat Detroit 10-5.
- Ryan Dempster, Cubs, pitched five effective innings to win his 17th game of the season in Chicago's 5-1 victory over St. Louis.
- Jack Cust, Athletics, hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning and Oakland beat Seattle 5-3.
- John Lackey, Angels, gave up two hits and struck out a career-high 12 in six shutout innings of Los Angeles' 7-3 win over Texas.
FAREWELL OLD FRIEND
Andy Pettitte started and Mariano Rivera finished the final game at 85-year-old Yankee Stadium, New York's 7-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday night. Former Yankees greats, including six Hall of Famers, took the field before the game, and Derek Jeter jogged off the field to a raucous cheer just before it ended. New York finished 4,133-2,430-17 at Yankee Stadium, originally built in 284 days for $2.5 million. It was the first sports venue to be called a stadium, the team noted. "I feel like I'm losing an old friend," Reggie Jackson said. "I'm glad I was here."
OUCH!
Los Angeles Angels lefty Joe Saunders' ongoing problems with a kidney stone will cause him to miss Tuesday night's scheduled start against Seattle. Angels manager Mike Scioscia said Jered Weaver and Jon Garland would move ahead one day and pitch on their usual four days' rest.
"We'll look for a Thursday starter," Scioscia said before Sunday's game against Texas.
ROAD WARRIOR
Boston starter Daisuke Matsuzaka (18-2) improved to 9-0 with a 2.31 ERA in 13 road starts after beating the Blue Jays 3-0 on Sunday. He held Toronto to just two hits in seven innings while striking out six and walking two.
BLOWING AWAY THE COMPETITION
Los Angeles is trying to become the first AL team since Cleveland in 1999 to take a division by 20 games over its nearest pursuer. The Angeles hold a 21 1/2 game lead over the second-place Texas Rangers after Sunday's 7-3 victory.
NO RELIEF IN SIGHT
The New York Mets' bullpen blew another lead in Sunday as Atlanta rallied from a 4-3 deficit in the eighth inning to win 7-6. It was the latest collapse for a beleaguered bullpen missing injured closer Billy Wagner. The relievers have a league-high 16 blown saves since the All-Star break, the worst in the NL. Scott Schoeneweis has lost three games since Aug. 26 and the relievers have a woeful 2-8 record since Aug. 11.
SEPTEMBER TO REMEMBER
Roy Oswalt passed Babe Ruth for the second-best winning percentage in September and October since 1900, based on a minimum of 25 decisions. Oswalt is 27-8 (.771) in those months, .002 better than Ruth, who was 20-6 (.769) as a pitcher before becoming an outfielder. The only better September-October record than Oswalt's was by Sam Leever (43-12, .782), according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
STATS
The Rockies' attendance this season was 2,650,218, their highest since 2002. - San Francisco closer Brian Wilson became just the third Giants pitcher to reach 40 saves, joining Rod Beck and Robb Nenn, who did it four times. - After losing to the San Diego Padres, the Nationals need to go 5-1 the rest of the way to avoid the franchise's first season with 100 losses since the Montreal Expos were 55-107 in 1976.
SPEAKING
"I'm very, very sad to think that the Yankee Stadium is not going to be in existence any longer. I wish it could have remained as a New York landmark, but I guess like all things it has come to its final days as we all do." - said Julia Ruth Stevens, 92-year-old daughter of the Babe, who threw out the ceremonial first pitch before a crowd of 54,610 - bringing the stadium total to 151,959,005 - at the final game at Yankee Stadium.
Chicago Cubs (94-60) at N.Y. Mets (86-69)
The N.L. Central champion Cubs travel to Shea Stadium in New York and send veteran right-hander Jason Marquis (10-9, 4.39 ERA) to the mound to face the Mets’ Jonathon Niese (1-0, 4.09) as New York continues its push for the playoffs.
The Mets fell 7-6 in Atlanta on Sunday and lost a game in the standings as Philadelphia scored a 5-2 win in Florida to move 1½ games clear of New York in the N.L. East standings. However, the Mets lead the Brewers by 1½ games in the wild-card race. Jerry Manuel’s club has seven games left, all at Shea, including this four-game set with Chicago and a season-ending three-game series with the Marlins.
The Mets are 24-11 in their last 35 home games and 13-6 in their last 19 against right-handed starters, but they are just 4-11 in their last 15 Monday contests.
The Cubs, who clinched their second straight division title on Saturday, have won eight of their last 10 games and they are on positive streaks of 19-7 on the road, 6-0 on the highway against southpaws, 10-4 against the N.L. East and 6-2 when Marquis works on the road.
Chicago has won both matchups this season against the Mets way back in April, outscoring New York 15-2 in a brief two-game set at Wrigley. The home team is 13-7 in the last 20 head-to-head meetings, and the Mets have won four of the last five at Shea.
Marquis is 6-3 with a 3.05 ERA on the road, including a 14-9 victory in his most recent outing on the highway as he held the Reds to two runs on five hits over 7 1/3 innings. The right-hander hasn’t faced the Mets this season, but lost twice last year as a Cubs’ starter, giving up a combined nine runs in 10 1/3 innings.
Niese is making just his third big-league start and is coming off a gem on Sept. 13 when he blanked the Braves for eight innings in a 5-0 Mets’ win.
The under is 8-3-1 in Chicago’s last 12 overall, 6-0 on the road and 12-4-1 in its last 17 against winning teams, but the over is 9-0-1 in Marquis’ last 10 starts against N.L. East squads. For New York, the over is on runs of 12-5-1 at home, 21-9-3 against right-handed starters, 35-17-3 versus the N.L. Central and 8-2-3 on Mondays.
Finally, the over is 10-3-1 in the last 14 matchups between these squads, including 4-0 in the last four at Shea.
ATS ADVANTAGE: N.Y. METS and OVER
Arizona (78-77) at St. Louis (80-75)
The Diamondbacks send ace Brandon Webb (21-7, 3.34 ERA) to the mound opposite the Cardinals’ Todd Wellemeyer (12-8, 3.66) as they kick off a four-game series at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.
Arizona trails the Dodgers by 2½ games in the race for the N.L. West title after Sunday’s 13-4 rout of the Rockies in Colorado and can make up a half-game with a win tonight, as Los Angeles is idle. The DBacks have won six of their last seven overall, but they are just 2-11 in their last 13 on the highway. With Webb on the hill, Arizona is on streaks of 8-3 overall, 21-8 when he pitches a series opener and 21-5 when he faces a team from the N.L. Central.
St. Louis is just 2-11 in its last 13 games and comes into this one off Sunday’s 5-1 loss to the Cubs. The Cardinals went 2-7 on their just-completed road trip and they are just 2-6 in series openers and 2-5 in their last seven against right-handed starters. However, they have won 10 of their last 14 against N.L. West squads and have taken 15 of the last 21 against Arizona at Busch Stadium. Also, the Redbirds are 5-2 the last seven times they’ve faced Webb.
Webb gave up three runs (two earned) in a 7-6 win at home against the Giants on Wednesday, as the DBacks improved to 7-3 in the right-hander’s last 10 outings. Webb is 10-5 with a 3.45 ERA on the road this year, but he got rocked in his last two as a visitor, allowing a combined 13 runs in 10 1/3 innings in losses at San Diego and Los Angeles. Also, the last time Webb went to St. Louis, he allowed five runs on seven hits in six innings of an 11-3 loss in July 2007.
Wellemeyer is just 1-2 despite a solid 2.84 ERA in his last three starts. In fact, St. Louis has lost four of Wellemeyer’s last five efforts, getting shut out in three of those five games. In his last home outing, Wellemeyer yielded two runs (zero earned) in five innings against the Cubs, but failed to get a decision in his team’s 3-2 home defeat. Finally, in his lone career start against Arizona last July, the right-hander gave up six runs (four earned) in just three innings of a 7-1 loss.
The under is 9-2 in the D’Backs’ last 11 overall and 4-0 in their last four against N.L. Central teams. However, with Webb on the hill, the over is on runs of 5-1 on the road, 8-0 on Mondays, 4-1 against teams with a winning record and 6-2 against the N.L. Central. For the Cardinals, the under is on runs of 6-0 at home and 4-0 with Wellemeyer on the hill, but the over is 5-1 in Wellemeyer’s last six against the N.L. West.
Finally, the over has also been the play in four of the last five series clashes.
ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER
Gametimepicks.com
Betting down the stretch: Top 5 MLB wagers
By JASON LOGAN
The days are getting shorter, the nights are getting colder and there are a handful of games remaining on the MLB schedule. It can mean only one thing – October is just around the corner.
Some clubs are neck-and-neck in the postseason hunt while others have been out of the playoff picture for a couple months. But regardless of current situations, there is still money to be had betting the shrinking MLB board.
Check out which teams are finishing the regular season with a bang.
Florida Marlins
The Fish are a mere five games back in the National League wild card race since stringing together nine wins in their last 11 games.
Florida can thank its super sexy infield which features four 30-home run hitters and a rotation that is finally healthy. The Marlins close out the season with a rubber match against the Phillies then trips to Washington and New York.
Cleveland Indians
Don’t mess with Cleveland. Gary Sheffield found out the hard way after Fausto Carmona gave him his best Nolan Ryan imitation. The Indians are perfect in their last five games thanks to solid hitting from unlikely sources like Shin-Soo Choo.
Cleveland is finally back to .500 baseball with a 77-77 record and while it’s out of the wild card race, the Tribe pride themselves on finishing strongly. Following their series with Detroit they travel to Boston and Chicago.
Cincinnati Reds
With their win over the Brewers, the Reds improved to 7-3 in their last 10 contests Saturday. Cincy can book vacation plans for next month but still have a make-up game with the Marlins and trips to Houston and St. Louis.
The red-hot Reds can close out the season on a high note against the struggling Astros and Cardinals. Cincinnati’s arms are the second best in the NL this month with a collective 3.51 ERA.
New York Yankees
In the middle of all the history lessons and soggy eyes, the Yankees are quietly gaining steam to end the year (and life in Yankee Stadium). New York improved to 7-1 in its last nine contests heading into Sunday’s stadium swan song.
The Yanks pitching has been steady, allowing under three runs per game over the last eight. They are 6 ½ games back of Boston in the American League wild card standings and will face the Red Sox in Boston after traveling to Toronto next week.
Oakland Athletics
The drama in the AL West has been over for a while, but the battle for second place still rages. The A’s are just two back of the Rangers after victories in six of their last seven.
Oakland split with Texas, edged the Angels and is currently handling Seattle with all those games coming in McAfree Coliseum. The Athletics leave home for their final games of the sked and head to Texas and Seattle. Both have stumbled down the stretch.
Monday's MLB Tip Sheet
By Brad Young
**Braves (Jurrjens) at Phillies (Happ)**
-Caesars Palace installed Philadelphia as a $1.55 home ‘chalk’ over Atlanta, with the total set at 10 ‘under’ (minus $1.20). This National League East matchup is scheduled to start at 7:05 p.m. ET.
-Atlanta right-hander Jair Jurrjens (13-10, 3.72 ERA) had won back-to-back outings before falling to Philadelphia Wednesday as a $1.28 home favorite, 6-1. The Netherlands Antilles native went five innings, allowing four runs on five hits with five walks and two strikeouts.
-The combined seven runs failed to topple the 10-run closing total, ending a string of five straight ‘over’ outings for the 22-year-old.
-Jurrjens is 1-2 against the Phillies this season in three starts, going a combined 20 innings while being reached for eight runs on 16 hits (three home runs) with seven walks and 14 strikeouts. The Braves prevailed as a $1.20 road underdog, 8-2, while losing as a home ‘pick,’ 4-1, and as a $1.28 home favorite, 6-1. The ‘under’ went 2-1 during those three outings.
-Philadelphia’s James Happ (1-0, 2.12 ERA) beat the Braves and Jurrjens in his last effort, tossing six scoreless innings on three hits with a walk and two strikeouts.
-The ‘under’ has cashed in all three of his starts this season. That marked the left-handers only start against the Braves in his two-year career.
**Cubs (Marquis) at Mets (Niese)**
-Caesars Palace opened New York as a $1.45 home favorite over Chicago, with the total listed at 9 ½. First pitch is scheduled to start at 7:10 p.m. ET.
-Chicago pitcher Jason Marquis (10-9, 4.39 ERA) has alternated wins and losses his last four starts after falling to Milwaukee Wednesday as a $1.10 home ‘chalk,’ 6-2. The 30-year-old right-hander went 5 1/3 innings, yielding three runs on six hits with five walks and three strikeouts.
-The combined eight runs landed directly on the closing total, leaving the ‘over’ at 4-2 his previous six starts.
-Marquis went 0-1 against the Mets last season in two starts, going a combined 10 1/3 innings while surrendering nine runs on 14 hits (one home run) with six walks and two strikeouts. The Cubs lost as a $1.35 road underdog, 5-4, and as a home ‘pick,’ 8-3. The ‘over’ cashed both times.
-New York southpaw Johnathon Niese (1-0, 4.09 ERA) blanked Atlanta September 13 as a $1.70 home ‘chalk,’ 5-0, tossing eight scoreless innings on six hits with two walks and seven strikeouts.
-The five runs went ‘under’ the 10-run closing total.
-The rookie has never started against the Cubs in his brief major-league career.
**Diamondbacks (Webb) at Cardinals (Wellemeyer)**
-Caesars Palace lists Arizona as a $1.25 road ‘chalk’ over St. Louis, with the total set at 7½. This contest is slated to start at 8:15 p.m. ET.
-Arizona ace Brandon Webb (21-7, 3.26 ERA) has recorded back-to-back victories after upending San Francisco Wednesday as a decided $2.20 home favorite, 7-6. The sinkerballer was reached for three runs (two earned) on eight hits with two walks and two strikeouts over seven innings.
-The combined 13 runs toppled the 7½-run closing total, helping the ‘over’ improve to 4-1 his last five starts.
-Webb went 1-1 against the Cardinals last year in two starts, tossing a combined 12 innings while allowing seven runs on 11 hits (one home run) with seven walks and nine strikeouts. The D’backs prevailed as a $1.43 home ‘chalk,’ 4-2, while losing as a $1.30 road favorite, 11-3.
-St. Louis hurler Todd Wellemeyer (12-8, 3.66 ERA) dropped to 1-4 his last five starts after Wednesday’s setback to Cincinnati as a road ‘pick,’ 3-0. The right-hander went six innings, surrendering three runs on four hits (three home runs) with two walks and six strikeouts.
-The three runs never seriously threatened the nine-run closing total, helping the ‘under’ cash his fourth consecutive start.
-Wellemeyer fell to Arizona last year as a $1.25 home favorite, 7-1, lasting just three innings while yielding six runs (four earned) on seven hits (three home runs) with a walk and no strikeouts. The combined eight runs went ‘under’ the 9½-run closing total.
vegasinsider.com.