Thursday's Streaking and Slumping Starting Pitchers
Streaking
Ted Lilly, Los Angeles Dodgers (6-8, 3.44 ERA)
While the Los Angeles Dodgers may be slipping out of the playoff picture, it's to no fault of Ted Lilly. Since coming over from the Cubs at the trade deadline, Lilly has won all three of his starts, allowing just four total runs. He threw six shutout innings, holding Atlanta to three hits in a 2-1 win over the Atlanta Braves.
Travis Wood, Cincinnati Reds (3-1, 2.65 ERA)
Travis Wood is back in the bigs after a brief demotion to the minors to make room on the Reds' roster for Jim Edmonds. Cincinnati had good reason to get him back with the big club right away. Wood took a no-hitter into the sixth inning against the Cubs last week and has a 2.45 ERA over his last three starts. The lefty has thrown at least five innings in seven of his eight starts this year and has 40 strike outs under his belt compared to 13 walks.
Slumping
Sean West, Florida Marlins (0-2, 7.71 ERA)
Sean West seems to have conquered the strange control problems that plagued him in spring training while he was in the minors, but he isn't out of the woods yet. West, who literally couldn't get the ball over the plate no matter how many batters he faced this spring, has walked just four in two starts since being recalled on Aug. 1. Still, his ERA speaks for itself over 9 1/3 innings.
Thursday's Tip Sheet
By Brian Edwards
With 6 ½ weeks left in the regular season, the races for postseason spots are heating up by the day. On Thursday, we have highlighted a pair of crucial contests and more.
**Giants at Phillies**
Most books are listing Philadelphia (67-51, +223) as a minus-170 ‘chalk’ with a total of 8 ½ ‘under’ (minus-115). Bettors can take the Phillies on the run line (minus 1 1/2 runs) for a plus-120 payout (risk $100 to win $120).
San Francisco (67-53, +745) is in the midst of a brief, albeit vital, six-game road trip against a pair of the National League’s premier teams – Philadelphia and St. Louis. The Giants lost a 9-3 decision against the Phillies on Tuesday to fall to .500 on the road for the season at 30-30. They went into Wednesday’s game in second place in the NL West, five games back of loop-leading San Diego.
Charlie Manuel’s squad took a stellar 37-19 home record into Wednesday’s action. The Phils were 2 ½ games behind the Braves for first place in the NL East. However, they were one game in front of the Giants for the NL wild-card lead.
Jonathan Sanchez (8-8, 3.60) owns a 3-4 record and 3.70 ERA in 12 road assignments this year. The left-hander has a 2-1 record and 3.38 ERA in four career starts against the Phillies.
Cole Hamels (7-9, 3.33) has posted a 4-4 record and 3.18 ERA in 12 home starts this season. The southpaw has a 4-1 record and 4.22 ERA in seven lifetime starts against San Francisco.
Hamels hasn’t been able to get a win in his last three starts, but he’s been extremely sharp. In fact, he has fanned 29 batters and walked just two in his last 22 innings pitched.
The Phillies are 18-15 against southpaws, while the Giants are 17-15 versus lefties.
The ‘over’ is 60-57 overall for the Giants, 33-26 in their road games.
The ‘under’ is 62-57 overall for the Phillies, 28-27 in their home assignments.
The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Eastern.
**White Sox at Twins**
Most betting shops are listing Minnesota (69-50, +1036) as a minus-155 favorite with a total of 7 ½ ‘over’ (minus-115). Gamblers can back the Twins on the run line for a plus-130 return (risk $100 to win $130).
Chicago (65-54, +770) lost for the third straight time and fell four games back of the division-leading Twins on Tuesday night. The White Sox had a 6-5 lead in the bottom of the 10th, but that’s when Minnesota slugger Jim Thome belted the 12th walk-off homer of his distinguished career. The loss dropped the White Six to 30-30 on the road.
Ron Gardenhire’s squad took a five-game winning streak into Wednesday’s play. The Twins have been cashing tickets at a 37-20 clip at their new home stadium this year.
Ozzie Guillen will give the starting nod to Mark Buehrle (11-9, 4.05), who has plenty of experience against the White Sox’ bitter AL Central rivals. Buehrle is 24-17 with a 4.08 lifetime ERA against the Twins.
Buehrle has compiled a 5-7 record and 3.60 ERA in 14 road starts this year.
Minnesota RHP Carl Pavano (15-7, 3.27) has won in both of his starts against Chicago this year, working 16 innings while fanning 10 batters and issuing just one free pass. For his career, Pavano is 5-2 with a 2.66 ERA against the White Sox.
Pavano has returned to the form he displayed in 2004 with the Marlins when he went 18-8 with a 3.00 ERA. That season netted him a monster contract with the Yankees, but the right-hander struggled to win just nine games in pinstripes from 2005-2008.
Pavano has posted a 7-3 record and 3.43 ERA in 11 home assignments.
The Twins are 25-17 against left-handed pitching this season.
The ‘under’ is 58-57 overall for the White Sox, 32-28 in their road games.
The ‘under’ is 58-54 overall for the Twins, 30-24 in their home outings.
**B.E.’s Bonus Nuggets**
Colorado RHP Jorge De La Rosa will make his eighth career start against the Dodgers on Thursday night. De La Rosa is 0-5 with a 6.58 ERA in seven previous assignments against L.A.
In afternoon action Thursday, the Cubs will play host to the Padres with Carlos Zambrano taking the bump. Zambrano owns a 6-2 record and 2.71 ERA in 10 lifetime starts against San Diego.
Speaking of the Padres, they continue to have the best money tally in all of baseball – by far! Going into Wednesday, San Diego backers had brought home more than 29 units of profit for the season. Give credit to the club’s bullpen, which sports the best ERA in the majors (2.80).
Kansas City RHP Kyle Davies doesn’t appear to have impressive numbers with a 6-7 record and 5.22 ERA. However, those stats are merely hiding the only numbers that matter. Bettors backing the Royals for ‘a dime’ in each of Davies’ starts have won $10,300. KC is 13-10 in those outings, most of which have obviously come at generous underdog rates.
The ‘over’ is an MLB-best 77-45 overall for the Diamondbacks.
vegasinsider.com
Diamond Trends - Thursday
By Vince Akins
Mets at Astros – The Mets are 0-8 since June 19, 2010 on the road when they are off a win in which they never trailed for a net profit of $870 when playing against. The Mets are 0-7 since July 01, 2010 after a one run win for a net profit of $785 when playing against. The Astros are 0-7 since April 11, 2010 after a loss in which they allowed 5+ walks and it is the last game of a series for a net profit of $760 when playing against.
Rays at Athletics – The Rays are 0-7 since June 16, 2010 on the road after a win in which they left 18+ men on base for a net profit of $745 when playing against. The Athletics are 0-9 since May 07, 2010 at home after a win and it is the first game of the series for a net profit of $957 when playing against. The Athletics are 7-0 since August 16, 2009 when Trevor Cahill starts after his team lost the last time he started for a net profit of $820.
Nationals at Braves – The Nationals are 0-11 since May 16, 2010 as a road dog vs a team that has won at least their last two games for a net profit of $1100 when playing against. The Nationals are 0-8 since June 02, 2010 as a dog after a one run loss for a net profit of $800 when playing against. The Braves are 6-0 since May 19, 2010 when they are off a walk off win for a net profit of $600.
Padres at Cubs – The Padres are 9-0 since June 20, 2010 as a favorite and it is the last game of the series for a net profit of $900. The Padres are 6-0 since May 29, 2010 when Mat Latos starts as a 140+ favorite for a net profit of $600. The Cubs are 0-8 since July 31, 2010 as a dog when they are off a loss in which they never led for a net profit of $800 when playing against.
Reds at Diamondbacks – The Diamondbacks are 0-8 since April 18, 2010 within 20 cents of pickem vs a team that has won at least their last two games and it is not the first game of a series for a net profit of $805 when playing against.
Rockies at Dodgers – The Rockies are 0-6 since May 07, 2010 on the road after a one run win for a net profit of $640 when playing against. The Dodgers are 9-0 since April 15, 2010 at home after a loss in which they allowed 5+ walks and it is not the first game of a series for a net profit of $910.
Rangers at Orioles – The Orioles are 0-8 since April 12, 2010 as a dog when they are off a loss in which they held the lead and it is the first game of a series for a net profit of $800 when playing against. The Orioles are 6-0 since July 29, 2010 and it is the first game of the series for a net profit of $790.
Giants at Phillies – The Giants are 0-7 since April 11, 2009 when Jonathan Sanchez starts as a road dog after his team won the last time he started vs this opponent for a net profit of $700 when playing against. The Phillies are 9-0 since June 23, 2010 at home vs a team that has lost at least their last three games for a net profit of $940. The Phillies are 8-0 since July 22, 2010 and it is the last game of the series for a net profit of $870.
Marlins at Pirates – The Marlins are 0-6 since June 30, 2010 after a one run win and it is not the first game of a series for a net profit of $605 when playing against. The Pirates are 0-12 since May 30, 2010 vs a team that has won at least their last two games and it is the last game of a series for a net profit of $1220 when playing against.
Angels at Red Sox – The Angels are 0-6 since July 06, 2010 on the road after allowing 6+ runs for a net profit of $700 when playing against. The Red Sox are 7-0 since May 05, 2010 as a 140+ favorite after a win in which they left 18+ men on base and it is not the first game of a series for a net profit of $700.
Indians at Royals – The Royals are 0-13 since April 27, 2010 when they are off a win in which they never trailed and it is not the first game of a series for a net profit of $1385 when playing against. The Royals are 0-7 since May 16, 2009 when Kyle Davies starts at home within 20 cents of pickem after facing 25 or fewer hitters for a net profit of $710 when playing against.
White Sox at Twins – The Twins are 11-0 since July 22, 2010 when they won the last time they faced this starting pitcher for a net profit of $1180. The Twins are 10-0 since July 11, 2010 and it is the last game of the series for a net profit of $1055.
Tigers at Yankees – The Yankees are 7-0 since April 13, 2010 as a home 200+ favorite when they came back from a deficit to win in their starter's last start for a net profit of $700. The Yankees are 6-0 since May 02, 2010 when Philip Hughes starts as a 140+ favorite when the start time is earlier than 4:00 PM local time for a net profit of $600.