Wednesday's AL Tip Sheet
By Brad Young
**Yankees (Pettitte) at Blue Jays (Richmond)**
-Las Vegas Sports Consultants installed New York as a $1.15 road ‘chalk’ over Toronto, with the total set at 10. This American League East matchup is slated to start at 7:05 p.m. ET.
-New York left-hander Andy Pettitte (2-1, 4.38 ERA) has recorded back-to-back no decisions after Thursday’s outing against Tampa Bay. The veteran hurler was reached for five runs on nine hits (four home runs) with a walk and five strikeouts over six innings.
-The Yankees eventually dropped that affair as a $1.57 home favorite, 8-6, while the combined 14 runs eclipsed the 10 ½-run closing total. The ‘over’ has cashed his last two starts.
-Pettitte went 1-2 against the Rays last year in three starts, going a combined 19 1/3 innings while allowing 11 runs on 23 hits (two home runs) with two walks and 14 strikeouts. The Yankees won as a $1.63 road ‘chalk,’ 5-1, while losing as a $1.33 road favorite, 4-1, and as a home ‘pick,’ 6-2. The ‘under’ went 2-0-1 during those three outings.
-Toronto pitcher Scott Richmond (4-1, 3.29 ERA) was riding a personal four-game winning streak before Friday’s setback to Oakland as a road ‘pick,’ 5-3. The righty went eight innings, surrendering five runs on seven hits (one home run) with two walks and three strikeouts.
-The combined eight runs went ‘under’ the nine-run closing total, enabling the ‘under’ to go 3-1 his last four starts.
-Richmond, a two-year veteran, has never started a game against the Yankees.
**Rays (Niemann) at Orioles (Bergesen)**
-LVSC lists Tampa Bay as a $1.20 road favorite over Baltimore, with the total set at 11. This game is scheduled to start at 7:05 p.m. ET.
-Tampa Bay’s Jeff Niemann (2-3, 5.65 ERA) picked up a no-decision against New York Thursday, tossing 3 1/3 innings while surrendering two runs on three hits with four walks and no strikeouts.
-The Rays eventually prevailed as a $1.47 road underdog, 8-6, while the combined 14 runs toppled the 10 ½-run closing total. The ‘over’ is 3-1 his last four outings.
-The right-hander fell to the Orioles April 11 as a $1.10 road underdog, 6-0, pitching 5 1/3 innings while yielding six runs on six hits (one home run) with four walks and three strikeouts. The six runs went ‘under’ the 9 ½-run closing total.
-Baltimore right-hander Brad Bergesen (1-0, 4.98 ERA) has received three consecutive no decisions after Thursday’s matchup with Minnesota. The 23-year-old went six innings, allowing three runs on 11 hits with a walk and three strikeouts.
-The Orioles eventually prevailed in that contest as a home ‘pick,’ 5-4, while the combined nine runs went ‘under’ the 10 ½-run closing total. The ‘under’ has occurred his previous two outings.
-The rookie pitcher has never started against the Rays in his brief major league career.
**Royals (Bannister) at Athletics (Outman)**
-LVSC opened Oakland as a $1.10 home ‘chalk’ over Kansas City, with the total listed at 8 ½ ‘over’ (minus $1.15). This contest is slated to start at 10:05 p.m. ET.
-Kansas City hurler Brian Bannister (3-0, 1.48 ERA) is off Thursday’s victory over Seattle as a $1.20 home favorite, 3-1. The 28-year-old tossed six scoreless innings on five hits with a walk and seven strikeouts.
-The combined four runs never seriously threatened the nine-run closing total, enabling the ‘under’ to improve to 3-1 when he’s on the mound.
-The right-hander went 0-1 last year against the Athletics in three starts, tossing a combined 17 innings while allowing 11 runs (eight earned) on 24 hits (one home run) with seven walks and 11 strikeouts. The Royals fell to Oakland as a $1.08 road underdog, 13-2, while winning as a $1.35 road ‘dog, 4-3, and as a $1.15 home ‘chalk,’ 5-4. The ‘over’ went 2-1 during those three matchups.
-Oakland southpaw Josh Outman (0-0, 5.30 ERA) has received four no decisions this season, including Friday’s effort against Toronto. The Central Missouri State product went 4 1/3 innings versus the Blue Jays, surrendering three runs on six hits (one home run) with three walks and five strikeouts.
-The Athletics eventually won that contest as a home ‘pick,’ 5-3, while the combined eight runs went ‘under’ the nine-run closing total. The ‘over’ had cashed his first three outings.
-Outman, a two-year veteran, has never started against the Royals in his brief major league career.
**Red Sox (Wakefield) at Angels (Palmer)**
-LVSC opened Boston as a $1.20 road favorite over Los Angeles, with the total set at nine ‘over’ (minus $1.20). This game is scheduled to begin at nine ‘over’ (minus $1.20).
-Boston knuckleballer Tim Wakefield (4-1, 2.93 ERA) improved to 4-0 his last five starts after knocking off Cleveland Thursday as a $1.57 home ‘chalk,’ 13-3. The veteran right-hander was reached for two runs on four hits with four walks and three strikeouts over six innings.
-The combined 16 runs eclipsed the 10 ½-run closing total, helping the ‘over’ improve to 4-1 his last five starts.
-Wakefield lost to the Angels April 10 as a road ‘pick,’ 6-3, going six innings while yielding three runs on six hits with five walks and four strikeouts. The combined nine runs landed directly on the closing total.
-Los Angeles pitcher Matt Palmer (3-0, 3.06 ERA) continued his winning ways by upending Kansas City Friday as a $1.00 home selection, 4-1. The Southwest Missouri State product went 5 1/3 innings, allowing one run on two hits with three walks and five strikeouts.
-The combined five runs went ‘under’ the nine-run closing total, ending back-to-back ‘over’ outings.
-Palmer, a two-year veteran, has never started against the Red Sox in his brief major league career.
vegasinsider.com
Wednesday's NL Tip Sheet
By Brian Edwards
Gamblers can get down on some action early Wednesday with a pair of afternoon games in the National League. Let’s take a look at what’s on tap in the Senior Circuit.
**Dodgers at Phillies**
--Las Vegas Sports Consultants opened Philadelphia (16-14, -129) as a minus-120 favorite with a total of 10 ‘over’ (minus-120). As of early this morning, most books were using those same numbers, while bettors had the chance to take the Phillies on the run line (minus 1 ½ runs) for a plus-165 return (risk $100 to win $165).
--Los Angeles (22-12, +799) has lost four of its last five games since losing slugger Manny Ramirez to a 50-game suspension for testing positive for a banned substance. Nevertheless, Joe Torre’s club remains the NL-West leader by three games ahead of San Francisco.
--Charlie Manuel will give the starting nod to veteran LHP Jamie Moyer, who is 3-2 with a 7.26 ERA so far this season. Moyer is 3-5 with a 5.19 lifetime ERA against the Dodgers.
--Randy Wolf (1-1, 2.95 ERA) spent his first eight seasons in the majors with the Phillies. The southpaw will be facing his former team for the second time since leaving the City of Brotherly Love. Wolf gave up a pair of runs in six innings of work in his only other start against Philadelphia.
--Both of these teams have feasted on lefties with identical 7-2 records.
--The Phillies captured a 5-3 win over L.A. in the series opener last night. Jayson Werth tied a team record with four stolen bases, swiping home in the seventh inning. The victory left Philly one game back of division-leading New York in the NL East.
--The ‘over’ is 16-12 overall for the Phillies, but they have seen the ‘under’ go 10-7 in their home assignments.
--The ‘over’ is 19-13 overall for the Dodgers, 9-7 in their road games.
--The Phillies are 8-10 at home this season, while the Dodgers are 8-9 on the road.
--The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.
**Padres at Cubs**
--Most spots are listing Chicago (18-14, +97) as a minus-150 favorite. As of early this morning, there wasn’t a total or any run-line numbers yet due to uncertain wind conditions.
--San Diego (13-20, -505) has lost four in a row, including last night’s 6-2 loss to the Cubs in the series opener at Wrigley Field in the Windy City. The Padres are now an abysmal 5-14 on the road.
--The Cubs are 9-6 at home this season. They are in fourth place in the bundled-up NL Central, 1 ½ games behind the loop-leading Cardinals.
--Ted Lilly (4-2, 3.11) will take the bump for the home team tonight. The left-hander is 4-1 with a 2.84 ERA in five career starts against San Diego. Lilly is 2-1 with a 0.42 ERA in three assignments at Wrigley this season.
--San Diego RHP Chris Young (2-1, 4.76) hasn’t been nearly as effective on the road this year, compiling a 0-1 record and 6.97 ERA in four starts.
--The Padres are 6-7 against lefties this year, while the Cubs are 15-12 versus righties.
--After going 0-for-3 last night, Cubs’ veteran slugger Derrek Lee is batting just .203.
--This game will come off the board at 8:05 p.m. Eastern.
**B.E.’s Bonus Nuggets**
--I’m absolutely in awe of Roger Clemens. Not only did he willingly and without hesitation sell his wife and mother down the river in front of Congress, but now he has convinced himself that his lies are actually true. And I loved the “suicidal” remark – classic stuff. What a loser!
--San Diego ace Jake Peavy fell to 2-5 for the season after taking the ‘L’ at Wrigley last night. The Padres have lost 17 of 23 games since Peavy last won a game.
--Milwaukee RHP Braden Looper has a World Series ring from his time with the Marlins as the team's closer earlier this decade, including 2003. Looper faces his former team tonight. He is 4-2 with a 3.86 career ERA against Florida.
--Despite last night’s 4-3 loss to the Mets on the road in extra innings, Atlanta continues to play its best baseball on the road as evidenced by its 11-8 ledger. The Braves, who are 16-17 overall, are 2 ½ back of NL-East-leading New York.
vegasinsider.com
Baseball Today
SCOREBOARD
Wednesday, May 13
Chicago White Sox at Cleveland Indians (12:05 p.m. EDT). Chicago ace Mark Buehrle will look to remain unbeaten and win his sixth game of the season as he faces Cy Young winner Cliff Lee. Lee is just 1-5, but has allowed just seven total runs in his last five starts.
STARS
Tuesday
- Jayson Werth and Raul Ibanez, Phillies. Werth stole home and tied a franchise record with four steals, and Ibanez had a two-run double in Philadelphia's 5-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
-Ian Stewart, Rockies, hit a grand slam and a solo homer, leading Colorado to a 12-1 win over Houston.
-Pablo Sandoval, Giants, slugged a three-run homer with two outs in the ninth, ending San Francisco's wild 9-7 victory over Washington.
- Jim Thome, White Sox, hit a pair of two-run homers in Chicago's 7-4 victory over Cleveland.
- Adam Jones, Orioles, hit two home runs for the first time in his career and drove in four runs in Baltimore's 7-5 victory over Tampa Bay.
- Carlos Beltran, Mets, drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs in the 10th inning as New York rallied to beat Atlanta 4-3.
- Roy Halladay, Blue Jays, pitched a five-hitter and struck out five in Toronto's 5-1 victory over the New York Yankees.
- Zach Duke, Pirates, pitched eight strong innings in Pittsburgh's 7-1 win over St. Louis.
-Prince Fielder, Brewers, hit a pair of two-run homers for Milwaukee in a 6-3 win over Florida.
-Jason Varitek, Red Sox, drove in the go-ahead run with a double in the ninth inning, and Boston rallied to beat the Los Angeles Angels 4-3.
STREAKING
Ryan Zimmerman extended his hitting streak to 30 games, getting a first-inning single in the Nationals' 9-7 loss to the Giants. Zimmerman matched George Brett's 30-game streak in 1980 for the longest by a third baseman since Pete Rose's 44-game streak in 1978, although Rose played two games in left field during his famed streak. It is the fourth-longest in the majors since 2000, matching 30-game streaks by Moises Alou (2007), Willy Taveras (2006) and Albert Pujols (2003).
SHOCKED PAPI
David Ortiz said he was "shocked'' when he learned about former teammate Manny Ramirez's 50-game suspension for failing a drug test. Ortiz said he was too busy to think about the suspension when it was imposed last week because he is trying to figure out how to end his season-opening home run drought. He also doesn't plan to reach out to the Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder, who played in Boston from 2003-08, winning the World Series in 2004 and 2007.
FINED
White Sox closer Bobby Jenks was fined by Major League Baseball for throwing a pitch behind Texas' Ian Kinsler last weekend. Jenks sailed a fastball behind Kinsler on Saturday and later said the pitch was intentional because he was tired of watching White Sox batters getting hit with no retaliation.
STOP THAT THIEF!
Jayson Werth stole home for Philadelphia in the seventh inning of a 5-3 win against Los Angeles on Tuesday night and tied a team record with four steals in one game. Werth surprised the Dodgers when he took off on a slow toss from catcher Russell Martin to reliever Ronald Belisario. His run gave the Phillies a 5-2 lead and the crowd gave him a standing ovation. He hit a one-out single in the eighth, then stole second and third. He also stole third base in the fourth inning. Werth's four steals in a game ties a club record set by Sherry Magee on July 12 and Aug. 31 in 1906.
HE'S BACK!
Rangers center fielder Josh Hamilton homered after being activated from the disabled list Tuesday night for the opener of a six-game homestand against AL West foes Seattle and Los Angeles. Hamilton had been on the 15-day disabled list because of strained left ribcage muscle. The All-Star last played April 26, five days after he got hurt running into the outfield wall in Toronto. Infielder Joaquin Arias was sent back to Triple-A Oklahoma. ... Twins third baseman Joe Crede returned to the lineup after missing three games with a sore left hamstring and hit a two-run homer in a 6-2 win over Detroit. ... Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson was activated off the 15-day disabled list and in the lineup for Pittsburgh's 7-1 win over St. Louis. Wilson had been out since April 25 with a sprained left middle finger. ... Astros first baseman Lance Berkman returned to the starting lineup after missing three games because of a sore left wrist.
SIDELINED
The Red Sox placed first baseman Kevin Youkilis on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday, retroactive to May 5, because of a strained oblique muscle on his left side. Youkilis is batting .393 with six home runs, 20 RBIs and a major league-best .505 on-base percentage. He sat out six games with the injury before the club decided to make the move. Infielder Gil Velazquez was recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket. ... The Diamondbacks placed slumping outfielder Conor Jackson on the 15-day disabled list with a "general illness.'' Jackson has had a prolonged fever and cough, and the club plans to put him through a battery of tests, manager A.J. Hinch said. ... Washington's Lastings Milledge will be out six to eight weeks following surgery on his broken right ring finger, the latest setback for the Nationals' former starting center fielder. Milledge was injured Monday while trying to bunt in a game with Triple-A Syracuse, where he was sent after seven games with Washington this season.
SITTING OUT
Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter was scratched from the lineup before New York's 5-1 loss at Toronto on Tuesday night with a sore right oblique and was listed as day to day. Manager Joe Girardi was hopeful Jeter would be able to play Wednesday night against the Blue Jays. ... White Sox outfielder Carlos Quentin missed Chicago's 7-4 victory over Cleveland because of a heel problem that is expected to keep him out of the starting lineup for two games. ... Rangers closer Frank Francisco has biceps tendinitis and will not be available for at least a couple of days. Texas GM Jon Daniels said Francisco, who is tied for the major league lead with nine saves, could miss the entire three-game series against Seattle.
SIGNED
The Milwaukee Brewers signed utilityman Frank Catalanotto to a minor league contract. Catalanotto will report to the Brewers' spring training facility in Arizona on Wednesday and spend about a week there before being assigned to a minor league team. The 35-year-old Catalanotto has played first, second and third base and left and right field and has been a designated hitter in his 12-year career with Detroit, Texas and Toronto. He was most recently released by the Rangers at the end of spring training in favor of Andruw Jones.
SURGERY
Florida Marlins reliever Scott Proctor is expected to be out for a year after having reconstructive surgery on his right elbow. Proctor had Tommy John surgery on Tuesday after consulting with specialist Dr. James Andrews before the operation. Proctor had surgery in October to repair a partially torn flexor tendon and his return was repeatedly delayed when he felt pain throwing. Last week, Proctor was shut down after about a dozen pitches in the bullpen.
STATS
Oakland beat the Royals 12-1, scoring seven runs in the second inning. The 12 runs were the most by the A's since beating Arizona 15-1 on June 17, 2008. ... Prince Fielder hit a pair of two-run homers in the Brewers' 6-3 victory. It was Fielder's 14th career multihomer game. ... The Angels' bullpen has been scored on in 20 of 29 appearances with five blown saves, a 2-9 record and a major league-worst 6.90 ERA.
SPEAKING
"This situation has shocked me. That's not the guy that I know. The only thing I know about him is that he's a guy who works hard every day and gets prepared to play the game.'' - Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz on former teammate Manny Ramirez's 50-game suspension for failing a drug test.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
L.A. Dodgers (22-12) at Philadelphia (16-14)
The Phillies will turn to struggling veteran Jamie Moyer (3-2, 7.26), who has just one quality start all season, in the middle game of a three-game series at Citizens Bank Park. Philadelphia took Tuesday’s opener 5-3, winning for just the second time in its last six games and improving to just 3-4 in its last seven at home.
Randy Wolf (1-1, 3.59 ERA) tries for his first victory in more than a month when he takes the mound for the suddenly slumping Dodgers. Since Manny Ramirez was suspended for 50 games for violating baseball’s substance-abuse policy, the Dodgers have lost four of five, which comes on the heels of a seven-game winning streak.
Philadelphia has won 12 of its last 14 games against left-handed starters is also 13-4 in its last 17 contests against the N.L. West, including knocking off Los Angeles in five games in last year’s National League Championship Series. Charlie Manuel’s club is now on a 9-1 run against the Dodgers and is 23-8 in the last 31 meetings in Philadelphia. Also, including playoffs, the home team is 12-2 in the last 14 Dodgers-Phillies battles.
Los Angeles is still on hot streaks of 20-9 overall, 16-8 after a loss, 7-2 against southpaw starters and 18-4 in the second game of a series. However, including their struggles against Philadelphia, they’ve lost 13 of their last 15 games against N.L. East foes, and they’re just 2-5 in Wolf’s last seven road starts.
Wolf has given up just two earned runs over his last three starts spanning 17 1/3 innings (1.04 ERA), but has nothing to show for it but three no-decisions. In fact, he hasn’t factored in a decision in five consecutive starts, with the Dodgers losing three of his last four, including an 11-9 home loss to the Nationals on Thursday. The veteran lefty has not given up more than four runs in any game this season, and he’s 1-1 with a 3.20 ERA in four road starts.
Wolf’s only career start against the Phillies – his former team – came last May when he was with the Padres. He allowed two runs in six innings, getting a no-decision as San Diego lost 3-2 in Philadelphia.
Moyer got bombed in his last two starts, both against the Mets, yielding 12 runs on 14 hits (five home runs) over eight total innings, with Philadelphia winning 6-5 at home and losing 7-5 on the road. The Phillies are still 4-1 in Moyer’s last five starts overall and 6-1 in his last seven at home, where the 46-year-old lefty is 1-1 despite a 7.02 ERA in three outings this season.
Moyer is 3-4 with a 4.80 ERA in 10 regular-season starts against the Dodgers, but that doesn’t include a 7-2 loss in last year’s NLCS when he got ripped for six runs in 1 1/3 innings in L.A. In his only other start against the Dodgers since he joined the Phillies, Moyer gave up 10 runs (all earned) in 5 1/3 innings of a 10-3 road loss in 2007.
The Dodgers are on a bunch of “over” streaks, including 5-1-1 as an underdog, 5-2 against the N.L. East, 4-0 on Wednesday and 4-0 when Wolf faces the N.L. East. Also, the over is 5-2 in Philadelphia’s last seven games against N.L. West foes and 5-0 in Moyer’s last five trips to the mound. Conversely, with last night’s game staying low, the under is now 11-3 in the last 14 Dodgers-Phillies clashes at Citizens Bank Park.
ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Boston (21-12) at L.A. Angels (16-15)
Off to a tremendous start to his season, Tim Wakefield (4-1, 2.92) takes the ball for the Red Sox as they continue a three-game set at Angel Stadium. Boston rallied from a 3-1 deficit on Tuesday and earned a 4-3 victory, improving to 4-1 in its last five and 6-2 in its last eight, including three straight road wins.
Rookie Matt Palmer (3-0, 3.06) goes for his fourth straight win in as many trips to the mound and the Angels, whose four-game winning streak (all at home) came to halt with Tuesday’s defeat. Although the bullpen blew last night’s game, Los Angeles has still held its last five opponents to a total of nine runs.
The Red Sox are on positive runs of 19-6 overall, 18-4 on grass, 11-1 against winning teams, 14-6 against the A.L. West and 5-0 with Wakefield pitching. Meanwhile, Los Angeles is 4-1 in its last five as an underdog, but 1-5 in its last six on Wednesday.
These teams have now split four meetings this season. However, going back to 2008, Los Angeles is still on a 10-2 run against the Red Sox in the regular season, but Boston eliminated the Angels 3-1 in a best-of-5 opening-round playoff series last October.
Wakefield made his 2009 debut at Angel Stadium on April 10, giving up three runs on six hits over six innings, losing 6-3. Since then, though, the veteran knuckleballer is 4-0 with a 2.65 ERA in five starts, including a 13-3 home victory over Cleveland on Thursday in which he gave up two runs on four hits in six innings. Including last month’s loss to the Angels, Wakefield is 2-1 with a 3.33 ERA in four road efforts.
Wakefield is now 9-13 with a 4.79 ERA in 29 career games (24 starts) against the Angels, including 5-8 with a 4.78 ERA in Los Angeles. The Red Sox are 2-7 in Wakefield’s last nine starts against the Halos and 0-5 in his last five at Angel Stadium.
Palmer gave up one run on two hits and three walks over 5 1/3 innings in Friday’s home start against the Royals, picking up a 4-1 victory. The right-hander is 2-0 with a 3.97 ERA in two home games, and tonight marks his first career appearance against Boston.
With Wakefield on the hill, the “over” is on streaks of 7-1-1 overall, 6-1-1 on the road, 23-9-1 when he’s favored, 5-2-1 when facing the Angeles and 7-3-1 when pitching in Anaheim.
The high-scoring Red Sox carry “over” trends of 19-8-2 overall, 10-4-1 on the road, 12-6-2 against right-handed starters, 5-1 versus the A.L. West and 16-5 on Wednesday. Also, Los Angeles is on “over” streaks of 4-2 against the A.L. East and 4-1 on Wednesday, but the Halos have stayed low in five straight games (all at home). Finally, the over is 7-4-1 in Boston’s last 12 games at Angel Stadium (2-1-1 this year).
ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER
GAMETIMEPICKS.COM
Streaking and Slumping Pitchers
By Covers.com
Streaking
Barry Zito, San Francisco Giants
Zito (1-2, 3.57 ERA) is 1-0 with a 1.37 ERA in his last four starts despite getting only six total runs of support.
That strong stretch from the left-hander has given San Francisco some hope that he can rediscover the form that helped him win the 2002 AL Cy Young Award with Oakland, eventually leading to his seven-year, $126-million contract from the Giants during December 2006.
Zito struggled in his first two seasons since moving across the bay, going 21-30 with a 4.83 ERA in 66 games and was briefly moved to the bullpen last year. He started 2009 in similar fashion, losing his first two starts while giving up 10 runs and 11 hits in nine innings, but has since helped the Giants to wins in each of his last four outings.
He got his first win of the season Friday, allowing one run and eight hits with five strikeouts in six innings to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-1.
"I'm more focused than I've been in a handful of years," Zito told the Giants' official Web site. "I knew that I could still be productive as a pitcher in this game. The last couple of months of each of the past two seasons I've shown that, but this year I wanted to do it from the beginning and not dig myself a hole."
Brian Bannister, Kansas City Royals
The last time the Kansas City Royals won a game, Brian Bannister had a big hand in the outcome.
Looking to continue his strong start, the right-hander tries to help the Royals end their season-high four-game losing streak Wednesday night in the finale of a two-game road series with the Oakland Athletics.
Another member of Kansas City's talented rotation, Bannister (3-0, 1.48 ERA) allowed five hits and struck out seven in six scoreless innings of a 3-1 victory over Seattle on Thursday.
"I would put that right up there with one of the top three starts that we've seen this season," Royals manager Trey Hillman said.
Bannister, who is 3-0 for the second straight year despite beginning this season at Triple-A Omaha, is 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA in five starts against Oakland.
Slumping
Jamie Moyer, Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia's Jamie Moyer (3-2, 7.26) has yet to find the form that made him a surprise 16-game winner last year.
The 46-year-old has been reached for at least four runs in five of his six starts, and the left-hander is coming of his worst outing - getting tagged for seven runs and seven hits including three homers in 2 1-3 innings of a 7-5 defeat Thursday to the New York Mets.
"I didn't like the way I threw tonight," Moyer said. "I'll probably go back and look at something from two or three years ago. Something positive."
Giving up the long ball has been a problem for Moyer, who's allowed 10 in just 31 innings. In helping the Phillies win the World Series last year, he gave up 20 in 196 1-3 innings.
Moyer is 3-5 with a 5.19 ERA in 11 lifetime starts against the Dodgers, whom he has not faced since 2007. In that outing, he was ripped for 10 runs in 5 1-3 innings of a 10-3 defeat.