Wednesday's Tip Sheet
By Brad Young
Interleague action picks up once again Friday, but there is one major rivarly series taking place right now. Boston has dominated its regular-season series with New York, improving to 6-0 against the Yankees after Tuesday's 7-0 victory. There are also a couple other compelling contests on Wednesday's card, including the San Diego-Los Angeles tilt that features a Dodgers squad that is trying to run away from the rest of the National League West.
Here’s a closer look at four key contests on Wednesday’s board, involving two National League tilts and two from the American League.
**Cubs (Zambrano) at Astros (Rodriguez)**
-Las Vegas Sports Consultants installed Chicago as a $1.20 road ‘chalk’ over Houston, with the total set at 8 ½. This National League Central contest is slated to start at 8:05 p.m. ET, with WGN providing coverage.
-Chicago’s Carlos Zambrano (4-2, 3.72 ERA) improved to 3-1 his last five starts after knocking off Cincinnati Friday as a $1.25 road favorite, 2-1. The fiery right-hander tossed 6 2/3 innings of scoreless ball on two hits with five walks and seven strikeouts.
-The combined three runs never seriously threatened the nine-run closing total, helping the ‘under’ cash his third straight start.
-The 28-year-old beat Houston April 6 as a road ‘pick,’ 4-2. The Venezuela native was reached for one run on five hits with three walks and six strikeouts over six innings. The combined six runs went ‘under’ the eight-run closing total.
-Houston left-hander Wandy Rodriguez (5-5, 2.97 ERA) is currently mired in a three-game losing streak after Thursday’s setback to Colorado as a $1.60 home ‘chalk,’ 10-3. The five-year veteran went five innings, surrendering seven runs on 10 hits (four home runs) with two walks and seven strikeouts.
-The combined 13 runs eclipsed the 8 ½-run closing total, enabling the ‘over’ to cash his previous four outings.
-Rodriguez received a no-decision against the Cubs April 7 in a six-inning stint, allowing one run on four hits with three walks and four strikeouts. The Astros eventually prevailed as a home ‘pick,’ 3-2, while the combined five runs went ‘under’ the 8 ½-run closing total.
**Padres (LeBlanc) at Dodgers (Kershaw)**
-LVSC opened Los Angeles as a decided $2.10 home favorite over San Diego, with the total listed at 8 ½ ‘under’ (minus $1.20). This NL West affair is scheduled to begin at 10:10 p.m. ET.
-San Diego pitcher Wade LeBlanc will get the spot start after getting called up from Triple-A Portland. The southpaw went 1-3 last season with an 8.02 ERA over five games (four starts).
-The former Alabama Crimson Tide pitcher went 1-3 in 10 games (nine starts) down on the farm with a 4.29 ERA, tossing 51 1/3 innings while yielding 24 runs (21 earned) on 52 hits (four home runs) with 23 walks and 29 strikeouts.
-Los Angeles hurler Clay Kershaw (3-4, 4.26 ERA) is coming off of Thursday’s setback to Philadelphia as a $1.03 home underdog, 3-0. The 6-foot-3 left-hander went 5 1/3 innings, yielding two runs on four hits with three walks and five strikeouts. The three runs failed to topple the eight-run closing total.
-The 21-year-old has a pair of no decisions against the Padres this season, tossing a combined 12 innings while allowing one run on six hits with six walks and nine strikeouts. The Dodgers prevailed as a $1.32 home favorite, 1-0, while losing as a $1.45 road ‘chalk,’ 4-3. The ‘under’ prevailed in both matchups.
**Yankees (Wang) at Red Sox (Wakefield)**
-LVSC lists Boston as a $1.45 home ‘chalk’ over New York, with the total set at 11. ESPN will provide coverage of this American League East contest beginning at 7:10 p.m. ET.
-New York right-hander Chien-Ming Wang (0-3, 23.63 ERA) returned to the starting rotation Thursday, and escaped with a no-decision against Texas. The Taiwan native was reached for five runs on seven hits (one home run) with a walk and five strikeouts over just 4 2/3 innings.
-The Yankees rallied to prevail as a $1.63 home favorite, 8-6, while the combined 14 runs eclipsed the 11-run closing total. The ‘over’ has cashed in all four of Wang’s starts this season.
-The 29-year-old right-hander went 1-0 against the Red Sox last season in two starts, going a combined 13 innings while surrendering nine runs on 11 hits (one home run) with three walks and five strikeouts. The Yankees won as a $1.00 road selection, 4-1, and as a $1.45 home ‘chalk,’ 15-9.
-Boston counters with veteran knuckleballer Tim Wakefield (7-3, 4.50 ERA), who improved to 3-1 his last four starts after upending Detroit Thursday as a $1.25 road favorite, 6-3. The right-hander was reached for three runs on eight hits with no walks and three strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings.
-The combined nine runs failed to eclipse the 10-run closing total, helping the ‘under’ improve to 3-1 his last four outings.
-Wakefield went 1-1 against the Yankees last season in four starts, tossing a combined 21 2/3 innings while yielding 12 runs on 22 hits (four home runs) with six walks and 12 strikeouts. The Red Sox won as a $1.53 road underdog, 7-3, and as a $1.20 home ‘chalk,’ 4-3, while losing as a $1.60 road ‘dog, 5-4, and as a $1.18 home favorite, 10-3. The ‘over’ went 3-1 in those four games.
**Tigers (Verlander) at White Sox (Danks)**
-LVSC opened Detroit as a $1.30 road favorite over Chicago, with the total listed at 8 ½ ‘under’ (minus $1.20). This AL Central matchup is slated to start at 8:10 p.m. ET.
-Detroit’s Justin Verlander (6-2, 3.26 ERA) recorded a tough-luck no-decision in Friday’s effort against Los Angeles. The 26-year-old tossed eight innings of scoreless ball on four hits with four walks and seven strikeouts.
-The Tigers eventually dropped that affair as a $1.70 home ‘chalk,’ 2-1, while the combined three runs went ‘under’ the 8 ½-run closing total. The ‘over’ had cashed his previous two outings.
-The five-year veteran went just 1-4 against the White Sox last season in five starts, going a combined 36 innings while surrendering 23 runs on 32 hits (five home runs) with 10 walks and 21 strikeouts. The Tigers won as a $1.10 home favorite, 5-1, while losing as a $1.25 road favorite, 7-0, as a $1.50 home ‘chalk,’ 7-6, as a $1.03 road ‘dog, 5-1, and as a $1.25 road ‘dog, 4-2. The ‘under’ went 4-1 in those five games.
-Chicago hurler John Danks (4-4, 5.10 ERA) hopes to rebound from Friday’s setback to Cleveland as a $1.30 home favorite, 6-0. The three-year veteran went 5 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on six hits (three home runs) with two walks and four strikeouts.
-The six runs failed to eclipse the nine-run closing total, ending a string of four straight ‘over’ outings for the left-hander.
-Danks went 2-0 against the Tigers last year in three starts, tossing a combined 18 2/3 innings while yielding six runs (five earned) on 16 hits (two home runs) with two walks and 17 strikeouts. The White Sox won as a $1.40 road underdog, 7-6, as a $1.13 home ‘chalk,’ 5-1, and as a $1.68 home favorite, 11-7. The ‘over’ went 2-1 in those three matchups.
vegasinsider.com
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Philadelphia (33-23) at N.Y. Mets (31-25)
The Phillies send ace Cole Hamels (4-2, 4.40 ERA) to the mound at Citi Field for the middle game of a three-game set against the rival Mets, who are scheduled to start Mike Pelfrey (4-2, 4.85).
Despite a rocky outing by ace Johan Santana, New York held on for a 6-5 victory in Tuesday’s series opener. The Mets are just 4-5 in their last nine games, but they’re on positive upticks of 8-2 in divisional games, 6-1 at home, 17-8 on Wednesday and 21-8 at home against southpaw starters. On the downside, they’ve lost seven of their last nine as an underdog.
Philadelphia dropped to 5-3 on its current 10-game road trip with last night’s loss, including 1-3 in the last four. Still the Phillies 13-5 in their last 18 on the highway and they continue to sport baseball’s best road record at 21-9. Furthermore, the defending World Series champions are on lengthy hot streaks of 57-29 overall, 35-17 as a visitor, 23-9 on the road against right-handed starters, 38-17 against winning teams, 38-18 as a favorite and 8-3 versus N.L. East rivals.
Dating to last season, the Mets are on an 11-5 overall run in this rivalry (4-1 this season), winning six of the last eight clashes in New York (3-0 at Citi Field this year).
Hamels dominated the Dodgers in a complete-game, 3-0 road win Thursday, scattering five hits with no walks and five strikeouts as the Phillies improved to 6-1 in his last seven starts (4-0 in the last four). Last year’s World Series MVP has gone at least six innings in six consecutive outings, allowing two earned runs or fewer in four of those contests.
The Phillies are 6-1 in Hamels’ last seven road outings dating to last season, with the San Diego native going 2-1 with a 4.38 ERA in four starts as a visitor this season. Philly is also 4-1 in Hamels’ last five starts facing N.L. East rivals, but 1-4 in his last five versus the Mets, against whom Hamels is 1-3 with a 3.79 ERA in six career efforts.
Pelfrey’s string of five straight quality starts (2.60 ERA) and seven straight starts allowing three runs or fewer ended with a thud on Thursday in Pittsburgh, as the right-hander got rocked for eight runs on nine hits and four walks in 3 2/3 innings, losing 11-6. Despite that outcome, with Pelfrey on the bump, the Mets are still on hot streaks of 6-2 overall, 4-0 at home and 5-0 in divisional games.
Pelfrey is 2-0 with a 3.62 ERA in five starts at new Citi Field, and he’s 3-2 with a 4.19 ERA in six lifetime starts against the Phillies. That includes a pair of wins six days apart last month, with Pelfrey yielding three runs in each contest. He pitched 5 1/3 innings in a 7-4 victory at Philly on May 1 then went seven innings in a 7-5 home win May 7, his most recent victory.
With Hamels pitching, the Phillies are on “under” runs of 12-4-1 overall, 6-1 on the road, 4-0 on Wednesday and 15-6 against divisional foes, and the under is 4-1 in Pelfrey’s last five starts. However, five of Hamels’ last six starts against New York have topped the total, and the over is 8-0-1 in Pelfrey’s last nine starts on Wednesday.
Philadelphia carries “under” trends of 12-4-1 overall, 4-2 on the road, 5-2 against the N.L. East, 6-1 on Wednesday and 5-2-1 against right-handed starters. Likewise, the Mets are on “under” runs of 4-2 overall, 4-1 versus the N.L. East and 5-0 versus lefty starters, but the over is 23-8-4 in New York’s last 35 Wednesday contests.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
AMERICAN LEAGUE
N.Y. Yankees (34-24) at Boston (34-24)
The Yankees give struggling right-hander Chien-Ming Wang (0-3, 14.46) another shot on the mound when they face the Red Sox and Tim Wakefield (7-3, 4.50) as these bitter rivals continue a three-game series at Fenway Park.
Boston got a dominating start from ace Josh Becket on Tuesday and blanked New York 7-0, pulling into a first-place tie with the Yankees in the A.L. East while improving to 6-0 against its hated rivals this season. The BoSox are on upticks of 84-37 at home, 17-6 against the A.L. East and 26-12 as a favorite.
Despite last night’s loss, New York is still on runs of 19-7 overall, 4-2 on the highway, 7-2 against A.L. East foes, 11-5 versus right-handed starters and 56-22 on Wednesday.
Not only are the Red Sox are a perfect 6-0 against the Bronx Bombers this season, but they’ve won seven straight meetings dating to last year (5-0 at Fenway). The Red Sox have scored a total of 45 runs against Yankee pitching this season.
Wang began the season with three atrocious starts (23 runs allowed in six total innings), then went on the disabled list for a month before returning in a relief role. After several strong stints out of the pen, he earned the starting nod Thursday against Texas but got touched up for five runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings, though the Yankees bailed him out by rallying for an 8-6 victory. Wang kicked off 2009 with two starts on the road and gave up 15 runs in 4 2/3 innings, losing 7-5 at Baltimore and 15-5 at Tampa Bay.
Despite Wang’s struggles this season, the Yankees are still 47-20 in his last 67 starts overall, 21-8 in his last 29 on the road and 22-10 in his last 32 outings against A.L. East rivals, including 5-1 in his last six against the Red Sox. For his career, Wang is 6-5 with a 4.82 ERA against Boston in 14 games (13 starts).
Wakefield picked up his seventh win of the season Thursday at Detroit, giving up three runs in 6 2/3 innings en route to the 6-3 road victory. In two previous starts, though, the veteran knuckleballer gave up a combined 11 runs (all earned) on 16 hits and eight walks in 10 2/3 innings. He’s 4-0 with a 3.00 ERA in four starts at Fenway this season, with the Red Sox offense supporting him with an average of 9.3 runs per game.
The Red Sox are 8-2 in Wakefield’s last 10 trips to the hill, 39-16 in his last 55 at Fenway Park and 38-14 in his last 52 as a favorite. However, with Wakefield facing the Yankees, Boston is in ruts of 2-6 overall and 2-5 at home. For his career, Wakefield is 10-17 with a 5.03 ERA versus New York.
Wang’s last five starts dating to last season have topped the total, and the over is 4-1 in his last five road outings and 4-1 in his last five games pitching at Fenway Park. Also, the over is 4-1 in Wakefield’s last five at Fenway and 5-0 in his last five on Wednesday.
The Yankees are on “under” stretches of 5-1-1 on the road and 9-3-1 against winning teams. Also, the Red Sox are on “under” runs of 20-7-1 overall, 7-1 at home, 5-0 as a favorite, 8-1 against righty starters and 6-2 versus divisional opponents. Lastly, five of the last six Yanks-Sox clashes at Fenway have stayed low.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
Gametimepicks.com
Wednesday's streaking and slumping starting pitchers
By Covers.com
Streaking
Carl Pavano (Cleveland Indians)
Pavano looks to continue his astonishing turnaround and build off his best start in years when he takes the ball for the Indians on Wednesday against the slumping Kansas City Royals.
Following a career-best 18-win season for Florida in 2004, Pavano (6-4, 4.63 ERA) signed a four-year $39.95 million deal with the Yankees. Between several stints on the disabled list and Tommy John surgery in 2007, Pavano made just 26 starts for the Yankees, going 9-8 with a 5.00 ERA.
The right-hander signed a one-year deal with Cleveland (26-34) in the offseason. After going 0-3 with a 9.50 ERA in four April starts, Pavano has gone 6-1 with a 3.00 ERA in his last eight outings.
On Friday, Pavano pitched a three-hitter with two walks and six strikeouts in a 6-0 win over the Chicago White Sox for his fifth career shutout and first since May 17, 2005.
"I think every year is a new year. Obviously I had a good year in '04 but this is a new year for me,'' said Pavano, who leads the Indians in victories and has twice as many as reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee. "I just want to build off of what I've been doing. I've learned from the success that I've had in the past but not dwell too much on it.''
Pavano is 1-1 with a 5.25 ERA in two starts against the Royals (24-33) this season, allowing seven runs while striking out 16 in 12 innings.
Justin Verlander (Detroit Tigers)
After a rough start to the season, Justin Verlander is performing like the guy who was one of the best young pitchers in baseball a few years ago.
On Wednesday night, the right-hander looks to win his seventh straight decision while trying to help the Detroit Tigers to a second consecutive victory over the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.
After finishing 11-17 in 2008, Verlander (6-2, 3.26 ERA) opened this season 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA in his first four starts. Since then, however, he appears back to the form that enabled him to go 35-15 over his first two full seasons in 2006-2007.
The 2006 AL Rookie of the Year is 6-0 with a 1.12 ERA over his last eight outings and earned AL pitcher of the month honors after posting a 5-0 record in six May starts. Verlander is in the midst of his best stretch since going 7-0 with a 1.93 ERA in eight starts from June 17-Aug. 1, 2006.
Verlander gave up four hits while striking out seven and walking four in eight scoreless innings of a 2-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Friday.
"He did everything you could ask and more," manager Jim Leyland told the Tigers' official Web site.
Though Verlander's been stellar this season, he's lost his last three starts against Chicago and is 2-9 with a 5.90 ERA in 14 career starts versus the White Sox.
Slumping
Wandy Rodriguez (Houston Astros)
After an outstanding start to the season, Wandy Rodriguez (5-5, 2.97 ERA) looks to break out of his recent slump.
On May 20, Rodriguez's 1.83 ERA was second-best in the NL, but he's since dropped to 10th. He's yielded 18 runs - 12 earned - in 13 2-3 innings in losing his last three starts after allowing only 13 runs over 59 innings in his first nine.
On Thursday, the left-hander was tagged for a season-high seven runs and 10 hits - including four home runs - in five innings of a 10-3 loss to Colorado.
"I'm missing location, I'm getting behind in the count, I need to throw first strikes,'' Rodriguez said. "My arm is all right. Everything feels strong. I don't know what's happening.''
Rodriguez made his first start of the season against the Cubs on April 7, permitting one run and four hits in six innings of a 3-2, 10-inning win. He's 2-0 with a 0.98 ERA in four home starts versus Chicago since 2006.
Chien-Ming Wang (New York Yankees)
Wang returned from a month on the disabled list with weakness in his hips and delivered three solid relief outings before giving up five runs in 4 2-3 innings of an 8-6 win over Texas on Thursday.
Wang's first start since April 18 was also his best of the year, but it was still a long way from the kind of performance the Yankees have come to expect after Wang went 46-15 with a 3.74 ERA from 2006-08.
Wang said he felt OK on Thursday and was excited to get back into the rotation. Manager Joe Girardi also had good things to say about the right-hander's return.
"I thought he pitched better than his numbers indicated," Girardi said. "I'm not making excuses. I was happy with what I saw. I know people are going to say, 'Oh boy, he gave up five runs.'"
Wang is 6-5 with a 4.82 ERA in his career against the Red Sox. The Yankees have won five of his last six starts in the series.
Debuting
Wade LeBlanc (San Diego Padres)
In the finale at Dodger Stadium, Wade LeBlanc is set to make his first start of the season after being recalled from Triple-A Portland.
Chad Gaudin was originally scheduled to start, but after throwing two innings in Sunday's 18-inning, 9-6 loss to Arizona just two days after making 98 pitches, manager Bud Black announced the right-hander would be pushed back.
"It's a little too much for a fellow to pitch on Friday, Sunday, Wednesday, so we're going to back him off," Black said.
LeBlanc will make his first appearance of the season for the Padres after going 1-3 with a 4.29 ERA in 10 games for the Beavers.
Although the left-hander made only four starts for San Diego last season, he should be familiar with the Dodgers. LeBlanc made three starts against Los Angeles in 2008, going 0-2 with a 9.24 ERA.
Baseball Today
SCOREBOARD
Wednesday, June 10
Kansas City at Cleveland (7:05 p.m. EDT). Carl Pavano will try to win his fourth straight decision as the Indians host the Royals in the middle game of their series. Pavano pitched a three-hit shutout in his last start.
STARS
Tuesday
-Mike Fontenot, Cubs, had four hits, including a double and a homer, and scored twice in Chicago's 7-1 rout of Houston.
-Brian Tallet, Blue Jays, held hot-hitting Texas to two hits and two walks over seven innings in Toronto's 9-0 win.
-Emilio Bonifacio, Marlins, drove in a career-high three runs in Florida's 4-3 win over St. Louis.
-Josh Beckett, Red Sox, allowed a hit and two walks over six innings, striking out eight in Boston's 7-0 win over the New York Yankees.
-Mark DeRosa, Indians, hit a tie-breaking grand slam in the seventh inning of Cleveland's 8-4 victory over Kansas City.
-Johnny Cueto, Reds, allowed one run and four hits over seven innings, striking out five in Cincinnati's 3-2 win over Washington.
-Brad Bergesen, Orioles, tossed eight shutout innings, allowing five hits and striking out six in Baltimore's 3-1 victory over Seattle.
HISTORIC START
Josh Beckett allowed only an infield hit in six innings as the Red Sox beat the Yankees 7-0 on Tuesday night and improved to 6-0 against New York for the first time since 1912. The Red Sox beat the New York Highlanders in 14 straight to start that season, including the first-ever game in Fenway Park. Fenway is now the oldest ballpark in the major leagues; the original Yankee Stadium, which was replaced this season by a $1.5 billion replica, hadn't even been built yet.
ROYAL MESS
Mark DeRosa's grand slam in the seventh inning gave Cleveland an 8-4 win over Kansas City, the Royals' 10th loss in 11 games. A pair of Kansas City errors contributed to their 22nd loss in their last 28 games overall.
NUMBERS GAME
The Giants' Matt Cain (8-1) won his fifth straight start and pulled into a tie with Colorado's Jason Marquis for the NL lead in victories. ... The Nationals have lost 11 of their last 13 games. The Cubs' 16 hits in a 7-1 win over Houston tied a season high, first set in an 11-6 win in Houston on April 8.
UNDER THE KNIFE
Blue Jays starter Jesse Litsch will have Tommy John surgery and miss the rest of the season, a major blow to a team trying to keep pace in the competitive AL East. ... Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton had surgery in Philadelphia to repair a partially torn abdominal muscle. ... Mets reliever J.J. Putz had surgery to remove a bone spur and fragments of bone from his right elbow.
MANNY DROPS BY
Manny Ramirez visited his Dodgers teammates before their game against San Diego on Tuesday night, popping into the clubhouse before a home game for the first time since his suspension for violating Major League Baseball's drug policy. The dreadlocked slugger, who also talked to manager Joe Torre, refused to address what led to his 50-game ban, saying it's in the past.
SPEAKING
"They've taken it to us so far this year. But we have 13 more, and hopefully we'll beat them sometime soon.'' - Yankees outfielder Johnny Damon after the Red Sox beat New York 7-0 to improve to 6-0 against New York for the first time since 1912.