Wednesday’s Streaking and Slumping Starting Pitchers
Streaking
Felix Hernandez (5-5, 3.28), Seattle Mariners
Since getting roughed up by the rowdy Rangers on June 8, King Felix has been perched high atop his throne.
Hernandez has tossed complete games in his last two starts, giving up two and one earned run respectively. He worked 8.2 innings in a 4-2 win over the Padres in the outing prior. Over those three starts, Hernandez struck out 26 hitters while walking only three.
“He has turned into one of the true No. 1s on a major league staff,” Padres manager Bud Black said after Hernandez held his team to four hits.
The UNDER is 4-0-2 in Hernandez’s last six starts and opposing offenses are averaging 2.5 runs per game.
Slumping
Kevin Slowey (7-5, 4.79), Minnesota Twins
After a five-game tear that spanned from mid-May to June 8, Slowey is slowly started to fall off the wagon.
The Twins right-hander has surrendered no less than five runs in each of his last three outings. Slowey yielded five home runs and 17 earned runs during that stretch (12.1 innings) while striking out 10. Slowey suffered the shortest game of his career in the start before last. The Phillies touched him up for two homers and seven earned runs in 1.2 innings on the hill.
“I think everybody in this clubhouse is frustrated,” Slowey said. “We’re disappointed and frustrated and we know we’re better than this and that goes for me, too.”
Returning
Jair Jurrjens (0-3, 6.38), Atlanta Braves
Kenshin Kawakami was moved to the bullpen to make room for Jair Jurrjens, who has been on the disabled list since April 30 with a strained hamstring.
In 2009, Jurrjens was one of Atlanta’s top pitchers. He compiled a 14-10 record with a flashy 2.60 ERA and 1.21 WHIP. In his first start of 2010, the righty pitched shutout ball over 5.0 innings against the Cubs. But in four starts after, Jurrjens gave up eight, three, three and three earned runs.
Jurrjens will likely be on a tight pitch count Wednesday and the Braves are priced as -175 favorites against the visiting Nationals.
Debuting
Barry Enright (0-0, 0.00) Arizona Diamondbacks
The D-Backs called up Barry Enright from Double-A Mobile to start Wednesday’s game against the Cardinals. In 15 starts at the minor-league level (93.2 innings), Enright is 4-1 with 2.88 ERA, 83 strikeouts and 15 walks.
The 24-year-old Enright is taking the place of Edwin Jackson, whose start was pushed back to Friday after throwing 149 pitches during his no-hitter last week. If he pitches well enough, Enright could snatch a spot in the rotation from the struggling Dontrelle Willis.
Wednesday Afternoon Tips
By Kevin Rogers
The final day of June provides bettors with plenty of afternoon action, including four games involving both teams in playoff contention. The NL West showcases its top four teams playing getaway day games, including the Giants hosting the Dodgers and the Padres entertaining the Rockies. We'll start first in Cincinnati with Dusty Baker's red-hot club trying to close out the Phillies.
Phillies at Reds - 12:35 PM EST
Cincinnati has slowly reclaimed the offense that it lost it Seattle, as the Reds are averaging 5.5 runs/game in a 6-1 run that has put them atop the NL Central. The Phillies' offense has been resurrected after a cold streak at the end of May, but Philadelphia needs to leap-frog a pair of teams in the NL East.
Roy Halladay's (9-6, 2.29 ERA) record may not look as sterling as you would expect with his ERA, as the Phillies' ace is coming off seven innings of scoreless baseball against his ex-mates in a 7-0 shutout of Toronto. Halladay has actually put up better numbers on the road, compiling a 5-2 mark on the highway to go along with an ERA of 2.09. The last time the righty faced the Reds was in 2008 as a member of the Jays, as Toronto tagged Halladay for five runs in a 6-5 road win.
The Reds counter with Aaron Harang (6-7, 5.07 ERA), who has been the model of inconsistency this season. Harang, who finished 16-6 in 2007, has won just 18 games over the last three seasons combined. The tall right-hander is coming off consecutive quality starts, even though it came against Cleveland and Seattle. Harang has actually pitched well against this Philadelphia club, beating the Phillies twice last season by allowing four earned wins in the two victories.
Cincinnati is 7-3 the last ten home day games, while cashing the 'under' in four straight day games overall. The Phillies have lost five of their previous seven road games under the sun, which includes a 1-1 mark over the weekend against the Jays in mythical away games at Citizens Bank Park.
Tigers at Twins - 1:10 PM EST
Minnesota is going backwards quickly inside the AL Central after dropping the series opener to Detroit on Monday night, 7-5. That marks the sixth loss in seven games for Ron Gardenhire's team, who is in a three-horse race with the Tigers and White Sox in the division. Kevin Slowey looks to stop the bleeding for Minnesota, but he's going to have to fix his woes if the Twins want to win.
Slowey (7-5, 4.79 ERA) has allowed 17 earned runs in his last three starts, which totals to an ERA of 12.41. Somehow, the Twins managed to win one of those games, rallying from five runs down in the ninth inning to shock the Phillies, 13-10 in extra innings. Slowey has always been a great control pitcher, issuing only 17 walks in 14 starts. The good news is that's not his problem; instead, Slowey is getting knocked all over the diamond by allowing at least six hits in eight of his last ten outings.
Rookie Andrew Oliver (0-1, 3.00 ERA) makes his second start, after falling in his debut at Atlanta, 3-1. The ex-Oklahoma State southpaw showed promise by delivering six innings of five-hit ball, but the Tigers' bats did little against Kris Medlen and the Braves. Oliver faces a Minnesota club that has been ruthless at home against left-handed starters, compiling a 7-2 mark at Target Field versus southpaws.
The Twins own a perfect 4-0 day record at home against left-handers, but are just 2-5 at Target Field in the third game of a series. The Tigers are 1-4 the last five matinees on the road, after starting the season 6-3 in this situation.
Rockies at Padres - 3:35 PM EST
Colorado drew first blood with a 10-6 victory on Monday night as Ubaldo Jimenez captured his league-leading 14th win of the season. The Rockies are now 5-2 against the leaders of the NL West, as the Padres try to hold onto the lead inside the division.
A pair of left-handers takes the mound at Petco Park as Jeff Francis and Clayton Richard square off. Francis (2-2, 3.53 ERA) has been a welcome return to the pitching staff after missing the entire 2009 season due to left shoulder surgery. The British Columbia native is coming off three straight quality starts, despite receiving credit for only one win (Colorado won all three games). Francis has been involved in five one-run games out of eight starts, while six outings have finished 'under' the total.
Richard (5-4, 2.75 ERA) won for the first time in four starts in a 3-0 victory at Florida last Friday. The ex-White Sox lefty has been the victim of poor run support, with the Padres providing less than three runs an outing for Richard. The Padres are 1-3 in Richard's last four home starts, as San Diego fell to a pair of AL cellar-dwellers in the Orioles and Mariners his last two outings. The Rockies have beaten Richard twice this season, including a 6-5 extra-innings win back in early May at Petco Park.
Colorado has won five of its past six matinee contests on the road, while seven of its last 11 day games on the highway have finished 'under' the total. The Padres have claimed four of six home games under the sun, but all four wins have come against below .500 teams.
Dodgers at Giants - 3:45 PM EST
San Francisco plays its final home game prior to the All-Star Break, as the Giants hit the road for a three-city, 11-game trip following Wednesday's matchup with Los Angeles. The Dodgers bounced back from Sunday's meltdown to the Yankees by knocking off the Giants in the series opener, 4-2.
Jonathan Sanchez (6-5, 3.03 ERA) hasn't been particularly sharp recently, allowing five earned runs and nine walks in his last two starts (8 IP). The Giants have won five of the southpaw's last six starts, despite only two of those outings being quality ones. The Dodgers beat Sanchez in four of five games last season, as the lefty didn't last past the fifth inning in any start.
Veteran Vicente Padilla (1-2, 5.82 ERA) is winless since coming off the disabled list on June 19, falling to the Red Sox and Yankees in one-run setbacks. Padilla is coming off a strong outing against New York, giving up six hits and two earned runs in seven innings, but the Dodgers provided little run support in a 2-1 defeat. Padilla limited the Giants four hits and three earned runs in seven innings of a 10-8 victory at Chavez Ravine back in April.
The Dodgers are 9-4 the last 13 meetings with the Giants, including the series victory in Los Angeles in April. San Francisco is 6-2 the previous eight day games at AT&T Park, while going 6-1 the last seven Game 3's at home.
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Tips and Trends
Colorado Rockies at San Diego Padres
Rockies: Colorado's offense is heating up in the rarest of locations, Petco Park. Colorado has dominated offensively in San Diego, and as a result have back to back wins to show for it. The Rockies are 41-36 SU this year, 4 games behind the Padres in the National League West. Colorado is -0.08 and +1.33 units both SU and on the RL respectively this year. The Rockies are 6-2 in their last 8 games against a left-handed starter. The Rockies are 5-1 in Francis' last 6 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance. Colorado is 2-6 in Francis' last 8 starts as a road underdog of +110 to +150. The Rockies are 0-4 in Francis' last 4 starts against the National League West.
Rockies are 1-6 last 7 games as a road underdog of +110 to +150.
Under is 10-4 last 14 road games against a team with a winning home record.
Key Injuries - 1B Todd Helton (back) is questionable.
PROJECTED SCORE: 3
Padres (-130, O/U 6.5): San Diego has suffered rare back to back home defeats against their National League West rival Rockies. The Padres will look to win this afternoon to avoid being swept at home. San Diego still has the best record in the National League at 45-32 SU. P Clayton Richard will make the start for San Diego today, as he's 5-4 with an ERA of 2.75 and a WHIP of 1.31 this year. The Padres are 6-1 in their last 7 home games against a left-handed starter. The Padres are 6-0 in Richard's last 6 home starts against a team with a winning record. San Diego is 0-5 in Richard's last 5 starts as a home favorite. San Diego is 0-4 in Richard's last 4 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
Padres are 19-7 last 26 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 6-0-1 last 7 games as a favorite of -110 to -150.
Key Injuries - LF Matt Stairs (knee) is out.
PROJECTED SCORE: 5 (OVER - Total of the Day)
Texas Rangers at Los Angeles Angels
Rangers: Texas is human after all, as they finally lost a game. The Rangers have been one of the hottest teams in baseball of late, as they currently have the 2nd best record in baseball. Texas is an impressive 46-30 SU overall this season. Texas is also 13-6 SU against teams within their own American League West division. The Rangers are +11.95 and -3.94 units both SU and on the RL this year respectively. The Rangers are 7-2 in their last 9 games against the American League West. The Rangers are 14-3 in their last 17 games against a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30. Texas is 8-2 in their last 10 games against a left-handed starter. The Rangers are 22-48 in their last 70 road games against a left-handed starter.
Rangers are 7-1 last 8 games as a road underdog.
Over is 5-1 last 6 against a team with a winning record.
Key Injuries - C Jason Saltalamacchia (back) is out.
PROJECTED SCORE: 3
Angels (-120, O/U 9.5): Los Angeles is starting to heat up again in the middle of summer, as they have won 7 of their last 10 games overall. The Angels are taking care of business currently against the team they are chasing in the American League West, the Rangers. Lefty Scott Kazmir will take the mound today, as he is 7-6 with an ERA of 5.42 and a WHIP of 1.56 this year. The Angels are 6-0 in their last 6 games against a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15. The Angels are 9-2 in their last 11 home games against a right-handed starter. Los Angeles is 23-9 in their last 32 games against a right-handed starter. The Angels are 4-1 in Kazmir's last 5 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game. Los Angeles is 5-2 in Kazmir's last 7 starts as a favorite of -110 to -150. The Angels are 2-5 in Kazmir's last 7 home starts overall.
Angels are 5-1 last 6 games as a home favorite of -110 to -150.
Over is 14-6 last 20 games as a favorite of -110 to -150.
Key Injuries - SS Maicer Izturis (elbow) is out.
PROJECTED SCORE: 6 (Side of the Day)
MLB RoundUp For 6/30
By Dan Bebe
National League
Phillies (-160) @ Reds with a total of 8
Greg Dobbs is 4-for-9 off Harang with an RBI since '05;
Jimmy Rollins is 9-for-27 off Harang since '05;
Jonny Gomes is batting .292 off Halladay with a HR and 2 RBI since '05.
This is yet another example of "ace inflation." Of course, that doesn't mean he's going to lose, but already this year, despite Halladay being 9-6 with a 2.29 ERA on the season, if you backed him in every star to this one, you'd be down 4 units. How about that, eh? Harang is 2-2 with a 5.33 ERA lifetime against the Phils, is on a run of 2 straight quality starts against decidedly non-quality opponents, and now tries to get that ERA under 5 against a good club. I wouldn't back Halladay, but I wouldn't back Harang, either. Leans: None
Astros @ Brewers (-165) with a total of 9
Lance Berkman is batting .324 with 4 RBI off Bush since '05;
Michael Bourn is 4-for-8 off Bush before 2010;
Hunter Pence was 7-for-14 with a HR and 2 RBI off Bush before 2010;
Ryan Braun is 6-for-16 off Wandy with 3 HR and 5 RBI;
Corey Hart is batting .407 off Wandy in 27 AB with 3 RBI;
Casey McGehee is 3-for-8 off Wandy;
Rickie Weeks is 5-for-16 off Wandy.
Believe it or not, Dave Bush has some of his best career numbers against any team when going head-to-head with the Houston Astros. Of course, every time I've ever backed Bush, he's laid an egg, and every time I've faded Bush he goes 6 shutout innings. I wouldn't touch this game. Wandy is coming off one of his better starts of 2010, but every time seems to be a flash in the pan, and his 4-10 record and 5.64 ERA look as ugly as ever. Bush isn't very good, but he doesn't know it against this opponent, and while the price is high, it's probably close to accurate. Leans: None
D'backs @ Cardinals (-134) with a total of 9.5
Adam LaRoche is 8-for-24 with 2 HR and 5 RBI off Suppan since '05;
Chris Snyder is 4-for-9 off Suppan with a HR and 2 RBI;
Chris Young is 4-for-12 with a HR off Suppan.
This is extremely exciting for me, as I actually watched Barry Enright make his first start in professional baseball. He pitched briefly in relief in South Bend before finishing up the '07 season in Visalia, then worked the entire '08 season in the Central Valley, getting better with every start. He was widely praised for being one of the most "teachable" pitchers in the D'backs farm system, but I wonder how his stuff holds up at the big league level. Enright is extremely durable, but making the leap from double-A can be tough for some guys, and if you look at his work in the Minors, he is a "steady improver" that starts slow at each level, and gets better. Seems like he's just about figured out double-A, but the D'backs are so screwed up, they had to jump him to the Show. Your Sac Lawson-style scouting report - Enright throws (or threw, his arsenal might have changed in the last 2 years) two types of fastballs, two types of change-ups and a curve. He's a smart pitcher and a battler. Kudos to him on the call-up! Leans: D'backs
Pirates @ Cubs (-210) with a total of N/A
Tom Gorzelanny hasn't started in a month, and he's a -210 favorite? This is almost "let's just put a 1/4-unit on the dog" territory, but I'd rather not even have money on this game. I know that sometimes the best values on the board are in the ugliest games, but that is not the case, here. Leans: None
Rockies @ Padres (-128) with a total of 6.5
Jerry Hairston Jr. is 3-for-6 off Francis.
Right off the bay, I'm trying to pick a side, but then a little light bulb goes off - that total is damn low! Folks have gotten so used to nobody scoring in Petco, that the totals are set remarkably low, and they're going over a little more often than earlier this year. Jeff Francis has a poor history with San Diego, going 5-10 with a 5.15 ERA, though he hasn't faced the Padres in quite some time. Clayton Richard has given up 3 runs in both starts he's made against the Rockies this year, so even if the Padres pen tosses 3 shutout innings, we still only need 4 off Francis to get the job done. It's not a lock, but it's on the table. Leans: Over
Dodgers @ Giants (-125) with a total of 8
Matt Kemp was 8-for-17 with 5 RBI off Sanchez;
Russ Martin is 6-for-15 with a HR and 6 RBI off Sanchez;
Manny Ramirez is 6-for-10 with 2 HR and 4 RBI off Sanchez;
Aubrey Huff is 8-for-12 with a HR and 7 RBI off Padilla;
Edgar Renteria is 5-for-10 with a HR and 2 RBI off Padilla since '05.
I wish I could have leaned Giants in even 1 game of this 3-game series, but the Dodgers just keep lining up properly with my methods. Padilla is pitching very well, had a nice start against the top-level Yankees offense, and as the weather heats up, Padilla generally gets better. He beat the Giants way back in April before getting hurt, and he's 5-3 with a 3.09 ERA in his career against SF. On the other side, Sanchez has a great ERA of 3.03, but he's 0-4 with a 5.95 lifetime mark against the Dodgers, LA's righthanders hit him very hard, and he's been struggling with control and longevity within the game. Leans: Dodgers
Mets (-120) @ Marlins with a total of 9
Jeff Francoeur is 5-for-9 with a HR and 3 RBI off Volstad;
Jorge Cantu is 7-for-20 with 2 RBI off Pelfrey;
Cody Ross is 6-for-17 with 5 RBI off Pelfrey;
Dan Uggla is 9-for-23 with 8 RBI off Pelfrey.
Mike Pelfrey has a pretty ugly history with the Marlins, though he hasn't taken aim at them yet, this season. That, to me, is the unknown. I would have loved to see a 6-inning, 3-run effort against the Marlins this year just to know that Florida can still hit him, even if not quite as hard as in years past. Instead, neither starter has faced the other team this season, and while Pelfrey is 1-6 with a 5.63 ERA lifetime against Florida, he's 10-2 with a 2.71 ERA this year, and just a different guy. Volstad is a predictably mediocre starter who will almost undoubtedly give up 2-3 runs in 5-6 innings, but that might be enough given the "fishy" line. Leans: Marlins
Nationals @ Braves (-168) with a total of 9
Willie Harris is 6-for-12 with 2 RBI off Jurrjens;
Ryan Zimmerman is 6-for-19 off Jurrjens.
Jurrjens returns, but which Jurrjens will it be? The great one from last year, or the inconsistent one from this season before he went down? He's 2-1 with a 2.98 ERA against the Nats in his short Major League career, so I don't necessarily think this is a good fade spot, even if he's only out there for 5 innings, as J.D. Martin just can't get any luck going his way, and a good team like Atlanta isn't the spot to break through. Leans: None
American League
Tigers @ Twins (-150) with a total of 9.5
Johnny Damon is 4-for-10 off Slowey before 2010;
Carlos Guillen is 3-for-7 off Slowey.
Kevin Slowey is 4-0 against the Tigers, but his ERA against them is 5.93, so he's been decidedly lucky. He gave up 3 runs in 5.2 innings this season, and, not surprisingly, that was enough. So, what about tonight? Andrew Oliver is a solid young prospect for Detroit, but the scary lefthanded bats on the Twins roster can strike fear into anyone, righty or lefty. The fact that he's a southpaw does help a bit, but this line is probably where it should be, especially given the Tigers' misery away from home. Leans: None
Athletics (-118) @ Orioles with a total of N/A
Mark Ellis is hitting .379 off Millwood since '05;
Ryan Sweeney is 5-for-12 with a HR off Millwood before 2010.
This will be the second time each has faced the other team this year, and the results were fairly different. Sheets went 6 shutout innings in a 6-2 win back on April 15, at home, and Millwood pitched the following night and allowed 4 runs (3 earned) in 6 innings of a 4-2 loss. Millwood did strike out 9 in that game, so his stuff was decent, but as evidenced by his 2-8 record and 5.22 season ERA, he's not only not making the key pitches, he's not getting the breaks, either. Baltimore has won his last 2 starts, neither of which has been all that impressive, so it's tough to say he's trending up. More like his luck is improving a tad, but his pitches still kind of stink. Sheets has been pitching about the same way, giving up 3-4 runs every time out. Leans: None
Mariners @ Yankees (-145) with a total of 8.5
Franklin Gutierrez is 4-for-12 with a HR and 2 RBI off Vazquez;
Robinson Cano is 5-for-13 with a HR and 3 RBI off Hernandez;
Curtis Granderson is 9-for-25 with a HR off Hernandez;
Derek Jeter is 5-for-15 off Hernandez;
Mark Teixeira is batting .306 off Hernandez since '05 with 3 HR and 6 RBI.
I guess if we thought yesterday's line was fishy, then today's rewrites that manuscript. Consider Javier Vazquez has seemingly turned a corner and has been pitching at least relatively well throughout the month of June means that the Yankees are always going to get some inflated lines. Today, Felix Hernandez is bringing that number way, way down. He's been dominant this month, going 9 innings in each of his last 2 starts, and has his ERA back down to just 3.28. Neither guy has a strikingly good history against the other team, but at this eerily low number, you have to consider Seattle, don't you? Leans: Mariners
Blue Jays (-120) @ Indians with a total of 9.5
This could be ugly, but then again, who knows? Jesse Litsch has been terrible in 2 of his 3 starts, but was brilliant in the other. Aaron Laffey, a lefty sinkerballer, could potentially get lit up by this homer-happy opponent, but if he keeps that pitch down, who knows? It strikes me that there's almost no way this line isn't inflated, so while I would love to take an Over, it's just not that easy, and I'd probably just pass on this one. I know there's a good play wedged in there, but it's not jumping out at me, and there are plenty of other games on the board. Leans: None
Rays @ Red Sox (-119) with a total of 9.5
Evan Longoria is 4-for-5 with a HR and 3 RBI off Matsuzaka;
Carlos Pena is 6-for-18 with a HR and 4 RBI off Matsuzaka;
Adrian Beltre was 3-for-10 off Garza before this year, and that's only gotten better.
This game has a huge question mark hanging over it, and that is the performance of Garza. He has solid lifetime numbers against the Red Sox (6-3, 3.36 ERA), but has been both outstanding and bad against them this year. He threw 8 shutout innings here at Fenway back in April, but then struggled in a loss to them at home a month later. He's coming off a decent start against the Padres, but he really hasn't had that electric shut-down effort since April, and that scares me since it could very well surface, here. Daisuke has been getting stronger and stronger, and while he only went 5 innings in Coors, he's clearly getting his confidence back. Leans: Red Sox
White Sox @ Royals (-120) with a total of 7.5
A.J. Pierzynski is 16-for-40 with 2 HR and 4 RBI off Greinke;
Alex Rios is batting .364 with a HR and 4 RBI off Greinke.
We'll obviously see how last night's game turns out shortly, but I'm struck by Peavy's success against the Royals, and similarly, that Greinke really hasn't been that effective against the White Sox. Interestingly, Greinke hasn't faced them this year, despite the teams having played quite a few games to this point. Peavy has seen plenty of KC this year, though, and that definitely gives some confidence that he can perform adequately, again. I know beating a team 3 times is sort of the "magic number," but a great deal of that depends on the situation. Leans: White Sox
Rangers @ Angels (-120) with a total of 9.5
Vlad Guerrero was 4-for-11 off Kazmir wit 2 RBI since '05.
Scott Kazmir stunk his last time out, not able to go 4 innings against the Dodgers in a losing effort. He is, however, quite adept against the Rangers, one of the reasons the Angels keep running his sorry butt out there. He's 6-2 with a 2.37 lifetime mark against Texas, and pitched well enough to win in his one chance this year, giving up 4 runs in 7 innings. Not great, not terrible. This might be a sit-and-watch game, though, with Texas running a rookie out to the hill by the name of Omar Beltre. It's always tough to get a great grip on how a youngster is going to perform in his first start. He has nice numbers in AAA this year, striking out 44 in 38.1 innings, and allowing just a single home run. I'm a little scared to pick a side, I will admit. Leans: Angels
Wednesday Evening Tips
By Chris David
Wednesday’s pro baseball card features eight primetime battles, which is highlighted by an American League West matchup between the Rangers and Angels from Los Angeles. Let’s take a closer look at that divisional affair, plus hit on some other quick diamond notes as well.
Texas (46-30, +1365) at L.A. Angels (43-35, +753)
Prior to the start of the 2010 season, oddsmakers at SPORTSBETTING.com listed Seattle as a 7/4 choice (Bet $100 to win $175) to win the AL West. Texas (2/1), Los Angeles (11/5) and Oakland (13/5) weren’t far behind the Mariners, which told you that this was easily the tightest group to gauge.
With almost three months and nearly half the season in the books, the Rangers sit atop the group and the three-time defending division champs, the Angels, are just 3 ½ games behind them. It’s still too a little too early to write off either the Athletics (38-40) or Mariners (32-44) just yet but the pen is certainly out.
One major reason why Texas and Los Angeles have emerged from the pack is based upon their success during interleague play. The Rangers went 14-4 versus the NL, while the Angels posted a solid 11-7 mark.
Another key factor in their rise has been their stellar play in the month of June. The Rangers’ 20-6 record in the third month of the season has helped them post their best record in team history through 75 games.
The Angels haven’t been too shabby in June either, going 18-8, which includes a 6-5 win over Texas last night. Joel Pineiro pitched six strong innings and the bullpen did enough to stifle the explosive Rangers’ offense. Vladimir Guerrero made his return to L.A. after spending six seasons with the Angels and he didn’t disappoint last night, going 3-for-4 with a homerun and three RBIs in the loss. Also, Josh Hamilton extended his hitting streak to 22 games with a single in the third inning.
The Rangers have a good chance of bouncing back tonight, since the Angels are tossing Scott Kazmir (7-6, 5.42 ERA) to the mound. Kazmir has won four of his last five starts but all of those victories came on the road. His main issue this season has been at home (2-3, 6.84 ERA), which is where he’s lost three straight starts, including a lopsided decision (6-10) to the Dodgers last Thursday. Total players should make a note that the lefthander has watched all five of his appearances at home go ‘over’ the number, easily too. The Rangers are averaging 5.2 runs per game against southpaws this season, which has helped produce a 13-10 ledger.
Unlike a lot of other teams, the Rangers don’t have a fifth starter on their roster at this time. Tonight, they’re turning to Omar Beltre, who was called up Oklahoma City (AAA) this week. The right-hander has helped the minor league affiliate in all areas of the bullpen but he’s gone 0-2 with a 1.25 ERA in five starts.
Despite the poor outings from Anaheim for Kazmir recently, the books still made the Angels a $1.20 favorite over the Rangers. Texas has definitely turned some heads this season but is the team as good as its record? Prior to this three-game set, the Rangers played eight series and only one of them was against a winning club, Tampa Bay, which they won (2-1). They also beat the White Sox (2-1) in a series but that was well before their recent hot streak. The other six opponents during this streak include the Mariners (32-44), Brewers (35-42), Marlins (37-40), Pirates (26-51) and not one but two intrastate series against the Astros (30-48).
Puerto Rico Sweep
The Marlins beat the Mets 10-3 on Monday and 7-6 last night, which leads us to the potential sweep game tonight. Including these losses, New York has now dropped four in a row outside of Flushing and is just 15-22 on the road this season, compared to a 28-12 mark at home. The two straight victories for Florida come as a bit of a surprise, considering the club just dropped four in a row. Completing the sweep will be tough for the Fish tonight, since the Mets will have Mike Pelfrey (10-2, 2.71 ERA) on the hill. He doesn’t have a great career mark (1-6, 5.63 ERA) against the Marlins but New York has won 14 of his 17 starts this season. The Marlins have been installed as short underdogs (+105) in this spot and they’ll lean to Chris Volstad (4-7, 4.40 ERA), who’s watched his team go 1-8 in his last nine appearances.
Pitchers Duel
If you’re looking for the best pitching matchup on Wednesday, then turn your attention to tonight’s encounter between the White Sox and Royals from Kauffman Stadium. Even though their numbers this season haven’t been stellar, Chicago’s Jake Peavy (7-5, 4.71 ERA) and Kansas City’s Zach Greinke (3-8, 3.72 ERA) are still considered gamers.
Peavy has ripped off three straight albeit against the National League, but he does bring a 21-inning scoreless streak into tonight’s game and he’s notched 21 strikeouts over his last 23 innings. Greinke certainly hasn’t been in the Cy Young form that we witnessed last season, yet his start last Friday was pretty close. He gave up seven hits over eight innings during the Royals’ 4-2 win over St. Louis. Including that performance, the right-hander is 2-0 with a 2.63 ERA in his last three outings, and he’s racked up 23 K’s during that span as well.
The total for tonight is listed at 7 ½ runs, which is the lowest on the board in the AL. The ‘under’ has gone 5-2-1 in the first eight encounters between the pair this season, which includes the White Sox’s 3-1 victory last night.
Broken Jays
The AL East is arguably the toughest division in baseball and some pundits would say that the Yankees, Red Sox and Rays are the three best teams. If that’s the case, then Toronto should be getting a pat on the back for its 40-38 start. Unfortunately for the Blue Jays, talent has caught up to the club and it appears that they don’t have the horse to compete with the above trio on a weekly basis. Toronto has gone 9-17 in June and it’s lost seven of nine, including two straight to the second-worst team in the AL, Cleveland. The offense that was belting homeruns out of the park daily has been stifled to 27 runs and a .224 batting average over the last nine games.
vegasinsider.com
Diamond Trends - Wednesday
By Vince Akins
Rangers at Angels – The Angels are 0-7 since October 20, 2009 at home after a one run win for a net profit of $875 when playing against.
Nationals at Braves – The Nationals are 5-0 since May 09, 2009 as a road dog when they are off a win in which they came back from a deficit and it is not the first game of a series for a net profit of $785. The Nationals are 0-5 since May 29, 2010 when J.D. Martin starts for a net profit of $515 when playing against.
Astros at Brewers – The Astros are 0-9 since July 27, 2009 when Wandy Rodriguez starts as a road dog after a quality start for a net profit of $900 when playing against. The Brewers are 0-6 since September 21, 2009 as a home favorite after scoring 6+ runs win for a net profit of $765 when playing against.
Diamondbacks at Cardinals – The Diamondbacks are 0-10 since September 13, 2009 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 $1095 when playing against. The Diamondbacks are 0-8 since April 17, 2010 as a dog after a loss in which they were shut out in the last 6 innings and it is not the first game of a series for a net profit of $800 when playing against.
Pirates at Cubs – The Pirates are 0-9 since May 27, 2009 as a road 140+ dog when they are off a loss in which they never led and it is the last game of a series for a net profit of $900 when playing against. The Cubs are 8-0 since May 02, 2010 as a home favorite and it is the last game of the series for a net profit of $800.
Dodgers at Giants – The Dodgers are 0-5 since October 21, 2009 when Vicente Padilla starts on the road for a net profit of $530 when playing against.
Blue Jays at Indians – The Blue Jays are 9-0 since September 04, 2009 as a favorite after a loss in which they had 6 or fewer hits for a net profit of $900. The Indians are 0-7 since September 02, 2009 when Aaron Laffey starts for a net profit of $705 when playing against.
Mets at Marlins – The Mets are 6-0 since June 16, 2009 when Michael Pelfrey starts within 20 cents of pick ‘em after going at least 6 innings and giving up 6 or fewer hits for a net profit of $660. The Marlins are 0-6 since April 25, 2009 when Christopher Volstad starts at home when he is off a start in which he needed more than 4 pitches per batter for a net profit of $750 when playing against.
Rockies at Padres – The Rockies are 0-7 since June 29, 2009 on the road when they are off two wins in which they never trailed for a net profit of $745 when playing against. The Padres are 5-0 since August 06, 2009 when Clayton Richard starts at home after facing 25 or fewer hitters for a net profit of $565.
Rays at Red Sox – The Rays are 0-10 since June 07, 2009 on the road vs. a divisional foe that is ahead of them in the divisional standings for a net profit of $1000 when playing against. The Red Sox are 10-0 since April 20, 2009 at home when they are off two wins in which they never trailed and it is not the first game of a series for a net profit of $1045
Phillies at Reds – The Phillies are 0-3 since April 26, 2010 when Roy Halladay starts as a 140+ favorite after his team lost the last time he started vs. this opponent for a net profit of $580 when playing against. The Reds are 0-6 since July 12, 2009 when Aaron Harang starts after a quality start and they won in his previous start for a net profit of $655 when playing against.
White Sox at Royals – The White Sox are 0-8 since April 26, 2009 after a win in which they left 18+ men on base and it is the last game of a series for a net profit of $865 when playing against. The White Sox are 0-8 since April 17, 2009 as a road dog after a one run win and it is not the first game of a series for a net profit of $800 when playing against. The White Sox are 7-0 since September 19, 2009 when Jake Peavy starts after more strike outs than hits allowed for a net profit of $725. The Royals are 0-10 since May 30, 2009 at home within 20 cents of pick ‘em after a loss in which their opponent left 18+ men on base for a net profit of $1005 when playing against.
Tigers at Twins – The Tigers are 0-10 since April 07, 2009 as a dog after a loss in which they allowed 12+ hits and it is not the first game of a series for a net profit of $1000 when playing against.
Mariners at Yankees – The Mariners are 0-8 since July 30, 2009 on the road after a win in which they allowed 1 or fewer walks for a net profit of $810 when playing against. The Mariners are 0-6 since April 26, 2010 when Felix Hernandez starts after going at least 6 innings and giving up no home runs for a net profit of $730 when playing against. The Yankees are 12-0 since September 13, 2009 when they are off a loss in which they held the lead and it is not the first game of a series for a net profit of $1225. The Yankees are 7-0 since September 13, 2009 as a 140+ favorite when they are off a loss in which they held the lead and it is not the first game of a series for a net profit of $700.