Wednesday's Short Hops
By Kevin Rogers
As the All-Star Game approaches, bettors will try to squeeze in as many plays as possible over the next couple of days around Major League Baseball. With 12 teams playing during the day, nine games highlight the Wednesday night card, including several important division battles.
Blue Jays at Rays - 7:10 PM EST
Those other two teams in the AL East race besides the Red Sox and Yankees continue their series at Tropicana Field. Following a great start to its road trip, Tampa Bay dropped the final four games at Toronto and Texas. The Rays did shut down the Jays in the first two contests at Toronto, winning each game, 4-1. The Jays avoided the sweep by shutting out the Rays in the series finale, 5-0.
Both teams are still in the thick of the division race, but the Jays will play AL East opponents in nine of their next 12 series. That includes battling the Rays ten more times before the end of August.
Scott Kazmir hasn't been very sharp since coming off the disabled list at the end of June. The Rays lefty lasted just five innings in each of his last two starts, a win over the Marlins, and a loss to the Rangers. Coincidentally, those were the first two 'unders' Kazmir has hit this season, following nine consecutive 'overs.' The 'under' has been a solid play when Kazmir faces Toronto, nailing it in seven of his last eight starts.
Brian Tallet has been inconsistent all season long, delivering quality starts in four of his last eight outings. Tallet is coming off a loss at the Yankees his last time out, allowing six hits and two earned runs in six innings of work. Tallet hasn't faced the Rays in his career, as Toronto is 2-9 the last 11 meetings at Tropicana Field.
LVSC has installed the Rays as $1.60 favorites, with the total set at 9.
Dodgers at Mets - 7:10 PM EST
Oliver Perez returns to the mound after a two-month stint on the DL, as he faces the team with the best record in baseball. Perez, who signed a three-year extension in the offseason, hasn't provided the bang for the buck, posting a 9.97 ERA in five starts. The Mets lefty survived the fifth inning in only one of his five outings, while allowing at least four earned runs in four starts.
Hiroki Kuroda has made six starts since being activated from the DL at the start of June, but the Dodgers right-hander has struggled to find consistency. The Dodgers are 3-4 in Kuroda's seven starts over the last five weeks, with two of his worst starts coming against the Padres and A's. Both San Diego and Oakland rank at the bottom of baseball in team batting average. In Kuroda's last trip to the Big Apple (granted, it was Shea Stadium), the righty was lit up to the tune of seven hits and six earned runs allowed in 2.2 innings pitched last June.
The Dodgers are 17-9 against left-handed starters this season, while going 9-5 on the road in this spot. The Mets, meanwhile own a dreadful 1-10 mark in their last eleven Game 2's of a series, dating back to the end of May.
The Dodgers are $1.30 road 'chalk' according to LVSC, while the total is listed at 9.
Cardinals at Brewers - 8:05 PM EST
This series has been dominated by the road team since last August, with the away club winning 10 of the past 12 meetings. Milwaukee has taken 14 of the past 19 matchups, including the first four this season against St. Louis.
Former Cardinal Jeff Suppan has been unimpressive at Miller Park this season, going 1-5 with an ERA of 6.08. In seven of Suppan's ten home starts, the 'over' has hit, while the final combined total in those contests is 10.3 runs/game.
Amazingly, Todd Wellemeyer has won seven games this season, despite an ERA of 5.44. Wellemeyer has given up 118 hits in 96 innings of work, but is 3-1 coming off a quality start, after shutting down the Giants his last time out.
Milwaukee has opened up as $1.15 favorite, with the total at 9.5, according to LVSC.
Yankees at Twins - 8:10 PM EST
Following an up-and-down start to the season, A.J. Burnett is getting his stuff together, as the Yanks have won three of his last four starts. Burnett has allowed nine earned runs in his last seven starts, while giving up one run or less in four of those outings.
The Bronx Bombers have won 10 of their past 12 entering Tuesday's action, while playing a crucial stretch against two teams that will compete for a playoff spot, the Twins and Angels. Minnesota, meanwhile, is in a similar spot, 1 ½ games behind Detroit in the AL Central after capturing two of three from the Tigers over the weekend.
Glen Perkins has bounced back nicely after a rough home loss to the Astros. The Twins southpaw has given up two earned runs in his last two starts, road victories over the Cardinals and Royals. Perkins' last outing against the Yankees was an ugly one, allowing seven hits and six earned runs in just under one inning of work (Perkins landed on the DL after that start with an injured elbow).
The Yankees are 16-9 this season against left-handed starters, including a 7-2 mark on the road.
LVSC has installed New York as a $1.35 road favorite, with the total at 9.
Rangers at Angels - 10:05 PM EST
The two top teams in the AL West continue to battle, as the home team has won six of seven meetings entering Tuesday's action. The Angels are 10-3 their last 13 games, including a 6-1 home ledger. The Rangers, despite Monday's 9-5 loss, have won five of their past six.
Ervin Santana has struggled following a 16-victory campaign in 2008. The Angels righty, who has spent substantial time on the DL this season, is 1-4 with an ERA of 7.43. Santana has delivered only one quality start in seven outings, while tossing at least 100 pitches in just one trip to the hill this season. The Angels have beaten the Rangers in three of Santana's last four home starts dating back to 2006.
Vicente Padilla is set to return to the mound after receiving an extra day of rest due to a sore right shoulder. Padilla's last start was a loss to the Angels, allowing ten hits and five earned runs in five innings of work. Padilla's road numbers are significantly stronger than at home. The Rangers righty is 3-1 away from Arlington, with an ERA of 3.43, while four of his six road starts have finished 'under' the total.
The Angels are a $1.35 home 'chalk,' with a sizeable total of 10, according to LVSC.
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Wednesday's streaking and slumping starting pitchers
By Covers.com
Streaking
A.J. Burnett (New York Yankees)
The right-hander has been overpowering in his last four starts, going 3-1 with an ERA just under 1.00 since a bad outing at Boston nearly a month ago. After that performance, he vowed things would be different – and they have been.
“It’s a lot better,” Burnett told the team’s website after his last start. “I'm just looking forward to getting out there again, because the more you get out there, the more comfortable you get."
Over that span, Burnett has 33 strikeouts in 27 1-3 innings while giving up just 16 hits. He will be looking to win three straight starts for the first time this season.
Ryan Sadowski (San Francisco Giants)
It doesn’t matter that Giants veteran lefthanders Barry Zito and Randy Johnson haven’t pitched to expectations. Young guns Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain have San Francisco in postseason contention, and they may be joined by another rookie hotshot.
Sadowski is a 27-year-old right-hander who was drafted in 2002 and has made a slow progression through the minor leagues. Never considered a top prospect, he definitely is pitching like one.
In his first two major league starts, Sadowski has not given up a run in 13 innings, winning twice while allowing just seven hits and four walks. He has received 20 runs of support.
A native of Davie, Fla., which is just outside Miami, Sadowski’s third start is against the Marlins, his hometown team.
Returning
Aaron Laffey (Cleveland Indians)
The left-hander is back on the mound for the first time since May 22 at Cincinnati, sidelined with a right oblique strain. He will also be making his first start since May 2 at Detroit.
Laffey made 25 starts without a relief appearance over his first two years and began this season in the rotation. He made four starts before being moved to the bullpen for the first time in his career.
As a starter, Laffey is 2-0 with a 4.09 ERA this season, surrendering 21 hits and 15 walks.
Oliver Perez (New York Mets)
It’s nice that Perez is returning, because the left-hander is so erratic he can be streaking and slumping in the same game.
Perez was riding his customary roller coaster through his first five starts before suddenly developing tendinitis in his right knee that sidelined him for two months.
“I’m excited to be ready to pitch again,” Perez told the media Saturday upon rejoining the team.
Mets fans may not be as excited. Perez failed to get through five innings in four of his five starts.
Slumping
Ervin Santana (Los Angeles Angels)
The right-hander spent the first six weeks on the disabled list, then another three weeks before returning over the weekend, preventing Santana from developing any consistency.
His troubles date back to last season and have been worse at home. In his last six starts at Angels Stadium, Santana has failed to pitch six innings.
During that span, he is 0-3 with an astronomical 11.52 ERA, giving up 52 hits and 11 walks. Worse, the Angels are 1-5 in those games despite scoring 30 runs.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
St. Louis (46-39) at Milwaukee (43-40)
Two teams battling for N.L. Central bragging rights resume their three-game series at Miller Park, with the Cardinals sending out right-hander Todd Wellemeyer (7-7, 5.44 ERA) to face the Brewers and fellow righty Jeff Suppan (5-6, 4.60).
In Tuesday night’s opener, St. Louis rolled to a 5-0 victory, getting a three-run Ryan Ludwick homer in the first inning and 8 1/3 shutout innings from starter Adam Wainwright. The Cardinals have won five of their last six and are on further upswings of 10-4 in division play, 13-5 against right-handed starters and 5-0 against winning teams.
The Brewers have lost five of six and are on a 6-12 skid against right-handed starters, but they’re still on positive runs of 21-10 inside the N.L. Central and 20-8 against winning teams. Also, despite last night’s loss, Milwaukee has gone 11-4 in the last 15 clashes in this rivalry, including 4-2 this year, but the visitor has taken 11 of the last 13 meetings, going 6-1 this season.
St. Louis has won four of its last five behind Wellemeyer, including a 5-2 home victory over San Francisco last Thursday, in which the 30-year-old yielded two runs on seven hits and a walk in 7 1/3 innings while striking out six. Wellemeyer is 3-2 with a 5.60 ERA in six road starts this year, and he’s 1-3 with a 5.59 ERA in 12 career appearances (five starts) against Milwaukee. He’s 1-1 in two starts against the Brewers this year, notching a 3-2 road win on May 27, when he allowed both runs on six hits and a walk in 5 1/3 innings.
Milwaukee has lost three in a row backing Suppan, after a three-game win streak behind the 34-year-old. On Friday at Wrigley Field, he allowed just one run on four hits and two walks but got a no-decision in his team’s 2-1 loss to the Cubs. That followed two losing decisions for Suppan in which he allowed a combined nine runs in 10 2/3 innings (7.59 ERA). Suppan is 1-5 with a 6.08 ERA in seven home starts this season.
Suppan is 7-3 with a solid 3.31 ERA in 13 career starts against St. Louis, including 1-1 this season. He earned a 1-0 road win May 16 before getting tagged for five runs on seven hits and a walk in just 3 1/3 innings of an 8-1 home loss on May 26.
St. Louis is on “under” runs of 10-4 in division contests and 9-4 in Wellemeyer’s last 13 starts, and the under has hit in three of the last four meetings in this rivalry.
ATS ADVANTAGE: ST. LOUIS and UNDER
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Texas (46-36) at L.A. Angels (46-36)
The quest for first place in the A.L. West continues at Angels Stadium, where the hosts send right-hander Ervin Santana (1-4, 7.43) to the mound opposite Rangers right-hander Vicente Padilla (6-4, 4.75) in the final game of a three-game series.
Los Angeles blew a 3-0 lead by giving up six runs in the fifth inning, including an Andruw Jones’ three-run bomb, on the way to an 8-5 loss to Texas Tuesday night. The Angels have still won three of their last four and are on further streaks of 10-4 overall, 6-2 at home and 13-6 against righties.
The Rangers have won six of their last seven overall and are on a 20-8 surge against the A.L. West. Additionally, they have a 6-2 edge over the Angels in the season series, though the first six contests were played in Texas.
Santana has had two stints on the disabled list this year, not pitching his first game until May 14, then going without a start for three weeks before coming back Friday against Baltimore. In that contest, he suffered a 6-4 loss, allowing all six runs (four earned) on eight hits and three walks in five innings. The 26-year-old has allowed four or more earned runs in four of his last five starts.
Santana is 0-2 with a whopping 12.12 ERA in four home starts this year. He’s also 7-5 with a 6.46 ERA in 14 career starts against Texas, though he hasn’t faced the Rangers this season.
Padilla’s last start was June 29 at home against the Angels, and he got lit up for five runs on 10 hits and two walks in five innings of a 5-2 loss. The Rangers had gone 6-2 in Padilla’s previous eight starts, with the 31-year-old going 5-1 with a 2.96 ERA. Padilla is 3-1 with a 3.43 ERA in six road starts this season, and he’s 6-4 with a 4.98 ERA in 14 career appearances (13 starts) against the Halos, including 1-1 this year.
For Texas, the “under” is on runs of 37-16-1 overall, 15-8 on the road, 23-10-1 against righty starters and 21-9-1 versus winning teams, and the under has hit in Padilla’s last five starts overall and nine of his last 11 outings. On the flip side, Los Angeles carries “over” trends of 6-1-1 overall, 11-4-1 at home and 11-3-1 against right-handed starters, and the first two games in this series have topped the posted total.
ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE
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Baseball Today
SCOREBOARD
Wednesday, July 8
St. Louis at Milwaukee (8:05 p.m. EDT). Ryan Braun and the Brewers host Albert Pujols and the Cardinals in the second game of a key three-game set between NL Central contenders.
STARS
Tuesday
-Luke Scott, Orioles, had a career-high seven RBIs to power Baltimore to a 12-4 victory over Seattle.
-Paul Konerko, White Sox, hit a career-high three home runs, including a go-ahead grand slam in the sixth inning, to lead Chicago to a 10-6 win over Cleveland.
-Brandon Phillips, Reds, homered twice and drove in three runs to power Cincinnati to a 4-3 victory at Philadelphia.
-Josh Beckett, Red Sox, became Boston's second 10-game winner and improved to 5-0 at Fenway Park this season with 6 2-3 solid innings in a 5-2 victory over Oakland.
-Mark Teixeira, Yankees, had four hits to help New York beat Minnesota 10-2 for its 16th win in the last 22 meetings with the Twins.
-Ryan Ludwick and Colby Rasmus, Cardinals, each homered to lead St. Louis to a 5-0 victory at Milwaukee.
-Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers, struck out seven in six innings to help Los Angeles blank the New York Mets 8-0.
-Ryan Zimmerman, Nationals, hit a three-run homer in Washington's 5-4 loss to Colorado.
-Javier Vazquez, Braves, pitched seven strong innings in Atlanta's 2-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs.
-Jack Wilson, Pirates, hit a two-run homer and an RBI single to lead Pittsburgh to a 6-3 win against Houston.
-Pat Burrell, Rays, hit a two-run homer in the 11th inning to give Tampa Bay a 3-1 victory over Toronto. He had been mired in a 4-for-34 slump.
NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT
Alan Embree earned the win in Colorado's 5-4 victory over Washington without throwing a pitch. He entered with two outs in the eighth and picked off Austin Kearns, who had singled off Joel Peralta. According to STATS LLC, it was the first time a major leaguer had gotten a win without throwing a pitch since B.J Ryan for Baltimore at Detroit on May 1, 2003.
SIDELINED
Right fielder Vladimir Guerrero left the Angels' 8-5 loss to the Rangers in the eighth inning with a strained muscle behind his left knee. Guerrero fielded a single by Elvis Andrus and was about to make a throw when it looked like he stepped awkwardly on his left leg. Guerrero fell to his hands and knees, but got up and walked around before trainers came out to look at his leg. He eventually walked off the field on his own and was replaced by Gary Matthews Jr.
OH MANNY
Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez was ejected in the fifth inning of Los Angeles' game against the Mets for arguing a called third strike. The slugger, who returned from a 50-game drug suspension last week, dropped his bat, tossed his helmet and flung his elbow pad. Booed for much of the game, Ramirez then heard his departure cue from plate umpire John Hirschbeck. Ramirez drove in three runs with two singles before being ejected.
SHOPPING AROUND
Roy Halladay wants to keep pitching for Toronto, but is willing to consider accepting a trade if approached by the Blue Jays. Halladay is 10-2 with a 2.79 ERA in 16 starts. He'll be paid $14.25 million this year and his contract, which has a no-trade clause, expires after the 2010 season, when he's set to earn $15.75 million.
STRIKEOUT MACHINE
Justin Verlander struck out 11 to run his majors-best total to 141, the most by a Detroit pitcher before the All-Star game in 37 years. The last Tiger to have as many strikeouts as Verlander before the break was Mickey Lolich, who had 152 before the 1972 All-Star game.
HOME AWAY FROM HOME
CC Sabathia continues to baffle the Twins. The lefty is 6-1 with 1.70 ERA in his last seven starts in the Metrodome after giving up one run in the Yankees' 10-2 victory Tuesday night.
WORTH NOTING
Seattle slugger Ken Griffey Jr. wore a single white batting glove in his first at-bat as a tribute to Michael Jackson. ... Doug Davis earned his first win since June 5, allowing two runs over 6 1-3 innings to lead Arizona to a 4-3 victory against San Diego.
SPEAKING
"It really woke us up. We came in, said we have to wake up, do the little things and we can't let the same things happen.'' - Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips on Cincinnati's 22-1 loss at Philadelphia on Monday night. Phillips hit a pair of homers and drove in three runs to help the Reds bounce back with a 4-3 victory against the Phillies on Tuesday night.
Trend gives Mets hope
By Brobury Sports
The New York Mets are underdogs tonight against the L.A. Dodgers but a betting trend gives them hope.
The Mets are +130 home underdogs for this 7:10 pm ET contest. Click here for all Wednesday night odds.
The Mets are dogs despite the betting trend that shows L.A. is only 2-5 this year after winning the opening game of a road series. They have lost their last three Game 2’s under this scenario, including at San Diego over the weekend.
The series between the teams opened last night and the Dodgers got an easy 8-0 win behind starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw. Manny Ramirez had three RBI’s before being ejected.
The Mets are now just 2-9 in their last 11 games and the All-Star break can’t come soon enough as they are missing too many big names (Carlos Beltran, Jose Reyes, Carlos Delgado) to put up runs consistently.
The win for Los Angeles means they are 3-1 since Ramirez returned from his suspension. The victory also improves the Dodgers record to 3-7 in New York in the last 10 meetings.
Hiroki Kuroda (L.A. Dodgers) vs. Oliver Perez (NY Mets)
Kuroda (3-4, 3.91 ERA) is making his 8th start since coming off the disabled list. He has only two wins in his last seven starts, one of which was last Friday night at San Diego.
The Japanese import gave up three earned runs in just over five innings against the anemic San Diego offense. That was good enough for a 6-3 Dodgers victory.
He’s also had trouble with the long ball lately as he’s given up at least one homer in four of his last five games. That shouldn’t cause too much concern against the Mets who are dead last in the majors with 50 homers.
Perez (1-2, 9.97 ERA) is still trying to justify the free agent contract he signed, but apparently $36 million just doesn’t go as far nowadays.
This is his first start since May 2nd due to a knee injury. He made a rehab start last Friday in AAA and allowed three runs in five innings, but only threw half of his pitches for strikes.
That’s not a good sign against a Dodgers team that has an even better record versus lefthanders (17-9) than right-handers (36-21).
Yanks favored at Minnesota
By SBGGlobal.com
New York Yankees at Minnesota Twins
SBG Global Opening Line: Yankees - 135, Total 9.5 Under - 120
A. J. Burnett will try to keep his hot streak going as the New York Yankees visit the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday. Burnett is 7-4 on the season with a 3.74 ERA and he has been excellent of late. Last Friday he gave up just two runs in seven innings against Toronto while striking out seven. He has allowed just three earned runs in his last four starts overall.
SBG Global reports that early MLB Betting has the public taking the Yankees on the Road.
The Twins counter with Glen Perkins on Wednesday. He is 4-4 with a 4.38 ERA this season. He pitched well in his last start against Kansas City, allowing just one run in seven innings. He has had very little success in his career against the Yankees going 1-3 with a 7.71 ERA in four starts.
The Twins have played very well at home this season and the Yankees know it will not be easy. “Minnesota's very tough in that building, and they've been playing well, too.” Manager Joe Girardi said, “We know these are two tough series, but we'll worry about Minnesota first and then move on."
New York is trying to cap off a successful first half of the season. "We just want to continue to play well," said Derek Jeter, "We're doing a lot of good things around here, and that's what you want to continue until the All-Star break. We've got six more games at Minnesota and Anaheim, and they both play us tough. We want to just continue this."
Here are the MLB Betting stats for Wednesday’s game. The Yankees are 6-0 in their last six road games vs. a left-handed starter. The Yankees are 19-7 in their last 26 vs. the American League Central. The Yankees are 5-0 in Burnett’s last five starts as a favorite. The Yankees are 5-2 in Burnett’s last 7 starts overall.
The Twins are 11-4 in their last 15 home games vs. a right-handed starter. The Twins are 15-36 in their last 51 vs. the American League East.
The Under is 9-4-1 in the Yankees last 14 road games. The Under is 4-0-1 in Burnett’s last five road starts. The Under is 5-2 in the Twins last seven home games. The Under is 5-0 in Perkins' last five starts as a home underdog. The Under is 9-4 in Perkins' last 13 starts overall