Wednesday’s Streaking and Slumping Starting Pitchers
Streaking
Joel Pineiro (12-9, 3.15 ERA), St. Louis Cardinals
Remember when this guy couldn’t throw over the plate for the Mariners? Pineiro’s success this season is just another testament to pitching coach Dave Duncan’s brilliance.
The 31-year-old righty has quality starts in eight of his last nine appearances and the Cards won each of the last nine times he’s taken the ball.
He doesn’t many batters out, but he doesn’t need to either thanks to his sinking fastball. He’s already tossed 137 more ground outs than fly balls this season.
“[Pineiro] had good action down in the zone,” Padres manager Bud Black told reporters after the hurler held his club to one run over 7 2-3 innings. “We just couldn’t solve him.”
Kenshin Kawakami (6-9, 3.97 ERA), Atlanta Braves
This 34-year-old MLB rookie is doing his part keeping the Braves’ playoff hopes alive. Kawakami has a 2.39 ERA this month and has delivered quality starts in each of his last four outings.
Maybe the best part of his game is that he’s not easily intimidated. The Japanese import has gotten the best of Roy Halladay, Clayton Kershaw and most recently Johan Santana.
“He does it every time he faces a team’s ace,” Atlanta manager Bobby Cox said following a 3-2 win over the Mets and Santana. “No matter what, we have a chance to win when he toes the rubber.”
Returning/slumping
Joe Saunders (9-7, 5.33 ERA), Los Angeles Angels
This lefty makes his return from the disabled list on Wednesday, but it’s unclear what bettors should expect from him. Just last season Saunders (17-7, 3.41 ERA) helped carry the Angels to the playoffs.
But 2009 hasn’t been nearly as kind for the 28 year old. Before being placed on the DL because of soreness in his shoulder, Saunders numbers are gross and the over is 13-0 his last 13 outings.
“This is the best I’ve felt since last year,” Saunders told the Los Angeles Times following a three-inning simulated game in the bullpen last Friday. “I long-tossed farther than I ever have for four out of five days, and my arm has responded great.
“There’s no tightness, no soreness, knock on wood. I’m ready to get back out there.”
Wednesday Wagers
By Brian Edwards
The Rockies are coming – again. Just like its improbable run to the 2007 World Series, Colorado is on fire when it matters most, producing a late-season surge that has its backers cashing tickets galore as the team closes in on a playoff berth for just the third time in franchise history.
Jim Tracy’s squad club trailed the Dodgers by 15 ½ games in the National League West back in early June. Now the Rockies are within just two games after capturing a 5-4 win in last night’s series opener at Coors Field. They lead the Giants by four games in the wild-card hunt.
In the American League, Boston beat the White Sox thanks to a Jason Bay homer that untied the game in the eighth inning. The victory kept Terry Francona’s team 1 ½ games in front of Texas in the AL wild-card chase.
Boston and Colorado will both continue their pivotal series tonight, so let’s take a close look at these contests.
**White Sox at Red Sox**
--Most books are listing Boston (72-53) as a minus-145 favorite with a total of either 9 ½ shaded to the ‘over’ (minus-120) or 10 tilted to the ‘under’ for a minus-120 price. Gamblers can take the Red Sox on the run line (minus 1 ½ runs) for a plus-140 return (risk $100 to win $140).
--This game marks the return of Tim Wakefield (11-3, 4.31 ERA) from the disabled list. The veteran knuckleballer was enjoying one of his finest seasons, including his first selection to the All-Star Game. However, Wakefield has been out since July 8 with strains to his lower back, left hamstring and left calf. He’s replacing the struggling Brad Penny in the BoSox rotation.
--Wakefield is 7-0 with a 3.92 ERA in nine home starts at Fenway Park this season. He is 7-11 with a 5.11 lifetime ERA against the White Sox.
--Chicago (63-63) fell to 27-33 on the road with last night’s loss. The defeat dropped the White Sox to four games back of AL-Central-leading Detroit pending the Tigers’ late-night game against the Angels.
--Gavin Floyd (10-8, 3.98) will get the starting nod for Ozzie Guillen’s squad in this spot. Floyd is 5-5 with a 5.38 ERA in 13 road assignments in 2009. He is 2-0 despite a 5.74 ERA in a pair of career starts against Boston.
--The ‘under’ is 62-53 over the Red Sox, 29-26 in their home games. The ‘over’ had hit in four straight Boston games until last night’s contest barely stayed ‘under’ the 9 ½-run tally.
--The ‘under’ has cashed in six straight games for the White Sox, improving to 75-49 overall and 31-26 in their road assignments.
--Boston is 41-20 at home following last night’s win. The Yankees are still six games up on the Sox in the AL East.
**Dodgers at Rockies**
--Troy Tulowitzki’s ninth-inning single with the bases loaded lifted Colorado (72-54) into the win column in walk-off fashion for the second consecutive night. The victory improved the Rockies to an amazing 54-26 under Jim Tracy, who replaced Clint Hurdle when the team trailed the NL West leaders by double digits. With a win tonight, Tracy’s troops will be just one game back of Joe Torre’s team.
--Most spots are listing the Dodgers as minus-135 favorites with a total of 10 ‘over’ (minus-115). L.A. is plus-115 on the run line.
--Los Angeles (74-52) will turn to Randy Wolf (8-6, 3.44) in hopes of ending a two-game slide. Wolf has been sick lately, going 3-0 with a 1.99 ERA his last three times out. The veteran southpaw is 6-4 with a 2.91 ERA at home this season. Wolf is 4-2 with a 4.36 lifetime ERA against Colorado.
--Josh Fogg (0-1, 2.25) has made 193 starts in 239 career appearances in the majors. In 2009, the 32-year-old right-hander has made all 20 of his appearances from out of the bullpen. That will change tonight when Fogg gets the starting nod in favor of Aaron Cook, who went on the disabled list Saturday with a sore shoulder. The former Florida Gator is 3-5 with a 4.35 career ERA against the Dodgers.
--Might Torre try to get Juan Pierre in the lineup tonight? He feasts on Fogg with a .459 average in 37 career at-bats. Manny Ramirez is 2-for-6 with no homers against Fogg.
--The Dodgers fell to 34-27 on the road last night, while the Rockies improved to 36-24 at home.
--The Rockies are barely above .500 when facing lefties, compiling a 21-19 ledger.
--L.A. has seen the ‘under’ cash in four straight games to improve to 61-59 overall. The ‘over’ is 30-29 in the Dodgers’ road outings.
--The ‘under’ is 62-57 overall for the Rockies, but they have watched the ‘over’ go 30-25 in its home games.
**B.E.’s Bonus Nuggets**
--Florida RHP Josh Johnson owns a 6-0 record and 2.15 career ERA against tonight’s foe, the Mets. New Yorks’s Mike Pelphrey is 1-5 with a 5.36 lifetime ERA against the Marlins, who are heavy favorites in the minus-240 range. Jeff Francoeur, who it hitting .305 since joining the Mets is “out,” while the Fish’s Nick Johnson is “out” and could be bound for the disabled list.
--I think we can bury the Cubs after Tuesday’s 15-6 loss to the Nationals with Carlos Zambrano on the mound. They are now eight games back in the wild card. Zambrano gave up eight runs in 4 1/3 innings.
--Pittsburgh looks attractive as a home underdog Wednesday. The Pirates are 34-28 at home after rallying to deliver Philadelphia closer Brad Lidge his ninth blown save in Tuesday’s 6-4 win. The Pirates, plus-160 ‘dogs at most spots, will throw Paul Maholm, who is 3-1 in five career starts against the Phillies.
--Atlanta suffered a costly 2-1 defeat to the lowly Padres in extras last night. Although the Braves have been surging in recent weeks, the loss dropped the team to 5 ½ games back in the wild-card hunt. Chipper Jones, who went 0-for-4 Tuesday, has been frustrated with his recent performance, as evidenced by these comments in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
vegasinsider.com.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
L.A. Dodgers (74-52) at Colorado (72-54)
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The top two teams in the N.L. West continue their three-game series at Coors Field, with the Dodgers’ Randy Wolf (8-6, 3.34 ERA) slated to toe the rubber against Josh Fogg (0-1, 2.25), who is making his first big-league start in nearly a year.
Colorado got a second walk-off win in as many nights on Tuesday, following up a miraculous 6-4, 14-inning victory over San Francisco with a 5-4, 10-inning win over the Dodgers. The Rockies have now won four in a row and eight of thier last nine overall and they’ve has used a 52-23 run to close to within two games of Los Angeles, which has led the N.L. West virtually the entire season. Jim Tracy’s club is on additional streaks of 27-10 at Coors Field, 12-1 at home against left-handed starters, 6-1 in divisional play, 4-1 on Wednesday and 26-12 as a home underdog.
Los Angeles is now just 13-18 in its last 31 games, going 6-8 on the highway. On a positive note, Joe Torre’s troops are still 49-23 in their last 72 against the N.L. West and, but they have lost four straight Wednesday contests.
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L.A. remains in first place thanks largely to its dominance of Colorado this season, winning 10 of 13 meetings, including five of seven at Coors Field. Dating to last September, the Dodgers are on a 13-4 roll in this rivalry (7-3 in Denver).
Wolf beat the Cubs 2-1 in his last outing on Friday, combining with two relievers on a one-hitter while also driving in both of his team’s runs. The veteran lefty is 3-0 with a 1.99 ERA in his last three starts, striking out 18 and walking just three in 22 2/3 innings. With Wolf pitching, Los Angeles is on positive surges of 4-0 overall, 5-1 against the N.L. West, 20-7 as a favorite, 4-1 as a road chalk and 11-3 against winning teams.
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Wolf is 6-4 with a 3.01 ERA in 14 road starts, including 2-0 with a 2.30 ERA in his last two. He’s made 11 career starts against the Rockies, going 4-2 with a 4.36 ERA. That includes a pair of solid six-inning home outings versus Colorado this year, allowing a combined five runs and eight hits with 13 strikeouts in those 12 innings, as Los Angeles won by scores of 4-3 and 4-2.
Fogg has pitched exclusively out of the bullpen this season, tossing 40 innings in all including 20 1/3 at home, where he has posted a 2.21 ERA. He’s coming off a three-inning stint on Friday against San Francisco, giving up two runs (one earned) on four hits. The veteran right-hander is 3-5 with a 4.34 ERA in 16 career games (10 starts) against the Dodgers, though his last start against them was in the final week of the 2007 season.
Going back to last season, the Rockies with Fogg starting are on runs of 4-1 overall, 9-3 at Coors Field, 6-0 against the N.L. West, 12-2 versus winning teams, 5-1 as an underdog and 7-1 as a home pup.
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The over is 5-2 in Wolf’s last seven road starts, 5-1 in his last six on Wednesday and 4-1 in his last five against the N.L. West, and with Fogg starting, the “over” is on stretches of 4-1 at home, 11-2-1 as a home underdog and 6-2 on Wednesday.
L.A. carries “under” trends of 5-1-1 overall, 9-3 on the road, 4-0 on Wednesday and 6-2 against righty starters. The under is also 5-2-1 in the Rockies’ last eight overall and 4-0 in their last four on Wednesday, but otherwise Colorado is on “over” runs of 6-2-2 at home, 9-1-1 against winning teams and 6-1-1 at home against southpaw starters.
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Finally, the over is 4-2 in the last six Dodgers-Rockies battles at Coors Field.
ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Texas (69-54) at N.Y. Yankees (78-47)
After suffering a rare loss on Tuesday, the Yankees hand the ball to Andy Pettitte (10-6, 4.25 ERA), who will pitch opposite Rangers rookie Derek Holland (7-7, 4.72) as this three-game series between playoff contenders resumes at Yankee Stadium.
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Texas barely held on for a 10-9 upset victory in Tuesday’s series opener. The Rangers, who remain in the hunt for the A.L. wild card, are on runs of 15-6 against teams with a winning record, 11-3 against the A.L. East and 7-3 on Wednesday, but they’ve lost 37 of thier last 53 on the road against left-handed starters. Also, the Rangers are still just 10-25 in their last 35 meetings with the Yankees (3-4 this season).
New York owns baseball’s best record thanks to an incredible 40-15 overall run that has given the Bronx Bombers a six-game lead over Boston in the A.L. East. The Yanks are on additional positive spurts of 49-20 at The Stadium, 53-26 as a favorite, 6-3 against the A.L. West, 60-24 on Wednesday and 35-17 against lefty starters.
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Holland is 3-0 with a 1.29 ERA in his last three starts, beating the Angels 7-0 at home followed by a pair of blowout home wins over Boston (7-2) and Minnesota (11-1). The Rangers are 6-2 in Holland’s last eight trips to the bump overall, including 5-0 against teams with a winning record, but prior to his shutout win at the Angels, Texas had lost four straight games with Holland pitching on the road.
Holland is 2-3 with a 3.65 ERA in 14 appearances (six starts) on visiting mounds this year, and in his lone career start against New York back on May 27, the southpaw got rocked, allowing six runs (five earned) on 10 hits in five innings of a 9-2 home loss.
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Pettitte struggled at Fenway Park on Friday, allowing seven runs (five earned) on seven hits in five innings, but he hung around long enough for the victory as the Yankees pounded out a 20-11 win. New York has prevailed in each of Pettitte’s last four starts, and prior to Friday, the veteran lefty had allowed just five runs (four earned) in his previous four outings covering 26 innings (1.39 ERA).
Behind Pettitte, the Yankees are on lengthy runs of 76-37 at home, 78-37 as a chalk and 28-9 on Wednesday. However, he’s just 4-4 with a 4.83 ERA in the Bronx this year and 9-9 with a 5.56 ERA in 21 career starts against Texas, including a 4-2 home loss on June 3 in which he gave up all four runs on seven hits and six walks in five innings.
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The Rangers are riding “under” streaks of 64-27-5 overall, 35-17-2 on the road, 22-7-1 as a road pup, 21-7-2 against the A.L. East, 5-1-1 with Holland starting and 4-0-1 with Holland pitching on the road. Similarly, New York is on “under” runs 5-2 at home, 6-1 on Wednesday and 6-0 against southpaw starters, and with Pettitte starting, the “under” trends include 40-17-2 overall, 25-10-1 at home, 8-2 against the A.L. West, 8-1 when he pitches on Wednesday and 4-1-1 when he faces Texas.
ATS ADVANTAGE: N.Y. YANKEES and UNDER
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SCOREBOARD
Wednesday, Aug. 26
Chicago White Sox at Boston (7:10 p.m. EDT). Veteran knuckleballer Tim Wakefield (11-3, 4.31 ERA) starts for the Red Sox against Gavin Floyd (10-8, 3.98) and the White Sox in the third game of the teams' four-game series.
STARS
Tuesday
-Adam Wainwright, Cardinals, allowed three hits over eight innings to become the National League's first 15-game winner in St. Louis' 1-0 win over Houston.
-Andrew McCutchen, Pirates, hit a game-ending two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth off Philadelphia closer Brad Lidge to give Pittsburgh a 6-4 win.
- Elijah Dukes and Josh Willingham, Nationals. Dukes hit a grand slam in a six-run fifth inning and Willingham had two homers and six RBIs in Washington's 15-6 rout of the Chicago Cubs.
-Carlos Pena, Rays, hit two two-run homers, giving him 200 for his career, in Tampa Bay's 7-3 win over Toronto.
-Ryan Langerhans, Mariners, homered off Craig Breslow with one out in the bottom of the 10th inning to send Seattle to a 4-2 victory over Oakland.
-Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies, singled off James McDonald with one out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th inning to give Colorado a 5-4 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
-Zack Greinke, Royals, struck out a team-record 15 in eight innings and Kansas City ended a five-game losing streak with a 6-2 victory over Cleveland.
-Travis Ishikawa, Giants, hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the eighth inning for San Francisco after scoring the tying run in the seventh on a wild pitch in a 5-4 win over Arizona.
TURNAROUND
The Rockies, who trailed the Dodgers by 15 1/2 games in the NL West on June 3, cut Los Angeles' division lead to two games with a 5-4 victory in 10 innings on Tuesday. Troy Tulowitzki hit a bases-loaded single in the 10th to give the Rockies the win in the opener of a key three-game series. Colorado, the NL wild-card leader, is a major league-best 52-22 since June 3 and 18 games over .500 for the first time in team history.
SIDELINED
Johan Santana needs surgery for bone chips in his left elbow and the star pitcher is out for the season, the latest blow to a New York Mets team battered by injuries. The team said their 30-year-old ace is expected to be OK for spring training next year. He was examined Tuesday by Mets medical director Dr. David Altchek in New York.
AIN'T OVER TILL IT'S OVER
The Texas Rangers scored seven runs off Joba Chamberlain with two outs to rally from an early four-run deficit. In all the Rangers scored nine runs with two outs and nobody on in their 10-9 victory over the Yankees.
SLUGGING
Robinson Cano's homer off the bottom of the left-field foul screen in the fourth inning was his career-high 20th of the season, giving the Yankees six players with 20 home runs for the third time in team history (1961, 2004).
SIGNING
The Nationals signed veteran right-hander Livan Hernandez and he will start Wednesday night's game against the Chicago Cubs. The 34-year-old right-hander was released by the Mets on Thursday and signed by Washington on Tuesday. He was 7-8 with a 5.47 ERA with New York and had struggled in his last three starts, allowing 18 earned runs in 14 1-3 innings.
SENT PACKING
Billy Wagner is on his way to the Boston Red Sox, leaving the New York Mets for the chance to pitch in a pennant race as a setup man for All-Star closer Jonathan Papelbon. After a few days of back-and-forth talks about Wagner's future, the depleted Mets traded the left-handed reliever to the Red Sox on Tuesday for two players to be named.
WELCOME BACK
Carlos Zambrano came off the disabled list and was rocked for eight runs in 4 1-3 innings in a 15-6 loss to Washington. The Chicago ace, who hadn't pitched since going three innings on Aug. 1, had admitted earlier that he had been lazy in his between-games abdominal workouts to keep his back strong. He also likes to take mighty cuts in batting practice and he showed why he does it when he hit his game-tying homer in the third.
SPEAKING
"That was fun when I heard that. I was like 'What? Two hundred home runs in the major leagues?' It would take me a few minutes to count to 200. That's all I know. That's not one, two, three, four, five. It'll take me a couple of minutes to get there. I'm very happy, I'm very grateful to have the opportunity to be able to actually do anything like that.'' - Carlos Pena after hitting his 200th homer in Tampa Bay's 7-3 win over Toronto.