Wednesday's Streaking and Slumping Starting Pitchers
Streaking
Roy Oswalt (9-13, 3.12 ERA) Philadelphia
Oswalt has been everything the Philadelphia Phillies hoped he would be when they swung a deal with the Houston Astros to land the veteran right-hander last month. He is 3-1 over six starts with his new club, allowing only 10 earned runs over that stretch.
He went eight innings allowing a single run in taking a no-decision against the San Diego Padres the last time he took the hill. Oswalt has also struck out at least five batters in five of his six starts with the Phillies.
Slumping
A.J. Burnett (9-12, 5.17 ERA) New York Yankees
Burnett has always been a hard guy to figure out. Some days he takes the mound and is untouchable and others he looks like he should be playing Double-A ball – at best. Right now it’s more the latter than the former.
Burnett is 0-4 in his last five starts and is coming off one of his worst outings of the season. He allowed eight earned runs over 3 1/3 innings in a 9-4 loss at the Chicago White Sox.
"It's Groundhog Day again," Burnett told reporters recently. "When you take your team out of it in the first two or three innings, it wears on these guys. It's got to be frustrating not knowing what you're going to get every five days."
Tim Lincecum (11-9, 3.80 ERA) San Francisco
The San Francisco Giants can forget about the postseason unless Tim Lincecum snaps out of it in a hurry. The club’s ace lost all six of his starts in August, allowing at least four runs in all but one of those appearances to end off the month with a fat 7.82 ERA.
"I'm pretty ready for (September)," Lincecum told reporters. "This has been one of those things you have to take with a punch and just roll with it. It's not fun to go through. You have to fight through it. The last thing I want to do is give up or give in to what's going on now."
Wednesday MLB Tips
By Kevin Rogers
September is here and even though much of the focus will turn to football, the pennant races around Major League baseball are heating up. There is action from noon to late night for gamblers, as we'll focus on three night contests. The Rockies and Giants each throw out their aces by the Bay, while the Twins look to open up their lead in the AL Central against the Tigers. Let's start at Tropicana Field as Tampa Bay tries to grab the upper-hand in the contested AL East race.
Blue Jays at Rays - 7:10 PM EST
Toronto has definitely overachieved this season, turning into one of the most powerful offenses in all of baseball. The Jays have suffered when they travel down south to battle the Rays, losing 10 of the last 12 meetings at the Trop. Things don't get easier for Toronto as its faces one of the frontrunners for the AL Cy Young Award winner.
David Price (15-6, 3.01 ERA) allowed a pair of homers in his last start, a 3-1 home loss to the Red Sox as a $1.40 'chalk.' The Rays are a perfect 7-0 this season when Price starts following a defeat in his last outing, with all seven victories coming by at least two runs. The southpaw has been dynamic at home, owning a 7-2 mark at the Trop, while the Rays have cashed the 'under' in eight of his 12 home outings. Tampa Bay is 6-0 in Price's six career starts against Toronto, including three wins this season.
The Jays send out Shaun Marcum (11-7, 3.61 ERA), who is coming off a no-decision in his last start against the Tigers. Marcum tossed six innings of eight-hit ball, allowing one earned run in a 3-2 extra-innings victory over Detroit. Since giving up eight earned runs to the Red Sox on August 11, Marcum has yielded five earned runs combined in his last three outings. The Toronto right-hander has had little fortune against Tampa Bay this season, losing twice while giving up 20 hits and 11 earned runs in 12.1 innings.
The home team is 9-4 this season, including a 6-1 mark the last seven meetings. Tampa Bay has drilled the 'under' in six of its previous eight contests, while going 'under' in four straight at home.
Tigers at Twins - 8:10 PM EST
The two squads that played in Game 163 last October at the Metrodome for the AL Central title will probably not repeat that this time around. Detroit is currently sitting below .500, while trying to improve on its dismal 22-41 record away from the Motor City. Minnesota is riding an 11-2 run at Target Field, as the Twins trot out their talented southpaw in Game 2 of this series.
Francisco Liriano (12-7, 3.41 ERA) has been nearly unbeatable as of late, with the Twins winning seven of his last eight starts since the All-Star Break. In six of those outings, Liriano has allowed two earned runs or less, including three scoreless efforts. The 26-year old southpaw needs to improve his numbers against the Tigers, giving up 15 hits and 13 earned runs in his last 7.1 innings versus Detroit (0-2).
The Tigers counter with Max Scherzer (10-9, 3.60 ERA), who has been terrific in his previous three outings. The former Diamondback has scattered 12 hits and two earned runs in victories over the Yankees, Indians, and Blue Jays. Extending it back to July 31, Scherzer has delivered six straight quality outings, even though Detroit 3-3 in this stretch. Minnesota should be excited to see Scherzer, scoring 16 runs in two meetings against the right-hander this season.
The Twins are 5-1 against the Tigers at Target Field, as the home team is 9-3 in this season's series. Minnesota is 5-1 to the 'over' the last six at home, while Detroit owns a 6-1-1 mark to the 'over' the previous seven on the highway.
Rockies at Giants - 9:15 PM EST
A pair of aces that have combined for two wins in 10 August starts meet up with a clean slate in September as San Francisco tries to hold off a surging Colorado squad. The Rockies stole the series opener with two runs in the ninth inning of a 2-1 triumph, the seventh win in Colorado's last eight games. San Francisco is just 5-9 the past 14 contests, sitting five games behind San Diego in the NL West race.
Two-time reigning Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum (11-9, 3.80 ERA) finished the month of August with no victories in five starts, the longest winless stretch in his career. Lincecum has given up 19 earned runs in his last four trips to the mound, failing to register a quality start since a 3-2 defeat at Atlanta on August 5. Backing the former Washington Husky at home is a 50/50 proposition, with the Giants going 7-7 in his 14 home outings. Lincecum is 0-2 in two starts against the Rockies this season, including a 4-0 loss on May 31 at AT&T Park.
The winning pitcher in that game is Lincecum's opponent on Wednesday, Ubaldo Jimenez (17-5, 2.71 ERA). The Rockies' ace tossed a complete-game, four-hitter in that Memorial Day victory, finishing the first two months of the season with an ERA below 1.00. Jimenez's ERA has taken a hit since then, as he is in the thick of the NL Cy Young race alongside Adam Wainwright and Roy Halladay. The last time Jimenez won was at home against San Francisco on August 4, allowing four hits and one earned run in seven innings of a 6-1 victory.
After the Giants won the first two meetings this season, the Rockies are 8-3 the last 11 matchups. The 'under' has been the play at AT&T Park in this series, cashing in all seven meetings.
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Tips and Trends
St. Louis Cardinals at Houston Astros
CARDINALS: (-110, O/U 8.5) St. Louis has really struggled of late, as they now find themselves 6 games back of the Reds in the National League Central playoff chase. The Cardinals have lost so much of late, that they are shaving their heads to change their luck. St. Louis is 69-60 SU this year, including 28-37 SU on the road this year. The Cardinals are -16.66 and -9.34 units both SU and on the RL overall this year. Veteran pitcher Jeff Suppan will take the mound this afternoon, as he is 1-6 with an ERA of 5.72 and a WHIP of 1.81 this season. The Cardinals are 1-6 in their last 7 road games against a team with a losing record. St. Louis is 2-6 in their last 8 games against a right-handed starter. The Cardinals are 11-5 in Suppan's last 16 Wednesday starts. St. Louis is 13-6 in Suppan's last 19 starts during game 3 of a series. The Cardinals are 0-5 in Suppan's last 5 road starts against a team with a losing record.
Cardinals are 1-7 last 8 games against the National League Central.
Over is 7-2 last 9 road games against a right-handed starter.
Key Injuries - C Jason LaRue (concussion) is out.
Projected Score: 4
ASTROS: Since the 2nd half of the season, Houston has been a great team. In fact, the Astros might be the most dangerous team with a losing record this year. Houston has most recently won 7 of their past 10 games, and stand 60-71 SU this year. Houston is +10.77 and -5.49 units both SU and on the RL respectively this season. In fact, the Astros have won 8 of the 13 meetings against the Cardinals this season. Of those 8 wins, 7 of them came with Houston as the listed underdog. Pitcher Nelson Figueroa will make the home start tonight, as he is 3-2 with an ERA of 2.77 and a WHIP of 1.08 this year. The Astros are 4-0 in their last 4 games against the National League Central. Houston is 13-3 in their last 16 Wednesday games overall. The Astros are 12-4 in their last 16 home games against a team with a losing road record.
Astros are 6-0 last 6 games against a team with a winning record.
Under is 6-0 last 6 games against a right-handed starter.
Key Injuries - 3B Jeff Keppinger (toe) is out.
Projected Score: 5 (SIDE of the Day)
New York Mets at Atlanta Braves
METS: It's been a very disappointing season for the Mets, as they are simply trying to finish the year with a winning record now. New York is 65-66 SU this year, including 26-41 SU away from home. New York has just been too inconsistent this year, both with their offense and their pitching staff. Turmoil has followed this team as well, which certainly hasn't helped the team in the standings. The Mets are -3.88 and +17.86 units both SU and on the RL this year. Pitcher Michael Pelfrey will make the start tonight, as he is 13-7 with an ERA of 3.61 and a WHIP of 1.43 this season. The Mets are 19-41 in their last 60 road games against a team with a winning record. New York is 4-9 in their last 13 games during game 3 of a series. The Mets are 5-14 in their last 19 road games against a right-handed starter. New York is 1-5 in their last 6 games against the National League East. The Mets are 12-3 in Pelfrey's last 15 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance. The Mets are 1-4 in Pelfrey's last 5 road starts against a team with a winning record. New York is 1-5 in Pelfrey's last 6 starts with 4 days of rest.
Mets are 8-17 last 25 road games overall.
Under is 11-5 in Mets last 16 games against a right-handed starter.
Key Injuries - SS Jose Reyes (oblique) is questionable.
Projected Score: 4
BRAVES: (-170, O/U 7.5) Atlanta has won their past 3 games, and with San Diego struggling of late, the Braves are closing in on the best record in the National League. The Braves are 76-55 SU this year, including a very impressive 47-18 SU at home. No team in baseball comes close to matching the home record of Atlanta this season. Atlanta is +9.21 and +14.31 units both SU and on the RL this year. Pitcher Tommy Hanson will take the mound tonight, as he is 8-10 with an ERA of 3.76 and a WHIP of 1.27 this season. The Braves are 6-2 in their last 8 games against the National League East. Atlanta is 6-2 in their last 8 games during game 3 of a series. The Braves are 36-16 in their last 52 home games against a right-handed starter. The Braves are 1-4 in their last 5 games against a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30. Atlanta is 5-2 in Hanson's last 7 starts against the National League East. The Braves are 2-5 in Hanson's last 7 starts with 4 days of rest.
Atlanta is 2-7 in Hanson's last 9 starts on grass. The Braves are 1-4 in Hanson's last 5 home starts.
Braves are 20-7 last 27 home games against a team with a losing record.
Over is 5-1 last 6 games during game 3 of a series.
Key Injuries - 3B Chipper Jones (knee) is out.
Projected Score: 5 (OVER-Total of the Day)
Diamond Trends - Wednesday
By Vince Akins
Cardinals at Astros – The Astros are 7-0 since July 31, 2010 vs a team that has lost at least their last three games for a net profit of $815.
Mets at Braves – The Mets are 6-0 since July 11, 2010 when their starter went at least eight innings in his last start after a loss for a net profit of $635. The Mets are 5-0 since June 16, 2009 when Michael Pelfrey starts on the road vs a team that has won at least their last two games for a net profit of $690. The Braves are 11-0 since May 28, 2010 as a home 140+ favorite after scoring 6+ runs win for a net profit of $1100.
Pirates at Cubs – The Cubs are 0-6 since May 04, 2010 as a 140+ favorite after scoring 6+ runs for a net profit of $990 when playing against.
Padres at Diamondbacks – The Padres are 7-0 since June 10, 2010 on the road after a loss and it is the last game of the series for a net profit of $840. The Padres are 7-0 since May 29, 2010 when Mat Latos starts as a 140+ favorite for a net profit of $700.
Phillies at Dodgers – The Phillies are 11-0 since July 23, 2010 after a win in which they left 18+ men on base for a net profit of $1190. The Dodgers are 10-0 since April 15, 2010 at home after a loss in which they allowed 5+ walks and it is not the first game of a series for a net profit of $1010
Rockies at Giants – The Rockies are 6-0 since April 11, 2010 after a loss in which they allowed 5+ walks and it is the last game of a series for a net profit of $730. The Giants are 7-0 since May 29, 2010 at home after a win in which they allowed 6 or fewer hits for a net profit of $700. The Giants are 0-5 since August 05, 2010 when Tim Lincecum starts for a net profit of $705 when playing against.
White Sox at Indians – The White Sox are 8-0 since June 15, 2010 vs a team that has lost at least their last three games for a net profit of $890. The Indians are 0-7 since May 04, 2010 as a dog after a loss in which they were shut out in the first 6 innings and it is not the first game of a series for a net profit of $700 when playing against.
Nationals at Marlins – The Nationals are 0-6 since May 27, 2010 on the road after playing as a dog and it is the last game of a three game series when they split the first two for a net profit of $600 when playing against. The Marlins are 6-0 since May 02, 2010 at home after a win in which they allowed 6 or fewer hits and it is not the first game of a series for a net profit of $610.
Red Sox at Orioles – The Red Sox are 7-0 since April 29, 2009 when Jon Lester starts as a road favorite when he is off a start in which he needed more than 4 pitches per batter for a net profit of $700. The Red Sox are 6-0 since July 31, 2010 when they are off a loss in which they never led for a net profit of $640.
Blue Jays at Rays – The Blue Jays are 0-7 since May 25, 2010 on the road after a win in which they allowed 6 or fewer hits for a net profit of $700 when playing against. The Rays are 10-0 since June 28, 2009 when David Price starts after his team scored a total of fewer than three runs in his last start for a net profit of $1000. The Rays are 7-0 since June 12, 2010 as a favorite after a loss in which they drew 5+ walks and it is not the first game of a series for a net profit of $700.
Brewers at Reds – The Reds are 8-0 since July 24, 2010 after a win in which their opponent left 18+ men on base for a net profit of $815.
Rangers at Royals – The Rangers are 8-0 since July 25, 2010 as a 140+ favorite when they won the last two games their starter started for a net profit of $800. The Rangers are 7-0 since July 27, 2009 when Tommy Hunter starts as a favorite vs a team that lost their starters last two starts for a net profit of $700. The Royals are 0-8 since July 20, 2010 as a dog after a one run win for a net profit of $800 when playing against.
Tigers at Twins – The Twins are 6-0 since July 17, 2010 at home when they are off a win in which they scored in at most two separate innings for a net profit of $600.
Athletics at Yankees – The Athletics are 0-7 since May 30, 2010 as a road dog when they lost the last two games their starter started for a net profit of $700 when playing against. The Athletics are 6-0 since May 20, 2009 when Brett Anderson starts as a road dog after facing 25 or fewer hitters for a net profit of $825.