Tips and Trends
Kansas City Royals at New York Yankees [YES | 1:05 PM ET]
Royals: Zack Greinke has stumbled in his last three outings after starting the season on fire. In his last three starts (0-2) Greinke has given up 17 runs in 19 innings pitched. Due to his poor performances of late, three of Greinke's last four starts have gone over the total. Greinke faced the Yankees earlier in the season and pitched a gem, shutting out the Bombers in eight innings on the mound.
Key Injuries - NONE
Yankees (-170, O/U 9): Joba Chamberlain's first start didn't go exactly how the Yankees had hoped. With a pitch count of 65, Chamberlain set himself up for a short outing by throwing 38 pitches in the first inning versus Toronto. Chamberlain lasted just 2.1 innings, walking four batters and allowing two runs. Chamberlain is hoping for a better performance today against the offensively inept Royals. As a relief pitcher Chamberlain never allowed a run in 3.1 innings of work against Kansas City.
Key Injuries - NONE
Seattle Mariners at Boston Red Sox [NESN | 1:35 PM ET]
Mariners: Jarrod Washburn has been a disaster this season and he's probably a poor outing away from heading back to the bullpen. After a brief stint in the pen, Washburn returned to the starting rotation but the results have been the same. After pitching well against the Yankees, Washburn gave up nine hits and four runs in 5.1 innings against the Angels. Washburn has been torched on the road this season, going 1-4 with a 6.82 ERA. Five of Washburn's last six starts have gone OVER the total.
Mariners are 8-23 in their last 31 road games.
The OVER is 10-4 in Seattle's last 14 games as an underdog.
Key Injuries - NONE
Red Sox (-130, O/U 9): Justin Masterson continues to be a revelation for Boston, going 2-0 with a 2.95 ERA in three starts this season. After allowing just one run in his first two starts, Masterson allowed a season high four runs in his most recent outing against Tampa, although he did get the win thanks to the Sox scoring seven runs. All of Masterson's starts have taken place at Fenway Park, with two of those going over the total.
Red Sox are 17-6 in the last 23 meetings at Boston.
Red Sox are 43-13 in their last 56 home games.
Key Injuries - OF Jacoby Ellsbury (.287; wrist) is questionable.
Milwaukee Brewers at Colorado Rockies [3:05 PM ET]
Brewers: You can pretty much set your watch to Jeff Suppan. He's been unhittable at home and awful on the road. Unfortunately for the Brewers, Suppan is on the road tonight, where he's 1-4 with a 6.27 ERA. Suppan has owned the Rockies over his career, going 5-1 with a 3.58 ERA in eight starts. Even though he has a high road ERA, Suppan's last three starts away from home have all gone UNDER the total.
Key Injuries - NONE
Rockies (-125, O/U 9.5): Jeff Francis is having a tough season to date but he's coming off one of his best performances, shutting out the Dodgers in LA over seven innings. Francis was tough at Coors Field in 2007 but that hasn't been the case this season, where he's 1-3 with an ERA of 6.00. Somehow Francis is 2-2 in his career against the Brewers, despite sporting a ridiculous 8.71 ERA.
Key Injuries - NONE
Chicago Cubs at Los Angeles Dodgers [ESPN | 8:05 PM ET]
Cubs: When Jason Marquis takes the hill for the Cubs, they know they'll need to score some runs, and that's usually what happens. Marquis rarely goes past the fifth inning, which means the Cubs bullpen also needs to perform well today. In the last four games Chicago won with Marquis on the mound, the team has averaged eight runs. Marquis has performed well against the Dodgers in his career, going 2-1 with a stellar ERA of 2.25.
Cubs are 10-1 in their last 11 games overall.
Cubs are 2-6 in their last 8 games as an underdog.
Key Injuries - NONE
Dodgers (-120, O/U 8.5): Brad Penny is in a funk right now, losing five of his last six starts, with the other being a no decision. Over that span, Penny has given up an unacceptable 32 runs in 33.2 innings pitched. Penny hasn't had a home field advantage this season, going 3-4 with a 5.14 ERA at Dodger Stadium. The good news is Penny has been successful against the Cubs over his career with a 2.42 ERA in eight starts.
The UNDER is 8-2 in LA's last 10 games as a favorite.
The UNDER is 7-2 in LA's last 9 home games.
Key Injuries - NONE