MLB weekend cheat sheet
By Marc Lawrence
The trade deadline is about to be behind and with that, the division and wild card races will take the forefront again.
Let’s focus in on the top two series on both the American and National League slate this edition of the MLB Weekend Cheat Sheet.
Remember, all results are within the series and all pitcher records are ‘team starts’ (the team’s record in games in which the pitcher starts) versus this opponent.
National League
Chicago Cubs at Florida Marlins
Most recent series result: Cubs are 6-2 in their last eight games (3-1 this season)
Most recent series result at the site: Marlins are 7-2 in their last nine games home
Key day/month stat: Cubs are 7-2 on Fridays; Marlins are 3-8 on Fridays
Best arm in the series: Cub pitcher Zambrano is 8-0 with a 3.17 ERA in his last eight starts
Worst arm in the series: Florida hurler Volstad is 0-1 with a 3.00 ERA at home
Los Angeles Dodgers at Atlanta Braves
Most recent series result: Braves are 6-2 in last their eight games
Most recent series result at the site: Braves are 6-1 in their last seven games home
Key day/month stat: Dodgers are 17-5 on Saturdays; Braves are 1-8 on Saturdays
Best arm in the series: Braves’ Jurrjens is 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA
Worst arm in the series: Dodgers’ Schmidt is 1-4 with a 6.73 ERA in his last six games away
American League
New York Yankees at Chicago White Sox
Most recent series result: Yankees are 10-3 in their last 13 games
Most recent series result at the site: Yankees are 5-1 in their last six games away
Key day/month stat: Yankees are 6-4 on Fridays; White Sox are 5-12 on Fridays
Best arm in the series: Yankees’ Burnett is 2-1 with a 2.61 ERA in his last three games
Worst arm in the series: White Sox’ Buerhle is 1-7 with a 6.11 ERA career
Los Angeles Angels at Minnesota Twins
Most recent series result: Angels are 12-7 in their last 19 games (3-4 this season)
Most recent series result at the site: Twins are 3-0 in their last three games home
Key day/month stat: Twins are 12-4 on Fridays
Best arm in the series: Twins’ Perkins is 2-0 with a 0.56 ERA
Worst arm in the series: Twins’ Baker is 1-5 with a 5.89 ERA
MLB Weekend Top 10
By Bodog.com
Friday’s trade deadline draws ever closer. The Pittsburgh Pirates continue to be active, trading veterans for prospects at a rate that would make Billy Beane proud. One of their most intriguing deals had them send 2B Freddy Sanchez to the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday – immediately after the Giants’ 1-0 win over Pittsburgh in 10 innings. Sanchez had to pick up his stuff and move from the visitors’ to the home team’s locker room.
This trade and more will be featured in our latest Top 10 betting preview. All stats (and deals) are at press time; for the latest betting lines and trade updates, keep checking sports.bodog.com.
Top 10 paying teams
1. Los Angeles Angels (60-40, 19.47 units)
2. Los Angeles Dodgers (62-39, 16.62 units)
3. Texas Rangers (56-43, 16.00 units)
4. San Francisco Giants (55-46, 10.18 units)
5. Philadelphia Phillies (58-41, 9.84 units)
6. Colorado Rockies (54-46, 7.32 units)
7. Seattle Mariners (53-48, 6.53 units)
8. Florida Marlins (52-48, 5.47 units)
9. Detroit Tigers (53-47, 3.40 units)
10. Houston Astros (51-50, 2.27 units)
Top 10 paying pitchers
1. Matt Palmer, L.A. Angels (10-2 team record, 11.64 units)
2. Josh Johnson, Florida (16-5, 10.92 units)
3. Matt Cain, San Francisco (16-5, 10.44 units)
4. Tim Wakefield, Boston (13-4, 9.22 units)
5. Jeff Niemann, Tampa Bay (13-5, 8.92 units)
6. Jered Weaver, L.A. Angels (15-6, 7.88 units)
7. Josh Beckett, Boston (15-5, 7.72 units)
8. Mark Buehrle, Chicago White Sox (15-6, 7.60 units)
9. Jason Marquis, Colorado (13-7, 7.50 units)
10. Felix Hernandez, Seattle (15-6, 7.05 units)
This weekend's top 10 storylines
1. Phillies acquire SP Cliff Lee, OF Ben Francisco from Cleveland for four prospects
2. Pittsburgh sends 2B Freddy Sanchez to San Francisco
3. Mariners receive SS Jack Wilson, SP Ian Snell from Pirates in multi-player trade
4. Cubs OF Reed Johnson (broken foot) out four weeks
5. Boston sends OF Mark Kotsay and cash to White Sox for OF Brian Anderson
6. Cleveland recalls SP Fausto Carmona from minors
7. White Sox SS Alexei Ramirez leaves Wednesday’s game with sprained right ankle
8. Cubs SP Ryan Dempster activated from 15-day DL
7. MRI on Brewers SP Jeff Suppan reveals strained left oblique
8. Astros SP Roy Oswalt (back sprain) examined by team doctors; status uncertain
9. White Sox place SP Bartolo Colon on 15-day DL
10. OF Lastings Milledge could join Pirates on Friday
This weekend's top 10 games to bet on
1. Sunday: L.A. Dodgers at Atlanta (8:00 p.m. Eastern, ESPN)
The Dodgers have lost the top spot in our money standings with four straight losses. The Braves (51-49, -5.20 units) are on a zigzag streak of six games. It’s Sunday Night Baseball, live from Turner Field and with live betting on tap.
2. Saturday: N.Y. Yankees at Chicago White Sox (4:10 p.m., FOX)
The Yankees (62-39, +2.02 units) have caught up to the Dodgers for the best record in the majors. They’re 10-3 in their last 13 meetings with the Pale Hose.
3. Sunday: Philadelphia at San Francisco (4:05 p.m., TBS)
The current projected starters are Cole Hamels (12-8 team record, +0.81 units) for the Phillies and Barry Zito (10-11, +1.73 units) for the Giants.
4. Saturday: Houston at St. Louis (7:15 p.m., MLBN)
The MLB Network is on the air with the first start since May for righthander Mitchell Boggs (3.22 ERA, 1.75 WHIP). The Astros are 12-4 in their last 16 against starters with a WHIP of 1.30 or above.
5. Friday: Chicago Cubs at Florida (7:10 p.m.)
The Cubs took three of four from the Marlins when they played three months ago at Wrigley Field. Rich Harden (9-8, -2.61 units) is looking for his fourth consecutive quality start.
6. Saturday: Kansas City at Tampa Bay (4:10 p.m., FOX)
Bruce Chen (6.39 ERA, 1.55 WHIP) has only been back a month, and he’s already cost the Royals 3.39 units with one win in six games.
7. Friday: Boston at Baltimore (7:05 p.m.)
Lots of juicy trends for the under in this one, like 7-1-1 in Baltimore’s last nine games and 9-3-1 in Boston’s last 13 on grass.
8. Sunday: L.A. Angels at Minnesota (2:10 p.m.)
Our new No. 1 money team is 10-3 since the All-Star break, and No. 6 money pitcher Jered Weaver (3.64 ERA, 6.33 runs for) is on a personal eight-game over streak.
9. Friday: Arizona at N.Y. Mets (7:10 p.m.)
The Mets (48-51, -3.24 units) have pulled back out of the ditch with four straight wins, and they’re 19-7 in their last 26 games against Arizona.
10. Saturday: Seattle at Texas (8:05 p.m.)
This is our weekly dose of No. 10 moneyman King Felix Hernandez (2.79 ERA, 1.15 WHIP), who just got an upgrade at shortstop with Jack Wilson (.691 OPS, 22 FRAR) replacing Ronny Cedeno (.504 OPS, nine FRAR).