Public Likes The Yanks
Joba Chamberlain’s transition from reliever to starter has progressed in many small steps.
He has the chance to take another one Tuesday, trying to build on his first win as a starter as the New York Yankees continue their three-game series with the Texas Rangers.
Chamberlain (2-2, 2.03 ERA) turned in his best effort Wednesday since joining the rotation, scattering six hits and one walk in a 6 2-3 innings of a 10-0 rout of the Pittsburgh Pirates. It was the 22-year-old pitcher’s longest outing in five appearances since giving up his role as set-up man.
Oddsmakers from Sportsbook.com have made New York -205 money line favorites (MLB Odds) for tonight’s game, the over/under has been set at 9.5 total runs (Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 69% of bets for this game have been placed on New York -205 (View MLB Bet Percentages).
"There’s been a lot of hype with this young man. Sometimes it’s not easy to live up to the expectations, but he was really good," New York manager Joe Girardi said. "We’ve stretched him out during the season, and that’s not easy to do, but he welcomed the challenge and he looks really good."
The right-hander left after 114 pitches, continuing a steady build-up of a pitch count that began at 60 in his first career start June 3.
"It continues to get stronger and get better and everything went well," said Chamberlain, who has a 0.98 ERA in his last three starts – covering 18 1-3 innings. "Throwing strike one allowed my curveball and slider to work out well. Everything felt good and it’s felt good for a while."
We’re Sending 100 Players To |
Bet on the 2008 Baseball Season And Play Our $40,000 MLB |
Bet on All The UEFA Matches From Anywhere in The World |
Chamberlain has no record in three starts at Yankee Stadium despite striking out 17 in 12 1-3 innings.
On Monday, the Rangers’ relievers proved to be pivotal contributors in a 2-1 victory over the Yankees – throwing 3 1-3 perfect innings to back Scott Feldman on a four-hitter. The Texas bullpen has a 1.16 ERA in the past nine games, allowing four runs in 31 innings.
Josh Hamilton had a run-scoring single for his major league-leading 80th RBI for Texas (43-41), which has not been three games over .500 since being 77-74 on Sept. 18, 2006.
Milton Bradley, however, continued his struggles at Yankee Stadium, where he is batting .115 (6-for-52) after going 0-for-4 with four strikeouts.
In an odd quirk, Rangers starter Kevin Millwood (5-4, 5.08) will be making his fifth consecutive start on the road. He’s 1-4 in eight road appearances this season and has been ripped for 24 runs and 44 hits in his last 28 innings away from home.
He is coming off a terrible outing at Houston on Thursday, getting tagged for a season high-tying seven runs – all in the first two innings – and 12 hits in five innings of a 7-2 defeat.
"I made a lot of bad pitches and they hit them," Millwood told the Rangers’ official Web site. "Even after that, I didn’t make a whole lot of good pitches… I felt all my pitches were there but I didn’t locate them."
Millwood is 1-4 in six lifetime starts versus the Yankees (44-39), but has not faced them since 2006. Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, who tied Jimmie Foxx for 14th on the all-time home run list with No. 534 in Monday’s loss, is 6-for-14 with a homer against Millwood.
Jason Giambi is 5-for-11 with two homers against the right-hander, and Bobby Abreu is 14-for-39 (.359).
Rangers reliever Eddie Guardado left during his warm-ups in the eighth inning with what manager Ron Washington labeled "a twinge" in his left shoulder and is day-to-day.
Did you like this article? Subscribe to our Baseball news feed for the fastest updates delivered right to you – Click here to Subscribe