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Wednesday's Tip Sheet
June 17, 2015
Tampa Bay Rays at Washington Nationals | 7:05 p.m. EST (ESPN2)
On ESPN2 tonight, a couple of first-place clubs resume their four-game Interleague home-and-home set at Nationals Park. The Nats are hoping to get a rebound performance from veteran Jordan Zimmermann (5-4, 3.74 ERA), who was roughed up by the last-place Brewers in his last assignment on Friday. Even so, Zimmermann has been mostly steady, as he’s surrendered three runs or less in 10 of his 13 starts, while lasting six innings or more in 10 of them as well.
On the opposite end of the spectrum is Tampa Bay's starter for this evening, Matt Andriese (1-1, 3.76 ERA), who is making just his fourth career start. The right-hander has looked decent overall in his rookie campaign, and is coming off an outing in which he held the White Sox to zero earned runs in 5.2 innings. He’ll look to keep it going as he continues to get acclimated as a starter in the big leagues. In this affair, he’s a +140 road 'dog going up against the much more accomplished Zimmermann and a very tough Nationals lineup. Budding star Bryce Harper has yet to cool off, smashing yet another home run last night at The Trop.
Detroit Tigers at Cincinnati Reds | 7:10 p.m. EST
It’s quite a surprise to see a matchup featuring two of baseball’s best aces in a National League setting feature an over/under line as high as 7, but alas, that’s exactly the case we have here tonight, when David Price (6-2, 2.44 ERA) takes on Johnny Cueto (4-4, 2.85 ERA) in Cincinnati. The two teams split the first two games of this series in Detroit, and now shift over to Great American Ballpark for the final pair.
What’s not to like about this pitching matchup? Aside from the outstanding track records each hurler has, they’re also both in a really tremendous groove at the moment. On one hand, you have Price, who is coming off back-to-back complete game efforts, including a shutout of the division rival Indians in his last start. He’s gone seven or more innings in four consecutive outings, racking up 28 strikeouts in 32-plus innings over that span. Then there is Cueto, who has been as remarkably consistent as he always is. In fact, he’s registered at least six innings in all 12 of his starts, and is currently on a streak where he’s struck out nine batters in three of his past five. He’ll also be working from his comfort zone, as the perennial NL Cy Young candidate has a 1.25 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, and a .161 BAA in five home starts this season. It’s a big reason why he’s 6-3-3 for under bets this season, and this looks like a favorable opportunity to add another under tally. If this matchup is anything like their duel from April of last season, when Price was still with the Rays, there will be some real quality pitching on display this evening.
St. Louis Cardinals at Minnesota Twins | 8:10 p.m. EST
You'd be hard-pressed to find a starting pitcher that's hotter than Carlos Martinez (7-2, 2.93 ERA) right now, as the fiery right-hander has been absolutely locked in over the past month. In fact, since the middle of May, Martinez has made six starts, and in all of them, he gave up two runs or less, while going six innings or deeper in five of the six. In the process, the 23-year-old has helped cash four straight unders, as the Cardinals have won his past five starts. Martinez is a -125 road favorite for this affair.
He'll square off with Twins southpaw Tommy Milone (2-1, 1.45 ERA), who is trying to get Minnesota its first win of this four-game home-and-home set. Milone recently came back up after a surprising stint in the minor leagues, where he actually dominated as much as a pitcher possibly could (4-0 in five outings at Triple-A Rochester with a 0.70 ERA, 0.72 WHIP, .182 BAA, and an astounding 47/3 K/BB ratio in 38.2 IP!), and in his first two starts back, he's amassed a nice 3.00 ERA in outings against the Rangers and Red Sox. The Cards obviously have one of the more efficient lineups in the league, but struggle versus left-handed pitching (.226 team batting average is fourth-worst opposing lefties), giving this matchup potential for a possible under. The line is currently 8.
San Francisco Giants at Seattle Mariners | 10:10 p.m. EST
The great Felix Hernandez (9-3, 3.38 ERA) might be recognized as The King, but he was abused like a peasant his last time out, when he recorded the worst start of his Hall-of-Fame career by getting only one out against the Astros, while allowing eight runs on five hits and two walks, including two homers. Without question, it was one of the most shocking beatdowns of a starting pitcher in recent memory. He's now allowed four or more runs in three of his last six starts, leading his ERA to jump up more than a full run.
The King welcomes another ace, Madison Bumgarner (7-3, 3.16 ERA), into his court this evening at Safeco Field, which certainly has the promise of an entertaining pitcher's duel. Bumgarner is having his usual standout season leading the Giants' pitching staff, and has been extra stingy as of late, churning out a quality start in five of his last six tries. The Mariners have the fifth-highest slugging percentage (.417) opposite left-handers, which potentially could spoil Mad Bum's recent string of terrific outings. The over/under, as you'd expect for such a star-studded pitching matchup in a pitcher's park, is 6.
Texas Rangers at Los Angeles Dodgers | 10:10 p.m. EST
I don’t know about you but it is very fascinating to me that in 2015, Wandy Rodriguez (3-2, 3.03 ERA) is involved in a pitching matchup that has drawn the rare over/under line of 6. Of course, the majority of that reasoning has much to do with his counterpart being reigning NL Cy Young and MVP Clayton Kershaw (5-3, 3.21 ERA), who has been at his best over his past handful of starts.
Kershaw, in fact, has surrendered just three runs combined over his past four starts, while totaling 39 strikeouts in his 28.2 innings of work over that span, compared to just six walks. He’ll seemingly be in a favorable spot to continue that, considering his best work is generally done at home, while the Rangers have been worse against left-handed pitching as opposed to righties. Rodriguez, meanwhile, has been enjoying a renaissance year out of nowhere, and will also be in a favorable position, being 3-0 in six starts on the road this year with a 1.89 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and a tremendous .182 BAA. Like Kershaw, he, too, will be facing a club that struggles against left-handers, as the Dodgers are 24th in team OPS (.361) versus southpaws. This could be a duel after the first pair of games in Arlington both went under. Additionally, Kershaw is laying a lot of chalk, as he normally does in any matchup at Dodger Stadium, being a -250 favorite.
June 17, 2015
Tampa Bay Rays at Washington Nationals | 7:05 p.m. EST (ESPN2)
On ESPN2 tonight, a couple of first-place clubs resume their four-game Interleague home-and-home set at Nationals Park. The Nats are hoping to get a rebound performance from veteran Jordan Zimmermann (5-4, 3.74 ERA), who was roughed up by the last-place Brewers in his last assignment on Friday. Even so, Zimmermann has been mostly steady, as he’s surrendered three runs or less in 10 of his 13 starts, while lasting six innings or more in 10 of them as well.
On the opposite end of the spectrum is Tampa Bay's starter for this evening, Matt Andriese (1-1, 3.76 ERA), who is making just his fourth career start. The right-hander has looked decent overall in his rookie campaign, and is coming off an outing in which he held the White Sox to zero earned runs in 5.2 innings. He’ll look to keep it going as he continues to get acclimated as a starter in the big leagues. In this affair, he’s a +140 road 'dog going up against the much more accomplished Zimmermann and a very tough Nationals lineup. Budding star Bryce Harper has yet to cool off, smashing yet another home run last night at The Trop.
Detroit Tigers at Cincinnati Reds | 7:10 p.m. EST
It’s quite a surprise to see a matchup featuring two of baseball’s best aces in a National League setting feature an over/under line as high as 7, but alas, that’s exactly the case we have here tonight, when David Price (6-2, 2.44 ERA) takes on Johnny Cueto (4-4, 2.85 ERA) in Cincinnati. The two teams split the first two games of this series in Detroit, and now shift over to Great American Ballpark for the final pair.
What’s not to like about this pitching matchup? Aside from the outstanding track records each hurler has, they’re also both in a really tremendous groove at the moment. On one hand, you have Price, who is coming off back-to-back complete game efforts, including a shutout of the division rival Indians in his last start. He’s gone seven or more innings in four consecutive outings, racking up 28 strikeouts in 32-plus innings over that span. Then there is Cueto, who has been as remarkably consistent as he always is. In fact, he’s registered at least six innings in all 12 of his starts, and is currently on a streak where he’s struck out nine batters in three of his past five. He’ll also be working from his comfort zone, as the perennial NL Cy Young candidate has a 1.25 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, and a .161 BAA in five home starts this season. It’s a big reason why he’s 6-3-3 for under bets this season, and this looks like a favorable opportunity to add another under tally. If this matchup is anything like their duel from April of last season, when Price was still with the Rays, there will be some real quality pitching on display this evening.
St. Louis Cardinals at Minnesota Twins | 8:10 p.m. EST
You'd be hard-pressed to find a starting pitcher that's hotter than Carlos Martinez (7-2, 2.93 ERA) right now, as the fiery right-hander has been absolutely locked in over the past month. In fact, since the middle of May, Martinez has made six starts, and in all of them, he gave up two runs or less, while going six innings or deeper in five of the six. In the process, the 23-year-old has helped cash four straight unders, as the Cardinals have won his past five starts. Martinez is a -125 road favorite for this affair.
He'll square off with Twins southpaw Tommy Milone (2-1, 1.45 ERA), who is trying to get Minnesota its first win of this four-game home-and-home set. Milone recently came back up after a surprising stint in the minor leagues, where he actually dominated as much as a pitcher possibly could (4-0 in five outings at Triple-A Rochester with a 0.70 ERA, 0.72 WHIP, .182 BAA, and an astounding 47/3 K/BB ratio in 38.2 IP!), and in his first two starts back, he's amassed a nice 3.00 ERA in outings against the Rangers and Red Sox. The Cards obviously have one of the more efficient lineups in the league, but struggle versus left-handed pitching (.226 team batting average is fourth-worst opposing lefties), giving this matchup potential for a possible under. The line is currently 8.
San Francisco Giants at Seattle Mariners | 10:10 p.m. EST
The great Felix Hernandez (9-3, 3.38 ERA) might be recognized as The King, but he was abused like a peasant his last time out, when he recorded the worst start of his Hall-of-Fame career by getting only one out against the Astros, while allowing eight runs on five hits and two walks, including two homers. Without question, it was one of the most shocking beatdowns of a starting pitcher in recent memory. He's now allowed four or more runs in three of his last six starts, leading his ERA to jump up more than a full run.
The King welcomes another ace, Madison Bumgarner (7-3, 3.16 ERA), into his court this evening at Safeco Field, which certainly has the promise of an entertaining pitcher's duel. Bumgarner is having his usual standout season leading the Giants' pitching staff, and has been extra stingy as of late, churning out a quality start in five of his last six tries. The Mariners have the fifth-highest slugging percentage (.417) opposite left-handers, which potentially could spoil Mad Bum's recent string of terrific outings. The over/under, as you'd expect for such a star-studded pitching matchup in a pitcher's park, is 6.
Texas Rangers at Los Angeles Dodgers | 10:10 p.m. EST
I don’t know about you but it is very fascinating to me that in 2015, Wandy Rodriguez (3-2, 3.03 ERA) is involved in a pitching matchup that has drawn the rare over/under line of 6. Of course, the majority of that reasoning has much to do with his counterpart being reigning NL Cy Young and MVP Clayton Kershaw (5-3, 3.21 ERA), who has been at his best over his past handful of starts.
Kershaw, in fact, has surrendered just three runs combined over his past four starts, while totaling 39 strikeouts in his 28.2 innings of work over that span, compared to just six walks. He’ll seemingly be in a favorable spot to continue that, considering his best work is generally done at home, while the Rangers have been worse against left-handed pitching as opposed to righties. Rodriguez, meanwhile, has been enjoying a renaissance year out of nowhere, and will also be in a favorable position, being 3-0 in six starts on the road this year with a 1.89 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and a tremendous .182 BAA. Like Kershaw, he, too, will be facing a club that struggles against left-handers, as the Dodgers are 24th in team OPS (.361) versus southpaws. This could be a duel after the first pair of games in Arlington both went under. Additionally, Kershaw is laying a lot of chalk, as he normally does in any matchup at Dodger Stadium, being a -250 favorite.
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