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**Udog** · 07-14-2015, 08:22 AM

Armadillo: Tuesday's six-pack

-- Chris Sale is White Sox' best pitcher; if he pitches in All-Star Game tonight, he will not pitch against the Royals this weekend. Royals' manager is Ned Yost, who is the AL manager tonight. Gee, I wonder if Sale will get in the game?

-- Zach Grienke has a 1.39 ERA, pretty amazing.

-- Todd Frazier won an interesting HR Derby; new format got the credit, but the small ballpark was a big factor. Next three years: San Diego-Washington-Miami, not great for Home Run Derby.

-- Personal viewing preference: NBA summer league over Home Run Derby, though Chris Berman gets credit for toning down his annoying act last night.

-- Florida State has banned its football players from going into bars, after couple of domestic violence problems. Not good.

-- Andrea Bargnani took less money to sign with the Nets, turning down Sacramento, which is having a very chaotic summer.

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Armadillo: Tuesday's List of 13: College football knowledge to ponder......

13) From 2009-12, Alabama was 49-5, with a +53 turnover ratio; last two years, they were 23-4, with a turnover ratio of 0.

12) Since 2008, Michigan State is 16-3-1 vs spread as a road favorite.

11) Arizona State is 16-9 as a favorite under Todd Graham; their turnover ratio the last two years is +29. Sun Devils are 20-7 SU during that time.

10) Penn State played 76 underclassmen LY, second most in country.

9) TCU's only loss last year was 61-58 to Baylor; Horned Frogs have ten starters back on offense- they're 3-8 vs spread in last 11 games as road favorite.

8) Florida State loses a QB who was 27-1 as a starter, and offensive linemen who started a total of 174 games, a huge loss-- their only senior starter on offense would be if Notre Dame transfer Golson becomes the starter at QB.

7) Speaking of the Seminoles, when Chief Osceola comes out on the field before home games, he is riding an Appaloosa horse named Renegade.

6) Oregon uses Donald Duck as its school mascot; they have a handshake agreement with the late Walt Disney himself that allows it.

5) Over last three season, Army Cadets are 0-9 vs spread as road underdogs.

4) Temple Owls have 19 starters back this season; since 2007, they're 30-19 vs spread when they're getting points.

3) Over last nine years, Boise State is 104-15 SU; over last three years, they're 7-1 vs spread in game followng a loss.

2) Northern Illinois covered 12 of last 15 games as a road favorite, but they've lost last three bowl games, allowing 34.7 ppg.

1) This will be first time since 2010 that Arkansas State had same head coach two years in a row; coaches at Ole Miss-Auburn-Boise State all came from Jonesboro.

**Udog** · 07-14-2015, 08:26 AM

MLB

Tuesday, July 14

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Game of the Day: MLB All-Star Game
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American League at National League (-115, 7.0)

Game to be played at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio

Homefield advantage did not do much for manager Ned Yost and the Kansas City Royals in the 2014 World Series, but he is not willing to give up the chance at another Game 7 at home. Yost will attempt to guide the American League to a third straight win in the All-Star Game and the resulting homefield advantage in the World Series in the 86th edition of the Midsummer Classic at Cincinnati’s Great American Ball Park on Tuesday.

Yost filled out his pitching staff with the kind of late-inning power relievers that have been a big part of his team’s success while using the end of the roster for versatile players like New York Yankees speedster Brett Gardner and Boston Red Sox super utilityman Brock Holt. The Royals’ manager should feel right at home with a record seven members of his own team enjoying the festivities, though left fielder Alex Gordon won’t be able to play due to a groin strain. San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy leads a National League squad so stacked with talent that reigning league MVP and three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw wasn’t added to the roster until Sunday. The middle of the NL lineup includes Washington right fielder Bryce Harper and Arizona first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, who bring a combined .34 batting average, 47 home runs and 131 RBIs into the game.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FOX

LINE HISTORY: As of this writing, oddsmakers have not moved off their NL -115 number since opening.

WEATHER REPORT: There's currently a chance of showers and thunderstorms at game time with a 40 percent chance of precipitation.

WHAT CAPPERS SAY: "The All-Star game has exhibited long streaks of dominance by certain leagues. The National League went 19-1 from 1963 to 1982 and then the American League went 18-3-1 from 1988 to 2009. Since then, the National League has won 3 of the past 5 years, but streaks continue to be present with the NL going 3-0 (2010-2012) and then 0-2 the past two years (2013-2014)." Covers Expert Steve Merril

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros LH Dallas Keuchel (11-4, 2.23 ERA) vs. Dodgers RH Zack Greinke (8-2, 1.39)

Keuchel put himself at the front of the list to start for the AL when he held Yost’s Kansas City squad scoreless over eight innings on June 30. The 27-year-old is tied with Seattle’s Felix Hernandez for the AL lead in wins and sits second in ERA behind Oakland’s Sonny Gray (2.04). "Just to be on the team with some of the best players in the world is truly an honor,” Keuchel told reporters. “That's the way I'm going to approach it, to have as much fun as I possibly can."

Greinke brings a streak of 35 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings into the game along with the lowest ERA in the majors. The former AL Cy Young Award winner is the first Dodger to start since Brad Penny in 2006 and is making his third appearance in the Midsummer Classic. "I had some great starters that were candidates, but these numbers that he's putting up are really, really unbelievable," Bochy told reporters, after announcing Greinke as his starter.

CONSENSUS: Fifty-one percent of users are backing the National League All-Stars.

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**Udog** · 07-14-2015, 08:29 AM

MLB

Tuesday, July 14

Rangers' Perez to return Friday

Texas Rangers left-hander Martin Perez, who showed promise during his first full major league season two years ago, will make his first big-league start in 14 months Friday after recovering from Tommy John surgery.

He will be activated from the disabled list Friday to face the Houston Astros in the first game of the second half of the season, multiple media outlets reported Monday.

Perez went 10-6 with a 3.62 ERA in 20 starts for the Rangers in 2013 as a 22-year-old. After that season, the Rangers rewarded him with a four-year, $12.5 million extension with three club options.

He made eight starts in 2014 until elbow problems sidelined him. He made his last major league start May 10, 2014, when he gave up nine hits and six runs in 3 2/3 innings, dropping his record to 4-3 and raising his ERA to 4.38. He had Tommy John surgery later that month.

This year, he made six minor league rehab starts at Double-A Frisco and Triple-A Round Rock, going a combined 0-1 with a 4.56 ERA.

In his most recent rehab start Sunday, he allowed 12 hits and five earned runs in six innings while pitching for Round Rock.

Perez had a minor problem with a groin injury during the recovery process, but he has had no problems with his elbow.

Papelbon again asks Phillies to trade him

The Phillies' lone All-Star is doing his best to force his way out of Philadelphia.

Closer Jonathan Papelbon, never shy about asking for a trade from the cellar-dwelling Phillies, ramped up his campaign Monday in Cincinnati ahead of the All-Star Game.

"I signed up with a team that won 102 games (in 2011), and I expected certain things," he said. "It didn't happen, and I've tried to ride that ship and keep my mouth shut as much as I can, but it's time for the Phillies to you-know-what or get off the pot.

"I feel like three years is plenty enough time to ride it out, so to speak. If the fans don't understand that, I can't really side with them."

Papelbon added, "The Phillies have got to make a decision. You've got to go one way or the other. You can't be in limbo and sit here and say, 'What if we do this or what if we do that?' You've got to make a decision, and you've got to go with it.

"I know that we've got a new president (coming, Andy MacPhail). We've got a new interim manager (Pete Mackanin). We've got all this change supposedly happening, but I don't see any of it yet."

Papelbon, 34, is making $13 million this year, and his $13 million option for next year would vest if he finishes 48 games in 2015. At the break, he has finished 29 games, and he is 14-for-14 in save chances with a 1-1 record and a 1.60 ERA.

He is 120-for-135 in save chances over his 3 1/2 seasons with the Phillies.

Papelbon began his major league career with the Red Sox in 2005, and he was 218-for-246 in save opportunities over seven seasons in Boston. He helped the Red Sox win the 2007 World Series, going 1-0 with four saves and a 0.00 ERA in seven postseason appearances that year.

Last Year's Cy Young winners costing bettors big in 2015

It has been anything but smooth sailing for bettors who have backed last year's Cy Young winners this season.

Cleveland Indians right-hander Corey Kluber and Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw are the two worst bets in terms of starter money in 2015, at -$1,421 and -$889 respectively.

That is based on $100 betting units, risking enough to win $100 as a favorite or risking $100 as an underdog.

One problem for Kershaw, who was last season's top money starter at $1,582, is that he sees so much chalk when he pitches, a loss is very costly.

He has been an average favorite of -217.17 through his 18 starts this season, with the heaviest juice coming in his last start against the Phillies at -335. The Dodgers are 9-9 in those starts.

Despite the "struggles", Kershaw is pitching to a 2.85 ERA and has 160 strikeouts to just 27 walks.

For Kluber it is a little more perplexing.

His numbers aren't terrible, posting a 3.38 ERA with 154 strikeouts to 28 walks, but he started the season slow giving up 25 earned runs in his first six starts, while seeing moderate chalk. He has only giving up 25 in the 12 starts since.

The big problem for Kluber is that he is getting the major's worst run support, with the Indians scoring just 2.32 runs per game when he starts. That is dead last among qualified pitchers.

So while both have been anything but money for their backers, there is some hope these trends can change.

**Udog** · 07-14-2015, 09:30 AM

MLB

Tuesday, July 14

More rough weather in the forecast for All-Star game

The MLB was able to squeeze the Home Run Derby in last night with heavy rain and thunderstorms threatening the event and the forecast is about the same for Tuesday's Mid Summer Classic.

The forecast is calling for a chance of thunderstorms at game time, with a 78 percent chance of rain. There will also be a hitters wind blowing out to right field at about 10 miles per hour.

The National League is a slight -115 favorite and the total is sitting at 7.0 runs.

**Udog** · 07-14-2015, 01:59 PM

MLB

Tuesday, July 14

Action Report: Action supporting the National League in MLB All-Star Game

The 86th edition of the Major League Baseball All-Star Game takes place at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati Tuesday evening and it is indeed the home team that is seeing the majority of the betting support with first pitch mere hours away.

"The American League has won seven of the past 10 All-Star games, including last year's 5-3 win in Minnesota," Michael Stewart of online shop CarbonSports.ag says. "This year's game in Cincinnati is seeing 60 percent of the action come in on the National League moneyline (-115) and a whopping 91 percent of the action on the NL to cover the -1.5 run line."

Those three NL victories came in 2010 (Angel Stadium), 2011 (Chase Field) and 2012 (Kauffman Stadium). But the Senior Circuit has dropped back-to-back games heading into the 2015 Mid-Summer Classic.

Despite under bets cashing in four of the last five All-Star games, Over wagers hit last year as the combined eight runs eclipsed the closing 7.5 and bettors like the Over here again as Stewart says 67 percent of action is coming in on the Over 7.5.

Here are the batting orders for tonight's game:

American League

1. Mike Trout, CF
2. Josh Donaldson, 3B
3. Albert Pujols, 1B
4. Nelson Cruz, DH
5. Lorenzo Cain, RF
6. Adam Jones, LF
7. Salvador Perez, C
8. Jose Altuve, 2B
9. Alcides Escobar, SS

P. Dallas Keuchel, LHP

National League

1. Andrew McCutchen, CF
2. Todd Frazier, 3B
3. Bryce Harper, RF
4. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
5. Buster Posey, C
6. Anthony Rizzo, DH
7. Jhonny Peralta, SS
8. Joc Pederson, LF
9. DJ LaMahieu, 2B

P. Zack Greinke, RHP

**CheCheBoFumbe** · 07-14-2015, 03:33 PM

Thanks as always for all the info

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Tuesday's MLB Trends and Indexes - 7/14

Tuesday's MLB Trends and Indexes - 7/14

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