The Bum's Sports Page For Tuesday September 29th Best Bets-Trends-News !

[StarDust Bum]

Cards' Yadier Molina out for rest of regular season, playoffs in doubt

Cardinals catcher/philosopher-king Yadier Molina has been sidelined since he partially tore ligaments in his left thumb against the Cubs on Sept. 20. Initially, team and player held out hope that he'd be able to return at some point in the regular season. Now, though, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post Dispatch reports that Molina will definitely miss the final days of the regular season, as he's been asked by doctors to rest his hand for another week. As well, at present his playoff status is up in the air. For his part, GM John Mozeliak doesn't seem to be striking an optimistic tone. Via Goold:

"Obviously we were hoping for better news, but in the scheme of things we're just going to have to remain patience," general manager John Mozeliak said. "Depending on where we end up in October could dictate if there is still a possibility."
In this, his age-32 season, Molina is batting .270/.310/.350 (80 OPS+) in 136 games. While that's a step down from his prime levels of production, Molina remains one of the best defensive catchers in the game. In Molina's absence, Tony Cruz should continue to see regular duty. Across 617 plate appearances, Cruz owns a career batting line of .217/.261/.299.

[StarDust Bum]

RECAPPING MONDAY'S ACTION:

MLB: 4 - 1 - 0

WNBA: 0 - 0 - 0

CFL: 0 - 0 - 0

CFB: 0 - 0 - 0

NFL: 2 - 0 - 0


WNBA RECORD FOR JUNE/JULY/AUGUST/SEPTEMBER :

*****...............................35 - 28 - 2
DOUBLE PLAY....................69 - 56 - 1
TRIPLE PLAY......................39 - 32 - 0
SLAM DUNK.......................40 - 37 - 1

MLB RECORD FOR JUNE/JULY/AUGUST/SEPTEMBER :

*****.............................143 - 164 - 1 .....................,......- 18.14
double play......................241 - 254 - 4 .............................- 20.16
triple play........................127 - 131 - 2 ............................ - 74.12
grand slam......................123 - 118 - 4...................,.,........- 43.08
double grand slam.............37 - 28..................................... +43.13
underdog of the year.........0 - 1...........................................+ 9.36


CFL JUNE/JULY/ AUGUST/SEPTEMBER RECORD:

SINGLE PLAY.................................35 - 27
DOUBLE PLAY................................13 - 18
TRIPLE PLAY..................................20 - 10 - 1
BLOW OUT.....................................5 - 3

[StarDust Bum]

Monday's Sports In Brief

September 29, 2015

NFL

PITTSBURGH (AP) Ben Roethlisberger gingerly made his way out of the Pittsburgh Steelers facility, his left leg immobilized under a brace and his attitude upbeat.

The leader of one of the NFL's most dynamic offenses is expected back at some point in 2015 after spraining the medial collateral ligament in his left knee in the third quarter of Sunday's 12-6 win over St Louis.

What the rest of the season looks like whenever Roethlisberger returns will rely heavily on how much is left in Michael Vick's 35-year-old arm (and legs).

Coach Mike Tomlin thinks Vick has plenty left.

Vick will start for the Steelers (2-1) on Thursday night when they host Baltimore (0-3), a job Vick will hold indefinitely while Roethlisberger is out. Tomlin declined to put a timetable on when Roethlisberger will take the field next other than to say it will be ''a number of weeks.''

Roethlisberger fell awkwardly while getting tackled by St. Louis safety Mark Barron, the quarterback's left leg twisting gruesomely as he fell to the turf. An MRI revealed no major structural damage though Roethlisberger will miss multiple starts due to injury for only the second time in his 12-year career.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - The NFL vice president of officiating says that referee Ed Hochuli insists he never told Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton that he ''wasn't old enough'' to get a personal foul call during Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints.

''Ed was adamant that he did not say that,'' Dean Blandino told the NFL Network. ''He told me that he said (to Newton) that `the difference is you were running.' I think when you look at the tape it does look like Ed did say (the difference is you were running). I think that's where we are right now and we're just going to kind of move on from there.''

Newton called out the veteran referee after Carolina's 27-22 win after he felt a personal foul should have been called on Saints defensive tackle Tyeler Davison for hitting him out of bounds after he released a pass.

TV replays show Newton having a brief conversation with Hochuli after the play, and the quarterback reacted at one point with surprise, stopping in his tracks before breaking into a wide, disbelieving smile.

''The response that I got was, `Cam, you're not old enough to get that call,''' Newton said at his postgame press conference Sunday. ''I was looking at him like, `I didn't think that you had to have seniority to get a personal foul or anything like that.' ... Heaven forbid he gets any rookies. They are going to have a long day man.''

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - The Carolina Panthers say they've acquired veteran defensive end Jared Allen from the Chicago Bears in exchange for a future late-round draft pick.

The trade will become official once Allen passes a physical, team spokesman Steven Drummond told The Associated Press.

FoxSports first reported the trade.

The Panthers felt the move was necessary after their top pass rusher Charles Johnson went down with a hamstring injury in Sunday's 27-22 win over the New Orleans Saints.

The Panthers lost their other top pass rusher Greg Hardy this past offseason when he signed with the Dallas Cowboys as a free agent.

BASEBALL

WASHINGTON (AP) - Washington Nationals closer Jonathan Papelbon will miss the rest of the season after his dugout fight with teammate Bryce Harper - four games because of a team suspension for that episode and three games because he dropped his appeal of a Major League Baseball ban for throwing at an opponent's head last week.

Nationals manager Matt Williams said Harper, a leading NL MVP contender, was held out of the starting lineup for Monday's home finale against Cincinnati for ''his part in the altercation'' with Papelbon on Sunday.

Harper, though, said after Sunday's game that he was scheduled to be off Monday.

''It's been a very difficult 24 hours for the organization,'' Williams said at his pregame news conference, which started 1 1/2 hours later than scheduled. ''Incidents like that in the dugout (are) not the way we want to play our games.''

On Sunday, after Harper flied out in the eighth inning against Philadelphia, he headed to the dugout, where he and Papelbon exchanged words. The argument escalated, and Papelbon reached out with his left hand and grabbed Harper by the throat.

Papelbon then shoved the outfielder toward the bench with both hands, before teammates and members of Williams' coaching staff pulled the pair apart.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - St. Louis Cardinals rookie Stephen Piscotty was carted off the field following a violent collision with teammate Peter Bourjos.

In a frightening scene at PNC Park, Piscotty lay motionless on the grass in left-center field for several minutes. He was strapped to a backboard and waved his left hand as he was driven away, eliciting a big cheer from the Pittsburgh crowd.

Piscotty has a bruise on his head and all tests conducted were negative, the Cardinals said. He will be held overnight at a hospital for observation.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Josh Harrison of the Pirates hit a drive to the gap in left-center. Piscotty, playing left field, stumbled as he chased the ball. Bourjos, playing center, went to the ground as he made a lunging catch, and his left knee struck Piscotty square in the face.

Almost immediately, Bourjos began waving to signal that Piscotty needed medical attention. Cardinals players and manager Mike Matheny gathered in the outfield, some kneeling in obvious concern as workers tended to Piscotty and a hush fell over the crowd.

SEATTLE (AP) - The Seattle Mariners have found their new general manager, hiring former Angels GM Jerry Dipoto.

Seattle announced Dipoto's hiring. He replaces Jack Zduriencik, who was fired in late August after seven disappointing seasons during which the club failed to end its playoff drought. With the Toronto Blue Jays making the postseason this year, the Mariners now have the longest playoff absence in baseball at 14 years and counting.

Dipoto's job will be to end that playoff drought and continue rebuilding a farm system that had highs and lows during Zduriencik's tenure. Dipoto was the Angels' general manager for 3 1/2 years before resigning on July 1 following clashes with manager Mike Scioscia that began the first year they worked together.

HOCKEY

Las Vegas and Quebec City are moving closer in their bids to land an NHL franchise.

A Bill Foley-led group and Montreal-based communications giant Quebecor are in the third and final stage of a process to potentially bring the world's top hockey league to Las Vegas and Quebec City, respectively.

''They have been invited to make presentations to the Executive Committee on Tuesday,'' NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly wrote in an email.

Later in the day, the committee will report to the NHL Board of Governors.

''Evaluation process will continue,'' Daly wrote. ''No defined timeline.''

Quebecor spokesman Martin Tremblay and Michelle Kersch, spokeswoman for Foley's group, confirmed their groups will make a presentation.

It is expected to take at least two years before the NHL would potentially have 32 teams playing.

SOCCER

ZURICH (AP) - Sepp Blatter told his staff he has done ''nothing illegal or improper'' and has no immediate plans to step down, the FIFA president's legal team.

Blatter was back at FIFA headquarters three days after being interrogated by Swiss investigators at the scandal-battered governing body's headquarters.

Blatter is expected to hand over power in February when an emergency election is held, triggered by the president's resignation statement four days after being re-elected for a fifth, four-year term in May.

But the 79-year-old Blatter does not appear to be planning any sudden exit despite being the subject of a criminal investigation over his management of world soccer.

''President Blatter spoke to FIFA staff today and informed the staff that he was cooperating with the authorities, reiterated that he had done nothing illegal or improper and stated that he would remain as president of FIFA,'' Blatter's attorney, Richard Cullen, said in a statement.

Blatter was questioned by Swiss investigators on Friday about why FIFA paid 2 million Swiss francs (about $2 million) to UEFA President Michel Platini in 2011 for work supposedly carried out at least nine years earlier. Blatter denied wrongdoing and Platini, who is also a FIFA vice president, was only questioned as a witness.

OTHER

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - An extreme sports star skydiving for the opening ceremony of a golf event in Northern California died when he struck a tree, authorities said.

Placer County Sheriff's Capt. Dennis Walsh said Erik Roner, of Tahoe City, died during a skydiving accident at a golf course in Squaw Valley, about 5 miles from Lake Tahoe's northwest shore.

Witnesses told deputies Roner, 39, was part of a group conducting a skydiving performance before a golf tournament when he hit a tree while trying to land and became entangled high above ground, Walsh said.

Authorities were not able to remove him from the tree, and Roner was pronounced dead at the scene.

The other skydivers landed safely on the golf course in Squaw Valley, home of the ski resort that hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics.

[StarDust Bum]

MLB
Short Sheet

Tuesday, September 29

St Louis at Pittsburgh, 7:05 PM EDT
St Louis: 29-15 SU on the road when the total is 7 to 7.5
Pittsburgh: 31-40 SU against division opponents

NY Mets at Philadelphia, 7:05 PM EDT
New York: 16-4 SU after scoring 8 runs or more
Philadelphia: 15-43 SU after 3 or more consecutive road games

Washington at Atlanta, 7:10 PM EDT
Washington: 21-11 OVER after 5 or more consecutive road games
Atlanta: 15-33 SU when playing on Tuesday

Chicago at Cincinnati, 7:10 PM EDT
Chicago: 37-17 SU as a favorite of -125 to -175
Cincinnati: 12-27 SU as a home underdog of +100 or higher

Colorado at Arizona, 9:40 PM EDT
Colorado: 3-14 SU when the total is 9 to 9.5
Arizona: 16-9 SU after 6 or more consecutive road games

Milwaukee at San Diego, 10:10 PM EDT
Milwaukee: 10-20 SU against NL West opponents
San Diego: 19-8 SU after 3 straight games with no home runs

LA Dodgers at San Francisco, 10:15 PM EDT
Los Angeles: 8-16 SU as a road favorite of -125 to -150
San Francisco: 13-7 SU as a home underdog of +100 or higher

Boston at NY Yankees, 7:05 PM EDT
Boston: 4-15 SU after having won 4 of their last 5
New York: 28-14 SU after 3 or more consecutive unders

Toronto at Baltimore, 7:05 PM EDT
Toronto: 15-3 SU after 4 or more consecutive wins
Baltimore: 66-69 SU in games played on a grass field

Minnesota at Cleveland, 7:10 PM EDT
Minnesota: 24-9 SU after 4 straight games where they committed no errors
Cleveland: 21-28 SU after 2 straight games where they committed no errors

Detroit at Texas, 8:05 PM EDT
Detroit: 32-46 SU when the total is 8 to 8.5
Texas: 15-9 SU when playing on Tuesday

Kansas City at Chicago White Sox, 8:10 PM EDT
Kansas City: 87-62 SU in games played on a grass field
Chicago: 12-22 SU after scoring 3 runs or less 2 straight games

Oakland at Los Angeles Angels, 10:05 PM EDT
Oakland: 17-31 SU when the total is 8 to 8.5
LA Angels: 41-29 SU against division opponents

Houston at Seattle, 10:10 PM EDT
Houston: 14-7 SU in road games after 9 games versus division rivals
Seattle: 10-16 SU in home games after scoring 2 runs or less

Miami at Tampa Bay, 7:10 PM EDT
Miami: 21-12 SU after 9 consecutive games versus division rivals
Tampa Bay: 5-12 SU when playing with a day off

[StarDust Bum]

MLB

Tuesday, September 29

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Game of the Day: Cardinals at Pirates
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Cardinals can clinch their third consecutive division title with a win over the Pirates Tuesday night.

St. Louis Cardinals at Pittsburgh Pirates (-104, 7.5)

The St. Louis Cardinals can clinch their third consecutive National League Central title with a victory over the rival Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on Tuesday. Matt Carpenter, who scored the eventual game-winning run in Monday's 3-0 triumph, is 19-for-52 (.365) with six homers, 11 runs scored and 10 RBIs in his last 13 games.

Carpenter scored on a single in the ninth inning by Jon Jay, who entered the game after rookie Stephen Piscotty (head contusion) was involved in a horrific outfield collision. While the Cardinals reside one victory shy of 100, the Pirates sit four games out of the division while holding a 3 1/2-game lead over the Chicago Cubs for the top wild card. Pittsburgh, which has lost nine of the 17 meetings with St. Louis this season, has dropped two in a row following an eight-game winning streak. Andrew McCutchen has struggled mightily to the tune of 4-for-25 (.160) in his last eight contests, but is 7-for-15 (.467) in his career versus Tuesday starter Michael Wacha.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FSN Midwest (St. Louis), ROOT (Pittsburgh)

LINE HISTORY: The Pirates opened as the slimest of favorites at -106 and the number has jumped between -113 and +104 since opening. The game is currently listed at a dead even -104.

INJURY REPORT:

Cardinals - RF S. Piscotty (out Tuesday, head), C Y. Molina (out for regular season, thumb), SP C. Martinez (out for season, shoulder), SP A. Wainwright (60-day DL, Achilles), RP J. Walden (60-day DL, bicep).

Pirates - 2B J. Kang (60-day DL, knee), 1B C. Hart (60-day DL, shoulder), RP D. Guerra (60-day DL, knee), RP C. Sadler (60-day DL, forearm), RF A. Lambo (60-day DL, foot).

WEATHER REPORT: There is curently a 90 percent chance of rain showers expected around the start of gametime. Temperatures will be in the high 60s with a slight four mile per wind blowing in from left field.

UMPIRE REPORT: Dan Iassogna will be the man calling balls and strikes for tonight's big game. The home team is 12-18, while the O/U is 13-16-1 in the 30 games Iassogna has officiated this season. The Pirates are 1-4 in their last five games with Iassogna behind home plate.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Michael Wacha (17-6, 3.15 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Charlie Morton (9-8, 4.54)

After a sizzling summer, Wacha has cooled down considerably by alternating wins and losses over his last four starts. The 19th overall pick of the 2012 draft, Wacha has allowed 15 earned runs in his last 20 frames and issued 14 walks in that span. Wacha, however, has handcuffed Pittsburgh in his career, permitting four earned runs in 18 2/3 innings versus the Pirates this season and just seven in 32 2/3 frames en route to a 3-0 career mark.

While Wacha has dominated the Pirates, Morton has endured constant nightmarish performances en route to a 2-11 career mark versus St. Louis while allowing the club to bat .305 against him. The 31-year-old is 1-4 in his last six outings overall and escaped with a no-decision despite permitting six runs on 10 hits - including two homers - in 4 1/3 frames versus Colorado on Wednesday. Morton has yielded 12 runs on 19 hits in his last two starts (8 1/3 innings) and four homers in his last three outings after keeping the ball in the park in each of his previous four.

TRENDS:

* Cardinals are 5-1 in Wacha's last six starts versus the Pirates.
* Cardinals are 2-5 in their last seven meetings in Pittsburgh.
* Pirates are 3-13 in Morton's last 16 starts versus the Cardinals.
* Pirates are 0-5 in Morton's last five home starts versus the Cardinals.

CONSENSUS: The public is very evenly split for this pivotal NL Central clash, with 54.46 percent of wagers backing the Pirates, currently at -104.

[StarDust Bum]

MLB

Tuesday, September 29

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Breaking down the week's top elite pitching options
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Greinke and his sub-1.50 home ERA facing a San Diego team that ranks among the league's worst at the plate is a no-brainer.

With less than a week remaining in Major League Baseball's regular season, few teams have anything left to play for - but the same can't be said for daily fantasy players.

The final six days of the campaign represent six more chances at DFS glory - but only for those savvy enough to spend their salary wisely, beginning with those all-important pitching options.

Here are the strongest high-salary plays for the remainder of the week:

Tuesday: Madison Bumgarner, Giants (vs. Dodgers)

How on Earth do you choose between Bumgarner and Dodgers counterpart Clayton Kershaw? Two factors work in Bumgarner's favor: he carries a slightly lower salary than his fellow southpaw, and he has home-field advantage. Both hurlers are sensational options in what could be their final starts of the regular season, but MadBum should be the pitcher you opt for in this marquee matchup.

Wednesday: Masahiro Tanaka, Yankees (vs. Red Sox)

Tanaka is the best option on an otherwise hum-drum schedule. The Japanese ace has allowed more than three runs just one in his previous nine starts while showing impeccable control, walking only eight batters in that span. The Yankees are still looking to stay in the division race and will field their best lineup for this one, while the Red Sox have long been eliminated - and have struggled at the plate for most of the season.

Thursday: Jose Fernandez, Marlins (at Rays)

Ah, the final Jose Day of the season - and it feels like it's here all too soon, thanks to Fernandez spending a good chunk of the season on the disabled list. But previous start aside, Fernandez has been on fire since returning for his most recent DL stint, and is in good position to end the year on a positive note against a Rays team that struggles against right-handers. Expect six solid innings and a whole pile of strikeouts.

Friday: Felix Hernandez, Mariners (vs. Athletics)

This slate is full of great pitching options, but Hernandez edges out the field despite having what he would consider a down year. Hernandez has been sensational at Safeco Field throughout his career, and winds down his year versus an Oakland lineup that shouldn't provide much of a challenge. Hernandez is not without risk, but represents great potential at a price that should come in lower than the top options.

Saturday: Zack Greinke, Dodgers (vs. Padres)

Sometimes, the best option is just too easy to identify. This is one of those times, with Greinke and his sub-1.50 home ERA facing a San Diego team that ranks among the league's worst at the plate. Greinke may not pitch as deep into the game as he usually does, but even a six-inning effort against an underwhelming Padres offense should yield enough fantasy points to return value despite his big price tag.

Sunday: Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers (vs. Padres)

See above - Kershaw facing the Padres at Dodger Stadium in the regular-season finale presents the same mismatch as Greinke the day before. DFS players should, however, be wary of two potential pratfalls: Kershaw either being placed on a strict pitch limit in order to keep him fresh for the playoffs, or being scratched altogether in favor of a bullpen arm. Players should keep a close eye on the probable pitchers before committing to Kershaw.

[StarDust Bum]

MLB

Tuesday, September 29


Stroman hot in return from knee injury

Marcus Stroman's incredible return from a torn ACL has given the Toronto Blue Jays and the rotation specifically a real shot in the arm.

Stroman is 3-0 with a 1.89 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP in his three starts since returning to the Jays rotation.

He looks to stay hot as the Blue Jays visit the Baltimore Orioles Tuesday night. The Jays are currently -155 road favorites.


BoSox and Yanks cashing unders for very different reasons

Both the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees meet Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium in a matchup of teams have been cashing under bets, but they have been doing so with very different reasons.

The Red Sox pitching has been red-hot, allowing 2.29 runs per game over the last seven games (including three straight shuouts of Baltimore), resulting in the under cashing in seven straight ball games.

Meanwhile in New York, the bats have gone silent, scoring just 2.33 runs per game over their last six, where the under has cashed in six straight.

The total for tonight's matchup is currently at 8.0.