Announcement

**Udog** · 10-07-2015, 08:21 AM

Armadillo: Wednesday's six-pack

Six of the more interesting NFL games this weekend......

-- Jaguars @ Buccaneers (-3)-- I'm thinking wrong team is favored.

-- Redskins @ Falcons (-8)-- Washington's first Sunday road game.

-- Saints @ Eagles (-4.5)-- Philly fans' patience is running thin.

-- Seahawks @ Bengals (-1)-- Cincy's passing attack vs Seattle DBs; good game.

-- Cardinals @ Lions (+3)-- Very tough loss for Detroit late Monday night.

-- Steelers @ Chargers (-3.5)-- 11-day break ends for Pittsburgh.

**********

Armadillo: Wednesday's List of 13: Hump Day Happenings........

13 Lets start with some good news; Saturday, after Bowling Green won at Buffalo, Falcons football coach Dino Babers and an assistant trainer helped save a 25-year-old woman from a burning car after an accident on I-90 in Ohio. Good for them!!!!

12) Astros 3, Bronx 0-- It is inexcusable for a home crowd to boo its own team during a playoff game, but thats what the smug, entitled Bronx fans did Tuesday night when they got beat by a better team. Joe Girardi played Gardner in CF ahead of Ellsbury and it did not turn out well. Houston moves on to play the Royals.

11) I'm a big fan of the one-game Wild Card round; it rewards division winners. If you don't want a one-game Wild Card playoff, then get rid of divisions and have two 15-team leagues, with top six in each league making playoffs.

10) Odd Stat of the Day: Evan Gattis is first big leaguer in 60 years to hit 11 triples without stealing a base that season.

9) As for ESPN having Jessica Mendoza work the Wild Card game, I'll say this: her presence in the booth has made John Kruk clean up his act, which had gotten very sloppy. To me, Ms Mendoza is neither good nor bad; she is average, but these days, anyone who is different is celebrated like they cured cancer or something.

Kruk's performance has improved greatly since Curt Schilling's mouth got him tossed off the air for half a season (at least), and Ms Mendoza replaced him. Kruk can be funny and is smart about baseball, but had gotten very lazy working with Schilling and it became annoying, another ex-ballplayer stealing money on TV. Not anymore.

8) Quote of the Day, part 2: "You don't sound like a New Yorker, or act like one." Waiter in a restaurant here to me today. I took it as a compliment.

7) Cincinnati Bengals, in four games, averaged 7.9/8.2/10.9./13.4 yards per pass attempt. Lofty numbers. Seattle Seahawks visit Sunday; they haven't allowed an offensive TD in two games since Kam Chancellor ended his holdout. Interesting.

6) Dodgers had a difficult decision either way, but chose Kershaw over Grienke to start Game 1 against the Mets Thursday night.

5) Matt Harvey is a publicity lightning rod; he missed a workout this week, because "I got stuck in traffic", which easily can happen in New York City, but the other 24 guys all made it. Not sure what to make of it, but it sure doesn't help.

4) 25 years ago the OJ Simpson verdict came down and I lost $3 to my dad, who was 100% positive OJ was getting off, as was my lawyer friend Joe. We put the $6 on the living room floor and he happily scooped it up when the verdict was announced.

Los Angeles ADA Marsha Clark was the losing prosecutor; her hairdresser was a woman named Kris Kardashian, who is a little more famous now than she used to be, to the detriment of American society.

3) Colorado Rockies are keeping manager Walt Weiss around next year; until the Rockies find someone who can develop pitchers that thrive in high altitude, they could have the greatest coaching staff ever assembled- it just won't matter. Pitching wins.

2) Former Lions' coach Jim Schwartz turned down Dolphins' defensive coordinator job, so it looks like current DC Kevin Coyle will be out of a job soon, as soon as they find someone who would actually like to have an NFL coaching job.

1) NHL regular season starts tonight; we'll have writeups on every game every day starting October 15, after the teams get a few games under their belt, and trends start to develop. We'll also have stuff on every NBA game, starting October 27.

**Udog** · 10-07-2015, 08:24 AM

MLB
Dunkel

Wild Card Games

Chicago Cubs @ Pittsburgh

Game 933-934
October 7, 2015 @ 8:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Chicago Cubs
(Arrieta) 16.654
Pittsburgh
(Cole) 12.885
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Chicago Cubs
by 4
5
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Chicago Cubs
-130
5 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Chicago Cubs
(-130); Under

MLB
Long Sheet

Wednesday, October 7

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CHICAGO CUBS (97 - 65) at PITTSBURGH (98 - 64) - 8:05 PM
JAKE ARRIETA (R) vs. GERRIT COLE (R)
Top Trends for this game.
PITTSBURGH is 98-64 (+21.5 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
PITTSBURGH is 42-26 (+13.0 Units) against the money line when the total is 7 or less this season.
PITTSBURGH is 53-28 (+14.4 Units) against the money line in home games this season.
PITTSBURGH is 98-64 (+21.5 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
PITTSBURGH is 132-92 (+23.7 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons.
PITTSBURGH is 78-48 (+21.7 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
PITTSBURGH is 62-34 (+20.5 Units) against the money line after a win this season.
PITTSBURGH is 46-33 (+11.7 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
PITTSBURGH is 28-16 (+13.0 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.
COLE is 23-9 (+10.4 Units) against the money line in all games this season. (Team's Record)
COLE is 21-5 (+13.0 Units) against the money line in home games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
COLE is 23-9 (+10.4 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season. (Team's Record)
COLE is 20-5 (+12.4 Units) against the money line after a win over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
COLE is 15-3 (+12.1 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season. (Team's Record)
CHICAGO CUBS are 97-65 (+16.9 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
CHICAGO CUBS are 37-24 (+9.0 Units) against the money line when the total is 7 or less this season.
CHICAGO CUBS are 19-9 (+8.6 Units) against the money line on the road with a money line of -100 to -125 this season.
CHICAGO CUBS are 13-3 (+9.2 Units) against the money line as a road favorite of -125 to -150 this season.
CHICAGO CUBS are 48-33 (+13.7 Units) against the money line in road games this season.
CHICAGO CUBS are 21-9 (+13.1 Units) against the money line on the road when the total is 7 or less this season.
CHICAGO CUBS are 46-30 (+10.8 Units) against the money line against division opponents this season.
CHICAGO CUBS are 97-65 (+16.9 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
CHICAGO CUBS are 59-35 (+19.0 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
CHICAGO CUBS are 77-51 (+12.8 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
CHICAGO CUBS are 58-37 (+12.4 Units) against the money line after a win this season.
CHICAGO CUBS are 25-10 (+13.8 Units) against the money line after 3 or more consecutive wins this season.
CHICAGO CUBS are 43-30 (+12.1 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
ARRIETA is 25-8 (+13.6 Units) against the money line in all games this season. (Team's Record)
ARRIETA is 18-4 (+12.2 Units) against the money line when the total is 7 or less this season. (Team's Record)
ARRIETA is 16-2 (+14.1 Units) against the money line in road games this season. (Team's Record)
ARRIETA is 12-1 (+11.1 Units) against the money line on the road when the total is 7 or less this season. (Team's Record)
ARRIETA is 25-8 (+13.6 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season. (Team's Record)
ARRIETA is 16-3 (+12.2 Units) against the money line in night games this season. (Team's Record)
ARRIETA is 10-1 (+9.1 Units) against the money line in road games after a win this season. (Team's Record)
ARRIETA is 7-0 (+10.3 Units) against the money line in road games after 3 or more consecutive wins since 1997. (Team's Record)
ARRIETA is 24-12 (+12.7 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
ARRIETA is 14-5 (+10.0 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
PITTSBURGH is 34-42 (-16.6 Units) against the money line against division opponents this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
CHICAGO CUBS is 11-8 (+2.7 Units) against PITTSBURGH this season
10 of 17 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+2.5 Units)

JAKE ARRIETA vs. PITTSBURGH since 1997
ARRIETA is 6-1 when starting against PITTSBURGH with an ERA of 1.68 and a WHIP of 0.831.
His team's record is 8-1 (+7.7 units) in these starts. The OVER is 2-6. (-4.3 units)

GERRIT COLE vs. CHICAGO CUBS since 1997
COLE is 7-1 when starting against CHICAGO CUBS with an ERA of 2.88 and a WHIP of 1.101.
His team's record is 8-1 (+7.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 6-3. (+3.2 units)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MLB
Short Sheet

Wednesday, October 7

Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh, 8:05 PM EDT
Chicago: 40-17 SU as a favorite of -125 to -175
Pittsburgh: 34-42 SU against division opponents

MLB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Wednesday, October 7

National League
Arrieta is 8-0, 0.54 in his last seven starts (under 6-0-1 last seven).

Cole is 4-0, 2.62 in his last five starts (over 4-2 last six).

Cubs won last eight regular season games, allowing nine runs (under 7-2-1 last ten); Cubs won four of last six games with Pittsburgh (under 5-1)- they're in playoffs for first time since '08. Pirates are hosting Wild Card for third year in row; they're 6-4 in last ten games (under 7-3).

MLB

Wednesday, October 7

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

8:08 PM
CHI CUBS vs. PITTSBURGH
Chi Cubs are 4-2 SU in their last 6 games when playing on the road against Pittsburgh
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Chi Cubs's last 6 games when playing Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Pittsburgh's last 10 games

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

**Udog** · 10-07-2015, 08:28 AM

MLB

Wednesday, October 7

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

There is one heck of a pitching matchup in the NL Wild Card game when the Cubs' Jake Arrieta takes on the Pirates Gerrit Cole at PNC Park.

Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh Pirates (+126, 5.5)

The Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs went through 162 games and ended up with the second and third best records in the major leagues, respectively. The two will square off and continue to spark debate about the postseason format when the Cubs visit the Pirates on Wednesday in the one-game National League wild-card playoff for the right to face the MLB-best St. Louis Cardinals in the divisional round.

Pittsburgh is no stranger to the one-game playoff and is making its third straight trip to the game after winning in 2013 and falling to the eventual World Series-champion San Francisco Giants in the edition. Ace Gerrit Cole did not get a chance to pitch in either of those first two games but will take the mound on Wednesday opposite Jake Arrieta, who is coming off a historic second half. Chicago’s ascent this season is one step in a process started when Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer took over the front office, and the team they built is brimming with young talent on offense like Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber. The Pirates took two of three from Cincinnati over the final weekend of the regular season to finish the season one game ahead of the Cubs and ensure the game would take place in Pittsburgh, where they are 53-28.

TV: 8:08 p.m. ET, TBS

LINE HISTORY: The Pirates opened as +104 home dogs and the line has steadily moved in the Cubs direction ever since and now the Pirates currently sit at +126. The total hasn't moved off its very low opening number of 5.5.

INJURY REPORT: N/A.

WEATHER REPORT: It will be partly cloudy at gametime with a slight 13 percent chance of rain. There will also be a minor four mile per hour wind gusting out to right field.

WHAT BOOKS SAY: "With Arrieta pitching we have seen the total move from 6 to 5.5, but we are still seeing 77 percent of the action come in on the over and over 60 percent of the action favoring the Cubs on the moneyline and the -1.5 run line."

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Jake Arrieta (22-6, 1.77 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Gerrit Cole (19-8, 2.60)

Arrieta is on the short list for the NL Cy Young Award due in large part to a second half in which he went 12-1 with a 0.75 ERA. The 29-year-old scattered six hits and one walk over 22 scoreless innings in his final three starts while striking out 27. The last time Arrieta, who allowed one hit in seven innings at home against the Pirates on Sept. 27, gave up a run and failed to earn a win came at Pittsburgh on Sept. 16, when he was charged with two runs (one earned) on six hits in eight innings without factoring in the decision.

Cole won his final three starts as well, yielding a total of six runs and 17 hits in 21 innings with 19 strikeouts. The former No. 1 overall draft pick went seven innings at Chicago on Sept. 25 and allowed one run and four hits to pick up the win and improve to 7-1 with a 2.88 ERA in nine career starts against the Cubs. Cole struck out 32 in 25 2/3 innings against the Cubs in 2015.

TRENDS:

* Cubs are 4-0 in Arrieta's last four road starts versus the Pirates.
* Under is 5-0-1 in Arrieta's last six starts versus the Pirates.
* Pirates are 8-1 in Cole's last nine starts versus the Cubs.
* Under is 5-1 in the last six meetings.

CONSENSUS: The public is siding with the Cubs in this spot with 58.84 percent of wagers backing the Lovable Losers, currently listed at -137.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

**Udog** · 10-07-2015, 05:27 PM

MLB

Wednesday, October 7

Arrieta on incredible hot streak heading into Wild Card game

There has been no hotter pitcher in baseball than the Cubs' Jake Arrieta, so it is no surprise he gets the start in the National League Wild Card games against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

In Arrieta's last 13 starts the Cubs have gone 13-0, with Arrieta himself gong 11-0 with a 0.57 ERA, a 0.67 WHIP and 95 strikeouts in 94 1/3 innings pitched.

He faces a tough matchup in Pittsburgh against Gerrit Cole and the Pirates, who himself is 3-0 with a 2.57 ERA in his last three starts, but books have the Cubs pegged as -127 road favorites.

Cardinals hand ball to Lackey for NLDS opener

The St. Cardinals named right-hander John Lackey as their starter for Game 1 of the National League Division Series on Friday night in Busch Stadium.

The Cardinals will play host in the series opener to the winner of Wednesday night's NL wild-card game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Chicago Cubs in Pittsburgh.

The 36-year-old Lackey posted a 13-10 record with a 2.77 ERA in 218 innings and 33 starts this year. He fared better at home than on the road during the season with a 1.93 ERA.

Lackey is likely to be opposed on Friday night by Pittsburgh's Francisco Liriano or Chicago's Jon Lester.

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny has yet to name the rest of the St. Louis rotation for the NLDS, but the contenders are Michael Wacha, Lance Lynn and Jaime Garcia.

Keuchel likely to pitch just once in ALDS

Getting past the New York Yankees with ace Dallas Keuchel on the mound was one thing.

Now comes a stiffer test for the Houston Astros: a best-of-five American League Division Series against the Kansas City Royals in which Keuchel figures to start just once.

Games 1 and 2 are scheduled for Thursday and Friday in Kansas City. Keuchel could return to pitch Game 3 on Sunday in Houston, which would be the site of Game 4 on Monday if necessary. Should the series go the distance, Game 5 would be at Kauffman Stadium on Oct. 14.

Houston advanced by blanking the Yankees 3-0 Tuesday in New York. Keuchel threw six dominant innings on three days' rest, and three Houston relievers followed with one hitless inning apiece.

The Astros will open against the Royals with right-hander Collin McHugh, who went 19-7 with a 3.89 ERA this year.

Blue Jays open as big faves versus Rangers in Game 1

The Toronto Blue Jays have opened as big -230 favorites for Game 1 of their American League Division Series against the Texas Rangers.

The Blue Jays will send ace David Price to the mound to take on the Rangers' Yovani Gallardo.

Gallardo has had success against the Blue Jays this season, going 2-0, giving up zero earned runs on six hits in 13 2/3 innings pitched against them.

Meanwhile, Price is a Cy Young candidate who finished the season at 18-5 with a 2.45 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP.

Kershaw and Dodgers Game 1 faves over Mets

Clayton Kershaw gets the call for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of their National League Division Series against the New York Mets and are currently big -199 home favorites.

Kershaw, who may not even be the Dodgers best pitcher this season went 16-7 with a 2.13 ERA and led the majors with 301 strikeouts.

Meanwhile, the Mets will counter with All-Star Jacob deGrom, who went 14-8 with a 2.54 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP.

Announcement

Wednesday's MLB Trends and Indexes - 10/7

Wednesday's MLB Trends and Indexes - 10/7

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment