Tuesday's Diamond Notes
May 10, 2016
Hottest team: Cubs (7-0 last seven)
The only thing that stop Chicago at this point is inclement weather, as the Cubs were rained out in their series opener against the Padres on Monday. The Cubs are rolling with the best record in baseball at 24-6, while coming off a four-game home sweep of the Nationals this past weekend. Chicago is in the midst of its longest winning streak of the season (7), while owning a perfect 9-0 record in series openers. Jon Lester has allowed one earned run or less in five of six starts for the Cubs this season, but his only loss came as a -230 favorite in a 2-0 home loss to the Rockies.
Coldest team: Tigers (0-7 last seven)
Detroit threw away its second straight game in Monday’s 5-4 walk-off loss at Washington. After squandering a late 2-0 lead to Texas on Sunday in an 8-3 defeat, the Tigers couldn’t hold a 4-1 advantage in last night’s setback to drop to 1-7 this month. Detroit suffered only its second loss in seven games against National League opponents this season, while falling to 4-7 in the last 11 contests away from Comerica Park.
Hottest pitcher: Joe Ross, Nationals (3-1, 1.23 ERA)
This Washington rotation has doled out a ton of money to Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg, but the Nationals have found a gem in Ross. The right-hander is coming off his first loss of the season to the red-hot Cubs, but Ross has given up just four earned runs in five starts. Ross has compiled this miniscule ERA in spite of pitching his last four outings away from Nationals Park, as he makes his second home start tonight against the struggling Tigers.
Coldest pitcher: Carlos Rodon, White Sox (1-4, 4.36 ERA)
Chicago beat Texas for the fourth time this season in Monday’s extra-inning victory in Arlington. Rodon started the season on the right track by allowing two earned runs in his first two starts, but couldn’t escape the first inning in a 7-0 home loss to the Angels last month. The Sox southpaw is coming off back-to-back losses to the Orioles and Red Sox, while giving up nine runs (seven earned) in this span. Rodon received a no-decision the last time he faced the Rangers at U.S. Cellular Field in April, but allowed two earned runs in six innings of a 4-3 win.
Biggest UNDER run: Angels (10-4 at home)
The Angels’ offense didn’t provide much production in this past weekend’s three-game sweep at the hands of the Rays. Los Angeles plated a total of five runs in the three home losses, while the Angels have finished ‘under’ the total in four consecutive home games. The Halos are facing their first National League opponent since losing a pair of games to the Cubs in the opening series of the season, as Los Angeles posted only one run in those two losses.
Biggest OVER run: Rockies (9-4 at home)
Following a pair of low-scoring games at San Francisco, the Rockies drifted back to the ‘over’ column in Monday’s 10-5 loss to the Diamondbacks. Colorado’s pitching at home hasn’t been terrific by any stretch, as the Rockies have given up at least nine runs in four of the past five games at Coors Field. The Rockies have eclipsed the ‘over’ in seven of the last nine home contests, as tonight’s total against Arizona is listed at 11. Tonight’s starter Chris Rusin has cashed the ‘over’ in seven of his last 11 home starts, all with the totals listed at 10 or higher.
Matchup to watch: Mets vs. Dodgers
New York picked up where it left off last October when the Mets knocked the Dodgers in five games of the NLDS. The Mets doubled up the Dodgers, 4-2 on Monday to improve to 6-2 in the last eight matchups with Los Angeles. The task won’t get easier for Los Angeles tonight, facing Jacob DeGrom, who outdueled both Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke in the NLDS last season. DeGrom owns a 3-1 record, opposed by Dodgers’ southpaw Alex Wood, who is winless in three of his last four starts.
Betcha didn’t know: The Mariners and Rays continue to play low-scoring games when they meet up. Even though Monday’s series opener pushed on the 7 total, the ‘under’ is 8-1-1 in the last 10 meetings. The ‘under’ is 4-0-1 in the past five matchups at Safeco Field, while the losing team has scored two runs or less. Seattle has allowed two runs or less in six of its last eight home games, improving to 6-2 in this span since starting 0-5 at Safeco Field.
Biggest public favorite: Cubs (-240) vs. Padres
Biggest public underdog: Diamondbacks (+110) at Rockies
Biggest line move: Pirates (-125 to -135) at Reds
May 10, 2016
Hottest team: Cubs (7-0 last seven)
The only thing that stop Chicago at this point is inclement weather, as the Cubs were rained out in their series opener against the Padres on Monday. The Cubs are rolling with the best record in baseball at 24-6, while coming off a four-game home sweep of the Nationals this past weekend. Chicago is in the midst of its longest winning streak of the season (7), while owning a perfect 9-0 record in series openers. Jon Lester has allowed one earned run or less in five of six starts for the Cubs this season, but his only loss came as a -230 favorite in a 2-0 home loss to the Rockies.
Coldest team: Tigers (0-7 last seven)
Detroit threw away its second straight game in Monday’s 5-4 walk-off loss at Washington. After squandering a late 2-0 lead to Texas on Sunday in an 8-3 defeat, the Tigers couldn’t hold a 4-1 advantage in last night’s setback to drop to 1-7 this month. Detroit suffered only its second loss in seven games against National League opponents this season, while falling to 4-7 in the last 11 contests away from Comerica Park.
Hottest pitcher: Joe Ross, Nationals (3-1, 1.23 ERA)
This Washington rotation has doled out a ton of money to Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg, but the Nationals have found a gem in Ross. The right-hander is coming off his first loss of the season to the red-hot Cubs, but Ross has given up just four earned runs in five starts. Ross has compiled this miniscule ERA in spite of pitching his last four outings away from Nationals Park, as he makes his second home start tonight against the struggling Tigers.
Coldest pitcher: Carlos Rodon, White Sox (1-4, 4.36 ERA)
Chicago beat Texas for the fourth time this season in Monday’s extra-inning victory in Arlington. Rodon started the season on the right track by allowing two earned runs in his first two starts, but couldn’t escape the first inning in a 7-0 home loss to the Angels last month. The Sox southpaw is coming off back-to-back losses to the Orioles and Red Sox, while giving up nine runs (seven earned) in this span. Rodon received a no-decision the last time he faced the Rangers at U.S. Cellular Field in April, but allowed two earned runs in six innings of a 4-3 win.
Biggest UNDER run: Angels (10-4 at home)
The Angels’ offense didn’t provide much production in this past weekend’s three-game sweep at the hands of the Rays. Los Angeles plated a total of five runs in the three home losses, while the Angels have finished ‘under’ the total in four consecutive home games. The Halos are facing their first National League opponent since losing a pair of games to the Cubs in the opening series of the season, as Los Angeles posted only one run in those two losses.
Biggest OVER run: Rockies (9-4 at home)
Following a pair of low-scoring games at San Francisco, the Rockies drifted back to the ‘over’ column in Monday’s 10-5 loss to the Diamondbacks. Colorado’s pitching at home hasn’t been terrific by any stretch, as the Rockies have given up at least nine runs in four of the past five games at Coors Field. The Rockies have eclipsed the ‘over’ in seven of the last nine home contests, as tonight’s total against Arizona is listed at 11. Tonight’s starter Chris Rusin has cashed the ‘over’ in seven of his last 11 home starts, all with the totals listed at 10 or higher.
Matchup to watch: Mets vs. Dodgers
New York picked up where it left off last October when the Mets knocked the Dodgers in five games of the NLDS. The Mets doubled up the Dodgers, 4-2 on Monday to improve to 6-2 in the last eight matchups with Los Angeles. The task won’t get easier for Los Angeles tonight, facing Jacob DeGrom, who outdueled both Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke in the NLDS last season. DeGrom owns a 3-1 record, opposed by Dodgers’ southpaw Alex Wood, who is winless in three of his last four starts.
Betcha didn’t know: The Mariners and Rays continue to play low-scoring games when they meet up. Even though Monday’s series opener pushed on the 7 total, the ‘under’ is 8-1-1 in the last 10 meetings. The ‘under’ is 4-0-1 in the past five matchups at Safeco Field, while the losing team has scored two runs or less. Seattle has allowed two runs or less in six of its last eight home games, improving to 6-2 in this span since starting 0-5 at Safeco Field.
Biggest public favorite: Cubs (-240) vs. Padres
Biggest public underdog: Diamondbacks (+110) at Rockies
Biggest line move: Pirates (-125 to -135) at Reds
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