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Tuesday's Diamond Notes
July 26, 2016
Hottest team: Yankees (7-3 last 10)
New York may be sellers at the trade deadline, but the Bronx Bombers are playing solid baseball towards the end of July. The Yankees sold off closer Aroldis Chapman to the Cubs on Monday, but came out with a 2-1 victory at Houston as a +135 road underdog. During this winning stretch, the Yankees have faced the Red Sox, Orioles, Giants, and Astros, which is a brutal schedule, but Joe Girardi’s club has allowed two runs or less eight times. CC Sabathia takes the mound for New York tonight, as the southpaw has given up at least four earned runs in six consecutive starts.
Coldest team: Giants (2-8 last 10)
Heading home didn’t help San Francisco, who returned to AT&T Park following a dreadful 1-7 road trip on Monday only to lose to last-place Cincinnati, 7-5. The Giants plated six runs in their three-game series against the Yankees, but couldn’t hold onto a 5-4 lead in last night’s defeat to the Reds. The loss snapped a four-game winning streak at AT&T Park, although it was San Francisco’s first home game since the night before the All-Star break. After Jake Peavy failed to win last night, the Giants turn to another struggling hurler this evening as Matt Cain heads to the hill. Cain owns a 1-6 record and 5.88 ERA, while the Giants have put together a 2-4 mark his last six home outings.
Hottest pitcher: Chris Tillman, Orioles (14-2, 3.18 ERA)
Baltimore continued its winning ways at home with its second consecutive walk-off victory on Monday to edge Colorado in extra innings. The Orioles send out Cy Young sleeper Tillman to the mound tonight as Baltimore has compiled a ridiculous 18-3 mark when he starts this season, including 12-0 at Camden Yards. Tillman has allowed exactly one earned run in each of his last four starts (all wins), while tossing seven innings in each of those outings.
Coldest pitcher: Matt Garza, Brewers (1-4, 5.94 ERA)
To be fair, six of Garza’s last seven starts this season have come away from Miller Park, which is no easy task. However, the Brewers’ right-hander has allowed at least four earned runs in five consecutive starts, while Milwaukee is 0-4 in his past four trips to the mound. Milwaukee topped Arizona in Monday’s series opener, but the Brewers own a 1-7 record in their past eight games off a victory. Garza is listed as a favorite for the first time this season, as the Brewers put together a 2-4 mark in his six outings as a home favorite in 2015.
Biggest UNDER run: Orioles (13-0 last 13)
Baltimore keeps cashing those ‘under’ tickets following a 3-2 win over Colorado on Monday. The O’s last hit an ‘over’ on July 8 in a 9-5 defeat to the Angels as the Baltimore staff has allowed three runs or less in five consecutive games. Chris Tillman has finished ‘under’ the total in four straight starts for Baltimore, while Colorado right-hander Chad Bettis has compiled a 3-1 mark to the ‘under’ in his past four outings away from Coors Field. The Rockies have put together a healthy 8-2 run to the ‘under’ in their last 10 road contests, while scoring two runs or less in their past seven away defeats.
Biggest OVER run: Dodgers (6-1 last seven)
Los Angeles returns home for the first time since prior to the All-Star break following a 5-4 road swing. The Dodgers scored plenty of runs in their final two victories at St. Louis, putting up 16 runs, while plating at least six runs in all five wins on the trip. Los Angeles opens an interleague series with Tampa Bay, as right-hander Bud Norris has seen the ‘over’ cash in each of his last three starts. Tampa Bay is currently on a three-game streak to the ‘under,’ while tonight’s starter Chris Archer has eclipsed the ‘over’ in four of his past five road outings since the start of June.
Matchup to watch: Mariners vs. Pirates
Seattle and Pittsburgh begin a two-game interleague series at PNC Park as both teams are trying to make for Wild Card spots. The Mariners picked up a rare road series victory at Toronto this past weekend, while Pittsburgh is coming off its second straight home series win over Philadelphia. Felix Hernandez makes his second start off the disabled list for Seattle, looking to bounce back after allowing five earned runs in his last outing against the White Sox. Francisco Liriano counters for Pittsburgh, coming off a 13-strikeout performance in a 5-3 home triumph over the Brewers. The Mariners have compiled a 4-1 road record in interleague play, while the Pirates have slumped to a 1-4 mark against AL opponents at home.
Betcha didn’t know: The Nationals have performed well in interleague action, posting a 9-3 record against AL competition. Washington travels to Cleveland in a battle of division leaders tonight at Progressive Field as the Indians return home after getting swept by the Orioles this past weekend. The Indians hope to get on track with Danny Salazar on the mound, as Cleveland has won six of his last seven home outings.
Biggest public favorite: Blue Jays (-250) vs. Padres
Biggest public underdog: Mariners (+100) at Pirates
Biggest line move: Twins (-185 to -200) vs. Braves
July 26, 2016
Hottest team: Yankees (7-3 last 10)
New York may be sellers at the trade deadline, but the Bronx Bombers are playing solid baseball towards the end of July. The Yankees sold off closer Aroldis Chapman to the Cubs on Monday, but came out with a 2-1 victory at Houston as a +135 road underdog. During this winning stretch, the Yankees have faced the Red Sox, Orioles, Giants, and Astros, which is a brutal schedule, but Joe Girardi’s club has allowed two runs or less eight times. CC Sabathia takes the mound for New York tonight, as the southpaw has given up at least four earned runs in six consecutive starts.
Coldest team: Giants (2-8 last 10)
Heading home didn’t help San Francisco, who returned to AT&T Park following a dreadful 1-7 road trip on Monday only to lose to last-place Cincinnati, 7-5. The Giants plated six runs in their three-game series against the Yankees, but couldn’t hold onto a 5-4 lead in last night’s defeat to the Reds. The loss snapped a four-game winning streak at AT&T Park, although it was San Francisco’s first home game since the night before the All-Star break. After Jake Peavy failed to win last night, the Giants turn to another struggling hurler this evening as Matt Cain heads to the hill. Cain owns a 1-6 record and 5.88 ERA, while the Giants have put together a 2-4 mark his last six home outings.
Hottest pitcher: Chris Tillman, Orioles (14-2, 3.18 ERA)
Baltimore continued its winning ways at home with its second consecutive walk-off victory on Monday to edge Colorado in extra innings. The Orioles send out Cy Young sleeper Tillman to the mound tonight as Baltimore has compiled a ridiculous 18-3 mark when he starts this season, including 12-0 at Camden Yards. Tillman has allowed exactly one earned run in each of his last four starts (all wins), while tossing seven innings in each of those outings.
Coldest pitcher: Matt Garza, Brewers (1-4, 5.94 ERA)
To be fair, six of Garza’s last seven starts this season have come away from Miller Park, which is no easy task. However, the Brewers’ right-hander has allowed at least four earned runs in five consecutive starts, while Milwaukee is 0-4 in his past four trips to the mound. Milwaukee topped Arizona in Monday’s series opener, but the Brewers own a 1-7 record in their past eight games off a victory. Garza is listed as a favorite for the first time this season, as the Brewers put together a 2-4 mark in his six outings as a home favorite in 2015.
Biggest UNDER run: Orioles (13-0 last 13)
Baltimore keeps cashing those ‘under’ tickets following a 3-2 win over Colorado on Monday. The O’s last hit an ‘over’ on July 8 in a 9-5 defeat to the Angels as the Baltimore staff has allowed three runs or less in five consecutive games. Chris Tillman has finished ‘under’ the total in four straight starts for Baltimore, while Colorado right-hander Chad Bettis has compiled a 3-1 mark to the ‘under’ in his past four outings away from Coors Field. The Rockies have put together a healthy 8-2 run to the ‘under’ in their last 10 road contests, while scoring two runs or less in their past seven away defeats.
Biggest OVER run: Dodgers (6-1 last seven)
Los Angeles returns home for the first time since prior to the All-Star break following a 5-4 road swing. The Dodgers scored plenty of runs in their final two victories at St. Louis, putting up 16 runs, while plating at least six runs in all five wins on the trip. Los Angeles opens an interleague series with Tampa Bay, as right-hander Bud Norris has seen the ‘over’ cash in each of his last three starts. Tampa Bay is currently on a three-game streak to the ‘under,’ while tonight’s starter Chris Archer has eclipsed the ‘over’ in four of his past five road outings since the start of June.
Matchup to watch: Mariners vs. Pirates
Seattle and Pittsburgh begin a two-game interleague series at PNC Park as both teams are trying to make for Wild Card spots. The Mariners picked up a rare road series victory at Toronto this past weekend, while Pittsburgh is coming off its second straight home series win over Philadelphia. Felix Hernandez makes his second start off the disabled list for Seattle, looking to bounce back after allowing five earned runs in his last outing against the White Sox. Francisco Liriano counters for Pittsburgh, coming off a 13-strikeout performance in a 5-3 home triumph over the Brewers. The Mariners have compiled a 4-1 road record in interleague play, while the Pirates have slumped to a 1-4 mark against AL opponents at home.
Betcha didn’t know: The Nationals have performed well in interleague action, posting a 9-3 record against AL competition. Washington travels to Cleveland in a battle of division leaders tonight at Progressive Field as the Indians return home after getting swept by the Orioles this past weekend. The Indians hope to get on track with Danny Salazar on the mound, as Cleveland has won six of his last seven home outings.
Biggest public favorite: Blue Jays (-250) vs. Padres
Biggest public underdog: Mariners (+100) at Pirates
Biggest line move: Twins (-185 to -200) vs. Braves
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