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Thursday's Diamond Notes
July 6, 2017
Hottest team: Brewers (7-3 last 10) at Cubs
Independence Day has passed and Milwaukee still sits atop the NL Central, owning a three-game advantage over Chicago. The Brewers pulled off a three-game sweep of the slumping Orioles at Miller Park, while finishing off their homestand at 5-1. Milwaukee’s longest winning streak is this season is four game, in which it has accomplished three times, but looks to equal that number with a victory at Wrigley Field this afternoon.
The Brewers and Cubs hook up for a make-up contest before Milwaukee heads to the Bronx for its final series prior to the All-Star break. Zach Davies heads to the mound for the Crew today, as Milwaukee has won five of the right-hander’s last six starts. The Brewers have dropped five of eight meetings to the Cubs this season, including three of five matchups at Wrigley Field.
Coldest team: Mariners (2-8 last 10) vs. Athletics
Seattle can’t buy a victory at Safeco Field recently after dropping its seventh straight home contest on Wednesday. The Mariners overcame a 4-0 deficit to the Royals by scoring six unanswered runs, but eventually lost in extra innings, 9-6. In six of those losses, Seattle has been listed as a favorite, which is the role the M’s are in tonight to begin a four-game set with the Athletics.
Sam Gaviglio takes the hill for the Mariners in the series opener, as Seattle has cashed the UNDER in each of his past five starts. The M’s have won four of Gaviglio’s five home starts this season, while Seattle has captured three of the past four meetings with Oakland.
Hottest pitcher: Jacob Faria, Rays (3-0, 2.23 ERA)
Faria squares off against AL Cy Young front-runner Chris Sale as the Rays and Red Sox begin a four-game series at Tropicana Field. The Tampa Bay right-hander has put together five quality starts in his first five outings of his rookie campaign. The Rays have won four times when Faria has started, while pitching at least six innings in each outing. What’s even more impressive is the 7/1 strikeout to walk ratio for Faria by striking out 35 batters compared to issuing five walks. The Red Sox are making their first trip to Tampa Bay this season after winning four of the first seven meetings with the Rays.
Coldest pitcher: Josh Tomlin, Indians (4-9, 6.17 ERA)
Since the start of June, Tomlin has been the ultimate fade when he takes the mound. Cleveland owns a 1-5 record in this stretch with the only victory coming against the Dodgers, 12-5 as a short home underdog. Tomlin has been extremely consistent (in a bad way) during this stretch by allowing at least four runs in five straight starts, while yielding eight home runs in his past four outings. Tomlin and the Indians try to avoid the sweep against the Padres as Cleveland has compiled an 0-4 record when the right-hander starts as a favorite of -165 or higher this season.
Biggest OVER run: Astros (5-0 last five)
Houston’s explosive offense continues to rake after scoring 26 runs in a pair of blowouts over Atlanta the last two nights. The Astros have plated 41 runs during its four-game winning streak, while scoring at least five runs in 13 of their past 14 victories. Right-hander Lance McCullers, Jr. makes his ninth road start of the season for Houston as the Astros have finished UNDER the total in five of his past six outings away from Minute Maid Park.
Biggest UNDER run: Reds (6-0 last six)
When Cincinnati loses, normally it doesn’t score many runs. The Reds have posted three runs or fewer in each of their last six defeats, while coming off a 5-3 defeat to the Rockies on Wednesday. Cincinnati wraps up its series at Coors Field this afternoon, sending out right-hander Sal Romano, who is making his first start since a 4-2 loss to Milwaukee on April 16. Colorado’s Tyler Chatwood has been one of the top UNDER pitchers this season by going 7-1-3 to the UNDER in his last 11 starts.
Matchup to watch: Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers
Los Angeles is starting to open up the gap in the NL West between them and Arizona heading into the All-Star break. The Dodgers own a four-game edge over the Diamondbacks following Wednesday’s 1-0 shutout as L.A. seeks the home sweep tonight at Chavez Ravine.
After Clayton Kershaw and Alex Wood posted magnificent pitching performances in the first two victories, the Dodgers turn to another southpaw in the finale as Rich Hill takes the mound. Hill is coming off his best outing of the season after tossing seven scoreless innings and striking out 11 in an 8-0 rout of the Padres last Saturday. In his previous start against Arizona in April as a -190 favorite, Hill lasted only three innings before exiting due to injury in a 3-1 defeat.
Arizona looks to avoid its first road sweep of the season as fireballer Robbie Ray tries to shut the Dodgers. Ray lost for the first time in his previous eight starts in a 6-3 setback to the Rockies in his last outing, but Arizona owns a solid 6-1 record in his seven road assignments this season. Since last July, the D-backs have won four of Ray’s last five starts against the Dodgers, including a 2-0 mark in 2017.
Betcha didn’t know: The Blue Jays have slumped to a dreadful 1-9 record in their last 10 series openers. Toronto will have a tough time trying to turn around that cold skid as the Blue Jays host the Astros, who have put together a terrific 30-9 road record. To make matters worse, Toronto has dropped seven of its past nine games at Rogers Center, but won two of three home meetings with the Astros last season.
Biggest public favorite: Indians (-180) vs. Padres
Biggest public underdog: D-backs (+140) at Dodgers
Biggest line move: Pirates (-125 to -135) at Phillies
July 6, 2017
Hottest team: Brewers (7-3 last 10) at Cubs
Independence Day has passed and Milwaukee still sits atop the NL Central, owning a three-game advantage over Chicago. The Brewers pulled off a three-game sweep of the slumping Orioles at Miller Park, while finishing off their homestand at 5-1. Milwaukee’s longest winning streak is this season is four game, in which it has accomplished three times, but looks to equal that number with a victory at Wrigley Field this afternoon.
The Brewers and Cubs hook up for a make-up contest before Milwaukee heads to the Bronx for its final series prior to the All-Star break. Zach Davies heads to the mound for the Crew today, as Milwaukee has won five of the right-hander’s last six starts. The Brewers have dropped five of eight meetings to the Cubs this season, including three of five matchups at Wrigley Field.
Coldest team: Mariners (2-8 last 10) vs. Athletics
Seattle can’t buy a victory at Safeco Field recently after dropping its seventh straight home contest on Wednesday. The Mariners overcame a 4-0 deficit to the Royals by scoring six unanswered runs, but eventually lost in extra innings, 9-6. In six of those losses, Seattle has been listed as a favorite, which is the role the M’s are in tonight to begin a four-game set with the Athletics.
Sam Gaviglio takes the hill for the Mariners in the series opener, as Seattle has cashed the UNDER in each of his past five starts. The M’s have won four of Gaviglio’s five home starts this season, while Seattle has captured three of the past four meetings with Oakland.
Hottest pitcher: Jacob Faria, Rays (3-0, 2.23 ERA)
Faria squares off against AL Cy Young front-runner Chris Sale as the Rays and Red Sox begin a four-game series at Tropicana Field. The Tampa Bay right-hander has put together five quality starts in his first five outings of his rookie campaign. The Rays have won four times when Faria has started, while pitching at least six innings in each outing. What’s even more impressive is the 7/1 strikeout to walk ratio for Faria by striking out 35 batters compared to issuing five walks. The Red Sox are making their first trip to Tampa Bay this season after winning four of the first seven meetings with the Rays.
Coldest pitcher: Josh Tomlin, Indians (4-9, 6.17 ERA)
Since the start of June, Tomlin has been the ultimate fade when he takes the mound. Cleveland owns a 1-5 record in this stretch with the only victory coming against the Dodgers, 12-5 as a short home underdog. Tomlin has been extremely consistent (in a bad way) during this stretch by allowing at least four runs in five straight starts, while yielding eight home runs in his past four outings. Tomlin and the Indians try to avoid the sweep against the Padres as Cleveland has compiled an 0-4 record when the right-hander starts as a favorite of -165 or higher this season.
Biggest OVER run: Astros (5-0 last five)
Houston’s explosive offense continues to rake after scoring 26 runs in a pair of blowouts over Atlanta the last two nights. The Astros have plated 41 runs during its four-game winning streak, while scoring at least five runs in 13 of their past 14 victories. Right-hander Lance McCullers, Jr. makes his ninth road start of the season for Houston as the Astros have finished UNDER the total in five of his past six outings away from Minute Maid Park.
Biggest UNDER run: Reds (6-0 last six)
When Cincinnati loses, normally it doesn’t score many runs. The Reds have posted three runs or fewer in each of their last six defeats, while coming off a 5-3 defeat to the Rockies on Wednesday. Cincinnati wraps up its series at Coors Field this afternoon, sending out right-hander Sal Romano, who is making his first start since a 4-2 loss to Milwaukee on April 16. Colorado’s Tyler Chatwood has been one of the top UNDER pitchers this season by going 7-1-3 to the UNDER in his last 11 starts.
Matchup to watch: Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers
Los Angeles is starting to open up the gap in the NL West between them and Arizona heading into the All-Star break. The Dodgers own a four-game edge over the Diamondbacks following Wednesday’s 1-0 shutout as L.A. seeks the home sweep tonight at Chavez Ravine.
After Clayton Kershaw and Alex Wood posted magnificent pitching performances in the first two victories, the Dodgers turn to another southpaw in the finale as Rich Hill takes the mound. Hill is coming off his best outing of the season after tossing seven scoreless innings and striking out 11 in an 8-0 rout of the Padres last Saturday. In his previous start against Arizona in April as a -190 favorite, Hill lasted only three innings before exiting due to injury in a 3-1 defeat.
Arizona looks to avoid its first road sweep of the season as fireballer Robbie Ray tries to shut the Dodgers. Ray lost for the first time in his previous eight starts in a 6-3 setback to the Rockies in his last outing, but Arizona owns a solid 6-1 record in his seven road assignments this season. Since last July, the D-backs have won four of Ray’s last five starts against the Dodgers, including a 2-0 mark in 2017.
Betcha didn’t know: The Blue Jays have slumped to a dreadful 1-9 record in their last 10 series openers. Toronto will have a tough time trying to turn around that cold skid as the Blue Jays host the Astros, who have put together a terrific 30-9 road record. To make matters worse, Toronto has dropped seven of its past nine games at Rogers Center, but won two of three home meetings with the Astros last season.
Biggest public favorite: Indians (-180) vs. Padres
Biggest public underdog: D-backs (+140) at Dodgers
Biggest line move: Pirates (-125 to -135) at Phillies
It Been A Long Strange Trip. I'd Like To Do It Again
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