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[StarDust Bum]

Dodgers' Puig makes obscene gesture at Cleveland fans
June 14, 2017

CLEVELAND (AP) Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig made an obscene gesture at Cleveland fans after hitting a home run Tuesday night.

After crossing home plate following his second-inning drive, Puig raised both middle fingers in the direction of fans seated in the dugout suites located on field level at Progressive Field. He was booed for the remainder of the game.

Puig said he was heckled in the on-deck circle, which is directly in front of those choice seats.

''People were talking to me before the home run, and they talked to me after the home run,'' he said through a translator. ''I stooped to their level. It happened suddenly. It came out. There's nothing I can do about it. There were about four of them. They were pretty close there.''

Puig realizes he could face a fine from Major League Baseball for his actions.

''If I get fined, I can't not pay it. I know I did it,'' he said.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he didn't see the gesture and asked jokingly, ''Are you sure it wasn't No. 1 he was signaling?''

Puig went 2 for 4 with a strikeout in Los Angeles' 7-5 win over the Indians.

[StarDust Bum]

June's Best Bets and Opinions:

Date W-L-T % Units Record

06/13/2017................... 11 - 8 - 2 ......................57.89%.................. +17.00
06/12/2017.................... 6 - 7 - 2 .......................46.15%....................-.1.25
06/11/2017.................... 3 - 8 -1....................... 27.27%.................. -25.00
06/10/2017.................... 9 - 16 - 0..................... 36.00%................... -31.00
06/09/2017................... 10 - 10 - 0..................... 50.00%................... +1.75
06/08/2017.................... 7 - 9 - 0....................... 43.75%.................... -8.50
06/07/2017.................... 8 - 12 - 1..................... 40.00%................... -18.50
06/06/2017.................... 9 - 11 - 1..................... 45.00%................... -11.25
06/05/2017.................... 6 - 2 - 1....................... 75.00%.................. +20.50
06/04/2017.................... 8 - 10 - 0...................... 44.44%.................. -10.00
06/03/2017.................... 8 - 8 - 0........................ 50.00%................... -2.50
06/02/2017.................. 10 - 10 - 1....................... 50.00%.................. - 2.25
06/01/2017.................... 6 - 5 - 0....................... 54.55%.................. + 7.25

Totals:.........................101 - 116 - 9...................46.54%................. - 31.25


June's Best Bets:
Ats..................Totals:

06/13/2017................2 - 4...............-2.66................4 - 4 - 2.............-0.40
06/12/2017................2 - 4...............-0.95................3 - 2.................+0.80
06/11/2017................1 - 2..............- 0.60................1 - 3.................- 2.30
06/10/2017................3 - 7..............- 3.70................6 - 9.................- 3.90
06/09/2017................4 - 2............+ 2.65................3 - 7 .................- 4.70
06/08/2017................3 - 2............+ 2.00................4 - 4...................-0.40
06/07/2017................2 - 2............+ 0.80................5 - 6..................- 1.60
06/06/2017................4 - 2............+ 2.65................4 - 7..................- 3.70
06/05/2017................3 - 1............+ 2.35................5 - 1.................+ 3.90
06/04/2017................2 - 4..............- 1.60...............5 - 3.................+ 3.30
06/03/2017................0 - 3..............- 3.30...............8 - 5.................+ 2.50
06/02/2017................3 - 3.............+ 0.15...............5 - 6..................- 1.60
06/01/2017................3 - 0.............+ 3.95...............3 - 5..................- 2.50

Totals:....................32 - 34............+ 1.74..............52 - 54 - 2.........- 11.40

[StarDust Bum]

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

OAK at MIA 12:10 PM

O 8.5

CIN at SD 03:40 PM

CIN +110

O 9.0

KC at SF 03:45 PM

KC +150

O 7.5

ATL at WAS 04:05 PM

ATL +145

O 9.5

BOS at PHI 07:05 PM

PHI +115

O 10.0

COL at PIT 07:05 PM

O 8.5

TB at TOR 07:07 PM

O 9.0

CHC at NYM 07:10 PM

NYM +110

U 9.0

LAD at CLE 07:10 PM

O 8.0

ARI at DET 07:10 PM

ARI +100

O 9.5

SEA at MIN 08:10 PM

O 10.5

TEX at HOU 08:10 PM

TEX +135

O 9.5

BAL at CHW 08:10 PM

O 10.0

MIL at STL 08:15 PM

MIL +155

U 9.0

NYY at LAA 10:07 PM

U 8.0

[StarDust Bum]

Thursday’s six-pack

Phil Steele’s six toughest schedules in college football this season

6) Oregon State— Beavers have a 6-foot-7 QB coming in from a JC; will he start?

5) Mississippi State— Have only two returning starters on offensive line.

4) Syracuse— You’ll notice there are no Big 14 teams on this list.

3) UCLA— Bruins were 127th in rushing yardage last season (out of 128).

2) California— Bears haven’t allowed less than 5.5 yards per play since 2011.

1) LSU— Tigers lost both their inside linebackers to graduation.

***********************

Thursday’s List of 13: Happy Armadillo Day, everyone!!!!

13) Happy Armadillo Day everyone!!! 16 years ago today, I started this site and hoped that someone, anyone would read it and not hate it. Actually, even if they hated it I hoped they would still read it.

9/11 happened three months later and I hardly wrote for a week- there wasn’t anything to say.

Now it is 2017 and here we are. I have opinions, you have opinions; it is extremely important that while we disagree, maybe even vehemently disagree, we have to respect each other’s opinions and go on with our lives. It is what living in a free country is all about.

12) Golden State winning the NBA title means Bills’ RB LeSean McCoy cashed his $200,000 bet on the Warriors, recording a profit of $62,500. He made the bet at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, right next to where they sell the biggest pizza slices on earth (really, really good pizza).

11) Speaking of the Warriors, Stephen Curry is an unrestricted free agent- how would you like to be HIS agent right now? He is in line for a 5-year, $205M deal— $41M a year!!!!

So if that happens, and his agent gets 3% of the deal, that is $1.23M a year for the agent, just for representing Curry. He should hire his parents as his agent.

10) Red Sox are in Philly for a couple of days, which has to be strange for Boston 1B coach Ruben Amaro Jr; he was the Phillies’ GM for seven years before they fired him and he went back on the field as a Red Sox coach.

9) Anthony Rizzo has batted leadoff the last two nights; he hit first-inning homers in both games. I like batting my best hitters high in the order. Miami has done well since they moved Giancarlo Stanton to the #2 spot.

8) Latin-born players make up 26.4% of major league rosters.

7) Michigan Wolverines had spring football practice in Italy; I’m not sure why, but they did and the trip cost around $800,000— the tab was picked up by an anonymous donor, so the school didn’t pay a nickel for it.

6) San Diego Padres’ pitcher Clayton Richard, a former backup QB at Michigan, threw 127 pitches Tuesday night, but came up an out short of the complete game in San Diego’s 6-2 win over the Reds. 127 pitches are the most anyone has thrown in the majors this season.

5) The Stanley Cup was at the Pirates’ game Tuesday and not just in the press box; the Cup made its way all around the stadium, with groups of fans getting their pictures taken with it.

I have a picture of myself with the Stanley Cup in my living room, from when the Devils won the Cup (they had a farm team in Albany at the time, so the Cup came here for a night). Very cool.

4) UConn-Villanova are starting a home/home basketball series in January, renewing their rivalry from the Big East days. Since it is on a Saturday, must mean it is a made-for-TV deal.

3) Oregon’s coaches are getting lot of kudos on social media from basketball people praising how well Oregon players are doing during NBA workouts.

Stuff like this is great for the Ducks’ recruiting; Dana Altman is a great coach and he will get his guys ready for pro basketball. Hearing that from NBA types has to impress high school kids.

2) Back when I was a kid, in the 70’s, the non-waiver trading deadline was June 15 (it is July 31 now). June 15, 1976 was not one of my favorite days……..

I became an A’s fan when I was five years old— 1965- they were awful, but they got better and became one of the best teams ever, winning world titles in 1972, 73, 74.

They won the AL West in ’75 but lost in the playoffs; free agency was becoming a thing, and the A’s didn’t draw anyone at all at home, way worse than now, so they couldn’t afford to keep their stars. Owner Charles O Finley decided to sell some guys off.

On June 15, 1976, the A’s traded Joe Rudi, Rollie Fingers and Vida Blue, dismantling the team. The trades were later disallowed by the commissioner- the players stayed in limbo for a week, but those A’s teams were never the same again.

1) Anyway, I was 16 at the time and I loved playing basketball; my parents bought me this great pair of Puma low-cut sneakers— the Walt Frazier model. I would play in those sneakers, then change out of them and walk home in different sneakers, thats how much I liked them.

So I’m walking down the street and my dad is sitting in a chair under the tree on the front lawn- he is smiling as he looks at me- something is up.

He tells me the trades have been made, that my team was being dismantled. I’m hot, tired and now not happy; I take my prized sneakers and throw them over the house, one at a time— very lucky they didn’t land on the roof.

Not my finest moment…….lol

Anyway, today should be better than that day was.

Happy Armadillo Day!!!!

[StarDust Bum]

Thursday’s games
National League

Nationals @ Mets
Gonzalez is 2-0, 3.04 in his last four starts (under 3-1). Washington is 4-2 in his road starts. 1st 5-inning record with him: 9-2-2

Gsellman is 3-0, 1.89 in his last three starts, all of which stayed under. Mets split his six home starts- their 1st 5-inning record with him: 6-5 (6-1 last seven)

Washington lost five of its last six games; they’re 8-3 in road series openers. Their last three games went over. Mets won six of last eight games; they’re 6-1 in last seven home series openers. Under is 5-3 in their last eight games.

Brewers @ Cardinals
Davies is 2-0, 3.38 in his last three starts (over 9-4). Milwaukee is 4-2 in his road starts- their 1st 5-inning record with him: 6-5-2

Wacha is 1-2, 9.34 in his last four starts; over is 7-1 in his last eight. St Louis is 3-4 in his home starts; their 1st 5-inning record with him: 5-5-1

Milwaukee is 5-3 in its last eight road games; over is 5-2 in their last seven games. St Louis won six of its last eight home games; three of its last four games went over.

Giants @ Rockies
Moore is 0-3, 5.87 in his last four starts; over is 6-0-1 in his road starts. Giants are 1-6 in his road starts- their 1st 5-inning record with him: 2-9-2

Hoffman is 4-0, 2.10 in his first four starts; three of those four were on road. Over is 3-1 in his starts. Colorado’s 1st 5-inning record with him: 4-0

Giants are 4-11 in their last 15 games, 6-5 in road series openers. Over is 6-3-1 in their last ten games. Colorado lost three of last four games; over is 3-1-1 in their last five home tilts. Rockies are 7-3 in home series openers.

——————————–

American League
Mariners @ Twins
Miranda is 3-0, 2.52 in his last four starts; under is 5-1 in his last six. Seattle is 5-2 in his road starts- their 1st 5-inning record with him: 8-5

Berrios is 5-1, 2.89 in six starts this year (under 5-0-1). Twins’ 1st 5-inning record with him: 4-2

Seattle won eight of last 11 games; under is 5-3-2 in their last ten road games. Minnesota lost six of its last seven home games (over 5-0-2).

Orioles @ White Sox
Tillman is 0-4, 12.89 in his last four starts, last three of which went over. Orioles’ 1st 5-inning record with him: 1-5-1

Holmberg is 1-0, 4.26 in three starts this year (over 1-1-1). White Sox’ 1st 5-inning record with him: 2-1

Orioles lost 11 of their last 12 road games; over is 11-4 in their last 15 games. White Sox are 4-10 in last 14 games; over is 11-5-2 in their last 18 home games.

Rays @ Tigers
Cobb is 1-2, 5.79 in his last four starts; over is 4-1 in his last five. Tampa Bay is 4-4 in his road starts- their 1st 5-inning record with him: 8-4-1

Verlander is 0-1, 5.49 in his last four starts; over is 4-1 in his last five. Detroit is 4-1 in his home starts; their 1st 5-inning record with him: 5-6-2

Rays won six of last eight games; they’re 7-4 in road series openers- over is 6-0-1 in their last even games. Detroit lost six of last eight games; they’re 6-4 in home series openers- over is 8-4 in their last 12 games.

New York @ A’s
Montgomery is 2-0, 1.38 in his last two starts; under is 5-1 in his last six. New York is 2-3 in his road starts- their 1st 5-inning record with him: 5-5-1

Gray is 0-1, 7.64 in his last three starts (over 7-1). Oakland is 3-1 in his home starts; their 1st 5-inning record with him: 6-2

New York won six of its last seven games; they’re 6-3 in last nine road series openers- five of their last six games went over. Oakland lost six of its last seven games; they’re 5-5 in home series openers- over is 8-1-2 in their last 11 games.

Royals @ Angels
Strahm is making his first MLB start; he is 1-3, 4.50 in 20 big league relief stints (22 IP). This is a bullpen game for KC if he is the starter.

Nolasco is 0-5, 5.93 in his last five starts; under is 8-2 in his last ten. Angels are 2-4 in his home starts; their 5-inning record with him: 4-6-3

Royals won six of last eight games; they’re 4-6 in road series openers- over is 8-1 in their last nine games. Angels are 5-3 in last eight games, 4-6 in home series openers. Under is 3-1 in their last four home games.

__________________________

Interleague

Red Sox @ Phillies
Sale is 4-0, 5.61 in his last four starts; Boston scored 40 runs in those games (over 4-0). Red Sox are 4-2 in his road starts- their 1st 5-inning record with him: 6-2-5

Pivetta is 1-4, 5.52 in six starts this season (over 3-2-1). Phils’ 1st 5-inning record with him: 1-4-1

Phillies lost their last eight games; over is 4-1 in their last four home games. Boston won 10 of last 12 games; five of their last seven games went over.

Dodgers @ Indians
Hill is 2-0, 3.21 in his last three starts (under 5-2). Dodgers’ 1st 5-inning record with him: 3-4

Tomlin is 1-5, 5.05 in his last six starts; under is 5-2 in his last seven. Indians are 2-5 in his home starts- their 1st 5-inning record with him: 3-8-1

Dodgers won their last six games; their last five games went over. Cleveland lost three of their last four games; over is 10-6-1 in their last 17 home games.

______________________________

Record with this pitcher starting:
National League
Wsh-NY: Gonzalez 7-6; Gsellman 6-4
Mil-StL: Davies 8-5; Wacha 4-7
SF-Col: Moore 3-10; Hoffman 4-0

American League
Sea-Minn: Miranda 8-5; Berrios 5-1
Balt-Chi: Tillman 2-5; Holmberg 2-1
TB-Det: Cobb 6-7; Verlander 6-7
NY-A’s: Montgomery 5-6; Gray 3-5
KC-LAA: Strahm 0-0; Nolasco 3-10

Interleague
Bos-Phil: Sale 10-3; Pivetta 1-5
LA-Clev: Hill 4-3; Tomlin 4-8

Pitchers allowing a run in first inning:
National League
Wsh-NY: Gonzalez 5-13; Gsellman 5-11
Mil-StL: Davies 3-13; Wacha 1-11
SF-Col: Moore 4-13; Hoffman 0-4

American League
Sea-Minn: Miranda 4-13; Berrios 1-6
Balt-Chi: Tillman 4-7 (4 of last 4); Holmberg 1-3
TB-Det: Cobb 2-13; Verlander 5-13
NY-A’s: Montgomery 3-11; Gray 1-8
KC-LAA: Strahm 0-0; Nolasco 4-13

Interleague
Bos-Phil: Sale 1-13; Pivetta 2-6
LA-Clev: Hill 1-7; Tomlin 5-12

_________________________

Umpires
National League

American League

Interleague

Interleague play
NL @ AL– 35-20 AL, favorites +$86
AL @ NL– 37-34 AL, favorites -$389
Total: 72-54 AL, favorites -$303

Totals in interleague games
NL @ AL: Over 33-26-1
AL @ NL: Over 41-25-2
Total: Over 74-51-3

Teams’ records in first five innings:
Team (road-home-total)- thru 6/14/17
Ariz 11-14-7……21-9–5…….31-23
Atl 15-16-4……10-17-3……..25-33
Cubs 11-17-1……16-14-5……..27-31
Reds 8-20-3……14-17–2………22-37
Colo 24-9-5…..15-13-2……….39-22
LA 12-15-4……22-11-2……….34-26
Miami 12-19-1…….18-10-4……..30-29
Milw 17-9-5…….17-14-5…….34-23
Mets 16-11-1……..16-18-2……32-29
Philly 9-21-6………9-16-2……18-37
Pitt 13-17-2…..12-15-7…….25-32
St. Louis 13-12-2……..20-10-5……..33-22
SD 7-21-4…….16-15–4………23-36
SF 7-21-7……..13-15-4……..23-36
Wash 22-9-2……17-12-3………..39-21

Orioles 11-19-3……..15-14-2………26-33
Boston 13-17-3………15-15-2…….28-32
White Sox 10-22-6……..14-11–1……..24-33
Cleveland 13-15-3……..14-14-3……..26-29
Detroit 14-16-4…….15-13-2……..29-29
Astros 15-10-6……..20-14-2…….35-24
KC 9-16-6………16-13-5……..25-29
Angels 12-18-6………16-10-6……28-28
Twins 17-8-3………12-15-6……..29-23
NYY 16-14-2……….20-9-1…..…36-23
A’s 10-19-4……..14-11-6……..24-30
Seattle 11-18-5……..17-12-4……..28-30
TB 15-11-6……..22-9-5……..37-20
Texas 17-10-5……..12-13-7……….29-23
Toronto 12-18-2……..11-14-6……..23-31

%age of times teams score in first inning (road/home/total- 6/14/17)
Ariz 11-32……..15-35……….26
Atl 8-35……..7-30…………15
Cubs 7-30……..15-35………..22
Reds 12-31……..15-34………27
Colo 9-38……..8-30..……….17
LA 8-31……..14-34..…….22
Miami 12-32……..12-32………24
Milw 12-31……17-36…..…..29
Mets 11-28……..15-35……….26
Philly 12-37……..6-27……….18
Pitt 9-32……..11-34……….20
StL 8-28……..9-35………..17
SD 15-32……..10-35…………25
SF 7-38……..9-32………….16
Wash 11-33……..14-32………25

Orioles 4-33……..11-31……….15
Boston 11-33……..8-31………..19
White Sox 11-38…….9-26………..19
Clev 7-31……..10-31……….17
Detroit 7-34…….13-30………20
Astros 9-31……..15-36……….24
KC 5-31……..5-33…………9
Angels 15-37…….7-33……….22
Twins 6-29……..9-33……….15
NYY 9-32……..12-31……….21
A’s 5-34……..9-32……….14
Seattle 13-34…….13-33………26
TB 9-32……..18-36………27
Texas 9-33……..14-32………22
Toronto 10-32……..7-33………..17

[StarDust Bum]

NL Lefty vs. Righty Splits
June 14, 2017

Comparing team batting splits against right-handed pitching and left-handed pitching can offer some handicapping opportunities. A team’s win loss record vs. each hand can carry some meaning, but a squad’s OPS offers a little more meaningful insight into performance potential. Here is a look at some of the lefty/righty splits in the National League just over two months into the 2017 MLB season.

Biggest preference for right-handed pitching: Arizona Diamondbacks

In a disappointing 93-loss season in 2016, Arizona still featured a robust .820 OPS vs. left-handers that was the best mark in the NL while featuring a more modest clip with a .730 OPS vs. right-handers. That script has completely turned around for the Diamondbacks in 2017 as they are the National League’s second best hitting team vs. right-handers with an excellent .818 OPS, just behind Washington for the league lead. Arizona has just a .692 OPS vs. left-handers this season with the team’s two most productive hitters, Paul Goldschmidt and Jake Lamb, showing a severe preference for facing right-handed hurlers. Arizona is still 10-8 vs. left-handed starters this season, but they are a serious NL contender because they are 30-18 vs. right-handed starters. The Cardinals and Mets are also teams with a clear dramatic improvement vs. right-handed pitching.

Biggest preference for left-handed pitching: Chicago Cubs

A lot of people are trying to figure out what has happened to the Cubs in 2017 as after a dominant World Series championship season in 2016, Chicago has spent most of this season near the .500 mark. The splits for Chicago vs. left-handers are nearly identical from 2016 to 2017 with a .807 OPS for the season which is where the 2017 mark currently is sitting in mid-June for the best mark in the NL. Chicago has won 60 percent of its games vs. left-handed starters this season, but they have only faced 15 of those games so far after going 28-17 vs. left-handed starters last season. Against right-handed pitching, Chicago has fallen dramatically from a .759 season OPS in 2016 to a .715 mark this season for one of the worst marks in the NL. Losing switch hitter Dexter Fowler, plus the struggles of left-hander Kyle Schwarber are factors, but ultimately the lineup as a whole hasn’t matched last season’s success. Two other NL teams with big gains in production vs. left-handers are Atlanta and Miami.

Biggest improvement vs. left-handed pitching: Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers won 91 games last season and ultimately made it to the NLCS, but in the regular season Los Angeles went just 22-24 vs. left-handed starters in 2016 while featuring by far the worst OPS vs. left-handers in the NL at just .623. The Dodgers are winning at an even better percentage this season despite more competition in the NL West and while Los Angeles is only 11-9 vs. left-handed starters this season the team OPS has improved to .747 vs. southpaw pitchers. The Dodgers have actually shown a slight decline vs. right-handed pitching so far this season, but more balance may make Los Angeles an even more serious contender this season. Atlanta also deserves mention with a .103-point improvement vs. left-handers compared with 2016, featuring a .783 OPS that is the fourth best mark in the NL vs. left-handers. Colorado has also shown improvement vs. left-handers while actually suffering a decline in production vs. right-handers compared with the 2016 numbers, despite the Rockies being one of the surprise success stories of the season so far.

Biggest improvement vs. right-handed pitching: Washington Nationals

Technically, Arizona has improved by a greater OPS margin, but Washington’s domination of the NL East so far can be credited to a NL best .821 OPS vs. right-handed pitching so far in 2017. Washington remains an excellent hitting team vs. left-handers as well with a .783 OPS that matches the 2016 season figure. Against right-handers, the Nationals have gone from an average .742 OPS in 2016 to the league-leading .821 mark so far in 2017 while sitting 12 games above .500 vs. right-handed starters. The Brewers can also attribute some of the surprisingly successful first half results to a big jump in production vs. right-handed pitching as well.

Improvement vs. both right-handers and left-handers: Cincinnati Reds

The Reds have fallen off an early season pace that included Cincinnati as a NL sleeper, but the Reds have shown solid improvement at the plate this season. A .781 OPS vs. right-handed pitching is the third best mark in the NL and a 50 point improvement over the 2016 numbers. Cincinnati has made an even bigger leap vs. left-handers going from a .699 OPS in 2016 to a .773 OPS so far in 2017. It is puzzling however that Cincinnati has gone just 3-12 vs. left-handed starters this season despite the above average offensive production in those matchups. Despite a recent slide, the Reds are only a handful of games out of the NL Central race and Cincinnati has 10 losses against the NL West this season as the Reds could have an opportunity to climb back into the playoff picture if they can continue to hit at the very solid current season pace.

Decline vs. both right-handers and left-handers: San Francisco Giants

In making the playoffs last season, the Giants were still a team with just modest offensive production. There have been struggles across the board in 2017 but even for the modest offensive standards of the Giants the lack of production at the plate is the biggest reason San Francisco has one of the worst records in the NL. San Francisco holds a .663 OPS vs. right-handed pitching which is the very worst among 30 MLB teams. The Giants are actually even less productive vs. left-handers with a .643 OPS though San Diego has an even lower mark vs. southpaws. With declines of .074 points vs. right-handers and .065 points vs. left-handers, the Giants are struggling in every matchup as one of baseball’s worst hitting teams. Pittsburgh and San Diego are both teams that have displayed a huge decline vs. left-handed pitching this season to account for struggling in the standings so far in 2017.

[StarDust Bum]

AL Lefty vs. Righty Splits
June 6, 2017

Comparing team batting splits against right-handed pitching and left-handed pitching can offer some handicapping opportunities.

For example the Blue Jays being just 3-10 vs. left-handed starters this season while White Sox being 11-7 vs. left-handed starters can explain the somewhat unexpected results of those squads to some degree.

Here is a deeper look at some of the team batting splits in the American League through early June in the 2017 season.

Best hitting team vs. right-handers: Houston Astros

With an amazing 42-16 record the Astros are pacing baseball, holding a 14-game lead in the AL West barely two months into the season. Improvement has basically been across the board for Houston and the Astros have the AL’s top OPS vs. right-handed pitching at .824, while sitting second in the AL vs. left-handed pitching at .793. Both numbers are a huge improvement on the 2016 numbers with a .087 boost vs. righties and a .062 boost vs. lefties, two of the biggest jumps in the league.

Best hitting team vs. left-handed pitching: Chicago White Sox

The White Sox have been a surprise this season as Chicago was almost universally projected to be the very worst team in the AL. Chicago has slipped a bit in the last few weeks to sit at 24-31 to make any playoff hopes faint but this remains a team that is likely to outperform a projected win total in the upper 60s with only San Diego facing a more dire spring training outlook. Chicago has been the league’s worst hitting team vs. right-handed pitching with a .681 OPS but vs. left-handers Chicago owns a .815 OPS for by far the best mark in the AL. Looking at the lineup it isn’t a major surprise the splits are so lopsided as Chicago routinely uses only right-handers and switch-hitters in its lineup, even against right-handed pitching.

Most improved vs. right-handed pitching: New York Yankees

New York’s offense has flourished this season and while the numbers vs. left-handed pitching are only slightly improved compared with the 2016 season the numbers vs. right-handers have made a dramatic jump. Against right-handers New York has gone from posting a .724 OPS in 2016 to a .814 OPS so far in 2017, the biggest positive leap of any team vs. either side compared with last season. Aaron Judge alone is providing much of the boost with 14 of his 18 home runs vs. right-handers posting an outrageous 1.111 OPS in 170 plate appearances vs. right-handers. Switch hitter Aaron Hicks has also been very productive batting left-handed, while catcher Gary Sanchez is a far better hitter vs. right-handers despite batting right-handed.

Biggest decline vs. right-handed pitching: Boston Red Sox

The Red Sox are certainly still in striking distance in the AL East and at worst a clear AL Wild Card contender but the team has been a mild disappointment as one of the consensus favorites in the AL before the season started. Boston just got David Price back which will likely boost the pitching staff but the offense simply hasn’t been as successful as last season with David Ortiz out of the lineup. Boston had the league’s best OPS vs. left-handers last season at .795 and in 2017 Boston still remains a quality hitting team vs. left-handers with a .771 OPS for only a modest decline. That is .025 points higher than the .746 OPS the Red Sox have against right-handers for the biggest gap in the league for a team that is stronger vs. southpaws and nowhere near the league-leading .814 OPS the Red Sox posted last season vs. right-handed pitching.

Most balanced hitting team: Baltimore Orioles

Baltimore owns a .734 OPS vs. right-handers and a .728 OPS vs. left-handers this season for the smallest difference between sides among the 15 AL teams. Last season Baltimore had a massive contrast in those figures with a .090 gap being a far better hitting team vs. right-handers but the numbers have declined this season vs. righties while they have climbed vs. lefties. The Orioles have not had the production they expected from Manny Machado and Mark Trumbo so far this season with Machado incredibly batting only .208 vs. right-handed pitching this season (.283 last season) while Trumbo is batting .253 but with only five home runs in 150 at-bats vs. right-handers after hitting 37 in those matchups last season.

Worst hitting team: Kansas City Royals

Kansas City has featured the biggest OPS decline in the AL vs. left-handed pitching and the second biggest decline in the AL in OPS vs. right-handed pitching. Kansa City has the second worst OPS in the league vs. right-handers at .682, just barely ahead of Chicago while sitting as by far the worst hitting team in the AL vs. left-handers with a .634 OPS. The big off-season concern for the Royals was their starting rotation but Jason Vargas is having a career year and Nate Karns and Danny Duffy are offering some promise. Jason Hammel and Ian Kennedy have disappointed and the bullpen isn’t as strong as in the past few years but most of the blame of the great struggles for the Royals fall on the offense.

Disappointment Due to Decline vs. left-handed pitching: Cleveland, Texas, Toronto, Seattle

The Indians and Rangers and Blue Jays were playoff teams last season while the Mariners were a wild card contender late into the season. There is still time for these talented teams to make a run but they all have a common thread of a big production decline vs. left-handed pitching this season. Cleveland’s drop has been the most modest of the group falling .043 but last season’s surge vs. left-handers to a .748 clip may have been the difference in the pennant winning season. This year’s lineup is more left-handed heavy with Michael Brantley’s return and Cleveland’s rotation has not yet matched last season’s success as well.

Toronto has been known as a fierce hitting team vs. left-handers in recent years but this season the Blue Jays have a .678 OPS vs. left-handers for a huge drop compared with last season. Losing Edwin Encarnacion certainly has to be considered a major factor. It is worth noting that Josh Donaldson missed much of the first two months of the season as the numbers vs. left-handers should climb with his return as he owns a career .959 OPS vs. southpaws.

Seattle’s OPS vs. left-handers has fallen from a very respectable .749 in 2016 to just .652, or the second worst in the AL. Seattle has managed to go 7-8 vs. left-handed starters but a team many expected to be a serious AL contender has had very unbalanced results at the plate with an OPS .119 points higher vs. right-handers. The Mariners often have at least four left-handed batters in the lineup vs. right-handers and lefties Robinson Cano and Kyle Seager will stay in the middle of the lineup vs. southpaws even though particularly in Cano’s case there is a huge drop in his production in those matchups.

Texas won 95 games last season despite a marginal scoring differential as many expected a decline for the Rangers in 2017. Last season Texas had successful balanced hitting vs. lefties and righties and in 2017 the numbers vs. right-handers have only fallen slightly. Against left-handers Texas has fallen from a .759 OPS clip to a .657 OPS clip, so far posting just six wins vs. southpaw starters. The recent return of Adrian Beltre in the middle of the lineup could help that cause in the coming weeks however.

Success via Improvement vs. right-handed pitching: New York, Houston, Minnesota, Tampa Bay

The improvement for New York and Houston vs. right-handed pitching has been dramatic and a big reason those teams are on top of the AL. The Yankees are 24-16 vs. right-handed starters while Houston is absurdly 33-10 vs. right-handed starters at this point in the season.

Minnesota’s ascension to the AL Central lead isn’t expected to last but going from one of the league’s lesser hitting teams vs. right-handers to a .773 OPS that is in the AL’s upper tier is a big reason for the team’s success this season. Minnesota is actually hitting far worse in 2017 vs. left-handed pitching than the team did in 2016 but they have only faced 12 left-handed starters this season. Minnesota’s improved pitching and defense are big factors as well but the lineup is having more success in the most common matchups, often using a lineup that includes six left-handed hitters with the addition of Jason Castro and the everyday play of switch-hitter Jorge Polanco.

Tampa Bay has been one of the league’s better hitting teams vs. left-handers in recent years including going 30-23 vs. left-handed starters in 2015 but something has changed this season as the Rays are .120 OPS points better vs. right-handers this season, the third best hitting team vs. righties behind Houston and New York. As a result the Rays have gone from being 18 games below .500 vs. right-handers in 2016 to being 22-18 vs. right-handed starters so far this season. The most obvious changes are left-handed hitter Corey Dickerson being the team’s leadoff hitter plus the addition of another lefty power bat in Colby Rasmus as the Rays generally have at least four left-handers in the lineup. Oddly Dickerson is batting .353 vs. left-handers this season as he hasn’t hurt the numbers while Rasmus is usually in a platoon role. Logan Morrison is a clean-up hitter with much worse numbers vs. southpaws and Kevin Keirmaier is batting just .178 vs. lefties this season to help explain the decline.

[StarDust Bum]

LEADING OFF: Sale goes for No. 9; Hoffman tries for 5th
June 14, 2017

A look at what's happening all around the majors Thursday:

SURGING SALE

Red Sox ace Chris Sale goes for his eighth straight win and ninth of the season in the finale of a three-game series at Philadelphia. It would tie Sale, 7-0 in his last eight starts, with Houston's Dallas Keuchel (9-0), Kansas City's Jason Vargas (9-3) and the Los Angeles Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw (9-2) for the major league lead in wins.

STAYING UNBEATEN

Colorado rookie Jeff Hoffman will look for his fifth straight win when the Rockies host San Francisco in the opener of a seven-game homestand. Hoffman is 4-0 with a 2.10 ERA in four starts.

SIXTH MAN

With the New York Mets using a six-man rotation during a long stretch between days off, Robert Gsellman gets another start in the opener of a four-game series against NL East-leading Washington. After making two relief appearances, the rookie right-hander is 3-0 with a 2.16 ERA in four starts. He faces Nationals lefty Gio Gonzalez, who is 9-1 with a 1.62 ERA in 14 starts at Citi Field.

FIRST START

Matt Strahm makes his first career start in the opener of Kansas City's four-game series at the Los Angeles Angels. The left-hander was 1-3 with a 4.05 ERA in 20 appearances out of the bullpen this season.

[StarDust Bum]

June's Best Bets and Opinions:

Date W-L-T % Units Record

06/14/2017................... 12 - 10 - 1..................... 54.55%................. +14.50
06/13/2017................... 11 - 8 - 2 ......................57.89%.................. +17.00
06/12/2017.................... 6 - 7 - 2 .......................46.15%....................-.1.25
06/11/2017.................... 3 - 8 -1....................... 27.27%.................. -25.00
06/10/2017.................... 9 - 16 - 0..................... 36.00%................... -31.00
06/09/2017................... 10 - 10 - 0..................... 50.00%................... +1.75
06/08/2017.................... 7 - 9 - 0....................... 43.75%.................... -8.50
06/07/2017.................... 8 - 12 - 1..................... 40.00%................... -18.50
06/06/2017.................... 9 - 11 - 1..................... 45.00%................... -11.25
06/05/2017.................... 6 - 2 - 1....................... 75.00%.................. +20.50
06/04/2017.................... 8 - 10 - 0...................... 44.44%.................. -10.00
06/03/2017.................... 8 - 8 - 0........................ 50.00%................... -2.50
06/02/2017.................. 10 - 10 - 1....................... 50.00%.................. - 2.25
06/01/2017.................... 6 - 5 - 0....................... 54.55%.................. + 7.25

Totals:.........................113 - 126 - 10..................47.28%................. - 16.75


June's Best Bets:
Ats..................Totals:

06/14/2017................5 - 3............+ 3.60.................4 - 4 - 1............- 0.40
06/13/2017................2 - 4...............-2.66................4 - 4 - 2.............-0.40
06/12/2017................2 - 4...............-0.95................3 - 2.................+0.80
06/11/2017................1 - 2..............- 0.60................1 - 3.................- 2.30
06/10/2017................3 - 7..............- 3.70................6 - 9.................- 3.90
06/09/2017................4 - 2............+ 2.65................3 - 7 .................- 4.70
06/08/2017................3 - 2............+ 2.00................4 - 4...................-0.40
06/07/2017................2 - 2............+ 0.80................5 - 6..................- 1.60
06/06/2017................4 - 2............+ 2.65................4 - 7..................- 3.70
06/05/2017................3 - 1............+ 2.35................5 - 1.................+ 3.90
06/04/2017................2 - 4..............- 1.60...............5 - 3.................+ 3.30
06/03/2017................0 - 3..............- 3.30...............8 - 5.................+ 2.50
06/02/2017................3 - 3.............+ 0.15...............5 - 6..................- 1.60
06/01/2017................3 - 0.............+ 3.95...............3 - 5..................- 2.50

Totals:....................37 - 37............+ 5.34..............56 - 58 - 3.........- 11.80

[StarDust Bum]

MLB
Dunkel

Thursday, June 15


Boston @ Philadelphia

Game 919-920
June 15, 2017 @ 7:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Boston
(Sale) 12.551
Philadelphia
(Pivetta) 14.006
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Philadelphia
by 1 1/2
7
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Boston
-240
8 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Philadelphia
(+210); Under

LA Dodgers @ Cleveland

Game 917-918
June 15, 2017 @ 12:10 pm

Dunkel Rating:
LA Dodgers
(Hill) 16.229
Cleveland
(Tomlin) 14.363
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
LA Dodgers
by 2
12
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
LA Dodgers
-120
9 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
LA Dodgers
(-120); Over

Kansas City @ LA Angels

Game 915-916
June 15, 2017 @ 10:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Kansas City
(Strahm) 18.597
LA Angels
(Nolasco) 16.627
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Kansas City
by 2
8
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
LA Angels
-130
8 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Kansas City
(+110); Under

NY Yankees @ Oakland

Game 913-914
June 15, 2017 @ 10:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
NY Yankees
(Mntgmry) 18.976
Oakland
(Gray) 13.429
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
NY Yankees
by 5 1/2
13
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
NY Yankees
-120
8 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
NY Yankees
(-120); Over

Tampa Bay @ Detroit

Game 911-912
June 15, 2017 @ 7:10 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Tampa Bay
(Cobb) 13.670
Detroit
(Verlnder) 17.202
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Detroit
by 3 1/2
7
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Detroit
-135
9 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Detroit
(-135); Under

Baltimore @ Chicago White Sox

Game 909-910
June 15, 2017 @ 2:10 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Baltimore
(Tillman) 14.454
Chicago White Sox
(Holmberg) 13.255
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Baltimore
by 1
13
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Baltimore
-115
10 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Baltimore
(-115); Over

Seattle @ Minnesota

Game 907-908
June 15, 2017 @ 1:10 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Seattle
(Miranda) 14.917
Minnesota
(Berrios) 16.139
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Minnesota
by 1
11
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Minnesota
-110
9
Dunkel Pick:
Minnesota
(-110); Over

San Francisco @ Colorado

Game 905-906
June 15, 2017 @ 8:40 pm

Dunkel Rating:
San Francisco
(Moore) 16.268
Colorado
(Hoffman) 14.861
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
San Francisco
by 1 1/2
9
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Colorado
-155
11
Dunkel Pick:
San Francisco
(+135); Under

Milwaukee @ St. Louis

Game 903-904
June 15, 2017 @ 7:15 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Milwaukee
(Davies) 15.267
St. Louis
(Wacha) 13.608
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Milwaukee
by 1 1/2
7
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
St. Louis
-145
9
Dunkel Pick:
Milwaukee
(+125); Under

Washington @ NY Mets

Game 901-902
June 15, 2017 @ 7:10 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Washington
(Gnzalez) 14.710
NY Mets
(Matz) 13.328
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Washington
by 1 1/2
11
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Washington
-115
8 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Washington
(-115); Over

[StarDust Bum]

MLB

Thursday, June 15

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

12:10 PM
LA DODGERS vs. CLEVELAND
LA Dodgers are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of LA Dodgers's last 5 games
Cleveland is 0-5 SU in their last 5 games when playing at home against LA Dodgers
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Cleveland's last 5 games when playing LA Dodgers

1:10 PM
SEATTLE vs. MINNESOTA
Seattle is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing Minnesota
Seattle is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Minnesota's last 6 games when playing Seattle
Minnesota is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing Seattle

2:10 PM
BALTIMORE vs. CHI WHITE SOX
Baltimore is 5-2 SU in their last 7 games when playing Chi White Sox
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Baltimore's last 6 games
Chi White Sox are 2-5 SU in their last 7 games when playing Baltimore
Chi White Sox are 4-10 SU in their last 14 games

7:05 PM
BOSTON vs. PHILADELPHIA
Boston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Philadelphia
Boston is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
Philadelphia is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Boston
Philadelphia is 4-9 SU in its last 13 games at home

7:10 PM
TAMPA BAY vs. DETROIT
Tampa Bay is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Detroit
Tampa Bay is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games when playing Detroit
Detroit is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Detroit's last 6 games

7:10 PM
WASHINGTON vs. NY METS
Washington is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games
Washington is 8-2 SU in its last 10 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of NY Mets's last 8 games
NY Mets are 5-1 SU in its last 6 games

7:15 PM
MILWAUKEE vs. ST. LOUIS
Milwaukee is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against St. Louis
Milwaukee is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing St. Louis
St. Louis is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games at home
St. Louis is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Milwaukee

8:40 PM
SAN FRANCISCO vs. COLORADO
San Francisco is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Colorado
San Francisco is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Colorado
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Colorado's last 6 games when playing at home against San Francisco
Colorado is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against San Francisco

10:05 PM
NY YANKEES vs. OAKLAND
NY Yankees are 6-12 SU in their last 18 games when playing on the road against Oakland
NY Yankees are 2-4 SU in their last 6 games on the road
Oakland is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Oakland's last 7 games

10:07 PM
KANSAS CITY vs. LA ANGELS
Kansas City is 4-1 SU in their last 5 games when playing LA Angels
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Kansas City's last 7 games when playing LA Angels
LA Angels are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games when playing Kansas City
LA Angels are 5-2 SU in their last 7 games

[StarDust Bum]

MLB
Long Sheet

Thursday, June 15

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

WASHINGTON (39 - 26) at NY METS (30 - 34) - 7:10 PM
GIO GONZALEZ (L) vs. ROBERT GSELLMAN (R)
Top Trends for this game.
WASHINGTON is 19-27 (-14.5 Units) against the money line in road games after a loss over the last 2 seasons.
GONZALEZ is 3-9 (-9.9 Units) against the money line in road games when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
WASHINGTON is 27-10 (+13.5 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
NY METS are 30-34 (-11.9 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
NY METS are 16-20 (-11.9 Units) against the money line in home games this season.
NY METS are 6-11 (-9.6 Units) against the money line in home games against division opponents this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
WASHINGTON is 4-2 (+0.8 Units) against NY METS this season
3 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+2.1 Units)

GIO GONZALEZ vs. NY METS since 1997
GONZALEZ is 12-5 when starting against NY METS with an ERA of 2.96 and a WHIP of 1.147.
His team's record is 14-7 (+5.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 7-11. (-4.3 units)

ROBERT GSELLMAN vs. WASHINGTON since 1997
GSELLMAN is 1-0 when starting against WASHINGTON with an ERA of 0.77 and a WHIP of 1.285.
His team's record is 1-1 (+0.2 units) in these starts. The OVER is 0-2. (-2.2 units)

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

MILWAUKEE (35 - 32) at ST LOUIS (30 - 34) - 7:15 PM
ZACH DAVIES (R) vs. MICHAEL WACHA (R)
Top Trends for this game.
MILWAUKEE is 35-32 (+9.9 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
MILWAUKEE is 51-47 (+9.7 Units) against the money line when the total is 9 to 9.5 over the last 2 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 18-13 (+11.0 Units) against the money line in road games this season.
MILWAUKEE is 24-19 (+10.3 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
MILWAUKEE is 27-23 (+9.7 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
DAVIES is 27-20 (+12.6 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
ST LOUIS is 116-110 (-15.9 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
ST LOUIS is 21-29 (-22.3 Units) against the money line as a home favorite of -125 to -175 over the last 2 seasons.
ST LOUIS is 56-60 (-28.4 Units) against the money line in home games over the last 2 seasons.
ST LOUIS is 18-25 (-11.3 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
ST LOUIS is 45-42 (-14.6 Units) against the money line in home games against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
ST LOUIS is 23-33 (-18.5 Units) against the money line in home games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
MILWAUKEE is 5-5 (+1.4 Units) against ST LOUIS this season
7 of 10 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+3.7 Units)

ZACH DAVIES vs. ST LOUIS since 1997
DAVIES is 2-0 when starting against ST LOUIS with an ERA of 2.81 and a WHIP of 1.094.
His team's record is 4-1 (+4.8 units) in these starts. The OVER is 3-2. (+1.0 units)

MICHAEL WACHA vs. MILWAUKEE since 1997
WACHA is 3-0 when starting against MILWAUKEE with an ERA of 3.79 and a WHIP of 1.395.
His team's record is 4-3 (-0.4 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 2-5. (-4.1 units)

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

SAN FRANCISCO (26 - 41) at COLORADO (42 - 26) - 8:40 PM
MATT MOORE (L) vs. JEFF HOFFMAN (R)
Top Trends for this game.
SAN FRANCISCO is 26-41 (-16.9 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
SAN FRANCISCO is 12-23 (-10.5 Units) against the money line in road games this season.
SAN FRANCISCO is 74-81 (-20.4 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons.
SAN FRANCISCO is 16-27 (-14.1 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
MOORE is 6-19 (-13.9 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
COLORADO is 42-26 (+19.0 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
COLORADO is 20-11 (+11.0 Units) against the money line against division opponents this season.
COLORADO is 24-17 (+9.6 Units) against the money line after a win this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
COLORADO is 6-1 (+5.9 Units) against SAN FRANCISCO this season
4 of 7 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+0.5 Units)

MATT MOORE vs. COLORADO since 1997
MOORE is 1-3 when starting against COLORADO with an ERA of 7.92 and a WHIP of 1.959.
His team's record is 2-3 (-1.3 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 2-3. (-1.4 units)

JEFF HOFFMAN vs. SAN FRANCISCO since 1997
No recent starts.

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

SEATTLE (33 - 34) at MINNESOTA (33 - 29) - 1:10 PM
ARIEL MIRANDA (L) vs. JOSE BERRIOS (R)
Top Trends for this game.
SEATTLE is 161-199 (-52.6 Units) against the money line when playing on Thursday since 1997.
SEATTLE is 90-103 (-27.4 Units) against the money line after a win over the last 3 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 92-132 (-25.6 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 28-45 (-18.1 Units) against the money line at home when the money line is +125 to -125 over the last 2 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 43-71 (-30.6 Units) against the money line in home games over the last 2 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 3-11 (-9.4 Units) against the money line at home when the total is 9 to 9.5 this season.
MINNESOTA is 91-122 (-50.9 Units) against the money line in home games when playing on Thursday since 1997.
MINNESOTA is 32-55 (-18.2 Units) against the money line in day games over the last 2 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 48-83 (-27.9 Units) against the money line after a loss over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
SEATTLE is 4-2 (+2.1 Units) against MINNESOTA this season
4 of 6 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+1.6 Units)

ARIEL MIRANDA vs. MINNESOTA since 1997
MIRANDA is 0-1 when starting against MINNESOTA with an ERA of 6.75 and a WHIP of 1.000.
His team's record is 0-1 (-1.4 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 1-0. (+1.0 units)

JOSE BERRIOS vs. SEATTLE since 1997
No recent starts.

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

BALTIMORE (32 - 32) at CHI WHITE SOX (28 - 36) - 2:10 PM
CHRIS TILLMAN (R) vs. DAVID HOLMBERG (L)
Top Trends for this game.
BALTIMORE is 49-74 (-25.2 Units) against the money line on the road when the money line is +125 to -125 over the last 3 seasons.
BALTIMORE is 121-106 (+13.9 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
BALTIMORE is 42-27 (+16.3 Units) against the money line in June games over the last 3 seasons.
BALTIMORE is 68-52 (+16.2 Units) against the money line after a win over the last 2 seasons.
TILLMAN is 24-14 (+10.6 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
TILLMAN is 48-42 (+19.9 Units) against the money line in road games since 1997. (Team's Record)
TILLMAN is 10-2 (+9.0 Units) against the money line in day games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
TILLMAN is 62-44 (+21.5 Units) against the money line after a win since 1997. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
BALTIMORE is 4-2 (+1.7 Units) against CHI WHITE SOX this season
3 of 6 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+0.1 Units)

CHRIS TILLMAN vs. CHI WHITE SOX since 1997
TILLMAN is 4-2 when starting against CHI WHITE SOX with an ERA of 3.05 and a WHIP of 1.408.
His team's record is 4-3 (+1.1 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-6. (-5.5 units)

DAVID HOLMBERG vs. BALTIMORE since 1997
No recent starts.

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

TAMPA BAY (35 - 33) at DETROIT (30 - 34) - 7:10 PM
ALEX COBB (R) vs. JUSTIN VERLANDER (R)
Top Trends for this game.
TAMPA BAY is 103-127 (-28.7 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
TAMPA BAY is 65-82 (-20.9 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons.
TAMPA BAY is 27-18 (+9.5 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
TAMPA BAY is 3-0 (+3.0 Units) against DETROIT this season
2 of 3 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+0.8 Units)

ALEX COBB vs. DETROIT since 1997
COBB is 2-1 when starting against DETROIT with an ERA of 2.35 and a WHIP of 1.272.
His team's record is 3-2 (+1.3 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-4. (-3.3 units)

JUSTIN VERLANDER vs. TAMPA BAY since 1997
VERLANDER is 8-3 when starting against TAMPA BAY with an ERA of 3.34 and a WHIP of 1.104.
His team's record is 11-4 (+6.4 units) in these starts. The OVER is 4-10. (-6.7 units)

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NY YANKEES (38 - 25) at OAKLAND (27 - 38) - 10:05 PM
JORDAN MONTGOMERY (L) vs. SONNY GRAY (R)
Top Trends for this game.
OAKLAND is 170-97 (+55.9 Units) against the money line in home games in June games since 1997.
NY YANKEES are 122-103 (+14.1 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
OAKLAND is 164-225 (-53.4 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 3 seasons.
OAKLAND is 86-107 (-31.5 Units) against the money line in home games over the last 3 seasons.
OAKLAND is 39-66 (-27.6 Units) against the money line against left-handed starters over the last 3 seasons.
OAKLAND is 49-82 (-27.5 Units) against the money line after a loss over the last 2 seasons.
GRAY is 10-20 (-12.0 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
GRAY is 5-13 (-10.3 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
NY YANKEES is 2-1 (+0.5 Units) against OAKLAND this season
2 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+1.0 Units)

JORDAN MONTGOMERY vs. OAKLAND since 1997
No recent starts.

SONNY GRAY vs. NY YANKEES since 1997
GRAY is 1-2 when starting against NY YANKEES with an ERA of 4.44 and a WHIP of 1.356.
His team's record is 2-2 (-1.2 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 2-2. (-0.4 units)

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KANSAS CITY (30 - 34) at LA ANGELS (35 - 34) - 10:05 PM
MATT STRAHM (L) vs. RICKY NOLASCO (R)
Top Trends for this game.
LA ANGELS are 52-21 (+22.7 Units) against the money line as a home favorite of -125 to -175 over the last 3 seasons.
KANSAS CITY is 217-187 (+28.9 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 3 seasons.
KANSAS CITY is 269-278 (+38.9 Units) against the money line in June games since 1997.
KANSAS CITY is 154-127 (+26.2 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters over the last 3 seasons.
KANSAS CITY is 59-52 (+11.1 Units) against the money line after a win over the last 2 seasons.
KANSAS CITY is 20-15 (+9.6 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
KANSAS CITY is 3-0 (+3.1 Units) against LA ANGELS this season
3 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+3.0 Units)

MATT STRAHM vs. LA ANGELS since 1997
No recent starts.

RICKY NOLASCO vs. KANSAS CITY since 1997
NOLASCO is 2-4 when starting against KANSAS CITY with an ERA of 4.80 and a WHIP of 1.266.
His team's record is 2-6 (-3.4 units) in these starts. The OVER is 4-4. (+0.0 units)

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LA DODGERS (41 - 25) at CLEVELAND (31 - 31) - 12:10 PM
RICH HILL (L) vs. JOSH TOMLIN (R)
Top Trends for this game.
LA DODGERS are 14-25 (-11.6 Units) against the money line on the road when the money line is +125 to -125 over the last 2 seasons.
LA DODGERS are 57-61 (-19.6 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 2 seasons.
LA DODGERS are 90-118 (-42.3 Units) against the money line in an inter-league game since 1997.
LA DODGERS are 73-76 (-27.8 Units) against the money line in road games against right-handed starters over the last 3 seasons.
LA DODGERS are 22-37 (-23.8 Units) against the money line in road games after a win over the last 2 seasons.
LA DODGERS are 8-17 (-18.2 Units) against the money line in road games after 3 or more consecutive wins over the last 3 seasons.
HILL is 8-1 (+7.8 Units) against the money line on the road when the money line is +125 to -125 over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
CLEVELAND is 31-31 (-16.3 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
CLEVELAND is 22-32 (-20.8 Units) against the money line when the total is 9 to 9.5 over the last 2 seasons.
CLEVELAND is 14-17 (-14.4 Units) against the money line in home games this season.
CLEVELAND is 13-20 (-16.4 Units) against the money line at home when the total is 9 to 9.5 over the last 3 seasons.
CLEVELAND is 1-9 (-11.1 Units) against the money line in an inter-league game this season.
CLEVELAND is 11-15 (-13.0 Units) against the money line against left-handed starters this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
LA DODGERS is 2-0 (+2.3 Units) against CLEVELAND this season
2 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+2.0 Units)

RICH HILL vs. CLEVELAND since 1997
No recent starts.

JOSH TOMLIN vs. LA DODGERS since 1997
No recent starts.

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BOSTON (37 - 28) at PHILADELPHIA (21 - 43) - 7:05 PM
CHRIS SALE (L) vs. NICK PIVETTA (R)
Top Trends for this game.
PHILADELPHIA is 21-43 (-18.7 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 134-146 (-39.1 Units) against the money line in home games in June games since 1997.
PHILADELPHIA is 10-29 (-17.9 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 11-32 (-18.0 Units) against the money line after a loss this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
BOSTON is 3-0 (+3.0 Units) against PHILADELPHIA this season
1 of 1 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+1.0 Units)

CHRIS SALE vs. PHILADELPHIA since 1997
SALE is 0-1 when starting against PHILADELPHIA with an ERA of 13.50 and a WHIP of 1.750.
His team's record is 0-1 (-1.5 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 0-1. (-1.2 units)

NICK PIVETTA vs. BOSTON since 1997
No recent starts.

[StarDust Bum]

Thursday's Diamond Notes
June 15, 2017

Hottest team: Dodgers (6-0 last six) vs. Indians

Los Angeles is heating up at the right time as the Dodgers look to pull off the sweep of the defending AL champion Indians this afternoon. The Dodgers broke a 2-2 tie with a late onslaught for the second straight night by plating four runs in the eighth inning of a 6-4 victory at Cleveland on Wednesday. Los Angeles pulled into a tie for first place of the NL West with Colorado, while scoring at least five runs for the fifth consecutive game.

It’s a getaway day in Cleveland as the Dodgers make the short trip to Cincinnati following today’s contest. Rich Hill is unbeaten in his last three starts for Los Angeles in spite of not pitching past the fifth inning in any of those outings. In fact, Hill hasn’t completed six innings since last season’s NLCS against the Cubs. The Dodgers are winless in their previous two road series finales after getting shut out by the Brewers and Cardinals.

Coldest team: Phillies (0-8 last eight) vs. Red Sox

Philadelphia dropped its seventh consecutive game against Boston dating back to 2015 in Wednesday’s 7-3 setback. The Phillies own the worst record in baseball at 21-43, while falling to 4-13 in the last 17 games. For the third time in four nights, the Phillies will be listed as a +200 underdog or higher as they oppose one of the top pitchers in baseball when they see Boston’s Chris Sale.

The only positive news for the Phillies is they racked Sale last September when he pitched for the White Sox by scoring six runs in four innings of an 8-3 victory.

Hottest pitcher: Jeff Hoffman, Rockies (4-0, 2.33 ERA)

Colorado has played 12 of its past 14 games away from Coors Field as the Rockies return home to host the struggling Giants. Hoffman has been a key piece of this restructured rotation that doesn’t have a starting pitcher older than 28. The former East Carolina standout is coming off three consecutive victories on the road, including an impressive 9-1 triumph over the Cubs as a +125 underdog. Hoffman won in his only home start of the season against the Dodgers in May, but the Rockies are 1-3 in his four career starts at Coors Field.

Coldest pitcher: Ricky Nolasco, Angels (2-7, 4.81 ERA)

Nolasco hasn’t won a start since late April, while Los Angeles owns a dreadful 0-8 record in his past eight trips to the mound. The right-hander actually put together a solid outing in his last appearance at Houston, scattering eight hits and allowing two earned runs in seven innings of a 3-1 defeat last Saturday. Nolasco faces the streaking Royals to begin a four-game series in Anaheim as he failed to beat Kansas City in two starts last season as a member of the Twins.

Biggest OVER run: Rays (7-0 last seven)

Tampa Bay’s offense has woken up of late by scoring five runs or more in six of the past seven games. The Rays cashed their seventh consecutive OVER in Wednesday’s 7-6 defeat at Toronto as Tampa Bay has given up at least seven runs in five of the previous seven road contests.

Tampa Bay travels to Detroit to face a Tigers’ squad they swept in mid-April, while allowing one run in two of those victories. Right-hander Alex Cobb has been a nearly automatic OVER pitcher on the road this season by eclipsing the OVER in seven of eight outings away from Tropicana Field.

Biggest UNDER run: Rockies (6-1-1 last eight)

Colorado hit the UNDER in five of seven games on its recent road trip at Chicago and Pittsburgh, while busting out for five runs on Wednesday after scoring only four runs in the first two losses to the Pirates. The Giants head to Coors Field tonight as four of the first seven meetings between these NL West rivals have gone UNDER the total. Left-hander Matt Moore looks to slow down this Colorado offense as the San Francisco hurler has amassed a 6-0-1 mark to the OVER in seven road starts this season.

Matchup to watch: Nationals vs. Mets

Washington travels to Citi Field after dropping two of three to Atlanta at home. The Nationals’ normally reliable pitching staff allowed 10 runs or more in all three games, capped off by Atlanta’s 13-2 blowout of Washington on Wednesday afternoon. Washington squares off with New York for the first time since dropping 23 runs on the Mets at Nationals Park on April 30 as third baseman Anthony Rendon drove in 10 runs for the Nats.

Gio Gonzalez heads to the mound for Washington in the series opener as the southpaw is unbeaten in his last two road starts by beating the Giants and Dodgers as a short ‘dog. However, Gonzalez dropped his previous outing against Texas in spite of allowing three hits and one earned run in six innings of work. Back in April, Gonzalez defeated the Mets at Citi Field by yielding two hits in six innings of a 3-1 triumph.

New York rallied to beat Chicago on Wednesday to capture two of three from the defending champion Cubs. Robert Gsellman starts in place of Steven Matz for the Mets as the right-hander is coming off three consecutive victories. Gsellman has allowed a total three earned runs in his last three starts, including home victories over the Pirates and Brewers. The Mets have dominated in home series openers of late by winning six of their last seven in this situation.

Betcha didn’t know: Zach Davies has turned into a reliable pitcher for the yes, first place Brewers. The right-hander owns a 7-3 record this season, while Milwaukee has won eight of his last 10 starts, including a 4-1 mark on the road. The Brewers and Cardinals close out their four-game set at Busch Stadium tonight as Milwaukee looks to claim its third straight win over the struggling Redbirds.

Biggest public favorite: Red Sox (-240) at Phillies

Biggest public underdog: Rays (+125) at Tigers

Biggest line move: Rockies (-140 to -155) vs. Giants

[StarDust Bum]

THURSDAY, JUNE 15

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

LAD at CLE 12:10 PM

CLE +110

U 9.5

SEA at MIN 01:10 PM

O 9.5

BAL at CHW 02:10 PM

CHW +105

O 10.5

BOS at PHI 07:05 PM

O 8.5

WAS at NYM 07:10 PM

O 9.0

TB at DET 07:10 PM

TB +120

O 9.5

MIL at STL 07:15 PM

MIL +130

U 9.0

SF at COL 08:40 PM

O 11.0

NYY at OAK 10:05 PM

OAK +100

O 8.5

KC at LAA 10:07 PM

KC +115

O 8.5

[StarDust Bum]

Friday’s six-pack

— Ohio State lost its bowl game 31-0 LY, after scoring 40.8 pts/game in its previous four bowls.

— Penn State is 10-6 as a home favorite under Franklin; they’re 1-4 in last five bowls.

— Michigan is 4-8 vs spread in its last 12 games as a road underdog.

— Indiana has had a negative turnover ratio six of the last seven years.

— Michigan State was -5 n turnovers LY; they were +46 from 2013-15.

— Rutgers is 5-12 vs spread as an underdog the last two years.

**********************

Friday’s List of 13: Random stuff with weekend here…….

13) Jerry West left his role as a consultant with the NBA champ Warriors to take a job as a consultant with the Clippers— this job apparently has more clout than his job in Oakland.

Mr West is 79 years old, one of the greatest hoop players ever, also one of the league’s best executives- he is the NBA’s logo. Big get for the Clippers.

12) Also sounds like the Clippers are going to build a new arena near the Rams’ new football stadium, where the old Hollywood Park racetrack was located.

11) Colorado Rockies’ manager Bud Black was 121-116 as a big league pitcher- he started 296 games. He once threw 151 pitches in a complete game win at Detroit.

If a pitcher today threw 151 pitches in a game, the manager would get fired that night.

10) On June 15, 1974, Nolan Ryan threw 235 pitches, struck out 19, during an 13-inning game against the Red Sox. Ryan may not have been mortal, though; he went 12-6 when he was 44 years old. It is grossly unfair to compare anyone else to him.

9) Astros’ rookie Derek Fisher is the first player with two hits in an inning in his first major league game since Adam LaRoche on April 7, 2004.

8) Chicago White Sox drafted pitcher Riley Crean in the 35th round Wednesday; he is the son of former Indiana basketball coach Tom Crean.

White Sox also drafted a kid named Sam Abbott who will now decide between pro baseball and going to Long Beach State……..on a water polo scholarship.

7) Surprising tidbit: This week’s US Open is first time since 1992 (Pebble Beach) the Open is being played on a par-72 golf course.

6) Green Bay Packers’ safety HaHa Clinton-Dix is working as an unpaid summer intern for a judge in Wisconsin, as part of his studies to get his degree at Alabama.

5) Talk about being thorough; Celtics’ coach Brad Stevens called the assistant director of academic support at Markelle Fultz’ high school, to learn more about the Celtics’ potential #1 pick in the draft. Of course, Fultz was still in high school just last year, so it makes sense.

4) Golden State Warriors project to spend close to $240 million in 2017-18: $151.7 million in salary and $88.7 million in luxury tax for being over the salary cap.

It still boggles my mind that Stephen Curry will be making $41M a year.

3) Nationals 8, Mets 3— Daniel Murphy went 3-for-5; he is now 41-104 (.394) against his former team, with 28 RBI in 26 games.

2) This season is now another train wreck for my A’s; they fired pitching coach Curt Young- he pitched for Oakland for 10 years, and has been pitching coach for 13 years. there is no way on God’s green earth that the team’s struggles are his fault. He is a very good coach.

Someone in the front office, maybe more than one somebody, needs to be fired. Players win games; the people who acquire Oakland’s talent have done a terrible job recently.

One more thing that aggravates me about this, maybe more than anything: they know its a BS thing to do, so they fired Young the day the Warriors had their championship parade, so its gets buried in Friday’s local news. A gutless maneuver.

1) Mountain West/Missouri Valley will have a 10-game basketball series in pre-conference play; here are the pairings:

Nov 28: Loyola @ Boise State, Utah St @ Valparaiso, Colorado State @ Missouri State
Nov 29: UNLV @ Northern Iowa, Air Force @ Indiana State, Illinois State @ Nevada, Evansville @ New Mexico
Dec 2: San Jose St @ Southern Illinois, Drake @ Wyoming,
Dec 3: Bradley @ San Diego State