The Bum's MLB Best Bets - Trends - News Thru the World Series !

[StarDust Bum]

Cubs' Baez breaks out in big way
October 19, 2017

CHICAGO -- For 20 consecutive postseason at-bats, Javier Baez failed to collect a hit, forcing Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon to weigh the value of Baez's value as a defender against his inability to make things happen at the plate.

However, with the Cubs on the brink of elimination Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Baez finally broke though. And by doing so, the star second baseman helped the Cubs remain alive in the best-of-seven National League Championship Series.

Baez homered twice in the Cubs' 3-2 victory in Game 4 at Wrigley Field. He went deep in the second and fifth innings against Los Angeles starter Alex Wood.

"Since the (NL Division Series), I've been trying to get a base hit so hard," Baez said after the Wednesday night win that drew the Cubs within 3-1 in the NLCS. "Tonight, I just said to myself not to try too much, and I didn't, and there you have it. I had two good contacts, and (we won) the game by one run."

The Cubs continue to live by the home run. Chicago has scored all seven of its NLCS runs via the long ball. That continued Wednesday, when Baez and catcher Willson Contreras sparked the Cubs with a combined three solo homers.

While the Cubs struggled to produce offensively throughout the series, Baez and first baseman Anthony Rizzo became the faces of Chicago's woes from the plate. Rizzo is hitting .077 in the NLCS.

After Baez finally ended his personal drought by homering in his first two at-bats Wednesday night, he and his teammates realize the Cubs' work is far from over. Chicago still needs to win three consecutive games, starting with Game 5 at Wrigley Field on Thursday, to reach the World Series.

The season-saving Game 4 victory proved to be a step in the right direction, both for the Cubs and Baez, who admitted Wednesday night that worrying about his family back in his native Puerto Rico played into his on-field frustrations.

"Just give him credit for sticking with it," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "(It has been a) very difficult start to the postseason for him, and that's what he can do."

Now, the Cubs -- who face Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw on Thursday -- must find a way to keep producing if they are again to fight off elimination.

"We have so much talent on this team -- it's any guy on any given day, and it takes a lot of pressure off of everybody," Rizzo said. "Javy was obviously struggling a little bit from the plate. But the way he carried himself, his spirits were easy and he comes out today and hits two big home runs for us, and one was the deciding factor."

Like everyone in the Cubs' confident clubhouse, Baez understands the importance to not taking too much comfort in finding a way to win to extend the series. Now, it's just a matter of staying true to the one-game-at-a-time mentality that Maddon always preaches.

At this point, the Cubs don't have much of a choice.

"(It's) great to have this win, because if not, we were going home tomorrow," Baez said. "But I feel like we're still not on track as a team. But I think if we get back on track, everybody as a team, we're going to be the best again."

[StarDust Bum]

Fan-tastic! Man who caught Turner HR ball snags Wrigley shot
October 19, 2017

He's become Mr. Hawk-tober.

Remember that fan who made the great catch on Justin Turner's game-ending home run at Dodger Stadium over the weekend? Guess what? He did it again.

Keith Hupp came up with his second homer souvenir in the NL Championship Series, corralling the ball Cubs star Javier Baez hit into the bleachers at Wrigley Field on Wednesday night.

''I'm still kind of a newbie at this ballhawking stuff,'' the retired policeman told The Associated Press in a phone interview from Chicago. ''The only thing that's lightning strike-ish about this is that it's two in four days.''

Hupp is 54, from Southern California and has rooted for the Dodgers forever. A season ticket-holder, he always sits in the outfield and has gotten 11 home-run balls this year.

But a pair of playoff goodies - hard to imagine anyone is having a better postseason than him.

Fan-tastic!

''I'm old, I've got gray hair and a bum shoulder,'' he said. ''I do have a good glove.''

Hupp said the Turner catch was easy. He scrambled toward a railing in the center-field stands and, with no one near him, leaned over to make the snag. The three-run drive in the bottom of the ninth inning gave the Dodgers a 4-1 win in Game 2, and Hupp presented the ball to Turner that night.

The grab became an instant highlight and made Hupp an internet sensation. The play he made to get the Baez ball in Game 4, that was more painful.

Hupp was close to the top row of the left-field seats - above the noted ballhawks patrolling Waveland Avenue - when Baez connected in the second inning. The ball hit a back railing and caromed into a swarm of fans, beneath a TV camera stand.

''Everyone was about half my age, but I pounced. I'll pounce if there are no kids around,'' he said.

''I grabbed the ball and tried to tuck it in, like a football,'' he said. ''I got piled on pretty good, I could feel a couple guys trying to rip it out of my glove. It felt like I got a cracked rib.''

Hupp planned to be at Game 5 Thursday night with Los Angeles holding a 3-1 lead. One more Dodgers win and he'd get a chance at the ultimate prize.

''I only started doing this stuff a few years ago, after I retired,'' he said. ''But I do know that catching a home run ball at the World Series, that would be the holy grail.''

[StarDust Bum]

Oops: Ump admits he was 'dead wrong' on Granderson call
October 19, 2017

A home plate umpire admitted he was "dead wrong" after a call that led to Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon's ejection on Wednesday night in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

After conferring with his crew, ump Jim Wolf ruled that the Dodgers' Curtis Granderson fouled off a two-strike pitch in the dirt that in-house replay appeared to show he did not make contact with as Chicago led 3-2 in the eighth inning.

Wolf originally called Granderson out before Dodgers manager Dave Roberts protested. The umpires met, but did not call for a crew chief replay review, before Wolf overturned the decision.

Maddon emerged to argue the call to all six umpires and was subsequently ejected for the second time in the series.

As it turns out, Maddon was dead right.

"(I was) dead wrong," Wolf told a pool reporter after the game. "I talked myself into the whole thing."

Granderson proceeded to strike out on the next pitch and the Cubs held on for a 3-2 victory.

That fact did not assuage Maddon after the game.

"I'm not gonna sit here and bang on umpires," Maddon told reporters. "... But that can't happen. The process was horrible. To have that changed -- if Granderson hits the next pitch out, I might come running out of the clubhouse in my jockstrap."

Wolf said he heard "two distinct, separate sounds" on the play, the first being what he thought was the ball bouncing in the dirt in front of catcher Willson Contreras.

The play is not currently reviewable under MLB rules.

Maddon was ejected in Game 1 after arguing a play at the plate that was overturned due to the slide rule.

Los Angeles leads the best-of-seven series 3-1. Game 5 is Thursday night in Chicago.

[StarDust Bum]

LEADING OFF: Cubs face Dodgers' Kershaw trailing 3-1 in NLCS
October 19, 2017

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

ANOTHER DAY

The Cubs finally broke through for a win against the Dodgers in their NL Championship Series, but now they have to contend with ace Clayton Kershaw in Game 5. Kershaw limited Chicago to two runs over five innings in Game 1, a 5-2 win for Los Angeles. It's a tough matchup for the Cubs, who are averaging 2.7 runs over nine postseason games - including a 9-8 win over Washington in NLDS Game 5.

Manager Joe Maddon will have work to do managing Chicago's bullpen. Closer Wade Davis held on for a six-out save in Game 4, but that means the Cubs will have to look elsewhere for the late innings in Game 5. That's problematic, since Chicago's other relievers allowed eight runs over the first three games. Of course, Maddon will have to stay in the game long enough to make those calls - he was ejected Wednesday for the second time in the series.

TAKE A BREAK

Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa and the slumping Astros get a day off, trailing the Yankees 3-2 in the AL Championship Series. Neither team is planning a workout at Minute Maid Park.

Houston led the majors in batting and scoring this season, but is hitting just .147 overall and has totaled only nine runs in the ALCS. George Springer and Josh Reddick, the 1-2 hitters in the Astros' lineup, are a combined 2 for 35.

Veterans Carlos Beltran and Brian McCann both spoke to the Astros after a 5-0 loss Tuesday at Yankee Stadium. ''Everything is OK. ... We have the home-field advantage,'' Altuve said. ''They did what they have to do, win their home games. Now it's our turn.''

FOR HIRE

Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa has left the Diamondbacks' organization, less than two weeks after Arizona lost the NL wild-card game to Colorado. He served as chief baseball officer in 2015-16 and became chief baseball analyst when the new regime of general manager Mike Hazen and manager Torey Lovullo arrived last spring.

The 73-year-old La Russa won three World Series championships as a manager - two with St. Louis, one with Oakland - worked as an Major League Baseball executive and played in the bigs as an infielder.

[StarDust Bum]

MLB Playoff Record:.........

DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD ( Best Bets & Opinions )

10/18/2017 1-3-0 25.00% -11.60
10/17/2017 2-2-0 50.00% -1.30
10/16/2017 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00
10/15/2017 1-1-0 50.00% +0.00
10/14/2017 0-3-1 0.00% -15.50
10/13/2017 1-1-0 50.00%.....+0.00
10/12/2017 1-1-0 50.00% -0.50
10/11/2017 3-1-0 75.00% +15.50
10/09/2017 2-5-0 28.57% -16.75
10/08/2017 2-2-0 50.00% -2.30
10/07/2017 1-3-0 25.00% -10.50
10/06/2017.......5-2-0......71.43%.....+16.25
10/05/2017 ......1-3-0 .....25.00%..... -10.50
10/04/2017 ......1-1-0..... 50.00%....... -0.50

Total:...............22 -27......44.89%.......-27.70

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Best Bets:......................ATS.................... ...TOTAL.....................TOTAL O/U

10/18/2017.................0 - 0.......................+0.00..................... ......1 - 1......-1.00
10/17/2017.................0 - 0.......................+0.00..................... .....1 - 1.......-1.00
10/16/2017.................0 - 0.......................+0.00..................... ....1 - 0........+5.00
10/15/2017.................0 - 1........................-5.00.........................1 - 0........+5.00
10/14/2017.................0 - 2......................-10.00..........................0-0-1......+0.00
10/13/2017.................0 - 1.......................-5.00...........................1 - 0.......+5.00
10/12/2017.................0 - 0........................0.00..................... ......0 - 1........-5.50
10/11/2017.................2 - 0.......................+15.00.................... ...0 - 1........-5.50
10/09/2017.................0 - 1.......................- 5.00..........................1 - 3........-11.50
10/08/2017.................0 - 0........................00.00.................... .....2 - 0.......+10.00
10/07/2017.................0 - 2.......................-10.00.........................1-0-1.......+5.00
10/06/2017.................1 - 1.......................-1.00...........................3 - 1........+9.50
10/05/2017.................0 - 2.......................-10.00.........................1 - 1........-1.00
10/04/2017.................1 - 0.......................+ 5.00.........................0 - 1.......- 5.50


TOTAL:........................4 - 10....................- 26.00.......................13-11-2.......+8.50



THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

LAD at CHC 08:00 PM

CHC +130 *****

O 7.0 *****

[StarDust Bum]

No title repeat: Cubs bow out in Game 5 against Dodgers
October 20, 2017

CHICAGO (AP) The Chicago Cubs went 108 years between championships. Going home without a trophy isn't really new.

Still, it was jarring to see the reigning World Series champions go down without much of a fight.

After twice fending off elimination during their October title defense, the Cubs had nothing left for Game 5 of their NL Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Jose Quintana got knocked out early, the offense was shut down by Clayton Kershaw and the Cubs fell 11-1 on Thursday night after getting outplayed throughout the series.

The Cubs slumped early in the season, a year after rallying to beat Cleveland for their first World Series title since 1908. But in the second half, they looked more like their old selves, pushing for a second straight NL Central title and then advancing to the NLCS for the third straight year after winning a wild Game 5 at Washington in the NLDS.

They just couldn't hang with the 104-win Dodgers.

''I think if you look at this series, they did exactly what they needed to do to beat (us),'' star slugger Anthony Rizzo said. ''They executed their plan. They pitched great and the bullpen was lights out. That makes for a tough time scoring runs.''

Chicago beat Los Angeles in last year's NLCS, but this time, the Cubs were left to watch as the Dodgers celebrated at Wrigley Field. It's the second time in three years they've been through this - the Mets finished a four-game sweep at Wrigley in the 2015 NLCS.

They didn't have a choice this time, not with how they hit and pitched in the series.

''This year really illustrates the importance of getting off to a good start,'' manager Joe Maddon said. ''We didn't, and then we had to fight back, which we did. I said you can, but you're understanding when you find out you do that, it really expends a lot of energy when you get back into it, which we did.''

The Cubs batted just .156, drew five walks compared to 28 for Los Angeles and scored eight runs in the series - all on home runs. They didn't sustain rallies or wear down pitchers. Trailing 3-0, they won Game 4 for a fifth straight victory when facing elimination - including three in last year's World Series. But one club can only overcome so much.

Fatigue may have been a factor. Chicago has played more games than any other team since the start of the 2015 season. Counting the playoffs, that total is 522.

Reigning NL MVP Kris Bryant acknowledged he was feeling it after going 4 for 20 in the series.

''It caught up to me, at least,'' he said. ''I feel pretty drained, but it's always a good thing when you're the teams that are playing later in the year.''

He wasn't the only Cubs slugger to struggle.

Rizzo had one hit in 17 at-bats in the NLCS. Javier Baez went hitless in his first 20 playoff at-bats before knocking two home runs in Game 4 to help the Cubs avoid the sweep. But in Game 5, they were overwhelmed right from the start.

Enrique Hernandez hit three homers, and the Dodgers wasted no time jumping on Quintana. Acquired from the White Sox in a midseason trade, he gave up six runs in two-plus innings.

The way the Cubs were hitting in these playoffs, it was clear they weren't coming back. Particularly, the way Kershaw was pitching.

The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner held them to a run and three hits in six innings.

He didn't give up a hit until Bryant homered in the fourth. But all that did was make it 9-1.

''Sometimes you're not always gonna be in the World Series,'' Jon Lester said. ''The Dodgers are a really good team. They're playing really good baseball right now. This series showed it.''

[StarDust Bum]

Hernandez hits 3 HRs, Dodgers top Cubs to reach World Series
October 19, 2017

CHICAGO (AP) Enrique Hernandez put a Hollywood ending on an LA story three decades in the making.

Fueled by a home run trilogy from their emotional utilityman, Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers are finally going to the World Series.

Hernandez homered three times and drove in a record seven runs, Kershaw breezed through six crisp innings and Los Angeles ended the Chicago Cubs' title defense with an 11-1 rout in Game 5 of the NL Championship Series on Thursday night.

''It feels good to hear World Series,'' Kershaw said. ''It's been a long time coming for this team.''

After years of playoff heartache, there was just no stopping these Dodgers after they led the majors with 104 wins during the regular season. With Kershaw firing away at the top of a deep pitching staff and co-NLCS MVPs Justin Turner and Chris Taylor leading a tough lineup, one of baseball's most storied franchises captured its first pennant since Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda managed Kirk Gibson, Orel Hershiser and Co. to Los Angeles' last championship in 1988.

''Every night it is a different guy,'' Turner said, ''and this is one of the most unbelievable teams I've ever been a part of.''

Kershaw will be on the mound again when the Dodgers host the New York Yankees or Houston Astros in Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday night. The Yankees have a 3-2 lead heading into Game 6 of the ALCS at Houston on Friday night, so one more New York win would set up another chapter in an old October rivalry between the Yankees and Dodgers.

Los Angeles made the playoffs eight times in the previous 13 seasons and came up short of its 22nd pennant each time, often with Kershaw shouldering much of the blame. The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner took the loss when his team was eliminated by the Cubs in Game 6 of last year's NLCS at Wrigley Field.

The ace left-hander was just OK during his first two starts in this year's postseason, but Los Angeles' offense picked him up each time. Backed by Hernandez's powerful show in Chicago, Kershaw turned in an efficient three-hit performance with five strikeouts and improved to 6-7 in the playoffs - matching Burt Hooton's club record for postseason wins.

''To get to be on the mound tonight and get to be going to the World Series on the same night, it's a special thing,'' Kershaw said. ''Who knows how many times I'm going to get to go to the World Series? I know more than anybody how hard it is to get there. So, I'm definitely not taking this one for granted.''

When Kenley Jansen retired Willson Contreras on a liner to shortstop for the final out, the party was on . The Dodgers poured out of the dugout and mobbed their dominant closer near the mound, and a small but vocal group of Los Angeles fans gathered behind the visitors' dugout and chanted ''Let's go Dodgers! Let's go Dodgers!''

On the field, manager Dave Roberts hugged Lasorda and told the iconic skipper the win was for him.

''I bleed Dodger blue just like you,'' Roberts said. ''Thank you, Tommy.''

Hernandez connected on the first two pitches he saw, belting a solo drive in the second for his first career playoff homer and then a grand slam in the third against Hector Rondon. Hernandez added a two-run shot in the ninth against Mike Montgomery.

The 26-year-old Hernandez became the fourth player with a three-homer game in a league championship series, joining Bob Robertson (1971 NLCS), George Brett (1978 ALCS) and Adam Kennedy (2002 ALCS). Hernandez's seven RBIs tied a postseason record shared by four other players who all did it in a Division Series.

Troy O'Leary was the previous player to have seven RBIs in a playoff game, for Boston at Cleveland in the 1999 ALDS.

It was a stunning display for a player with 28 career homers who remains concerned about his native Puerto Rico, which is recovering from a devastating hurricane. He delivered a historic performance in front of his father, Enrique Hernandez Sr., who was diagnosed with a blood cancer related to leukemia in December 2015, but got word last November that he was in remission.

''For me to be able to come here and do something like this is pretty special,'' said Hernandez, who also goes by Kik�. ''My body's here, but my mind's kind of back home. It's hard being away from home with what's going on.

''All I want to do right now is go to my dad and give him a big hug.''

Kris Bryant homered for Chicago, but the NL Central champions finished with just four hits in another tough night at the plate. Each of their eight runs in the NLCS came via the long ball, and they batted just .156 for the series with 53 strikeouts.

Long playoff runs in each of the last two years and a grueling five-game Division Series against Washington seemed to sap Chicago of some energy, and its pitching faltered against sweet-swinging Los Angeles. Jose Quintana was pulled in the third inning of the final game, and the Cubs never recovered.

''They executed their plan,'' Bryant said. ''They pitched great and the bullpen was lights out. That makes for a tough time scoring runs.''

Turner and Taylor helped put it away for Los Angeles, contributing to a 16-hit outburst while closing out a pair of impressive performances.

Turner singled home Taylor in the Dodgers' five-run third, giving him seven RBIs in the series and 24 throughout his postseason career. Taylor finished with two hits and scored two runs as the Dodgers, who have won five straight NL West titles, improved to 7-1 in this postseason.

Taylor's versatility helped Los Angeles cover for the loss of All-Star shortstop Corey Seager, who missed the series with a back injury, but is expected to return in the next round. Coming off a breakout season, the 27-year-old Taylor hit .316 with two homers and scored five times against the Cubs.

''I couldn't be happier to be a part of this and be with these guys,'' Taylor said. ''It's been an unbelievable year, and I'm just super excited.''

OUT WITH A BANG

Hernandez joined Kennedy (2002), Adrian Beltre (2011), Reggie Jackson (1977 vs. the Dodgers) and Babe Ruth (1928) as players to hit three home runs in a postseason series clincher.

LIGHTS OUT

Dodgers relievers have thrown 23 consecutive scoreless innings, a postseason record.

[StarDust Bum]

MLB Playoff Record:.........

DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD ( Best Bets & Opinions )

10/19/2017 1-1-0 50.00% +0
10/18/2017 1-3-0 25.00% -11.60
10/17/2017 2-2-0 50.00% -1.30
10/16/2017 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00
10/15/2017 1-1-0 50.00% +0.00
10/14/2017 0-3-1 0.00% -15.50
10/13/2017 1-1-0 50.00%.....+0.00
10/12/2017 1-1-0 50.00% -0.50
10/11/2017 3-1-0 75.00% +15.50
10/09/2017 2-5-0 28.57% -16.75
10/08/2017 2-2-0 50.00% -2.30
10/07/2017 1-3-0 25.00% -10.50
10/06/2017.......5-2-0......71.43%.....+16.25
10/05/2017 ......1-3-0 .....25.00%..... -10.50
10/04/2017 ......1-1-0..... 50.00%....... -0.50

Total:...............23 -28......45.09%.......-27.70

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Best Bets:......................ATS.................... ...TOTAL.....................TOTAL O/U

10/19/2017.................0 - 1.......................-5.00............................1 - 0......+5.00
10/18/2017.................0 - 0.......................+0.00..................... ......1 - 1......-1.00
10/17/2017.................0 - 0.......................+0.00..................... .....1 - 1.......-1.00
10/16/2017.................0 - 0.......................+0.00..................... ....1 - 0........+5.00
10/15/2017.................0 - 1........................-5.00.........................1 - 0........+5.00
10/14/2017.................0 - 2......................-10.00..........................0-0-1......+0.00
10/13/2017.................0 - 1.......................-5.00...........................1 - 0.......+5.00
10/12/2017.................0 - 0........................0.00..................... ......0 - 1........-5.50
10/11/2017.................2 - 0.......................+15.00.................... ...0 - 1........-5.50
10/09/2017.................0 - 1.......................- 5.00..........................1 - 3........-11.50
10/08/2017.................0 - 0........................00.00.................... .....2 - 0.......+10.00
10/07/2017.................0 - 2.......................-10.00.........................1-0-1.......+5.00
10/06/2017.................1 - 1.......................-1.00...........................3 - 1........+9.50
10/05/2017.................0 - 2.......................-10.00.........................1 - 1........-1.00
10/04/2017.................1 - 0.......................+ 5.00.........................0 - 1.......- 5.50


TOTAL:........................4 - 11..................- 31.00.....................14-11-2.......+13.50

[StarDust Bum]

Armadillo: Friday's six-pack

More NFL trends with Week 7 upon us……..

— Saints are 11-2 vs spread in last 13 games away from home.

— Minnesota is 15-5 vs spread in last 20 home games.

— 49ers covered six of their last eight games.

— Miami is 12-32-1 in last 45 games as a home favorite.

— Washington is 16-8 vs spread in its last 24 games.

— Buffalo is 8-4 vs spread coming off its last 12 byes.


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Armadillo: Friday's List of 13: Things I’m looking for this weekend

13) How tired are the Falcons of hearing about last year’s Super Bowl? Now they get to visit Foxboro the week after blowing a 17-0 halftime lead to Miami. Matt Ryan went to Boston College, so a homecoming of sorts for him.

12) Michigan beat Penn State 49-10 last year; Wolverines are 5-1, but it is a shaky 5-1 and they are playing a backup QB- they needed OT to beat Indiana last week.

11) Brett Hundley gets his first NFL start at home against New Orleans; no pressure, replacing Aaron Rodgers �� Saints are actually a road favorite in this game.

10) Arizona Wildcats ran ball for 882 yards in their last two games; now they’re a road favorite at Cal— Golden Bears upset Washington State last week. Interesting game.

9) First round of rematches this weekend, three of them. Can the Jets sweep Miami? Eagles sweep Washington? Denver sweep the Chargers?

8) USC-Notre Dame is a stellar primetime game Saturday night. Trojans lost their last two visits to South Bend.

7) Cardinals-Rams in England is a big game in NFC West; Adrian Peterson added a running element to the Arizona offense last week. Both teams are a LONG way from home.

6) Think the boosters in Knoxville are happy that Tennessee is a 35-point underdog this week in Tuscaloosa? Hopefully Butch Jones has his resume updated, because he is going to need a job in a few weeks. His bank account will be healthy, though.

5) Giants got their first win last week, now Seattle visits Swamp Stadium coming off its bye. Giants’ young WR’s will have hard time getting open against a stingy Seahawk defense.

4) Texas is 3-3, losing to USC/Oklahoma by total of 8 points; now Oklahoma State comes calling, another tough game. State scored 48 ppg in winning its first three road games this year.

3) Jacksonville is +11 in turnovers in its wins, -1 in its losses; they have a very winnable game in Indy against a Colt team that might be without Andrew Luck for the whole season now. Jacoby Brissett hasn’t played badly, but Indy has been outscored 85-22 in the 4th quarter this year.

2) Louisville beat Florida State 63-20 LY, but Cardinals lost their last two games, allowing 84 points. Seminoles are struggling (2-3) with a true freshman QB who is skinny as hell- their only two wins are over Wake Forest/Duke.

1) Trap game for the Titans, a road game after a Monday night win. Winless Browns are going back to DeShone Kizer at QB; maybe they should’ve drafted Deshaun Watson. Ya think?

[StarDust Bum]

MLB
Dunkel

Friday, October 20

NY Yankees @ Houston

Game 913-914
October 20, 2017 @ 8:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
NY Yankees
(Severino) 19.133
Houston
(Verlnder) 16.681
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
NY Yankees
by 2 1/2
8
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Houston
-140
7 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
NY Yankees
(+120); Over




MLB
Long Sheet

Friday, October 20

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

NY YANKEES (98 - 75) at HOUSTON (106 - 65) - 8:05 PM
LUIS SEVERINO (R) vs. JUSTIN VERLANDER (R)
Top Trends for this game.
NY YANKEES are 19-32 (-13.3 Units) against the money line on the road when the money line is +125 to -125 this season.
NY YANKEES are 11-17 (-10.7 Units) against the money line when playing on Friday this season.
NY YANKEES are 17-29 (-14.3 Units) against the money line in road games after a win this season.
NY YANKEES are 8-18 (-13.2 Units) against the money line in road games after 3 or more consecutive wins over the last 3 seasons.
HOUSTON is 106-65 (+12.7 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
HOUSTON is 83-40 (+25.2 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
HOUSTON is 18-6 (+11.9 Units) against the money line after getting shut out over the last 3 seasons.
NY YANKEES are 53-35 (+16.4 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
NY YANKEES are 65-54 (+12.2 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
HOUSTON is 61-55 (-21.0 Units) against the money line in home games in night games over the last 2 seasons.
HOUSTON is 36-39 (-15.0 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
HOUSTON is 7-5 (+1.6 Units) against NY YANKEES this season
7 of 12 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+1.6 Units)

LUIS SEVERINO vs. HOUSTON since 1997
SEVERINO is 0-1 when starting against HOUSTON with an ERA of 7.72 and a WHIP of 1.973.
His team's record is 1-2 (-1.1 units) in these starts. The OVER is 2-1. (+1.0 units)

JUSTIN VERLANDER vs. NY YANKEES since 1997
VERLANDER is 9-7 when starting against NY YANKEES with an ERA of 3.64 and a WHIP of 1.298.
His team's record is 11-12 (-2.6 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 9-12. (-4.4 units)

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




MLB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Friday, October 20

New York @ Houston
Astros are 7-5 against New York this season, winning four of five at home. Houston scored total of nine runs in first five games in this series, all won by the home team.

Severino is 1-0, 5.56 in three playoff starts this season; he is 4-0, 3.27 in his last eight starts overall. Over is 5-3 in his last eight starts. New York is 9-7 in his road starts this season. He is 0-1, 7.71 in three starts vs Houston this season.

Verlander is 7-0, 1.29 in seven starts for Houston; he also won a game in relief. Under is 8-2 in his last ten starts. Astros are 4-0 in his home starts. Verlander is 1-0, 1.00 vs New York this season; he is 10-5, 3.19 in 19 career playoff games (18 starts).




MLB

Friday, October 20

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Trend Report
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NY YANKEES @ HOUSTON
NY Yankees is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Houston
NY Yankees is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
Houston is 15-2 SU in its last 17 games at home
Houston is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against NY Yankees

[StarDust Bum]

Friday's ALCS Playoff Betting Preview And Odds: Yankees at Astros

The Astros left home a few days ago feeling very good about their chances to win the American League pennant, but returned home with a very different feeling.

New York Yankees at Houston Astros (NYY +124, HOU -134, O/U 7.5)

Yankees lead series 3-2

The Houston Astros left home a few days ago feeling very good about their chances to win the American League pennant and advance to the second World Series in franchise history, but returned home with a very different feeling. The Astros will try to stay alive one more day and force a decisive Game 7 of the AL Championship Series when they host the New York Yankees in Game 6 on Friday.

Houston won the first two games at home but totaled only nine runs in the series after leading the majors in scoring with 896 runs during the regular season, and it is looking for more from George Springer (2-for-18 in the series) and Josh Reddick (0-for-17) at home in Game 6. "It will be great," Astros manager A.J. Hinch told reporters of getting back to Houston. "There weren't a lot rooting for us here. I think getting home will be good for us. We'll have an off day (Thursday), and then get to play in front of our home crowd. Every home team has won this series, if that trend continues, we'll be in pretty good shape." The Yankees finally found their offense at home while winning all three games, and are starting to get production from Aaron Judge (4-for-9, two homers, six RBIs in the last three games) and Gary Sanchez, who drove in five runs in the last two contests. "I give our guys a lot of credit for how resilient they are, and how they continue to fight and never give up and understand, take it one game at a time and don't panic," New York manager Joe Girardi told reporters. "And just continue to fight."

TV: 8:08 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1

INJURY REPORT:

Yankees - SP L. Severino (Probable, Shoulder), SP L. Cessa (Out For Season, Ribs), SP M. Pineda (Out For Season, Elbow).

Astros - CF J. Marisnick (Out For Season, Thumb), SP D. Paulino (Out For Season, Suspension), RP J. Gustave (Out For Season, Elbow).

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Luis Severino (1-0, 5.56 ERA) vs. Astros RH Justin Verlander (3-0, 2.04)

Severino is hoping to go deeper into Game 6 after being lifted from Game 2 following the fourth inning, when he struggled to get loose and was hit in the wrist by a comebacker. The 23-year-old Dominican was checked out by doctors and quickly cleared. Severino surrendered a solo home run to Carlos Correa in that outing and was strong in his lone AL Division Series appearance, yielding three runs and four hits in seven innings against Cleveland.

Verlander went up against Severino in Game 2 and earned the win while hurling a 124-pitch complete game. The former AL MVP yielded one run and five hits while striking out 13 and walking one to earn his third win in as many 2017 postseason appearances. Verlander is 8-0 with a 1.39 ERA in eight appearances since arriving in a trade from the Detroit Tigers on Aug. 31.

TRENDS:

* Yankees are 1-7 in their last 8 playoff road games.
* Yankees are 15-3 in Severino's last 18 starts.
* Astros are 13-3 in their last 16 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
* Astros are 7-0 in Verlander's 7 starts since joining Houston.
* Over is 12-3 in Severino's last 15 starts overall.
* Under is 8-0 in Astros' last 8 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
* Over is 17-6-3 in Jim Reynolds' last 26 games behind home plate.

CONSENSUS: The public is siding with the home chalk Astros at a rate of 74 percent and the Over is picking up 57 percent of the totals action.

[StarDust Bum]

MLB Playoff Record:.........

DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD ( Best Bets & Opinions )

10/19/2017 1-1-0 50.00% +0
10/18/2017 1-3-0 25.00% -11.60
10/17/2017 2-2-0 50.00% -1.30
10/16/2017 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00
10/15/2017 1-1-0 50.00% +0.00
10/14/2017 0-3-1 0.00% -15.50
10/13/2017 1-1-0 50.00%.....+0.00
10/12/2017 1-1-0 50.00% -0.50
10/11/2017 3-1-0 75.00% +15.50
10/09/2017 2-5-0 28.57% -16.75
10/08/2017 2-2-0 50.00% -2.30
10/07/2017 1-3-0 25.00% -10.50
10/06/2017.......5-2-0......71.43%.....+16.25
10/05/2017 ......1-3-0 .....25.00%..... -10.50
10/04/2017 ......1-1-0..... 50.00%....... -0.50

Total:...............23 -28......45.09%.......-27.70

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

Best Bets:......................ATS.................... ...TOTAL.....................TOTAL O/U

10/19/2017.................0 - 1.......................-5.00............................1 - 0......+5.00
10/18/2017.................0 - 0.......................+0.00..................... ......1 - 1......-1.00
10/17/2017.................0 - 0.......................+0.00..................... .....1 - 1.......-1.00
10/16/2017.................0 - 0.......................+0.00..................... ....1 - 0........+5.00
10/15/2017.................0 - 1........................-5.00.........................1 - 0........+5.00
10/14/2017.................0 - 2......................-10.00..........................0-0-1......+0.00
10/13/2017.................0 - 1.......................-5.00...........................1 - 0.......+5.00
10/12/2017.................0 - 0........................0.00..................... ......0 - 1........-5.50
10/11/2017.................2 - 0.......................+15.00.................... ...0 - 1........-5.50
10/09/2017.................0 - 1.......................- 5.00..........................1 - 3........-11.50
10/08/2017.................0 - 0........................00.00.................... .....2 - 0.......+10.00
10/07/2017.................0 - 2.......................-10.00.........................1-0-1.......+5.00
10/06/2017.................1 - 1.......................-1.00...........................3 - 1........+9.50
10/05/2017.................0 - 2.......................-10.00.........................1 - 1........-1.00
10/04/2017.................1 - 0.......................+ 5.00.........................0 - 1.......- 5.50


TOTAL:........................4 - 11..................- 31.00.....................14-11-2.......+13.50

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

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

NYY at HOU 08:00 PM

NYY +115 *****

O 7.5 *****

[StarDust Bum]

Yankees face elimination again, this time in ALCS Game 7
October 20, 2017

HOUSTON (AP) The New York Yankees will have to win one more elimination game to get to their first World Series since 2009.

This time, the Baby Bombers are going to a Game 7 after missing a chance to close out the AL Championship Series against the Houston Astros.

Luis Severino had another abbreviated start in Houston and Aaron Judge struck out two more times to match a major league record for strikeouts in a postseason before a towering home run in the Yankees' 7-1 loss in Game 6 on Friday night.

With a series lead for the first time this postseason after winning all three ALCS games in the Bronx, the Yankees were again stifled by Justin Verlander - just like in Game 2. The big right-hander didn't go the distance this time, but he did get his ninth win in nine appearances since being acquired by Houston.

New York will have veteran left-hander CC Sabathia on the mound for Game 7 on Saturday night. Sabathia, reliever David Robertson and left fielder Brett Gardner are the only holdovers from the Yankees' last World Series team eight years ago - in Joe Girardi's second season as their manager.

It will be the first Game 7 for the Yankees since the 2004 ALCS, when the Boston Red Sox came back to claim the AL pennant after losing the first three games in that series.

The Yankees haven't lost when facing elimination this postseason. After beating Minnesota in the win-or-go-home AL wild-card game, New York lost the first two games in the best-of-five AL Division Series against Cleveland before winning three straight to advance.

Judge's third homer of this series - he hit two in New York - was a soaring shot off reliever Brad Peacock in the eighth projected to 425 feet by Statcast.

But in his other three at-bats, Judge grounded into a double play and struck out twice. That's 26 strikeouts this postseason for the rookie slugger, matching the record set by Alfonso Soriano while with the Yankees in 2003.

Severino got into trouble against the bottom half of the Astros order in the fifth. After No. 6 batter Alex Bregman walked to lead off, Evan Gattis drew a one-out walk and No. 9 batter Brian McCann got his first hit in the ALCS with a ground-rule double that drove in the first run.

George Springer, the Astros leadoff hitter still hitless in the ALCS, then drew a walk, and Jose Altuve ended an 0-for-12 slide with a two-run single that made it 3-0 and chased Severino.

Severino threw only 62 pitches - exactly half as many as Verlander - in Game 2. The 23-year-old right-hander didn't even take the mound for the fifth in that game after he uncharacteristically wound his arm several times after giving up a solo homer to Carlos Correa, and was struck on the wrist of his non-throwing hand on the last out.

Robertson gave up a solo homer to Altuve, and four runs without recording an out, in the eighth.

Verlander has thrown 16 scoreless innings and won twice against the Yankees in the ALCS.

The closest the Yankees came to scoring against Verlander in Game 6 was after Greg Bird drew a walk to lead off the seventh and Starlin Castro was hit by a pitch - though Girardi had to issue a replay challenge after home plate umpire Jim Reynolds initially just called the pitch a ball. The ball clearly hit off Castro's arm.

But Aaron Hicks struck out and Todd Frazier hit a deep drive to center field, where Springer made a leaping catch on the warning track and came down against the wall. Chase Headley, already with two more hits Friday to give him seven in nine at-bats after starting the postseason 0 for 18, then ended the inning with a groundout.

In Game 2, Verlander had already thrown the last of his 124 pitches before Altuve's dash from first base to score on Carlos Correa's double in the bottom of the ninth inning for a 2-1 victory that had put the Astros up 2-0 in the series.

[StarDust Bum]

MLB notebook: Baker out as Nationals manager
October 20, 2017

The Washington Nationals have won four National League East division titles since 2012 under three different managers.

But the Nationals are still looking for a postseason series win and some stability in the dugout, as the club announced Friday that manager Dusty Baker will not return in 2018 after his two-year contract expired.

The Nationals won the National League East in both seasons under Baker in 2016 and 2017 and lost at home in Game 5 each year in the NLDS. Washington won 95 games in the first year under Baker and was 97-65 this season, winning the division by 20 games.

"I'm surprised and disappointed," the 68-year-old Baker told USA Today Sports.

--The Detroit Tigers opted for experience in their managerial search and announced the appointment of Ron Gardenhire to run the club with a three-year contract.

Gardenhire, who turns 60 on Tuesday, is deeply familiar with the American League Central after spending 13 seasons in the division as manager of the Minnesota Twins. Minnesota made six postseason appearances during his tenure from 2002-2014.

--Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy underwent surgery to repair damage to the articular cartilage in his right knee, the team announced.

Murphy, 32, will begin the rehab process immediately.

He never revealed he was dealing with any injury.

Murphy hit .322 with 23 home runs and 93 RBIs in 144 games in 2017, his second season with the Nationals after spending the first part of his career with the New York Mets.

--Tigers general manager Al Avila announced that the team will not pick up the $16 million club option on right-hander Anibal Sanchez.

Instead the Tigers will pay him a $5 million buyout.

Sanchez, 34, had a difficult season. He was 3-7 with a 6.41 ERA in 28 appearances, including 17 starts. He allowed 26 home runs in 105 1/3 innings.

Sanchez accepted a demotion to Triple-A Toledo during the season with the hope that it would help him regain a spot in the Tigers' rotation. He started nine games for the Tigers after August 1 and was 0-6 with a 4.88 ERA in those contests.

[StarDust Bum]

MLB Playoff Record:.........

DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD ( Best Bets & Opinions )

10/20/2017 1-1-0 50.00% +0
10/19/2017 1-1-0 50.00% +0
10/18/2017 1-3-0 25.00% -11.60
10/17/2017 2-2-0 50.00% -1.30
10/16/2017 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00
10/15/2017 1-1-0 50.00% +0.00
10/14/2017 0-3-1 0.00% -15.50
10/13/2017 1-1-0 50.00%.....+0.00
10/12/2017 1-1-0 50.00% -0.50
10/11/2017 3-1-0 75.00% +15.50
10/09/2017 2-5-0 28.57% -16.75
10/08/2017 2-2-0 50.00% -2.30
10/07/2017 1-3-0 25.00% -10.50
10/06/2017.......5-2-0......71.43%.....+16.25
10/05/2017 ......1-3-0 .....25.00%..... -10.50
10/04/2017 ......1-1-0..... 50.00%....... -0.50

Total:...............24 -29......45.28%.......-27.70

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

Best Bets:......................ATS.................... ...TOTAL.....................TOTAL O/U

10/20/2017.................0 - 1.......................-5.00............................1 - 0......+5.00
10/19/2017.................0 - 1.......................-5.00............................1 - 0......+5.00
10/18/2017.................0 - 0.......................+0.00..................... ......1 - 1......-1.00
10/17/2017.................0 - 0.......................+0.00..................... .....1 - 1.......-1.00
10/16/2017.................0 - 0.......................+0.00..................... ....1 - 0........+5.00
10/15/2017.................0 - 1........................-5.00.........................1 - 0........+5.00
10/14/2017.................0 - 2......................-10.00..........................0-0-1......+0.00
10/13/2017.................0 - 1.......................-5.00...........................1 - 0.......+5.00
10/12/2017.................0 - 0........................0.00..................... ......0 - 1........-5.50
10/11/2017.................2 - 0.......................+15.00.................... ...0 - 1........-5.50
10/09/2017.................0 - 1.......................- 5.00..........................1 - 3........-11.50
10/08/2017.................0 - 0........................00.00.................... .....2 - 0.......+10.00
10/07/2017.................0 - 2.......................-10.00.........................1-0-1.......+5.00
10/06/2017.................1 - 1.......................-1.00...........................3 - 1........+9.50
10/05/2017.................0 - 2.......................-10.00.........................1 - 1........-1.00
10/04/2017.................1 - 0.......................+ 5.00.........................0 - 1.......- 5.50


TOTAL:........................4 - 12..................- 36.00.....................15-11-2.......+18.50