MLB 2018 Season Long Thread Thru the World Series / Picks,Trends,News Etc. !!

[StarDust Bum]

Evening Best Bets:

NYY at BOS 07:32 PM

BOS -173

O 7.5

ATL at LAD 09:37 PM

ATL +207

U 7.0

[StarDust Bum]

Kershaw allows 2 hits, Dodgers blank Braves 3-0 for 2-0 lead
October 5, 2018

LOS ANGELES (AP) Clayton Kershaw tossed eight innings of two-hit ball in the Dodgers' second straight playoff shutout, and Manny Machado slugged a two-run homer as Los Angeles beat the Atlanta Braves 3-0 on Friday night for a 2-0 lead in their NL Division Series.

The Dodgers used a nearly identical formula to win 6-0 in Game 1 behind Hyun-Jin Ryu, who allowed only four two-out singles over seven innings, and home runs by Joc Pederson, Max Muncy and Enrique Hernandez.

Kershaw was even better. The left-hander struck out three and walked none in remaining unbeaten against Atlanta throughout his illustrious career.

Los Angeles can sweep the best-of-five series in Game 3 on Sunday in Atlanta, where the Baby Braves will be looking to score for the first time this postseason.

Kershaw got bypassed as the Game 1 starter in favor of Ryu after the three-time NL Cy Young Award winner had started eight of the Dodgers' past 10 postseason openers. Manager Dave Roberts said it was done to give both Ryu and Kershaw five days of rest between starts.

One more victory would put Los Angeles in the NL Championship Series for the third straight year. The Dodgers beat the Cubs in the NLCS last season and lost to them in that round in 2016.

Kershaw ran out to the mound as though he was going to pitch the ninth, bringing cheers from the sellout crowd of 54,452. But when Roberts went out to pull Kershaw after 85 pitches, fans booed.

Kenley Jansen gave up a one-out single to Ronald Acuna Jr. before earning the save.

Machado hit a two-run shot on a 3-0 pitch from Anibal Sanchez with two outs in the first. Joc Pederson doubled leading off.

Yasmani Grandal homered on an 0-2 pitch from Sanchez leading off the fifth to make it 3-0.

Acuna doubled to deep left-center on Kershaw's first pitch. He became the Braves' first runner to reach third base in the series on Johan Camargo's groundout to Kershaw.

After Acuna's double, Kershaw retired 14 consecutive batters until Ender Inciarte reached on an infield single to second with two outs in the fifth. Ex-Dodger Charlie Culberson grounded into a fielder's choice to shortstop with Inciarte out at second.

Kershaw was sharp on defense, too.

He chased around to grab a ball hit by Camargo and fired to first in time for the initial out of the fourth.

One inning later, Kershaw did a 180-degree spin, grabbed a comebacker by Ozzie Albies, slipped on the grass and made the throw to first for the second out of the fifth. A trainer briefly came out to check on Kershaw, who threw one warmup pitch to prove he was fine.

The Dodgers backed Kershaw with a double play to end the sixth after he plunked pinch-hitter Lane Adams leading off and Acuna Jr. grounded into a fielder's choice to third.

The Braves' offense was anemic again.

Other than Acuna's double and his single in the ninth, they were limited to a two-out single by Inciarte in the fifth. Freddie Freeman was hitless with a strikeouts in four at-bats. Nick Markakis went 0 for 3 with a strikeout and Albies was 0 for 3.

UP NEXT

With their season on the line, the Braves are likely to start RHP Kevin Gausman on Sunday. He came over from Baltimore before the July 31 trade deadline in a six-player deal and was 5-3 with a 2.87 ERA in 10 starts for Atlanta.

The Dodgers are going with rookie RHP Walker Buehler, who was 8-5 with a 2.62 ERA this season. Buehler last pitched on Monday, allowing one hit in 6 2/3 innings and striking out three in the NL West tiebreaker victory over the Rockies.


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


Rockies struggle again at plate, face elimination in NLDS
October 5, 2018
By The Associated Press

MILWAUKEE (AP) Chris Iannetta made contact, all right.

He slammed his bat over his right knee, splitting it in half after a strikeout with the potential tying run at third base in the seventh inning.

Connecting with the ball? Not so much.

It was the same old story for the Colorado Rockies in Game 2 of the NL Division Series: Their power-laden lineup couldn't score runs.

No wonder they're down 2-0 in the series following a 4-0 loss on Friday at Miller Park. Game 3 is Sunday in Denver, with the Rockies sending German Marquez to the mound against Milwaukee's Wade Miley.

Facing elimination, maybe the thin mountain air will do Colorado some good.

''You just keep fighting through it and having good at-bats,'' manager Bud Black said. ''So we've got to keep fighting the good fight.''

The Rockies finished among the major league leaders in several offensive categories this year. But they've scored just six runs in four games since slugging five homers in a 12-0 victory over Washington on Sunday that left them tied for the NL West lead after 162 games.

They dropped a tiebreaker with the Dodgers for the division title and then squeaked out a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs in the wild card game before taking their quiet bats to Milwaukee.

Colorado's three All-Stars - center fielder Charlie Blackmon, third baseman Nolan Arenado and shortstop Trevor Story - are scuffling.

The trio is a combined 3 for 23 in the series with two RBIs - both in the ninth inning of Game 1, which the Rockies lost 3-2 in 10 innings.

Take away that rally and it's a series shutout for Milwaukee. Colorado stranded nine runners in Game 2.

''It's been a tough past couple days for us offensively, there's no denying that,'' Story said. ''We're going home and we feel confident that we can turn it around.''

Blackmon, who hit .291 with 29 homers in the regular season, hit a sharp liner right to second baseman Travis Shaw to end the seventh, stranding Ian Desmond at third.

The bearded Blackmon slammed his batting gloves into his helmet after being retired by filthy left-handed reliever Josh Hader. Blackmon finished 0 for 4.

Arenado, who hit .297 with an NL-high 38 homers, struck out twice on sliders from Brewers starter Jhoulys Chacin, seeing just three pitches in each of those at-bats. Arenado also had the only two hits among the All-Star trio on Friday, including a one-out single in the eighth off Jeremy Jeffress.

The next hitter, veteran Carlos Gonzalez, lined out sharply to third to set up a familiar Story.

The shortstop struck out swinging on a curveball in the dirt, his fifth whiff of the series.

Story's struggles might be the most puzzling. He had seven homers and 18 RBIs against Milwaukee in the regular season.

''The last few games have been a little bit tough. And they've been rough for a lot of guys now,'' Black said.

And that was before Game 2 started.

The frustration was epitomized by Iannetta's bat-breaking at-bat .

''I got a slider over the middle of the plate that I thought I was on,'' Iannetta explained, ''but I was obviously out in front of.''

Another lament for the Rockies' punchless sluggers: Their pitchers are keeping it close.

Game 2 starter Tyler Anderson allowed just one run on four hits, walking two and striking out five over six innings in his first postseason start.

Reliever Scott Oberg allowed hits to Hernan Perez and Travis Shaw to put runners on first and third to open the seventh. But Oberg fanned the next three hitters to get out of the inning.

The Colorado offense showed a little life again in the ninth when Gerardo Parra had a leadoff single off Jeffress.

Two strikeouts and a harmless bouncer to second later, the game was over

Their season may be over soon if they don't start hitting in Game 3.

''I feel like we're going to score every inning,'' Anderson said. ''Just because we haven't, it doesn't leave any doubt in my mind that we're going to score in the first on Sunday.''

[StarDust Bum]

Sale strong, 'pen shaky as Red Sox beat Yankees 5-4 in ALDS
October 5, 2018

BOSTON (AP) Chris Sale struck out eight for his first postseason win, J.D. Martinez hit a three-run homer and the Boston Red Sox sweated out their shaky bullpen to hold off the New York Yankees 5-4 on Friday night in Game 1 of the AL Division Series.

One year after he was pounded by Houston in his playoff debut, Sale took a four-hit shutout into the sixth inning. The Yankees loaded the bases in the sixth and seventh, cutting the deficit to 5-3. Aaron Judge homered off Craig Kimbrel leading off the ninth before the Red Sox closer retired the next three batters, striking out Giancarlo Stanton and Luke Voit for the save.

Game 2 in the best-of-five series is Saturday night, with Boston starting another pitcher trying to overcome a history of postseason struggles: left-hander David Price is 0-8 as a starter in the playoffs. He'll face Yankees righty Masahiro Tanaka.

In the first playoff matchup between the longtime rivals since 2004, the 108-win Red Sox took a 5-0 lead against Yankees starter J.A. Happ and then white-knuckled it after Sale left with two on and one out in the sixth.

New York, which won 100 regular-season games plus the AL wild-card game against Oakland, got three singles and two walks in the sixth, scoring two before Brandon Workman - the only player on the Red Sox roster with a World Series ring - struck out Gleyber Torres to end the threat.

The Yankees loaded the bases with nobody out in the seventh but scored just one run. Boston manager Alex Cora used scheduled Game 3 starter Rick Porcello to get two outs in the eighth before turning to Kimbrel for a four-out save.

It was the first ALDS matchup between the teams and the first in the postseason since the Red Sox staged an unprecedented rally from a 3-0 deficit in the 2004 AL Championship Series to advance and then won the World Series to end their 86-year dynasty of disappointment. (They also met in the ALCS the year before, and it ended with current Yankees manager Aaron Boone's 11th-inning homer in Game 7, better known in Boston as the game when manager Grady Little inexplicably left a tiring Pedro Martinez on the mound.)

''This is what I envisioned,'' said J.D. Martinez, who signed with the Red Sox as a free agent last offseason. ''I think this is what MLB and baseball wanted to see, what baseball fans all over the world wanted to see.''

Boston fans were ready, with derisive chants for the Yankees during introductions and again after Martinez smacked a 2-0 fastball into the glove of a stem cell researcher in the front row of the seats above the Green Monster.

The Red Sox made it 5-0 in the third when Mookie Betts doubled off the left-field wall and Andrew Benintendi chased Happ with a bunt single that moved the runner to third. Steve Pearce singled in one run and another scored on Xander Bogaerts' sacrifice fly.

Sale left with a 5-0 lead after giving up singles to Judge and Stanton in the sixth; both came around to score. In all, Sale was charged with two runs on five hits and two walks in 5 1/3 innings - the longest playoff outing for a Red Sox starter since 2013.

Martinez and Benintendi each had two hits for Boston. Judge had three hits and Voit had two for New York, which went 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position.

Happ lasted just two innings for his shortest postseason start, allowing five runs on four hits and a walk while striking out two.

HAMMY TIME

Aaron Hicks singled off Sale to lead off the fourth - ending an 11-pitch at-bat - but once he got to first base he began flexing his right leg. After a visit from the trainer, he left the game for pinch-runner Brett Gardner.

Hicks, who battled hamstring problems down the stretch, was also late taking center field at the bottom of the first. The team said he had tightness in his right hamstring and was being evaluated.

UP NEXT

Price pitches for the Red Sox in search of his first playoff win as a starter, though he has two wins relief in the postseason. Tanaka pitched seven shutout innings in Game 5 of the ALCS against Houston last year.


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


Astros hit 4 HRs, down Indians 7-2
October 5, 2018

HOUSTON (AP) It's October and George Springer, Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman are all hitting home runs once again, helping the Houston Astros to a postseason win.

A year after launching a World Series-record 15 homers in winning their first championship, the Astros picked up right where they left off, hitting four home runs to power past the Cleveland Indians 7-2 Friday in Game 1 of the AL Division Series.

Martin Maldonado also connected for the Astros, who didn't waste any time displaying the same power that carried them to last year's title.

Much was made about the pitching prowess these teams possess in the days leading up to this game. But it was a bunch of longballs to put the Astros ahead in this best-of-five series.

''As much as I've heard different opinions about our offense, it's pretty long, it's pretty good, it's pretty potent,'' manager AJ Hinch said. ''Case in point today.''

Houston's pop backed up a solid start by Justin Verlander, who bested Corey Kluber in a matchup of Cy Young Award-winning aces in the first postseason meeting between these teams.

Verlander took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and got his 12th playoff win. He allowed two hits and two runs in 5 1/3 innings - the Indians finished with only three hits, all singles.

Kluber, a two-time Cy Young winner who was coming off his first 20-win season, was tagged for three home runs in 4 2/3 innings. It was a repeat performance from last October's ALDS, when he made two starts against the Yankees and left with a 12.79 ERA.

Game 2 is Saturday in Houston. Gerrit Cole starts for the Astros against Carlos Carrasco.

The Astros hit 27 homers last postseason - Springer hit five in the World Series and set a record by connecting in four straight games on his way to winning the MVP award.

Bregman, coming off a breakout year, got Houston's first hit with his drive to the Crawford Boxes in left field to start a two-run fourth inning.

''The only thing I can say about him is without him we wouldn't be here,'' Altuve said.

The 103-win Astros were still up 2-0 when Springer led off the fifth with a full-count homer to left. That made him just the third player in major league history to homer in five straight postseason games.

''I'm happy that I was able to help us win in all of those games and be a sparkplug,'' Springer said.

Two pitches later Altuve, last year's AL MVP, connected for his eighth career postseason homer when he also sent one to left field. He began last year's playoffs with three home runs in the ALDS opener against Boston.

Kluber watched stone-faced as Altuve headed for first and shook his head slightly as he rounded the bases and the crowd roared with scattered chants of ''MVP.''

Kluber followed up his splendid regular season with another playoff dud. A year after giving up four homers in two starts against the Yankees, the longball again proved to be a problem for him. He left with two outs in the fifth inning after allowing six hits and four runs while walking three.

''Last year has nothing to do with today,'' Cleveland manager Terry Francona said. ''They're a good team. He made a couple mistakes. They made him pay for it.''

Verlander was masterful through the first five innings, with Cleveland's only baserunner in that span coming on a walk to Jose Ramirez with two outs in the first. The Houston right-hander set down 13 in a row after that, fanning seven, including striking out the side in the third.

Yan Gomes broke up the no-hitter with his single to shallow right field to start the sixth and Francisco Lindor singled with one out in the inning. When Verlander walked Michael Brantley to load the bases after that, Hinch had seen enough and replaced him with Ryan Pressly.

The Indians cut the lead to 4-1 on a wild pitch by Pressly, who came to Houston in a July trade, and got within two when Lindor scored on a groundout by Ramirez.

Maldonado, making his playoff debut, connected off Cody Allen for a two-out homer in the seventh. Bregman made it 6-2 with an RBI single later in the inning.

UNHAPPY HECTOR

Houston reliever Hector Rondon, who Hinch said was ''very upset'' about not making the ALDS roster, did not come onto the field when he was introduced with the team's reserves before the game. He also was not on the field during the national anthem, but did join the team in the dugout for the game.

Rondon, signed by the Astros to a two-year deal in the offseason, was left off the roster in favor of hard-throwing rookie Josh James because of his ability to throw multiple innings.

Hinch said Rondon could be used in the ALCS if the Astros advance. Rondon was 2-5 with 15 saves and a 3.20 ERA in 63 games.

FOR STARTERS

In a season where openers and using multiple relievers instead of defined starters has become popular, Verlander believes that true starters like him remain very important to the game.

''I think you need it,'' he said. ''I think the more relievers get used every single day, it has an effect ... I don't have the answers. But I do believe in innings. I believe in protecting the bullpen. And I believe in a starting pitcher.''

UP NEXT

Cole (15-5, 2.88 ERA) ranked second in the AL with 276 strikeouts this season, only trailing Verlander's 290, and was fifth with 200 1/3 innings pitched. He will be making his fourth playoff start and first since 2015 with the Pirates. He is 1-2 with a 3.94 ERA in those games.

It will be just the second career postseason start for Carrasco (17-10, 3.38), who is 4-2 with a 3.45 ERA in eight appearances, with seven starts against Houston.

[StarDust Bum]

Saturday’s six-pack

— Astros 7, Indians 2— Houston hit four solo homers.

— Brewers 4, Rockies 0— Rockies are 1-12 with RISP in series.

— Boston 5, New York 4— Red Sox led 5-0 early; Kimbrel got last four outs.

— Dodgers 3, Braves 0— Atlanta hasn’t scored yet in series.

— Georgia Tech 66, Louisville 31— Tech ran for 542 yards, threw two passes.

— Utah State 45, BYU 20— Aggies win Ol’ Wagon Wheel for second year in a row.

Quote of the Day
“It’s a different place. The energy isn’t like where I say we come from. It isn’t that savage mentality. It’s partly the NFL. It’s different than college. When we left practice in college, we were going to eat University Seafood or Canes. We’re going to chill in the room. We chill together.

When everybody leaves (in the NFL), they’ve got a family, they’ve got a wife, they’ve got kids to go home to. I don’t have that. So I try to build that relationship with my teammates because I want to know who am I going to war with every day. When the heat is on, who is this person outside of just being at work and saying what’s up?”
Odell Beckham Jr

Saturday’s quiz
Who was coach of the Golden State Warriors before Steve Kerr?

Friday’s quiz
Before the Astros were the Astros, they were the Houston Colt 45’s.

Thursday’s quiz
Steve Spurrier coached the Washington Redskins in 2002-03.

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Saturday’s List of 13: College football trends on non-top 13 games

13) Northern Illinois won its last six games with Ball State, winning last three visits to Muncie by 7-14-12 points; under Carey, Huskies are 13-6 as road favorites. Ball State is 2-6 in its last eight games as home underdogs.

12) Road team won last four Old Dominion-Florida Atlantic games; Monarchs won 42-24/31-28 in last two visits to FAU. Monarchs are 4-9 in last 15 games as road underdogs- their last three games went over. FAU is 0-4 vs spread this year, but is 6-2 in last eight games as home faves.

11) Michigan won its last three games with Maryland by combined score of 122-13; Terrapins are 15-11 in last 26 games as road underdogs. Under Harbaugh, Wolverines are 11-11 as home favorites, 14-14 as double digit favorites.

10) Cincinnati won its last two games with Tulane, 17-16/38-14; both of those games were in New Orleans. Bearcats are 1-6 vs spread in last seven games as home favorites- their last three games stayed under. Under Fritz, Green Wave is 4-6 as road underdogs.

9) Western Michigan won its last four games with Eastern Michigan, taking last two here, 45-31/51-7. Eagles are 12-2 in last 14 games as road underdogs- they’re 0-6 SU in last six OT games. Average total in Western’s I-A games: 69.3.

8) Central Michigan won last two games with Buffalo, 51-14/20-14; Chippewas are 4-3 as home underdogs under Bonamego. Under Leopold, Buffalo is 11-9-1 coming off a loss; their last four games went over. Bulls are 2-3 in last five games as road favorites.

7) Akron won four of last five games with Miami, winning last two here, 35-13/29-19. Zips are 8-14-2 vs spread in last 24 home games. Under Martin, Miami is 13-8 as road underdogs; they were outgained 562-349 in a 40-39 loss to Western Michigan last week.

6) Road team won both Illinois-Rutgers Big 14 meetings; Illini won 24-7 in last visit here. Since ’14, Illinois is 2-0 as road favorite; under Smith, they’re 5-5 vs spread on road, but in their last two games, Illini allowed total of 1,217 yards. Rutgers gave up 149 points in its last three games.

5) Boise State won its last two games with San Diego State, 38-29/31-14; Broncos are just 3-14 vs spread in last 17 games as home favorites- they’re 15-20 in last 35 games when laying 10+ points. Under Rocky Long, Aztecs are 9-8 vs spread as road underdogs.

4) Under MacIntyre, Colorado is 13-5 as home favorites; they’re 6-3 last nine times they laid less than 10 points. Arizona State won five of its last six games with Colorado; they’re 3-1-1 in last five games as road dogs, but 7-17-1 in last 25 games as single digit underdogs.

3) UCLA is 0-4 this season, with last three losses by 22+ points each; since ’14, Bruins are 0-5 as home underdogs. Under Petersen, Washington is 9-6 as road favorites; there I-A road wins this season are by 14-7 points. UCLA allowed 460 yds/game in its last three games.

2) Arizona won its last two games with Cal Bears, 49-45/45-44; Wildcats are 0-2 at home vs I-A teams, losing by 5-4 points. Since ’12, Arizona is 9-7 as home underdogs. California is 2-6-1 in its last nine games as road favorites; they lost last two visits here by total of five points.

1) UNLV has QB injury issues; Rogers has boot on left foot. Backup Gilliam is 0-1 passing; played in JC LY after red-shirting at Cal in ’16. UNLV is 4-7 in its last 11 games as home faves. New Mexico lost 52-43 at home to Liberty LW; they’re 15-10 in last 25 games as road underdogs.

[StarDust Bum]

wild card/division/championship series/world series /record and best bets:


Date w-l-t % units record

10/05/2018 4-4-0 50.00% -0.50
10/04/2018 2-1-0 66.67% +5.00
10/03/2018 1-1-0 50.00% +0
10/01/2018 2-1-1 66.67% +5.85

total................9-7-1........56.25%.....+10.35


best bets:................ats.....................units ..................o/u..................units............days total


10/05/2018...............0 - 3....................-15.00.................3 - 1..................+9.50.............-5.50
10/04/2018...............0 - 1.....................-5.00..................2 - 0.................+10.00...........+5.00
10/03/2018...............0 - 1.....................-5.00..................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+0.00
10/01/2018...............1 - 1....................+5.85..................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+10.85

total.........................1 - 6....................-19.15.................7 - 1.................+29.50...........+10.35


note: As in the regular season i only play dogs and totals.......good luck all !!

[StarDust Bum]

MLB
Dunkel

Saturday, October 6

Cleveland @ Houston

Game 951-952
October 6, 2018 @ 4:35 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Cleveland
(Carrasco) 15.047
Houston
(Cole) 16.897
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Houston
by 2
6
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Houston
-150
7
Dunkel Pick:
Houston
(-150); Under

NY Yankees @ Boston

Game 953-954
October 6, 2018 @ 8:15 pm

Dunkel Rating:
NY Yankees
(Tanaka) 18.548
Boston
(Price) 14.624
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
NY Yankees
by 4
12
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Boston
-115
9
Dunkel Pick:
NY Yankees
(-105); Over

[StarDust Bum]

MLB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Saturday, October 6

American League
New York (101-63) @ Boston (109-54) (Boston leads series, 1-0)
Tanaka is 0-1, 10.13 in his last two starts; his last four starts went over. He is 1-0, 7.58 in four starts vs Boston this year, with average total of 14.5 in those games. Team in his starts: 16-11, 10-5 road Tanaka is 2-2, 1.44 in four postseason starts.
5-inning record: 16-6-5 Allowed run in 1st inning: 10-27

Price is 2-8, 5.03 in 17 career postseason games (9 starts). He is 4-0, 2.48 in his last six home starts. Over is 4-1 in his last five starts overall. Team in his starts: 18-9, 8-4 home Price is 0-3, 11.74 in four starts vs New York this season.
5-inning record: 16-5-6 Allowed run in 1st inning: 6-27

New York is 10-5 in its last 15 games, 5-3 in last eight road games. Red Sox are 4-5 in their last nine games; Boston is 11-9 vs New York this season; 8-3 at home, 3-6 in the Bronx.

New York is in playoffs for third time in last six years; they haven’t been to a World Series since 2009. Red Sox are in playoffs for third year in row; they won World Series in 2013. Both managers here are rookie managers.

Indians (91-72) @ Astros (104-59) Astros lead series, 1-0)
Carrasco is 1-2, 2.90 in his last five starts (under 4-1). He is 1-1, 5.40 vs Houston this year. Team in his starts: 18-13, 9-7 road Carrasco threw 5.2 scoreless innings in his only career playoff start.
5-inning record: 16-9-6 Allowed run in 1st inning: 8-31

Cole is 4-0, 3.53 in his last six starts; over is 6-2 in his last eight. Cole allowed three runs in seven IP (112 PT) vs Indians May 27. Team in his starts: 21-13, 7-11 home Cole is 1-2, 3.94 in three postseason starts.
5-inning record: 22-6-6 Allowed run in 1st inning: 7-34

Astros are 4-3 vs Cleveland this year; Indians are 1-3 in this ballpark- they’re in playoffs for 3rd year in row. Tribe hasn’t won World Series since 1948, but Francona won two WS titles with the Red Sox. Cleveland won a terrible AL Central; they won six of last ten games, are 6-8 in their last 14 road games.

Astros won World Series LY; they’re in playoffs for third time in four years. Houston won nine of its last eleven games.

______________________________

Teams’ records in first five innings:
Team (road-home-total)- thru 9/18
Boston 37-28-14……47-20-7……..84-48
Clev 30-30-14……46-21-10……..76-51
Astros 41-20-15……41-21-15…….82-41
NYY 34-24-15……44-25-8………78-48

%age of times teams score in first inning (road/home/total- 9/18)
Boston 19-76……29-74………47
Clev 20-73…….31-76…….51
Astros 21-75…..…18-76………39
NYY 18-74……..31-76………49

[StarDust Bum]

MLB

Saturday, October 6

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
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Cleveland Indians
Cleveland is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Cleveland's last 6 games
Cleveland is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Cleveland's last 6 games on the road
Cleveland is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Houston
Cleveland is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Houston
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Cleveland's last 5 games when playing Houston
Houston Astros
Houston is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
Houston is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Houston's last 8 games
Houston is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games at home
Houston is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Houston's last 5 games at home
Houston is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Cleveland
Houston is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Cleveland
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Houston's last 5 games when playing Cleveland


New York Yankees
NY Yankees is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games
NY Yankees is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of NY Yankees's last 5 games
NY Yankees is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of NY Yankees's last 5 games on the road
NY Yankees is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Boston
The total has gone OVER in 5 of NY Yankees's last 5 games when playing Boston
NY Yankees is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Boston
NY Yankees is 2-7 SU in its last 9 games when playing on the road against Boston
The total has gone OVER in 4 of NY Yankees's last 5 games when playing on the road against Boston
Boston Red Sox
Boston is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Boston's last 5 games
Boston is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Boston is 10-4 SU in its last 14 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Boston's last 5 games at home
Boston is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing NY Yankees
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Boston's last 5 games when playing NY Yankees
Boston is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against NY Yankees
Boston is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games when playing at home against NY Yankees
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Boston's last 5 games when playing at home against NY Yankees

[StarDust Bum]

wild card/division/championship series/world series /record and best bets:


Date w-l-t % units record

10/05/2018 4-4-0 50.00% -0.50
10/04/2018 2-1-0 66.67% +5.00
10/03/2018 1-1-0 50.00% +0
10/01/2018 2-1-1 66.67% +5.85

total................9-7-1........56.25%.....+10.35


best bets:................ats.....................units ..................o/u..................units............days total


10/05/2018...............0 - 3....................-15.00.................3 - 1..................+9.50.............-5.50
10/04/2018...............0 - 1.....................-5.00..................2 - 0.................+10.00...........+5.00
10/03/2018...............0 - 1.....................-5.00..................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+0.00
10/01/2018...............1 - 1....................+5.85..................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+10.85

total.........................1 - 6....................-19.15.................7 - 1.................+29.50...........+10.35


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


SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

CLE at HOU 04:37 PM
HOU -161
O 7.0

NYY at BOS 08:15 PM
NYY +101
U 9.0

[StarDust Bum]

Miller stumbles, Indians fall into 2-0 ALDS hole vs Astros
October 6, 2018
By The Associated Press

HOUSTON (AP) - Two Octobers after sparking a reliever revolution, Andrew Miller came up empty.

Miller failed to get an out in relief of starter Carlos Carrasco, allowing a go-ahead double to Marwin Gonzalez as the Cleveland Indians lost to Houston 3-1 Saturday and fell into a 2-0 AL Division Series deficit.

"I wasn't good," Miller said. "I wasn't effective."

Miller's ineffectual outing would have been a stunner two years ago, when manager Terry Francona leaned on him for as many as eight outs at a time while Cleveland played all the way to Game 7 of the World Series. It was game-changing when Francona called on Miller as early as the fifth inning that fall, but such aggressive bullpen management has become common around the majors since.

Miller hasn't been the same this year, a season that included three stints on the disabled list.

Cleveland was clinging to a 1-0 lead with two on and one out in the sixth when Francona called on Miller. Gonzalez immediately drove a two-run double to deep right field.

"With a one-run lead, and with Gonzalez coming up the way he had swung the bat against him prior and Andrew's history, I felt really good about it," manager Terry Francona said. "Didn't work out the way we obviously planned."

Miller then walked Carlos Correa, let both runners advance on a wild pitch and intentionally walked Tyler White before Francona came for the ball.

"It's my job to get through that inning. I didn't do it," Miller said. "That's what it boils down to. I got ahead, and then I didn't get a fastball where I wanted to, and everything kind of spiraled from there. Not a good job, poor execution."

Miller had only allowed one previous inherited runner to score in his postseason career, when David Ortiz brought in Dustin Pedroia with a sacrifice fly for Boston during Game 3 of the 2016 AL Division Series. Cleveland won that game 4-3.

The lanky lefty had a 4.24 ERA this season, his highest since a 5.54 mark mostly as a starting pitcher for Boston in 2011. He was sharper down the stretch until getting hit around by the last-place Kansas City in his last regular-season appearance.

"It's frustrating," Miller said. "I don't know about the last couple appearances. Those were a week ago. I felt like I was throwing the ball well coming into this."

Francona's other option in that spot was right-hander Trevor Bauer, an AL Cy Young Award contender as a starter before a line drive broke a bone in his right leg in August.

Francona said he didn't consider bringing in Bauer instead of Miller for Carrasco.

"We wanted Andrew," he said. "That's what we wanted right there."

Bauer looked sharp in three abbreviated outings at the end of the regular season, and Francona had said Bauer could be a Miller-like long-relief option this October.

That hasn't worked out, either. Bauer entered in the seventh inning of the opening 7-2 loss and allowed an RBI single to Bregman, as well as a double to Yuli Gurriel. Bauer then relieved Miller on Saturday and pitched out of a bases-loaded jam before allowing a solo homer to Bregman in the next inning.

Francona is running out of reliable options.

Longtime closer Cody Allen allowed Martin Maldonado's homer in Game 1, and Dan Otero gave up a run in the eighth inning of that game. On Saturday, closer Brad Hand allowed two baserunners before pitching out of the eighth. Only sidearmer Adam Cimber has managed to avoid trouble through two games.

The bullpen was an issue all season, ranking 25th in the majors with a 4.60 ERA. Cleveland still cruised to its third straight AL Central title largely by leaning on its overpowering starting rotation; its relievers accounted for the fewest innings in the majors.

Yet Francona was quick to yank Carrasco, after 77 pitches.

Facing elimination in Game 3 on Monday, the Indians will be hoping for more from Mike Clevinger. Otherwise, this October may be a short one for the 2016 AL champs.


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


Sanchez, Judge power Yankees past Red Sox 6-2 to even ALDS
October 6, 2018

BOSTON (AP) Gary Sanchez homered twice, Aaron Judge also hit a tape-measure shot and Masahiro Tanaka pitched the New York Yankees past the Boston Red Sox 6-2 on Saturday night to tie their AL Division Series at one game apiece.

Home runs by Judge and Sanchez helped chase David Price after only five outs. Sanchez's second homer padded the lead, a three-run shot that was projected at 479 feet.

One night after Chris Sale earned his first career playoff victory, Price failed in his 10th try to win a postseason start and was booed off the field by a sold-out Fenway Park crowd hoping to see the AL East champions protect the home-field advantage they earned with a franchise-record 108 regular-season wins.

Instead, the wild-card Yankees will have a chance to advance to the AL Championship Series with victories at home, where they are 7-0 over the past two postseasons, in Games 3 and 4 on Monday and Tuesday nights.

[StarDust Bum]

David Price flops again in postseason
October 6, 2018
By The Associated Press

BOSTON (AP) David Price flopped again in the postseason. And against the Yankees.

Price lasted just 1 2/3 innings in Boston's 6-2 loss on Saturday night, giving up three runs and three hits, including home runs to Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez that cleared the Green Monster.

He dropped to 0-9 in 10 postseason starts. Price's postseason ERA rose to 5.38, including 6.03 as a starter, as New York evened the best-of-five series 1-1.

''Just another game. Don't treat it any differently than any other game,'' he said of his mindset on Thursday. ''I just don't have an answer for you guys. I've been asked that quite a while now. I can't really put my finger on it.''

Price trudged off the field to a chorus of boos from the Red Sox fans who had cheered him when he took the mound just an inning prior.

It was the shortest of Price's 10 postseason starts.

Of 70 pitchers with at least 10 career postseason starts, only Price doesn't have a victory.

Sanchez's home run made him 7 for 14 with six long balls against Price, who has allowed 11 homers in 17 1/3 innings against the Yankees in five starts this year.

In the third season of a $217 million, seven-year contract, Price has never seemed completely comfortable in front of Fenway Park's demanding fans. He has the right to void the remainder of his contract after the World Series and become a free agent again, forfeiting $127 million in guaranteed money.

When asked on Thursday if getting his first victory might endear him the Boston's fans, Price insisted it wasn't something he dwelled on.

''If I lose the entire playoffs and we win a World Series, I'll take that. That's what I'm here for,'' Price said. ''I don't want this to be about me and me not winning.''

Whether he likes it or not, it will continue to be.

[StarDust Bum]

Boston's Moreland leaves ALDS game with apparent leg injury
October 6, 2018
By The Associated Press

BOSTON (AP) Red Sox first baseman Mitch Moreland was pulled from Game 2 of Boston's AL Division Series against the Yankees after apparently injuring his right leg while running the bases.

Moreland scored on Ian Kinsler's double in the seventh inning Saturday night to pull the Red Sox within 6-2, but he grabbed at his hamstring between third base and home.

Moreland was replaced at first base by Steve Pearce in the eighth inning.

[StarDust Bum]

LEADING OFF: Newcomb subs in for Braves, Rockies head home
October 6, 2018
By The Associated Press

A look at what's happening around the majors Sunday:

2-0 CHANGEUP

Sean Newcomb will start Game 3 of the Braves' NL Division Series against the Dodgers instead of Kevin Gausman. With Atlanta trailing 2-0 in the best-of-five series, manager Brian Snitker made the swap Saturday. The 25-year-old Newcomb came within a strike of throwing a no-hitter against the Dodgers at home on July 29, and also threw two scoreless innings in relief in the series opener Thursday.

''We need to win,'' Snitker said. ''Not that Gausman doesn't give us that opportunity. We like how Newcomb matches up with them and the success that he's had against the Dodgers this year.''

Rookie right-hander Walker Buehler is expected to start for Los Angeles. He allowed one hit in 6 2/3 scoreless innings Monday during the 5-2 win over Colorado in the NL West tiebreaker and finished 8-5 with a 2.62 ERA.

COMING TO COORS

The Rockies hope the thin mountain air in Denver might help them solve Milwaukee's pitchers. Colorado is facing elimination in its NL Division Series against the Brewers. It has scored just six runs in four games on the road since slugging five homers in a 12-0 victory over Washington last Sunday.

The Rockies ranked 20th in runs on the road (335) and 29th in batting average (.225), but as usual, they're a different club at home with 445 runs and a .287 average.

Game 3 features a matchup of contrasting pitchers. Milwaukee's Wade Miley gets by more with sneakiness than speed. The left-hander is 3-1 with a 4.76 ERA in five career games at Coors Field. Colorado will hand the ball to German Marquez, a right-hander who throws heat and had a team-record 230 strikeouts.

BREATHER FOR RELIEVERS

Andrew Miller and Cleveland's bullpen get a day to rest and recover following yet another rocky outing. Miller allowed a go-ahead, two-run double in relief of starter Carlos Carrasco and failed to get an out in a 3-1 loss to Houston on Saturday.

The Astros can sweep their ALDS in Game 3 on Monday. In the meantime, Miller and company get a day to correct a season's worth of woes. The Indians' 4.60 bullpen ERA ranked 25th in the majors this season, and Miller was particularly ineffective amid three DL stints. Before Marwin Gonzalez's two-run double Saturday, Miller had allowed just one inherited runner to score in his postseason career.

[StarDust Bum]

wild card/division/championship series/world series /record and best bets:


Date w-l-t % units record

10/06/2018 3-1-0 75.00% +9.55
10/05/2018 4-4-0 50.00% -0.50
10/04/2018 2-1-0 66.67% +5.00
10/03/2018 1-1-0 50.00% +0
10/01/2018 2-1-1 66.67% +5.85

total................12-8-1.......60.00%.....+19.90


best bets:................ats.....................units ..................o/u..................units............days total

10/06/2018...............1 - 0....................+5.05..................1 - 1..................-0.50.............+4.55
10/05/2018...............0 - 3....................-15.00.................3 - 1..................+9.50.............-5.50
10/04/2018...............0 - 1.....................-5.00..................2 - 0.................+10.00...........+5.00
10/03/2018...............0 - 1.....................-5.00..................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+0.00
10/01/2018...............1 - 1....................+5.85..................1 - 0.................+5.00.............+10.85

total.........................2 - 6....................-14.10.................8 - 2.................+29.00...........+14.90

[StarDust Bum]

Armadillo: Sunday's six-pack

Top 6 picks in Week 5 of Westgate SuperBook NFL handicapping contest (3,123 entries)

1) Ravens, -3 (1,014)

2) Rams -7 (873)

3) Titans -3.5 (811)

4) Cardinals +4 (759)

5) Redskins +6.5 (757)

6) Broncos +1 (712)

Season record: 12-10-2

**********

Armadillo: Sunday's List of 13: Wrapping up a college football Saturday

13) Texas 48, Oklahoma 45— Sooners were -3 in turnovers, trailed 45-24 with 9:00 left in game, but rallied to tie game before Texas won it with 40-yard FG with 0:09 left. Total yardage was 532-501 Oklahoma, but the there turnovers sunk them.

My question is this: Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray can also play next year for the Sooners, but he’s signed to play minor league ball for the Oakland A’s. As good a football player as Murray is, why would he give up his last year of college and a potential pro career? To me, Murray is a lot like Michael Vick as a QB— I’m an A’s fan, I hope he gives up football, but…….

12) Miami 28, Florida State 27— Seminoles led 27-7 with 5:00 left in third quarter, but Miami scored two TD’s within 0:42 late in third quarter and pulled out a dramatic win, dropping FSU to 3-3 this season, 1-3 in ACC games.

Neither team completed more than half their passes- they combined to convert only 10-34 on third down. Total yardage was 306-200, Miami; FSU is 8-9 in its last 17 games overall.

11) Iowa State 48, Oklahoma State 42— Loudest people in the Golden Nugget sportsbook this afternoon were three Cyclone fans who were very….enthusiastic. Freshman QB Brock Purdy was 18-23 passing for 315 yards and four TD’s. Iowa State had 30 points at halftime.

10) Florida 27, LSU 19— Wonder how many SEC head coaches went to HS in New Hampshire and went to college at D-III Ursinus. Dan Mullen is a good coach; his teams play sound football and Florida is lucky to have him. Mullen was Alex Smith’s QB coach at Utah, under Urban Meyer.

9) Pitt 44, Syracuse 37 OT— Kicker for Syracuse made a 54-yard FG on a wet field at Heinz Field (NFL kickers have trouble kicking there) to give the Orange a 37-34 lead, but Pitt tied it on a 45-yard FG with 0:09 left, then won in OT. There was a 75-minute rain delay in this game.

Pitt’s kicker made 54 and 55-yard FG’s, too. Second straight brutal loss for Syracuse, which got beat by Clemson’s 3rd-string QB 27-23 last week.

8) Colorado 28, Arizona State 21— Buffaloes are 5-0 for first time since 1998. Colorado was 8-16 on third down, 2-2 on fourth down.

Early in 4th quarter, with score 28-21, ASU had 4th-and-goal from the 3-yard line, but instead of kicking the easy FG and getting closer, Sun Devils went for it, failed and never came close to scoring again. Herm Edwards isn’t a great game manager.

7) Upsets of the Day:
— San Diego State (+14) 19, Boise State 13
— Northwestern (+10) 29, Michigan State 19
— New Mexico (+9) 50, UNLV 14
— Iowa State (+9) 48, Oklahoma State 42
— UAB (+8.5) 28, Louisiana Tech 7

6) NC State 28, Boston College 23— Bad beat if you had the Wolfpack, -5.5. NC State led 28-3 with 2:00 left in third quarter- BC covered spread on a blocked punt with 3:33 left in the game.

Yardage was 533-318, NC State; Wolfpack was 10-15 on third down, BC was 1-10.

5) Baylor 37, Kansas State 34— Bears kicked FG with 0:08 left for the win; game was 20-14 after third quarter, but teams combined for 37 points in 4th quarter to put game over total.

Charlie Brewer is Baylor’s QB; both his dad and grandfather played QB for Texas. Think he’ll be fired up when Baylor plays the Longhorns?

4) Western Michigan 27, Eastern Michigan 24— Eagles lose by three points for third week in a row; they’re 14-2-1 vs spread in last 17 games as road underdogs. 16 of EMU’s last 31 games were decided by 5 or fewer points; Eagles are 7-9 SU in those games.

3) San Diego State 19, Boise State 13— Boise is now 3-15 vs spread in last 18 games as a home favorites. Aztecs won despite gaining only 267 yards with only nine first downs.

2) South Carolina 37, Missouri 35— Tigers had gone ahead on a 57-yard FG with 1:18 left, but Gamecocks got walk-off winner, a 33-yard FG with 0:02 left. Mizzou ran ball for 286 yards on a rainy day in South Carolina; there was a 76-minute lightning delay with only 2:42 left in the game- the 57-yard FG was kicked after the delay.

Carolina backup QB, senior Michael Scarnecchia threw for 249 yards, three TD’s in his first college start. Gamecocks were down 23-14 at halftime.

1) Texas A&M 20, Kentucky 14 OT— Wildcats missed a 43-yard FG short in OT— ball hit the crossbar, then Aggies scored TD to hand Kentucky its first loss of season- Kentucky had tied game with a defensive TD with 4:21 left.

A&M outgained Kentucky 390-178, held Wildcats to only 8 first downs.