Announcement

**StarDust Bum** · 10-17-2019, 01:14 PM

917HOUSTON -918 NY YANKEES
NY YANKEES are 22-6 SU (18.3 Units) vs. teams outscoring opp by 1 or more runs/game on the season in the current season.

MLB
Dunkel

Thursday, October 17

Houston @ NY Yankees

Game 917-918
October 17, 2019 @ 8:08 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Houston
(Greinke) 17.504
NY Yankees
(Tanaka) 16.443
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Houston
by 1
11
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
NY Yankees
-135
8 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Houston
(+115); Over

MLB

Thursday, October 17

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

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 UNDER in 4 of NY Yankees's last 5 games
NY Yankees is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games at home
NY Yankees is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of NY Yankees's last 15 games at home
NY Yankees is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Houston
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of NY Yankees's last 6 games when playing Houston
NY Yankees is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 games when playing at home against Houston
NY Yankees is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games when playing at home against Houston
Houston Astros
Houston is 15-7 ATS in its last 22 games
Houston is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
Houston is 17-5 SU in its last 22 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Houston's last 5 games
Houston is 9-3 ATS in its last 12 games on the road
Houston is 9-3 SU in its last 12 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Houston's last 16 games on the road
Houston is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing NY Yankees
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Houston's last 6 games when playing NY Yankees
Houston is 3-8 ATS in its last 11 games when playing on the road against NY Yankees
Houston is 3-8 SU in its last 11 games when playing on the road against NY Yankees

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

MLB
Long Sheet

Thursday, October 17

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

HOUSTON (112 - 58) at NY YANKEES (107 - 61) - 8:08 PM
ZACK GREINKE (R) vs. MASAHIRO TANAKA (R)
Top Trends for this game.
HOUSTON is 46-36 (-14.0 Units) against the money line in road games this season.
HOUSTON is 32-26 (-9.1 Units) against the money line in road games in night games this season.
HOUSTON is 72-47 (-9.9 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
HOUSTON is 93-74 (-19.1 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
GREINKE is 17-21 (-12.3 Units) against the money line after a win over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
NY YANKEES are 107-61 (+16.2 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
NY YANKEES are 25-6 (+15.7 Units) against the money line as a home favorite of -125 to -175 this season.
NY YANKEES are 59-25 (+14.1 Units) against the money line in home games this season.
NY YANKEES are 42-13 (+17.8 Units) against the money line in home games against right-handed starters this season.
NY YANKEES are 22-4 (+14.5 Units) against the money line in home games after a loss this season.
NY YANKEES are 49-29 (+19.9 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
HOUSTON is 20-4 (+13.0 Units) against the money line in road games when playing with a day off over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
HOUSTON is 6-4 (+1.5 Units) against NY YANKEES this season
5 of 10 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=-0.6 Units, Under=-0.3 Units)

ZACK GREINKE vs. NY YANKEES since 1997
GREINKE is 4-5 when starting against NY YANKEES with an ERA of 4.52 and a WHIP of 1.276.
His team's record is 5-8 (-2.8 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 8-4. (+3.7 units)

MASAHIRO TANAKA vs. HOUSTON since 1997
TANAKA is 2-4 when starting against HOUSTON with an ERA of 4.55 and a WHIP of 1.146.
His team's record is 5-6 (-0.8 units) in these starts. The OVER is 5-6. (-1.6 units)

**StarDust Bum** · 10-17-2019, 01:16 PM

**StarDust Bum** · 10-17-2019, 01:18 PM

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

HOU at NYY 07:08 PM

HOU +114

U 8.5

**StarDust Bum** · 10-18-2019, 02:23 AM

Astros power past Yanks for 3-1 lead
October 17, 2019
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NEW YORK (AP) George Springer and Carlos Correa each hit three-run homers and the Houston Astros got another wild ace off the hook to beat the sloppy New York Yankees 8-3 Thursday night and reach the cusp of a second World Series visit in three years.

The Astros lead the AL Championship Series 3-1, putting the 2017 World Series winners on the brink of a showdown with the NL champion Washington Nationals.

Houston still has Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole queued up for this series, and the Yankees will have to beat both to survive. Verlander will start Game 5 on Friday night against James Paxton.

New York worked starter Zack Greinke hard during a 28-pitch first inning, but just like with Cole in Game 3, the clutch hit never came. Many fans had left Yankee Stadium by the time it ended shortly before 12:30 a.m.

The Yankees are at risk of failing to make the World Series for an entire decade for the first time since the 1910s.

The 103-win Yankees are 0 for 13 with runners in scoring position the past two games. Didn't help when they committed four errors in Game 4, most ever for the club in a home postseason game.

Springer lined an errant splitter from playoff star Masahiro Tanaka in the third inning for his homer, and Correa battered Chad Green's fastball when New York turned to its vaunted bullpen. Those All-Star sluggers have combined for just five hits in the series, but four have been homers.

Tanaka allowed four runs - three earned - for New York, his most in eight postseason starts.

CC Sabathia pitched in relief for New York but was pulled with an injury during the eighth inning. Planning to retire after the season, an emotional Sabathia covered his face with his glove as he left the field for perhaps the final time. Fans shouted his name as he walked off, and Cole and Springer were among the Houston players who stood and clapped for the 39-year-old.

Gary Sanchez ended a lengthy postseason slide with a two-run homer, but a reshuffled Yankees lineup - still without injured Giancarlo Stanton - again couldn't string together its damage.

During warmups, a buzzing Bronx crowd jeered Greinke with chants of ''Donald! Donald!'' - his given first name - and the veteran right-hander wobbled early. He walked three in the first inning for the first time since April 2007, including a four-pitch, bases-loaded free pass to Brett Gardner, and fell into a quick 1-0 hole.

Greinke struggled especially to locate his fastball before blowing one past Sanchez during a three-pitch K to end the inning. He sharpened up and retired nine straight before the Yankees pushed him out of the game while loading the bases in the fifth.

Ryan Pressly struck out Gleyber Torres - on a tight check swing - and Edwin Encarnacion to escape.

Greinke was charged with just one run, working around four walks against the patient-but-punchless Yankees. Cole pitched seven scoreless innings despite five walks in Game 3.

Tanaka helped shut out the Astros in Game 1 but tripped up against Springer in the rematch. The Japanese right-hander left one of his signature splitters in the middle of the plate, and Springer smoked a low line drive that cleared the fence in left-center.

Springer is batting .132 in these playoffs, slumping just like he did in 2017 before breaking out to win World Series MVP. This homer was his 13th in the postseason, snapping a tie with teammate Jose Altuve for the club record.

The Astros missed a chance to pile on that same inning. Altuve and Michael Brantley followed Springer's drive with two hits and a nifty baserunning play, putting runners at second and third with one out. Brantley was held at third on a potential sacrifice fly hit to right fielder Aaron Judge, and Tanaka got struggling Yordan Alvarez on a popup to end that threat.

Correa gave Houston its big cushion in the sixth, making it 6-1 with his drive. At 25 years, 25 days, he is the youngest player with 10 postseason home runs, surpassing Albert Pujols.

Correa ended Game 2 with a home run in the 11th inning, and connected again in October after missing a lot of time this year with injuries.

Sanchez snapped a 2-for-23 skid to start this postseason with his two-run homer in the sixth. He reached out for Josh James' 98 mph fastball off the outside edge of the strike zone and pulled it into the seats in left-center.

Otherwise, the AL East champion Yankees looked like they belonged in a lesser league.

Sure-handed first baseman DJ LeMahieu booted two groundballs, Torres also made two errors at second, and reliever Adam Ottavino was pulled before getting an out for the fourth time in seven appearances this postseason.

Hoping to save something in the bullpen after Wednesday's rainout squeezed the rest of the series schedule, manager Aaron Boone used six relievers to cover four innings.

GOOD TRADES

Altuve intentionally ran into a rundown between third and home on Alex Bregman's grounder in the third inning. By giving himself up, Altuve left time for Brantley to sprint from first to third and for Bregman to reach second. Springer executed the same rundown play from third in Game 3 on instructions from manager AJ Hinch.

OVERRULED

Judge, already with more diving catches than home runs this month, added another sprawling grab. He laid out for Brantley's line drive in right-center to end the fifth.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Yankees: Stanton has missed the past three games after straining his right quad in Game 1. He ran on the field before the game, and Boone said he felt better for the first time since getting hurt. Boone said Stanton was available to pinch hit and could be New York's designated hitter Friday.

UP NEXT

Paxton said he watched tape from his Game 2 start and insists he wasn't tipping pitches. Houston grinded him out of the game after 2 1/3 innings. Verlander pitched two-run ball into the seventh, the only damage coming on Judge's two-run homer.

**StarDust Bum** · 10-18-2019, 02:32 AM

SCHEDULE FOR FRIDAY OCTOBER 18, 2019
Time (ET) Away Home Site
7:08 PM Houston Astros New York Yankees Yankee Stadium

SCHEDULE FOR SATURDAY OCTOBER 19, 2019
Time (ET) Away Home Site
8:08 PM New York Yankees Houston Astros Minute Maid Park

SCHEDULE FOR SUNDAY OCTOBER 20, 2019
Time (ET) Away Home Site
8:08 PM New York Yankees Houston Astros Minute Maid Park

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

MLB PLAYOFF'S OPINIONS AND BEST BETS: ALL BASED ON 5 UNITS

DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD.

10/17/2019.......1-1-0.......50.00%........+0.20
10/15/2019..............NO PLAYS...................
10/14/2019.......1-1-0.......50.00%........+0.00
10/13/2019.......0-2-0.........0.00%.......-10.50
10/12/2019.......1-3-0........25.00%......-13.40
10/11/2019.......0-2-0..........0.00%......-11.85
10/10/2019.......0-1-1..........0.00%........-5.00
10/09/2019.......3-1-0.........75.00%......+12.10
10/08/2019.......1-1-0.........50.00%......+4.90
10/07/2019.......3-5-0.........37.50%......-11.25
10/06/2019.......1-1-0.........50.00%........-0.50
10/05/2019.......2-1-0.........66.67%.......+5.00
10/04/2019.......3-3-0.........50.00%........-0.50
10/03/2019.......1-3-0.........25.00%........-9.65
10/02/2019.......1-1-0.........50.00%........-1.35
10/01/2019...... 0-2-0........ 0.00%....... -10.50

Totals............18-28-0........ 39.13%...... -51.80

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

BEST BETS:

DATE........................ATS.............UNITS. ............O/U...............UNITS.............TOTALS

10/17/2019.............1 - 0...........+5.70...............0 - 1.............-5.50...............+0.20
10/15/2019...........................................NO PLAYS............................................. ..
10/14/2019.............0 - 0.......... +0.00...............1 - 0.............+5.00..............+5.00
10/13/2019.............0 - 1............-5.00................0 - 1............-5.50................-10.50
10/12/2019.............0 - 1............-5.00................1 - 1............-0.50................-5.50
10/11/2019.............0 - 1............-6.35................0 - 1............-5.50................-11.85
10/10/2019.............0 - 1............-5.00................0 - 0............+0.00...............-5.00
10/09/2019.............1 - 0............+7.60...............1 - 1............-0.50................+7.10
10/08/2019.............1 - 0............+10.40.............0 - 1............-5.50................+4.90
10/07/2019.............2 - 0............+11.95.............0 - 4.............-22.00..............-10.05
10/06/2019.............0 - 0............+0.00...............1 - 1.............-0.50................-0.50
10/05/2019.............0 - 1.............-5.00...............2 - 0.............+10.00.............+5.00
10/04/2019.............2 - 1.............+3.45..............3 - 1.............+9.50...............+12.95
10/03/2019.............1 - 1.............+1.35..............0 - 2.............-11.00..............-9.65
10/02/2019.............0 - 1..............-6.35..............1 - 0.............+5.00...............-1.35
10/01/2019.............0 - 1..............-5.00..............0 - 1..............-5.50...............-10.50

Totals.....................8 - 9.............+2.75.............10 - 15.............-32.50...............-29.75

**StarDust Bum** · 10-18-2019, 02:34 AM

Friday’s 6-pack

Over/under win totals for the NBA this season:

33.5— Bulls

31.5— Thunder

27.5— Knicks, Grizzlies

26.5— Wizards

24.5— Cavaliers

23.5— Hornets

Quote of the Day
“I don’t have a reputation to defend.”
Gordon Sondland, before he testified to Congress

Friday’s quiz
Which four NBA teams were once in the ABA?

Thursday’s quiz
Last time the NY Knicks were in the NBA Finals was 1998-99; they lost to the Spurs.

Wednesday’s quiz
Nationals’ manager Dave Martinez won a World Series ring as bench coach for the Chicago Cubs.

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

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

13) Chiefs 30, Broncos 6:
— Costly win; star QB Mahomes left in 2nd quarter with an injured knee.
— Word is that Mahomes dislocated his knee; an MRI will show if there was any ligament damage.
— Chiefs broke game open with a defensive TD when they were leading 13-6.

— Denver’s offense stunk; Troy Aikman seemed annoyed with Joe Flacco’s effort.
— Broncos missed an easy FG, failed on a fake punt; not their best night.
— Denver is 13-26 in its last 39 games.

12) Houston 8, New York 3— Astros grab a 3-1 series lead, with Verlander/Cole in line to pitch the next two games.

11) Chiefs’ backup QB is Matt Moore, who is 15-15 as an NFL starter in his 11 years in the NFL, mostly with the Dolphins. He’s started only five games since 2012.

My lasting memory of Moore was on HBO’s Hard Knocks, when he was talking to then-rookie QB Ryan Tannehill, who said he didn’t know who the other three teams in the AFC East were.

“How can you not know that?!?!” Moore was as incredulous as I was.

10) How would you like to be Gerrit Cole’s agent? Cole hasn’t lost a game since May 22; Astros won his last 16 starts and after the World Series Cole will be a free agent. He earned $13.5M this year, figures to more than double that going forward. 3% (agents’ fee) of $27M is $810,000.

9) Next two years, by the way, Astros are on the hook with Zack Greinke at $35M a year, and Justin Verlander at $33M a year. 3% of $35M is $1.05M.

8) UCLA 34, Stanford 16— Cardinals fall to 3-4; they’re down to their #3 QB and are in danger of their first losing season since 2008.

7) QB Brock Osweiler retired from the NFL this week, with a career record of 15-15 and career earnings of $41,396,679. Being a backup QB is profitable work.

6) In September, state of Pennsylvania took in $194.5M in sports bets, wth $19.3M in revenue, with 81.2% of the bets via online/mobile wagers.

5) Duke’s basketball team is allergic to true road games, but they seem to like Madison Square Garden in NYC:
Nov 5-6: Duke vs. Kansas…….Michigan State vs. Kentucky
Nov 21-22: Duke vs Cal……..Georgetown vs Texas

4) Mets told Brooklyn Cyclones’ manager Edgardo Alfonzo that his contract won’t be renewed, even though he won the New York-Penn League championship this season. Go figure.

3) Atlantic 14, Mountain West will have a challenge series next (2020-21) basketball season, which should help their non-conference schedules; MW recently had the same thing with the MVC. Hopefully some of the games will find their way to TV (CBS College Sports?)

2) Sill trying to process that John Beilein is coaching the Cleveland Cavaliers; would love to know how guys like him, Billy Donovan, Brad Stevens compare coaching NBA with college ball.

1) Personal update; my eye operation will be Wednesday, which means that this site will get its first extended downtime since 2001 for a week or so, starting next week.

**StarDust Bum** · 10-18-2019, 01:05 PM

MLB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Friday, October 18

American League
Astros (3-1) @ New York
Verlander is 4-1, 2.88 in his last six starts; he is 8-7, 3.55 in 22 starts vs NYY, and is 14-8, 3.18 in in 28 playoff games (27 starts).

Paxton is 4-0, 2.81 in his last seven starts; he is 8-4, 3.24 in 14 starts vs Houston, and is 0-0, 5.14 in two playoff starts.

Astros are in ALCS for third year in a row; they won 2017 World Series. Astros won their last three games in this series, can win the AL title tonight.

New York lost the ALCS to Houston two years ago; they haven’t been in a World Series since 2009.

MLB

Friday, October 18

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

New York Yankees
NY Yankees is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of NY Yankees's last 5 games
NY Yankees is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games at home
NY Yankees is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of NY Yankees's last 5 games at home
NY Yankees is 17-8 ATS in its last 25 games when playing Houston
NY Yankees is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Houston
NY Yankees is 8-4 ATS in its last 12 games when playing at home against Houston
NY Yankees is 8-4 SU in its last 12 games when playing at home against Houston
The total has gone OVER in 4 of NY Yankees's last 6 games when playing at home against Houston
Houston Astros
Houston is 16-7 ATS in its last 23 games
Houston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Houston's last 6 games
Houston is 10-3 ATS in its last 13 games on the road
Houston is 10-3 SU in its last 13 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Houston's last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Houston's last 17 games on the road
Houston is 8-17 ATS in its last 25 games when playing NY Yankees
Houston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing NY Yankees
Houston is 4-8 ATS in its last 12 games when playing on the road against NY Yankees
Houston is 4-8 SU in its last 12 games when playing on the road against NY Yankees
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Houston's last 6 games when playing on the road against NY Yankees

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

MLB
Dunkel

Friday, October 18

Houston @ NY Yankees

Game 921-922
October 18, 2019 @ 7:08 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Houston
(Verlander) 17.251
NY Yankees
(Paxton) 15.685
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Houston
by 1 1/2
8
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
NY Yankees
-135
7 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Houston
(+115); Over

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

921HOUSTON -922 NY YANKEES
NY YANKEES are 48-21 SU (29 Units) vs. a starting pitcher with good control (less than 1.75 BB's/start) in the current season.

MLB
Long Sheet

Friday, October 18

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

HOUSTON (113 - 58) at NY YANKEES (107 - 62) - 7:08 PM
JUSTIN VERLANDER (R) vs. JAMES PAXTON (L)
Top Trends for this game.
HOUSTON is 47-36 (-12.8 Units) against the money line in road games this season.
NY YANKEES are 107-62 (+14.9 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
NY YANKEES are 42-14 (+16.5 Units) against the money line in home games against right-handed starters this season.
NY YANKEES are 22-5 (+13.2 Units) against the money line in home games after a loss this season.
NY YANKEES are 49-30 (+18.6 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
HOUSTON is 49-23 (+15.0 Units) against the money line as a road favorite of -125 to -175 over the last 2 seasons.
HOUSTON is 43-13 (+24.2 Units) against the money line in road games against left-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
HOUSTON is 7-4 (+2.7 Units) against NY YANKEES this season
6 of 11 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+0.4 Units)

JUSTIN VERLANDER vs. NY YANKEES since 1997
VERLANDER is 12-7 when starting against NY YANKEES with an ERA of 3.27 and a WHIP of 1.202.
His team's record is 16-13 (+0.8 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 13-14. (-2.6 units)

JAMES PAXTON vs. HOUSTON since 1997
PAXTON is 8-4 when starting against HOUSTON with an ERA of 3.25 and a WHIP of 1.265.
His team's record is 8-7 (+0.9 units) in these starts. The OVER is 6-9. (-4.2 units)

**StarDust Bum** · 10-18-2019, 01:07 PM

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

HOU at NYY 07:08 PM

HOU -145

U 7.5

**StarDust Bum** · 10-18-2019, 01:14 PM

Sabathia dislocated shoulder, big league career over
October 18, 2019
By The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) CC Sabathia's major league career is over.

The 39-year-old left-hander was dropped from the Yankees' AL Championship Series roster on Friday, a day after he dislocated a joint in his pitching shoulder during the eighth inning of New York's Game 4 loss to Houston.

Sabathia was replaced by right-hander Ben Heller. New York trailed 3-1 in the best-of-seven series, and even if the Yankees and advanced Sabathia would not be eligible to return to the active roster.

A six-time All-Star and the 2007 AL Cy Young Award winner with Cleveland, Sabathia finished with a 251-161 regular-season record with 3,093 strikeouts. He announced before the season that this was going to be his last year, and he made four trips to the injured list caused by his balky right knee.

His body gave out on his 20th pitch to the Astros. He walked off the mound toward second, spoke with head athletic trainer Steve Donahue and tried a warmup toss, hoping somehow to push through, but he had to leave.

Even Houston's Gerrit Cole and George Springer joined in the applause as fans gave Sabathia limped off a standing ovation. When he reached the dugout, his face contorted, Sabathia took four steps down toward the clubhouse, then sat near the bottom, his back to the field, as Donahue tried to console him.

''Every single time he went out there, you had to rip the ball or his jersey off to get him off that mound,'' Yankees slugger Aaron Judge said. ''He got everything out of that arm. That's a warrior right there.''

Boone said Sabathia could be replaced on the roster Friday, making him ineligible even should the Yankees come back and advance.

''It stinks,'' reliever Zack Britton said. ''It's heartbreaking to watch him leave the field like that. I know how much pain he was in.''

**StarDust Bum** · 10-19-2019, 02:07 AM

Verlander can't close out Yankees in G5
October 18, 2019
By The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) Justin Verlander watched and waited, hoping Aaron Hicks' drive deep down the right field line would hook foul at the last instant.

When it bonked hard off the bright yellow foul pole for a three-run homer, Verlander crouched beside the mound and simply held up his glove, waiting for a new baseball as the Yankee Stadium crowd roared.

Houston's star pitcher had put his team in an early hole - no doubt about that now. And when the Astros were unable to rally during a 4-1 loss Friday night to New York, their first of three chances to close out this AL Championship Series was gone.

Same as Hicks' shot.

And the one just before that off DJ LeMahieu's bat.

''I was able to settle down,'' Verlander said. ''Too little too late.''

Earlier this season, Verlander playfully waved at Yankees fans as he walked off the mound on the way to a victory. But he was unable to put away New York for good in Game 5, struggling through a four-run first that ate up 29 pitches and marked his worst inning in two-plus years with the Astros.

Houston still headed home with a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven playoff - and one more ace up its sleeve.

October star Gerrit Cole would be ready on full rest if the series goes to a deciding Game 7. Comforting thought for the Astros as they seek a second World Series trip in three years.

To push it that far, the Yankees must win Game 6 on Saturday night at Minute Maid Park, where both teams are planning bullpen games on the mound.

''We have to go and take care of business at home,'' Verlander said.

''I'm extremely confident in our bullpen. Our bullpen's been incredible all season long. Another reason that I really felt I needed to get deep in this ballgame was to save those guys as much as possible going into tomorrow because I knew it was going to be a bullpen day,'' he added.

So the fact that Verlander, the 2017 ALCS MVP against the Yankees, settled into a serious groove and lasted seven innings was a big help in saving the relief corps. He retired 20 of his final 21 batters after Hicks' home run, permitting only a soft single during that stretch, to finish with nine strikeouts and no walks.

''He was incredible after the first,'' manager AJ Hinch said. ''I thought he recovered great and did his best to continue to keep us in the game.''

But the damage was already done.

While fellow aces Cole and Zack Greinke were mostly able to escape first-inning trouble at Yankee Stadium in the previous two games, Verlander wasn't.

And that terrible start prevented him from finishing off the Yankees.

It was similar to the Division Series against the wild-card Rays, when Verlander lost 4-1 on three days' rest at Tampa Bay with an opportunity to end the series. He was on a regular schedule this time - but maybe the eight-time All-Star had trouble fully getting loose at the start in 52-degree weather.

It was the coldest game-time temperature for one of Verlander's starts since it was 50 degrees for Game 1 of the ALCS last year in Boston, according to STATS. He walked four in six innings that time but won 7-2 at Fenway Park.

Verlander also was unable to wrap up the 2017 World Series in Game 6 at Dodger Stadium after a sensational postseason to that point. He pitched well for six innings but lost 3-1 before the Astros took the title the next night.

After the Astros grabbed a 1-0 lead Friday against James Paxton in the top of the first, Verlander gave up four hits to his first five batters - three for extra bases.

LeMahieu hit a leadoff homer to right field on Verlander's second pitch and Hicks fought back from 0-2 to a full count before pulling an 88 mph slider down the line.

''Fastball command wasn't very good, and the slider was just hanging. I just wasn't able to execute really anything,'' Verlander said. ''I thought I could have made some better pitches. I had my opportunities. I was able to get a strikeout and then I had Hicks in the hole. Just wasn't able to execute on anything. I got ahead of him early. Had opportunities to get a strikeout and I hung him a slider 3-2.''

It was the first time in their 405 postseason games that the Yankees homered twice in the first inning.

Verlander, the 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young Award winner, led the majors with 21 wins and 223 innings pitched this season. The last time he gave up four runs in the first was in August 2014 with Detroit against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

''I've had some rough innings before. Turn the page and start from scratch, really. At that point you're hoping and praying that your team can fight and claw back and get you back in the ballgame. But at the same time, especially in the playoffs, especially when you have four games in a row, I'm trying to save our bullpen as much as possible,'' Verlander said.

''Very disappointed in the first and then not so disappointed the rest of it. I was able to at least take away a positive from the last six innings of keeping our bullpen fresh and hopefully that helps us win another ballgame.''

It was the first postseason game in major league history in which both teams scored in the first inning and neither one did so again.

Now, it's back to Houston.

One win needed, two chances left.

**StarDust Bum** · 10-19-2019, 02:20 AM

SCHEDULE FOR SATURDAY OCTOBER 19, 2019
Time (ET) Away Home Site
8:08 PM New York Yankees Houston Astros Minute Maid Park

SCHEDULE FOR SUNDAY OCTOBER 20, 2019
Time (ET) Away Home Site
8:08 PM New York Yankees Houston Astros Minute Maid Park

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

MLB PLAYOFF'S OPINIONS AND BEST BETS: ALL BASED ON 5 UNITS

DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD.

10/18/2019.......1-1-0.......50.00%........-2.25
10/17/2019.......1-1-0.......50.00%........+0.20
10/15/2019..............NO PLAYS...................
10/14/2019.......1-1-0.......50.00%........+0.00
10/13/2019.......0-2-0.........0.00%.......-10.50
10/12/2019.......1-3-0........25.00%......-13.40
10/11/2019.......0-2-0..........0.00%......-11.85
10/10/2019.......0-1-1..........0.00%........-5.00
10/09/2019.......3-1-0.........75.00%......+12.10
10/08/2019.......1-1-0.........50.00%......+4.90
10/07/2019.......3-5-0.........37.50%......-11.25
10/06/2019.......1-1-0.........50.00%........-0.50
10/05/2019.......2-1-0.........66.67%.......+5.00
10/04/2019.......3-3-0.........50.00%........-0.50
10/03/2019.......1-3-0.........25.00%........-9.65
10/02/2019.......1-1-0.........50.00%........-1.35
10/01/2019...... 0-2-0........ 0.00%....... -10.50

Totals............19-29-0........ 39.58%...... -54.05

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

BEST BETS:

DATE........................ATS.............UNITS. ............O/U...............UNITS.............TOTALS

10/18/2019.............0 - 1...........-7.45................1 - 0............+5.00...............-2.45
10/17/2019.............1 - 0...........+5.70...............0 - 1.............-5.50...............+0.20
10/15/2019...........................................NO PLAYS............................................. ..
10/14/2019.............0 - 0.......... +0.00...............1 - 0.............+5.00..............+5.00
10/13/2019.............0 - 1............-5.00................0 - 1............-5.50................-10.50
10/12/2019.............0 - 1............-5.00................1 - 1............-0.50................-5.50
10/11/2019.............0 - 1............-6.35................0 - 1............-5.50................-11.85
10/10/2019.............0 - 1............-5.00................0 - 0............+0.00...............-5.00
10/09/2019.............1 - 0............+7.60...............1 - 1............-0.50................+7.10
10/08/2019.............1 - 0............+10.40.............0 - 1............-5.50................+4.90
10/07/2019.............2 - 0............+11.95.............0 - 4.............-22.00..............-10.05
10/06/2019.............0 - 0............+0.00...............1 - 1.............-0.50................-0.50
10/05/2019.............0 - 1.............-5.00...............2 - 0.............+10.00.............+5.00
10/04/2019.............2 - 1.............+3.45..............3 - 1.............+9.50...............+12.95
10/03/2019.............1 - 1.............+1.35..............0 - 2.............-11.00..............-9.65
10/02/2019.............0 - 1..............-6.35..............1 - 0.............+5.00...............-1.35
10/01/2019.............0 - 1..............-5.00..............0 - 1..............-5.50...............-10.50

Totals.....................8 - 10............-4.70.............11 - 15.............-27.50..............-32.20

**StarDust Bum** · 10-19-2019, 02:25 AM

Saturday’s 6-pack

Over/under win totals for the NBA this season:

48.5– Golden State

47,5— Indiana

46.5— Toronto, Portland, San Antonio

44.5— Miami, Brooklyn

42.5— Orlando

40.5— Dallas

Quote of the Day
“It was insulting, for sure. Once I got cut [on Aug. 31], I could have just come here [to the Jets] and not stayed there and re-sign. When they re-signed me, I was thinking that I was good. Two weeks later, I was gone. So, it’s like, ‘Why did I waste my time?’ Because at the end of the day, it was kind of a waste of time for me.”
Jets’ WR Demaryius Thomas, talking about being traded by the Patriots

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

Friday’s quiz
Pacers, Nuggets, Spurs, Nets are the four NBA teams that were once in the ABA.

Thursday’s quiz
Last time the NY Knicks were in the NBA Finals was 1998-99; they lost to the Spurs.

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

Saturday’s List of 13: Clearing out a cluttered mind…….

13) I’m wondering how many fantasy football leagues there are in this country, with one team in every league now scrambling for a new QB with Patrick Mahomes out for at least three weeks.

Mahomes got relatively good news, with no ligament damage on top of his dislocated kneecap, but he’ll be wearing a brace when he returns to action.

Matt Moore (15-15 as a starter in 11 seasons) is the Chiefs’ new #1 QB; they still have to sign a backup for him.

12) 50 years ago this week, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar made his NBA debut with the Milwaukee Bucks, who had gone 27-55 the year before, their first season in the NBA.

Milwaukee went 56-26 in Jabbar’s rookie year, losing the Eastern Conference final, then went 66-16 the next year and won their only NBA title. Bucks averaged 60.8 wins in Jabbar’s first five seasons; they traded him to the Lakers after a 38-44 season in 1974-75.

Here’s the thing; I think Kareem is the best basketball player ever, but because he played before ESPN existed and because he drifted out of the public eye after he retired, people forget just how dominant a player he was, in high school, college and the NBA.

11) Braves’ star 1B Freddie Freeman had elbow surgery this week, with three fragments taken out of his sore arm, explaining why he struggled late in the season.

10) New York 4, Houston 1— This was the first game in postseason history where both teams scored in the first inning but then didn’t score the rest of the game.

James Paxton allowed 31 first inning runs this year, the most in the majors.

9) Sacramento Kings offered guard Buddy Hield $90M for four years, which he termed “an insult”; turns out he would be less insulted with a 4-year, $110M offer.

The NBA is really profitable, so they won’t miss my $200, but I’m going to pass on the NBA package on DirecTV this season, for the first time in a long time.

I mean, if Hield in indeed insulted by making $22.5M a year, so be it, but keep it to yourself; that kind of attitude, plus guys taking games off when they’re not hurt, turns my stomach.

If that makes me the old man bitching at kids on his lawn, then thats fine, too.

8) Over the last 20 years, former NFL running back Warrick Dunn has donated 173 homes nationwide, thanks to Warrick Dunn Charities as part of its “Home for the Holidays” initiative, which helps single-parent families achieve homeownership. Good for him.

7) Marshall 36, Florida Atlantic 31— Thundering Herd scored TD with 0:36 left to win a wild game in Boca Raton; Knox had 22 carries for 190 yards, 2 TD’s for 4-3 Marshall.

6) Not sure why FOX has John Smoltz as its #1 baseball analyst: he seems to like golf better than baseball. I have four guys here who would be a better choice than Smoltz:
— Ron Darling— Mets’ TV analyst has postseason TV experience.
— Mark Sweeney— Padres’ TV analyst. Younger guy, very smart.
— David Cone— Bronx TV analyst, is smart/funny and would be great on a national stage.
— Bob Brenly— I’m partial to former managers as TV analysts; Brenly is very good.

5) Zion Williamson (knee) has a sore knee, is expected to miss the first few weeks of the NBA season, which has to scare the hell out of Pelicans’ coaches/fans. Williamson sat out a decent amount of Duke’s season LY, which is a bright red flag.

4) Why do some college football teams put the players’ numbers on the side of their helmets? Looks dumb; much prefer having the team’s logo on both sides of the helmet, number on back.

3) Turns out that CC Sabathia threw the last three pitches of his career with a partially separated left shoulder. 251 regular season wins, 10 in playoffs; Sabathia will be in Cooperstown someday.

2) Luxor Casino in Las Vegas extended comedian Carrot Top’s contract for five years, good news for people who like to laugh while on vacation. Carrot Top’s dad worked for NASA, he was an actual rocket scientist.

1) Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook came in the mail Friday, always a good day; this means that college basketball is right around the corner.

**StarDust Bum** · 10-19-2019, 11:53 AM

MLB
Dunkel

Saturday, October 19

NY Yankees @ Houston

Game 923-924
October 19, 2019 @ 8:08 pm

Dunkel Rating:
NY Yankees
(TBD) 17.441
Houston
16.496
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
NY Yankees
by 1
7
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Houston
-150
No Total
Dunkel Pick:
NY Yankees
(+130); N/A

MLB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Saturday, October 19

American League
New York @ Astros (3-2)
Bullpen game.

Bullpen game.

New York lost the ALCS to Houston two years ago; they haven’t been in a World Series since 2009; they lost six of last nine road games overall. Five of their last six games stayed under.

Astros are in ALCS for third year in a row; they won 2017 World Series. Astros won five of their last six home games, can win the AL title tonight. Under is 5-1-1 in their last seven games.

MLB

Saturday, October 19

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

Houston Astros
Houston is 16-8 ATS in its last 24 games
Houston is 18-6 SU in its last 24 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Houston's last 5 games
Houston is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games at home
Houston is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home
Houston is 6-13 ATS in its last 19 games when playing NY Yankees
Houston is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing NY Yankees
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Houston's last 5 games when playing NY Yankees
Houston is 2-7 ATS in its last 9 games when playing at home against NY Yankees
Houston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against NY Yankees
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Houston's last 10 games when playing at home against NY Yankees
New York Yankees
NY Yankees is 6-2 ATS in its last 8 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of NY Yankees's last 6 games
NY Yankees is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
NY Yankees is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of NY Yankees's last 5 games on the road
NY Yankees is 13-6 ATS in its last 19 games when playing Houston
NY Yankees is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Houston
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of NY Yankees's last 5 games when playing Houston
NY Yankees is 7-2 ATS in its last 9 games when playing on the road against Houston
NY Yankees is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Houston
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of NY Yankees's last 10 games when playing on the road against Houston

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

923NY YANKEES -924 HOUSTON
NY YANKEES are 23-7 SU (18.3 Units) vs. teams outscoring opp by 1 or more runs/game on the season in the current season.

MLB
Long Sheet

Saturday, October 19

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

NY YANKEES (108 - 62) at HOUSTON (113 - 59) - 8:08 PM
J.A. HAPP (L) vs. JOSE URQUIDY (R)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
HOUSTON is 7-5 (+1.3 Units) against NY YANKEES this season
6 of 12 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=-0.6 Units, Under=-0.5 Units)

J.A. HAPP vs. HOUSTON since 1997
HAPP is 5-3 when starting against HOUSTON with an ERA of 4.50 and a WHIP of 1.518.
His team's record is 5-5 (+0.8 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 4-6. (-2.6 units)

JOSE URQUIDY vs. NY YANKEES since 1997
No recent starts.

**StarDust Bum** · 10-19-2019, 11:55 AM

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

NYY at HOU 08:08 PM

NYY +130

O 9.0

**StarDust Bum** · 10-20-2019, 02:37 AM

Altuve's HR in 9th helps Astros oust Yanks
October 19, 2019
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HOUSTON (AP) Jose Altuve homered off Aroldis Chapman with two outs in the ninth inning and the Houston Astros outlasted the New York Yankees 6-4 Saturday night to advance to the World Series for the second time in three years.

In a bullpen game with a back-and-forth finish, DJ LeMahieu hit a tying, two-run shot off Astros closer Roberto Osuna in the top of the ninth. Altuve answered with a two-run drive to left-center, setting off a wild celebration at Minute Maid Park and earning himself AL Championship Series MVP.

''Beautiful game,'' Altuve said.

Astros ace Gerrit Cole was waiting to pitch a potential Game 7 on Sunday. Instead, the postseason star - undefeated since May 22 - could be lined up for Game 1 at home against the NL champion Washington Nationals on Tuesday night.

Yuli Gurriel hit a three-run homer in the first inning, and flashy outfield defense helped Houston's relievers defeat the Yankees and their vaunted bullpen.

It almost fell apart in the ninth. Gio Urshela singled off Osuna leading off for his third hit of the game, and LeMahieu put a ball into the first row of seats in right field - inches over the glove of leaping George Springer - to tie it at 4.

Altuve, a 5-foot-6 sparkplug touted as Houston's heart and soul, didn't let this one get away.

''I get asked to describe Jose Altuve all the time,'' manager AJ Hinch said. ''I think MVP is what he is.''

The teams combined to use 14 pitchers in a game that lasted 4 hours, 9 minutes.

Houston's bullpen got a lift from flashy outfield defense. Right fielder Josh Reddick dived for Brett Gardner's liner for the second out of the sixth. An inning later, left fielder Michael Brantley laid out for Aaron Hicks' shallow floater and doubled off Aaron Judge at first.

Gurriel, a holdover from Houston's 2017 championship team, was 1 for 20 to start the ALCS before his drive in the first inning. The shot into the Crawford Boxes was his first connection this postseason.

It's the third time Houston has eliminated New York in the past five postseasons. The Astros won the 2015 wild-card game in the Bronx and beat the Yankees in seven games in the 2017 ALCS before winning their first title.

Washington is seeking its first championship in the 51-season history of the Montreal Expos/Nationals franchise. The original Washington Senators won their only championship for the nation's capital in 1924 and last reached the World Series in 1933 before becoming the Minnesota Twins for the 1961 season.

Gary Sanchez had an RBI single in the second and Urshela homered in the fourth.

Alex Bregman gave the Astros an insurance run with an RBI on a forceout in the sixth inning.

Brantley's double play elicited one of the loudest ovations of the night - before Altuve's blast - from the sellout crowd of 43,357 which included Hall of Famers Nolan Ryan and Craig Biggio and Rockets stars James Harden and Russell Westbrook, who watched from the front row in personalized orange Astros jerseys.

New York lost its fourth straight ALCS after falling in 2010, 2012 and 2017. The Yankees will go without a World Series appearance in a calendar decade for the first time since the 1910s.

Altuve doubled off opener Chad Green with one out in the first inning and Bregman drew a walk with two outs. After a short visit to the mound, Gurriel knocked the next pitch into the seats in left field for a 3-0 lead. The runs were Houston's first with two outs in the series.

Houston had been 4 for 40 with runners in scoring position before that big swing.

Brad Peacock, who threw eight pitches in a scoreless eighth inning Friday night, became the fourth pitcher ever to finish a postseason game and then start the next day, and the first since 1924.

He needed seven pitches to retire the side in the first before running into trouble with two outs in the second. Josh James ended the inning by striking out Gardner.

Ryan Pressly had another gutsy escape, too. He hurt his right knee again fielding a bases-loaded grounder by Didi Gregorius but limped over to tag him for the final out of the third. Pressly, who grimaced as he went toward the dugout after one pitch, had arthroscopic surgery on the same knee on Aug. 22 and returned Sept. 20. Pressly also got two strikeouts with the bases loaded in Game 4.

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Cnotes MLB 2019 Thru the World Series News, Notes, Trends Best Bets and Opinions !

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