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

[StarDust Bum]

Evening Best Bets:

LAA at TEX 07:05 PM
O 10.5

KC at BAL 07:05 PM
O 10.5

WAS at PIT 07:05 PM
WAS -146
U 9.0

CLE at NYM 07:10 PM
CLE +132
O 9.5

PHI at BOS 07:10 PM
PHI +149
U 12.0

MIA at ATL 07:20 PM
U 9.5

MIL at STL 07:45 PM
U 8.5

SF at CHC 08:05 PM
SF +214
O 9.0

DET at HOU 08:10 PM
DET +430
O 8.5

NYY at OAK 10:07 PM
U 9.5

TOR at LAD 10:10 PM
U 8.5

[StarDust Bum]

Kiermaier drives in 4, Rays beat Mariners 7-6
August 21, 2019
By The Associated Press

HOUSTON (AP) Justin Verlander pitched a two-hitter and lost, allowing homers to John Hicks and Ronny Rodriguez as the Detroit Tigers beat the Houston Astros 2-1 on Wednesday night.

Hicks led off the ninth with a tiebreaking blast to left-center field off Verlander (15-5), who leads the majors in strikeouts with 239 but ranks second in homers allowed with 33.

The veteran right-hander retired the first 14 batters, with six strikeouts, before Rodriguez homered to the seats in right with two outs in the fifth. Verlander sat down another 10 straight before Hicks connected.

With Verlander on the mound at home against the worst team in the majors, the Astros were more than a 5-1 favorite, one of the biggest favorites in an MLB game that Las Vegas oddsmakers could remember.

Buck Farmer (5-4) walked one in a scoreless eighth and Joe Jimenez finished the Tigers' six-hitter for his fourth save.

METS 4, INDIANS 3, 10 INNINGS

NEW YORK (AP) - J.D. Davis lined an RBI single with two outs that capped a two-run rally in the 10th inning, and New York beat Cleveland.

All-Star reliever Brad Hand's failure to cover first base on a potential game-ending double-play grounder cost Cleveland. Davis made the Indians pay with his first career game-ending hit.

The Mets won their fourth in a row and for the 20th time in 25 games, moving a season-high six over .500.

Carlos Santana hit a solo home run with two outs in the Cleveland 10th off Luis Avilan (4-1) for a 3-2 lead.

Amed Rosario opened the Mets 10th with a double off Hand (6-4), who later broke for the plate on what could have been a double play as the tying run scored.

CUBS 12, GIANTS 11

CHICAGO (AP) - Kris Bryant hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the eighth inning to give Chicago a wild victory over San Francisco.

Nicholas Castellanos and Kyle Schwarber also connected for Chicago, which has won four straight despite losing leads twice in the last four innings. The Cubs moved back into first place in the NL Central by a half-game over St. Louis, which lost to Milwaukee in a rain-shortened game.

Castellanos, who went 4 for 5, has homered in three straight games for the second time in his career.

Evan Longoria, Mike Yastrzemski, Stephen Vogt and Kevin Pillar homered for San Francisco, which has dropped three straight.

Castellanos led off the eighth with an infield single to set the stage for Bryant, who stroked a 1-1 pitch from Reyes Moronta (3-7) into the left field bleachers.

Brandon Kintzler (3-2) pitched a scoreless eighth for the win and Craig Kimbrel worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his 11th save.

BREWERS 5, CARDINALS 3, 7+ INNINGS

ST. LOUIS (AP) - Mike Moustakas homered and Keston Hiura drove in a pair of runs to lead Milwaukee over St. Louis in a rain-shortened game.

The game was stopped after 7+ innings and made official following a rain delay of 66 minutes.

Milwaukee broke a six-game losing streak against the Cardinals, who were knocked out of first place in the NL Central - falling one-half game behind the Cubs.

Adrian Houser (6-5) gave up three runs - one earned - and six hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Junior Guerra got the last out in the bottom of the seventh and earned his third save.

Moustakas, who also walked three times, hit a three-run homer in the first off Adam Wainwright (9-9) to highlight a four-run outburst.

PHILLIES 5, RED SOX 2

BOSTON (AP) - Bryce Harper homered to give Philadelphia a fifth-inning lead, and Corey Dickerson drove in two runs with a triple and a single to help the Phillies sweep a two-game series with Boston.

Jared Hughes (4-5) earned the win with 1 1/3 hitless innings of relief after Drew Smyly lasted just 3 2/3 innings. Hector Neris pitched the ninth for his 23rd save.

Rick Porcello (11-10) allowed just one hit through four innings before Cesar Hernandez led off the fifth with a double.

Hernandez took off on a wild pitch and scored when the throw got past Rafael Devers at third base. After a walk, Harper cleared the Green Monster with a two-run shot, his 27th homer of the year.

RAYS 7, MARINERS 6

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - Kevin Kiermaier drove in four runs, including a solo homer during a two-run ninth inning, and Tampa Bay beat Seattle to avoid a three-game sweep.

Kiermaier tied it at 6-6 on a leadoff homer against Matt Magill (3-1). The Rays then loaded the bases on Willy Adames' single, a double by Mike Brosseau and an intentional walk to pinch-hitter Ji-Man Choi with no outs before Magill's wild pitch with Tommy Pham batting allowed Adames to score the winning run.

Daniel Vogelbach had a solo homer and Mallex Smith added a two-run triple off Emilio Pagan (3-2) as the Mariners went up 6-5 in the top of the ninth.

Tampa Bay ace Charlie Morton was bidding for his 14th win but struggled in a five-inning, 99-pitch start, giving up three runs, four hits, two walks and striking out three.

WHITE SOX 4, TWINS 0

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Lucas Giolito pitched a three-hit shutout of the second-highest scoring team in the major leagues, racking up 12 strikeouts as Chicago took the series from AL Central-leading Minnesota.

Giolito (14-6) allowed only runner past first base, a double by Jonathan Schoop in the eighth. The 25-year-old fanned Jake Cave to finish that inning and reach double-digit strikeouts for the third straight time, the first White Sox starter to do so since Chris Sale did so in eight consecutive turns in 2015.

Giolito matched Cleveland's Shane Bieber for the major league lead with his third complete game of the season. The White Sox and Indians have a baseball-best five apiece. Giolito got his with 115 pitches, without a walk.

Jose Abreu went 3 for 5 with two RBIs for the White Sox, with Leury Garcia and Tim Anderson each producing two hits. The trio scored all four runs against Twins starter Jake Odorizzi (13-6).

BRAVES 5, MARLINS 0

ATLANTA (AP) - Adeiny Hechavarria and Ronald Acuna Jr. each hit a two-run homer, Julio Teheran struck out a season-high nine and Atlanta beat Miami.

The Braves are 14-4 against Miami this year after winning the 2018 season series between the NL East rivals 14-5.

Teheran (8-8) combined with Sean Newcomb and Josh Tomlin for a seven-hitter. The right-hander allowed five hits in seven innings.

Acuna's shot off Caleb Smith (8-7) in the fifth cleared the center field wall. His team-leading 36th homer came one night after he was hit by Elieser Hernandez's first pitch, leading to the ejection of Braves manager Brian Snitker.

NATIONALS 11, PIRATES 1

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Patrick Corbin pitched eight scoreless innings to remain unbeaten in more than two months, and Asdrubal Cabrera's three-run home run capped a six-run third as Washington rolled past Pittsburgh.

Corbin (10-5) struck out four and walked two while throwing 93 pitches to help the Nationals maintain their lead atop the NL wild-card standings.

Joe Musgrove (8-12) gave up six runs and seven hits in five innings as Pittsburgh lost for the 29th time in 37 games since the All-Star break.

ORIOLES 8, ROYALS 1

BALTIMORE (AP) - Baltimore tied a major league record by allowing its 258th home run this season but hit four of its own to beat Kansas City.

Anthony Santander and Renato Nunez hit back-to-back home runs in the fifth inning for the Orioles, who won their first series since July 25-27 at the Los Angeles Angels. Jonathan Villar and Hanser Alberto also went deep.

Whit Merrifield's homer was the record-tying blast against Baltimore. The Orioles have 35 games to surpass the 2016 Cincinnati Reds for the most homers allowed in a season.

Aaron Brooks (3-7) picked up his first win in eight starts with the Orioles since being claimed on waivers from Oakland on July 6.

Villar put the Orioles ahead with a two-run shot off Mike Montgomery (3-6).

RANGERS 8, ANGELS 7

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Hunter Pence drove in three runs, including an RBI single in the ninth inning that pushed Texas past Los Angeles.

Elvis Andrus led off the ninth with a single up the middle off Trevor Cahill (3-8), the seventh Angels pitcher. After two wild pitches got Andrus to third, Pence grounded a single through the left side of the infield.

The Rangers won three times in the four-game series.

Jonathan Hernandez (1-0) worked the final 2 1/3 innings to win in his major league debut.

REDS 4, PADRES 2

CINCINNATI (AP) - Luis Castillo shook off his worst career start to pitch six solid innings and Jose Iglesias hit a solo home run to pace the Reds.

Castillo (12-5), who allowed nine hits and eight runs on Friday against St. Louis, bounced back to limit San Diego to five hits and one run with four strikeouts.

The Reds sent nine batters to the plate while scoring three runs in a third inning, started by Eric Yardley (0-1), who got the loss in his major league debut.

Nick Senzel led off with a line drive that left fielder Josh Naylor misplayed for a two-base error and scored one out later on Eugenio Suarez's single.

Iglesias lofted his ninth homer of the season into the seats down the left-field line with one out in the fourth inning for a 4-1 lead.

Cincinnati's Michael Lorenzen had two strikeouts in a perfect eighth. Raisel Iglesias had two strikeouts in the ninth on the way to his 26th save.

ROCKIES 7, DIAMONDBACKS 2

PHOENIX (AP) - Tim Melville pitched seven innings of two-hit ball in his first major league appearance in almost two years, and Colorado cruised past Arizona.

Melville (1-0), a 29-year-old right-hander with just six previous big-league appearances who started this season in independent ball, limited Arizona to a first-inning double and a sixth-inning home run to go with four strikeouts and two walks. He also picked up his first major-league hit - a two-out, fourth-inning single - and his first two career RBIs.

Ketel Marte and Alex Avila homered for the Diamondbacks, who had their four-game win streak snapped.

The Rockies jumped on struggling Arizona starter Mike Leake (9-10) early with two runs on three straight singles and a fielder's choice in the top of the first.

A'S 6 , YANKEES 4

DODGERS 2, BLUEJAYS 1 .....10 INNINGS

[StarDust Bum]

Kiermaier drives in 4, Rays beat Mariners 7-6
August 21, 2019
By The Associated Press

HOUSTON (AP) Justin Verlander pitched a two-hitter and lost, allowing homers to John Hicks and Ronny Rodriguez as the Detroit Tigers beat the Houston Astros 2-1 on Wednesday night.

Hicks led off the ninth with a tiebreaking blast to left-center field off Verlander (15-5), who leads the majors in strikeouts with 239 but ranks second in homers allowed with 33.

The veteran right-hander retired the first 14 batters, with six strikeouts, before Rodriguez homered to the seats in right with two outs in the fifth. Verlander sat down another 10 straight before Hicks connected.

With Verlander on the mound at home against the worst team in the majors, the Astros were more than a 5-1 favorite, one of the biggest favorites in an MLB game that Las Vegas oddsmakers could remember.

Buck Farmer (5-4) walked one in a scoreless eighth and Joe Jimenez finished the Tigers' six-hitter for his fourth save.

METS 4, INDIANS 3, 10 INNINGS

NEW YORK (AP) - J.D. Davis lined an RBI single with two outs that capped a two-run rally in the 10th inning, and New York beat Cleveland.

All-Star reliever Brad Hand's failure to cover first base on a potential game-ending double-play grounder cost Cleveland. Davis made the Indians pay with his first career game-ending hit.

The Mets won their fourth in a row and for the 20th time in 25 games, moving a season-high six over .500.

Carlos Santana hit a solo home run with two outs in the Cleveland 10th off Luis Avilan (4-1) for a 3-2 lead.

Amed Rosario opened the Mets 10th with a double off Hand (6-4), who later broke for the plate on what could have been a double play as the tying run scored.

CUBS 12, GIANTS 11

CHICAGO (AP) - Kris Bryant hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the eighth inning to give Chicago a wild victory over San Francisco.

Nicholas Castellanos and Kyle Schwarber also connected for Chicago, which has won four straight despite losing leads twice in the last four innings. The Cubs moved back into first place in the NL Central by a half-game over St. Louis, which lost to Milwaukee in a rain-shortened game.

Castellanos, who went 4 for 5, has homered in three straight games for the second time in his career.

Evan Longoria, Mike Yastrzemski, Stephen Vogt and Kevin Pillar homered for San Francisco, which has dropped three straight.

Castellanos led off the eighth with an infield single to set the stage for Bryant, who stroked a 1-1 pitch from Reyes Moronta (3-7) into the left field bleachers.

Brandon Kintzler (3-2) pitched a scoreless eighth for the win and Craig Kimbrel worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his 11th save.

BREWERS 5, CARDINALS 3, 7+ INNINGS

ST. LOUIS (AP) - Mike Moustakas homered and Keston Hiura drove in a pair of runs to lead Milwaukee over St. Louis in a rain-shortened game.

The game was stopped after 7+ innings and made official following a rain delay of 66 minutes.

Milwaukee broke a six-game losing streak against the Cardinals, who were knocked out of first place in the NL Central - falling one-half game behind the Cubs.

Adrian Houser (6-5) gave up three runs - one earned - and six hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Junior Guerra got the last out in the bottom of the seventh and earned his third save.

Moustakas, who also walked three times, hit a three-run homer in the first off Adam Wainwright (9-9) to highlight a four-run outburst.

PHILLIES 5, RED SOX 2

BOSTON (AP) - Bryce Harper homered to give Philadelphia a fifth-inning lead, and Corey Dickerson drove in two runs with a triple and a single to help the Phillies sweep a two-game series with Boston.

Jared Hughes (4-5) earned the win with 1 1/3 hitless innings of relief after Drew Smyly lasted just 3 2/3 innings. Hector Neris pitched the ninth for his 23rd save.

Rick Porcello (11-10) allowed just one hit through four innings before Cesar Hernandez led off the fifth with a double.

Hernandez took off on a wild pitch and scored when the throw got past Rafael Devers at third base. After a walk, Harper cleared the Green Monster with a two-run shot, his 27th homer of the year.

RAYS 7, MARINERS 6

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - Kevin Kiermaier drove in four runs, including a solo homer during a two-run ninth inning, and Tampa Bay beat Seattle to avoid a three-game sweep.

Kiermaier tied it at 6-6 on a leadoff homer against Matt Magill (3-1). The Rays then loaded the bases on Willy Adames' single, a double by Mike Brosseau and an intentional walk to pinch-hitter Ji-Man Choi with no outs before Magill's wild pitch with Tommy Pham batting allowed Adames to score the winning run.

Daniel Vogelbach had a solo homer and Mallex Smith added a two-run triple off Emilio Pagan (3-2) as the Mariners went up 6-5 in the top of the ninth.

Tampa Bay ace Charlie Morton was bidding for his 14th win but struggled in a five-inning, 99-pitch start, giving up three runs, four hits, two walks and striking out three.

WHITE SOX 4, TWINS 0

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Lucas Giolito pitched a three-hit shutout of the second-highest scoring team in the major leagues, racking up 12 strikeouts as Chicago took the series from AL Central-leading Minnesota.

Giolito (14-6) allowed only runner past first base, a double by Jonathan Schoop in the eighth. The 25-year-old fanned Jake Cave to finish that inning and reach double-digit strikeouts for the third straight time, the first White Sox starter to do so since Chris Sale did so in eight consecutive turns in 2015.

Giolito matched Cleveland's Shane Bieber for the major league lead with his third complete game of the season. The White Sox and Indians have a baseball-best five apiece. Giolito got his with 115 pitches, without a walk.

Jose Abreu went 3 for 5 with two RBIs for the White Sox, with Leury Garcia and Tim Anderson each producing two hits. The trio scored all four runs against Twins starter Jake Odorizzi (13-6).

BRAVES 5, MARLINS 0

ATLANTA (AP) - Adeiny Hechavarria and Ronald Acuna Jr. each hit a two-run homer, Julio Teheran struck out a season-high nine and Atlanta beat Miami.

The Braves are 14-4 against Miami this year after winning the 2018 season series between the NL East rivals 14-5.

Teheran (8-8) combined with Sean Newcomb and Josh Tomlin for a seven-hitter. The right-hander allowed five hits in seven innings.

Acuna's shot off Caleb Smith (8-7) in the fifth cleared the center field wall. His team-leading 36th homer came one night after he was hit by Elieser Hernandez's first pitch, leading to the ejection of Braves manager Brian Snitker.

NATIONALS 11, PIRATES 1

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Patrick Corbin pitched eight scoreless innings to remain unbeaten in more than two months, and Asdrubal Cabrera's three-run home run capped a six-run third as Washington rolled past Pittsburgh.

Corbin (10-5) struck out four and walked two while throwing 93 pitches to help the Nationals maintain their lead atop the NL wild-card standings.

Joe Musgrove (8-12) gave up six runs and seven hits in five innings as Pittsburgh lost for the 29th time in 37 games since the All-Star break.

ORIOLES 8, ROYALS 1

BALTIMORE (AP) - Baltimore tied a major league record by allowing its 258th home run this season but hit four of its own to beat Kansas City.

Anthony Santander and Renato Nunez hit back-to-back home runs in the fifth inning for the Orioles, who won their first series since July 25-27 at the Los Angeles Angels. Jonathan Villar and Hanser Alberto also went deep.

Whit Merrifield's homer was the record-tying blast against Baltimore. The Orioles have 35 games to surpass the 2016 Cincinnati Reds for the most homers allowed in a season.

Aaron Brooks (3-7) picked up his first win in eight starts with the Orioles since being claimed on waivers from Oakland on July 6.

Villar put the Orioles ahead with a two-run shot off Mike Montgomery (3-6).

RANGERS 8, ANGELS 7

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Hunter Pence drove in three runs, including an RBI single in the ninth inning that pushed Texas past Los Angeles.

Elvis Andrus led off the ninth with a single up the middle off Trevor Cahill (3-8), the seventh Angels pitcher. After two wild pitches got Andrus to third, Pence grounded a single through the left side of the infield.

The Rangers won three times in the four-game series.

Jonathan Hernandez (1-0) worked the final 2 1/3 innings to win in his major league debut.

REDS 4, PADRES 2

CINCINNATI (AP) - Luis Castillo shook off his worst career start to pitch six solid innings and Jose Iglesias hit a solo home run to pace the Reds.

Castillo (12-5), who allowed nine hits and eight runs on Friday against St. Louis, bounced back to limit San Diego to five hits and one run with four strikeouts.

The Reds sent nine batters to the plate while scoring three runs in a third inning, started by Eric Yardley (0-1), who got the loss in his major league debut.

Nick Senzel led off with a line drive that left fielder Josh Naylor misplayed for a two-base error and scored one out later on Eugenio Suarez's single.

Iglesias lofted his ninth homer of the season into the seats down the left-field line with one out in the fourth inning for a 4-1 lead.

Cincinnati's Michael Lorenzen had two strikeouts in a perfect eighth. Raisel Iglesias had two strikeouts in the ninth on the way to his 26th save.

ROCKIES 7, DIAMONDBACKS 2

PHOENIX (AP) - Tim Melville pitched seven innings of two-hit ball in his first major league appearance in almost two years, and Colorado cruised past Arizona.

Melville (1-0), a 29-year-old right-hander with just six previous big-league appearances who started this season in independent ball, limited Arizona to a first-inning double and a sixth-inning home run to go with four strikeouts and two walks. He also picked up his first major-league hit - a two-out, fourth-inning single - and his first two career RBIs.

Ketel Marte and Alex Avila homered for the Diamondbacks, who had their four-game win streak snapped.

The Rockies jumped on struggling Arizona starter Mike Leake (9-10) early with two runs on three straight singles and a fielder's choice in the top of the first.

A'S 6 , YANKEES 4

DODGERS 2, BLUEJAYS 1 .....10 INNINGS

[StarDust Bum]

SCHEDULE FOR THURSDAY AUGUST 22, 2019
Time (ET) Away Home Site
2:20 PM San Francisco Giants Chicago Cubs Wrigley Field
7:05 PM Tampa Bay Rays Baltimore Orioles Oriole Park at Camden Yards
7:05 PM Washington Nationals Pittsburgh Pirates PNC Park
7:10 PM Cleveland Indians New York Mets Citi Field
7:20 PM Miami Marlins Atlanta Braves SunTrust Park
7:45 PM Colorado Rockies St. Louis Cardinals Busch Stadium
8:10 PM Detroit Tigers Houston Astros Minute Maid Park
8:10 PM Texas Rangers Chicago White Sox Guaranteed Rate Field
9:37 PM New York Yankees Oakland Athletics Ring Central Coliseum
10:10 PM Toronto Blue Jays Los Angeles Dodgers Dodger Stadium


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


MLB AUGUST OPINIONS AND BEST BETS: ALL BASED ON 5 UNITS

DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD


08/21/2019 10-10-1 50.00% +18.00
08/20/2019 6-16-1 27.27% -56.00
08/19/2019 7-8-0 46.67% -1.80
08/18/2019 8-12-1 40.00% -21.40
08/17/2019 8-14-0 36.36% -30.70
08/16/2019 11-8-1 57.89% +18.30
08/15/2019 9-8-0 52.94% +13.95
08/14/2019 14-10-2 58.33% +28.40
08/13/2019 14-11-1 56.00% +27.55
08/10/2019 10-10-0 50.00% -2.60
08/09/2019 9-11-0 45.00% -10.40
08/08/2019 10-6-0 62.50% +21.90
08/07/2019 8-6-1 57.14% +8.50
08/06/2019 10-11-0 47.62% -4.05
08/05/2019 8-9-2 47.06% -6.70
08/04/2019 13-11-1 54.17% +11.85
08/03/2019 13-12-1 52.00% +3.95
08/02/2019 9-9-0 50.00% +3.55
08/01/2019 8-8-0 50.00% +1.15


Totals.............184-190-9 49.19% +23.45

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BEST BETS:

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


08/21/2019.............3 - 2.............+26.50...........6 -7 ...............-8.50..............+18.00
08/20/2019.............2 - 6..............-19.15...........4 - 9..............-29.50..............-48.65
08/19/2019.............3 - 3.............+5.70............4 - 5...............-7.50...............-1.80
08/18/2019.............2 - 3.............-0.30..............7 - 7..............-3.50...............-3.80
08/17/2019.............4 - 3............+9.80.............4 - 11.............-35.00.............-25.20
08/16/2019.............2 - 2............+4.70..............9 - 5.............+19.50............+22.20
08/15/2019.............5 - 2............+26.95............4 - 6..............-13.00............+13.95
08/14/2019.............3 - 6............-4.10...............9 - 5.............+17.50............+13.40
08/13/2019.............4 - 4............+16.60...........10 - 5.............+22.50...........+42.10
08/10/2019.............0 - 2.............-10.00............7 - 5..............+7.50.............-2.50
08/09/2019.............3 - 2.............+9.10.............6 - 9..............-19.50............-10.60
08/08/2019.............2 - 2.............+3.90.............4 - 4..............-2.00.............+1.90
08/07/2019.............0 - 3.............-15.00............7 - 3..............+18.50...........+3.50
08/06/2019.............2 - 6.............-16.55............8 - 6..............+7.00.............-9.55
08/05/2019.............1 - 5.............-19.70............7 - 4..............+15.00...........-4.70
08/04/2019.............4 - 5.............-0.65..............7 - 5..............+7.50............+6.85
08/03/2019.............4 - 3............+7.45..............5 - 7..............-13.50............-6.05
08/02/2019.............3 - 3............+6.55..............6 - 6..............-3.00..............+3.55
08/01/2019.............2 - 4.............-6.85..............6 - 4..............+8.00.............+1.15


Totals....................49 - 66........+34.95.........113 - 109...........-19.50.............+15.45

[StarDust Bum]

Thursday’s 6-pack

Franchises for the XFL, which starts play in February:

— DC Defenders

— Dallas Renegades

— Houston Roughnecks

— Los Angeles Wildcats

— New York Guardians

— St Louis Battle Hawks

— Seattle Dragons

— Tampa Bay Vipers

Quote of the Day
“A case could be made that the younger guy’s not ready. I think, a lot of times, and I understand that thought process, but I’m the one dealing with the individual player, and sometimes guys just aren’t ready. And the whole sink-or-swim mentality, it’s easy for somebody on the outside to say, but for that individual player and the best interest of that individual person, that might not be the case … If a guy’s ready, we put him out there. If he’s not, we won’t put him out there. And I think that’s the right way to approach it.”
Dolphins’ coach Brian Flores

Thursday’s quiz
Which college football team is known as the Beavers?

Wednesday’s quiz
Dick Cheney was the Vice-President when George W Bush was President.

Tuesday’s quiz
Washington Nationals used to be the Montreal Expos.

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Thursday’s List of 13: Doing some thinking out loud…….

13) Tom Brady has won six Super Bowls, Joe Montana won four, but to me, John Elway is the best QB I’ve ever seen. Just my opinion.

12) Raiders-Packers play an exhibition game Thursday night in Winnipeg, Manitoba; not really sure why, but it keeps the baseball infield in Oakland in slightly better shape. Wonder how the folks at Hard Knocks feel about trekking to Canada for a few days.

11) One thing about interleague play; it occasionally allows the schedule gurus to keep road teams in the same city for a week at a time. Indians have been in NYC for the last week; A’s were in Chicago for a week earlier this month. Makes life on the road a little easier.

10) Rays 7, Mariners 6— Tampa Bay scored twice in bottom of 9th inning.

9) Just when you thought the world couldn’t get stranger.
From the New York Post:

“Major League Baseball sent a memo on Monday warning about the “very real risk” of over-the-counter sexual enhancement pills, after at least two players have blamed them for positive PED tests so far this year.

The memo says the pills in question are “often contaminated with prohibited and unsafe ingredients” including anabolic steroids. It reminded players that anyone who tests positive for a banned substance is subject to discipline by the league — regardless of how it got into their system.”

Alrighty then.

8) Detroit 2, Houston 1- Astros (-$550) were biggest favorite in a major league game in at least 15 years. Veteran bookmaker Chris Andrews has been in the business 40+ years; he said they were the biggest favorite he could remember.

7) Baseball stuff:
— Astros put SS Carlos Correa (back) on the IL.
— Pirates put P Chris Archer (shoulder) on IL.
— Rockies put P Jon Gray (foot) on IL.

6) Freshman Bo Nix was named Auburn’s starting QB; he is the first true frosh QB to start the season opener for Auburn since 1946.

5) Every team in baseball could have taken Gio Urshela, Mike Yastrzemski or Aristides Aquino last winter in the Rule 5 Draft; all three are productive big leaguers right now.

4) Houston’s Yordan Alvarez (22) is the youngest player to walk four times in a game since Barry Bonds (21) in 1986.

3) 85-year-old talk show host Larry King filed for divorce this week from his 7th wife, Shawn King, after 22 years of marriage.

Forgot who said this, but I remember reading this a long time ago:
“Second marriages are a triumph of hope over experience.”

Trivia: None of Larry King’s first three marriages lasted longer than two years.

2) 11 of last 14 years, at least one Week 1 NFL underdog of +$200 or more has won SU:
Bengals +$375 at Seattle
Redskins +$325 at Philly
Giants +$285 at Dallas
Texans +$250 at New Orleans
Steelers +$220 at New England

1) XFL’s Seattle Dragons might have a small problem with their new logo, since it looks almost exactly the same as UAB’s Blazer logo.

[StarDust Bum]

LEADING OFF: Mad Max and Gerrit Cole return, Fenway freebie
August 21, 2019
By The Associated Press

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

WELCOME BACK, MAD MAX

Nationals ace Max Scherzer comes off the injured list to start at last-place Pittsburgh. The three-time Cy Young Award winner is 9-5 with a 2.41 ERA in 20 starts but has pitched only once over the past six weeks because of a strained muscle in his back. His 12.7 strikeouts per nine innings lead the National League. Washington currently holds a wild-card spot.

FENWAY FREEBIE

The Boston Red Sox are offering free admission to fans under the age of 18 for the 1:05 p.m. EDT conclusion of a game against Kansas City that was suspended on Aug. 7 because of rain. An admission fee of $5 for adults will be donated to the Jimmy Fund. Play will resume in the top of the 10th inning with the score tied 4-all and Josh Taylor working with a 2-1 count on Royals catcher Meibrys Viloria.

HEALTH WATCH

Three-time All-Star Gerrit Cole (14-5, 2.87 ERA) makes his first start in 15 days for AL West-leading Houston after being scratched last week due to discomfort in his right hamstring. Cole, second in the majors with 226 strikeouts, has won 10 straight decisions. Jordan Zimmermann (1-8, 6.66) gets the ball for Detroit, which has the worst record in the majors even after beating Astros ace Justin Verlander 2-1 Wednesday night as one of the largest MLB underdogs in recent memory. Zimmerman allowed one hit in five scoreless innings last time out against Tampa Bay.

ONE FOR THE MONEY

The next time the Orioles give up a home run, they will break the major league record for most allowed in one season. Last-place Baltimore shares the mark with the 2016 Cincinnati Reds after serving up No. 258 on the year Wednesday night in an 8-1 victory over Kansas City. ''We're all tired of seeing them and hopefully we can get better going forward,'' Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. Asher Wojciechowski (2-6, 4.78 ERA), who has served up 12 long balls in 49 innings, starts at Camden Yards against Tampa Bay.

[StarDust Bum]

Thursday’s games

National League

Giants (63-64) @ Cubs (68-58)
Samardzija is 2-1, 1.53 in his last five starts; he is 0-2, 6.35 in three starts vs Chicago. Team in his starts: 14-11
5-inning record: 8-9-8 Allowed run in 1st inning: 8-25 Over/under: under 4-1 last five

Hendricks is 1-1, 3.25 in his last five starts; he is 3-2, 2.47 in seven starts vs SF. Team in his starts: 10-13
5-inning record: 10-10-3 Allowed run in 1st inning: 8-23 Over/under: under 10-2-1 last 13

Giants won six of last ten games; under is 10-5 in their last 15 road games. Over/under 1st 5 innings: under 8-7-1 last 16 games.

Cubs won 15 of last 18 home games; over is 5-1 in their last six home games. Over/under 1st 5 innings: three of last five under.

Nationals (69-57) @ Pirates (52-74)
Sanchez is 1-0, 5.00 in his last five starts; he is 3-5, 3.36 in 10 starts vs Pitt. Team in his starts: 12-11
5-inning record: 11-8-4 Allowed run in 1st inning: 7-23 Over/under: under 7-2 last nine

Brault is 0-1, 3.16 in his last five starts; he is 0-0, 14.54 in three games (1 start) vs Washington. Team in his starts: lost last five
5-inning record: 6-3-3 Allowed run in 1st inning: 4-12 Over/under: 7-5

Washington won 11 of last 15 games; over is 7-3 in their last ten games. Over/under 1st 5 innings: over 8-3-1 last 12 games.

Pittsburgh lost 13 of last 17 games; under is 4-2 in their last six games. Over/under 1st 5 innings: over 7-3 last ten games.

Marlins (45-80) @ Braves (76-52)
Alcantara is 0-2, 5.18 in his last four starts; he is 0-0, 3.86 in two starts vs Atlanta this year. Team in his starts: 8-16
5-inning record: 6-12-6 Allowed run in 1st inning: 6-24 Over/under: 11-12-1

Soroka is 0-0, 2.23 in his last five starts; he is 2-0, 0.82 in three starts vs Miami this year. Team in his starts: 15-7
5-inning record: 14-5-3 Allowed run in 1st inning: 4-22 Over/under: 9-11-2

Marlins lost eight of last nine games; over is 8-4 in their last 12 games. Over/under 1st 5 innings: under 4-0-1 last five games.

Atlanta won seven of last nine games; under is 10-4-3 in their last 17 home games. Over/under 1st 5 innings: under 5-1-1 last seven games.

Rockies (58-69) @ Cardinals (67-58)
Marquez is 4-0, 3.32 in his last six starts; he is 2-0, 1.53 in three starts vs St Louis. Team in his starts: 17-10
5-inning record: 11-10-6 Allowed run in 1st inning: 9-27 Over/under: over 8-2 last 10

Mikolas is 0-3, 5.73 in his last four starts; he is 0-0, 5.40 in four games (2 starts) vs Colorado. Team in his starts: 12-13
5-inning record: 6-14-5 Allowed run in 1st inning: 8-25 Over/under: under 5-1-1 last seven

Colorado lost nine of its last 11 road games; they’re 9-12 in road series openers- over is 6-3 in their last nine road games. Over/under 1st 5 innings: under 6-0-1 last seven games.

St Louis won nine of last 12 games; they’re 12-8 in home series openers—under is 12-3 in their last 15 games. Over/under 1st 5 innings: over 4-2 last six games.


American League

Rays (74-54) @ Orioles (41-86)
Yarbrough is 1-0, 0.00 in his last two starts (15 IP); he is 3-0, 2.96 in five games vs Baltimore (24.1 IP). Team in his starts: 4-3
5-inning record: 3-2-2 Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-7 Over/under: 3-4

Wojchiechowski is 0-2, 6.14 in his last three starts; he is 0-1, 6.00 in two games (1 start) vs TB. Team in his starts: 3-6
5-inning record: 3-6 Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-9 Over/under: over 4-1 last five

Tampa Bay lost four of its last seven games; they’re 6-0 in last six road series openers- over is 7-3-1 in their last 11 games. Over/under 1st 5 innings: over 3-0 last three games.

Orioles lost 13 of their last 16 games, but won last two; they’re 7-14 in home series openers- under is 5-1 in their last six games. Over/under 1st 5 innings: under 6-1 last seven games.

Tigers (38-86) @ Astros (81-47)
Zimmerman is 1-0, 3.31 in his last three starts; he is 2-4, 3.51 in eight starts vs Houston. Team in his starts: 4-12
5-inning record: 2-12-2 Allowed run in 1st inning: 8-16 Over/under: under 3-1 last four

Cole is 5-0, 1.59 in his last five starts; he is 4-1, 2.65 in six starts vs Detroit. Team in his starts: 17-7
5-inning record: 15-6-3 Allowed run in 1st inning: 9-24 Over/under: over 5-1 last six

Tigers lost eight of their last 11 games; under is 8-0 in their last eight games. Over/under 1st 5 innings: under 7-1 last eight games.

Astros won three of their last four games; under is 5-1 in their last six games. Over/under 1st 5 innings: over 5-3 last eight games.

Rangers (63-65) @ White Sox (57-69)
Jurado is 0-3, 12.79 in his last three starts. Team in his games: 5-11
5-inning record: 5-10-1 Allowed run in 1st inning: 6-16 Over/under: over 4-1 last five

Detwiler is 0-3, 6.50 in his last four starts. Team in his starts: 3-3
5-inning record: 2-4 Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-6 Over/under: 2-2-2

Texas won three of its last four games; they’re 8-12 in road series openers- under is 16-3 in their last 19 road games. Over/under 1st 5 innings: under 10-1 last 11 games.

White Sox are 11-9 in their last 20 games; they’re 1-5 in last six home series openers- over is 7-1 in their last eight games. Over/under 1st 5 innings: over 6-2 last eight games.

New York (83-45) @ A’s (73-53)
Tanaka is 2-0, 1.26 in his last two starts; he is 3-2, 2.53 in five starts vs Oakland. Team in his starts: 17-8
5-inning record: 15-7-3 Allowed run in 1st inning: 3-25 Over/under: 12-10-3

Roark is 1-1, 3.06 in three Oakland starts; he is 0-1, 4.50 in one start vs NYY. Team in his starts: 2-1
5-inning record: 2-1 Allowed run in 1st inning: 0-3 Over/under: 0-3

New York lost its last three games; over is 7-2-1 in their last ten games. Over/under 1st 5 innings: over 9-4-2 last 15 road games.

A’s won six of last seven games; under is 8-5-1 in their last 14 home games. Over/under 1st 5 innings: under 8-3 last 11 games.


Interleague

Indians (74-53) @ Mets (66-60)
Civale is 1-2, 1.88 in four starts. Team in his starts: 2-2
5-inning record: 2-2 Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-4 Over/under: 1-3

Syndergaard is 1-1, 1.98 in his last four starts. Team in his starts: 14-10
5-inning record: 12-7-5 Allowed run in 1st inning: 7-24 Over/under: under 5-2 last seven

Cleveland lost six of its last eight games; over is 7-3 in their last ten games. Over/under 1st 5 innings: under 5-2-1 last eight games.

Mets won five of last six games; under is 4-2 in their last six games. Over/under 1st 5 innings: over 5-3-2 last ten home games.

Blue Jays (52-77) @ Dodgers (84-44)
Waguespack is 3-0, 2.57 in his last four games; they may use an opener. Team in his starts: 4-2
5-inning record: 2-3-1 Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-6 Over/under: 1-4-1

Maeda is 1-1, 6.87 in his last four starts. Team in his starts: 13-11
5-inning record: 10-11-3 Allowed run in 1st inning: 6-24 Over/under: under 6-2 last eight

Blue Jays lost five of last six games; under is 8-2-1 in their last 11 games. Over/under 1st 5 innings: under 7-3 last ten games.

Dodgers won 15 of last 20 games; under is 8-3 in their last 11 home games. Over/under 1st 5 innings: four of last five under.

_____________________________________

Today’s Tips

2019 bankroll: minus 23 calloways
Pending future bets:
– Matt Olson under 32.5 home runs
– Joey Lucchesi, over 8.5 wins
– Cincinnati Reds, under 79.5 wins
– Los Angeles Angels, under 83.5 wins
– Houston Astros (6-1) to win World Series
__________________________________

%age of times teams score in first inning (road/home/total)
Team (road-home-total)- thru 8/21
Ariz 20-66……17-62……37
Atl 21-63…..21-65……42
Cubs 16-63……24-62…..40
Reds 20-58……25-68…..45
Colo 15-65……24-61……39
LA 18-62……22-66……40
Mia 10-61……17-64……27
Milw 21-65…..22-62…..43
Mets 25-59……19-59…..43
Philly 16-60…..21-67……37
Pitt 21-65…..15-61……36
StL 16-65…..16-60…….32
SD 18-62……19-63…..37
SF 10-64……11-61…….21
Wash 19-64…..19-60……,38

Orioles 17-62…….20-64..….37
Boston 15-61…….23-67……37
W Sox 16-65…….17-61…….33
Clev 19-63…..18-64……..37
Det 21-64……16-59……..37
Astros 26-66…..15-61……..41
KC 19-65…..21-63……..40
Angels 24-66……15-63…….39
Twins 25-62……16-65……41
NYY 18-59……26-70……43
A’s 14-60…..17-65…….31
Sea 16-65…..16-63…….30
TB 24-63…..20-63…….44
Texas 15-63…..23-65…….38
Toronto 16-65…..17-65…….33

Interleague play- 2019
NL @ AL– 72-54 NL, favorites -$848 under 59-58-3
AL @ NL– 54-50 NL, favorites -$1,935 over 59-46-5
Total: 126-104 NL, favorites -$2,783 Over 117-105-8

[Udog]

MLB

Thursday, August 22

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Trend Report
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Chicago Cubs
Chi Cubs is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Chi Cubs's last 5 games
Chi Cubs is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Chi Cubs's last 6 games at home
Chi Cubs is 6-3 ATS in its last 9 games when playing San Francisco
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Chi Cubs's last 6 games when playing San Francisco
Chi Cubs is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against San Francisco
Chi Cubs is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against San Francisco
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Chi Cubs's last 6 games when playing at home against San Francisco
San Francisco Giants
San Francisco is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
San Francisco is 18-7 ATS in its last 25 games on the road
San Francisco is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games when playing Chi Cubs
The total has gone OVER in 4 of San Francisco's last 6 games when playing Chi Cubs
San Francisco is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Chi Cubs
San Francisco is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games when playing on the road against Chi Cubs
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of San Francisco's last 6 games when playing on the road against Chi Cubs

Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore is 3-7 ATS in its last 10 games
Baltimore is 3-13 SU in its last 16 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Baltimore's last 6 games
Baltimore is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games at home
Baltimore is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Baltimore's last 6 games at home
Baltimore is 4-11 ATS in its last 15 games when playing Tampa Bay
Baltimore is 4-12 SU in its last 16 games when playing Tampa Bay
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Baltimore's last 6 games when playing Tampa Bay
Baltimore is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Tampa Bay
Baltimore is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Tampa Bay
The total has gone OVER in 13 of Baltimore's last 19 games when playing at home against Tampa Bay
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Baltimore's last 6 games when playing at home against Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games
Tampa Bay is 15-6 SU in its last 21 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Tampa Bay's last 5 games
Tampa Bay is 6-3 ATS in its last 9 games on the road
Tampa Bay is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 9 of Tampa Bay's last 11 games on the road
Tampa Bay is 11-4 ATS in its last 15 games when playing Baltimore
Tampa Bay is 12-4 SU in its last 16 games when playing Baltimore
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Tampa Bay's last 6 games when playing Baltimore
Tampa Bay is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Baltimore
Tampa Bay is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Baltimore
The total has gone OVER in 13 of Tampa Bay's last 19 games when playing on the road against Baltimore
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Tampa Bay's last 6 games when playing on the road against Baltimore

Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
Pittsburgh is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Pittsburgh's last 6 games
Pittsburgh is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Pittsburgh is 3-14 SU in its last 17 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Pittsburgh's last 6 games at home
Pittsburgh is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Washington
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Pittsburgh's last 10 games when playing Washington
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Pittsburgh's last 6 games when playing at home against Washington
Washington Nationals
Washington is 11-4 ATS in its last 15 games
Washington is 8-2 SU in its last 10 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Washington's last 5 games
Washington is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Washington is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Washington's last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 15 of Washington's last 22 games on the road
Washington is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Pittsburgh
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Washington's last 10 games when playing Pittsburgh
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Washington's last 6 games when playing on the road against Pittsburgh

New York Mets
NY Mets is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
NY Mets is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
NY Mets is 12-1 SU in its last 13 games at home
NY Mets is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Cleveland
The total has gone OVER in 12 of NY Mets's last 16 games when playing Cleveland
NY Mets is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Cleveland
Cleveland Indians
Cleveland is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games
Cleveland is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Cleveland's last 6 games
Cleveland is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games on the road
Cleveland is 16-7 SU in its last 23 games on the road
Cleveland is 1-4 SU 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 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing NY Mets
The total has gone OVER in 12 of Cleveland's last 16 games when playing NY Mets
Cleveland is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against NY Mets

Atlanta Braves
Atlanta is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Atlanta is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Atlanta's last 5 games
Atlanta is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Atlanta is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Atlanta's last 5 games at home
Atlanta is 3-8 ATS in its last 11 games when playing Miami
Atlanta is 13-3 SU in its last 16 games when playing Miami
The total has gone UNDER in 15 of Atlanta's last 23 games when playing Miami
Atlanta is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing at home against Miami
Atlanta is 14-2 SU in its last 16 games when playing at home against Miami
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Atlanta's last 5 games when playing at home against Miami
Miami Marlins
Miami is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
Miami is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Miami's last 5 games
Miami is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games on the road
Miami is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Miami's last 5 games on the road
Miami is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 games when playing Atlanta
Miami is 3-13 SU in its last 16 games when playing Atlanta
The total has gone UNDER in 15 of Miami's last 23 games when playing Atlanta
Miami is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Atlanta
Miami is 2-14 SU in its last 16 games when playing on the road against Atlanta
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Miami's last 5 games when playing on the road against Atlanta

St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis is 10-3 ATS in its last 13 games
St. Louis is 9-3 SU in its last 12 games
The total has gone UNDER in 16 of St. Louis's last 21 games
St. Louis is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games at home
St. Louis is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of St. Louis's last 10 games at home
St. Louis is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Colorado
The total has gone OVER in 6 of St. Louis's last 8 games when playing Colorado
St. Louis is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Colorado
St. Louis is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games when playing at home against Colorado
The total has gone OVER in 4 of St. Louis's last 5 games when playing at home against Colorado
Colorado Rockies
Colorado is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games
Colorado is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Colorado's last 6 games
Colorado is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games on the road
Colorado is 2-9 SU in its last 11 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Colorado's last 9 games on the road
Colorado is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing St. Louis
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Colorado's last 8 games when playing St. Louis
Colorado is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against St. Louis
Colorado is 1-8 SU in its last 9 games when playing on the road against St. Louis
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Colorado's last 5 games when playing on the road against St. Louis

Chicago White Sox
Chi White Sox is 7-2 ATS in its last 9 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Chi White Sox's last 8 games
Chi White Sox is 4-11 ATS in its last 15 games at home
Chi White Sox is 4-11 SU in its last 15 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Chi White Sox's last 9 games at home
Chi White Sox is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Texas
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Chi White Sox's last 6 games when playing Texas
Chi White Sox is 10-2 SU in its last 12 games when playing at home against Texas
The total has gone UNDER in 13 of Chi White Sox's last 18 games when playing at home against Texas
Texas Rangers
Texas is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games
Texas is 5-11 SU in its last 16 games
Texas is 9-4 ATS in its last 13 games on the road
Texas is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 14 of Texas's last 20 games on the road
Texas is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Chi White Sox
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Texas's last 6 games when playing Chi White Sox
Texas is 2-10 SU in its last 12 games when playing on the road against Chi White Sox
The total has gone UNDER in 13 of Texas's last 18 games when playing on the road against Chi White Sox

Houston Astros
Houston is 2-7 ATS in its last 9 games
Houston is 15-8 SU in its last 23 games
Houston is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Houston's last 6 games
Houston is 7-2 ATS in its last 9 games at home
Houston is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games at home
Houston is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Detroit
Houston is 8-17 ATS in its last 25 games when playing Detroit
Houston is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games when playing Detroit
Houston is 4-9 ATS in its last 13 games when playing at home against Detroit
Houston is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games when playing at home against Detroit
Detroit Tigers
Detroit is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games
Detroit is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Detroit's last 6 games
Detroit is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Detroit is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Detroit's last 13 games on the road
Detroit is 17-8 ATS in its last 25 games when playing Houston
Detroit is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Houston
Detroit is 1-8 SU in its last 9 games when playing Houston
Detroit is 9-4 ATS in its last 13 games when playing on the road against Houston
Detroit is 3-8 SU in its last 11 games when playing on the road against Houston

Oakland Athletics
Oakland is 8-1 ATS in its last 9 games
Oakland is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
Oakland is 8-1 ATS in its last 9 games at home
Oakland is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games at home
Oakland is 10-3 ATS in its last 13 games when playing NY Yankees
Oakland is 9-4 SU in its last 13 games when playing NY Yankees
Oakland is 9-1 ATS in its last 10 games when playing at home against NY Yankees
Oakland is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games when playing at home against NY Yankees
New York Yankees
NY Yankees is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games
NY Yankees is 16-6 SU in its last 22 games
NY Yankees is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 7 of NY Yankees's last 10 games
NY Yankees is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
NY Yankees is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 11 of NY Yankees's last 16 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of NY Yankees's last 5 games on the road
NY Yankees is 3-10 ATS in its last 13 games when playing Oakland
NY Yankees is 4-9 SU in its last 13 games when playing Oakland
NY Yankees is 1-9 ATS in its last 10 games when playing on the road against Oakland
NY Yankees is 1-8 SU in its last 9 games when playing on the road against Oakland

Los Angeles Dodgers
LA Dodgers is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
LA Dodgers is 12-4 SU in its last 16 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of LA Dodgers's last 9 games
LA Dodgers is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of LA Dodgers's last 8 games at home
LA Dodgers is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games when playing Toronto
The total has gone OVER in 8 of LA Dodgers's last 12 games when playing Toronto
LA Dodgers is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Toronto
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of LA Dodgers's last 8 games when playing at home against Toronto
Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto is 17-7 ATS in its last 24 games
Toronto is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
Toronto is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Toronto's last 5 games
Toronto is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Toronto is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games on the road
Toronto is 1-8 SU in its last 9 games when playing LA Dodgers
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Toronto's last 12 games when playing LA Dodgers
Toronto is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against LA Dodgers
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Toronto's last 8 games when playing on the road against LA Dodgers


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[Udog]

951San Francisco -952 Chicago Cubs
SAN FRANCISCO is 12-1 SU (10.9 Units) in road games with double revenge - 2 straight losses against opponent in the current season.

953Washington -954 Pittsburgh
WASHINGTON is 0-8 SU (-10.1 Units) in road games vs. a starting pitcher whose lasts less than 5 innings per start in the current season.

955Miami -956 Atlanta
ATLANTA is 48-40 SU (12.7 Units) vs. NL teams allowing 4.5 or more runs/game on the season in the current season.

957Colorado -958 St Louis
ST LOUIS are 22-12 SU (14.1 Units) in home games vs. NL teams scoring 4.5 or more runs/game on the season in the current season.

959Tampa Bay -960 Baltimore
BALTIMORE is 26-52 SU (-28.6 Units) vs. a team with a good bullpen whose WHIP is 1.350 or better in the current season.

961Detroit -962 Houston
DETROIT is 26-43 SU (-19.9 Units) vs. good power teams - averaging 1.25 or more HR's/game in the current season.

963Texas -964 Chi White Sox
TEXAS are 36-18 SU (16.4 Units) vs. a starting pitcher with good control (less than 1.75 BB's/start) in the current season.

965Ny Yankees -966 Oakland
NY YANKEES are 68-41 SU (30.8 Units) vs. an overused bullpen that pitches more than 3.2 innings per game in the current season.

967Cleveland -968 Ny Mets
CLEVELAND is 23-7 SU (16.6 Units) in road games vs. poor baserunning teams - averaging 0.5 or less SB's/game in the current season.

969Toronto -970 La Dodgers
TORONTO is 28-17 SU (14.1 Units) vs. a bad bullpen that blows 38% or more of their save opportunities in the current season.

[Udog]

Weekly Total Talk
Joe Williams

Thursday, Aug. 22

The Nationals will use RHP Max Scherzer against the Pirates and LHP Steven Brault on Thursday evening in the Steel City. The over has connected in four of the past five for the Nationals, and the over is 4-1 in their past five against National League Central Division foes, too. However, with Scherzer on the hill, the under is 6-2-1 across his past nine outings, while going 3-0-1 in the past four road outings. The under has also cashed in 15 of the past 22 road contests while going 4-1 in the past five against a left-handed starting pitcher, and 4-1-1 in the past six starts by Scherzer against a team with a losing record. The under has also connected in seven of the past 10 meetings in this series.

For the Pirates, it's been all over all the time lately. The over is 33-15-3 across their past 51 games at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, while going 7-2 in the past nine at home against teams with a winning road record. The over is also 24-10-2 in the past 36 at home against a right-handed starting pitcher. The over has connected in six of the past seven against NL East goes, while going 4-1 in the past five against a starting pitcher with a WHIP under 1.15. The over is 5-2-1 in the past eight starts at home by Brault, while going 3-0-1 in his past four outings against NL East clubs.

The Marlins and Braves battle at SunTrust Park with All-Star RHPs Sandy Alcantara and Mike Soroka locking horns again. These two pitchers battled on Aug. 10 in Miami with the over connecting in a 7-6 Braves victory. The over is 10-3-2 across the past 15 outings for the Marlins against teams with a winning overall record, while goiing 10-4-2 in the past 16 vs. RHP. However, the under is 4-1 in Miami's past five overall, 4-1-1 in the past six road outings against a right-hander. The under is also 3-1-1 in the past five road outings by Alcantara, too.

For the Braves, the under has hit in four in a row, including Wednesday's 5-0 victory over the Marlins. The under is also 4-0 in the past four at SunTrust Park, while going 3-1-2 in the past six inside the division. However, the over is 5-1 in Soroka's past six home outiings while going 5-2-1 in his past eight contests against a team with a losing overall mark. The under is 9-1-1 in the past 11 meetings between these teams in Atlanta, although the over is 4-0 in the past four starts by Soroka against the Marlins. As an added bonus, the Marlins have won just five of the past 26 trips to Atlanta, while going 16-39 in the past 55 meetings overall.

The Yankees and Athletics wrap up their series in the Bay Area, as RHP Masahiro Tanaka battles RHP Tanner Roark. This will be the fourth start for Roark since joining the A's after a trade from the Reds at the MLB trade deadline. He has allowed two or fewer earned runs in each of the past three starts while the 'under' is a perfect 3-0 during the span. The under is 3-1-1 in Oakland's past five outings while going 3-1-1 in the past five at home and 7-3 in the past 10 at home vs. RHP. The under is 12-3-1 in the past 16 during Game 3 of a series, too.

For the Yanks, the under is 5-0 in Tanaka's past five outings against the A's. However, the over is 23-8-1 in the past 32 games overall for the Yankees, and 5-2-1 in the past eight vs. RHP. The over is also 12-4-1 in New York's past 17 against teams with a winning record, including 4-0 in Tanaka's past four on the road against winning teams. The over is 34-14-3 in the past 51 road outings vs. RHP. The over has also been an impressive 26-6-2 in the past 34 road contests for the Yankees against teams with a winning overall mark.

Wind Report
Winds will be gusting in at 11-14 mph from right field into the face of the batters in Thursday's afternoon battle between the Giants and Cubs at Wrigley Field. On the south side of Chicago, the Rangers and White Sox will also experience 11-14 mph winds blowing in, but they'll be coming from the left-center field power alley to home plate at Guaranteed Rate Field. Outside of those two games, the winds will be light and variable with no positive or negative factors.


Friday, Aug. 23

The Braves and Mets will have a battle of RHPs when Mike Foltynewicz and Jacob deGrom lock horns. The over is 4-1-1 in the past six starts by Foltynewicz, while going 3-0-1 in his past four inside the NL East. In addition, the over is 6-2 in Folty'z past eight on the road against winning teams and 12-4-1 in his past 17 in Game 1 of a new series. The over is 4-1-1 in deGrom's past six outings at home, including 3-1-1 in his past five at home against a team with a winning overall mark. The over is 9-1-1 in deGrom's past 11 inside the division, too. However, the under is 5-0-1 in deGrom's past six aat home against the Braves, while going 6-2-1 across his past nine overall vs. Atlanta.

The Red Sox use LHP Eduardo Rodriguez against the Padres and RHP Chris Paddack. The over has connected in 13 of the past 16 road outings by Rodriguez, while going 9-2 in the past 11 in Game 1 of a new series. While the over is 20-7 across the past 27 starts overall, and 8-2 in the past 10 against teams against teams with a losing record. The under is 10-3 in his past 13 interleague starts, however, while going 5-1-1 in the past seven interleague road games overall for Boston against a team with a losing record.

As far as Paddack is concerned, the over has hit in each of his past four outings, while going 4-0 in his past four at home, too. The over is 34-16-2 in the past 52 interleague home games for San Diego, while going 18-7-2 in the past 27 against the AL East. The under is 10-4 in the past 14 games for the Padres against a left-handed starter, while the over is 5-2-1 in the past eight home games vs. LHP and 13-3 in the past 16 interleague home contests vs. LHP. The under is 8-1 in the past nine meetings in San Diego, while going 6-1 in the previous seven meetings.

RHP Trent Thornton pitches for the Blue Jays against LHP Justus Sheffield of the Mariners. The over has hit in each of the past seven road starts by Thornton, while going 8-3 in his past 11 games overall. The over is also 4-0 in Game 1 of a new set for Thornton. The over is 16-7-1 in the past 24 games overall for the Mariners against AL East teams while going 20-7-2 in the past 29 at home vs. RHP.

Wind Report
On Friday afternoon, the Nationals and Cubs will face a stiff 11-14 mph wind blowing in directly from center field to home plate at Wrigley Field. The Rangers and White Sox will tussle at Guaranteed Rate Field with winds blowing 11-14 mph from left to right. Chicago will be the only trouble spot in MLB, as far as the winds are concerned.

[Udog]

Guys,

These are Bum's picks for Thursday. He emailed them to me so one of us could post em with all the site slowdown going on....


THURSDAY, AUGUST 22
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

SF at CHC 02:20 PM
SF +177
O 7.5

TB at BAL 07:05 PM
BAL +186
O 10.0

WAS at PIT 07:05 PM
PIT +187
U 8.0

CLE at NYM 07:10 PM
CLE +123
U 8.5

MIA at ATL 07:20 PM
MIA +251
O 9.5

COL at STL 07:45 PM
COL +127
O 8.0

TEX at CHW 08:10 PM
CHW +105
O 10.5

DET at HOU 08:10 PM
DET +425
O 8.0

NYY at OAK 09:37 PM
OAK +103
O 9.5

TOR at LAD 10:10 PM
TOR +206
U 9.5

[Udog]

By: Rohit Ponnaiya


STREAKING AND SLUMPING STARTERS

STREAKING

Gerrit Cole, Houston Astros (14-5, 2.87 ERA, $294): At this point I don't even know if Cole is "streaking" anymore, he's just been so consistently great for an extended period of time. Of his last 14 outings, 13 have been quality starts. Over that span the Astros have gone 12-2 when he takes to the mound and he has a WHIP of 0.93 and an ERA of 1.98.

Tonight, Cole and the Astros are hosting the 38-86 Detroit Tigers and starting pitcher Jordan Zimmerman who is 1-8 with a 6.66 ERA. The Astros are 45-16 at home this season and are whopping -500 favorites. If you want a decent payout per unit you might consider the alternate runline of Houston -2.5 (-125) and -3.5 (+125).

SLUMPING

Ariel Jurado (6-9, 5.38 ERA, $-507): Detroit's Zimmerman could have been our slumper but we've decided to roll with the Rangers 23-year-old. Texas is 1-6 in Jurado's last 7 starts and the right-hander has logged a 7.72 ERA with a 1.84 WHIP over that stretch.

Nonetheless, Jurado and the Rangers are small -120 favorites on the road for tonight's tilt against the Chicago White Sox. The White Sox will be starting Ross Detwiler who has an ERA of 6.10 and a BAA of .320, so consider the Over 10.5.


3 STRIKES

AFTERNOON DELIGHT

The San Francisco Giants take on the Chicago Cubs at 2:20 p.m. ET. Kyle Hendricks will pitch for the home side and he's been dominant at Wrigley Field all season going 4-2 with a 1.98 ERA and a BAA of .194.

The Giants will start Jeff Samardzija who has a terrific 1.53 ERA over his last five starts. The O/U has been installed at a low 7.5 but with a strong 14 mph wind blowing in from center field the Under is still worth a look.

SCHERZER STRIKES BACK

The Nationals rotation gets a huge boost tonight, as Max Scherzer returns to the mound for the Nationals after being sidelined since July 25th with a strained back. Mad Max returns just in time for the home stretch as the Nationals attempt to hold off challengers in the NL wild card race.

Before Scherzer got injured, he had been absolutely on fire. In his nine previous starts the multiple Cy Young award winner was pitching to a 0.84 ERA and a 0.77 WHIP while racking up a ridiculous 94 punchouts over 64 innings.

It’s no surprise the Nats are big -225 road faves tonight against the sinking Pirates and if he’s healthy there’s no reason to think he won’t pick up where he left off. Take the Nats on the runline tonight.

RUNLINE ROAD RAYS

The Tampa Bay Rays are one of the MLB’s best teams when it comes to covering the runline on the road at 36-27 this season and tonight they face one of the worst when it comes to covering the spread at home, the Baltimore Orioles. The O’s are just 24-20 against the runline at home this season and there is value in fading them to cover the +1.5 again tonight.

Asher Wojciechowski gets the call for the Orioles, and he’s been touched up to the tune of a 6.63 ERA and a 1.74 WHIP over his last four starts. While Ryan Yarbrough takes the ball for the Rays. The lefty has allowed zero earned runs on eight hits while striking out 23 over his last three starts. He also has two long appearances following “Openers” against the O’s in July, where he allowed just two runs on six hits in 9.1 innings. Take the Rays on the runline again tonight.

[StarDust Bum]

Moncada lines two-run homer, White Sox beat Rangers 6-1
August 23, 2019
By The Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) Yoan Moncada lined a two-run homer on his return from the injured list, Ross Detwiler struck out a career-high eight and the Chicago White Sox beat the Texas Rangers 6-1 on Thursday night.

James McCann hit a solo shot and doubled, and Jose Abreu, Tim Anderson and Matt Skole each had an RBI as Chicago won for the third time in four games.

Out since July 31 with a strained right hamstring, Moncada batted cleanup and made an immediate impact with his 21st homer as the White Sox jumped to an early five-run lead. He also doubled in the fifth and gave his team a scare when he fell awkwardly exiting the batter's box as he grounded out to end the seventh. He was tended to by a trainer and remained in the game.

Elvis Andrus' solo homer accounted for the only run against Detwiler (2-3) and was one of only three hits off the left-hander, who walked none over six innings. The 33-year-old earned his second win this season - and only his second in the majors over nearly three years.

Jimmy Cordero followed with two scoreless relief innings, and Kelvin Herrera tossed the ninth to complete a three-hitter.

Ariel Jurado (6-10) allowed six runs and 10 hits in eight innings as he lost his fourth straight start.

RED SOX 5, ROYALS 4

BOSTON (AP) - Brock Holt hit an RBI single with one out in the bottom of the 10th inning as the Red Sox won a weather-suspended game that began Aug. 7.

The original contest was halted after a 1 hour, 49 minute-rain delay early on Aug. 8 with the score tied 4-4 and nobody out in the top of the 10th inning. Royals catcher Meibrys Viloria was facing a 2-1 count against Red Sox reliever Josh Taylor.

Play resumed 14 days, 14 hours and 18 minutes later. Ryan O'Hearn struck out and pinch hitter Bubba Starling grounded out to end the Royals' inning. Starling took the spot of Billy Hamilton, who went 2 for 4 with a strikeout on Aug. 8 but was designated for assignment on Aug. 16.

Christian Vazquez doubled to center field after Andrew Benintendi struck out looking to lead off Boston's 10th. Richard Lovelady (0-3) intentionally walked pinch hitter Sam Travis before Holt singled on a line drive to left field to score Chris Owings, who was pinch running for Vazquez.

The official time of game was 3:48, with only 12 minutes being played Thursday.

CUBS 1, GIANTS 0

CHICAGO (AP) - Kyle Hendricks pitched seven sharp innings as the Cubs won their fifth straight despite getting only two hits.

Anthony Rizzo hit an RBI single to help the NL Central leaders complete a three-game sweep. The Giants lost their fourth in a row.

A day after the Cubs won 12-11 in a game with seven home runs, there was a brisk breeze blowing in at Wrigley Field and the teams combined for just six hits.

Hendricks (9-9) allowed three hits, struck out seven and walked none. Relievers Brandon Kintzler, Kyle Ryan and Rowan Wick each got two outs to complete the four-hitter. Wick finished for his second save as Cubs pitchers combined for 10 strikeouts without a walk.

Jeff Samardzija (9-10) gave up one run on two hits in seven innings against his former team.

San Francisco's best scoring chance came in the eighth. Crawford tripled off the right field wall with two outs against Kintzler. Ryan, a left-hander, then came on to strike out pinch-hitter Austin Slater to end the inning.

NATIONALS 7, PIRATES 1

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Max Scherzer pitched four innings in his return from the injured list, giving up one run and four hits.

The three-time Cy Young Award winner, who was put on the IL on July 26 with a strain in his upper back, struck out three and walked one. The Nationals hadn't set a pitch count for Scherzer but said they would closely monitor him. He threw 71 pitches, 48 for strikes.

Anthony Rendon and Howie Kendrick homered for Washington, which leads the NL wild-card race and won for the ninth time in 11 games. Kendrick singled, doubled and hit his 14th homer, a two-run drive in the eighth that made it 4-1. Rendon hit his 28th home run in the ninth.

The Pirates fell to 8-30 since the All-Star break. Steven Brault (3-3) allowed two runs in six innings.

Scherzer is 7-0 in his past 11 starts. Hunter Strickland (2-1) allowed one hit in two innings for the win.

CARDINALS 6, ROCKIES 5

ST. LOUIS (AP) - Marcell Ozuna, Paul DeJong and Dexter Fowler each hit two-run homers to pace the Cardinals.

Fowler's 15th home run of the season, off of a 97 mph fastball from Yency Almonte (0-1) in the seventh, capped the comeback. Matt Carpenter set it up by working a walk in an eight-pitch, pinch hitting appearance to lead off the frame.

Dominic Leone (1-0), who was recalled from Triple-A Memphis before the game, got the win. Giovanny Gallegos and Andrew Miller pitched a scoreless eighth and Carlos Martinez picked up his 15th save in 18 opportunities.

Ozuna's blast into the upper deck in left field in the fourth came after Paul Goldschmidt singled to tie the game 2-2. Ozuna has hit safely in 13 of his last 16 games.

DeJong drilled a German Marquez curve 423 feet into the left-center bleachers in the sixth to cut it to 5-4. DeJong's two-run homer extended his RBI streak to four games, one shy of his career high.

Marquez allowed four runs in six innings, on six hits, a pair of walks and four strikeouts.

BRAVES 3, MARLINS 2

ATLANTA (AP) - Ronald Acuna Jr. hit an RBI single with two outs in the ninth inning as the Atlanta Braves won their fifth straight.

Freddie Freeman hit a tying homer in the eighth and the Braves sent Miami to its 12th road loss in a row, the longest streak in the majors this year.

The NL East-leading Braves went 15-4 against the Marlins this year.

Adeiny Hechavarria opened the Atlanta ninth with a double and later scored on Acuna's single off Ryne Stanek (0-3).

Freeman's 34th homer, an opposite-field drive to left, came off Stanek, who lost his first decision since being acquired from Tampa Bay.

Mark Melancon (5-2) faced four batters in the ninth to earn the win.

Braves starter Mike Soroka hasn't won a decision in seven straight starts. Soroka, tied for the second-best ERA in the majors at 2.41, allowed no walks and struck out five in seven innings.

Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara gave up Hechavarria's RBI single in the second and allowed three hits in seven innings. He held the top four batters in Atlanta's lineup - Acuna Jr., Ozzie Albies, Freeman and Josh Donaldson - to a collective 0 for 12.

DODGERS 3, BLUEJAYS 2

A'S 5, YANKEES 3

RAYS 5 ORIOLES 2

ASTROS 6 TIGERS 3

METS 2, INDIANS 0

[StarDust Bum]

SCHEDULE FOR FRIDAY AUGUST 23, 2019
Time (ET) Away Home Site
2:20 PM Washington Nationals Chicago Cubs Wrigley Field
7:05 PM Cincinnati Reds Pittsburgh Pirates PNC Park
7:05 PM Tampa Bay Rays Baltimore Orioles Oriole Park at Camden Yards
7:10 PM Atlanta Braves New York Mets Citi Field
7:10 PM Kansas City Royals Cleveland Indians Progressive Field
7:10 PM Philadelphia Phillies Miami Marlins Marlins Park
8:10 PM Arizona Diamondbacks Milwaukee Brewers Miller Park
8:10 PM Detroit Tigers Minnesota Twins Target Field
8:10 PM Los Angeles Angels Houston Astros Minute Maid Park
8:10 PM Texas Rangers Chicago White Sox Guaranteed Rate Field
8:15 PM Colorado Rockies St. Louis Cardinals Busch Stadium
10:10 PM Boston Red Sox San Diego Padres PETCO Park
10:10 PM New York Yankees Los Angeles Dodgers Dodger Stadium
10:10 PM Toronto Blue Jays Seattle Mariners T-Mobile Park


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


MLB AUGUST OPINIONS AND BEST BETS: ALL BASED ON 5 UNITS

DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD

08/22/2019 6-13-1 31.58% -37.10
08/21/2019 10-10-1 50.00% +18.00
08/20/2019 6-16-1 27.27% -56.00
08/19/2019 7-8-0 46.67% -1.80
08/18/2019 8-12-1 40.00% -21.40
08/17/2019 8-14-0 36.36% -30.70
08/16/2019 11-8-1 57.89% +18.30
08/15/2019 9-8-0 52.94% +13.95
08/14/2019 14-10-2 58.33% +28.40
08/13/2019 14-11-1 56.00% +27.55
08/10/2019 10-10-0 50.00% -2.60
08/09/2019 9-11-0 45.00% -10.40
08/08/2019 10-6-0 62.50% +21.90
08/07/2019 8-6-1 57.14% +8.50
08/06/2019 10-11-0 47.62% -4.05
08/05/2019 8-9-2 47.06% -6.70
08/04/2019 13-11-1 54.17% +11.85
08/03/2019 13-12-1 52.00% +3.95
08/02/2019 9-9-0 50.00% +3.55
08/01/2019 8-8-0 50.00% +1.15


Totals.............190-203-9 48.34% -13.65

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

BEST BETS:

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

08/22/2019.............2 - 8.............-29.60............4 - 5...............-7.50...............-37.10
08/21/2019.............3 - 2.............+26.50...........6 -7 ...............-8.50..............+18.00
08/20/2019.............2 - 6..............-19.15...........4 - 9..............-29.50..............-48.65
08/19/2019.............3 - 3.............+5.70............4 - 5...............-7.50...............-1.80
08/18/2019.............2 - 3.............-0.30..............7 - 7..............-3.50...............-3.80
08/17/2019.............4 - 3............+9.80.............4 - 11.............-35.00.............-25.20
08/16/2019.............2 - 2............+4.70..............9 - 5.............+19.50............+22.20
08/15/2019.............5 - 2............+26.95............4 - 6..............-13.00............+13.95
08/14/2019.............3 - 6............-4.10...............9 - 5.............+17.50............+13.40
08/13/2019.............4 - 4............+16.60...........10 - 5.............+22.50...........+42.10
08/10/2019.............0 - 2.............-10.00............7 - 5..............+7.50.............-2.50
08/09/2019.............3 - 2.............+9.10.............6 - 9..............-19.50............-10.60
08/08/2019.............2 - 2.............+3.90.............4 - 4..............-2.00.............+1.90
08/07/2019.............0 - 3.............-15.00............7 - 3..............+18.50...........+3.50
08/06/2019.............2 - 6.............-16.55............8 - 6..............+7.00.............-9.55
08/05/2019.............1 - 5.............-19.70............7 - 4..............+15.00...........-4.70
08/04/2019.............4 - 5.............-0.65..............7 - 5..............+7.50............+6.85
08/03/2019.............4 - 3............+7.45..............5 - 7..............-13.50............-6.05
08/02/2019.............3 - 3............+6.55..............6 - 6..............-3.00..............+3.55
08/01/2019.............2 - 4.............-6.85..............6 - 4..............+8.00.............+1.15


Totals....................51 - 74........+5.35............117 - 114.........-27.00...............-21.65

[StarDust Bum]

Friday’s 6-pack

Spreads, totals for college games next week:

— UCLA @ Cincinnati (-3, 60.5)

— Utah (-5, 48) @ BYU

— Utah State @ Wake Forest (-3.5, 63.5)

— Colorado State vs Colorado (-12.5, 58)

— Ole Miss @ Memphis (-6, 68)

— South Carolina (-7.5, 63) vs North Carolina

Quote of the Day
“It means I’m old. And I’ve had some special players.”
A’s manager Bob Melvin, after winning his 1,200th career game Wednesday

Friday’s quiz
Which famous (retired) college football coach was the starting QB for the 0-16 Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1976?

Thursday’s quiz
Oregon State’s teams are known as the Beavers.

Wednesday’s quiz
Dick Cheney was the Vice-President when George W Bush was President.

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

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

13) MGM took two huge bets on the Astros Wednesday:
$55,000 on Houston -$550 to win $10,000
$63,520 on Houston -$575 to win $11,000

Another bookmaker reported from Las Vegas on this game:
“Under our Listed Pitchers market, we have $10 on the Tigers. Literally. And $60K on the Astros.”

12) If you wagered $100 on the Astros in each of Justin Verlander’s last three starts, you’d be out a total of $1,170. Not good.

Verlander has allowed 57 runs this season; 40 of them scored on home runs.

11) I’m anxious to see what the sportsbook at Rivers Casino in Schenectady will be like when college football has its first full Saturday on August 31st. Would expect pretty big crowds, and the sportsbook is not a big area, but they do have lot of betting kiosks, so that should help.

10) SLS Las Vegas will officially become Sahara Las Vegas on August 29; the SLS used to be the Sahara- the original Sahara Hotel & Casino opened in 1952 with 240 rooms. It grew to more than 1,700 rooms after several add-ons and a final renovation in 2000.

I stayed there once, in 2015; good eating places, the tightest video poker machines ever— asked a bartender if anyone ever won there (I couldn’t win a single hand for like an hour). No sports book to speak of, just a counter to bet games. Beer garden was pretty popular.

My room was so small it made me laugh; seriously. They had mirrors all over, to make the room look bigger, even on the ceiling— the last damn thing I want to see while I’m laying in bed is me.

Pretty good place for eating/shopping, but not my kind of place.

9) Raiders 22, Packers 21— This game was played in Winnipeg; NFL fields are shorter than CFL fields, and the turf in one end zone where the goalposts usually are for Blue Bomber games was a little screwed up, so the teams played on an 80-yard field and there were no kickoffs.

Next week’s Hard Knocks should be pretty interesting.

8) Red Sox 5, Royals 4 (10)— This was the completion of a suspended game from August 7; Brock Holt got the game-winning hit.

Royals lost in Baltimore Wednesday night, then flew to Boston for this, which lasted a total of 11 pitches, and then flew to Cleveland, where they’ll likely lose more games this weekend.

7) Baseball stuff:
— Colorado put P Kyle Freeland (leg) on the IL.
— Pirates released C Francisco Cervelli
— Mets DFA’d SS Ruben Tejada.

6) As of Thursday night, 60% of money wagered on Saturday’s Miami-Florida (-7.5) game was on the Gators, while 69% of the money on the Hawai’i-Arizona (-11) game is on the Rainbows.

5) Ravens 26, Eagles 15— Baltimore has now won 16 preseason games in a row (13-2 vs spread), but 40-year old Josh McCown came off the bench and completed 17-24 passes for 192 yards and two TD’s, so Philly has their backup QB.

Game was stopped with 11:54 left (weather) and never resumed, so sides/totals wagers are refunds, which is a bitter pill for Baltimore backers.

4) Major League Baseball is prohibiting major league and minor league ballplayers from participating in the Venezuelan winter league this year, because our country recently placed an embargo on Venezuela.

Jose Altuve, Felix Hernandez, Pablo Sandoval, Ronald Acuna, Gleyber Torres, Ender Inciarte and Avisail Garcia are all from Venezuela; strong baseball country.

3) Bob Cousy received the Presidential Medal of Freedom Thursday night; Cousy, 91, won six NBA titles in his 13 years playing with the Celtics. He was MVP of the NBA in 1957, and also was a decent actor— he was Western U’s athletic director in the excellent movie Blue Chips.

Cousy was the only son of poor French immigrants living in New York City during the Depression; he spoke French only for the first five years of his life. Cousy’s father served in the German army during World War I.

2) Baltimore Orioles gave up their 259th home run this season Thursday, breaking the all-time single-season record previously held by the 2016 Reds.

1) ACC Network made its debut Thursday; it is channel 612 on DirecTV, right next to the Big 14 (610) and SEC (611) channels but nowhere near the Pac-12 Network, since DirecTV doesn’t carry that station.