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Major League Baseball - Tips & Trends
MLB
Friday, June 27
Updated
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Tips and Trends
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Chicago Cubs at Chicago White Sox [WGN | 4:05 PM ET]
Cubs: With Carlos Zambrano on the mend, Ryan Dempster takes over as the Cubs ace for the time being and the honor is well deserved. Dempster is 9-2 on the season and hasn't lost a decision since May 20. Dempster has been phenomenal in his last six outings, allowing just 11 runs in his last 39.1 innings of work. Dempster's two losses have come on the road this season, although he does possesses an ERA of 2.48 in six starts.
Cubs are 8-1 in the last 9 meetings.
The UNDER is 14-4-2 in Chicago's last 20 Friday games.
Key Injuries - OF Kosuke Fukudome (.299; calf) is questionable.
OF Reed Johnson (.271; back) is on the 15-day DL.
OF Alfonso Soriano (.283; broken hand) is out at least 6 weeks.
PROJECTED SCORE: 3
White Sox (-110, O/U 8.5): Jose Contreras has been hammered over his last three starts. In just 16 innings on the mound, Contreras gave up an unacceptable 30 hits and 19 runs. He's been good at home on the year, sporting a 3.04 ERA and 0.99 WHIP in seven starts. He's allowed just eight runs in his last four starts at home. Surprisingly, the UNDER is the way to go when Contreras pitches. The UNDER is 8-2 in his last 10 starts.
White Sox are 12-2 in their last 14 home games.
The UNDER is 7-1 in the last 8 meetings at U.S. Cellular Field.
Key Injuries - 1B Paul Konerko (.215; oblique) is on the 15-day DL.
PROJECTED SCORE: 6 (Side Play of the Day)
Philadelphia Phillies at Texas Rangers [8:05 PM ET]
Phillies (-115, O/U 10.5): Phillies fans must cringe every time Brett Myers takes the mound. They are just 1-9 overall in his last 10 starts and that includes four straight losses. Myers has been absolutely blistered in his last three starts, giving up 15 runs in just 19 innings pitched. Philadelphia has had no chance in Myers' road starts this year. He's 0-6 with a 7.54 ERA in eight starts away from home. Even worse, teams are hitting a robust .345 against him over that stretch.
Phillies are 1-7 in their last 8 games overall.
The UNDER is 6-0 in Philadelphia's last 6 games overall.
Key Injuries - NONE
PROJECTED SCORE: 7 (OVER - Total Play of the Day)
Rangers: Kason Gabbard hasn't pitched great in his two starts since coming off the DL but he's managed to come up with a split in games against the Mets and Nationals. This will be Gabbard's first start at home since May 18, where he has an ERA of 5.63 in three appearances this season. The OVER is 7-4 in Gabbard's 11 starts this season and has cashed in two of his three outings at home.
Rangers are 8-3 in their last 11 interleague home games.
The OVER is 7-2 in Texas' last 9 games as a home underdog.
Key Injuries - OF Josh Hamilton (.312; knee) is expected to play.
OF Milton Bradley (.330; quad) is expected to play.
C Gerald Laird (.306; hamstring) is on the 15-day DL.
PROJECTED SCORE: 6
Boston Red Sox at Houston Astros [NESN | 8:05 PM ET]
Red Sox (-160, O/U 9.5): Daisuke Matsuzaka was a perfect 8-0 before going on the DL but he was anything but perfect in his first start back against the Cardinals. He lasted just one inning versus St. Louis, allowing an alarming seven runs. The Red Sox will be looking for a much better effort out of Dice-K this time around. Matsuzaka is still unbeaten on the road with a record of 3-0 to go along with a 2.60 ERA. Two of Dice-K's last three starts have easily gone OVER the total.
Red Sox are 51-14 in their last 65 interleague games.
The OVER is 17-8-3 in Boston's last 28 Friday games.
Key Injuries - DH David Ortiz (.252; hand) is on the 15-day DL.
RP Mike Timlin (3-3; knee) is on the 15-day DL).
PROJECTED SCORE: 6
Astros: Now that Shawn Chacon is on a permanent vacation for beating up Houston's GM, Runelvys Hernandez gets his turn in the Astros rotation. Hernandez was called up from Class AAA Round Rock to face the Red Sox tonight but his spot in the rotation is far from secure. Hernandez gets his chance to prove he belongs for a Houston pitching staff in disarray right now. Hernandez was 6-3 with 3.72 ERA in 15 starts at Round Rock. This will be Hernandez's first appearance in the major leagues since 2006.
Astros are 1-7 in their last 8 games following a win.
Astros are 3-14 in their last 17 games as an underdog.
Key Injuries - NONE
PROJECTED SCORE: 4
Los Angeles Angels at Los Angeles Dodgers [10:40 PM ET]
Angels (-130, O/U 8): After a rough start against Tampa, Joe Saunders has put forth two strong efforts in a row, allowing just two runs in wins over Atlanta and Philadelphia. Saunders has been money on the road this season where he's 6-1 with a spectacular 1.89 ERA. In his one career start versus the Dodgers, Saunders got the win after giving up two runs over 7.1 innings of work. The UNDER is 7-3 in the last 10 games Saunders has started.
Angels are 10-2 in their last 12 road games.
The UNDER is 8-1 in LA's last 9 Friday games.
Key Injuries - 3B Maicer Izturis (.266; hamstring) is day-to-day.
OF Vladimir Guerrero (.290; flu) is day-to-day.
PROJECTED SCORE: 5
Dodgers: Chan Ho Park gets his second straight start after replacing Hiroki Kuroda in the Dodgers rotation. Park was sharp in his outing against the Indians but took a no-decision after allowing just one run in five innings. This will be Park's third start of the year in spot duty, although seeing that he's allowed just three runs in his other two appearances, he could be positioning himself for an extended stay in LA's rotation.
Dodgers are 2-9 in the last 11 meetings.
Dodgers are 2-6 in their last 8 interleague home games.
Key Injuries - NONE
PROJECTED SCORE: 3
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MLB
Friday, June 27
Updated
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Tips and Trends
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Chicago Cubs at Chicago White Sox [WGN | 4:05 PM ET]
Cubs: With Carlos Zambrano on the mend, Ryan Dempster takes over as the Cubs ace for the time being and the honor is well deserved. Dempster is 9-2 on the season and hasn't lost a decision since May 20. Dempster has been phenomenal in his last six outings, allowing just 11 runs in his last 39.1 innings of work. Dempster's two losses have come on the road this season, although he does possesses an ERA of 2.48 in six starts.
Cubs are 8-1 in the last 9 meetings.
The UNDER is 14-4-2 in Chicago's last 20 Friday games.
Key Injuries - OF Kosuke Fukudome (.299; calf) is questionable.
OF Reed Johnson (.271; back) is on the 15-day DL.
OF Alfonso Soriano (.283; broken hand) is out at least 6 weeks.
PROJECTED SCORE: 3
White Sox (-110, O/U 8.5): Jose Contreras has been hammered over his last three starts. In just 16 innings on the mound, Contreras gave up an unacceptable 30 hits and 19 runs. He's been good at home on the year, sporting a 3.04 ERA and 0.99 WHIP in seven starts. He's allowed just eight runs in his last four starts at home. Surprisingly, the UNDER is the way to go when Contreras pitches. The UNDER is 8-2 in his last 10 starts.
White Sox are 12-2 in their last 14 home games.
The UNDER is 7-1 in the last 8 meetings at U.S. Cellular Field.
Key Injuries - 1B Paul Konerko (.215; oblique) is on the 15-day DL.
PROJECTED SCORE: 6 (Side Play of the Day)
Philadelphia Phillies at Texas Rangers [8:05 PM ET]
Phillies (-115, O/U 10.5): Phillies fans must cringe every time Brett Myers takes the mound. They are just 1-9 overall in his last 10 starts and that includes four straight losses. Myers has been absolutely blistered in his last three starts, giving up 15 runs in just 19 innings pitched. Philadelphia has had no chance in Myers' road starts this year. He's 0-6 with a 7.54 ERA in eight starts away from home. Even worse, teams are hitting a robust .345 against him over that stretch.
Phillies are 1-7 in their last 8 games overall.
The UNDER is 6-0 in Philadelphia's last 6 games overall.
Key Injuries - NONE
PROJECTED SCORE: 7 (OVER - Total Play of the Day)
Rangers: Kason Gabbard hasn't pitched great in his two starts since coming off the DL but he's managed to come up with a split in games against the Mets and Nationals. This will be Gabbard's first start at home since May 18, where he has an ERA of 5.63 in three appearances this season. The OVER is 7-4 in Gabbard's 11 starts this season and has cashed in two of his three outings at home.
Rangers are 8-3 in their last 11 interleague home games.
The OVER is 7-2 in Texas' last 9 games as a home underdog.
Key Injuries - OF Josh Hamilton (.312; knee) is expected to play.
OF Milton Bradley (.330; quad) is expected to play.
C Gerald Laird (.306; hamstring) is on the 15-day DL.
PROJECTED SCORE: 6
Boston Red Sox at Houston Astros [NESN | 8:05 PM ET]
Red Sox (-160, O/U 9.5): Daisuke Matsuzaka was a perfect 8-0 before going on the DL but he was anything but perfect in his first start back against the Cardinals. He lasted just one inning versus St. Louis, allowing an alarming seven runs. The Red Sox will be looking for a much better effort out of Dice-K this time around. Matsuzaka is still unbeaten on the road with a record of 3-0 to go along with a 2.60 ERA. Two of Dice-K's last three starts have easily gone OVER the total.
Red Sox are 51-14 in their last 65 interleague games.
The OVER is 17-8-3 in Boston's last 28 Friday games.
Key Injuries - DH David Ortiz (.252; hand) is on the 15-day DL.
RP Mike Timlin (3-3; knee) is on the 15-day DL).
PROJECTED SCORE: 6
Astros: Now that Shawn Chacon is on a permanent vacation for beating up Houston's GM, Runelvys Hernandez gets his turn in the Astros rotation. Hernandez was called up from Class AAA Round Rock to face the Red Sox tonight but his spot in the rotation is far from secure. Hernandez gets his chance to prove he belongs for a Houston pitching staff in disarray right now. Hernandez was 6-3 with 3.72 ERA in 15 starts at Round Rock. This will be Hernandez's first appearance in the major leagues since 2006.
Astros are 1-7 in their last 8 games following a win.
Astros are 3-14 in their last 17 games as an underdog.
Key Injuries - NONE
PROJECTED SCORE: 4
Los Angeles Angels at Los Angeles Dodgers [10:40 PM ET]
Angels (-130, O/U 8): After a rough start against Tampa, Joe Saunders has put forth two strong efforts in a row, allowing just two runs in wins over Atlanta and Philadelphia. Saunders has been money on the road this season where he's 6-1 with a spectacular 1.89 ERA. In his one career start versus the Dodgers, Saunders got the win after giving up two runs over 7.1 innings of work. The UNDER is 7-3 in the last 10 games Saunders has started.
Angels are 10-2 in their last 12 road games.
The UNDER is 8-1 in LA's last 9 Friday games.
Key Injuries - 3B Maicer Izturis (.266; hamstring) is day-to-day.
OF Vladimir Guerrero (.290; flu) is day-to-day.
PROJECTED SCORE: 5
Dodgers: Chan Ho Park gets his second straight start after replacing Hiroki Kuroda in the Dodgers rotation. Park was sharp in his outing against the Indians but took a no-decision after allowing just one run in five innings. This will be Park's third start of the year in spot duty, although seeing that he's allowed just three runs in his other two appearances, he could be positioning himself for an extended stay in LA's rotation.
Dodgers are 2-9 in the last 11 meetings.
Dodgers are 2-6 in their last 8 interleague home games.
Key Injuries - NONE
PROJECTED SCORE: 3
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