Tweet
MLB
Monday, October 13
Guys, When the NL matchup updates, we'll re-post below.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hot Lines: Monday's best MLB bets
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tampa Bay at Boston (-175, 8.5)
As thrilled as the Tampa Bay Rays were by their extra-inning victory to even the AL championship series, the Boston Red Sox are pretty excited, too.
With the series shifting to Fenway Park for the next three games, the Red Sox look to continue their dominance in Boston on Monday in Game 3 of the ALCS as they try to prevent the Rays from building off their big win.
After the Red Sox won the series opener 2-0 in a pitcher's duel between Daisuke Matsuzaka and James Shields, the teams came out swinging in Game 2.
Boston and Tampa Bay combined for seven home runs, tying a postseason record, but the game was won on B.J. Upton's sacrifice fly in the 11th inning as the Rays outlasted the Red Sox 9-8.
"We did not want to go to Boston down 0-2," said Tampa Bay's Evan Longoria, who opened the home run barrage with a two-run shot in the first inning to snap an 0-for-13 drought.
Upton and Cliff Floyd also homered as the Rays appeared to steal away the momentum with their Game 2 win, but the Red Sox would argue they have the advantage with the next three games being at Fenway.
"Why not?" Boston's David Ortiz asked. "Return to the house. Good things happen over there."
The Red Sox had the majors' second-best home record at 56-25 this season, and have won 12 of their last 15 playoff games at Fenway.
Pick: Red Sox
Philadelphia at L.A. Dodgers (N/A)
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre has seen firsthand how effective Derek Lowe can be while pitching on short rest in the postseason.
That's why it's no surprise he'll be giving his right-hander the ball on three days' rest on Monday in Game 4 of the NL championship series, as the host Dodgers look to pull even with the Philadelphia Phillies in a series filled with heightened tension following a benches-clearing incident.
Not including starts that followed relief appearances, Lowe has only made one previous postseason start on short rest - but Torre remembers it well. At the end of a wild 2004 AL championship series, Lowe saved a depleted Boston pitching staff by starting Game 7 on just two days' rest, throwing six innings of one-hit ball at Yankee Stadium as the Red Sox beat Torre's New York club 10-3.
Perhaps that factored into Torre's thinking when he chose Lowe over veteran Greg Maddux and rookie Clayton Kershaw to start Game 4. Torre also said that the upcoming off day on Tuesday helped his decision, as Lowe would be able to pitch a possible Game 7 on full rest.
Lowe (1-1, 3.18 ERA) lost Game 1 in Philadelphia on Thursday after allowing home runs to Chase Utley and Pat Burrell in the sixth inning of Los Angeles' 3-2 defeat, but the sinker-baller won Game 1 of the Dodgers' division series against the Chicago Cubs and has a 3.32 ERA in 78 2-3 career postseason innings.
"I think he's got the mindset and the experience that makes him raise his hand any time you think about doing something like this," Torre said. "And it certainly makes my job easier as opposed to trying to talk somebody into pitching on short rest."
Pick: N/A
Monday, October 13
Guys, When the NL matchup updates, we'll re-post below.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hot Lines: Monday's best MLB bets
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tampa Bay at Boston (-175, 8.5)
As thrilled as the Tampa Bay Rays were by their extra-inning victory to even the AL championship series, the Boston Red Sox are pretty excited, too.
With the series shifting to Fenway Park for the next three games, the Red Sox look to continue their dominance in Boston on Monday in Game 3 of the ALCS as they try to prevent the Rays from building off their big win.
After the Red Sox won the series opener 2-0 in a pitcher's duel between Daisuke Matsuzaka and James Shields, the teams came out swinging in Game 2.
Boston and Tampa Bay combined for seven home runs, tying a postseason record, but the game was won on B.J. Upton's sacrifice fly in the 11th inning as the Rays outlasted the Red Sox 9-8.
"We did not want to go to Boston down 0-2," said Tampa Bay's Evan Longoria, who opened the home run barrage with a two-run shot in the first inning to snap an 0-for-13 drought.
Upton and Cliff Floyd also homered as the Rays appeared to steal away the momentum with their Game 2 win, but the Red Sox would argue they have the advantage with the next three games being at Fenway.
"Why not?" Boston's David Ortiz asked. "Return to the house. Good things happen over there."
The Red Sox had the majors' second-best home record at 56-25 this season, and have won 12 of their last 15 playoff games at Fenway.
Pick: Red Sox
Philadelphia at L.A. Dodgers (N/A)
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre has seen firsthand how effective Derek Lowe can be while pitching on short rest in the postseason.
That's why it's no surprise he'll be giving his right-hander the ball on three days' rest on Monday in Game 4 of the NL championship series, as the host Dodgers look to pull even with the Philadelphia Phillies in a series filled with heightened tension following a benches-clearing incident.
Not including starts that followed relief appearances, Lowe has only made one previous postseason start on short rest - but Torre remembers it well. At the end of a wild 2004 AL championship series, Lowe saved a depleted Boston pitching staff by starting Game 7 on just two days' rest, throwing six innings of one-hit ball at Yankee Stadium as the Red Sox beat Torre's New York club 10-3.
Perhaps that factored into Torre's thinking when he chose Lowe over veteran Greg Maddux and rookie Clayton Kershaw to start Game 4. Torre also said that the upcoming off day on Tuesday helped his decision, as Lowe would be able to pitch a possible Game 7 on full rest.
Lowe (1-1, 3.18 ERA) lost Game 1 in Philadelphia on Thursday after allowing home runs to Chase Utley and Pat Burrell in the sixth inning of Los Angeles' 3-2 defeat, but the sinker-baller won Game 1 of the Dodgers' division series against the Chicago Cubs and has a 3.32 ERA in 78 2-3 career postseason innings.
"I think he's got the mindset and the experience that makes him raise his hand any time you think about doing something like this," Torre said. "And it certainly makes my job easier as opposed to trying to talk somebody into pitching on short rest."
Pick: N/A
Comment