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**StarDust Bum** · 05-21-2010, 06:15 PM

Interleague Baseball is Back for Bettors

Can you hear the whining already, “I hate interleague play” or “Why do they play these games, nobody cares except for a few series anyways”. Of course most people complaining are either baseball purists who want every starting pitcher to throw nine innings and games to last just over two hours “just like the old days” or online sport betting fanatics who for some reason believe the game is somehow completely different.

Here’s a newsflash, you still have to outscore the other team and you have 27 outs to do so. And if you want to win your wagers, bet the American League until further notice.

The first regular season interleague game was in Texas in June 12, 1997 when San Francisco played the Rangers. The Giants defeated Texas 4-3 (with Darren Oliver the Rangers starting pitcher and he’s back with them this season as reliever) and it’s been all downhill for the National League.
In the previous 13 seasons, the AL has won the season series nine times compared to four for the NL and those from the junior circuit have won the last six in a row, proving their dominance.

The National League actually narrowed the gap last season with 114-138 record, which was better than 2008 when they were 103-149. Where everyone started to take notice of the disparity between the two leagues was 2006. After the AL had won the two previous years 262-241, they hammered the NL 154-98.

National League apologists will blame the designated hitter, more favorable matchups for their counterparts or the weather, but the fact remains over the last six years they are 671-840, .440 win percentage. The answer why for this Grand Canyon-like difference, better organizations in the American League. The top teams have advanced scouting techniques, draft players that fit particular organizations and continually seek improvement.

Those in the other league thumb their nose up at the differential in wins and losses and still live the fairy tale they are better, with nothing to suggest otherwise unless you want to use All-Star games from 20 and 30 years ago as method of deciphering difference.

Since 2005, the NL has three teams with winning records, Colorado (45-37), Florida (43-41) and St. Louis (43-41). Only the first two have shown a profit to sports bettors (the Cardinals are -0- ), though Washington’s 43-47 mark has yielded +10.91 units of profit, primarily as underdog. Over the last five seasons, a NL diehard would have had to file for bankruptcy on straight bets, losing -160.12 units.

The chart listed below covering the past three years in a good barometer to consider particular teams to wager on, because this goes back of the round-robin aspect of playing teams from the other league and divisions one time each. (Exceptions are to be made for NL teams because of imbalance of teams)

How this can be beneficial is most baseball teams are not going to change dramatically over a three year period. There are exceptions of course like Tampa Bay, but for the most part if a ball club is good, bad or .500, those numbers are reflected over three year period.

There are real jewels with betting potential to consider from this grouping. The Detroit Tigers are 37-17 (+17.6) against the NL and they’ve put together such a fine record primarily because of offense, being second in scoring (5.4 runs per game) and batting average (.294).

It will be worth watching to see the Los Angeles Angels perform. They have been among the top teams in the majors the last few seasons and that is also reflected in top interleague record of 38-16 (+18.6). With neither the hitting nor pitching up to previous standards, will that show in the Halos record vs. the National League this time around?

Boston and Minnesota have been padding their records for years against the NL (see five-year chart) and are financially dependable, with the Red Sox 38-20 (+9) and Twins 37-17 (+17.35). Minnesota pitching has really locked down NL hitters, with them totaling 3.3 RPG.

One AL club that has been under the radar is Kansas City with their 31-23 record (+11). The Royals could do some damage against the Rockies at home, having won six of eight and averaging double digit hits in that span.

The San Diego Padres are one of gigantic surprises of the 2010 season, being in first place in the NL West. If the Padres have aspirations of staying in that same location, they have to clean up their act versus the AL. The Friars might need prayers to improve baseball’s most putrid interleague record at 14-34.

One of the most befuddling NL teams when it comes to interleague action is the Los Angeles Dodgers (19-29, -12.25). Granted, part of their failures have come at the hands of the team down the road in Anaheim, nonetheless they have been a consistent loser for some time and enter this year’s foray playing well, but without all of their offensive weapons.

The one ray of sunshine for the NL has been the Cleveland Indians at 20-34 (-24.2). This year a few teams from the NL East, Pittsburgh and in-state rival Cincinnati will be able to take their shots against a team that is far removed from almost being in the World Series just a few seasons ago.

In the cell phone world of instant information and news, I have one last chart for you to peruse. This is how the teams competed last season against one another and if you prefer your information the freshest, this would work best.

In summation, if you are not an interleague fan, I have a suggestion from an old boss who said “hug the bear”. It might not be your favorite part of baseball, but if you embrace it, those preconceived notions might be broken down and with a more open mind, winning wagers could follow.

**StarDust Bum** · 05-21-2010, 06:38 PM

MLB Top Weekend Power Trends 5/21-5/23

It was 1997 when Interleague play began in Major League Baseball. Game traditionalists still bristle when they hear the term, but you have to give credit to commissioner Bud Selig for leading the noteworthy change. While the A.L. continues to seemingly pound its N.L. counterpart year-after year, the break in the regular monotony of the schedule is always much anticipated. Besides that, most of the Interleague matchups are of the regional rivalry variety, spicing up the game that much more in the months of May & June. Well, the first set of Interleague games is on tap for this weekend. Let’s take a look at a top ******* Power Trend for each of the 15 series that you’ll want to consider in your weekend wagering.

Because ******* Doug did such a thorough job on breaking down the Interleague history of the teams, we’ll get right to the trends this week, rather than detailing some of the feature matchups.

ATLANTA at PITTSBURGH

PITTSBURGH is 13-45 (-32.7 Units) against the money line vs. an NL team with a team batting average of .255 or worse over the last 2 seasons. The average score was PITTSBURGH 3.2, OPPONENT 5.7 - (Rating = 4*)

CINCINNATI at CLEVELAND

CLEVELAND is 8-19 (-13.3 Units) against the money line in home games vs. a poor bullpen whose ERA is 4.50 or worse over the last 2 seasons. The average score was CLEVELAND 3.6, OPPONENT 4.8 - (Rating = 1*)

BOSTON at PHILADELPHIA

PHILADELPHIA is 28-13 UNDER (+13.3 Units) at home with a money line of -100 to -150 over the last 2 seasons. The average score was PHILADELPHIA 4.3, OPPONENT 4.4 - (Rating = 1*)

BALTIMORE at WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON is 29-14 (+17.0 Units) against the money line vs. an AL team with a team batting average of .255 or worse since 1997. The average score was WASHINGTON 4.4, OPPONENT 3.7 - (Rating = 1*)

NY YANKEES at NY METS

NY METS are 17-33 (-18.8 Units) against the money line vs. teams outscoring opp by 1 or more runs/game on the season over the last 3 seasons. The average score was NY METS 4.2, OPPONENT 5.4 - (Rating = 1*)

TAMPA BAY at HOUSTON

TAMPA BAY is 20-5 (+11.3 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record this season. The average score was TAMPA BAY 5.6, OPPONENT 2.3 - (Rating = 1*)

CHICAGO CUBS at TEXAS

CHICAGO CUBS are 9-25 (-16.1 Units) against the money line when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 54% to 62%) over the last 2 seasons. The average score was CHICAGO CUBS 3.4, OPPONENT 5.1 - (Rating = 2*)

FLORIDA at CHI WHITE SOX

FLORIDA is 30-18 (+11.7 Units) against the money line on the road when the money line is +125 to -125 over the last 2 seasons. The average score was FLORIDA 5.1, OPPONENT 3.7 - (Rating = 1*)

COLORADO at KANSAS CITY

KANSAS CITY is 14-25 (-14.3 Units) against the money line in home games when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons. The average score was KANSAS CITY 4.6, OPPONENT 5.6 - (Rating = 1*)

MILWAUKEE at MINNESOTA

MINNESOTA is 28-13 (+21.0 Units) against the money line vs. an NL team with an on base percentage of .340 or better since 1997. The average score was MINNESOTA 5.2, OPPONENT 3.9 - (Rating = 2*)

LA ANGELS at ST LOUIS

ST LOUIS is 37-16 UNDER (+18.9 Units) vs. a poor bullpen whose ERA is 4.50 or worse over the last 2 seasons. The average score was ST LOUIS 4.0, OPPONENT 3.6 - (Rating = 2*)

TORONTO at ARIZONA

ARIZONA is 38-62 (-24.3 Units) against the money line vs. teams whose hitters strike out 7 or more times/game over the last 2 seasons. The average score was ARIZONA 4.4, OPPONENT 5.4 - (Rating = 1*)

SAN FRANCISCO at OAKLAND

SAN FRANCISCO is 52-32 UNDER (+15.7 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons. The average score was SAN FRANCISCO 4.1, OPPONENT 3.4 - (Rating = 1*)

DETROIT at LA DODGERS

LA DODGERS are 37-16 (+19.0 Units) against the money line vs. a good bullpen whose ERA is 3.75 or better over the last 2 seasons. The average score was LA DODGERS 5.2, OPPONENT 3.7 - (Rating = 1*)

SAN DIEGO at SEATTLE

SEATTLE is 27-10 UNDER (+15.6 Units) vs. a very good bullpen whose ERA is 3.33 or better over the last 3 seasons. The average score was SEATTLE 3.5, OPPONENT 3.9 - (Rating = 2*)

**StarDust Bum** · 05-21-2010, 06:39 PM

MLB Series Betting- Boston at Philadelphia

It is still a week before Memorial Day holiday weekend but a matchup of the Red Sox and Phillies invokes thoughts of postseason baseball. These two squads have become synonymous when one thinks about baseball in October with their recent history of success and World Series titles. Because of proximity, Major League Baseball has made this an annual meeting and while it won’t carry the media weight of the New York subway series, the baseball itself is arguably better, given the talent of the clubs.

Philadelphia (25-15, +2.6 units) is again perched atop the NL East, leading the league in offense at 5.5 runs per game. If the Phillies have one weakness, it’s the American League. Forget losing to the Yankees in the Fall Classic, Philadelphia has issues in the regular season. The Phils are 10-23 the last two seasons when matched against the AL and have lost five consecutive series to Boston and are 4-14 taking on the Red Sox.

Boston (22-20, -4) is not in panic mode (at least not the front office), however they do have serious concerns. The Red Sox are in fourth place in the highly competitive AL East and are 8.5 games back of front-running Tampa Bay already. Boston has had their share of injuries to players like Mike Cameron and Jacoby Ellsbury, being out of the lineup.

Nevertheless, the BoSox are averaging 5.2 runs per game, which is third in the AL and sixth on the majors, however upon closer inspection they have been held to three runs or less 17 times. Compare that to Philadelphia who has 13 such occurrences and the Rays with 12. Using the other two division leaders as a benchmark, that is four or five potential swing games that could have been victories due to offensive ineffectiveness.

Boston has been one of the best interleague teams with a 38-20 record the last three seasons and sends John Lackey (4-2, 4.86 ERA) to the mound for Game 1. Lackey’s been hit hard, allowing 11 runs in 13 innings his last two starts vs. Detroit and Toronto. He’ll look to get back on track and Lackey is 19-5 UNDER in interleague action (team’s record) with average runs scored against him of 2.8 per contest.

Sportsbook.com has Philadelphia as -141 money line favorites with total Ov9 and gives the ball to Cole Hamels (4-2, 4.29). Hamels has won his previous two starts and looks to make it three in a row for the first time in three years. The lefthander has been attempting to build his arsenal, adding a cutter. “I’m still learning when to throw it and how to throw it,” Hamels said. “It’s something that’s (based on) feel. It took me a year or two years to learn how to get the feel of the changeup.”

The Phillies will look to change ways for backers who do sports betting, since they are 1-8 at home when the American League comes calling, yet are 12-1 at Citizens Bank Park after allowing four runs or less five straight games over the last three seasons.

Game 1 Edge: Boston

This series will also feature hitters that are swinging the bat. The Sox J.D. Drew is batting .333 in his last 24 contests after slow start and has 17 RBI’s in previous 19 games. Second baseman Dustin Pedroia owns a .356 average in interleague play, which is the best all-time among players with at least 150 at-bats.

Placido Polanco has been a great fit for Philadelphia, especially at home, where he is batting .349 on the season. With him on base so frequently this sets up numerous RBI chances for Chase Utley and Ryan Howard. This is important since the Phillies are 20-6 when they score first and 5-9 when they don’t.
The middle game pitching matchup has Daisuke Matsuzaka (2-1, 7.89) facing Kyle Kendrick (2-1, 5.24). Dice-K has made four starts and in three of them has given up the one big inning which has been his demise. He needs to keep his level of concentration up like in the past, where he and his teammates are 8-2 as visitors against clubs with winning records.

Kendrick was on his game is last start, eight innings and two runs permitted against Pittsburgh. The right-hander has 2.57 ERA in his last three starts and his club is 5-1 when he’s on the mound at home.

Game 2 Edge: Philadelphia

The final encounter of the series looks like a complete mismatch. Veteran knuckleballer Tim Wakefield (0-2, 5.31) will step into the starting rotation for Josh Beckett who is on the DL with lower back strain. Wakefield hasn't won a game since July 8, 2009, but don’t blame him entirely, as he left a contest on four separate occasions with the lead, only to see his Sox teammates cough it up. Oddly, Boston is 2-9 in day games this season.

Philly looks for the doctor to make everything better. Roy “Doc” Halladay (6-2, 1.64) hasn’t given up a home run in over 32 innings, but is coming off a complete game in which he made 132 pitches. The Phillies are 9-6 under natural light, however this might not be as easy as it looks since Halladay is 14-14 with a 4.28 ERA vs. Boston in his career.

This is the TBS Sunday afternoon contest at 1:35 Eastern.

Game 3 Edge: Philadelphia

My predictions for series haven’t been very stellar and it’s not a good idea to bet against a streak, yet the Phillies are due for bust out and would be expected to show personal pride. They have the advantage in two of the pitching matchups, with the opener a tossup and this Boston team has not shown to be as good as recent models. Here is a somewhat shaky vote for Philadelphia to end series drought over the Red Sox.

Sportsbook.com series odds: Boston +170, Philadelphia -220

**StarDust Bum** · 05-21-2010, 06:40 PM

Chicago favored at home to take commanding lead

CHICAGO (AP)—Dave Bolland has turned into a real bother for the San Jose Sharks. The pesky Blackhawks center has been making it difficult for San Jose’s top line, helping Chicago to a 2-0 lead in their Western Conference finals matchup with Game 3 on Friday night. Star center Joe Thornton slashed Bolland in frustration before a faceoff in Game 2 and the two got tangled up earlier in the game.

Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville is expected to match the line of Bolland, Kris Versteeg and Andrew Ladd against Thornton’s line, which has also included Patrick Marleau and Dany Heatley. Whatever Quenneville and the Blackhawks are doing is working: San Jose, the top seed in the West, has only three goals so far in the series.

Coach Todd McLellan acknowledged Thursday he might do some mixing and shifting of his own to try and get the Sharks’ offense untracked. It could still come down to finding a way to solve the Blackhawks’ checking line led by Bolland.

“Joel is very good at it. He has a ton of trust and belief in the Bolland line,” McLellan said. “I don’t think that’s going to change here at all in Chicago. In fact, it will probably be easier for them now because of last change.

“But the simple fact is, if our big line ends up on the ice against those three, they have to find a way to outplay them. There’s nothing that we can continually do to get away from it. They’re going to be up against them. At the end of the night, they have to find a way to be productive.” San Jose is merely 11-15 after scoring two goals or less in two straight games.

Bolland was also a pain for the Canucks and the Sedin twins in the second round, and he scored a key short-handed goal on a breakaway in the clincher against Vancouver. But it’s his defense that has helped the Blackhawks get within two wins of their first Stanley Cup finals appearance since 1992.

“Bollie? I don’t know, he’s always in their face, always seems to be around the puck and in the piles. He just has a knack for doing it,” Ladd said. “He’s very laid back. Nothing really rattles him. He just keeps going, digging and digging.” Chicago is 16-5 in last 21 appearances.

Bolland is often reserved off the ice but can be terrier-like on the ice, nipping at the heels and making forward movement difficult. He calls it a privilege to play against a top line and whatever he can do to disrupt is what he’s aiming for. “When I know I’m in someone’s head, that’s good.

I don’t know what I do to get in his head, but its fun. It’s good,” Bolland said. “There is a bit of an energy that comes to me when it does happen. …”

Despite the skirmishes in Game 2, the 6-foot-4, 230-pound Thornton said Thursday that the 6-foot, 181-pound Bolland is not getting under his skin.
“I don’t find him very irritating,” Thornton said, whose club is 4-9 off two or more consecutive home losses.

“I think the biggest thing with him, he’s got so much offensive ability, but he plays really well both ways,” teammate Patrick Kane said of Bolland.

Bolland was limited to 39 games in the regular season after surgery in November to repair a herniated disc in his back. He didn’t return until early February and it took a while to acclimate himself. “I’ve never been off, in my whole career, for three months, three-and-a-half months,” he said. “To do that and to come back, just to find out my speed, get my strength back and everything. It was tough.”

Now he’s playing his best hockey at the most important time. “That’s what he’s been doing pretty much the whole playoffs. Saw it against the Sedins and you saw it in the last game against Thornton,” Chicago’s Patrick Kane said. The Blackhawks are 26-7 with a pair of days off between games.

If the Blackhawks have slowed San Jose’s top line—Marleau had both goals for the Sharks in Game 2—San Jose’s second line featuring Joe Pavelski has been even quieter. Pavelski has nine goals and six assists entering the series, but his line was scoreless in the first two games.

“We’ve been cold here the last few games. We’ve got to keep getting opportunities. It’s all about the finish now,” Pavelski said. We don’t want to go down 3-0. History tells you that. It will be important to get off to a good start. We got to find a way to win.”

Chicago is a -155 money line favorite at Sportsbook.com, with total Ov5.5. The Blackhawks have been impregnable after permitting two or less goals in consecutive contests with 10-0 record and are 18-10 OVER having won four of five. San Jose can’t waste any time, this is truly a must win and they are 13-5 in the third game of a playoff series and 18-6 UNDER in road games off two or more consecutive home defeats.

The VERSUS Network and TSN have the Game 3 action starting at 8:00 Eastern.

**StarDust Bum** · 05-21-2010, 06:43 PM

Can the Sharks win in Chicago?

The Sharks have been dogged by a past that has earned them the mantle of being “underachievers.” But times appeared to be changing this season after they dropped the Red Wings in five games during the second round.

Two games into the Western Conference Final against the Blackhawks and San Jose’s fans and bettors alike are beginning to feel like they got conned. Now the Sharks, down two-games-to-none, must try to their hopes alive by winning Game 3 in Chicago.

If you’re looking at the stats, then you can see the Sharks are at least trying to make something happen on the attack. They took 45 shots on goal in Game 1 and another 27 in the second game of the series. And what do the kids from Silicon Valley have to show for those cannon shots? Three goals…three freaking goals.

Normally you’ll blame Patrick Marleau along with Joe Thornton for all of San Jose’s past playoff flameouts. But Marleau has actually made himself useful in scoring two goals on the three shots he’s fired against Chicago. Thornton, however, has done his usual disappearing act with just five shots to his credit. Dany Heatley has taken Marleau’s place as a non-factor so far with just one assist to show for his work.

As bad as the effort has been by the Sharks’ top players, some of their woes can be attributed to some fantastic goaltending. Antti Niemi has been on fire between the pipes for Chicago in the last two rounds of the playoffs. He’s posted a 2.15 goals against average and an impressive .930 save percentage since May 3 at home against Vancouver.

What could be problematic for Niemi is his play during the playoffs at the United Center. The Finnish backstop is just 3-3 in six home postseason tests, posting a 2.82 GAA and surprisingly lackluster .887 save percentage.

Niemi does have the advantage of having one of the better attacks in front of him for the playoffs. Jonathan Toews has rolled up seven goals during the postseason, while Patrick Kane has lit the lamp seven times on his own in this tournament. Someone who has come out of nowhere to become an X-Factor for the ********* is right winger Dustin Byfuglien. The Minnesota native has scored all six of his goals in Chicago’s last six games. Plus, Byfuglien is riding a three-game goal scoring streak.

That trio of strikers has made Evgeni Nabokov’s life a living hell. Nabby has stopped 91 percent of the shots he’s seen in the playoffs with a 2.53 GAA. Yet Nabokov can’t help but give up some really weak goals. It may sound like opinion, but San Jose’s goalie has surrendered about four softies to the ‘Hawks in this season.

The oddsmakers aren’t liking the Sharks’ chances in Game 3 as they’ve tabbed Chicago as a $1.55 home “chalk” (risk $155 to win $100) with a total of 5 ½.

This is a rough spot for gamblers to want to back San Jose. Over the last five season, the Sharks have gone 3-6 in games as road pups when they have scored two goals or less in back-to-back tilts. The ‘over’ is 7-2 in those games.

Chicago has been a great wager when posted as a home favorite after giving up two or fewer goals in back-to-back contests, evidenced by a 12-4 mark. The ‘under’ is 10-5-1 for the Blackhawks in this spot.

Gamblers can always take the Sharks on the puck line (+1 ½-goals) at minus-220 (risk $220 to win $100). While that is a lot of money to lay down at the betting shop, it isn’t a bad risk. That’s because Chicago has only covered the puck line in (-1 ½-goals) in three of its last 10 home games after giving up two or fewer goals in its past two fixtures.

**StarDust Bum** · 05-21-2010, 06:45 PM

Diamond Trends - Friday

Rays at Astros - The Rays are 0-8 since May 12, 2009 as a road favorite when they won by one run in their starter's last start for a net profit of $935 when playing against. The League is 0-13 since July 24, 2009 as a 140+ dog after a loss in which they allowed 6 or fewer hits and it is the first game of a series for a net profit of $1300 when playing against. The Astros are 0-8 since September 20, 2009 after a loss in which their opponent left 18+ men on base for a net profit of $850 when playing against.

Giants at Athletics - The Giants are 6-0 since June 09, 2009 after a loss in which their opponent left 18+ men on base and it is the first game of a series for a net profit of $650. The Athletics are 7-0 since June 06, 2009 when Trevor Cahill starts at home within 20 cents of pickem vs a team that has hit more grounders than fly balls season-to-date for a net profit of $745.

Angels at Cardinals - The Angels are 6-0 since May 19, 2009 on the road when their starter went at least eight innings in his last start after a win for a net profit of $660. The Cardinals are 7-0 since April 10, 2009 as a favorite when they are off a win in which they came back from a deficit and it is the first game of a series for a net profit of $700.

Blue Jays at Diamondbacks - The Diamondbacks are 9-0 since April 27, 2009 as a 140+ favorite and it is the first game of the series for a net profit of $900. The Diamondbacks are 9-0 since May 23, 2009 when Dan Haren starts as a favorite after his team lost the last time he started for a net profit of $900.

Tigers at Dodgers - The Tigers are 0-11 since April 17, 2009 as a road dog after a win and it is the first game of the series for a net profit of $1100 when playing against. The Dodgers are 6-0 since May 07, 2010 when they are off a win in which they never trailed for a net profit of $680. The Dodgers are 0-6 since July 17, 2009 when Chad Billingsley starts as a favorite after his team won the last time he started for a net profit of $850 when playing against.

Reds at Indians - The Reds are 12-0 since September 01, 2009 within 20 cents of pickem after scoring 6+ runs for a net profit of $1230. The Reds are 6-0 since September 05, 2009 on the road vs a team that has lost at least their last three games for a net profit of $820. The Indians are 0-11 since August 14, 2009 as a dog after a loss and it is the first game of the series for a net profit of $1100 when playing against.

Padres at Mariners - The Padres are 3-0 since September 04, 2009 when Wade LeBlanc starts on the road after going at least 6 innings and giving up 6 or fewer hits for a net profit of $510. The Mariners are 6-0 since May 30, 2009 when their starter went at least eight innings in his last start after a win for a net profit of $635.

Yankees at Mets - The Yankees are 0-6 since August 17, 2009 on the road after a loss and it is the first game of the series for a net profit of $835 when playing against. The Mets are 9-0 since September 20, 2009 at home after a win in which they had fewer team-left-on-base than their opponent for a net profit of $950.

Orioles at Nationals - The Orioles are 0-8 since April 17, 2009 as a dog after a 5+ run loss and it is the first game of a series for a net profit of $800 when playing against. The Nationals are 7-0 since September 28, 2009 at home after a loss in which they had a higher team-left-on-base than their opponent for a net profit of $815. The Nationals are 0-8 since May 15, 2009 at home vs a team that has lost at least their last two games and it is the first game of a series for a net profit of $810 when playing against.

Red Sox at Phillies - The Red Sox are 0-6 since September 04, 2009 on the road after a win and it is the first game of the series for a net profit of $740 when playing against. The Phillies are 6-0 since September 01, 2009 when Cole Hamels starts after throwing more than 100 pitches and on the road for a net profit of $650.

Braves at Pirates - The Braves are 8-0 since May 06, 2009 as a road 140+ favorite when they won the last two games their starter started for a net profit of $800. The League is 0-13 since July 24, 2009 as a 140+ dog after a loss in which they allowed 6 or fewer hits and it is the first game of a series for a net profit of $1300 when playing against. The Pirates are 5-0 since May 02, 2009 when Ross Ohlendorf starts as a home dog after a quality start for a net profit of $590.

Cubs at Rangers - The Cubs are 0-8 since May 09, 2009 as a dog after a loss in which they drew 1 or fewer walks for a net profit of $800 when playing against. The Cubs are 5-0 since August 23, 2009 as a road dog vs a team that has won at least their last two games for a net profit of $690.

Rockies at Royals - The Rockies are 0-9 since July 18, 2009 on the road when they won by one run in their starter's last start for a net profit of $1015 when playing against. The Royals are 7-0 since April 13, 2009 at home when they are off a win in which they came back from a deficit and it is the first game of a series for a net profit of $795. The Royals are 0-7 since May 29, 2009 when Brian Bannister starts in the first game of a series for a net profit of $725 when playing against.

Brewers at Twins - The Brewers are 0-7 since May 22, 2009 after a one run win and it is the first game of a series for a net profit of $700 when playing against. The Brewers are 0-8 since September 02, 2009 when David Bush starts as a dog after his team lost the last time he started for a net profit of $800 when playing against. The Twins are 6-0 since August 31, 2009 when Nick Blackburn starts at home vs a team that has hit more grounders than fly balls season-to-date for a net profit of $615.

Marlins at White Sox - The Marlins are 5-0 since May 08, 2009 on the road when they are off a loss in which they held the lead and it is the first game of a series for a net profit of $730. The Marlins are 6-0 since April 28, 2009 when Ricky Nolasco starts on the road vs a team that has averaged fewer than six strikeouts per game. for a net profit of $720.

**StarDust Bum** · 05-21-2010, 06:46 PM

Friday Tips

Like it or not, the first round of interleague begins this weekend in Major League Baseball. This is basically the appetizer before we see two straight weeks of interleague play in the middle of June. Several of the standard rivalries take place including the battle of Ohio, the Beltway Series, the battle by the Bay, and the Subway Series. We'll start in Flushing with the struggling Mets taking on the Yankees.

Yankees at Mets - 7:10 PM EST

The Big Apple rivals play the first of six games in interleague on Friday at Citi Field. The Yanks captured five of six meetings last season, including a three-game sweep on the road. Javier Vazquez looks to turn around his luck, while Hisanori Takahashi gets the ball for the Mets.

Vazquez (2-4, 8.01 ERA) has been the weak link of the Yankees' rotation, as New York is 2-5 in his seven starts. The veteran turned in a scoreless performance his last time out; granted, it was a strikeout in relief against the Red Sox, but it's a start. Vazquez's last start was his best of the season, going seven innings in a 2-0 loss at Detroit, scattering two earned runs and five hits. That start actually improved his road ERA to 7.48, while the loss to the Tigers was his first quality start of 2010.

Takahashi (3-0, 3.12 ERA) takes the place of the injured Jonathon Niese as the lefty makes his first start of the season. The Mets are running out of options in their rotation, as Takahashi turned in his second-longest outing of the season with a three-inning performance at Florida last Sunday.

The Mets struggled in many facets last season, as Jerry Manuel's team went 5-10 in interleague, including batting a league-worst .232. The Yankees weren't impressive with a 10-8 mark, but half the wins came against the Mets. Nine of the last 11 meetings have been won by the road team, while five of the previous six matchups at Citi Field have finished 'under' the total.

Red Sox at Phillies - 7:10 PM EST

A pair of four-win pitchers get together when Boston and Philadelphia hook up for a three-game set at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies are coming off a split against the Cubs, while the Red Sox are 2-6 the last eight games away from Fenway Park.

Cole Hamels (4-2, 4.29 ERA) has turned things around following a tough 2010 campaign, coming off a win in his last start at Milwaukee. The former World Series MVP has allowed six earned runs in his previous three outings (19.2 innings), as the Phillies are 3-0 his last three trips to the mound. Hamels beat the Red Sox in his lone start against Boston back in 2008 by scattering seven hits and two earned runs in seven innings of work.

The Sox counter with John Lackey (4-2, 4.86 ERA), who is coming off a pair of tough starts against the Tigers and Blue Jays. Lackey gave up 17 hits and 11 earned runs in those two outings, but the Sox managed a split of those games. Dating back to 2003, the Angels went 16-4 in Lackey's 20 starts against National League opponents, while 13 of those games finished 'under' the total.

Boston grabbed two of three from Philadelphia in 2009, while going 13-3 in the series dating back to 2004. The Phillies struggled in interleague last season with a 6-12 ledger, the most losses of any NL team.

Angels at Cardinals - 8:15 PM EST

These two teams meet up for the first time since 2007, as the Angels play in their third different city since Monday. The Cardinals managed a split against the Marlins on Thursday, while cashing their seventh 'under' in eight games.

Former Cardinal Joel Pineiro (3-4, 3.71 ERA) faces his old squad in the series opener, as the righty has delivered three terrific starts in a row. Pineiro hasn't allowed a run in either of his last two outings, home wins over the Rays and A's. The righty has pitched in three tough ballparks this season with a victory over the Yankees, but also dropping decisions at Boston and Detroit. The Cardinals finished 8-8 in Pineiro's 16 home starts last season, but St. Louis lost each of his last four outings.

Brad Penny (3-4, 2.73 ERA) started the season on fire, but has quickly cooled off with St. Louis losing each of his last four outings. Penny has compiled quality starts in seven of eight trips to the mound, as the veteran was knocked around to the tune of 13 hits and seven earned runs in five innings of a 7-2 setback at Cincinnati his last time out. Six of Penny's eight outings have finished 'under' the total, with the Cardinals averaging two runs/game in his starts. Penny faced the Angels twice last season as a member of the Red Sox, splitting a pair of one-run decisions, while going six innings each time.

The Cardinals and Angels have played just six times with all six meetings coming in Eastern Missouri. The Halos took two of three back in 2007, as all three matchups finished 'over' total. Los Angeles owned the best interleague record in baseball last season by winning 14 of 18 games against NL opponents.

**StarDust Bum** · 05-21-2010, 06:47 PM

Bullpen Issues

Bullpen pitching can be an overlooked aspect in baseball handicapping but it can prove to be critically important as many games are decided in the final innings and in this era of baseball, few starters go the distance. A quick glance at the overall season team bullpen statistics can be helpful, but it can be more important to find out which teams are on the verge of trouble. Teams like Milwaukee and Arizona have displayed very clear problems in the late innings but here are a few other teams that could be in line for some bullpen issues in the coming weeks even if the statistics do not look overly negative at this point.

Colorado Rockies: Statistically, Colorado has received very solid late-inning work with a 3.25 bullpen ERA, but Rockies relievers are just 4-8 on the season as this is a team that has lost a lot of close games. Incumbent closer Huston Street has been on the disabled list all season long and he had a recent setback as he was taken out of a minor league appearance with a groin strain. It is not expected to be a major issue, but it is another hurdle that the Rockies will face once they attempt to bring him back to the big league level. That transition can always be difficult and the primary closer in the first month of the season, Franklin Morales has hit the DL as well. Manny Corpas appears to be taking over the role for the time being and as a team, the Rockies have only converted five save opportunities all year. Colorado’s overall bullpen numbers have been helped tremendously by Joe Beimel with a 0.63 ERA and Matt Belisle with a 2.77 ERA. Rafael Betancourt has struggled and the bullpen has seen a lot of strain in recent weeks.

Jason Hammel and Greg Smith have not pitched well in starting roles which has led to some longer stretches of relief work. With Jorge De La Rosa on the DL and Jeff Francis just now working his way back into the rotation, this is a unit that could continue to have a major workload in the coming weeks. If the closer situation becomes a greater issue, this is a team that could fail to meet high expectations. Already, the Rockies have appeared to underachieve despite getting strong relief pitching so there is a real risk for this projected NL contender.

Seattle Mariners: At first glance, it appears that all of Seattle’s problems have been on offense as the Mariners have an average 3.82 bullpen ERA and closer David Aardsma has only blown two saves while featuring a very respectable ERA. Seattle’s starting pitching has been very good, however, as Cliff Lee has enjoyed strong results in his return and Doug Fister and Jason Vargas have both delivered impressive starts to the season. Felix Hernandez has not been quite as sharp as last season as the ace of this team, but he has still pitched fairly well. Ryan Rowland-Smith is struggling, but with four of the five starters throwing well, Seattle should have a much better record at this point in the season. In reality, the Mariners have one of the worst records in baseball and in a season that opened with high expectations Seattle has to be considered one of the most disappointing teams in the league.

A big reason for the struggles has been eleven losses by Mariners relievers as few of the middle-inning pitchers are getting the job done. Brandon League was a big pick-up from Toronto in the off-season, but he has already been credited with blowing three save situations and opponents have had success against him. Veteran Jesus Colome also has very average numbers and newcomer Kanekoa Texeira has been unspectacular. Moving Ian Snell into a long relief role has also failed to provide positive results. There is no glaring example to point at for the Seattle struggles in the bullpen, but given the low-scoring ballpark and how well the starters have thrown the bullpen has not done its job to seal up enough wins. The frustration will continue to build if more quality starts are wasted and with a limited track record of success for Fister and Vargas, the bullpen could be headed for more issues if the workload increases.

New York Yankees: New York is going to continue to win games, but surpassing the Rays and running away in the American League will be difficult to do unless the bullpen shows some improvement. New York had a lot of success in the late innings on the championship run last season, but the loss of Phil Coke and Phil Hughes from the bullpen has had an impact. Hughes has had great success in a starting role so far this season, but the Yankees have not been able to replace his set-up role. Joba Chamberlain’s move back to the bullpen has not been smooth and even Mariano Rivera has ran into some recent problems. Alfredo Alceves has shined in the bullpen, but he is mainly used in very specific situations and he is now on the disabled list. Sergio Mitre has also proved to be an effective long relievers and spot starter. The rest of the pen has provided marginal results, however. David Robertson has been among the biggest disappointments with an 8.49 ERA and two losses after a great 2009 season. Picking up Chan Ho Park has not helped the cause and Damaso Marte does not appear to have found his form yet.

Rivera should be fine as he has been hammered in his last two appearances, but he did not allow a run in his first twelve games. Chamberlain could prove to be a dilemma as the talented pitcher who had such great results early in his career has not been able to find a comfortable role on this team. He will continue to face scrutiny and eventually the team will be forced to make a decision with him if he continues to struggle. New York has a 4.21 bullpen ERA for the season and that number has been on the rise. The numbers are particularly poor at home with a bullpen ERA of over 6.00. New York will still likely be a playoff contender, but these are issues that the team did not have much of last season and could be the difference in preventing another possible championship year.

Cincinnati Reds: The Reds have used late game heroics in the last two weeks to charge to the top of the NL Central standings. Cincinnati has a solid team and there is a chance this year’s version will stick around in contention, but the bullpen appears to still be an obstacle in those hopes. The Reds are getting excellent starting pitching with Johnny Cueto and Mike Leake delivering somewhat unexpected great starts to the season. Veterans Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo lack strong numbers, but both have at least ate up their share of innings. Homer Bailey has also taken some positive steps. With Aroldis Chapman in waiting, Cincinnati could prove to have a very solid rotation. The bullpen might appear to be in fine hands with closer Francisco Cordero off to a steady start with a 3.15 ERA while converting 13 of 15 save situations. Veteran Arthur Rhodes continues to be highly effective with a 0.60 ERA in 16 appearances so far this season, but the bright spots end there.

The biggest disappointment for the Reds has been Nick Masset, who was a dominant set-up man last year. In 20 appearances, he has a 6.63 ERA so far this season, nearly triple his mark from last year. Getting that bridge to Cordero will be vitally important for Cincinnati and the candidates to get it done have struggled. Mike Lincoln has been very average and while Micah Owings is 3-0 he has not been reliable. Logan Ondrusek and Carlos Fisher also have disastrous numbers in limited showings. Cincinnati has received great starting pitching in the last few weeks to make a big move in the standings, but once that run of success ends the bullpen will feel the effect. With a 4.82 bullpen ERA for the season the Reds have poor relief pitching numbers, even though they only have blown four save opportunities and relievers own a 10-6 record.

**StarDust Bum** · 05-21-2010, 06:48 PM

Interleague Results (1997-2008)

AMERICAN LEAGUE RESULTS (1997-2009)
AL TEAMS W-L 2006 2007 2008 2009
Baltimore Orioles 92-122 9-9 6-12 11-7 11-7
Boston Red Sox 117-97 16-2 12-6 11-7 11-7
Chicago White Sox 118-97 14-4 4-14 12-6 11-6
Cleveland Indians 109-105 8-10 8-8 6-12 5-13
Detroit Tigers 114-100 15-3 14-4 13-5 10-8
Kansas City Royals 100-114 10-8 10-8 13-5 8-10
LA Angels of Anaheim 116-99 7-11 14-4 10-8 14-4
Minnesota Twins 123-90 16-2 11-7 14-4 12-6
New York Yankees 124-88 10-8 10-8 10-7 10-8
Oakland Athletics 124-91 8-10 10-8 10-8 5-13
Seattle Mariners 118-97 14-4 9-9 9-9 11-7
Tampa Bay Rays 88-111 11-7 7-11 12-6 13-5
Texas Rangers 106-109 7-11 11-7 10-8 9-9
Toronto Blue Jays 101-113 9-9 10-8 8-10 7-11
AL Totals 1,650-1,515* 154-98 137-115 137-115 137-114

NATIONAL LEAGUE RESULTS (1997-2009)
NL TEAMS W-L 2006 2007 2008 2009
Arizona Diamondbacks 81-94 4-11 8-7 6-9 5-10
Atlanta Braves 106-93 5-10 4-11 8-7 7-8
Chicago Cubs 84-88 4-11 8-4 6-9 7-7
Cincinnati Reds 79-96 6-9 7-11 9-6 6-9
Colorado Rockies 85-96 11-4 10-8 7-8 11-4
Florida Marlins 111-93 9-9 9-9 5-10 10-8
Houston Astros 94-94 7-11 9-9 7-11 6-9
Los Angeles Dodgers 91-103 5-10 5-10 5-10 9-9
Milwaukee Brewers 79-93 6-9 8-7 7-8 5-10
New York Mets 102-97 6-9 8-7 9-6 5-10
Philadelphia Phillies 92-110 5-13 8-7 3-15 6-12
Pittsburgh Pirates 63-105 3-12 5-10 5-9 8-7
St. Louis Cardinals 93-85 5-10 6-9 7-8 9-6
San Diego Padres 83-111 7-8 6-9 3-15 5-10
San Francisco Giants 98-99 8-7 5-10 6-12 9-6
Washington Nationals** 106-108 7-11 9-9 8-10 7-11
NL Totals 1,514-1,650 98-154 115-137 36-49 114-137

* Milwaukee's 1997 W-L record (8-7) is reflected in the AL totals

** Formerly the Montreal Expos

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