Wednesday's Afternoon Tips
May 24, 2011
The Wednesday afternoon baseball card is loaded with eight games to wager on, including three solid matchups on the American League side. The Rays and Tigers conclude their series at Comerica Park, while the Blue Jays try to knock off the Yankees once again. We'll start in northern Ohio with the AL Central leaders going for another series victory over Boston.
Red Sox at Indians - 12:05 PM EST
The biggest surprise in baseball continues to stun fans and gamblers as the Indians close out their three-game series with the Red Sox. Cleveland claimed the first four meetings this season, but Boston bounced back with Tuesday's 4-2 triumph. The Red Sox try to get out of town with a win prior to a four-game series starting Thursday afternoon in Detroit.
Jon Lester (6-1, 3.68 ERA) has been struggling recently for the Sox by allowing 14 earned runs in his last three starts after giving up just seven earned runs in his previous six outings. The southpaw yielded a season-high 12 hits and five runs in his last trip to the mound against the Cubs, but still managed a victory as Boston rolled Chicago, 15-5. Lester is winless in his last three starts against the Indians since 2009, including a 1-0 loss at Cleveland on February 7 as a $1.75 favorite.
The Tribe counters with right-hander Mitch Talbot (1-0, 1.46 ERA), who makes his first start since April 11. In that outing, Talbot shut down the Angels by tossing eight innings of scoreless baseball in a 4-0 victory. Unfortunately, the 27-year old has missed the last six weeks with an elbow strain, but Talbot will be a regular back in the rotation. In his first start of the season, Talbot lasted 4.1 innings in an 8-4 win over the Red Sox as a $1.50 home 'dog, despite throwing 102 pitches in a no-decision.
Rays at Tigers - 1:05 PM EST
Tampa Bay looks to avoid the sweep as the Rays wrap up their road trip in the Motor City against the Tigers. Joe Maddon's team dropped five of the first seven games of this swing, including Tuesday's 7-6 defeat as road underdogs. The Rays attempt to get the offense going after scoring three runs or less in eight of the last 12 games.
Brad Penny (4-4, 4.45 ERA) has pitched splendid at home with a 3-1 record at Comerica Park, including three scoreless efforts in his last four starts. The veteran was roughed up in his previous outing at Pittsburgh, allowing five earned runs in 5.2 innings as the Tigers fell to the Pirates, 10-1. Penny is 2-2 as a favorite this season, while making his first start against the Rays since 2009 as a member of the Red Sox.
The Rays look to tread water with Andy Sonnanstine (0-1, 4.21 ERA), who has failed to put together a quality start in three outings this season. The right-hander allowed two homers and three earned runs in five innings of his last start at Florida as the Marlins scored two late runs to grab a 5-3 win. Sonnanstine hasn't faced the Tigers since 2008, as the Rays split a pair of his starts with the lone loss coming at Comerica Park.
Blue Jays at Yankees - 1:05 PM EST
Toronto has held its own against New York this season by splitting the first six meetings as the Jays try to rebound after last night's walk-off win by New York. The Jays have won three of four at home to the Tigers on Mother's Day weekend, pulling Toronto within 2 ½ games of first place in the AL East. The Yanks hope to break away from the Rays in the division with veteran Freddy Garcia taking the mound in the series finale.
Pitching at night has been a terror for Garcia (2-4, 3.12 ERA), who has won just one of five starts after the sun goes down. However, the journeyman is 1-0 in two daytime starts, while tossing 12 scoreless innings. Garcia has not received much run support as the Yankees' offense plated just three runs or less in four of his past five outings. The righty is making his second start against the Jays this season as the Yankees lost the first time around, 5-3 as $1.30 'chalk' on April 29.
JoJo Reyes (0-3, 4.07 ERA) looks to snap a 27-start winless streak that dates back to 2008 after the Toronto bullpen blew a 2-0 lead in last Friday's home defeat to Houston. The beleaguered southpaw did all he could against the Astros by tossing seven scoreless innings, only his third quality start of the season. Reyes has never faced the Yankees in his career, while the Jays are 0-4 in his four outings as an underdog of at least $1.50 this season.
May 24, 2011
The Wednesday afternoon baseball card is loaded with eight games to wager on, including three solid matchups on the American League side. The Rays and Tigers conclude their series at Comerica Park, while the Blue Jays try to knock off the Yankees once again. We'll start in northern Ohio with the AL Central leaders going for another series victory over Boston.
Red Sox at Indians - 12:05 PM EST
The biggest surprise in baseball continues to stun fans and gamblers as the Indians close out their three-game series with the Red Sox. Cleveland claimed the first four meetings this season, but Boston bounced back with Tuesday's 4-2 triumph. The Red Sox try to get out of town with a win prior to a four-game series starting Thursday afternoon in Detroit.
Jon Lester (6-1, 3.68 ERA) has been struggling recently for the Sox by allowing 14 earned runs in his last three starts after giving up just seven earned runs in his previous six outings. The southpaw yielded a season-high 12 hits and five runs in his last trip to the mound against the Cubs, but still managed a victory as Boston rolled Chicago, 15-5. Lester is winless in his last three starts against the Indians since 2009, including a 1-0 loss at Cleveland on February 7 as a $1.75 favorite.
The Tribe counters with right-hander Mitch Talbot (1-0, 1.46 ERA), who makes his first start since April 11. In that outing, Talbot shut down the Angels by tossing eight innings of scoreless baseball in a 4-0 victory. Unfortunately, the 27-year old has missed the last six weeks with an elbow strain, but Talbot will be a regular back in the rotation. In his first start of the season, Talbot lasted 4.1 innings in an 8-4 win over the Red Sox as a $1.50 home 'dog, despite throwing 102 pitches in a no-decision.
Rays at Tigers - 1:05 PM EST
Tampa Bay looks to avoid the sweep as the Rays wrap up their road trip in the Motor City against the Tigers. Joe Maddon's team dropped five of the first seven games of this swing, including Tuesday's 7-6 defeat as road underdogs. The Rays attempt to get the offense going after scoring three runs or less in eight of the last 12 games.
Brad Penny (4-4, 4.45 ERA) has pitched splendid at home with a 3-1 record at Comerica Park, including three scoreless efforts in his last four starts. The veteran was roughed up in his previous outing at Pittsburgh, allowing five earned runs in 5.2 innings as the Tigers fell to the Pirates, 10-1. Penny is 2-2 as a favorite this season, while making his first start against the Rays since 2009 as a member of the Red Sox.
The Rays look to tread water with Andy Sonnanstine (0-1, 4.21 ERA), who has failed to put together a quality start in three outings this season. The right-hander allowed two homers and three earned runs in five innings of his last start at Florida as the Marlins scored two late runs to grab a 5-3 win. Sonnanstine hasn't faced the Tigers since 2008, as the Rays split a pair of his starts with the lone loss coming at Comerica Park.
Blue Jays at Yankees - 1:05 PM EST
Toronto has held its own against New York this season by splitting the first six meetings as the Jays try to rebound after last night's walk-off win by New York. The Jays have won three of four at home to the Tigers on Mother's Day weekend, pulling Toronto within 2 ½ games of first place in the AL East. The Yanks hope to break away from the Rays in the division with veteran Freddy Garcia taking the mound in the series finale.
Pitching at night has been a terror for Garcia (2-4, 3.12 ERA), who has won just one of five starts after the sun goes down. However, the journeyman is 1-0 in two daytime starts, while tossing 12 scoreless innings. Garcia has not received much run support as the Yankees' offense plated just three runs or less in four of his past five outings. The righty is making his second start against the Jays this season as the Yankees lost the first time around, 5-3 as $1.30 'chalk' on April 29.
JoJo Reyes (0-3, 4.07 ERA) looks to snap a 27-start winless streak that dates back to 2008 after the Toronto bullpen blew a 2-0 lead in last Friday's home defeat to Houston. The beleaguered southpaw did all he could against the Astros by tossing seven scoreless innings, only his third quality start of the season. Reyes has never faced the Yankees in his career, while the Jays are 0-4 in his four outings as an underdog of at least $1.50 this season.
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