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**StarDust Bum** · 09-02-2011, 12:04 AM

Texas Rangers At Boston Red Sox MLB Betting Preview

The Texas Rangers will be looking for revenge when they visit the Boston Red Sox for a weekend series beginning Friday night.

First pitch from Fenway Park will be at 7:10 p.m. (ET). It’s an all lefty pitching matchup with Andrew Miller against Derek Holland. The odds will be released shortly.

These teams met last week in Texas and it started well for the Rangers with a 4-0 victory. However, Boston stormed back to win the next three by a combined score of 30-7.

That series was a great boost for the Red Sox’ psyche. They were just 2-11 in their prior 13 games in the Lone Star State before the barrage. They will feel much more comfortable if they return down South for a potential playoff series.

The Rangers (77-60) first have to make the postseason, holding a 3.5-game lead over the Angels in the AL West. They took two of three versus the Angels after battling Boston and are playing the rubber match with Tampa Bay on Thursday night.

Texas is a 145 favorite behind C.J. Wilson, who now won’t be available for this series.

Holland (12-5, 4.30 ERA) hasn’t faced Boston this year, most recently pitching Friday versus the Angels and allowing one run over 6 2/3 innings. It was a great performance in a big game, but he’s been streaky with several poor outings to go along with great ones.

The ‘over’ is 8-2 in Holland’s last 10 starts following a quality start.

The 24-year-old did get one start at Fenway as a rookie in 2009. He surrendered four earned runs over 4 2/3 innings in an 8-1 loss. The jitters should be less Friday than in that game and he has pitched well away (6-3, 3.76 ERA) this year.

The Red Sox (83-52) are also playing a rubber match against the Yankees on Thursday. They’re a big 200 favorite behind Jon Lester and will have the AL East lead no matter the outcome.

There’s a theory that Boston is mentally exhausted after playing these grueling Yankees series. However, the stats show the team is 7-1 in the last eight Game 1’s of a series after playing New York.

Boston should also have a big addition to the lineup on Friday in third baseman Kevin Youkilis. He’s been out since August 17 with a back injury.

Miller (6-1, 4.42 ERA) is a very interesting pitcher who was acquired from Florida after flaming out as a high No. 1 pick by the Tigers. The pressure is much less with the Red Sox as a spot starter and they’ve won nine of his 10 starts, scoring a whopping 7.9 runs per game.

The 26-year-old lefty last pitched Thursday at Texas, allowing no runs on three hits over 6 1/3 innings (6-0 win). It was his longest outing of the season and he only walked two batters. Walks have been a problem this year (5.24 per nine innings).

Miller hasn’t had a home start since July 26. His home ERA is just 6.88, but it’s a small sample size of four appearances (three starts).

The Red Sox are 14-5 in their last 19 home games against a lefty starter. The Rangers are 2-5 in their last seven road games versus a lefty.

Boston is 41-26 at home this year, but for -2.7 betting units. The home record the last 16 games is just 8-8.

Texas is 34-32 away this year (+1.2 units), but hasn’t played at Fenway. It went 4-3 there last season.

The Rangers just activated third baseman Adrian Beltre from the disabled list following his stint away with a hamstring injury. But they're still missing outfielder Nelson Cruz who is also nursing a hamstring pull. Texas has scored just three total runs in the two games since Cruz went out.

Weather should be clear and in the 60s. Saturday’s matchup is Colby Lewis against Erik Bedard.

**StarDust Bum** · 09-02-2011, 12:10 AM

Around the Horn - Friday

September 1, 2011

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Pittsburgh at Chicago - 2:20 PM EST (Game 1/3)
Teams Pitcher Notes Team Trends Betcha Didn't Know
Burres (5-9, 4.66 ERA at AAA) 1-6 L7 1-5 L6 away on Fridays
Dempster (10-10, 4.76 ERA) 2-5 L7 5-1 L6 home on Fridays

Pirates lost to Dodgers, 6-4 on Thursday
Cubs lost to Giants, 4-0 on Wednesday

N.Y. Mets at Washington - 7:10 PM EST (Game 1/3)
Teams Pitcher Notes Team Trends Betcha Didn't Know
Dickey (6-11, 3.57 ERA) 6-1 L7 10-3 L13 away Game 1's
Detwiler (2-4, 2.86 ERA) 1-7 L8 OVER 5-1 L6 home Game 1's

Mets beat Marlins, 7-5 on Thursday

Philadelphia at Florida - 7:10 PM EST (Game 1/3)
Teams Pitcher Notes Team Trends Betcha Didn't Know
Oswalt (6-8, 3.77 ERA) 6-2 L8 8-2 L10 away Game 1's
Hand (1-4, 4.08 ERA) 3-7 L10 OVER 7-1 L11 home vs division

Phillies beat Reds, 6-4 on Thursday
Marlins lost to Mets, 7-5 on Thursday

Los Angeles at Atlanta - 7:35 PM EST (Game 1/3)
Teams Pitcher Notes Team Trends Betcha Didn't Know
Billingsley (10-10, 4.08 ERA) 9-1 L10 OVER 7-2 away on Fridays
Beachy (7-2, 3.31 ERA) 7-3 L10 5-0 L5 home on Fridays

Dodgers beat Braves, 6-4 on Thursday

Milwaukee at Houston - 8:05 PM EST (Game 1/3)
Teams Pitcher Notes Team Trends Betcha Didn't Know
Greinke (13-5, 4.05 ERA) 5-5 L10 6-3 L9 away off loss
Harrell (0-0, 7.20 ERA) 5-2 L7 5-1 L6 home off win

Brewers lost to Cardinals, 8-4 on Thursday
Astros beat Pirates, 2-0 on Wednesday

Cincinnati at St. Louis - 8:15 PM EST (Game 1/3)
Teams Pitcher Notes Team Trends Betcha Didn't Know
Cueto (9-5, 2.05 ERA) 0-4 L4 6-3 L9 away off loss
Carpenter (8-9, 3.76 ERA) 7-1 L8 6-3 home on Fridays

Reds lost to Phillies, 6-4 on Thursday
Cardinals beat Brewers, 8-4 on Thursday

Colorado at San Diego - 10:05 PM EST (Game 1/3)
Teams Pitcher Notes Team Trends Betcha Didn't Know
Millwood (1-1, 4.26 ERA) 1-5 L6 UNDER 8-3 away on Fridays
Harang (12-4, 3.92 ERA) 0-7 L7 1-5 L6 home Game 1's

Rockies lost to Diamondbacks, 4-2 on Wednesday
Padres lost to Dodgers, 4-2 on Wednesday

Arizona at San Francisco - 10:15 PM EST (Game 1/3)
Teams Pitcher Notes Team Trends Betcha Didn't Know
Saunders (9-11, 3.82 ERA) 9-0 L9 5-2 L7 away Game 2's
Cain (10-9, 2.87 ERA) 5-5 L10 7-4 home on Fridays

Diamondbacks beat Rockies, 4-2 on Wednesday
Giants beat Cubs, 4-0 on Wednesday

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Toronto at N.Y. Yankees - 7:05 PM EST (Game 1/3)
Teams Pitcher Notes Team Trends Betcha Didn't Know
Morrow (9-9, 4.79 ERA) 3-5 L8 9-2 away on Fridays
Nova (14-4, 3.96 ERA) 5-5 L10 2-7 home on Fridays

Blue Jays beat Orioles, 8-6 on Thursday

Chicago at Detroit - 7:05 PM EST (Game 1/3)
Teams Pitcher Notes Team Trends Betcha Didn't Know
Danks (6-9, 3.63 ERA) 5-1 L6 8-2 L10 away off loss
Verlander (20-5, 2.38 ERA) 5-3 L8 3-7 L10 home Game 1's

White Sox lost to Twins, 7-6 on Wednesday
Tigers lost to Royals, 11-8 on Thursday

Texas at Boston - 7:10 PM EST (Game 1/3)
Teams Pitcher Notes Team Trends Betcha Didn't Know
Holland (12-5, 4.30 ERA) 3-5 L8 7-2 L9 away Game 1's
Miller (6-1, 4.42 ERA) 6-2 L8 0-6 L6 home Game 1's

Baltimore at Tampa Bay - 7:10 PM EST (Game 1/3)
Teams Pitcher Notes Team Trends Betcha Didn't Know
Britton (8-9, 4.28 ERA) 1-4 L5 5-1 L6 away Game 1's
Price (12-11, 3.40 ERA) 4-2 L6 6-1 home on Fridays

Cleveland at Kansas City - 8:05 PM EST (Game 1/3)
Teams Pitcher Notes Team Trends Betcha Didn't Know
Masterson (10-8, 2.83 ERA) 5-2 L7 OVER 7-2 away off loss
Chen (10-5, 3.94 ERA) 5-5 L10 1-5 L6 home off win

Indians lost to Athletics, 7-0 on Thursday
Royals beat Tigers, 11-8 on Thursday

Minnesota at Los Angeles - 10:10 PM EST (Game 1/3)
Teams Pitcher Notes Team Trends Betcha Didn't Know
Pavano (6-11, 4.62 ERA) 2-8 L10 0-6 L6 away off win
Weaver (15-7, 2.28 ERA) 2-4 L6 6-2 L8 home Game 1's

Twins beat White Sox, 7-6 on Wednesday

Seattle at Oakland - 10:05 PM EST (Game 1/3)
Teams Pitcher Notes Team Trends Betcha Didn't Know
Vargas (7-12, 4.52 ERA) 2-4 L6 1-7 L8 away on Game 1's
Moscoso (6-8, 3.80 ERA) 1-5 L6 OVER 5-0 L5 home Game 1's

Athletics beat Indians, 7-0 on Thursday

**StarDust Bum** · 09-02-2011, 05:53 PM

MLB Series Outlook: Chicago White Sox at Detroit

CHICAGO WHITE SOX (68-66, -3.7 Units)

at DETROIT TIGERS (75-62, +5.6 Units)

Sportsbook.com Series Line: Detroit -180, Chicago +140

Detroit looks to deliver a knockout blow in the AL Central race when it hosts the White Sox for a three-game set starting Friday night.

But while the Tigers have won an impressive 10 of 14, the White Sox have kept pace. Chicago has won five of its past six. They Sox have also been the American League’s best road team since the All-Star break, winning 14 of 20 away from home, including a series victory in Comerica Park July 15-17. They obviously have their work cut out for them against Justin Verlander on Friday, but the Sox have the pitching edge in both weekend games. The FoxSheets provide another reason why underdog CHICAGO is the pick to win the series.

CHICAGO WHITE SOX are 15-6 (71.4%, +10.2 Units) against the money line in road games vs. AL teams scoring 4.7 or less runs/game in the second half of the season this season. The average score was CHICAGO WHITE SOX 4.4, OPPONENT 2.7 - (Rating = 2*)

Pitching Probables for Friday, September 2 – 7:05 ET
Friday line: Detroit -205, Chi. White Sox +187, Total: 7
CHW: 10-12 (-3.7 Units) when John Danks starts
DET: 21-8 (+9.9 Units) when Justin Verlander starts
Danks (6-9, 3.63 ERA) is coming off his second career shutout, blanking the Mariners with a three-hitter in Seattle last Saturday, striking out 10 and walking just one. It was his third straight quality start, and his fifth in seven outings since returning from an oblique injury in mid-July. He’s posted a 2.47 ERA during that span, while the White Sox are 5-2 in his starts. However, even after the shutout in Seattle, Danks is just 2-6 with a 4.27 ERA on the road, and Chicago is 3-7 in his road outings.
Verlander (20-5, 2.38 ERA) has added to his Cy Young résumé with a personal eight-game winning streak, but his last outing wasn’t one of his best. In Minnesota on Saturday, he allowed four runs and 11 base runners over six innings against a weak Twins lineup. Verlander is 8-1 with a 1.67 ERA over his past 10 home starts (nine of them Tigers wins), but the lone loss was to the White Sox. Chicago got to him for five runs (four earned) over six innings on July 15. But Verlander is still 8-1 with a 2.67 ERA against Chicago over the past three seasons.

Pitching Probables for Saturday, September 3 – 4:10 ET
Saturday line: TBD
CHW: 13-12 (-0.8 Units) when Gavin Floyd starts
DET: 12-14 (-1.6 Units) when Brad Penny starts
After a disastrous start to August (including the Yankees torching him for 10 runs on August 3), Floyd (12-10, 4.36 ERA) has put together back-to-back strong outings. He shut out the Rangers for seven innings on August 21, then held the Mariners to two runs over 7.1 innings on Sunday. The White Sox have won seven of his eight starts since the All-Star break. He’s also been far better on the road this year, going 8-5 with a 3.08 ERA (as opposed to 4-5 with a 6.36 ERA at home). He’s 6-1 with a 3.31 ERA against Detroit over 15 career starts (11 of them White Sox wins).
Penny (9-10, 5.07 ERA) was knocked around in Minnesota on Sunday, allowing seven runs and 10 base runners over five innings. The White Sox will be a welcome site for him, though. Penny is 3-0 with a 2.89 ERA against Chicago this year. He has pitched relatively well in Comerica Park this season, where he’s posted a 4.02 ERA. However, Detroit has lost six of his past eight home outings.

Pitching Probables for Sunday, September 4 - 8:05 ET
Sunday line: TBD
CHW: 17-9 (+8.0 Units) when Mark Buehrle starts
DET: 17-11 (+3.6 Units) when Max Scherzer starts
Buehrle (11-6, 3.05 ERA) threw 7.2 shutout innings against the Twins on Monday, adding to a very nice run of starts. In his past 15 outings, he’s 7-2 with a 2.44 ERA, and Chicago is 11-4 in those games. He’s beaten the Tigers the last two times he’s faced them, though both starts were at home and neither was very impressive. He allowed five runs (three earned) and 22 base runners over 12 innings.
Scherzer (13-8, 4.52 ERA) continues to be unable to put it all together. He allowed seven runs and 10 hits—including three homers—to the Royals in an ugly home loss on Monday. But he has typically thrown better at Comerica Park this year, where he has a 4.03 ERA and the Tigers are 10-5 in his starts. Detroit is just 2-5 against the White Sox when Scherzer starts, but the righty has pitched well in those games. He has a career 2.61 ERA against Chicago, including a 1.80 ERA over his past four outings against them.

**StarDust Bum** · 09-02-2011, 05:56 PM

MLB Series Outlook: Arizona at San Francisco

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (78-59, +22.3 Units)

at SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (72-65, -5.9 Units)

Sportsbook.com Series Line: San Francisco -170, Arizona +135

The streaky Diamondbacks have gotten red-hot again. They’ll ride a nine-game winning streak into San Francisco with a chance to put the NL West away when the teams meet up for a three-game set starting Friday night.

Pitching hasn’t been a problem for the Giants, especially when Matt Cain, Tim Lincecum or Ryan Vogelsong have taken the hill, and the defending champs are 8-4 against Arizona this year. But this offense has been baseball’s worst. Since acquiring OF Carlos Beltran at the trade deadline, they’ve averaged an MLB-low 2.64 runs per game. Beltran’s DL stint for hand and wrist problems didn’t help, they’ve been even worse in the 20 games he’s been in the lineup (2.35 runs per game, 7-13 record); Beltran’s OPS is just .664 with the Giants after a .904 OPS with the Mets this year. Considering the D-backs will have their top three starters going this weekend, and they took two of three in San Francisco the last time the teams met (with the Cain-Lincecum-Vogelsong trio pitching in that series), there’s no legitimate reason the Giants should be as heavily favored as they are. The FoxSheets provide another trend siding with ARIZONA to win the series.

ARIZONA is 38-21 (64.4%, +17.6 Units) against the money line vs. terrible power teams - averaging 0.75 or less HR's/game this season. The average score was ARIZONA 4.7, OPPONENT 3.9 - (Rating = 2*).

Pitching Probables for Friday, September 2 - 10:15 ET
Friday line: San Francisco -165, Arizona +155, Total: 6.5
ARI: 13-14 (-0.1 Units) when Joe Saunders starts
SF: 15-13 (-0.3 Units) when Matt Cain starts
Saunders (9-11, 3.82 ERA) got back on track last week, throwing seven shutout innings in a victory over the Padres last Saturday. But it was the only bright spot in August, where the lefty posted a 5.04 ERA over five starts in the month. He’s 0-2 with a 5.27 ERA in two starts against the Giants, but he’s fared well on the road overall this year (6-6, 3.28 ERA).
Cain (10-9, 2.87 ERA) has delivered five consecutive quality starts, but has just one win during this streak. The Giants have lost all six of Cain’s home starts since the All-Star break despite his solid 3.63 ERA. The righty has had a lot of success against Arizona over the past two seasons, going 5-1 with a 2.92 ERA in seven outings (six San Francisco wins). But he’s allowed five runs each of the past two times he’s faced them, including a loss at home on August 1 (5.2 IP, 5 ER).

Pitching Probables for Saturday, September 3 - 9:05 ET
Saturday line: TBD
ARI: 20-8 (+12.3 Units) when Ian Kennedy starts
SF: 16-12 (-1.9 Units) when Tim Lincecum starts
Kennedy (17-4, 3.03 ERA) has pitched himself into the Cy Young conversation by going 9-1 with a 2.35 ERA over his past 10 starts. He’s given up just one run over his past two starts, dominating the Nationals and Padres. The D-backs are 10-3 in Kennedy’s road starts, and he’s posted a 0.75 ERA over three starts against San Francisco this year.
Lincecum (12-11, 2.58 ERA) is coming off a shaky outing against the Cubs at home, as he allowed five runs (four earned) over six innings in Monday’s loss. He was on a tear before that, posting a 1.17 ERA over his previous nine starts. Lincecum has actually pitched worse at home this year, where he’s 5-6 with a 3.15 ERA. He allowed two runs over seven innings in a loss to Arizona on August 2.

Pitching Probables for Sunday, September 4 – 4:05 ET
Sunday line: TBD
ARI: 17-11 (+4.6 Units) when Daniel Hudson starts
SF: 13-10 (-0.2 Units) when Ryan Vogelsong starts
Hudson (14-9, 3.61 ERA) threw seven shutout innings against the Rockies on Monday, following up a near-complete game win in Washington in his previous start. The Giants have beaten him twice in three tries this year, though they haven’t exactly lit him up. Hudson has a 3.48 ERA against the Giants and has struck out 20 in 20.2 innings.
Vogelsong (10-5, 2.63 ERA) has been a surprise success story all year, but he seems to be running out of steam. He’s 1-4 with a 4.22 ERA over his past five starts, and he’s given up an additional three unearned runs over 32 innings. He has a 2.27 ERA in 13 starts at AT&T Park this year, though he’s lost his past three home starts while posting a 5.71 ERA. He’s been effective in his two starts against the D-backs this year, allowing three runs over 12 innings while striking out 13.

**StarDust Bum** · 09-02-2011, 06:43 PM

Friday, September 2

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Chi. White Sox - 7:05 PM ET Chi. White Sox +195 500
Detroit - Under 7 500

Toronto - 7:05 PM ET NY Yankees -168 500
NY Yankees - Under 9.5 500

NY Mets - 7:05 PM ET NY Mets -103 500
Washington - Under 8 500

Texas - 7:10 PM ET Texas +125 500
Boston - Over 10.5 500

Baltimore - 7:10 PM ET Tampa Bay -210 500
Tampa Bay - Over 7.5 500

Philadelphia - 7:10 PM ET Philadelphia -157 500
Florida - Over 8 500

LA Dodgers - 7:35 PM ET LA Dodgers +150 500
Atlanta - Over 7.5 500

Milwaukee - 8:05 PM ET Houston +199 500
Houston - Over 8 500

Cleveland - 8:10 PM ET Cleveland -120 500
Kansas City - Under 8 500

Cincinnati - 8:15 PM ET Cincinnati +131 500
St. Louis - Over 7 500

Minnesota - 10:05 PM ET Minnesota +215 500
LA Angels - Under 7 500

Colorado - 10:05 PM ET San Diego -110 500
San Diego - Under 7.5 500

Seattle - 10:05 PM ET Oakland -140 500
Oakland - Under 7 500

Arizona - 10:15 PM ET [B]Arizona +153 500 [/B
]San Francisco - Over 6.5 500

**StarDust Bum** · 09-02-2011, 06:45 PM

Friday, September 2

Game Score Status Pick Amount

BC Lions - 7:30 PM ET Toronto +1 500

Toronto - Under 51 500

**StarDust Bum** · 09-02-2011, 06:51 PM

7:30 PM ETIndiana at Connecticut

Teams ROT Record Consensus Odds

IND 601 19-10 (7-7 V) - ( 151.5 UNDER )

CONN 602 18-12 (13-2 H) - ( -3 CONN )

Stats: Matchup | Preview | Trends | Line Moves My Scores
Opinion: Consensus | Team Experts

:30 PM ETWashington at Atlanta

Teams ROT Record Consensus Odds

WAS 603 6-24 (2-12 V) - ( 157.5 UNDER )

ATL 604 16-14 (8-6 H) - -12 ( Washington + 12 )

Stats: Matchup | Preview | Trends | Line Moves My Scores
Opinion: Consensus | Team Experts

8:00 PM ETSeattle at Tulsa

Teams ROT Record Consensus Odds

SEA 607 17-13 (4-11 V) - ( 140.5 UNDER )

TUL 608 3-26 (2-13 H) - 10 ( TULSA + 10 )

Stats: Matchup | Preview | Trends | Line Moves My Scores
Opinion: Consensus | Team Experts

8:00 PM ETNew York at Minnesota

Teams ROT Record Consensus Odds

NY 605 17-13 (6-9 V) - ( 149.5 OVER )

MIN 606 24-6 (13-2 H) - ( -7 MINN )

Stats: Matchup | Preview | Trends | Line Moves My Scores
Opinion: Consensus | Team Experts

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