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Red Sox Open Huge Series At NY Yankees

The New York Yankees clinched the American League East title with a doubleheader sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday. Believe it or not, that was good news for the Boston Red Sox who begin a 3-game set in the Bronx against their hated rivals on Friday.

Red Sox fans are certainly never happy to hear "Yankees" and "win" in the same sentence. And bettors who are left holding worthless AL East tickets on Boston aren't too pleased.

But New York's twinbill broom job over Tampa Bay did help the Red Sox maintain a 2.5-game lead in the AL Wild Card race over both the Rays and Angels heading into play Thursday. The series finale between the Yanks and Rays was still pending with Tampa Bay -140 on the MLB odds board behind rookie fireballer Matt Moore.

A second benefit to Boston in New York sewing the division up could come this weekend when Yankees manager Joe Girardi is likely to start resting some of his regulars.

Now, if Mother Nature will cooperate, the Red Sox could be set to take back real control of their playoff hopes in Friday's series opener in New York (7:05 p.m. ET). Boston will send Jon Lester to the mound, with the southpaw looking for his third win in as many starts this season at Yankee Stadium.

Lester (16-13, 3.15) will be out to stop a short 2-game skid when he hits the bump, both of the losing starts coming against the Rays. He surrendered eight runs, all earned, in the 11 combined innings against Tampa Bay, and the Sox have won just once in Lester's four September outings.

Boston has also dropped Lester's last two assignments against the Yankees, both of those games taking place at Fenway Park. He faced the Yankees twice here in New York over about a three week span back in May-June, and while he was far from untouchable (12 IP, 7 ER), Lester picked up the win both times.

Who Lester faces in Friday's contest remains a bit of a mystery with New York yet to name its starting hurler. Wednesday's doubleheader and Phil Hughes' recent back trouble have Girardi's rotation in flux, and it's unclear if Freddy Garcia (14-10, 3.77) will take his regular turn in this game.

Garcia has posted something akin to batting practice stats his last three starting assignments, with New York's lineup bailing him out on two of those occasions. The opposition has accumulated 21 hits off Garcia in his last 12 1/3 innings, six of those going into the bleachers, plus six walks.

The right-hander has also taken a beating twice this season at home against Boston, serving up three homers and allowing eight earned runs in the seven combined innings.

Girardi used eight different hurlers in Wednesday's first game against the Rays after Hughes wasn't able to answer the call. The Yankees skipper could resort to something similar on Friday night if he wants to skip Garcia's turn.

There's also the issue of rain to consider, with the current forecast calling for a 70-80 percent chance of precipitation in the Big Apple on Friday. Temperatures are expected to hover in the upper-60s most of the day.

The series continues Saturday afternoon in a FOX broadcast. Tim Wakefield gets the call for Terry Francona's club against New York's AJ Burnett. Neither team has made an official announcement regarding their starters in Sunday's finale.

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SF Giants In Do-Or-Die At Arizona Diamondbacks

The San Francisco Giants are running out of time heading into the desert to start a three-game National League West series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Friday night’s first pitch is scheduled for 9:40 (ET) at Chase Field.

San Francisco entered play Thursday 5 ½-games back of division-leading Arizona, which has likely shifted the team’s focus in trying to catch the Atlanta Braves for the Wild Card spot. The Giants are not alone in that race, as they are in third-place behind the St. Louis Cardinals who were 1½-games behind Atlanta for the final spot in the NL playoffs.

Last year’s World Series champions aren’t going down without a fight, posting a 12-6 record in September, including wins in nine of the last 10 games. San Francisco will enter the series opener with six games remaining on its schedule.

Eric Surkamp (2-0, 2.95 ERA) is scheduled to make his fifth start of the 2011 campaign, and he's helped lead the Giants to wins in all four of his previous outings. He received a no-decision in the team’s 6-5 road win over Colorado in his last effort, giving up a single run and three hits over 4 2/3 innings.

The rookie left-hander has been pretty fortunate with his results thus far, as he’s issued 11 walks and registered just 10 strikeouts in 21 1/3 frames. Opponents are hitting .266 against him.

He will be making his first career start versus the Arizona Diamondbacks, bringing in a 1-0 mark and 3.72 ERA in two career starts on the road.

Bettors will find that the Giants are 4-14 in their last 18 series-opening games, while the ‘over’ is 5-2 in their last seven games in that particular situation.

Arizona picked up two of three games against the Pittsburgh Pirates in its latest home series, including an 8-5 win Wednesday. The Diamondbacks have trimmed their magic number to two in hopes of winning their first division title since 2007.

Much of the club’s success has been attributed to a starting rotation that has accumulated 960 1/3 innings, second in the league behind only the Philadelphia Phillies.

It doesn’t stop there due to the bullpen boasting a 3.67 ERA, which is a dramatic improvement from the 5.82 mark it finished with in 2010. Arizona is 81-0 this season when leading after eight innings.

Josh Collmenter (9-10, 3.42 ERA) is the more experienced rookie that will take to the mound in this contest, but will be looking for his first win since August 31. He has worn down in the season’s final month, coming in with an 0-2 mark and 5.19 ERA in three starts.

The right-hander has still been a solid option at home, posting an 8-4 record and 3.38 ERA, issuing just 11 walks and compiling 47 strikeouts in 72 innings of work.

Collmenter will be making his third appearance (second start) against the Giants, entering with a 1-1 record and 6.43 ERA, including a 6-5 home loss on June 14 (5 IP, 5 ER).

The Diamondbacks are 3-8 following a day off this season and the ‘over’ is 5-1 in the last six meetings between these division rivals.

With temperatures still in excess of 100 degrees in the Phoenix area, it’s likely that the Chase Field roof will be closed for the entire series.

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CFL Betting Notes - Week 13

September 20, 2011

The 2011 CFL regular season has begun to really heat up as teams continue to jockey for position for a run at this year’s Grey Cup. Last Friday, Edmonton moved back into a tie for the lead in the West Division with a 38-23 upset of Hamilton as a 4 ½-point road underdog. Saturday’s double-header kicked-off with Saskatchewan outlasting Toronto 30-20 as an eight-point home favorite. In the nightcap, British Columbia shocked Calgary 32-19 as a four-point road underdog. Winnipeg wrapped-up Week 12 with yet another upset as it knocked-off Montreal 25-23 as an eight-point road underdog to extend its lead over the Alouettes to two games in the East.
The following is brief preview of this week’s games along with the opening point spread and ‘over/under’ lines as provided by BetOnline.com.

Friday, September 23

Montreal Alouettes (-1) at Edmonton Eskimos Over/Under (54)

Montreal’s quest for a third-straight CFL title keeps hitting bumps in the road as it is now 6-5 straight-up on the year and 5-6 against the spread. The Alouettes are 2-3 both SU and ATS on the road this season and the total has stayed ‘under’ in three of its last five games. Edmonton is 7-4 SU (6-5 ATS) overall and 3-2 SU (2-3 ATS) at home. The total has stayed ‘under’ in eight of its last 10 games.

The Alouettes cruised to a 27-4 victory over the Eskimos in Week 7 as 6 ½-point home favorites with the total staying ‘under’ the 54 ½-point line. They are 5-1 ATS in the last five meetings overall, but just 2-7 ATS in their last nine trips to Edmonton. Montreal still has the league’s top-ranked passer (Anthony Calvillo), rusher (Brandon Whitaker), and receiver (Jamel Richardson) in total yards.

Saturday, September 24

BC Lions at Saskatchewan Roughriders (-1 ½) Over/Under (50)

BC has firmly worked itself into the playoff picture with four straight wins to get to 5-6 SU (6-5 ATS) on the year. It is 3-3 SU (4-2 ATS) in six road games and the total has stayed ‘under in its last seven games overall. Saskatchewan is still in last-place in the West, but is back in the hunt for the playoffs with three straight wins to go to 4-7 both SU and ATS. It is 2-4 SU (2-4 ATS) at home this season and the total has stayed ‘under’ in seven of its last nine games overall.

The Lions stuffed the Roughriders 24-11 the first time they met this season as 3 ½-point home favorites with the total staying ‘under’ the 53 ½-point line. BC is 9-3 ATS in the last 12 games of this series overall and 6-2 ATS in the last eight games played in Saskatchewan. The total has stayed ‘under’ in 10 of the last 14 meetings. The Lions’ defense is ranked first in the league in points allowed; giving up an average of 22.5 a game.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers (-3) at Toronto Argonauts Over/Under (48 ½)

Winnipeg now has the best record in the CFL at 8-3 SU (8-3 ATS). It is 4-1 SU (4-1 ATS) on the road this season and the total has stayed ‘under’ in five of its last seven games. Toronto has now lost three straight games to fall to a woeful 2-9 SU. It is 4-7 ATS overall, but 1-3 ATS at home. The total has stayed ‘under’ in its last four games.

The Blue Bombers have won both of the previous meetings this season with a 22-16 win as one-point home favorites in early July, followed by a 33-24 victory as 3 ½-point road underdogs two weeks later. Winnipeg is just 7-17 ATS in its last 24 games in Toronto and the total has stayed ‘under’ in six of the last seven games played there. The Argonauts are last in the league in scoring with a total of just 206 points on the year.

Sunday, September 25

Calgary Stampeders at Hamilton Tiger Cats (PICK) Over/Under (54 ½)

Calgary is now 7-4 SU (6-5 ATS) overall, but remains a perfect 5-0 SU (4-1 ATS) on the road. The total has stayed ‘under’ in six of its last nine games, including the last three. Hamilton is now 5-6 both SU and ATS after two straight losses. It is 4-2 SU (3-3 ATS) in six home games and the total has gone ‘over’ in seven of its last eight games overall.

The Stampeders rolled to a 32-20 victory over the Tiger-Cats in Week 6 as 3 ½-point home favorites. The total crept just ‘over’ the 51-point line. They are now 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings and the total has stayed ‘under’ in the last five meetings in Hamilton. These two teams are ranked second and third in scoring this season with a combined average of just under 50 points a game.

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Diamond Trends - Friday

September 23, 2011

SU TREND OF THE DAY:

The Brewers are 12-0 since June 24, 2010 when Yovani Gallardo starts as a favorite after he had a WHIP of less than one his last start for a net profit of $1200.

OU TREND OF THE DAY:

The Dodgers are 0-10 OU since April 29, 2010 as a favorite vs a team that has won at least their last two games and it is the first game of a series for a net profit of $1000 when playing the under.

STARTER TREND OF THE DAY:

The Phillies are 0-9-1 OU since May 16, 2010 when Cole Hamels starts as a road favorite after his team lost the last time he started vs this opponent for a net profit of $900 when playing the under.

MLB BIBLE TREND OF THE DAY:

Chris Carpenter has produced a team record of 20-1 since June 25th 2005 at home when he is off a team win in which he went eight-plus innings and threw at least 100 pitches. He allowed an average of 1.50 runs in 7.72 innings pitched and his WHIP was a solid 0.85.

TODAY’S TRENDS:

The Braves are 0-9-1 OU since May 07, 2010 as a road dog vs a team that has won at least their last three games for a net profit of $900 when playing the under.

The Blue Jays are 6-0-2 OU since May 10, 2010 as a 170+ dog and it is the first game of the series for a net profit of $600 when playing the over.

The Blue Jays are 6-0 OU since May 05, 2010 when Brandon Morrow starts as a road dog after more strike outs than hits allowed and they won in his previous start for a net profit of $600 when playing the over.

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Red Sox-Yankees begin 3-game set in the Bronx

BOSTON RED SOX (88-68)

at NEW YORK YANKEES (95-61)


First pitch: Friday, 7:05 p.m. EDT
Line: Boston -145, New York +135, Total: 9

With the Yankees having already wrapped up the AL East title, there will be a little bit of luster missing when they host Boston for the first of a three-game set on Friday night. The Red Sox are 6-0 at Yankee Stadium this year.

But this game still has plenty of meaning for the slumping Red Sox, who are still grasping onto a tenuous lead in the Wild Card race. The Yankees already punted Thursday night’s game, a loss to Tampa, and they’re less likely to lie down for their bitter rivals. But New York will have a struggling Freddy Garcia taking the mound while Boston has Jon Lester, who’s 6-1 with a 2.67 ERA career in the Bronx. And the FoxSheets have a trend working against the Yankees, and confirming BOSTON is the pick:

N.Y. YANKEES are 7-15 (-13.7 Units) against the money line when playing on Friday this season. The average score was N.Y. YANKEES 4.1, OPPONENT 4.4 - (Rating = 2*).

Lester (15-8, 3.15 ERA) is coming off back-to-back poor starts, both against Tampa. He labored through 111 pitches and got through just four innings, allowing 11 base runners and four runs, in a loss to the Rays on September 11. He then allowed another four runs, this time over seven innings, in a home loss to Tampa last Saturday. But the lefty has been better on the road this year, where he’s 10-3 with a 2.88 ERA and 1.13 WHIP over 16 starts.

Garcia (11-8, 3.77 ERA) has been very shaky of late. He opened September with a 3.09 ERA but has given up 15 runs and 21 hits in 12.1 innings (10.94 ERA, 2.19 WHIP) so far this month. The Sox have beaten Garcia all three times they’ve faced him this year, scoring 10 runs (nine earned) in 12 innings against him.

David Ortiz (.925 OPS over 38 career plate appearances), Carl Crawford (.925 OPS in 25 PA) and Jacoby Ellsbury (.901 OPS in 14 PA) have all hit Garcia hard over the years, as have infielders Marco Scutaro (1.400 OPS in 15 PA) and Mike Aviles (1.545 OPS in 11 PA).

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Friday, September 23

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Boston - 7:05 PM ET NY Yankees +136 500
NY Yankees - Over 9 500

Baltimore - 7:05 PM ET Detroit -163 500
Detroit - Under 9.5 500

Minnesota - 7:05 PM ET Cleveland -180 500
Cleveland - Over 8.5 500

Atlanta - 7:05 PM ET Washington -116 500
Washington - Over 6.5 500

Cincinnati - 7:05 PM ET Pittsburgh +121 500
Pittsburgh - Under 9 500

Toronto - 7:10 PM ET Toronto +170 500
Tampa Bay - Under 7.5 500

Philadelphia - 7:10 PM ET NY Mets +127 500
NY Mets - Under 7 500

Colorado - 8:05 PM ET Houston -130 500
Houston - Under 8.5 500

Seattle - 8:05 PM ET Seattle +251 500
Texas - Over 10 500

Kansas City - 8:10 PM ET Kansas City +117 500
Chi. White Sox - Over 9 500

Florida - 8:10 PM ET Florida +219 500
Milwaukee - Over 8 500

Chi. Cubs - 8:15 PM ET Chi. Cubs +196 500
St. Louis - Over 7.5 500

San Francisco - 9:40 PM ET San Francisco +151 500
Arizona - Over 8.5 500

LA Dodgers - 10:05 PM ET LA Dodgers -115 500
San Diego - Over 6.5 500

Oakland - 10:05 PM ET Oakland +173 500
LA Angels - Under 7 500

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Friday, September 23

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Montreal - 9:00 PM ET Edmonton +1 500

Edmonton - Over 54 500