The Bum's Saturday's MLB Best Bets !

[StarDust Bum]

Road-Weary Detroit Visits Texas Rangers

The Detroit Tigers need to start making their mark on the road if they hope to be left standing in the playoff chase come October. They visit the Texas Rangers on Saturday in the middle game of their weekend set at 8:05 p.m. (ET).

The Don Best odds screen has Detroit as 145 favorites with a total of 8½ ('over' -120). The odds are dramatically affected by ace Justin Verlander being on the mound, while Derek Holland gets the unenviable task of opposing him.

Detroit (60-52) is only 27-29 on the road, losing its last three series. The team has been tremendous at home in Comerica Park, recently winning 10-straight, but that ended with losses to the Yankees the last two days.

Note the Tigers record is pending the Friday night series opener. Texas was listed as 140 favorites behind the suddenly-hot Scott Feldman.

The Rangers (65-45) are playing this one home series sandwiched around two road ventures. They’re only 5-5 at home in the second half, compared to 29-16 before the break.

Verlander (12-7, 2.51 ERA) is coming off a great start last Monday against the Yankees. He allowed just two unearned run over eight innings (7-2 win) while striking out 14 in front of the excited home crowd.

The 29-year-old right-hander has been much more vulnerable away this year (3.36 ERA) than in Motown (1.51 ERA). That includes losing his last two starts at Cleveland and Boston (a combined seven earned runs over 12 innings).

Note that Verlander got struck in the calf in the Yankees game, and it could be something to watch. He has one start against Texas this year, getting the win after allowing one unearned run over six innings at home. He has a 1.29 ERA in three career starts at Texas.

Holland (7-6, 5.18 ERA) is having a disappointing season after going 16-5 with a 3.95 ERA last year. He’s hit another bad blip his last four starts (7.00 ERA) with the team losing three. He allowed a whopping nine home runs over that span.

The 25-year-old lefty has a 6.19 ERA at home. He hasn’t face the Tigers this year and has just one regular season appearance against them in 2010, four runs (one earned) over four innings.

Holland does have one betting stat in his favor as Detroit is just 2-9 in its last 11 road games against a lefty starter.

The Rangers are 5-2 against Detroit this year. They’re 6-1 in the last seven meetings in the Lone Star State (2-1 this year).

Texas catcher Mike Napoli (quad) was expected to return to the lineup on Friday after missing two games.

The Don Best Pro Odds is chugging through the weekend and is bringing the most up-to-date betting information in the industry. Try it out now!

[StarDust Bum]

Athletics In Chicago To Face Liriano, White Sox

A pair of southpaws are set to duel Saturday afternoon in Chicago where the White Sox and Oakland Athletics continue their crucial American League series.

Oakland will send rookie Tommy Milone to the hill at US Cellular Field in the second tilt of the 3-game series. Francisco Liriano gets the nod for the ChiSox in the 7:10 p.m. (ET) start. The Pale Hose were priced as $1.40 favorites on the opening MLB odds with an 8½-run total initially level high and low.

Milone will be trying to break a 3-game losing skid during which he has surrendered 17 runs (16 earned) in 19 frames. He has still put up a nice 15:2 strikeout-to-walk ratio in that span, but has been very hittable with opponents batting .320.

The rookie out of Southern Cal leads the White Sox staff in innings pitched (140+) in 22 starts, and will soon eclipse the most work he's had as a professional. Milone tossed 158 innings at the Double-A level in 2010 over a career-high 27 assignments.

He blanked Chicago through eight innings in an April clash at Oakland, but that stadium is far more forgiving for a fly ball pitcher than The Cell on the Windy City's South Side. His road ERA this season (5.77) is more than 3.5 runs higher than his 2.13 mark at home.

Liriano is making his third start for the White Sox since coming over from Minnesota in a late-July trade. His two previous outings have both ended in Chicago victories, though Liriano didn't figure into either decision.

Last Sunday's outing was cut short after just five innings due to a quick grounder back through the box that caught the upper part of his right leg. Liriano completed the fifth frame after being hit, and checked a potent Angels lineup to just four hits and a run at the time of his exit.

He faced Oakland twice this season at Target Field in Minneapolis, splitting the two games with nice all-around work (14 IP, 3 ER). The Dominican lefty struck out 24 against just three walks in the two outings combined.

There's no word yet on the availability of Chicago 1B Paul Konerko for Saturday's matchup. The slugger was expected to miss Friday's series opener with what has been diagnosed as a mild concussion. Konerko is hitting .316 on the season with 18 HR and 54 RBI.

Game 1 of the series was still pending with the White Sox priced at -115 after opening -130. Brandon McCarthy was making his first start in about two months for Oakland following a DL stint for a shoulder injury. Gavin Floyd was scheduled to pitch for Chicago.

Chicago began the series with a fragile 1-game lead over the Detroit Tigers in the AL Central race. The A's were sandwiched between the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels in the AL West, 5.5-games behind front-running Texas and 1.5 ahead of the Halos in third.

Oakland took two of three from the Pale Hose at home in April the first time the clubs met. The White Sox claimed four of the seven games played at US Cellular Field a year ago, the 'over' cashing five times.

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Tigers (61-52) at Rangers (65-46)

Game: 2

Venue: Rangers Ballpark in Arlington
Date: August 11, 2012 8:05 PM EDT

The Detroit Tigers hope Justin Verlander's latest outing will give him the momentum he needs to get back on track away from home.

Looking to avoid losing three straight road starts for the first time in more than four years, Verlander tries to help the Tigers to a second straight victory over the AL West-leading Texas Rangers on Saturday night.

Though Verlander (12-7, 2.51 ERA) has pitched well after winning the AL MVP and Cy Young Award in 2011, the right-hander has a 5.25 ERA while losing his last two road starts to fall to 6-5 with a 3.36 ERA away from Comerica Park. He has not dropped three straight starts on the road since a five-game skid to open the 2008 season.

Verlander, however, gave up two runs and matched a career high with 14 strikeouts in eight innings of a 7-2 home win over New York on Monday.

"(My last start) felt night-and-day different from my last couple of starts," Verlander told the Tigers' official website. "I really felt much more in sync from the get-go."

That's certainly something positive to build on in Arlington, where he had a 1.29 ERA in his first three starts before giving up three runs in four innings of a 3-2 loss in Game 1 of the 2011 AL championship series.

He'll try to help the Tigers (61-52) take this three-game set after winning 6-2 on Friday. Prince Fielder hit a three-run home run and Austin Jackson added an inside-the-park homer as Detroit rallied from an early two-run deficit to avoid a third straight loss.

Fielder has batted .455 (15 for 33) with four homers and 12 RBIs in nine August games after going 0 for 12 in the final four of July.

"When you have Prince in your lineup, you're always one swing away from getting the game back in your favor," winning pitcher Max Scherzer said.

Catcher Alex Avila is batting .457 during an 11-game hitting streak. He's 7 for 14 in his last four versus Texas (65-46), which can use a good start from Derek Holland (7-6, 5.18) to help even the set.

The left-hander is 1-2 with a 7.00 ERA in his last four starts and has allowed six runs in three of those outings, including Sunday in a 7-6, 10-inning loss at Kansas City.

"It's pathetic," Holland told the Rangers' official website. "I'm very upset with myself. I'm supposed to be stepping up and I look like garbage out there."

Holland also has struggled to keep the ball in the park at home, giving up eight homers while going 1-2 with an 8.18 ERA in his last four starts there.

He does not have a decision while posting a 6.35 ERA in three starts - all at home - against the Tigers, including two in the ALCS last season.

Texas' Nelson Cruz had two hits Friday but left with lower back stiffness. He is 8 for 14 in his last four games.

"I think he'll be a player (Saturday), we've just got to wait and see," manager Ron Washington said.

Teammate Michael Young is batting .357 (15 for 42) during a 10-game hitting streak. Including playoffs, he is 8 for 33 (.242) with 10 strikeouts against Verlander.

[StarDust Bum]

MLB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Saturday, August 11

Hot pitchers
-- Burnett is 4-0, 1.38 in his last four starts. Padres won four of last five Marquis starts, scoring 35 runs.
-- Westbrook is 4-0, 3.81 in his last four starts. Lee is 1-0, 2.40 in his last two outings.
-- Estrada has a 2.77 RA in his last two starts, but is winless in 13 starts.
-- Medlen is 1-0, 1.74 in his two starts this season.
-- Blanton is 1-1, 2.79 in his last four starts.
-- Miley is 2-2, 2.05 in his last four starts. Jackson is 1-2, 2.16 in his.

-- Morales is 2-0, 0.82 in his last couple starts.
-- Tillman is 4-0, 3.24 in his last four starts.
-- Liriano is 0-0, 2.45 in two starts for the White Sox. Blackley is 2-1, 2.97 in his last six starts.
-- Price is 6-0, 2.09 in his last nine starts.
-- Haren is 2-0, 2.00 in three starts since coming off the DL. Iwakuma is 1-1, 3.00 in his last four starts.

Cold pitchers
-- Wood is 0-5, 9.11 in his last five starts. Arroyo is 1-1, 7.15 in his last couple starts.
-- Cain is 0-2, 5.26 in his last four starts. Pomeranz is 0-3, 7.59 in his last five starts.
-- Keuchel is 0-4, 9.72 in his last five starts.
-- JSantana was 0-3, 13.50 in his last three starts before going on DL.
-- Nolasco is 0-5, 7.24 in his last five starts.

-- Nova is 0-3, 8.36 in his last five starts. Laffey is 1-1, 8.27 in his last three outings.
-- McAllister is 0-3, 8.31 in his last four starts.
-- Mendoza is 2-4, 4.12 in his last six starts.
-- Blackburn is 0-2, 7.27 in his last three starts.
-- Verlander is 1-3, 4.50 in his last four road starts. Holland is 1-2, 5.91 in his last four starts overall.

Hot Teams
-- Cardinals won seven of their last eleven games. Philly won eight of last 11 home games.
-- San Diego won its last five games, allowing 15 runs.
-- Dodgers won eight of their last eleven road games.
-- Braves won 13 of their last 16 games.
-- Milwaukee won three of its last four games. .
-- Washington won 17 of its last 21 games.
-- Rockies won three of their last four games.

-- Bronx won its last three games, scoring 26 runs.
-- Baltimore won nine of its last twelve games. Royals won four of six.
-- White Sox won 14 of their last 18 at home.
-- Rays won nine of their last 12 games.
-- Tigers won seven of their last nine games.

Cold Teams
-- Cubs lost nine of their last ten games. Cincinnati lost five of six.
-- Pirates lost three of their last four games.
-- Miami lost 16 of its last 23 games.
-- Mets lost ten of their last eleven home games.
-- Astros lost 34 of their last 39 games.
-- Diamondbacks lost five of their last even games.
-- Giants lost their last three home games, scoring 1-1-0 runs.

-- Blue Jays lost ten of their last 12 games.
-- Indians lost 12 of their last 14 games. Boston lost seven of last ten.
-- Minnesota lost its last three home games.
-- Oakland is 5-7 in its last twelve games.
-- Texas is 7-8 in its last 15 home games.
-- Seattle lost its last five games, allowing 32 runs. Angels lost six of nine.

Totals
-- Under is 11-5-1 in last seventeen games at Wrigley Field.
-- Nine of last twelve Cardinal road games stayed under.
-- 12 of last 16 San Diego games went over the total.
-- Over is 7-3-1 in last eleven Dodger road games.
-- Nine of last ten Atlanta games stayed under total.
-- Seven of last eight Houston games stayed under the total.
-- Under is 4-2-1 in Arizona's last seven home games.
-- Under is 6-1-1 in Colorado's last eight road games.

-- Six of last eight Kansas City games stayed under total.
-- Under is 8-2-1 in Cleveland's last eleven home games.
-- Four of last five Toronto games went over the total
-- Six of last nine Detroit game went over the total.
-- Over is 6-3-1 in last ten Oakland road games.
-- 15 of last 20 Tampa Bay games stayed under total.
-- Under is 7-3-1 in last eleven Seattle road games.

Umpires
-- Cin-Chi-- Four of last five Wolf games stayed under total.
-- Col-SF-- Five of last six Gibson games stayed under total.
-- SD-Pitt-- Eight of last ten Winters games stayed under total.
-- StL-Phil-- Five of last seven Eddings games stayed under.
-- Mil-Hst-- Underdogs are 8-6 in last fourteen Darling games.
-- Atl-NY-- Underdogs won 10 of last 16 Fairchild games.
-- LA-Mia-- Under is 4-0-1 in last five Carlson games.
-- Wsh-Az-- Injuries to umps make plate ump for this game a ???

-- NY-Tor-- Nine of last eleven Joyce games went over total.
-- Bos-Cle-- Under is 9-2-1 in last twelve Kellogg games.
-- KC-Blt-- Home team won 14 of last 18 Guccione games.
-- A's-Chi-- Umderdogs are 5-5 in last ten Davidson games.
-- TB-Min-- All eight Baker games stayed under the total.
-- Det-Tex-- Six of last eight Cederstrom games stayed under.
-- Sea-LA-- Six of last eight Diaz games stayed under the total.

[StarDust Bum]

Saturday, August 11

Game Score Status Pick Amount

NY Yankees - 1:07 PM ET NY Yankees -147 500
Toronto - Over 9.5 500

Cincinnati - 4:05 PM ET Chi. Cubs +132 500
Chi. Cubs - Over 7.5 500

Colorado - 4:05 PM ET San Francisco -225 500
San Francisco - Under 7 500

Boston - 6:05 PM ET Boston -136 500
Cleveland - Over 8.5 500

Kansas City - 7:05 PM ET Baltimore -130 500
Baltimore - Under 9 500

St. Louis - 7:05 PM ET St. Louis +127 500
Philadelphia - Under 8 500

Milwaukee - 7:05 PM ET Houston +161 500
Houston - Under 8.5 500

San Diego - 7:05 PM ET San Diego +158 500
Pittsburgh - Under 8 500

Tampa Bay - 7:10 PM ET Minnesota +173 500
Minnesota - Over 8 500

Atlanta - 7:10 PM ET Atlanta -102 500
NY Mets - Over 7.5 500

LA Dodgers - 7:10 PM ET Miami +118 500
Miami - Over 8 500

Oakland - 7:10 PM ET Chi. White Sox -140 500
Chi. White Sox - Over 8.5 500

Detroit - 8:05 PM ET Detroit -140 500
Texas - Over 9 500

Washington - 8:10 PM ET Washington +122 500
Arizona - Over 9 500

Seattle - 9:05 PM ET Seattle +204 500
LA Angels - Under 8 500

[Kaptain]

give em L Bum

[StarDust Bum]

Howzit going Kapt....Long time no see.......

[flashypants]

Gl pal