The Bum's July's MLB POD'S-Stats-News

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Mets (36-48) at Brewers (35-51)
Game: 3
Venue: Miller Park
Date: July 07, 2013 2:10 PM EDT


Jeremy Hefner got off to a disappointing start to the season, but has since turned things around and proven to be a reliable option in the New York Mets' rotation.

New York hopes Hefner's run of solid starts continues on Sunday as they visit the Milwaukee Brewers for the finale of their three-game series.

Hefner (3-6, 3.54 ERA) opened the season 0-5 with a 4.50 ERA, with the Mets (36-48) losing all nine of his starts. In seven starts since, he is 3-1 with a 2.09 ERA with a walk rate of 1.47 per nine innings. The right-hander issued 3.60 base on balls per nine in his first nine starts.

He held Arizona to a run and four hits over seven innings in a 9-1 win on Tuesday - his seventh quality start in eight games.

"If I give a quality outing, go deep into games, I've done my job," said Hefner, who yielded a solo homer. "If we score runs, then I'll get a win. If we don't, then I might get a no-decision or whatever. Just as long as the team wins, I'm happy.'

He'll look to lock down the Brewers (35-51), who have split their last six games but continued to swing the bats well in a 7-6 victory over the Mets on Saturday. Milwaukee is hitting .294 in its six July games with 11 doubles and 17 walks.

Leadoff hitter Norichika Aoki was 2 for 4 Saturday to extend his hitting streak to six games, during which he's 13 for 29 with four runs driven in.

Logan Schafer finished with three hits, and is 7 for 21 this month after going 12 for 67 (.179) in his first 18 games as a replacement for the injured Ryan Braun.

Milwaukee, which won for the third time in 11 games, will call upon Tom Gorzelanny (1-1, 2.43) in a spot start. The Brewers were initially slated to send Wily Peralta to the mound, but he left his previous outing with a strained left hamstring, and the club opted for extra rest.

"We just didn't want him to go back out Sunday, and all of a sudden in the second or third inning, he feels something again," manager Ron Roenicke told the team's official website.

Gorzelanny didn't record a decision in his only previous start this year, allowing a solo homer in addition to four other hits over four innings in a 4-3 win over Philadelphia on June 8. The left-hander is 4-5 with a 4.53 ERA in 21 games - eight starts - versus New York.

David Wright, who was named an All-Star starter for a fifth time Saturday, is 2 for 12 with five strikeouts versus Gorzelanny since 2008. He is 9 for 29 with a .444 on-base percentage during a seven-game hitting streak.

Milwaukee's Rickie Weeks, who had two hits Saturday after going 2 for 23 in his previous seven contests, homered in his lone at-bat against Hefner on Sept. 15. Hefner worked one inning of relief in his only outing versus the Brewers.

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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Mets at Brewers
Fri, Jul 5 Final 12 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Mets at Brewers
Sat, Jul 6 Final 6 to 7
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Mets at Brewers
Sun, Jul 7 - 2:10PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Marlins (32-54) at Cardinals (52-34)
Game: 3
Venue: Busch Stadium
Date: July 07, 2013 2:15 PM EDT


The St. Louis Cardinals are unsure whether Yadier Molina will be available Sunday as they try for their first three-game home sweep of the Miami Marlins in 13 years.

They could like their chances either way since starter Lance Lynn has won nine straight regular-season decisions at Busch Stadium although he pitched poorly earlier this year against Miami.

Lynn (10-3, 3.75 ERA) may not have Molina as a batterymate Sunday.

Molina sat out Saturday's 5-4 victory and was sent for medical tests for a knee injury that developed Friday. He told teammates he didn't believe it was anything serious, and Tony Cruz started in his place.

The catcher leads the NL with a .346 average and has six homers and 45 RBIs. Manager Mike Matheny said that Molina could play Sunday if he checks out OK.

"We saw some things during the game (Friday) that gave us an indication," Matheny said. "So we're going to have to wait and see what the medical staff says."

The Cardinals (52-34), who last swept a three-game set at home against the Marlins from May 23-25, 2000, will see if Lynn can continue his impressive streak. He's 9-0 with a 2.51 ERA in his last 11 regular-season home appearances - 10 starts.

The right-hander, however, has dropped back-to-back starts for the first time in his career. He gave up five runs over six innings in Tuesday's 5-1 defeat to the Angels.

His lone career start against Miami (32-54) was a 13-7 victory June 15 when he got credit for the win despite yielding a career-high seven runs over five innings.

St. Louis has taken two close games in this series, winning the opener 4-1 on Friday. One day later, the Cardinals rallied from two runs down in the seventh inning and won when Jon Jay scored the winning run from first on a single after right fielder Giancarlo Stanton's throwing error with two outs in the ninth.

"We've had a lot of close games like this that we couldn't quite pull off at the end," Matheny said. "So, it doesn't matter to me. Just that we did."

The Marlins entered this series winners of 10 of 13 games, but will suffer their first series loss in five. Manager Mike Redmond was ejected in the fourth inning Saturday.

"You can only take so much, right?" Redmond said. "I think of those guys in the dugout and they're busting their butts. You've got to stick up for those guys, too."

Stanton has played all 24 games since returning June 10 after missing 36 due to a right hamstring injury. Redmond indicated he may rest the slugger Sunday.

"You can kind of tell when a guy starts to drag a little bit out there, and give him some days," Redmond told the Marlins' official website. "They have ways of letting you know they need a break."

Miami starter Jose Fernandez (5-4, 2.72) won his only start versus St. Louis, allowing three runs over seven innings in a 5-4 victory June 14.

That's part of an impressive six-start stretch for the rookie right-hander during which he's 3-1 with a 1.34 ERA, including eight stellar innings in Monday's 4-0 home win over San Diego. However, he's 2-4 with a 4.12 ERA on the road compared to 3-0 with a 1.47 mark in Miami.



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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Marlins at Cardinals
Fri, Jul 5 Final 1 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Marlins at Cardinals
Sat, Jul 6 Final 4 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Marlins at Cardinals
Sun, Jul 7 - 2:15PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Pirates (53-33) at Cubs (37-48)
Game: 3
Venue: Wrigley Field
Date: July 07, 2013 2:20 PM EDT


Though he has never called Wrigley Field home, the Pittsburgh Pirates' A.J. Burnett has always made himself comfortable at the Friendly Confines.

Set to come off the disabled list Sunday, Burnett tries to win a sixth consecutive start at Wrigley as the Pirates conclude a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs.

After missing the last month with a Grade 1 tear in his right calf, Burnett (4-6, 3.12 ERA), who was injured during routine running drills, is ready to make his much-anticipated return.

"His last bullpen, his timing and rhythm were really sharp," manager Clint Hurdle told MLB's official website. "We didn't see a need to have him throw 75 pitches in a rehab game. His experience, the adrenaline of a packed house, his success (at Wrigley) - all of it will combine to get him out there in a very competitive state."

In his last start before getting hurt, Burnett allowed two runs and four hits in a season-high 8 1-3 innings June 8, in a 6-2 road win over Chicago (37-48). The right-hander, who carried a shutout into the ninth before surrendering a two-run homer to Alfonso Soriano, improved to 5-0 with a 2.91 ERA in six career outings on the North Side.

"I go back a long way with Sori. ... I've gotten him a few times, he's gotten me," Burnett said of Soriano, who is 6 for 29 with 10 strikeouts in their matchups. "You come to Chicago and Wrigley Field, even as a Marlin I enjoyed coming here a long time ago. So it's fun to get out and play against these guys on their field in their stadium."

Burnett may need to be especially careful against Soriano, who hit a pair of two-run homers in Saturday's 4-1 win. The veteran outfielder has gone 12 for 34 (.353) with five homers and 13 RBIs in his last eight games.

"It's fun when we have a teammate swinging the bat real well," winning pitcher Edwin Jackson said. "It's a lot of fun in the dugout. It's positive energy and that's what this team needs."

With Scott Feldman no longer around, the Cubs will give the ball to Carlos Villanueva (2-4, 3.45). The right-hander opened the year in the rotation, and went 1-3 with a 3.93 ERA in eight starts. He has pitched out of the bullpen since May 22, going 1-1 with a 2.04 ERA in 16 appearances.

"If it's fresh and no stress out there, we'll just wing it," Sveum said of Villanueva, expected to throw around 60-70 pitches. "When he starts, he's going to have to have fastball command. Coming out of the bullpen, he can get through with his trickery, but when you start, you have to have fastball command and get some outs with your fastball."

Villanueva is 2-2 with a 2.98 ERA in 23 games - two starts - versus Pittsburgh (53-33). Russell Martin and Garrett Jones are a combined 9 for 16 with three homers against Villanueva, but Andrew McCutchen is 2 for 11.

Batting .373 with two homers and 10 RBIs over a 13-game stretch, McCutchen is hitting .411 with five homers, 17 RBIs, 27 runs and 10 stolen bases in his last 30 road games in the series.

McCutchen is one of four Pirates to make the NL All-Star team, joining Jason Grilli, Pedro Alvarez and Jeff Locke. Travis Wood will be the Cubs' only representative.

Pirates second baseman Neil Walker is uncertain to be available after leaving Saturday's game with discomfort on his right side. He's mired in a 4-for-26 slump.

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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Pirates at Cubs
Fri, Jul 5 Final 6 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Pirates at Cubs
Sat, Jul 6 Final 1 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Pirates at Cubs
Sun, Jul 7 - 2:20PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Astros (32-56) at Rangers (50-37)
Game: 3
Venue: Rangers Ballpark in Arlington
Date: July 07, 2013 3:05 PM EDT


The Texas Rangers usually have at least two position players make the All-Star game, but Nelson Cruz is the only one this year.

The Houston Astros certainly know how dangerous he can be.

Cruz has a 13-game hitting streak against the Astros with homers in the last four matchups heading into Sunday's series finale in Arlington.

Texas (50-37) will see its streak of having more than one position player in the All-Star game end at five, barring any injury replacements. Cruz, with team highs of 22 home runs and 66 RBIs, will be the only one at Citi Field.

"He has been the one constant and certainly needed," manager Ron Washington told the Rangers' official website. "He is a big reason why we are where we are."

Cruz is hitting .370 with five homers and 17 RBIs during his streak against the Astros. He also owns a 10-game run against them at home in which he's batting .375 with five homers and 11 RBIs.

The right fielder went 3 for 4 on Saturday but the Rangers' six-game win streak over the Astros ended with a 9-5 defeat.

Jason Castro hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the seventh inning as Houston went deep three times and finished with its highest-scoring effort in 16 games.

"There was a feeling on the bench that we had put together some pretty good at_bats and that we could break through,' said Castro, 7 for 13 with six RBIs in his last three games against the Rangers after going 0 for 19 in the first five meetings.

Marc Krauss went 3 for 4 with two RBIs and Brett Wallace reached base all five times for Houston (32-56), which won for the second time in nine games.

"Those guys are professionals and they could catch some pitches. Tonight they caught some," Washington said. "They swung the bats well.'

Krauss was 1 for 15 in his career before getting three straight singles.

"I thought Krauss had tremendous at_bats," manager Bo Porter said. "He really grinded it."

The Rangers are now 16-11 against left-handed starters as they prepare to face Erik Bedard (3-4, 4.59 ERA), who owns a 6.69 ERA on the road compared to a 2.98 home mark.

Bedard has gone 2-1 with a 2.92 ERA in his last four outings, but those all came at home. He yielded two runs over five innings and did not get a decision in his lone start of the season against Texas on May 11, an 8-7 home loss.

Cruz is 6 for 19 against Bedard, faring better than Adrian Beltre (4 for 22) and Elvis Andrus (3 for 17).

Right-hander Justin Grimm (7-6, 5.84) will oppose Bedard. He's 2-3 with a 9.31 ERA in his last six outings.

Grimm won his lone start against Houston in his major league debut last June 16, yielding three runs over six innings of an 8-3 home victory.

The Rangers will likely activate right-hander Joakim Soria on Sunday. The former Kansas City closer hasn't pitched since 2011 due to elbow ligament replacement surgery.


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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Astros at Rangers
Fri, Jul 5 Final 5 to 10
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Astros at Rangers
Sat, Jul 6 Final 9 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Astros at Rangers
Sun, Jul 7 - 3:05PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Dodgers (41-45) at Giants (40-46)
Game: 3
Venue: AT&T Park
Date: July 07, 2013 4:05 PM EDT


Although the Los Angeles Dodgers have just boosted their rotation, Clayton Kershaw already gives them an excellent chance to win every time he takes the mound - especially against the San Francisco Giants.

Kershaw, who owns a lower ERA against the Giants than any other NL team, looks to win his third straight start Sunday at AT&T Park.

Los Angeles (41-45) made a major move Saturday by acquiring right-hander Ricky Nolasco from Miami in exchange for three minor league pitchers. Nolasco should bolster a rotation anchored by Kershaw (7-5, 1.93 ERA), who leads the majors in ERA and opponent batting average (.189).

"You can't pitch much better than he's pitched," manager Don Mattingly told the Dodgers' official website. "He deserves a few more Ws."

Kershaw is 10-4 with a 1.33 ERA against San Francisco (40-46) in 20 appearances - 19 starts. He's 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA in three 2013 outings versus the Giants, and 5-2 with a 0.74 ERA in eight career starts at AT&T Park.

The left-hander's presence on the mound won't be a welcome sight to Giants regulars Hunter Pence (2 for 32 against him) and Andres Torres (2 for 31). That duo is 1 for 18 against Kershaw this year.

Reigning NL batting champion Buster Posey is 3 for 8 with a homer and double against Kershaw in 2013 after entering the year 6 for 33 with nine strikeouts.

Kershaw will try to win three straight outings for the first time this year after striking out eight and walking none in a four-hitter in Monday's 8-0 victory at Colorado. The eight runs of support represented a rare outburst for Kershaw, who has received an average of 3.2 runs for one of baseball's lowest marks.

Mattingly said Matt Kemp could be back in the lineup after the center fielder sat out Saturday's 4-2 defeat. Kemp left Friday's 10-2 series-opening victory with an irritated left shoulder.

The Giants snapped losing streaks of four straight overall and four in a row to the Dodgers on Saturday despite an embarrassing mistake by Bruce Bochy. The manager submitted the wrong lineup card to the Dodgers and the umpires, and Posey's RBI double in the first inning was wiped out due to the error.

Posey hit third in Pablo Sandoval's spot, but the incorrect lineup card had the sluggers reversed.

"That was a huge game for us," Bochy said. "I would've felt horrible if that would've played a part in us not winning."

The Dodgers' Hanley Ramirez extended his hitting streak to a career-high 17 games with a triple in four at_bats Saturday. He's batting .477 with six homers and 17 RBIs in that run.

Yasiel Puig struck out all four times as his nine-game run ended.

Puig will get his first look at Chad Gaudin (2-1, 2.60), who will be activated off the 15-day disabled list to make his fifth straight start for the Giants. Gaudin, out since June 20 due to a right elbow contusion, went 2-0 with a 3.38 ERA in the first four.

The right-hander owns a 5.66 career ERA against the Dodgers in nine appearances - two starts. Kemp is 2 for 10 against him and Ramirez is 1 for 9.


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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Dodgers at Giants
Fri, Jul 5 Final 10 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Dodgers at Giants
Sat, Jul 6 Final 2 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Dodgers at Giants
Sun, Jul 7 - 4:05PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Rockies (42-46) at Diamondbacks (46-41)
Game: 3
Venue: Chase Field
Date: July 07, 2013 4:10 PM EDT


After falling short in repeated attempts to make franchise history, Arizona Diamondbacks left-hander Patrick Corbin will next try to help his club match its longest win streak of the season.

The first-time All-Star will seek to bounce back from his lone loss in 2013 by leading the surging Diamondbacks to a fifth straight victory in Sunday's finale with the visiting Colorado Rockies.

Corbin (9-1, 2.49 ERA) had six chances to become the first Arizona pitcher to start 10-0, but that pursuit ended with a 9-1 loss at the New York Mets on Tuesday. He was also attempting to become the first lefty starter to begin 10-0 since Ron Guidry won his first 13 decisions for the New York Yankees in 1978.

Corbin has been backed by a combined 10 runs of support in his past six starts after receiving 48 in his first 11 outings, but he didn't help himself against the Mets by giving up a season-high five runs over six-plus frames. He was charged with four of those runs while failing to record an out in the seventh inning.

"I felt fine. I just left a couple of pitches up," Corbin said.

Corbin might have better success in this start as he's 2-0 with a 1.59 ERA in his last three matchups against Colorado, including two this season. He also would appear to have a good chance to get some better run support considering the way the Diamondbacks have been hitting coupled with the way scheduled starter Roy Oswalt (0-3, 7.88) is pitching.

Arizona (46-41) is batting .306 and has outscored opponents 26-8 in its past four games.

Paul Goldschmidt, also named to his first All-Star team, hit one of Arizona's three home runs in an 11-1 rout of Colorado on Saturday. Cody Ross matched a franchise record with five of his team's 12 hits, as the Diamondbacks opened up a 4 1/2-game lead atop the NL West for the first time this season.

Arizona will next attempt to match its five-game win streak from May 6-10 and sweep the Rockies (42-46) for the first time since Aug. 29-30, 2011.

Oswalt has lost in all three starts since returning to the majors June 20. The three-time All-Star gave up five runs and nine hits over five innings in Tuesday's 8-0 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"I think I'm trying to be too fine. Trying to throw that nine-inning shutout with 70 pitches instead of being aggressive like I've always been," he said.

Oswalt is 9-3 with a 2.35 ERA in 13 career starts against Arizona with the most recent matchup April 26, 2011.

The right-hander has never faced Goldschmidt, who is 5 for 13 in his last three games and batting .379 with five homers and 10 RBIs in his last eight in Phoenix.

Carlos Gonzalez, one of two Rockies players voted as an All-Star starter, is 1 for 7 with five strikeouts against Corbin. He went 4 for 4 and hit his NL-best 24th homer in his return from a sore back Saturday.


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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Rockies at Diamondbacks
Fri, Jul 5 Final 0 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Rockies at Diamondbacks
Sat, Jul 6 Final 1 to 11
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Rockies at Diamondbacks
Sun, Jul 7 - 4:10PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Red Sox (54-35) at Angels (42-45)
Game: 3
Venue: Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Date: July 07, 2013 8:05 PM EDT


After making a name for himself with the Los Angeles Angels, John Lackey failed to meet expectations in his first few seasons with the Boston Red Sox.

He's continuing to make up for lost time.

Lackey aims for a fourth consecutive victory as the visiting Red Sox conclude a three-game set Sunday night against Los Angeles, which tries to build on a thrilling win.

Lackey (6-5, 2.81 ERA) failed to approach the All-Star form and big-game reputation he earned with the Angels in his first two years with Boston, going 26-23 with a 5.26 ERA in 2010 and '11. He missed all of 2012 while recovering from Tommy John surgery.

The right-hander, however, leads the Red Sox rotation with a 4.39 strikeout-to-walk ratio and owns a career-low ERA.

"I'm healthy," he said of his resurgence. "I've been locating the ball pretty good, but it has happened before, you know. I'm just having a good time pitching. I'm not really worried about what slack I need to pick up or any of that. I missed a full season. I'm enjoying feeling good and enjoying competing."

Lackey allowed one run in a season-high eight innings of a 4-1 win over San Diego on Tuesday. He's 3-0 with a 2.17 ERA over his last four starts.

"That's as good as I've seen John throw in a number of years," Padres manager Bud Black told MLB's official website. "The velocity was really up the first 50 or 60 pitches. He had a good breaking ball in the last few innings. His arm looked good."

Lackey compiled a 2.45 ERA in winning his first four starts against his former team, then yielded eight runs in four-plus innings of an 11-0 loss May 5, 2011, in his most recent start against them. He has had trouble with Josh Hamilton, who is 12 for 27 (.444) with four homers in their matchups.

Hamilton came through with a two-run walkoff homer in the 11th inning of Saturday's 9-7 win, the Angels' ninth in 11 games. Hamilton is batting .375 with two homers, nine RBIs and 10 runs during an 11-game hitting streak.

"I was trying to do a little too much at the plate earlier in the game, and then I understood that I should just be relaxing up there like I've been doing the last couple of weeks," said Hamilton, who finished the night 2 for 6 with three RBIs. "I'm just taking it one at-bat at a time and understanding that if you don't succeed on one, you get to do it three or four more times in the game."

Hamilton got the chance to win it because Los Angeles rallied with four runs in the ninth.

The Red Sox, who had won five straight and nine of 10, will try to bounce back against Jered Weaver (2-4, 3.79). The right-hander beat St. Louis 5-1 on Tuesday to snap a five-start winless stretch, allowing one run in seven innings while throwing a season-high 105 pitches.

"I think the ball's coming out a lot better than it had been, and that's just a sign of the arm strength coming back," said Weaver, who missed more than seven weeks with a broken left elbow earlier this year. "I feel strong again, and hopefully I can maintain this through the rest of the season."

Weaver has gone 1-3 with a 4.78 ERA in his last five starts versus Boston. David Ortiz is 11 for 34 with three homers against Weaver, including playoffs, while Dustin Pedroia is 5 for 31.


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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Red Sox at Angels
Fri, Jul 5 Final 6 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Red Sox at Angels
Sat, Jul 6 Final 7 to 9
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Red Sox at Angels
Sun, Jul 7 - 8:05PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Armadillo: Sunday's six-pack

-- Orioles have seven losses this year when they led after the 8th inning; they had one all of last season.

-- White Sox' Chris Sale is 0-6, 3.65 in his last seven starts; Chicago scored total of 13 runs in those seven games.

-- Rays' Matt Moore was 8-0, 2.18 in his first 11 starts, 0-3, 14.60 in his next three, and now is 3-0, 1.86 in his last three. Go figure.

-- You can tell the cruddy baseball teams by their TV broadcasts; if they spend lot of time talking about minor league prospects, they're bad.

-- 3-4 years from now, in 2016/2017, the Angels are on the hook for total of $57M in '16, $58M in '17, to two guys: Josh Hamilton/Albert Pujols.

-- Red Sox blew 7-3 lead in ninth inning, lost 9-7 in 11 at Anaheim, the Angels' first win when trailing by four or more runs in the 9th inning since May 27, 2005 at Kansas City


*****

Armadillo: Sunday's List of 13: Wrapping up a sports Saturday.......

13) If you spend much time reading this space you know I'm a big A's fan; I'm just as happy that 24 of their 25 players will be getting the All-Star break off to rest up, but how on God's green earth is Josh Donaldson not an All-Star? No Grant Balfour? He hasn't blown a save this season.

Donaldson is hitting .317 with 15 HRs, 57 RBI. I watch him play every day; if Josh Donaldson isn't an All-Star, then there is no such thing.

If Jesse Crain is better than Balfour, why doesn't he close games? White Sox are 34-50, have two All-Stars; the defending AL West champs, who are 51-37 and in first place again, have one All-Star. Oy.

12) All of which makes manager Bob Melvin's job a little easier in the second half of the season: the no-respect card, which unfortunately has to be used a lot where the A's are concerned.

11) Friday night in Philly, Gerald Laird/Fredi Gonzalez got tossed in the third inning for arguing balls and strikes, two weeks to the day after Buck Showalter got tossed in the second inning for the same thing; why do I bring this up? Same umpire in both games; Angel Hernandez.

Hernandez screwed up a 9th inning instant replay decision earlier this season that handed one team a win; he is a terrible umpire with a bad attitude, and everyone knows it. Why won't baseball do anything about it?

10) Saturday was the first time in 20 games the Pirate starting pitcher gave up more than three earned runs, as Charlie Morton lost 4-1 to the Cubs.

9) Terry Francona agrees with us, or we agree with him, that the winner of the All-Star Game should not determine home field in the World Series.

8) Marlins' owner Jeffrey Loria is a creep; he dumped on the few fans he has left again Saturday, trading Ricky Nolasco to Dodgers for next to nothing. One of the three guys Miami got is 2-7 in Class A ball, for the love of God.

I'll tell you this; when Bowie Kuhn was commissioner, this BS wouldn't be allowed. Charlie Finley tried to sell guys off from his A's dynasty in 1976 and it was vetoed by Kuhn.

Former used car salesman Alan R. Selig is an ineffective nitwit who is in the owners' pockets and doesn't have the clout Kuhn had. Too bad.

7) Pirates' LF Starling Marte stole second base in the 3rd inning Saturday, despite the Cubs throwing to first a couple times, then pitching out. It was comical how easily he stole the bag, but then Marte tried to steal third, and Wellington Castillo threw him out by 10 feet. Rickey Henderson says it is easier to steal third base than second, but it wasn't in Wrigley Saturday.

6) Odd sight in downtown Albany Friday; a teenage girl crossing Central Ave wearing an Atlanta Hawks' Josh Smith jersey; now she needs a new one, as Smith got $56M for four years from the Pistons.

5) Zaza Pachulia gets three years, $15M from the Bucks; if that doesn't prove that this is the best country on earth, I'm not sure what would.

4) Canada beat China 110-100 in triple OT in the FIBA U19 basketball tournament; Syracuse recruit Tyler Ennis had 42 for Canada.

3) Johnson Wagner leads PGA Tour event at Greenbrier by two shots after three rounds; if you bet on Wagner this week, what are you drinking?

His last seven tournaments before this week? Six MCs and a WD.

2) Baseball is a business worth billions of dollars, yet they do stupid things like letting the result of an exhibition game determine who has home field advantage for their most important event of the year. Why not let the league that wins interleague play have home field in the World Series?

This would increase interest in interleague games; no one cares about the damn All-Star Game anyway. Who makes these decisions?

1) Pete Rose will be at Crossgates **** in Albany on July 24; only $75 for a photo op, $90 if you want a bat or jersey signed. Seeing that July 24 is a Wednesday, what are the odds that Rose will be at Saratoga that day, with the thoroughbred races in town then?

I usually see him signing at the Forum Shoppes in Las Vegas; guess we won't cross paths there this year.
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[StarDust Bum]

MLB
Dunkel

Miami at St. Louis
The Marlins look to bounce back from yesterday's 5-4 loss and take advantage of a St. Louis team that is 1-6 in Lance Lynn's last 7 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game. Miami is the pick (+150) according to Dunkel, which has the Marlins favored by 1. Dunkel Pick: Miami (+150). Here are all of today's picks.

SUNDAY, JULY 7

Game 951-952: Atlanta at Philadelphia (1:35 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Atlanta (Medlen) 16.591; Philadelphia (Pettibone) 15.080
Dunkel Line: Atlanta by 1 1/2; 9
Vegas Line: Atlanta (-130); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Atlanta (-130); Over

Game 953-954: San Diego at Washington (1:35 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: San Diego (Erlin) 14.525; Washington (Strasburg) 14.038
Dunkel Line: San Diego by 1/2; 7
Vegas Line: Washington (-240); 7 1/2
Dunkel Pick: San Diego (+200); Under

Game 955-956: NY Mets at Milwaukee (2:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: NY Mets (Hefner) 14.885; Milwaukee (Gorzelanny) 14.123
Dunkel Line: NY Mets by 1; 10
Vegas Line: Milwaukee (-115); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: NY Mets (-105); Over

Game 957-958: Miami at St. Louis (2:15 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Miami (Fernandez) 16.710; St. Louis (Lynn) 15.629
Dunkel Line: Miami by 1; 6
Vegas Line: St. Louis (-170); 7 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Miami (+150); Under

Game 959-960: Pittsburgh at Chicago Cubs (2:20 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Pittsburgh (Burnett) 16.926; Cubs (Villanueva) 15.420
Dunkel Line: Pittsburgh by 1 1/2; 7
Vegas Line: Pittsburgh (-150); No Run Total
Dunkel Pick: Pittsburgh (-150); N/A

Game 961-962: LA Dodgers at San Francisco (4:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: LA Dodgers (Kershaw) 15.483; San Francisco (Gaudin) 16.358
Dunkel Line: San Francisco by 1; 8
Vegas Line: LA Dodgers (-175); 6 1/2
Dunkel Pick: San Francisco (+155); Over

Game 963-964: Colorado at Arizona (4:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Colorado (Oswalt) 14.963; Arizona (Corbin) 14.428
Dunkel Line: Colorado by 1/2; 10
Vegas Line: Arizona (-210); 9
Dunkel Pick: Colorado (+180); Over

Game 965-966: Baltimore at NY Yankees (1:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Baltimore (Hammel) 15.519; NY Yankees (Kuroda) 16.975
Dunkel Line: NY Yankees by 1 1/2; 8
Vegas Line: NY Yankees (-135); 9
Dunkel Pick: NY Yankees (-135); Under

Game 967-968: Minnesota at Toronto (1:07 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Minnesota (Diamond) 14.224; Toronto (Redmond) 15.402
Dunkel Line: Toronto by 1; 11
Vegas Line: Toronto (-165); 9 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Toronto (-165); Over

Game 969-970: Detroit at Cleveland (1:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Detroit (Fister) 17.390; Cleveland (Kluber) 14.618
Dunkel Line: Detroit by 2 1/2; 8
Vegas Line: Detroit (-140); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Detroit (-140); Under

Game 971-972: Chicago White Sox at Tampa Bay (1:40 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: White Sox (Danks) 15.406; Tampa Bay (Price) 14.733
Dunkel Line: Chicago White Sox by 1/2; 6
Vegas Line: Tampa Bay (-220); 7 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Chicago White Sox (+185); Under

Game 973-974: Oakland at Kansas City (2:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Oakland (Griffin) 16.927; Kansas City (Mendoza) 15.550
Dunkel Line: Oakland by 1 1/2; 10
Vegas Line: Oakland (-140); 9
Dunkel Pick: Oakland (-140); Over

Game 975-976: Houston at Texas (3:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Houston (Bedard) 13.858; Texas (Grimm) 14.915
Dunkel Line: Texas by 1; 10
Vegas Line: Texas (-200); 9 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Texas (-200); Over

Game 977-978: Boston at LA Angels (8:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Boston (Lackey) 16.350; LA Angels (Weaver) 15.332
Dunkel Line: Boston by 1; 7
Vegas Line: LA Angels (-135); 8
Dunkel Pick: Boston (+115); Under

Game 979-980: Seattle at Cincinnati (1:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Seattle (Saunders) 14.639; Cincinnati (Arroyo) 15.963
Dunkel Line: Cincinnati by 1 1/2; 9
Vegas Line: Cincinnati (-200); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Cincinnati (-200); Over

[StarDust Bum]

MLB
Short Sheet

Sunday, July 7

National League

Atlanta at Philadelphia, 1:35 ET
Medlen: Braves are 17-7 SU when Medlen starts on the road
Pettibone: Over is 7-1 in Pettibone's last eight starts

San Diego at Washington, 1:35 ET
Erlin: Under is 11-6 when Padres start a southpaw on the road
Strasburg: Nationals have lost four of the last five homestand finales

New York Mets at Milwaukee, 2:10 ET
Hefner: Mets are 4-0 SU in Hefner's last four starts
Peralta: Over is 12-4 in 2013 for Brewers' home day games

Miami at St. Louis, 2:15 ET
Fernandez: Under is 4-1 in Fernandez's road starts during the day
Lynn: Cardinals 7-1 SU in 2013 when Lynn starts at home

Pittsburgh at Chicago Cubs, 2:20 ET WGN
Burnett: Pirates 8-2 SU last 10 times playing road series finale during the day
Villanueva: Over is 4-0 in Villanueva's last four starts

Los Angeles Dodgers at San Francisco, 4:05 ET
Kershaw: Under is 7-1 when Kershaw pitches in San Francisco
Gaudin: Giants 1-4 SU as home dog since 2012 when playing home series finale

Colorado at Arizona, 4:10 ET
Oswalt: Under is 15-4 last 19 times Rockies have played at Chase Field
Corbin: Under is 12-3 in Corbin's starts at Chase Field


American League

Baltimore at NY Yankees, 1:05 ET TBS
Hammel: Orioles are 7-1 SU when Hammel starts a road day game
Hughes: Under is 7-3 last 10 games in which Hughes starts a home day game

Minnesota at Toronto, 1:07 ET
Diamond: Twins 1-5 SU in last six road series finales
Redmond: Over is 10-2 in 2013 when Blue Jays are HF for a day game

Detroit at Cleveland, 1:05 ET
Fister: Under is 18-9-3 when Fister starts for Tigers on the road
Kluber: Indians are 3-9 SU in Kluber's home starts

Chicago White Sox at Tampa Bay, 1:40 ET
Danks: White Sox 3-8 SU as road dogs since 2011 when Danks starts
Price: Under is 17-4 when Price starts a home day game

Oakland at Kansas City, 2:10 ET
Griffin: Under is 4-1 when Griffin starts after Oakland lost in his previous outing
Mendoza: Royals are 6-0 SU in last six home series finales

Houston at Texas, 3:05 ET
Bedard: Astros are 3-1 SU in Bedard's last four road starts
Grimm: Over is 7-1 in Grimm's last eight starts

Boston at LA Angels, 8:05 ET ESPN
Lackey: Under is 9-3-1 in Red Sox' last 13 road Sunday night games
Weaver: Angels 8-2 SU last two years when Weaver pitches home series finale


Interleague

Seattle at Cincinnati, 1:10 ET
Saunders: Over is 11-2 in last 13 Mariners' road day games
Arroyo: Reds 7-1 SU last eight times Arroyo has started a home day game
Reply With Quote

[StarDust Bum]

MLB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Sunday, July 7

Hot pitchers
-- Pettibone is 1-0, 2.71 in his last three starts. Medlen is 3-0, 4.05 in his last three starts.
-- Strasburg is 3-1, 1.59 in his last eight starts.
-- Fernandez is 2-1, 1.95 in his last five starts.
-- Hefner is 2-0, 2.84 in his last three starts.
-- Kershaw is 1-1, 1.95 in his last five starts. Gaudin is 2-0, 3.38 in four starts this season.

-- Saunders is 2-1, 1.57 in his last four road starts. Reds won six of last seven Arroyo home starts (4-0, 2.55).

-- Former Angel Lackey is 3-0, 2.17 in his last four starts. Weaver is 1-0, 1.29 in his last couple starts.

Cold pitchers
-- Erlin is 1-1, 4.32 in three starts this season.
-- Burnett was 1-1, 5.12 in his last three starts before going on DL. Villanueva is 0-3, 6.94 in his last four starts, last of which was May 14.
-- Lynn is 0-2, 5.93 in his last couple starts.
-- Peralta is 1-3, 5.35 in his last six starts.
-- Oswalt is 0-3, 7.88 in three starts this season. Corbin is 0-2, 3.71 in his last five starts; despite that, Arizona is 15-2 in his starts this season.

-- Hammel is 0-3, 5.55 in his last six starts. Kuroda is 1-2, 4.01 in his last five.
-- Kluber is 1-1, 8.04 in his last three starts. Sanchez was 1-1, 4.15 in his last three starts, before going on DL.
-- Redmond allowed three runs in 7.2 IP in three outings this season; this will be his second MLB start (allowed four runs in 3.1 IP in start for Reds LY). He is 3-1, 5.06 in five AAA starts this season. Diamond is 1-3, 7.42 in his last five starts.
-- Price is 0-2, 6.44 in five home starts this season. Danks is 1-3, 5.33 in his last four starts.
-- Mendoza is 0-1, 5.74 in his last three starts. Griffin is 1-2, 4.59 in his last five starts.
-- Grimm is 2-3, 9.62 in his last six starts. Bedard is 2-2, 4.60 in his last five.

Starting Pitchers/First Inning
You can wager on whether teams will score in the first inning. You're reading ***************.com. Below is how often a starting pitcher has allowed 1+ runs in first inning in one of his starts........
-- Medlen 6-17; Pettibone 3-14
-- Erlin 1-3; Strasburg 4-16 (0 of last 10)
-- Hefner 6-16 (1 of last 7); Peralta 4-18 (0 of last 5)
-- Fernandez 3-15; Lynn 4-17
-- Burnett 3-14; Villanueva 5-8
-- Kershaw 2-18; Gaudin 0-4
-- Oswalt 1-3; Corbin 3-17 (0 of last 6)

-- Saunders 5-17; Arroyo 1-17

-- Hammel 6-17; Kuroda 6-17
-- Diamond 6-15; Redmond 0-0
-- Fister 4-17; Kluber 2-13
-- Danks 2-8; Price 3-10
-- Griffin 1-17; Mendoza 3-13
-- Bedard 8-15; Grimm 6-15
-- Lackey 5-14; Weaver 2-9

Totals
-- Nine of last twelve Cub games went over the total.
-- 12 of last 14 Philly games went over the total.
-- Over is 8-3-1 in San Diego's last twelve games.
-- 11 of last 14 New York games went over the total.
-- Seven of last nine St Louis home games stayed under the total.
-- Over is 6-1-1 in Arizona's last eight games.
-- Seven of last nine San Francisco games stayed under.

-- Under is 9-2-1 in last twelve Cincinnati home games.

-- 12 of last 17 Detroit games went over the total.
-- Three of last four games for both Twins/Jays stayed under.
-- Under is 9-2-1 in last dozen Baltimore games.
-- Six of White Sox' last seven games stayed under the total.
-- Six of last nine Houston road games stayed under.
-- Over is 5-2-1 in last eight Kansas City games.
-- Six of last seven Boston games stayed under the total.

Hot teams
-- Pirates won 11 of their last 14 games.
-- Washington won five of their last seven games.
-- Mets won eight of their last twelve road games.
-- Cardinals won three of their last four games.
-- Dodgers won 11 of their last 14 games.

-- Cincinnati won five of its last seven games.

-- Detroit won its last five games, scoring 40 runs.
-- Bronx won its last six games, scoring 37 runs.
-- Tampa Bay won nine of its last thirteen games.
-- Texas won 11 of its last 16 games.
-- A's won seven of their last ten games. Royals won three of last four.
-- Red Sox/Angels both won nine of their last eleven games.

Cold teams
-- Cubs are 5-9 in their last fourteen home games.
-- Padres lost 12 of their last 14 games.
-- Milwaukee lost eight of its last twelve games.
-- Atlanta lost three of its last four games. Phillies lost four of six at home.
-- Marlins lost last two games, scoring five runs.
-- Rockies lost eight of their last eleven games.
-- Giants lost 12 of their last 15 games.

-- Mariners are 4-6 in their last ten road games.

-- Indians lost their last four games, allowing 32 runs.
-- Orioles lost four of their last five games.
-- Minnesota lost nine of its last twelve games. Toronto lost five of last seven.
-- Astros lost eight of their last twelve games.
-- White Sox lost eight of their last ten games.

Umpires
-- Mia-StL-- Seven of last nine Johnson games stayed under total.
-- Pitt-Chi-- Five of last six Danley games stayed under the total.
-- SD-Wsh-- Wolcott's first two games behind plate had total of 12 runs.
-- LA-SF-- Underdogs won nine of last eleven Vanover games.
-- NY-Mil-- Underdogs won 13 of last 19 Davidson games; home teams won five of his last six games behind plate.
-- Atl-Phil-- Underdogs won six of last ten Eddings games.
-- Col-Az-- Seven of last nine Scott games stayed under the total.

-- Sea-Cin-- Four of last five Estabrook games went over the total.

-- Blt-NY-- Home team won five of last six Davis games.
-- Min-Tor-- Under is 7-2-1 in last ten Emmel games.
-- A's-KC-- Underdogs are 3-3 (+$101) in last six Foster games.
-- Det-Cle-- Six of last seven Holbrook games stayed under total.
-- Chi-TB-- Four of last five Barry games stayed under the total.
-- Hst-Tex-- Six of last eight Nelson games went over the total.
-- Bos-LA-- Over is 11-7 in Winters' last 18 games behind plate.

[StarDust Bum]

MLB

Sunday, July 7

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Trend Report
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1:05 PM
BALTIMORE vs. NY YANKEES
Baltimore is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Baltimore's last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of NY Yankees's last 6 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of NY Yankees's last 15 games when playing Baltimore

1:05 PM
DETROIT vs. CLEVELAND
Detroit is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Cleveland
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Detroit's last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Cleveland's last 6 games when playing Detroit
Cleveland is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Detroit

1:07 PM
MINNESOTA vs. TORONTO
Minnesota is 2-7 SU in its last 9 games on the road
Minnesota is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games
Toronto is 8-4 SU in its last 12 games at home
Toronto is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games

1:10 PM
SEATTLE vs. CINCINNATI
The total has gone OVER in 11 of Seattle's last 14 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Seattle's last 6 games on the road
Cincinnati is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Seattle
Cincinnati is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home

1:35 PM
SAN DIEGO vs. WASHINGTON
The total has gone OVER in 7 of San Diego's last 8 games when playing Washington
San Diego is 4-8 SU in its last 12 games when playing on the road against Washington
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Washington's last 8 games when playing San Diego
Washington is 10-4 SU in its last 14 games when playing San Diego

1:35 PM
ATLANTA vs. PHILADELPHIA
Atlanta is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Atlanta's last 6 games when playing on the road against Philadelphia
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Philadelphia's last 6 games at home
Philadelphia is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games at home

1:40 PM
CHI WHITE SOX vs. TAMPA BAY
Chi White Sox are 4-2 SU in their last 6 games when playing on the road against Tampa Bay
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Chi White Sox's last 9 games when playing on the road against Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Tampa Bay's last 5 games when playing Chi White Sox

2:10 PM
NY METS vs. MILWAUKEE
The total has gone OVER in 4 of NY Mets's last 5 games when playing on the road against Milwaukee
The total has gone OVER in 5 of NY Mets's last 6 games when playing Milwaukee
The total has gone OVER in 9 of Milwaukee's last 13 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Milwaukee's last 5 games at home

2:10 PM
OAKLAND vs. KANSAS CITY
Oakland is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Kansas City
Oakland is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Kansas City
Kansas City is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing Oakland
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Kansas City's last 9 games when playing Oakland

2:15 PM
MIAMI vs. ST. LOUIS
Miami is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against St. Louis
Miami is 4-13 SU in its last 17 games when playing St. Louis
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of St. Louis's last 9 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of St. Louis's last 5 games when playing Miami

2:20 PM
PITTSBURGH vs. CHI CUBS
Pittsburgh is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Pittsburgh's last 6 games when playing on the road against Chi Cubs
The total has gone OVER in 9 of Chi Cubs's last 12 games
Chi Cubs are 2-6 SU in their last 8 games when playing Pittsburgh

3:05 PM
HOUSTON vs. TEXAS
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Houston's last 5 games when playing Texas
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Houston's last 9 games on the road
Texas is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Houston
Texas is 11-5 SU in its last 16 games

4:05 PM
LA DODGERS vs. SAN FRANCISCO
The total has gone OVER in 6 of LA Dodgers's last 9 games
LA Dodgers are 1-5 SU in their last 6 games when playing on the road against San Francisco
San Francisco is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games at home
San Francisco is 5-1 SU in their last 6 games when playing at home against LA Dodgers

4:10 PM
COLORADO vs. ARIZONA
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Colorado's last 7 games when playing Arizona
Colorado is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing Arizona
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Arizona's last 9 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Arizona's last 8 games when playing at home against Colorado

8:05 PM
BOSTON vs. LA ANGELS
Boston5-0-1 SU in its last 6 games
Boston is 3-9-1 SU in their last 13 games ,when playing LA Angels
LA Angels are 3-8-1 SU in their last 12 games ,when playing at home against Boston
LA Angels are 1-3-1 SU in their last 5 games ,when playing Boston

[StarDust Bum]

MLB

Sunday, July 7

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Sunday Night Baseball: Red Sox at Angels
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Boston Red Sox at Los Angeles Angels (-140, 8.5)

DREAM WEAVER

Jered Weaver is 2-4 with a 3.79 ERA for the Angels, although he’s pitching much better as of late. The righty has allowed just two runs in his last 14 innings of work, shutting down two good offenses in St. Louis and Detroit. Those outings were significantly better than his previous three starts in which he gave up four earned runs or more in games against Pittsburgh, New York and Baltimore. Weaver’s control has been pretty good except for two starts when he gave up four walks each time. He has not seen the Red Sox since a two-game stretch in August of last year when he picked up a win and a no-decision. Weaver allowed seven runs and 14 hits over 14 innings in those two meetings.

WELCOME BACK LACKEY

John Lackey is 6-5 with a 2.81 ERA for Boston. He has a 2.17 ERA in his last four starts; opponents are hitting just .246 against him overall this season. The Boston starter has been remarkably consistent allowing two runs or less in seven of his last ten outings. He has yielded just four walks in his last six starts and has struck out 18 batters in his last two games. Lackey faced his former team back in 2011 when he got shelled to the tune of eight runs and 10 hits in just four innings.

INJURY REPORT

The Angels and Red Sox do not have many big names on their injury lists. Los Angeles is without Peter Bourjos, Tommy Hanson, Jason Vargas, Sean Burnett and Ryan Madson, although none of those injuries are hampering their results. Vargas and Burnett could both return after the All-Star break. Madson is recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Boston is waiting for Clay Buchholz to get healthy as he deals with a neck strain and inflammation in his shoulder. They are also without Joel Hanrahan due to Tommy John surgery, while Stephen Drew is out with a hamstring ailment.

TRENDS

Red Sox are 6-1 in Lackey’s last seven Sunday starts
The under is 7-3-1 in Lackey’s last 11 Sunday starts.
Angels are 40-13 in Weaver’s last 53 home starts
The under is 37-13-6 in Weaver’s last 56 home starts.

HITTERS TO WATCH

David Ortiz 10-for-29 vs. Weaver
Dustin Pedroia 5-for-25 vs. Weaver

Josh Hamilton 12-for-27 vs. Lackey
Alberto Callaspo 5-for-14 vs. Lackey

[StarDust Bum]

MLB

Sunday, July 7

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MLB Top 3: Under the radar money pitchers
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As the MLB All-Star Game fast approaches, we thought we'd take a look at some pitchers who might not receive the plaudits of the Patrick Corbin's and Jordan Zimmerman's of the world. These guys don't have the dominant numbers of some of the top starters, but are earning money for bettors nonetheless.

Ubaldo Jimenez, Cleveland Indians (6-4, 4.67 ERA, +7.69 units)

Remember when Jimenez went 15-1 heading into the All-Star break in 2010? Well, he hasn't quite recaptured that form, but he's snagging some money for Cleveland backers. The numbers don't blow you away. The record is ho-hum, the ERA is pedestrian and his 1.47 WHIP puts him in the company of Joe Saunders and Scott Diamond. But the Tribe give him 5.24 runs of support and he manages to keep the club in ball games, thus giving them a chance to win. The Tribe have won four of his previous five starts.

Jorge De La Rosa, Colorado Rockies (8-5, 3.19 ERA, +6.23 units)

De La Rosa is currently No. 12 in the money standings and has been the Rockies' best starter. The southpaw leads the club in wins, ERA, strikeouts and quality starts. The Rockies are 12-6 in all 18 of his outings this season and a stellar 7-1 in his starts at Coors Field. De La Rosa is a big reason the Rockies are in contention in the NL West.

Jeanmar Gomez, Pittsburgh Pirates (2-0, 2.70 ERA, +10.24 units)

Gomez has only two victories on his record for the year, but the Pirates have won all eight of his starts. He is currently third in pitcher money standings and has capitalized on his starts this year. The emergence of Gerrit Cole and the return of A.J. Burnett from the DL has seen Gomez move back to the bullpen. The righty is a worth a look if the Bucs need to use him in the rotation at any point for the remainder of the season.

[StarDust Bum]

MLB
Long Sheet

Sunday, July 7

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ATLANTA (50 - 37) at PHILADELPHIA (42 - 46) - 1:35 PM
KRIS MEDLEN (R) vs. JONATHAN PETTIBONE (R)
Top Trends for this game.
PHILADELPHIA is 360-325 (+47.0 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season since 1997.
ATLANTA is 47-29 (+17.7 Units) against the money line in day games over the last 2 seasons.
ATLANTA is 100-65 (+21.1 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
ATLANTA is 90-54 (+23.7 Units) against the money line after a win over the last 2 seasons.
ATLANTA is 144-106 (+17.8 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
ATLANTA is 124-82 (+28.1 Units) against the money line in road games in July games since 1997.
ATLANTA is 65-38 (+19.7 Units) against the money line against division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
MEDLEN is 36-13 (+20.5 Units) against the money line in all games since 1997. (Team's Record)
MEDLEN is 19-2 (+16.8 Units) against the money line against division opponents since 1997. (Team's Record)
MEDLEN is 36-13 (+20.5 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field since 1997. (Team's Record)
MEDLEN is 17-1 (+15.1 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
PHILADELPHIA is 123-124 (-22.1 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 40-43 (-17.4 Units) against the money line in home games against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 58-66 (-17.5 Units) against the money line after a loss over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 59-70 (-19.1 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 123-127 (-25.1 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 60-60 (-19.3 Units) against the money line in home games over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 30-36 (-16.9 Units) against the money line when playing on Sunday over the last 3 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 33-43 (-17.1 Units) against the money line in day games over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
ATLANTA is 3-2 (+0.8 Units) against PHILADELPHIA this season
4 of 5 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+3.2 Units)

KRIS MEDLEN vs. PHILADELPHIA since 1997
MEDLEN is 1-1 when starting against PHILADELPHIA with an ERA of 3.94 and a WHIP of 1.750.
His team's record is 2-1 (+1.2 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-2. (-1.0 units)

JONATHAN PETTIBONE vs. ATLANTA since 1997
No recent starts.

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SAN DIEGO (40 - 48) at WASHINGTON (45 - 42) - 1:35 PM
ROBBIE ERLIN (L) vs. STEPHEN STRASBURG (R)
Top Trends for this game.
SAN DIEGO is 116-131 (+5.7 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
SAN DIEGO is 438-501 (+36.5 Units) against the money line in road games against right-handed starters since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 16-24 (-11.7 Units) against the money line when playing on Sunday over the last 2 seasons.
STRASBURG is 1-6 (-8.2 Units) against the money line after a win this season. (Team's Record)
STRASBURG is 4-8 (-12.2 Units) against the money line in home games when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
WASHINGTON is 4-2 (+1.7 Units) against SAN DIEGO this season
5 of 6 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+3.9 Units)

ROBBIE ERLIN vs. WASHINGTON since 1997
No recent starts.

STEPHEN STRASBURG vs. SAN DIEGO since 1997
STRASBURG is 1-1 when starting against SAN DIEGO with an ERA of 3.75 and a WHIP of 1.250.
His team's record is 1-1 (-1.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 2-0. (+2.2 units)

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NY METS (36 - 48) at MILWAUKEE (35 - 51) - 4:10 PM
JEREMY HEFNER (R) vs. TOM GORZELANNY (L)
Top Trends for this game.
NY METS are 106-134 (-28.7 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 101-53 (+33.0 Units) against the money line in home games against right-handed starters over the last 3 seasons.
NY METS are 34-23 (+16.0 Units) against the money line as a road underdog of +100 to +125 over the last 3 seasons.
NY METS are 100-102 (+24.6 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 3 seasons.
NY METS are 11-4 (+11.5 Units) against the money line in road games against left-handed starters this season.
NY METS are 52-49 (+16.8 Units) against the money line in road games after a loss over the last 3 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 35-51 (-17.8 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
MILWAUKEE is 5-12 (-9.1 Units) against the money line at home with a money line of -100 to -125 this season.
MILWAUKEE is 14-25 (-14.1 Units) against the money line when playing on Sunday over the last 2 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 9-21 (-12.7 Units) against the money line in day games this season.
MILWAUKEE is 35-51 (-17.8 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
MILWAUKEE is 55-58 (-18.3 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
NY METS is 1-1 (+0.2 Units) against MILWAUKEE this season
2 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+2.0 Units)

JEREMY HEFNER vs. MILWAUKEE since 1997
No recent starts.

TOM GORZELANNY vs. NY METS since 1997
GORZELANNY is 1-5 when starting against NY METS with an ERA of 5.40 and a WHIP of 1.591.
His team's record is 2-6 (-3.2 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 2-5. (-3.9 units)

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MIAMI (32 - 54) at ST LOUIS (52 - 34) - 2:15 PM
JOSE FERNANDEZ (R) vs. LANCE LYNN (R)
Top Trends for this game.
MIAMI is 101-147 (-33.2 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
MIAMI is 14-35 (-16.7 Units) against the money line in road games in day games over the last 2 seasons.
MIAMI is 100-143 (-30.3 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
MIAMI is 67-102 (-26.4 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
MIAMI is 92-141 (-39.7 Units) against the money line after a loss over the last 3 seasons.
ST LOUIS is 44-22 (+15.6 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
LYNN is 34-14 (+15.2 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
LYNN is 34-14 (+15.2 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
MIAMI is 325-363 (+43.5 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
ST LOUIS is 3-2 (+0.4 Units) against MIAMI this season
4 of 5 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+3.1 Units)

JOSE FERNANDEZ vs. ST LOUIS since 1997
FERNANDEZ is 1-0 when starting against ST LOUIS with an ERA of 2.57 and a WHIP of 1.143.
His team's record is 1-0 (+1.2 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-0. (+1.1 units)

LANCE LYNN vs. MIAMI since 1997
LYNN is 1-0 when starting against MIAMI with an ERA of 12.60 and a WHIP of 2.400.
His team's record is 1-0 (+1.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-0. (+1.0 units)

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PITTSBURGH (53 - 33) at CHICAGO CUBS (37 - 48) - 2:20 PM
A.J. BURNETT (R) vs. CARLOS VILLANUEVA (R)
Top Trends for this game.
PITTSBURGH is 22-31 (-17.6 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
BURNETT is 78-106 (-34.9 Units) against the money line in road games since 1997. (Team's Record)
BURNETT is 63-87 (-29.5 Units) against the money line in road games in games played on a grass field since 1997. (Team's Record)
PITTSBURGH is 53-33 (+25.8 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
PITTSBURGH is 24-18 (+13.7 Units) against the money line in road games this season.
PITTSBURGH is 10-3 (+10.3 Units) against the money line when playing on Sunday this season.
PITTSBURGH is 25-14 (+13.5 Units) against the money line against division opponents this season.
PITTSBURGH is 21-13 (+12.8 Units) against the money line in day games this season.
PITTSBURGH is 53-33 (+25.8 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
PITTSBURGH is 44-24 (+26.7 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
PITTSBURGH is 23-9 (+17.4 Units) against the money line after a loss this season.
PITTSBURGH is 32-12 (+21.5 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record this season.
CHICAGO CUBS are 98-149 (-32.4 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO CUBS are 690-658 (-153.0 Units) against the money line in home games since 1997.
CHICAGO CUBS are 12-26 (-11.0 Units) against the money line against division opponents this season.
CHICAGO CUBS are 700-721 (-131.7 Units) against the money line in day games since 1997.
CHICAGO CUBS are 98-149 (-32.4 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO CUBS are 69-109 (-25.9 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO CUBS are 64-104 (-33.3 Units) against the money line after a win over the last 3 seasons.
CHICAGO CUBS are 16-33 (-12.1 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
CHICAGO CUBS are 134-173 (-55.8 Units) against the money line in home games when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
PITTSBURGH is 7-4 (+2.0 Units) against CHICAGO CUBS this season
8 of 11 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+4.6 Units)

A.J. BURNETT vs. CHICAGO CUBS since 1997
BURNETT is 7-2 when starting against CHICAGO CUBS with an ERA of 3.08 and a WHIP of 1.135.
His team's record is 7-3 (+3.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 5-5. (-0.5 units)

CARLOS VILLANUEVA vs. PITTSBURGH since 1997
VILLANUEVA is 0-2 when starting against PITTSBURGH with an ERA of 8.00 and a WHIP of 2.222.
His team's record is 0-2 (-2.6 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 0-1. (-1.1 units)

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LA DODGERS (41 - 45) at SAN FRANCISCO (40 - 46) - 4:05 PM
CLAYTON KERSHAW (L) vs. CHAD GAUDIN (R)
Top Trends for this game.
LA DODGERS are 41-45 (-13.0 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
LA DODGERS are 17-25 (-16.0 Units) against the money line against division opponents this season.
LA DODGERS are 41-45 (-13.0 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
KERSHAW is 11-15 (-14.7 Units) against the money line against division opponents over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
SAN FRANCISCO is 69-45 (+19.2 Units) against the money line against division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
SAN FRANCISCO is 145-117 (+16.9 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
SAN FRANCISCO is 53-34 (+19.0 Units) against the money line against left-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
SAN FRANCISCO is 49-27 (+14.0 Units) against the money line in home games after a win over the last 2 seasons.
KERSHAW is 35-14 (+17.5 Units) against the money line in day games since 1997. (Team's Record)
SAN FRANCISCO is 40-46 (-12.1 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
SAN FRANCISCO is 14-23 (-13.7 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
SAN FRANCISCO is 6-5 (+1.1 Units) against LA DODGERS this season
6 of 10 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+1.9 Units)

CLAYTON KERSHAW vs. SAN FRANCISCO since 1997
KERSHAW is 10-4 when starting against SAN FRANCISCO with an ERA of 1.34 and a WHIP of 0.823.
His team's record is 12-7 (+2.5 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 15-4. (+10.5 units)

CHAD GAUDIN vs. LA DODGERS since 1997
GAUDIN is 0-2 when starting against LA DODGERS with an ERA of 10.12 and a WHIP of 2.062.
His team's record is 0-2 (-2.0 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 0-2. (-2.4 units)

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COLORADO (42 - 46) at ARIZONA (46 - 41) - 4:10 PM
ROY OSWALT (R) vs. PAT CORBIN (L)
Top Trends for this game.
COLORADO is 179-235 (-57.9 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 3 seasons.
COLORADO is 28-46 (-18.0 Units) against the money line when the total is 9 to 9.5 over the last 2 seasons.
COLORADO is 66-146 (-64.6 Units) against the money line in road games in July games since 1997.
COLORADO is 19-46 (-31.5 Units) against the money line when playing on Sunday over the last 3 seasons.
COLORADO is 33-53 (-20.9 Units) against the money line in day games over the last 2 seasons.
COLORADO is 179-232 (-54.9 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 3 seasons.
COLORADO is 28-55 (-26.2 Units) against the money line against left-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
COLORADO is 24-58 (-25.1 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
ARIZONA is 152-124 (+25.4 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters over the last 3 seasons.
CORBIN is 15-2 (+12.7 Units) against the money line in all games this season. (Team's Record)
CORBIN is 8-0 (+8.7 Units) against the money line against division opponents this season. (Team's Record)
CORBIN is 15-2 (+12.7 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season. (Team's Record)
OSWALT is 59-26 (+27.4 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season since 1997. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
ARIZONA is 7-5 (+1.7 Units) against COLORADO this season
10 of 11 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+8.6 Units)

ROY OSWALT vs. ARIZONA since 1997
OSWALT is 9-3 when starting against ARIZONA with an ERA of 2.35 and a WHIP of 1.068.
His team's record is 10-3 (+6.2 units) in these starts. The OVER is 7-6. (+1.1 units)

PAT CORBIN vs. COLORADO since 1997
CORBIN is 2-1 when starting against COLORADO with an ERA of 4.26 and a WHIP of 1.263.
His team's record is 4-1 (+3.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-4. (-3.2 units)

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BALTIMORE (48 - 40) at NY YANKEES (48 - 39) - 1:05 PM
JASON HAMMEL (R) vs. HIROKI KURODA (R)
Top Trends for this game.
BALTIMORE is 173-254 (-78.7 Units) against the money line when playing on Sunday since 1997.
BALTIMORE is 177-301 (-101.7 Units) against the money line after 3 or more consecutive losses since 1997.
NY YANKEES are 96-48 (+35.4 Units) against the money line in day games over the last 3 seasons.
NY YANKEES are 29-18 (+8.9 Units) against the money line after a win this season.
BALTIMORE is 48-40 (+7.5 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
BALTIMORE is 63-49 (+16.3 Units) against the money line when the total is 9 to 9.5 over the last 2 seasons.
BALTIMORE is 71-60 (+30.5 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 2 seasons.
BALTIMORE is 27-20 (+14.6 Units) against the money line on the road when the total is 9 to 9.5 over the last 2 seasons.
BALTIMORE is 65-52 (+23.2 Units) against the money line against division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
BALTIMORE is 47-33 (+19.0 Units) against the money line in day games over the last 2 seasons.
BALTIMORE is 43-32 (+9.5 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
BALTIMORE is 102-80 (+33.6 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
BALTIMORE is 25-14 (+11.3 Units) against the money line after a loss this season.
BALTIMORE is 29-18 (+12.0 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
HAMMEL is 7-1 (+7.5 Units) against the money line in road games in day games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
HAMMEL is 13-3 (+12.4 Units) against the money line in road games after a loss over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
BALTIMORE is 6-5 (+1.0 Units) against NY YANKEES this season
7 of 9 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+4.5 Units)

JASON HAMMEL vs. NY YANKEES since 1997
HAMMEL is 3-4 when starting against NY YANKEES with an ERA of 4.59 and a WHIP of 1.469.
His team's record is 5-7 (+0.2 units) in these starts. The OVER is 5-6. (-1.4 units)

HIROKI KURODA vs. BALTIMORE since 1997
KURODA is 2-3 when starting against BALTIMORE with an ERA of 3.54 and a WHIP of 0.959.
His team's record is 3-3 (-1.0 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 5-0. (+5.0 units)

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MINNESOTA (37 - 47) at TORONTO (42 - 45) - 1:05 PM
SCOTT DIAMOND (L) vs. TODD REDMOND (R)
Top Trends for this game.
TORONTO is 24-13 (+11.3 Units) against the money line when the total is 9 to 9.5 this season.
TORONTO is 340-247 (+53.6 Units) against the money line at home when the total is 9 to 9.5 since 1997.
MINNESOTA is 15-12 (+12.4 Units) against the money line as a road underdog of +150 to +175 over the last 2 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 19-15 (+10.7 Units) against the money line in day games this season.
MINNESOTA is 22-15 (+10.5 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
MINNESOTA is 1-1 (+0.9 Units) against TORONTO this season
2 of 2 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+2.0 Units)

SCOTT DIAMOND vs. TORONTO since 1997
DIAMOND is 1-1 when starting against TORONTO with an ERA of 1.50 and a WHIP of 0.917.
His team's record is 1-1 (+0.4 units) in these starts. The OVER is 0-2. (-2.1 units)

TODD REDMOND vs. MINNESOTA since 1997
No recent starts.

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DETROIT (48 - 38) at CLEVELAND (45 - 42) - 1:05 PM
DOUG FISTER (R) vs. COREY KLUBER (R)
Top Trends for this game.
DETROIT is 143-118 (-19.6 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
DETROIT is 63-69 (-19.5 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 2 seasons.
DETROIT is 18-19 (-11.3 Units) against the money line in day games this season.
DETROIT is 135-112 (-20.7 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
DETROIT is 76-67 (-21.5 Units) against the money line after a win over the last 2 seasons.
FISTER is 14-27 (-17.5 Units) against the money line when the total is 8 to 8.5 since 1997. (Team's Record)
FISTER is 17-38 (-20.2 Units) against the money line in road games since 1997. (Team's Record)
FISTER is 7-15 (-10.3 Units) against the money line in road games in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
CLEVELAND is 45-42 (+8.4 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
CLEVELAND is 42-39 (+6.3 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
CLEVELAND is 81-59 (+18.3 Units) against the money line in home games against right-handed starters over the last 3 seasons.
CLEVELAND is 109-118 (-37.7 Units) against the money line in home games in July games since 1997.
CLEVELAND is 13-32 (-15.9 Units) against the money line after 3 or more consecutive losses over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
DETROIT is 8-2 (+4.2 Units) against CLEVELAND this season
6 of 10 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+1.6 Units)

DOUG FISTER vs. CLEVELAND since 1997
FISTER is 5-3 when starting against CLEVELAND with an ERA of 2.24 and a WHIP of 0.896.
His team's record is 5-7 (-2.9 units) in these starts. The OVER is 4-8. (-4.6 units)

COREY KLUBER vs. DETROIT since 1997
KLUBER is 1-3 when starting against DETROIT with an ERA of 6.95 and a WHIP of 1.727.
His team's record is 1-3 (-1.0 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 3-1. (+1.8 units)

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CHI WHITE SOX (34 - 50) at TAMPA BAY (48 - 40) - 1:40 PM
JOHN DANKS (L) vs. DAVID PRICE (L)
Top Trends for this game.
CHI WHITE SOX are 34-50 (-17.6 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
CHI WHITE SOX are 15-30 (-14.5 Units) against the money line in road games this season.
CHI WHITE SOX are 2-10 (-9.3 Units) against the money line in road games against left-handed starters this season.
CHI WHITE SOX are 18-31 (-15.5 Units) against the money line after a loss this season.
CHI WHITE SOX are 4-18 (-12.8 Units) against the money line in road games when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
TAMPA BAY is 27-12 (+11.3 Units) against the money line when playing on Sunday over the last 2 seasons.
PRICE is 17-20 (-16.7 Units) against the money line in home games over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
PRICE is 17-20 (-16.7 Units) against the money line in games played in a dome over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
PRICE is 17-20 (-16.7 Units) against the money line in home games in games played on artificial turf over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
PRICE is 6-11 (-12.5 Units) against the money line in home games after a win over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
TAMPA BAY is 4-2 (+2.0 Units) against CHI WHITE SOX this season
4 of 5 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+3.2 Units)

JOHN DANKS vs. TAMPA BAY since 1997
DANKS is 6-3 when starting against TAMPA BAY with an ERA of 3.92 and a WHIP of 1.210.
His team's record is 6-4 (+1.2 units) in these starts. The OVER is 3-7. (-4.4 units)

DAVID PRICE vs. CHI WHITE SOX since 1997
PRICE is 3-4 when starting against CHI WHITE SOX with an ERA of 3.52 and a WHIP of 1.261.
His team's record is 3-4 (-2.5 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 5-2. (+2.8 units)

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OAKLAND (51 - 37) at KANSAS CITY (41 - 43) - 2:10 PM
A.J. GRIFFIN (R) vs. LUIS MENDOZA (R)
Top Trends for this game.
OAKLAND is 4-12 (-9.5 Units) against the money line in road games in day games this season.
KANSAS CITY is 60-64 (+14.3 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
OAKLAND is 51-37 (+11.6 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
OAKLAND is 67-62 (+17.1 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 2 seasons.
OAKLAND is 22-7 (+16.7 Units) against the money line in July games over the last 2 seasons.
OAKLAND is 51-34 (+14.7 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
OAKLAND is 98-68 (+37.4 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
OAKLAND is 67-39 (+26.1 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
OAKLAND is 28-9 (+15.8 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
GRIFFIN is 22-11 (+11.5 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
KANSAS CITY is 250-365 (-103.5 Units) against the money line at home when the total is 9 to 9.5 since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
OAKLAND is 4-1 (+3.0 Units) against KANSAS CITY this season
4 of 4 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+4.0 Units)

A.J. GRIFFIN vs. KANSAS CITY since 1997
GRIFFIN is 0-0 when starting against KANSAS CITY with an ERA of 4.50 and a WHIP of 1.667.
His team's record is 1-0 (+1.0 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 1-0. (+1.0 units)

LUIS MENDOZA vs. OAKLAND since 1997
MENDOZA is 0-1 when starting against OAKLAND with an ERA of 1.98 and a WHIP of 1.390.
His team's record is 1-2 (-1.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 0-2. (-2.2 units)

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HOUSTON (32 - 56) at TEXAS (50 - 37) - 3:05 PM
ERIK BEDARD (L) vs. JUSTIN GRIMM (R)
Top Trends for this game.
HOUSTON is 144-269 (-67.8 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 3 seasons.
HOUSTON is 11-43 (-22.8 Units) against the money line as a road underdog of +175 to +200 over the last 3 seasons.
HOUSTON is 60-142 (-42.5 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 3 seasons.
HOUSTON is 5-27 (-19.2 Units) against the money line in July games over the last 2 seasons.
HOUSTON is 17-49 (-23.7 Units) against the money line when playing on Sunday over the last 3 seasons.
HOUSTON is 35-87 (-38.6 Units) against the money line in day games over the last 3 seasons.
HOUSTON is 142-268 (-69.7 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 3 seasons.
HOUSTON is 98-201 (-61.8 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters over the last 3 seasons.
HOUSTON is 38-90 (-27.6 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
BEDARD is 13-30 (-18.9 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season since 1997. (Team's Record)
TEXAS is 112-64 (+30.9 Units) against the money line after a loss over the last 3 seasons.
TEXAS is 11-17 (-13.7 Units) against the money line in July games over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
TEXAS is 6-2 (+1.2 Units) against HOUSTON this season
5 of 8 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+2.0 Units)

ERIK BEDARD vs. TEXAS since 1997
BEDARD is 5-4 when starting against TEXAS with an ERA of 3.49 and a WHIP of 1.196.
His team's record is 8-8 (-1.3 units) in these starts. The OVER is 7-7. (-0.6 units)

JUSTIN GRIMM vs. HOUSTON since 1997
GRIMM is 1-0 when starting against HOUSTON with an ERA of 4.50 and a WHIP of 1.000.
His team's record is 1-0 (+1.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-0. (+1.0 units)

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BOSTON (54 - 35) at LA ANGELS (42 - 45) - 8:05 PM
JOHN LACKEY (R) vs. JERED WEAVER (R)
Top Trends for this game.
BOSTON is 105-116 (-34.7 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
BOSTON is 82-93 (-26.3 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons.
BOSTON is 79-91 (-27.4 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
BOSTON is 98-105 (-34.7 Units) against the money line after a loss over the last 3 seasons.
WEAVER is 50-22 (+18.8 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
WEAVER is 28-7 (+16.0 Units) against the money line in home games over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
WEAVER is 12-1 (+11.0 Units) against the money line in July games over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
WEAVER is 49-21 (+19.1 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
WEAVER is 60-24 (+22.1 Units) against the money line in home games in night games since 1997. (Team's Record)
WEAVER is 40-12 (+19.7 Units) against the money line in home games after a win since 1997. (Team's Record)
WEAVER is 14-3 (+10.5 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
BOSTON is 54-35 (+11.8 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
BOSTON is 22-11 (+10.3 Units) against the money line when the total is 8 to 8.5 this season.
LACKEY is 17-5 (+13.0 Units) against the money line in road games in July games since 1997. (Team's Record)
LA ANGELS are 42-45 (-16.3 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
LA ANGELS are 23-25 (-14.7 Units) against the money line in home games this season.
LA ANGELS are 42-45 (-16.3 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
LA ANGELS are 25-37 (-23.7 Units) against the money line in night games this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
BOSTON is 3-2 (+0.5 Units) against LA ANGELS this season
4 of 5 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+3.1 Units)

JOHN LACKEY vs. LA ANGELS since 1997
LACKEY is 4-1 when starting against LA ANGELS with an ERA of 4.32 and a WHIP of 1.260.
His team's record is 4-1 (+2.8 units) in these starts. The OVER is 2-3. (-1.3 units)

JERED WEAVER vs. BOSTON since 1997
WEAVER is 4-6 when starting against BOSTON with an ERA of 4.03 and a WHIP of 1.211.
His team's record is 6-9 (-3.8 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 6-8. (-3.3 units)

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SEATTLE (38 - 49) at CINCINNATI (50 - 37) - 1:10 PM
JOE SAUNDERS (L) vs. BRONSON ARROYO (R)
Top Trends for this game.
SEATTLE is 298-425 (-99.4 Units) against the money line in road games after a loss since 1997.
CINCINNATI is 149-105 (+18.6 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
CINCINNATI is 149-105 (+18.6 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
CINCINNATI is 50-31 (+15.3 Units) against the money line against left-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
CINCINNATI is 31-13 (+11.7 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record this season.
ARROYO is 30-8 (+17.8 Units) against the money line in home games when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season since 1997. (Team's Record)
CINCINNATI is 323-347 (-85.4 Units) against the money line in home games after a win since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
SEATTLE is 1-1 (+0.8 Units) against CINCINNATI this season
1 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=-0.1 Units, Under=-0.2 Units)

JOE SAUNDERS vs. CINCINNATI since 1997
SAUNDERS is 0-2 when starting against CINCINNATI with an ERA of 6.05 and a WHIP of 1.747.
His team's record is 1-3 (-2.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 4-0. (+4.0 units)

BRONSON ARROYO vs. SEATTLE since 1997
ARROYO is 1-1 when starting against SEATTLE with an ERA of 1.71 and a WHIP of 0.952.
His team's record is 1-2 (-1.4 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-2. (-1.2 units)

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