The Bum's MLB News-Stats and POD'S Thru The World Series !

[StarDust Bum]

MLB
Short Sheet

Tuesday, October 15

Boston at Detroit, 4:05 ET - Game 3 - Tied 1-1
Lackey: BOSTON is 28-40 SU after a win by 2 runs or less
Verlander: 36-10 TSR at home when the total is 7.5 or less

[StarDust Bum]

MLB
Dunkel

Boston at Detroit
The Red Sox look to follow up yesterday's 1-0 win and take advantage of a Detroit team that is 3-10 in Doug Fister's last 13 starts as a favorite of -110 to -150. Boston is the pick (+110) according to Dunkel, which has the Red Sox favored by 1/2 a run. Dunkel Pick: Boston (+110). Here are all of today's picks.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16

Game 915-916: St. Louis at LA Dodgers (4:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: St. Louis (Kelly) 15.588; LA Dodgers (Greinke) 16.984
Dunkel Line: LA Dodgers by 1 1/2; 5
Vegas Line: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A

Game 917-918: Boston at Detroit (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Boston (Peavy) 16.728; Detroit (Fister) 16.047
Dunkel Line: Boston by 1/2; 8
Vegas Line: Detroit (-130); 7
Dunkel Pick: Boston (+110); Over




MLB
Long Sheet

Wednesday, October 16

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS (103 - 68) at LA DODGERS (96 - 74) - 4:05 PM
JOE KELLY (R) vs. ZACK GREINKE (R)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
ST LOUIS is 6-5 (+0.8 Units) against LA DODGERS this season
8 of 11 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+4.9 Units)

JOE KELLY vs. LA DODGERS since 1997
KELLY is 1-1 when starting against LA DODGERS with an ERA of 3.22 and a WHIP of 1.299.
His team's record is 2-2 (+0.1 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-3. (-2.5 units)

ZACK GREINKE vs. ST LOUIS since 1997
GREINKE is 8-4 when starting against ST LOUIS with an ERA of 3.43 and a WHIP of 1.202.
His team's record is 8-5 (+3.2 units) in these starts. The OVER is 5-8. (-3.8 units)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


BOSTON (102 - 67) at DETROIT (97 - 73) - 8:05 PM
JAKE PEAVY (R) vs. DOUG FISTER (R)
Top Trends for this game.
BOSTON is 102-67 (+21.4 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
BOSTON is 46-38 (+7.3 Units) against the money line in road games this season.
BOSTON is 11-2 (+9.3 Units) against the money line in road games when playing on Wednesday this season.
BOSTON is 90-59 (+16.2 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
BOSTON is 72-52 (+10.4 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
BOSTON is 67-45 (+13.4 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
DETROIT is 97-73 (-12.4 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
DETROIT is 4-8 (-10.6 Units) against the money line in home games when playing on Wednesday this season.
DETROIT is 93-70 (-13.0 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
DETROIT is 119-97 (-12.2 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
DETROIT is 5-5 (-0.2 Units) against BOSTON this season
5 of 10 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=-0.5 Units, Under=-0.9 Units)

JAKE PEAVY vs. DETROIT since 1997
PEAVY is 4-5 when starting against DETROIT with an ERA of 4.83 and a WHIP of 1.205.
His team's record is 4-8 (-4.5 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 3-7. (-5.0 units)

DOUG FISTER vs. BOSTON since 1997
FISTER is 2-4 when starting against BOSTON with an ERA of 4.36 and a WHIP of 1.569.
His team's record is 4-4 (+1.1 units) in these starts. The OVER is 3-4. (-1.4 units)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




MLB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Wednesday, October 16

Tigers-Red Sox
Peavy is 1-0, 4.70 in his last five starts, with three of last four staying under the total. He allowed four runs in seven IP in 7-4 win over Detroit July 25, in his last start for the White Sox.

Fister is 2-0, 4.05 in his last three starts, with four of his last six staying under the total. He started against Boston twice this year; June 21 he gave up 11 hits, six runs in 3.1 IP in a 10-6, then he blanked Red Sox for seven innings in a 3-0 win Spetember 2.

Boston rallied from down 5-1 in 8th inning to even series with 6-5 walkoff win Sunday, and now lead series after 1-0 win Tuesday; nine of their last twelve games went over total. Red Sox are 5-5 vs Detroit this season, with the home team 6-4 in those games. Boston lost four of their last seven road games.

Detroit is 6-9 in its last 15 games; nine of their last twelve stayed under the total. Tigers won seven of their last eleven home games.

Dodgers-Cardinals
Kelly is 1-0, 2.70 in his last three starts; Cardinals are 7-3 in his last 10 starts, with over 5-2-1 in his last eight. He is 1-0, 2.38 in two starts against LA.

Kershaw is 3-1, 1.13 in his last five starts, with three of last four going over the total. He is 0-2, 3.32 in three starts against LA this season.

Dodgers are 5-6 against St Louis this year, with eight of 11 games going under the total. LA is 4-4 in playoffs but 10-14 in last 24 games overall; all four games in this series stayed under the total-- they've scored seven runs in 40 innings in this series so far.

Cardinals won 14 of their last 18 games, but lost three of last five road games; they allowed seven runs in first four games of this series- five of their last six games stayed under total.




MLB

Wednesday, October 16

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4:07 PM
ST. LOUIS vs. LA DODGERS
St. Louis is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of St. Louis's last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of LA Dodgers's last 6 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of LA Dodgers's last 7 games when playing at home against St. Louis

8:07 PM
BOSTON vs. DETROIT
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Boston's last 7 games when playing on the road against Detroit
Boston is 2-7 SU in its last 9 games when playing on the road against Detroit
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Detroit's last 8 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Detroit's last 7 games when playing at home against Boston


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------




MLB

Wednesday, October 16

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cardinals at Dodgers: What bettors need to know
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

St. Louis Cardinals at Los Angeles Dodgers (N/A)

St. Louis leads series 3-1.

The St. Louis Cardinals are one win away from their 19th trip to the World Series. The Cardinals will attempt to lock up the National League pennant behind Joe Kelly when they visit the Los Angeles Dodgers for Game 5 of the NL Championship Series on Wednesday. St. Louis is riding its excellent pitching in the series and finally got something out of Matt Carpenter and Matt Holliday in the 4-2 triumph in Game 4.

Carpenter and Holliday were a combined 2-for-23 in the first three games but totaled three hits and combined for three RBIs to help the Cardinals take a commanding 3-1 lead. The Dodgers are getting their own solid pitching but are lacking something on offense, where Andre Ethier and Hanley Ramirez are playing through pain. Ramirez (fractured rib) went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts and was in noticeable pain before being removed on Tuesday.

TV: 4:07 p.m. ET, TBS

WEATHER: Temperatures in the high 70s with clear skies and winds blow SW at 5 mph.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Joe Kelly (10-5, 2.69 ERA) vs. Dodgers RH Zack Greinke (15-4, 2.63)

Kelly went up against Greinke in Game 1 and held his own, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out five in six innings. The 25-year-old owns a power sinker that helped him generate 11 ground balls in Game 1 and 19 in two postseason outings. Kelly was a better pitcher on the road during the regular season, going 5-1 with a 2.07 ERA in 19 games - seven starts.

Greinke surrendered a total of eight hits in 14 innings during his two postseason starts and was at his best against the Cardinals in Game 1, striking out 10 while allowing two runs on four hits in eight innings. The Dodgers’ struggling offense is the only thing keeping the former Cy Young Award winner from a win in the playoffs. Greinke went 8-2 with a 2.11 ERA in 14 starts at home during the regular season.

TRENDS:

* Under is 5-0 in the last five meetings.
* Under is 5-2 in the last seven meetings in Los Angeles.
* Dodgers are 12-2 in Greinke's last 14 home starts.
* Over is 5-1-1 in Kelly's last 7 starts overall.

WALK-OFFS:

1. Ramirez did not take a pain-killing injection before Game 4 and will be a game-time decision Wednesday.

2. St. Louis held a 3-1 lead in the NLCS over the San Francisco Giants last season before dropping three straight.

3. Los Angeles suffered 4-1 losses in each of its last two trips to the NLCS (2008 and 2009) and is looking for its first trip to the World Series since 1988.

[StarDust Bum]

Wednesday LCS Action

October 16, 2013

St. Louis at Los Angeles - 4:05 PM EST

Game 1 - Cardinals 3, Dodgers 2
Game 2 - Cardinals 1, Dodgers 0
Game 3 - Dodgers 3, Cardinals 0
Game 4 - Cardinals 4, Dodgers 2
Game 5 - Today
Game 6* - Thursday October 18
Game 7* - Friday October 19

* - If Neccessary

Series recap:

The underdog has won three of four games, including St. Louis cashing as +120 'dogs in Tuesday's 4-2 victory. The 'under' has hit in all four games of this series.

Game 5 Pitching Matchups

St. Louis - Joe Kelly (10-5, 2.73 ERA)

-- The Cardinals are 6-3 in his last nine starts, including an extra-innings victory in Game 1. Kelly tossed six innings and allowed six hits and two earned runs, while leaving the game tied at 2-2. St. Louis scored the game-winning run in the 12th inning as the Cards won for the third time in the home 'dog role with Kelly starting.
-- St. Louis won five of Kelly's eight road starts this season, but went 1-2 in the underdog role. Kelly is originally from Anaheim, so this will be his first start in his native Southern California.
-- The Cardinals have hit the 'over' in each of Kelly's last four road outings, while the Redbirds have plated at least four runs in five of his previous six away starts.

Los Angeles - Zack Greinke (15-4, 2.63 ERA)

-- The former Cy Young Award winner has failed to win a playoff game in two starts, while picking up a no-decision in the Game 1 defeat at St. Louis. Greinke is making his first home start in the playoffs, as the Brewers went 2-0 in his two home outings in the 2011 postseason.
-- The Dodgers went 12-2 in Greinke's 14 starts at Chavez Ravine this season, while the 'under' is 6-1-1 his last eight home outings.
-- Since the start of 2011, Greinke's teams (Brewers and Dodgers) are 6-3 against the Cardinals, including a 4-0 home record.

Boston at Detroit - 8:00 PM EST

Game 1 - Tigers 1, Red Sox 0
Game 2 - Red Sox 6, Tigers 5
Game 3 - Red Sox 1, Tigers 0
Game 4 - Today
Game 5 - Thursday, October 17
Game 6* - Saturday, October 19
Game 7* - Sunday, October 20

* - If Neccessary

Series recap:

The underdog has profited in this series by winning twice, including in Tuesday's 1-0 victory by Boston as +130 'dogs. The only favorite win came in Game 2, as the Red Sox had to rally from a 5-0 deficit to stun the Tigers, 6-5. The 'under' is 2-1 in this series, with obviously the only 'over' cashing in Game 2.

Game 4 Pitching Matchups

Boston - Jake Peavy (12-5, 4.17 ERA)

-- The Red Sox are 6-5 in his 11 starts since coming over from the White Sox in a trade. Boston has won four of Peavy's last five starts away from Fenway Park, including the series-clincher in the ALDS at Tampa Bay.
-- In Peavy's lone start against the Tigers this season (as a member of the White Sox), the righty gave up four earned runs in seven innings as Chicago held off Detroit, 7-4 as a +135 home 'dog.
-- The 'under' is 6-4-1 in Peavy's 11 starts with Boston, while going 4-4 to the 'under' on the road.

Detroit - Doug Fister (14-9, 3.67 ERA)

-- The Tigers have won 10 of Fister's 16 home starts this season, including an 8-6 comeback triumph in Game 4 of the ALDS against Oakland.
-- Detroit owns a 5-1 record in Fister's six career playoff starts, while going 3-0 at Comerica Park.
-- Fister split a pair of starts against the Sox this season. The Tigers lost as a home favorite to Boston in late June as Fister was racked by allowing 11 hits and six earned runs in less than four innings of work. Fister rebounded with a win as a +130 road underdog at Fenway Park in early September by tossing seven scoreless innings in a 3-0 triumph.

[StarDust Bum]

Wednesday, October 16

Game Score Status Pick Amount


St. Louis - 4:00 PM ET St. Louis +153 500 POD # 3


LA Dodgers - Under 7 500 POD # 2


Boston - 8:00 PM ET Boston +112 500 POD # 1


Detroit - Over 7.5 500 POD # 4

[StarDust Bum]

MLB

Thursday, October 17

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Boston - 8:00 PM ET Detroit -114 500 POD # 2

Detroit - Over 7 500 POD # 1

[StarDust Bum]

SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Tigers at Red Sox
Sat, Oct 12 Final 1 to 0
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Tigers at Red Sox
Sun, Oct 13 Final 5 to 6
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Red Sox at Tigers
Tue, Oct 15 Final 1 to 0
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 4
Red Sox at Tigers
Wed, Oct 16 Final 3 to 7
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 5
Red Sox at Tigers
Thu, Oct 17 - 8:07PM EDT

GAME 6
Tigers at Red Sox
Sat, Oct 19 - 4:37PM EDT

GAME 7
Tigers at Red Sox
Sun, Oct 20 - 8:07PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Red Sox (97-65) at Tigers (93-69)
Game: 5
Venue: Fenway Park
Date: October 17, 2013 8:07 PM EDT


Each of the Detroit Tigers' starting pitchers has contributed a solid performance through the first four games of the AL championship series, but Anibal Sanchez was unhittable - literally - in Game 1.

After manager Jim Leyland's lineup adjustment helped the Tigers even their series with the Boston Red Sox at two games apiece, Sanchez opposes Jon Lester in crucial Game 5 on Thursday night at Comerica Park.

Doug Fister was the latest Detroit starter to slow Boston's lineup, giving up one run and striking out seven in six innings of a 7-3 win in Game 4 on Wednesday.

The Tigers' starting pitching has allowed three runs while striking out 42 in 27 innings in the series. The Red Sox had 12 hits in Game 4 as Jacoby Ellsbury went 4 for 5 with an RBI triple, but they finished 2 for 16 with runners in scoring position.

'The one thing when we've been in stretches like this, we continually do a very good job of creating opportunities,' Red Sox manager John Farrell said. 'We did that (Wednesday). We haven't done it so much in the first three games. But that's a tip of the hat to the pitching that we've been facing.'

After falling 1-0 in Game 3, Leyland dropped leadoff hitter Austin Jackson to eighth in the batting order for Game 4 and moved most everyone up one spot. Torii Hunter led off and had a two-run double, Miguel Cabrera went 2 for 4 with two RBIs batting second, and Jackson went 2 for 2, walked twice and drove in a pair of runs.

The center fielder entered the contest hitting .091 in the playoffs.

'I think it just helped me relax,' Jackson said. 'That was the goal. To get me to relax a little, be patient get a good pitch and let the rest take care of itself.'

Hunter believes the change sparked an offense that scored six run in the previous three games combined.

'That was pretty good. (Leyland) switched things up, kinda shake it up a little bit,' Hunter said. 'It gave us a different mindset. Miggy hitting second, me leading off. It gave us a different mindset to make things happen.'

Detroit will look to provide more support than it did for Sanchez in a 1-0 victory in Game 1. Sanchez (1-1, 4.35 ERA) pitched six innings of no-hit ball and struck out 12 while earning the win, and the Red Sox didn't get their first hit until one out in the bottom of the ninth.

David Ortiz, who hit a tying grand slam in Boston's Game 2 victory, was 3 for 3 with two homers in his career off Sanchez before going 0 for 3 against him in Game 1.

"My pitches were moving really good that day," Sanchez said. "I was ahead in some counts, that helped me striking them out. That was the key. That helped me that day."

The right-hander also was erratic at times and walked six, becoming the first starting pitcher to record 12 strikeouts and six walks in a playoff game since Walter Johnson did so in 12 innings for the Washington Senators against the New York Giants in Game 1 of the 1924 World Series.

"His stuff, at times, is probably some of the nastiest stuff we have on the team," catcher Alex Avila said. "He was erratic, but he was still able to make big pitches. That's what makes him so good - he's very unpredictable. He throws stuff in counts a hitter wouldn't normally see, just to keep them off balance."

Lester (1-1, 1.93) was pretty sharp himself in that contest, giving up one run and six hits in 6 1-3 innings. The only run he allowed came off a bloop single by Jhonny Peralta in the sixth.

"These guys are smart hitters, they know how I've gotten them out in the past and they know how they've gotten hits in the past," Lester said. "You have to take somewhere in the middle and adjust off that."

Cabrera is 11 for 21 with a homer, two doubles and six walks in his career off Lester, including the postseason.

[Udog]

MLB

Thursday, October 17

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Boston - 8:00 PM ET Detroit -114 500 POD # 2

Detroit - Over 7 500 POD # 1

I'm riding along with you and Kaptain tonight and this is going to be fun!

Thanks, Bum! Good luck tonight!

[StarDust Bum]

Bummer Dog.......Those Tigers just couldn't get it done tonight.....

[StarDust Bum]

Friday, October 18

Game Score Status Pick Amount

LA Dodgers - 8:30 PM ET St. Louis +115 500

St. Louis - Over 5.5 500

[StarDust Bum]

Saturday, October 19

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Detroit - 8:00 PM ET Detroit +103 500 POD # 1

Boston - Over 7 500 POD # 2

[StarDust Bum]

MLB
Dunkel

Detroit at Boston
The Red Sox look to close out the series and build on their 4-0 record in Clay Buchholz' last 4 starts against the Tigers at home. Boston is the pick (-120) according to Dunkel, which has the Red Sox favored by 1 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Boston (-120). Here are all of today's picks.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19

Game 925-926: Detroit at Boston (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Detroit (Scherzer) 16.410; Boston (Buchholz) 17.865
Dunkel Line: Boston by 1 1/2; 6
Vegas Line: Boston (-120); 7
Dunkel Pick: Boston (-120); Under




MLB
Long Sheet

Saturday, October 19

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


DETROIT (98 - 74) at BOSTON (103 - 68) - 4:35 PM
MAX SCHERZER (R) vs. CLAY BUCHHOLZ (R)
Top Trends for this game.
DETROIT is 98-74 (-12.6 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
DETROIT is 7-14 (-12.9 Units) against the money line when the total is 7 or less this season.
DETROIT is 127-196 (-54.5 Units) against the money line as a road underdog of +100 to +125 since 1997.
DETROIT is 86-88 (-21.9 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 2 seasons.
DETROIT is 11-19 (-14.2 Units) against the money line on the road when the total is 7 or less over the last 2 seasons.
DETROIT is 33-30 (-14.9 Units) against the money line in day games this season.
DETROIT is 94-71 (-13.2 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
BOSTON is 103-68 (+21.4 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
BOSTON is 56-29 (+14.1 Units) against the money line in home games this season.
BOSTON is 30-15 (+11.0 Units) against the money line in day games this season.
BOSTON is 91-60 (+16.3 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
BOSTON is 68-46 (+13.4 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
BUCHHOLZ is 15-3 (+11.2 Units) against the money line in all games this season. (Team's Record)
BUCHHOLZ is 13-2 (+9.9 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season. (Team's Record)
SCHERZER is 26-8 (+13.4 Units) against the money line in all games this season. (Team's Record)
SCHERZER is 66-34 (+21.3 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
BOSTON is 470-349 (-55.5 Units) against the money line in home games after a win since 1997.
BOSTON is 49-51 (-15.0 Units) against the money line in home games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
BOSTON is 186-180 (-46.0 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
BOSTON is 6-6 (-0.2 Units) against DETROIT this season
6 of 11 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+0.6 Units)

MAX SCHERZER vs. BOSTON since 1997
SCHERZER is 2-4 when starting against BOSTON with an ERA of 6.20 and a WHIP of 1.480.
His team's record is 3-6 (-2.9 units) in these starts. The OVER is 7-1. (+6.0 units)

CLAY BUCHHOLZ vs. DETROIT since 1997
BUCHHOLZ is 2-1 when starting against DETROIT with an ERA of 4.18 and a WHIP of 1.268.
His team's record is 6-3 (+3.0 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 4-4. (-0.4 units)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




MLB

Saturday, October 19

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

8:07 PM
DETROIT vs. BOSTON
Detroit is 4-12 SU in its last 16 games when playing on the road against Boston
The total has gone OVER in 14 of Detroit's last 21 games when playing Boston
The total has gone OVER in 14 of Boston's last 21 games when playing Detroit
Boston is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------




MLB

Saturday, October 19

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tigers at Red Sox: What bettors need to know
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Detroit Tigers at Boston Red Sox (-115, 7)

The host Boston Red Sox are one victory away from reaching the World Series for the first time since 2007 and will have to defeat either Max Scherzer or Justin Verlander to get there. Boston has a 3-2 lead over the Detroit Tigers in the American League Championship Series and Scherzer, the probable AL Cy Young Award winner, will attempt to even the series on Saturday. Verlander would start Game 7 on Sunday if the Red Sox don’t wrap up the series in six games.

Detroit third baseman Miguel Cabrera isn’t displaying his MVP-caliber form due to groin and abdominal injuries and first baseman Prince Fielder has played 17 consecutive postseason games without an RBI. “We have to go to Fenway and we have to fight hard to win a game,” Cabrera said after the Tigers' 4-3 loss in Game 5 on Thursday. “If we do that, we have to keep fighting and get the next one.” Boston’s Mike Napoli has been a force with a .375 average and two homers in the series, while designated hitter David Ortiz is 2-for-19 – with one of the hits being his memorable game-tying grand slam in Game 2 that saved the Red Sox from falling into an 0-2 hole.

TV: 4:37 p.m. ET, Fox

WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the low-60s and wind will blow out to left field at 11 mph.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Max Scherzer (0-0, 1.29 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Clay Buchholz (0-0, 7.94)

Scherzer dominated Boston hitters in Game 2, striking out 13 and allowing one run and two hits in seven innings. He departed with a 5-1 lead after 108 pitches before a bullpen meltdown helped the Red Sox rally for an improbable victory. One of Scherzer’s three regular-season losses came at Fenway Park when he allowed two runs and five hits in seven innings on Sept. 3.

Buchholz began strongly in Game 2 before wilting - giving up five runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings. The Tigers torched him for four runs in the sixth with four extra-base hits, including homers by Cabrera and Alex Avila. Buchholz has a 6.17 ERA and has been touched for three homers in 11 2/3 innings this postseason.

TRENDS:

* Over is 7-1-1 in Scherzer's last nine starts vs. Red Sox.
* Red Sox are 8-1 in Buchholz's last nine starts with 5 days of rest.
* Red Sox are 6-1 in Buchholz's last seven starts vs. Tigers.

UMPIRE TRENDS - Dan Iassogna:

* Road team is 9-1 in Iassogna's last 10 games behind home plate.
* Under is 20-6-3 in Iassogna's last 29 games behind home plate.
* Red Sox are 1-5 in their last six games with Iassogna behind home plate.

WALK-OFFS:

1. Four of the five games have been decided by one run, which is one shy of the record for a league championship series - set by the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves in the 1999 NLCS.

2. Avila (knee) left Game 5 two innings after a collision at home plate and is questionable for Saturday’s contest.

3. Boston RHP Koji Uehara retired all five batters for his second save of the series. He has struck out seven in five scoreless innings in the ALCS.

[Udog]

I sure thought it was the Tigers yesterday, too.

As Wayne pointed out in the World Series poll, these teams have the two best records in MLB and it should be one of the best championship matchups in a good while.

[StarDust Bum]

MLB
Dunkel

St. Louis at Boston
The Red Sox open the World Series at home and look to build on their 8-3 record in their last 11 games when the total is set at 7 runs or less. Boston is the pick (-125) according to Dunkel, which has the Red Sox favored by 1 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Boston (-125). Here are all of today's picks.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23

Game 951-952: St. Louis at Boston (7:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: St. Louis (Wainwright) 16.420; Boston (Lester) 17.771
Dunkel Line: Boston by 1 1/2; 6
Vegas Line: Boston (-125); 7
Dunkel Pick: Boston (-125); Under




MLB
Long Sheet

Wednesday, October 23

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


ST LOUIS (104 - 69) at BOSTON (104 - 68) - 8:05 PM
ADAM WAINWRIGHT (R) vs. JON LESTER (L)
Top Trends for this game.
ST LOUIS is 22-25 (-10.6 Units) against the money line against left-handed starters this season.
ST LOUIS is 55-47 (-8.3 Units) against the money line after a win this season.
BOSTON is 104-68 (+22.4 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
BOSTON is 57-29 (+15.1 Units) against the money line in home games this season.
BOSTON is 92-60 (+17.3 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
BOSTON is 73-53 (+10.5 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
BOSTON is 69-46 (+14.4 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
ST LOUIS is 104-69 (+14.5 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
ST LOUIS is 28-15 (+11.8 Units) against the money line when the total is 7 or less this season.
ST LOUIS is 104-69 (+14.5 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
BOSTON is 187-180 (-45.0 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.
LESTER is 51-50 (-19.2 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
LESTER is 21-27 (-14.8 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
LESTER is 7-13 (-9.3 Units) against the money line after a win this season. (Team's Record)
LESTER is 18-25 (-12.8 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

ADAM WAINWRIGHT vs. BOSTON since 1997
No recent starts.

JON LESTER vs. ST LOUIS since 1997
LESTER is 0-0 when starting against ST LOUIS with an ERA of 2.46 and a WHIP of 1.364.
His team's record is 1-0 (+1.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 0-1. (-1.0 units)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




MLB

Wednesday, October 23

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

8:07 PM
ST. LOUIS vs. BOSTON
St. Louis is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games on the road
St. Louis is 13-4 SU in its last 17 games
Boston is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing St. Louis
Boston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------




MLB

Wednesday, October 23

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cardinals at Red Sox: What bettors need to know
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

St. Louis Cardinals at Boston Red Sox (-119, 7)

The St. Louis Cardinals have won a pair of World Series since falling to the Boston Red Sox in 2004 and will make their fourth trip to the Fall Classic in 10 years looking for revenge. The Red Sox completed a remarkable turnaround from last place in 2012 and will try to take down the Cardinals again when they host Game 1 of the World Series on Wednesday. David Ortiz is the only player left from Boston’s sweep in 2004 and is still piling up key postseason hits.

St. Louis’ lone holdovers from that 2004 showdown are Mike Matheny, who went from starting catcher to manager, and Yadier Molina, who went from Matheny’s backup to one of the best catchers in the game. One of Boston’s big advantages in the American League playoffs was on the base paths - an area Molina regularly controls. The Cardinals and Red Sox are stacked up and down the roster and tied for the most wins in the majors during the regular season with 97.

TV: 8:07 p.m. ET, FOX

WEATHER: Temperatures in the high 40s with partly cloudy skies and a 52 percent chance of rain early Wesnesday. Winds blowing west at 7 mph.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Adam Wainwright (2-1, 1.57 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Jon Lester (2-1, 2.33)

Wainwright served as the closer on St. Louis’ 2006 World Champion squad and was forced to watch the 2011 team win from the bench while recovering from Tommy John surgery. The 32-year-old led the National League with 19 wins during the regular season and was spectacular during the NL playoffs, striking out 20 batters while issuing one walk in 23 total innings. Wainwright’s lone road playoff start was his only loss, allowing two runs on six hits in seven innings at Los Angeles.

Lester allowed two or fewer runs in each of his three postseason starts and 10 of the last 13 going back to the regular season. The 29-year-old won the clinching game of the 2007 World Series in Colorado, allowing three hits in 5 2/3 scoreless innings. Lester is 4-4 with a 2.49 ERA in 11 career postseason games - nine starts.

TRENDS:

* Under is 6-2-1 in the last nine meetings.
* Over is 5-2-1 in the last eight meetings in Boston.
* Cardinals are 7-3 in their last 10 World Series games.
* Red Sox are 8-0 in their last eight World Series games.

WALK-OFFS:

1. Cardinals 1B Allen Craig (foot) missed the first two rounds of the playoffs but is expected to be activated for the World Series.

2. Boston rookie 3B Xander Bogaerts reached base in eight of his 11 postseason plate appearances and is likely to stay in the lineup.

3. St. Louis RF Carlos Beltran owns a .337 batting average and .449 on-base percentage with 16 homers and 37 RBIs in 45 career playoff games, but will be making his World Series debut.

[StarDust Bum]

Wednesday, October 23

Game Score Status Pick Amount

St. Louis - 8:07 PM ET Boston -124 500 POD # 2

Boston - Under 7 500 POD # 1