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**TheGame** · 07-15-2016, 07:26 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 7/15

At the Break'

San Francisco Giants finish the unofficial first half with MLB's best record at 57-33 (.633%) with manager Bruce Bochy's troops earning +$1775 at the betting window going 29-17 in front of the home audience pulling in +$605 in earnings while notching a 28-16 mark in an opposing park handing backers a +$1170 profit.

Atlanta Braves head into the break as the leagues biggest duds at 31-58 (.348%) costing backers -$996. Although Braves are a complete bust at Turner Field (13-34, -$1785) they're not as bad in a hostile environment posting a 18-24 record holding their own money-wise cashing +$789 worth of tickets as a visitor.

If there is a team that needs a break it's the Chicago Cubs. Joe Maddon's troops have been in free-fall since June 20th posting a dismal 6-15 record better than only Tampa Bay (3-18, -$1674) and Cincinnati (5-14, -$540) over that span. Faithfull Cubbie backers who had seen earning pile-up before the slump (47-20, +$1213) have been losing money hand over fist since the skid dropping a whopping -$2039 at the betting window.

**TheGame** · 07-15-2016, 07:26 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 7/15

Individual Award Odds

The first half of the MLB season is in the books and there aren’t many surprises atop the individual leaderboards. Past the pennant races, there are several close races for awards such as Most Valuable Player and Cy Young. Familiar names sit on this list that look to continue solid efforts moving into the second half of the season.

The National League Cy Young award is up for grabs with plenty of aces that have solid cases to capture this honor. In spite of not pitching since June 26, Dodgers’ southpaw Clayton Kershaw is the favorite to win his third Cy Young in the last four seasons. Kershaw is listed at 8/5 odds (Bet $100 to win $160) to be named the top NL hurler, owning an 11-2 record and ERA of 1.79, but is currently on the disabled list with a strained back.

Last season’s Cy Young winner Jake Arrieta started the season on fire, but the Cubs’ right-hander has dropped three of his last four starts to fall to 12-4 on the campaign.

In the American League, the race isn’t as tight at the top as Chicago left-hander Chris Sale has separated himself from the pack with a 14-3 record and ERA of 3.38. Sale’s ERA blew up in his final start of the first half against Atlanta by allowing eight earned runs in five innings of work, but the White Sox ace is well on his way to setting a new career high in wins (17 in 2012).

Indians’ right-hander Danny Salazar ranks second in the American League in ERA at 2.75, while owning a solid 10-3 record. Salazar sits behind Sale for the AL Cy Young at 2/1 odds, while Sale is currently at 7/5 odds (Bet $100 to win $140) to win the award.

From an MVP standpoint, Rockies’ third baseman Nolan Arenado is the favorite at even odds to grab the honor. Arenado leads the NL in runs batted in (70) and ranks second in home runs (23) behind Cubs’ third baseman Kris Bryant.

Nationals’ right fielder Bryce Harper looks to bring home consecutive MVP awards, but is outside the top-10 in the NL in batting average and runs batted in, while being tied for 10th in home runs with 19. Bryant knocked out 26 homers in his rookie season with the Cubs, but already has drilled 25 home runs this season and is listed at 3/1 odds to win his first MVP award.

In the American League, Blue Jays’ third baseman Josh Donaldson seeks his second straight MVP honor. Donaldson is tied for third in the AL with 23 home runs and ranks fourth in RBI with 63, one season after posting 41 homers and 123 RBI, both career highs.

Red Sox’ slugger David Ortiz is on the doorstep of retirement, but “Big Papi” isn’t slowing down by ranking second in both batting average (.332) and RBI (72) in the American League. Ortiz sits at 6/1 odds to win the MVP, one of three Boston players that own odds of 15/1 or better (Jackie Bradley, Jr. and Xander Bogaerts).

Below are the latest MLB award odds:

2016 National League Cy Young

Clayton Kershaw (LAD) 8/5
Jake Arrieta (CHC) 3/1
Stephen Strasburg (WSH) 7/2
Madison Bumgarner (SF) 9/2
Noah Sydergaard (NYM) 10/1
Jose Fernandez (MIA) 15/1
Johnny Cueto (SF) 18/1
Max Scherzer (WSH) 20/1
Jon Lester (CHC) 30/1
Carlos Martinez (STL) 50/1
Jacob deGrom (NYM) 50/1
Zack Greinke (ARZ) 60/1
Jeff Samardzija (SF) 100/1
Adam Wainwright (STL) 200/1
Francisco Liriano (PIT) 200/1

2016 American League Cy Young

Chris Sale (CWS) 7/5
Danny Salazar (CLE) 2/1
Chris Tillman (BAL) 12/1
Cole Hamels (TEX) 15/1
Corey Kluber (CLE) 18/1
Dallas Keuchel (HOU) 18/1
Carlos Carrasco (CLE) 20/1
David Price (BOS) 20/1
Chris Archer (TB) 30/1
Zach Britton (BAL) 30/1
Masahiro Tanaka (NYY) 40/1
Justin Verlander (DET) 50/1
Marcus Stroman (TOR) 50/1
Sonny Gray (OAK) 50/1

2016 National League Regular Season MVP

Nolan Arenado (COL) Even
Bryce Harper (WSH) 2/1
Kris Bryant (CHC) 3/1
Clayton Kershaw (LAD) 8/1
Anthony Rizzo (CHC) 12/1
Giancarlo Stanton (MIA) 20/1
Yoenis Cespedes (NYM) 20/1
Paul Goldschmidt (ARZ) 25/1
Buster Posey (SF) 40/1
Starling Marte (PIT) 70/1

2016 American League Regular Season MVP

Josh Donaldson (TOR) 3/1
Jose Altuve (HOU) 4/1
Manny Machado (BAL) 5/1
Mike Trout (LAA) 6/1
David Ortiz (BOS) 8/1
Robinson Cano (SEA) 8/1
Edwin Encarnacion (TOR) 15/1
Jackie Bradley Jr (BOS) 15/1
Xander Bogaerts (BOS) 15/1
Todd Frazier (CWS) 20/1
Carlos Correa (HOU) 25/1
Nelson Cruz (SEA) 30/1
Chris Davis (BAL) 40/1
Lorenzo Cain (KC) 60/1
Adrian Beltre (TEX) 100/1
Jose Abreu (CWS) 100/1

**TheGame** · 07-15-2016, 07:27 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 7/15

Buy or sell? Advising 30 MLB teams before trade deadline
By The Sports Xchange

Troy Tulowitzki and David Price came to Toronto last July and pushed the Blue Jays into the American League Championship Series in 2015.
There are more big names on the market this summer � New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman and Cincinnati Reds slugger Jay Bruce among them � and plenty of buyers looking to improve their roster before the Aug. 1 non-waiver trade deadline.
Buy or sell? All 30 teams have a decision to make and we sought advice from The Sports Xchange's national network of baseball writers:

Arizona Diamondbacks: They are sellers and made that clear by trading closer Brad Ziegler to Boston for two prospects, 20-year-old right-hander Jose Almonte and 19-year-old infielder Luis Alejandro Basabe, on Friday. Ziegler will become a free agent this winter, so the deal was no surprise. Daniel Hudson also will be a free agent next winter. While he would like to return, his name will be in play. Tyler Clippard is owed $4.25 million on the second year of a two-year deal in 2017, and he also could draw interest. Either Hudson or Clippard is expected to take over for Ziegler as closer.

Atlanta Braves: Sell, if a young arm can be had. The Braves are willing to trade SS Erick Aybar, OF Nick Markakis, C A.J. Pierzynski, INF Gordon Beckham and RHP Jim Johnson. Aybar has started to rebound from his horrible offensive start (.212), which likely affected his normal stellar defensive play. Markakis has seen his power numbers vanish and his throwing arm deteriorate since 2014 neck surgery, but he has value as a smart hitter who brings a veteran presence. The same can be said for Pierzynski (.205), who gets high marks for handling young pitchers but whose skills behind the plate have eroded. Any of the veterans could be moved for a prospect.

Baltimore Orioles: The Orioles are looking for pitching. They've made no bones about it. The team wants to improve their depth in that position. Their starters had a 5.21 ERA heading into Sunday's game, and Baltimore must improve to hold on to first place and/or a playoff spot. Chris Tillman (12-2, 3.41) is the lone starter with more than five wins, and the only one that's shown any type of consistency. Depending on what's on the market, the Orioles might strike early and beat the rush at the end of the month.

Boston Red Sox: Team president Dave Dombrowski made three trades in three days on the final weekend before the break. The Red Sox are stacked with prospects who could go in a deal for a starting pitcher and the Red Sox, who also have the money, will be buyers at the deadline. If Dombrowski can add a big name (or even a Jeremy Hellickson) to David Price, All-Star Steven Wright and Rick Porcello, then getting something for Rodriguez or even Clay Buchholz would make for a solid No. 5

Chicago Cubs: At its best, this is a team with few holes or apparent needs, so any acquisitions would compensate for injuries or unforeseen needs that may yet arise. The Cubs have been deep enough to rotate players into different positions, but three outfielders (Fowler, Chris Coghlan and Jorge Soler) remain on the disabled list at the All-Star break. "There's a good chance that we'll make a deal that will help us in the 'pen as well," Cubs general manager Theo Epstein said last week. If the New York Yankees make any of their back-end bullpen arms available, Epstein will be interested and is dealing from a position of strength with a loaded farm system.

Cleveland Indians: The Indians will be buyers, but cautious buyers, at the trade deadline. This is the classic if-it-ain't-broke-don't-fix-it situation. The Indians were so good in the first half that there are no glaring holes to fill, certainly none that would merit trading a key player or prospect to fill. The Indians' "trade" will be the expected return of Michael Brantley off the disabled list shortly after the All-Star break. If they do choose to pursue a trade, it would likely be for a utility player, and/or a left-handed reliever.

Cincinnati Reds: The Reds aren't done dealing, and there are plenty of contenders who have been burning up the cell phones of president of baseball operations Walt Jocketty and general manager Dick Williams. LF Jay Bruce and SS Zack Cozart could be the first to go. Also keep an eye on 2B Brandon Phillips who invoked his 5-10 rights to block a trade to the Washington Nationals during the offseason. The Reds have Phillips' potential replacement in Jose Peraza, but Price has found it difficult to get him playing time.

Colorado Rockies: Selective sellers. Left-handed reliever Boone Logan, who turns 32 in August, and left-handed starter Jorge De La Rosa, 35, will be free agents after this season, and neither is expected to be with the Rockies next season. Left-handed reliever Jake McGee, who turns 30 in August, will be a free agent after the 2017 season. The Rockies will certainly listen to offers for the three pitchers and be willing to move them. 1B Mark Reynolds, who turns 33 in August and is under contract only for this season. OF Carlos Gonzalez can become a free agent after 2017. He's owed just under half of the $17 million he will make this year with a $20 million salary next season. The Rockies have far less financial incentive to trade Gonzalez than they did SS Troy Tulowitzki on July 27, 2015.

Detroit Tigers: Detroit will buy if it can -- and sell if it can as the Aug. 1 non-waiver trade deadline approaches. "This is the team we are counting on to win," GM Al Avila said earlier this month. "If we have to make a minor move here or there, we will look into it at that point." The focus will be on improving the pitching, maybe an innings-eating starter or a veteran reliever who can work good middle innings. Anibal Sanchez and Mark Lowe, both greatly underperforming and guaranteed paydays through next season, could be moved if the Tigers can find takers and Detroit is willing to pay most of their salaries. But with no major league-ready prospects in the minors and a pat team on the field, the Tigers are likely to tread water at the deadline. "First of all, we have a huge payroll, one of the biggest in baseball," Avila said. "And we have a team that is set position by position. We aren't going to replace any of those guys, position player-wise."

Houston Astros: The Astros enter the break five games in the loss column behind Texas in the AL West, in the thick of the wild-card chase, and carrying a roster with few holes, meaning they can stand pat. First base has been a lingering problem but likely is an easy fix with the pending promotion of stud prospect Alex Bregman, who would shift from shortstop to third base and push Luis Valbuena across the diamond. If RHP Mike Fiers continues to scuffle, bullpen arms Scott Feldman and/or Chris Devenski are capable rotation options.

Kansas City Royals: Buy. Last July, general manager Dayton Moore acquired RHP Johnny Cueto and super utility player Ben Zobrist in trades. Without those two, the Royals likely do not win the 2015 World Series. Moore is looking to make a deal to bolster the starting pitching. He would also like to add an outfield bat. They've had talks with the Athletics about Josh Reddick and Rich Hill. Other names on the Royals' radar include Ervin Santana and Jake Odorizzi, two former Royals, plus Matt Moore, Jeremy Hellickson and Andre Cashner. While no pitchers of the ilk of Cueto and David Price, who were both dealt last July, appear to be on the market, there are plenty of suitable arms available that might help the Royals get back to the postseason.

Los Angeles Angels: The New York Mets and San Francisco Giants already inquired about 3B Yunel Escobar, who might be the most marketable commodity. But the Angels are better situated to trading their veteran relievers -- RHPs Huston Street, Joe Smith and Fernando Salas -- if the club believes RHPs Cam Bedrosian, Mike Morin and Deolis Garcia are ready to replace them. Smith, a free agent after the season, can serve a contender as a closer or a setup specialist. Salas, who will join Smith in free agency, pitched in the 2011 World Series for the St. Louis Cardinals. Street led the American League with 40 saves last year before a strained left groin forced him to miss the final eight games. C Geovany Soto, INF Cliff Pennington and switch-hitting OF Daniel Nava, three more free agents, could provide bench depth for a contender. But injuries limited them to 82 games combined, with Soto playing just 21.

Los Angeles Dodgers: The Dodgers are scouting Oakland Athletics LHP Rich Hill and have been connected with Cincinnati Reds OF Jay Bruce. Andrew Friedman, the director of baseball operations, has not been shy about making major deals. Cases in point: a 13-player trade involving the Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins last July, and a seven-player transaction in December with the Reds and Chicago White Sox. In that second trade, the Dodgers acquired OF Trayce Thompson, a prospect who has earned a starting spot. Friedman, however, will not sacrifice his best prospects for immediate help, so teams can forget about SS Corey Seager and LHP Julio Urias. The Philadelphia Phillies asked for both in the Cole Hamels talks last July.

Miami Marlins: Buy -- barring a massive losing streak in the next couple of weeks. Miami president of baseball operations Michael Hill has already made one "buy" move, trading away one of his top pitching prospects, RHO Chris Paddack, in exchange for All-Star reliever Fernando Rodney. It was a "go for it now" decision, and the Marlins figure to be equally aggressive in finding a fifth starting pitcher, which is the most glaring hole on the team. The Marlins have a thin farm system, but they do have some prospects who could entice, including RHP Luis Castillo, LHP Jarlin Garcia and 1B Josh Naylor. If they are willing to deal some of their high-end prospects, they could find the starter they lack.

Milwaukee Brewers: Sell, especially if they get a significant offer for their top two trade chips, LF Ryan Braun and C Jonathan Lucroy. Braun had an absolutely terrific first half (.312/.514/.367 with 22 home runs and 51 RBIs), but at age 32 with four years and $76 million left on his contract after this season and a rash of injury issues, interest might be thin. On the other hand, there are plenty of teams that would love to add Lucroy, one of the best defensive catchers in the game who has bounced back from an injury-riddled 2015 campaign. With another year under a team-friendly contract, the asking price is pretty steep, so it is no guarantee that he'll be moved, either.

Minnesota Twins: The Twins don't have many veterans but someone who could generate some interest is Ervin Santana. Santana was a disappointment last season in the first year of his four-year $55 million contract by going 7-5 with a 4.00 ERA in 17 starts following an 80-game PED suspension. Year Two of the deal has not gone well as Santana is 3-7 with a 4.06 ERA. Santana has pitched better recently (2-0, 1.63 ERA in his last four starts). It seems some team in need of a starting pitcher (perhaps the Texas Rangers) might be interested especially if he keeps it up.

New York Mets: Like about 28 other teams, the Mets could use another starting pitcher and some relief help. But what do they have to offer after losing, either via trade, waivers or the Rule 5 draft, nine prospects -- all pitchers -- in the last 12 months? Those trades, plus the promotions of ailing RHP Noah Syndergaard and LHP Steven Matz, depleted the top-end pitching talent in the organization, and management views 22-year-old Triple-A 2B Dilson Herrera as a big league starter in 2017 and 20-year-old Double-A SS Amed Rosario as untouchable. "Our farm system is not quite as healthy today as it was (previously), in part because of all the trades we made," Alderson said in June. "So to the extent that we're active, it may hurt us a little more this year than it did last year."

New York Yankees: It has been a raging debate since about mid-June when the Yankees won six of 11 games and failed to get any traction during the so-called soft schedule against Colorado and Minnesota. The Yankees are technically in the wild card race but many fans would like to see if the team can get some high-end prospects for players like Carlos Beltran and Aroldis Chapman, who will be free agents after this season. Beltran has been traded twice in free agent years (2004 and 2011) and the last time the Mets wound up getting Zach Wheeler from the San Francisco Giants. Chapman has been mostly dominant and teams like the Chicago Cubs could be interested. The Yankees play 10 straight home games against Boston, Baltimore and San Francisco. How they do in those games could indicate if the Yankees sell off a veteran piece for the first time since trading Rickey Henderson to Oakland in June 1989.

Oakland Athletics: Sonny Gray, Sean Manaea ... OK, that pretty much exhausts the list of A's who are untouchable at the trade deadline. There's been talk about giving RF Josh Reddick a contract extension. But it's no coincidence that the A's offer is just short of the slugger's demands. It's Beane's way of saying: We really don't want you long-term, but we don't want to admit that to our fans. Hill is the surest thing to be traded, and 3B Danny Valencia, who seems to have lost interest in the A's, might not be far behind.

Philadelphia Phillies: With their eyes toward the future, the Phillies will look to sell a few of their veterans to teams in contention. Names such as RHP Jeremy Hellickson, RHP Jeanmar Gomez and OF Peter Bourjos could all be on the table come deadline time. With a sub 4.00 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP, Hellickson should draw interest from teams in need of starting pitcher, while Gomez and his 24 saves certainly will certainly attract closer-starved teams. Bourjos has caught fire of late, producing a .398 average over the past month.

Pittsburgh Pirates: A few weeks ago, rumors surfaced regarding the Pirates potentially selling off assets such as Andrew McCutchen and right-handed pitcher Gerrit Cole. That's changed and the Pirates could look to add a piece at the deadline, but probably won't be very active. Multiple reports have pointed to the Pirates shopping left-handed pitcher Jonathan Niese at the deadline, which would likely be the result of his inconsistency and the emergence of Pittsburgh's many pitching prospects, such as Jameson Taillon and Chad Kuhl.

St. Louis Cardinals: With the second wild-card spot up for grabs and the Chicago Cubs' once-formidable NL Central lead shrinking by the day, the Cardinals will be in buy mode -- within reason. The area GM John Mozeliak is most likely to focus on is the bullpen, which has been shaky because RHP Trevor Rosenthal has pitched this year as though the strike zone is high and outside. St. Louis could make a play for LHP Andrew Miller, if Yankees ownership decides this isn't their year. Mozeliak has been very particular in the kind of player he hunts this time of year, but dividends have been big with the likes of Brandon Moss.

San Diego Padres: Sellers. The only question is how many players can they move? Given their contracts, outfielders Matt Kemp and Melvin Upton Jr. might be hard to move, although Upton is having a comeback-player-of-the-year type season. The Padres will have to eat a good share of the Upton and Kemp contracts and the best opportunity to move Kemp might be limited to an American League team needing a DH. Right-handed starter Andrew Cashner and C Derek Norris are also on the market. About the only player not on the market is All-Star 1B Wil Myers. The Padres would also like to move CF Jon Jay, who is out another six weeks with a forearm fracture.

San Francisco Giants: Short of New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman coming available, it is hard to see the Giants doing much at the trade deadline, and if they did it would be out of character. A Michael Morse-type bat for the bench? Maybe. A veteran left-handed reliever to give manager Bruce Bochy even more flexibility in his bullpen? Possible. But with five regulars scheduled to come off the disabled list by the end of July, the Giants' most likely player movement probably will include Triple-A Sacramento, not another major league destination.

Seattle Mariners: The Mariners are going to do whatever they can to make a playoff push, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they'll be shoring up some obvious needs. Getting another quality starter and an arm or two for the bullpen would be no-brainers if Seattle had adequate trade pieces. The problem is, Seattle's minor league system provides very few -- if any -- trade chips. If GM Jerry DiPoto is serious about giving this team a facelift, he might have to get creative and give up some contributors to get something in return.

Tampa Bay Rays: The Rays are certainly sellers -- and with starting pitching a key commodity, they must be smart in getting upside return on assets that are still considered a position of depth. Losing Moore or Odorizzi -- both still young and largely inexpensive -- would be offset if Matt Andriese can sustain the success he had as a starter, or if Alex Cobb returns healthy and Blake Snell continues to develop as a rookie.

Texas Rangers: Texas general manager Jon Daniels said the team still needs pitching and it's obvious. Only LHPs Cole Hamels and Martin Perez have been in the rotation since Opening Day. Making a move like the club did last year for Hamels is unrealistic but they continue to scout several starters. The bullpen could also use a boost. Texas is already on its second closer of the season, but getting a healthy Keone Kela back could put the focus squarely on the rotation.

Toronto Blue Jays: They will be buyers but don't expect a splurge like last year � when the Jays acquired David Price and Troy Tulowitzki. The Blue Jays are targeting pitching depth. They made a move to shore up a struggling bullpen by adding RHP Jason Grilli from the Atlanta Braves. They likely will look for more help for the bullpen and also some depth in the rotation as the innings for RHP Aaron Sanchez mount in his first full season as a major league starter. The Blue Jays don't seem to have the prospects in the minors after using some of their top ones in last year's spectacular deadline dealing. RF Jose Bautista and 1B/DH Edwin Encarnacion can be free agents at the end of the season but their tenure allows them to reject a trade and both are comfortable in Toronto.

Washington Nationals: The Nationals will be buyers again, something GM Mike Rizzo has done in the past with some mixed results. Last year at the deadline, Washington traded minor league RHP Nick Pivetta to the Philadelphia Phillies for Jonathan Papelbon, who stepped into the closer role as Drew Storen lost the job. Papelbon struggled down the stretch and famously got into a fight with Harper in the dugout in late September. Washington could be looking for a bat, as 1B Ryan Zimmerman was hitting about 60 points below his career average before going on the disabled list Friday with a left rib injury.

**TheGame** · 07-15-2016, 07:28 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 7/15

National League Updated Futures Odds at All-Star Break
by Alan Matthews

Is it time to worry about the Chicago Cubs? They have been World Series favorites all season and remain so at +375, but their gap over teams like the San Francisco Giants, Cleveland Indians and Texas Rangers is narrowing.

Barring a collapse or a major injury to Jake Arrieta, Kris Bryant or Anthony Rizzo, the Cubs should win the NL Central for the first time since 2008. They have a seven-game lead over St. Louis and 7.5 games over Pittsburgh. But the Cubs (53-35) entered the break having lost nine of 11 and are 28-29 since starting 25-6 and leading to talk of potentially breaking the big-league record of 116 wins. Injuries have hurt the team and the players were pretty clearly worn out by closing the first half with 24 games in 24 days. Manager Joe Maddon is familiar with a fade to close the first half of the season. His 2008 Tampa Bay Rays lost the last seven games before the All-Star break but went on to play in the World Series.

The bullpen is a major problem area, and I can pretty much guarantee you that Theo Epstein adds at least one arm out there, possibly the Yankees' Aroldis Chapman or A's Sean Doolittle (if he gets healthy). The team might also have to think about addressing the rotation. Arrieta hasn't looked like an ace of late, allowing 15 runs over 16.1 innings in his past three starts. Jon Lester got bombed in his final two starts before the break. Jason Hammel faded in a big way in the second half of last year and looks like he's on that track again. Hammel hasn't won since early June.

On the bright side, the Cubs should get center fielder and leadoff hitter Dexter Fowler back from the DL for Friday's series opener and potential World Series preview against the Rangers. Chicago is +190 to win the NL pennant for the first time since 1945.

The San Francisco Giants (57-33) now have the best record in baseball and a 6.5-game over the second-place Dodgers in the NL West. I'd have to give the Giants the pitching edge in any series against the Cubs right now with how good Madison Bumgarner and Johnny Cueto have been. On Tuesday in San Diego, Cueto became the eighth non-rookie starting pitcher to start in the All-Star Game in his first season with a team and the first since Kenny Rogers with the Tigers in 2006. Bumgarner nearly no-hit Arizona -- it was his fourth career one-hit shutout -- on Sunday and has an MLB-best 1.44 ERA since May 1. Only four other Giants pitchers have had a season ERA under 2.00 in at least 10 starts entering the All-Star break in franchise history. The Cubs are a much better offensive team than the Giants, but I fully expect the Giants to add a bat by the Aug. 1 trade deadline. San Francisco is +300 to win the pennant in yet another even-numbered year this decade.

The NL East-leading Washington Nationals (54-36) are +350 for the pennant. They obviously benefit from the news that the Mets' Matt Harvey is done for the season. How about Daniel Murphy for NL MVP? He has to be in the conversation with Bryant and Colorado's Nolan Arenado. Murphy has killed his former Mets team this year with 21 RBIs against them already. It's the most by a player against the team he played with the previous season since Roger Maris had 27 for the Yankees in 1960 against the A's. And that was for a full season! Murphy leads the majors with a .348 average to go with 17 homers (career high) and 66 RBIs.

The Dodgers (51-40) hold down the top wild-card spot as things stand and are +600 to win the pennant. Any chance of that rests on the health of ace Clayton Kershaw. He is eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list Friday for the start of the second half but won't. But it doesn't appear he's too far away.

The Mets (47-41) and Marlins (47-41) are tied for the second wild-card spot. New York is +1000 to repeat as the pennant winner. The Harvey news obviously isn't good and now Noah Syndergaard is dealing with some arm fatigue. The offense also has been too inconsistent. The Mets have won only five games when they don't homer, are 11-34 when they score three runs or less and have been shut out eight times.

Miami is +2200 for the pennant. That team could be scary as Giancarlo Stanton has finally started hitting. He entered the break on a seven-game winning streak and with five homers and 10 RBIs in that stretch. He also put on quite the show in winning Monday's Home Run Derby as the betting favorite.

I believe all three division leaders stay that way, with the Dodgers and Cardinals taking the two wild-card spots. I still like the Cubs to win the pennant.

NL Cy Young

Kershaw is the +185 favorite to win a fourth career Cy Young Award. He's 11-2 with a 1.79 ERA. As long as he doesn't miss too much more time, he should be favored. Arrieta (12-4, 2.68) is +450 with Cueto (13-1, 2.47). The problem with Cueto is he probably will have votes siphoned off by his teammate, Bumgarner (10-4, 1.94), who is +700.

Jose Fernandez (11-4, 2.52) and Stephen Strasburg (12-0, 2.62) are also +700. Strasburg is the first National League pitcher since the Giants' Rube Marquard in 1912 to begin a season with 12 straight victories. Marquand was 18-0 before losing. Teammate Max Scherzer started 13-0 with the Tigers in 2013. Strasburg might be good value because if he somehow didn't lose a single game, how can you not give him the Cy Young? And he has already gotten his annual trip to the DL out of the way.

**TheGame** · 07-15-2016, 07:28 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 7/15

American League Updated Futures Odds at All-Star Break
by Alan Matthews

How great for Major League Baseball would a Cubs-Indians World Series be? It's the two most historically downtrodden franchises in the game. I looked at updated futures for the National League yesterday, and the Cubs remain favorites in the Senior Circuit. The Tribe, meanwhile, are the +275 favorites to win the AL pennant. The AL will have home-field advantage again in the World Series as well after taking Tuesday's All-Star Game.

Cleveland hasn't won a World Series since 1948. The Indians haven't been there since 1997, when I believe they were the better team against the then-Florida Marlins. All that was needed was for All-Star Indians closer Jose Mesa to close things out in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 7 in Miami, but he wasn't able to do so. The Marlins tied it and then won it 3-2 in the bottom of the 11th to become the first wild-card team to win the Fall Classic.

These Indians are 52-36, leading the AL Central by 6.5 games over second-place Detroit and are big -600 favorites to win that. The Tribe have the best run differential in the American League at plus-81. They also had the longest winning streak in baseball this year at 14 in a row. The Indians seemed to run out of gas a bit after their 19-inning victory in Toronto on July 1. The Tribe closed the first half losing six of 10. They need to take advantage of the lousy Twins in the second half. Cleveland is 24-7 against the rest of the Central Division but 2-4 vs. the Twins.

The Tribe have the best rotation in the AL, but I'm still not sold on their offense. The return of outfielder Michael Brantley would be a huge boost. He returned to minor-league rehab this week. Brantley, a former All-Star, has played in only 11 games this year due to shoulder issues. If he can return to play nearly every day in left, the Indians can shift Jose Ramirez from left to third base in place of a struggling Jose Uribe, who looks done at age 37.

The second-favorite to win the pennant is Texas at +350. The Rangers (54-36) lead the AL West by 5.5 games over surging Houston -- despite losing nine of 12 -- and are -400 to repeat there. It's the largest division lead the Rangers have ever had at the break.

Texas has plenty of offense but major rotation injury concerns. The good news is that Yu Darvish had no problems following a rehab start in Double-A on Sunday. Darvish, who went on the disabled list with shoulder discomfort after three starts for Texas, threw 47 of 72 pitches for strikes. He could start in the majors as soon as Saturday. The Rangers still have an excellent farm system so expect them to make at least one trade by the Aug. 1 deadline.

The Toronto Blue Jays (51-40, team's best record entering break since 1992) have surged to third on the pennant odds at +575 even though they are tied with Boston for second in the AL East, two games behind Baltimore. The Jays remain without slugging outfielder Jose Bautista until likely the end of the month due to turf toe. And they have to decide whether to keep young ace Aaron Sanchez in the rotation or to shift him to the bullpen as has been planned to save innings on his arm. I don't see how they could do that without adding another starter via trade. The Jays were four games under .500 on May 18 but then went on a 32-17 run.

The Red Sox (+650), Orioles (+700) and Astros (+750) are the only other teams under +1000 to win the pennant. I believe the division winners will be Boston, Cleveland and Houston, with Texas and Toronto as wild-card teams. Just not buying that Orioles pitching staff. The Red Sox are my pennant pick as things stand as I fully expect them to add a starting pitcher, perhaps bringing back Rich Hill, currently with Oakland.

AL Awards Odds

There has been one repeat AL MVP winner this decade: Detroit's Miguel Cabrera in 2012-13. But last year's winner, Toronto third baseman Josh Donaldson, is the +200 favorite to repeat this winter. Donaldson, an All-Star, is deserving of the favored role as he's hitting .304 with 23 homers, 63 RBIs, a whopping 80 runs scored and a fantastic .418 on-base percentage. He's the sixth player in AL history with 80 runs and 20 homers prior to the All-Star break. The other five: Lou Gehrig, Ted Williams, Reggie Jackson, Frank Thomas and Rodriguez. I'd say five Hall of Famers, but A-Rod's likely not ever getting voted in due to his steroid use.

The Angels' Mike Trout (+350), Orioles' Manny Machado (+600) and Astros' Jose Altuve (+600) round out the favorites. I don't see Trout having a great shot because the Angels are so lousy. I hope Altuve it wins it. At 5-foot-6, he's incredible, hitting .341 (AL best) with 14 homers, 51 RBIs and a .413 on-base percentage to go with 23 steals. That's fantasy baseball gold! Altuve is on pace for a third consecutive 200-hit season, leading the majors at the break with 119 in 89 games. He's my pick but I might be biased.

As for the Cy Young, White Sox lefty Chris Sale, who started for the AL in Tuesday's All-Star Game, is the +150 favorite. He leads the majors with 14 wins but his ERA of 3.38 is good, not great. That's partly a result of being shelled by the Braves in his final pre-break outing. Cleveland's Danny Salazar (+350) is next and then there's a drop-off to Cleveland's Corey Kluber (+900) and Boston's Steven Wright (+900). Salazar is 10-3 with a 2.75 ERA. He was also named an All-Star but had to be replaced on the AL roster due to a minor injury. It's mostly just to give him some extra rest but obviously monitor that. Sale was my spring training Cy Young pick and I'll stick with him.

**TheGame** · 07-15-2016, 07:28 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 7/15

Baseball bettors should feel good about these MLB season win totals bets
By ANDREW CALEY

The MLB All-Star break is here and that means it's time to dust off your regular season win totals ticket and either look down in delight, or crumple it up and and do you best Tim Duncan impression as you bank it into the trash.

At the same time, if you're ahead of the curve when it comes to your win totals wagers, don't think you have this in the bag. I'm looking at you Cubs fans.

So, with most teams having between 71 and 75 games remaining in the 2016 season we take a look at some teams who are well on their way to cashing the Over and others that... well, lets just hope you took the Under.

Lookin' good to get Over the hump

Baltimore Orioles

Season win total: 78
Current wins: 51
Wins needed to go Over: 28 wins in final 75 games (37.3 winning percentage)

Everyone expected the American League East to be a tight race this season, but not many had the Orioles to be the team leading the way at this point in the schedule.

The O's were pegged at 78 wins, the fewest in the AL East. But, due mostly to mashing the baseball better than anyone else, they lead the division by two games over both the Red Sox and Blue Jays.

Baltimore leads the majors in home runs with 137 and are second in slugging and OPS thanks to Manny Machado's MVP-type season and the monster emergence of Mark Trumbo, whom leads the bigs with 28 dingers.

While the Orioles do have issues in their starting rotation, as long as they can continue to hit the ball they way they're capable of, a record of at least 28-47 down the stretch is more than likely.

Philadelphia Phillies

Season win total: 67
Current wins: 42
Wins needed to go Over: 25 wins in final 72 games (34.7 winning percentage).

The Phillies surprised everyone by coming out of the gate playing, well, competitive baseball, and even though they have cooled off, they aren't the pushover everyone thought they would be.

Pegged with a MLB-worst win total of 67, the Phillies are blowing those expectations out of the water. They already sit at 42 wins and only require a record of 26-46 in their last 72 games to cash those over tickets.

The Phillies look like they've turned a corner thanks to their young core of guys like Vince Velasquez, Maikel Franco and Odubel Herrera. Barring major injuries, Philadelphia can be competitive down the stretch and cashing the Over 67 wins seems very reasonable.

Texas Rangers

Season win total: 83
Current wins: 54
Wins needed to go Over: 30 in final 72 games (41.7 winning percentage)

Texas was another team disrespected by books heading into the season. The Rangers entered the season with a win total of just 83, despite winning the AL West last season and now get a full season of ace Cole Hamels to boot.

This was supposed to be the year the Astros (opened at 88 wins) took the next step, but the Rangers said "not so fast". At 54-36, they own the best record in the American League and the second best in all of the majors.

Texas boasts a balanced lineup that can hurt you from top to bottom, but the Rangers' concerns lie with starting pitching. Yu Darvish, Derek Holland and Colby Lewis are all on the DL. Darvish is expected to return soon, but look for the Rangers to bolster their rotation before the trade deadline and if they do, Over 83 wins shouldn't be a problem.

Honorable mentions: San Francisco Giants, Colorado Rockies

Hope you took the Under

Tampa Bay Rays

Season win total: 81.5
Current wins: 34
Wins needed to go Over: 48 in the final 74 games (64.9 winning percentage)

The Rays entered the season as dark-horse candidates to make the playoffs if everything went right. Well, it didn't. In fact it has been the complete opposite.

Preseason Cy Young candidate Chris Archer has been a shell of his former shelf, which has been a representation of the Rays pitching staff in general. What was supposed to be the team's strength has left the Rays to rank 24th in team ERA (4.57) and 25th in quality starts (35).

Additionally, the offense has been worse than expected, scoring an AL-worst 344 runs in its first 88 games - good for 3.91 runs per game (ranked 27th). Combine that with the rumors the Rays will be big sellers at the deadline, a 48-26 record down the stretch seems nearly impossible.

Minnesota Twins

Season win total: 79
Current wins: 32
Wins needed to go Over: 48 in final 74 games (64.9 winning percentage)

The Twins were a team that finished 2015 strong, capturing second place in the AL Central with a 83-79 record. Combine that with the young talent on the roster and the Twins were also dark-horse candidates this season.

Unfortunately for fans in the Twin Cities, an 0-9 start sank the Twins hopes before the season barely started and it didn't get much better. Minnesota held an 11-34 record on May 24 and has made some mild improvements on the diamond - definitely not enough to threaten the Over.

While the lineup has been producing at an acceptable rate, the pitching and defense has been horrendous. The Twins rank 28th in team ERA at 4.97 and 28th in errors. Going over 79 wins seems like a pipe dream at this point.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Season win total: 82
Current wins: 38
Wins needed to go Over: 45 in final 72 games (62.5 winning percentage).

Ah, the Arizona Diamondbacks. The team that won the offseason has fallen flat on its face. Again.

Expectations were high in the desert after the acquisitions of Zack Geinke, Shelby Miller, Jean Segura and Tyler Clippard among others. The D-backs were going for broke and it has blown up in their face. An early-season injury to rising star A.J. Pollack hasn't helped, but most of the blame falls on the pitching staff.

Arizona's team ERA of 4.77 and team WHIP of 1.44 rank 27th and 28th in the majors respectively. So not only will the Diamondbacks not complete for the NL West crown, it would be incredible if they were to cash their season win total Over tickets.

Dishonorable mention: New York Mets, Los Angeles Angeles

**TheGame** · 07-15-2016, 07:29 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 7/15

Midseason top prospects: Unfamiliar names could make the difference
By The Sports Xchange

A potent lineup and a deep pitching staff are only two of the variables that provide confidence for a contending baseball team.
Now, if one is looking for perhaps an ace in the hole or an additional jolt to an established lineup, perhaps a view in the minors is in order.
With that in mind, here's a look at the top prospect for each team, courtesy of The Sports Xchange's national network of baseball writers:

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
Right-hander Braden Shipley has continued his progression through the chain at Triple-A Reno this season, and his 7-5 record and 3.85 ERA in 18 starts in a hitter's league (Pacific Coast) only tells part of the story. Shipley, a first-round pick in 2013, has refined his command and control to the point he is averaging only 1.5 walks per nine innings, a career best. He has halved his walk average from Double-A Mobile in 2015.

COLORADO ROCKIES
Center fielder David Dahl, 22, was the 10th overall pick in the 2012 draft and has moved more slowly than anticipated because of injuries rather than any deficiencies in his game. Indeed, Dahl is a potential five-tool player and has shown that all-around talent this season. He should join the Rockies at some point in the second half, quite possibly before rosters are expanded Sept. 1. A severe hamstring injury followed by back soreness limited Dahl to 10 games in 2013 at the Class A level.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS
MLB.com ranks LHP Julio Urias as the majors' best left-handed pitching prospect and the second-best prospect overall. The 19-year-old already made eight starts in two stints with the Dodgers before returning to Triple-A Oklahoma City on July 5. In 16 appearances (15 starts) between Los Angeles and Oklahoma City, Urias already has thrown 77 1/3 innings. With the front office carefully managing his workload, the left-hander could return during the playoff drive as a reliever.

SAN DIEGO PADRES
CF Manuel Margot, 21, could be a dynamic player in center field. His speed and defense are plus-plus. And he's hitting .300 in Triple-A with developing power. He is the Padres' top prospect. But he's not that far ahead of C Austin Hedges, 23, and corner outfielder Hunter Renfroe, 24. The only problem with the Padres' top prospects is that each is blocked by a contributing player who needs to be moved to create an opening.

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
No team is less likely to promote a prospect in September than the Giants. Heck, they had ample opportunity in the first half of the season due to all their injuries, yet on most occasions they reached for a proven commodity such as Conor Gillaspie, Ramiro Pena or Grant Green rather than one of their future hopes. If a Giants prospect sees the light of day in September, chances are it will be because manager Bruce Bochy uses one on the final day of the regular season to set up his playoff rotation. RHP Clayton Blackburn (5-7, 5.02 ERA at Sacramento) could get that assignment.

CHICAGO CUBS
Five minor league prospects have had an early shot with the parent club, already joining the Cubs over the past month, but C Willson Contreras has been the most impressive and appears likely to stick with Chicago for now. He stepped up ably and saw more action than expected with backup David Ross on the disabled list the past week with concussion symptoms. In 23 games so far, Contreras has a .305 average, five home runs and 15 RBIs. He also has a touch of the dramatic.

CINCINNATI REDS
Like Cody Reed, who already joined the rotation, RHP Robert Stephenson will soon become a part of that group for good. Stephenson, the No. 1 prospect in the Reds' organization according to Baseball America, has made two starts this year for Cincinnati, going 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA. He allowed four earned runs in 12 innings. Stephenson, 23, is 5-5 with a 3.89 ERA in 15 starts for Triple-A Louisville, having walked 46 and struck out 75 in 88 innings.

MILWAUKEE BREWERS
When the season began, it was only a matter of time until SS Orlando Arcia was headed to Milwaukee for his major league debut. However, the stellar play of Jonathan Villar quieted that talk significantly. The extra seasoning will only benefit Arcia, who shot up the rankings last season by hitting .307/.347/.453 with 37 doubles, 25 stolen bases and 69 RBIs for Double-A Biloxi. While still flashing a strong glove, he's fallen off a bit offensively this season, batting .270/.328/.407 in 83 games for Triple-A Colorado Springs.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES
First baseman Josh Bell made his major league debut against the Cubs this past weekend, when he singled off Chicago ace Jake Arrieta on Friday. He followed up that performance with a grand slam in his second career at-bat Saturday. Despite that explosive introduction, Hurdle has said Bell is not guaranteed to be with the team following the break. Somewhere down the line, Pittsburgh could possibly turn to their third-ranked prospect, according to Baseball America, though.

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
RHP Alex Reyes could be recalled as soon as next week in order to beef up the bullpen. Reyes, who can throw nearly 100 mph, is regarded as one of the top prospects in all of baseball. After serving a 50-game suspension at season's beginning for marijuana use, Reyes has gone 2-1 with a 4.35 ERA in nine starts at Triple-A Memphis, fanning 61 over 41 1/3 innings. While his command is still a concern, Reyes has the raw stuff to pitch to and get any hitter out.

ATLANTA BRAVES
SS Dansby Swanson and 2B Ozzie Albies form a two-headed middle infield monster considered the newest iteration of Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker. Both came up as shortstops, but Albies was moved to second base while he was at Triple-A Gwinnett. Albies was sent back to Double-A Mississippi so he could play alongside Swansby. The organization is in no hurry to rush them, but the fans in Atlanta are thirsty to see the guys who are considered the future of the franchise. It would not be a surprise to see them called up in September when rosters expand.

MIAMI MARLINS
LHP Jarlin Garcia could be used as a chip to bring in a veteran pitcher, or the Marlins could opt to try him as the fifth starter at some point this season. Garcia, a 23-year-old Dominican, started the season as Miami's third-best prospect overall. However, since the No. 1 guy on that list, RHP Tyler Kolek, is out for the year due to elbow surgery, Garcia is the biggest hope of the organization in terms of short-term pitching help. Garcia, who is considered athletic for a pitcher, slings it from 91 to 95 mph with an above-average changeup and a still-developing curve.

NEW YORK METS
RHP Gabriel Ynoa wasn't even listed amongst the organization's top 10 prospects by Baseball America entering the season, and he doesn't have swing-and-miss stuff (477 strikeouts in 750 2/3 innings), but he is the closest thing to a young Triple-A starter who might be able to help the Mets out if they can't land a pitcher via trade. Ynoa, 23, is 9-3 at Las Vegas and averaging six innings a start while producing a 4.19 ERA -- no small feat given the average ERA in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League is 4.76.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
With SS Freddy Galvis batting .234, it seems a call-up of SS J.P. Crawford could come sooner than expected. The No. 1 prospect in the organization according to MLB.com, Crawford is batting .270/.346/.357 with two homers and 17 RBIs in 47 games for Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The only thing keeping Galvis in the lineup is his defensive prowess, which is an area where Crawford has improved of late. Baseball Prospectus labeled him the No. 1 prospect in all of baseball in its most recent Top 50 ranking.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS
RHP Koda Glover, 23, could make it to the majors for the first time. He has not allowed a run in his first seven bullpen outings for Triple-A Syracuse since being promoted from Double-A Harrisburg. He was an eighth-round pick out of Oklahoma State by the Nationals in 2015. In his first 42 1/3 innings at all levels this year he allowed just 28 hits. "Koda has had a very strong first half," according to Doug Harris, the Nationals' player personnel chief. "He has angle to an explosive fastball and is able to repeat the strike zone. His secondary stuff continues to develop. He has good aptitude and loves to compete."

HOUSTON ASTROS
SS Alex Bregman continues to bang on the door of promotion, following his terrific run with Double-A Corpus Christi (.297/.415/.559 with 14 home runs and 46 RBIs in 62 games) with a fabulous start for Triple-A Fresno, where Bregman hit .389/.421/.889 with five homers and 14 RBIs over his first eight games. The second overall pick of the 2015 draft will eventually move to third base, but might not until he joins the Astros at some point this summer.

LOS ANGELES ANGELS
Recalled when LHP Andrew Heaney suffered an injury in the second game of the season, RHP Nick Tropeano went 3-2 with a 3.25 earned-run average -- the best among the Angels' remaining healthy starters -- before a tight right shoulder put him on the disabled list June 4. The Angels optioned Tropeano to Salt Lake after activating him June 24 but recalled him July 3. LHP Nate Smith and 3B Kaleb Cowart, both 24, could arrive in September. Smith made the United States' team for the All-Star Futures Game. Cowart, the Angels' first pick in the June 2010 draft, would compete with INF Jefry Marte as the leading in-house candidates to replace 3B Yunel Escobar if Escobar is traded.

OAKLAND ATHLETICS
The Athletics promoted Matt Olson to Triple-A this season. He hasn't lit up the competition, but he'll almost assuredly get a chance to introduce himself to the Oakland fans in September. It could come earlier if general manager Billy Beane is looking for a way to quiet the boos if/when he deals Josh Reddick.

SEATTLE MARINERS
1B D.J. Peterson. The former first-round pick, once considered the team's first baseman of the future, struggled with injuries and power outages for most of his first two seasons and is no longer seen as a cornerstone to the team's future. But a recent promotion to Triple-A Tacoma has coincided with the awakening of his big bat, which might come in handy for the Mariners down the stretch. He won't supplant Dae-Ho Lee or Adam Lind as the Mariners' everyday first baseman, but he could be a contributor off the bench if he is called up in September -- or he could end up being the trade piece Seattle so desperately needs.

TEXAS RANGERS
1B/3B Joey Gallo: The Rangers haven't gotten the production they expected out of the first base-designated hitter duo of Prince Fielder and Mitch Moreland. While sitting one for an extended period of time is unlikely, it would open the door for Gallo. He had six homers in just 108 at-bats for Texas last year and has 15 in less than 200 at-bats in Triple-A this year. He's also striking out less in Round Rock this season than he did last year.

CHICAGO WHITE SOX
After the White Sox promoted No. 1 prospect Tim Anderson to the big leagues, right-hander Carson Fulmer moved forward to the top of the prospect chart. The former Vanderbilt star headed to San Diego this week to represent the White Sox in the annual Futures Game. The White Sox selected Fulmer in the first round (No. 8 overall) in 2015. The right-hander recorded a 2.05 ERA in eight starts at high Class A Winston-Salem last season, but this season has been bumpier. Fulmer, 22, is 4-9 with a 4.76 ERA in 17 starts at Double-A Birmingham. He has 90 strikeouts in 87 innings.

CLEVELAND INDIANS
RHP Mike Clevinger would be the next man up, should there be an injury to one of the pitchers in the Indians' rotation. Clevinger had a brief cup of coffee with the Indians earlier this season, and the numbers were not good. In four appearances, three of them starts, he was 0-1 with a 7.71 ERA. However, he remains the top upper level pitching prospect in the organization, and he's having a big year at Triple-A Columbus. In 14 starts at Columbus, Clevinger is 9-0 with a 2.72 ERA and an average of 9.8 strikeouts per nine innings. The 25-year-old right-hander was acquired by Cleveland in a 2014 trade with the Angels in which the Indians sent RHP Vinnie Pestano to the Angels.

DETROIT TIGERS
Multi-position player JaCoby Jones has a seriously high ceiling and is closest to the majors among Detroit's brightest minor league players. He finished off a 60-game suspension for a violation of baseball's substance abuse policy at the start of the season and earned a promotion to Triple-A based on a sizzling start in Double-A. Jones played mostly shortstop after coming to Detroit in a trade with Pittsburgh last July but this year was asked to play center and some third base. He's got great speed and power and is solid defensively wherever he plays.

KANSAS CITY ROYALS
RHP Alec Mills could be added to the rotation if the Royals do not pick up a veteran via a trade. Mills is 2-0 in four starts since being promoted to Triple-A Omaha. He has a 2.67 ERA in 16 starts this season between the Storm Chasers and Double-A Northwest Arkansas with 86 strikeouts in 91 innings. He made his major league debut earlier this season when he was added as the 26th player for a doubleheader, giving up a run in two-thirds of an inning. Mills is projected to be a No. 3 starter, but he could the Royals' fifth starter soon.

MINNESOTA TWINS
RHP Jose Berrios was regarded as the Twins' top prospect in preseason publications after he was 14-5 with a 2.87 ERA and 175 strikeouts between Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Rochester last season. This year, he is 8-4 with a 2.59 ERA in 13 starts with Rochester. In those outings, he has 85 strikeouts and allowed only six home runs in 83 1/3 innings. Berrios had a brief cameo in May, when he got a win in one start and couldn't get out of the first inning in another. It seems possible to expect Berrios to be in the majors at some point whether it's in September or earlier.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES
Trey Mancini could get a look in September and give the Orioles a good bat off the bench. He hit .302 with seven homers and 14 RBIs at Double-A Bowie earlier this year before moving to Triple-A Norfolk. Mancini, a first baseman, hit 10 homers and 30 RBIs with a .297 average in 72 games with Norfolk. Mancini's hit well at every level he's been at so far and helped Bowie win the Eastern League championship last year.

BOSTON RED SOX
Cuban import Yoan Moncada, Sunday's futures game MVP, was just named baseball's top prospect at midseason by Baseball America. He's playing second base and you wonder what that means with Dustin Pedroia signed through 2021. Does that mean Moncada moves to third base when he gets closer to the big-time (he's in Double-A now)? Since moving up from A-Ball, Moncada has played 16 games with Portland, batting .328 with five homers, 15 RBIs, four steals and a 1.023 OPS.

NEW YORK YANKEES
Aaron Judge seems to be the logical right fielder of the future and might make his first appearance in the majors in September. Many fans wanted Judge to be recalled after he went on a home run binge during last month but they will have to wait to see how recovers from a strained PCL and bone bruise in his right knee which could sideline him for three to four weeks. Judge is known for his prodigious power and the fact he is a right-handed hitter helps. Judge is regarded as one of the Yankees top three prospects and the 2013 first-round pick has 16 home runs, a .261 average and a .825 OPS.

TAMPA BAY RAYS
Blake Snell has only one win in his first six starts, but he's pitched well, with a sub-4.00 ERA and rising strikeout totals. He was USA Today's Minor League Player of the Year last season, so he's a potential future ace once he adjusts to major league hitting and continues to develop his secondary pitches.

TORONTO BLUE JAYS
OF Dalton Pompey was held in such high regard that he was the Opening Day center fielder in 2015. He was not ready and was returned to the minors in May but he did return in late season and was on the playoff roster where he made a contribution as a pinch-runner. He started this season at Triple-A Buffalo where he has been hampered by injuries, including a concussion that kept him out from June 19 to Friday. In his three games back he is 2-for-12 with a double. The 23-year-old is batting .272 in 47 games with one home runs, 14 RBIs and 10 stolen bases.

**TheGame** · 07-15-2016, 07:29 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 7/15

Rangers' Darvish to return Saturday
By The Sports Xchange

The Texas Rangers will receive a boost to their ailing pitching staff on Saturday when they send right-hander Yu Darvish to the mound against the Chicago Cubs.
Darvish reported no issue with Wednesday's bullpen session and is line to make his return after being sidelined since June 9 with discomfort in his right shoulder.
The 29-year-old Japanese star owns a 2-0 mark with a 2.87 ERA in three starts after missing 14 months while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Darvish is coming off a pair of productive rehab outings, including Monday's performance in which he went five innings.
The Dallas Morning News reported that Darvish will be limited to approximately 90 pitches in his return.
Texas (54-36), which holds a 5 1/2-game lead over second-place Houston in the American League West, has seen its pitching rotation bitten by the injury bug. Starters Derek Holland (shoulder) and Colby Lewis (lat) currently are on the disabled list along with Darvish.

**TheGame** · 07-15-2016, 07:29 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 7/15

'Jays visit A's'

Toronto Blue Jays at Oakland Athletics July 15, 2016 10:05 PN

Oakland Athletics and Toronto Blue Jays meet in the first of a three-game series to open the second half. Probable starter for Oakland will be lefty Rich Hill who has a 9-3 record, 2.25 ERA and has won six of his last seven starts allowing two or fewer runs six times over the span. Hill is 1-0 in three career starts vs Toronto with his teams 3-0 (Bos,Bal).

Right-hander Marcus Stroman toes the rubber for John Gibbons's team. Stroman spinning one of his finest outings of the season last effort tossing 8 innings of 3 hit, 2 run ball brings to the mound a 7-4 record, 4.89 ERA. Stoman has faced Oakland once in his career blanking A's over seven but was tagged with a no-decision as Jays lost 1-zip in extras.

As a team Toronto has had success vs Oakland. The Blue Jays won two meetings earlier this season north of the border and have been on the right side in 7 of the past 9 encounters.

Oakland has had its problems of late in front of the home audience, A's have lost four straight, five of six and seven of nine. Rich Hill has been part of the problem going 2-3 with a 3.45 ERA over six starts (2-4 TSR) as compared to a perfect 7-0 with a 1.41 ERA in his away games. One final betting nugget. Oakland off a loss at Houston before the break does not bode well for the team, since A's are 0-6 following a loss the previous effort.

**TheGame** · 07-15-2016, 07:29 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 7/15

'Yankees RedSox resume rivalry'

The New York Yankees (44-44, -$457) and Boston Red Sox (49-38, +$19) meet in a three-game series at Yankee Stadium this weekend. This will be the seventh meeting of the 2016 season in this never-lacking-for-hype rivalry with Red Sox holding the upper hand winning four of the six meetings.

Yankees' open the series handing the ball to Michael Pineda. The right-hander carrying a 3-8 record, 5.38 ERA to the hill is 4-3 in eight New York starts vs Boston (5-3 TSR) but enters 0-2 in his last three with a 1-2 Team Start Record. Pineda also enters the contest on a 0-6 skid in his last nine vs a division opponent (2-7 TSR). Bosox counter with Eduardo Rodriguez. The left-hander back from Triple-A Pawtucket is 1-3 with a 8.59 ERA in six starts but has a solid 3-1 life-time record vs New York.

Saturday, Yankees' lefty C.C. Sabathia will trade pitches with Red Sox knuckler Steven Wright. Sabathia winless in his last four starts (2-2 TSR) takes a 5-6 record, 3.77 ERA to the mound. The veteran southpaw is 2-0 in his last four vs Red Sox (4-0 TSR), 10-8 the past 25 wearing a Yankee uniform (13-12 TSR). On the other bump, Wright (11-4, 10-7 TSR) has been light's out giving up two earned runs or fewer in 11 of his 17 starts and heads to the mound undefeated in his last nine trips to the mound with Red Sox 7-2 over the span. Wright carries a 2-0 streak vs Yankees including a complete-game masterpiece earlier this season.

In Sunday's finale it's Masahiro Tanaka toes the rubber for Yankees. The right-hander undefeated in his last five starts (5-0 TSR) is 6-2 on the campaign with a 3.23 ERA. Tanaka has made eight career starts against the Red Sox, sporting a 4-2 record and 4-4 Team Start Record in those eight games. Well to note, Yankees have a 5-0 streak at home w/Tanaka, 6-1 stretch in his last seven July starts overall. Lefty David Price gets the start for Boston. Price not exactly having a banner year at 9-6 with a 4.34 ERA is 1-1 vs Yankees since joining Red Sox and will be looking to make amends for the last start at this venue where he was shelled for 6 runs over 4 2/3 innings in a Boston 8-2 loss. On a possitive note, that loss in Yankee Stadium was his first in nine trips to New York with Bos, Tor, Det, TB.

**TheGame** · 07-15-2016, 07:30 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 7/15

Royals, Tigers square off

KANSAS CITY ROYALS (45-43) at DETROIT TIGERS (46-43)

Line: Kansas City +135, Detroit -155, Total: 8.5

Both the Royals and the Tigers will be looking to come out of the break with a victory when they meet in Detroit on Friday.

The Tigers currently sit in second place in the AL Central, but they are only .5 games ahead of the Royals. Both of these teams will be looking to really get going in the second half of the year, but Kansas City needs to do some soul searching.

The Royals won the World Series last year, but they entered the All-Star break as losers in seven of their past 10 games. A road win against the Tigers could get them going, and it’s not unlikely. Kansas City has been dominant against division rivals this season, going 21-11 against Central opponents on the year.

The starters in this game are set to be RHP Ian Kennedy (6-7, 3.97 ERA 103 K) for the Royals and RHP Justin Verlander (8-6, 4.07 ERA, 120 K) for the Tigers. One thing that sticks out when looking at this game is that the Royals have struggled on the road this season, going just 16-30 against the money line when playing away from home. The Tigers, meanwhile, are a solid 23-16 against the money line at home and should be feeling confident coming into this one.

The Royals are hoping to turn things around in the second half of the season and Ian Kennedy will be the guy looking to help them get it started on Friday. Kennedy pitched pretty well heading into the break, allowing just six earned runs in 18.0 innings of work over his past three starts. He was missing a ton of bats in those games, as he struck out 29 batters in those three outings.

Kennedy should also be confident facing this Tigers team as well. In his lone meeting with Detroit this season, Kennedy allowed just two earned runs in 6.1 innings of work. He struck out seven batters in that appearance and will be hoping for another performance like that on Friday.

Some guys to watch out for offensively in this game are 1B Eric Hosmer (.299, 13 HR, 49 RBI), DH Kendrys Morales (.258, 15 HR, 47 RBI) and C Salvador Perez (.283, 14 HR, 41 RBI). Hosmer is coming off of an MVP award winning performance at the All-Star game and should be full of confidence. He is also 19-for-72 with five doubles, a homer and four RBI against Verlander in his career. Morales and Perez, meanwhile, are an impressive 34-for-83 with four homers and 23 RBI combined against the righty.

Justin Verlander will be starting for the Tigers on Friday and he pitched well heading into the break for the Tigers. Over his past two starts, Verlander allowed just three earned runs in 12.2 innings of work. He struck out 13 batters in those games and also did not allow a single homer. He’ll be hoping to pick up where he left off on Friday, but it won’t be easy against this Royals team.

The last time he faced Kansas City, Verlander allowed four earned runs in seven innings. He did, however, allow eight hits and was fortunate to allow as few of runs as he did.

Offensively, two guys to keep an eye on are 1B Miguel Cabrera (.293, 18 HR, 53 RBI) and 2B Ian Kinsler (.289, 16 HR, 52 RBI). The two of them have hit well against Kennedy in their matchups with the pitcher, going a combined 10-for-19 with five doubles and five RBI.

Another guy that should be a factor in this game is OF Cameron Maybin (.341, 2 HR, 24 RBI). Maybin has been a machine since joining Detroit and will be counted on to get on base a few times in this one.

**TheGame** · 07-15-2016, 07:30 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 7/15

Preview: Rangers (54-36) at Cubs (53-35)

Game: 1
Venue: Wrigley Field
Date: July 15, 2016 2:20 PM EDT

CHICAGO -- Anthony Rizzo says the Chicago Cubs will be ready to roll when the season's second half begins on Friday in the opener of a three-game series with the Texas Rangers at Wrigley Field.

The Cubs ended a 6-15 pre-break skid with last Sundays 6-5 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Was it a slump possibly of their own making?

Rizzo seemed to suggest that the Cubs may have eased up a bit after rolling to a 25-6 start and double-digit game leads over their closest Central Division competitors.

"You build a big lead, and I don't want to say we were coasting, but I guess we were," the Cubs first baseman told reporters during All-Star Game festivities this week. "You can't be good all the time in this game. It's impossible. We'll be ready for the second half."

Chicago outfielder Dexter Fowler echoed Rizzo's expectations for a second-half start.

"I think the break was good, I think we'll come back recharged, hopefully," Fowler told reporters. "And I think we're in for a long, long season."

Fowler, a catalyst for the Cubs fast start, opens the second half still on the disabled list with a right hamstring strain and no projected return date.

Rizzo's assessment might be an overstatement because the Cubs' slump could also be attributed to a series of injuries, fatigue through a stretch playing 24 consecutive games and the end of a run of exceptional pitching especially by reigning Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta that would be hard to perpetually sustain.

Chicago (53-35) starts the second half with a seven-game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals and a six-game homestand with two challenging series.

AL West-leading Texas (54-36) brings that league's best record into a three-game weekend series. That's followed by a three-game set with the New York Mets next week, a team that humbled the Cubs with a four-game sweep prior to the break.

Chicago owns the National League's best home record (26-14) and are facing a team that knows about slumps.

Texas owns a 5 1/2 game lead over the Houston Astros and has dropped seven of its last nine heading into the All-Star break while Chicago had lost five straight before beating the Pirates.

Texas entered the break with the rotation having a 10.50 ERA over the final nine games as Yu Darvish, Derek Holland and Colby Lewis are on the disabled list.

"It's obviously a challenge," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. "We go as our starters go. When we get quality starts, it's proven, has been all year long that when we get quality starts our offense gives us an opportunity to win baseball game."

Texas sends left-hander Martin Perez (7-5, 3.85 ERA) against Cubs right-hander Kyle Hendricks (7-6, 2.55 ERA) in the series opener.

Hendricks needs one win to match a career-high. He's 5-1 with a 1.97 ERA at home. Perez is coming off a rough start again the Red Sox on July 5, allowing 11 runs (seven earned) over four innings in an 11-6 loss.

Neither starter has ever faced the opposing team.

Darvish (2-0, 2.87 ERA in three starts) is expected to be activated from the 15-day disabled list on Saturday and start against Cubs right-hander Jason Hammel (7-5, 3.46 ERA).

Darvish had been on the disabled list since June 13 and has made two rehab starts. He also opened the season on the disabled list while recovering from 2015 Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.

Chicago and Texas have met only 12 times since interleague play began in 1997 and have six wins apiece.

The Cubs took two of three in the most recent meeting in 2013 at Wrigley Field with two games played in cool April conditions and an early May makeup of a rainout.

The Cubs play 24 of their next 32 games at home and two series will be strictly by bus including two against the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field and three at Milwaukee. Chicago also has a three-game trip to Oakland (Aug. 5-7).

The Rangers are on a 10-day, nine game road trip that also takes them to Anaheim and Kansas City before hosting the Athletics July 25-27.

**TheGame** · 07-15-2016, 07:31 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 7/15

Preview: Mets (47-41) at Phillies (42-48)

Game: 1
Venue: Citizens Bank Park
Date: July 15, 2016 7:05 PM EDT

The Philadelphia Phillies emerge from the All-Star break with reasons for optimism.

The New York Mets, meanwhile, emerge with reasons for concern.

The teams open the season's second half on Friday night with the first of three games in Citizens Bank Park, and each will send a hot pitcher to the mound. Right-hander Jeremy Hellickson (6-6, 3.92 ERA) gets the start for the Phillies against right-hander Jacob deGrom (5-4, 2.61).

Hellickson is 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA in his last three starts and deGrom is 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA in his last three.

DeGrom and the ageless Bartolo Colon are, however, the only constants for a Mets rotation that has been wracked by injury -- a big reason the defending National League champions dropped their last three games before the break to fall to 47-41, leaving them in a second-place tie with Miami in the National League East.

Matt Harvey recently underwent season-ending surgery to repair thoracic outlet syndrome, which according to clevelandclinic.org is "a term used to describe a group of disorders that occur when there is compression, injury or irritation of the nerves and/or blood vessels (arteries and veins) in the lower neck and upper chest area."

Right-hander Noah Syndergaard and left-hander Steven Matz have been plagued by bone spurs in their pitching elbows, and Syndergaard departed his July 8 start against Washington after 4 2/3 innings with what was described by the team as "arm fatigue."

Nor has the everyday lineup been spared from the spate of injuries. Third baseman David Wright is out, possibly for the season, after undergoing surgery to repair a herniated disk in his neck, and first baseman Lucas Duda is on the disabled list with a bad back.

Outfielder Yoenis Cespedes also missed the last two games before the break with a quadriceps strain.

"I said something to the coaches: 'Man, when do you think this is going to stop? Can things possibly get worse?'" manager Terry Collins said, according to NJ.com. "And the next day, they continue to get worse."

Neither Syndergaard nor Cespedes played in Tuesday's All-Star Game in San Diego, and Collins told the New York Post that he is hopeful Syndergaard can make his start next Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs. Cespedes' status is less certain.

"I feel better, but I'm not sure if I'm going to play on Friday," Cespedes told reporters through a translator after missing Sunday's loss to Washington.

The Phillies, meanwhile, had the worst record in the majors last season (63-99) and dropped 26 of 32 games after getting off to a surprising 24-17 start this season. They won 12 of their last 17 before the break, however, to improve to 42-48, good enough for fourth place in the NL East.

Their offense, dormant most of the season, was a big reason for the turnaround. Outfielder Peter Bourjoas has hit at a .408 clip in his last 18 games to raise his average from .217 to .274, and third baseman Maikel Franco has hit .400 in his last 16, bringing his average to .269. He also leads the team with 18 homers and 52 RBIs.

Center fielder Odubel Herrera, the team's lone All-Star representative, is slashing .294/.378/.427. Herrera, who leads the Phillies in average, on-base percentage and steals (12), also has 10 homers and 33 RBIs.

**TheGame** · 07-15-2016, 07:31 AM

Re: MLB Betting Info. 7/15

Preview: Pirates (46-43) at Nationals (54-36)

Game: 1
Venue: Nationals Park
Date: July 15, 2016 7:05 PM EDT

WASHINGTON -- The Washington Nationals are in first place and the Pittsburgh Pirates are trying to get there.

Two teams who have played well this month will meet on Friday in the first game after the All-Star break and the first of a three-game weekend series in the nation's capital.

The Pirates had a six-game winning streak snapped July 7 but have won nine of their last 11 games and 12 of their last 16, while the Nationals have won six of their last 10 games.

Washington (54-36) is six games ahead of the New York Mets and Miami Marlins in the National League East. The Pirates (46-43) are seven games back of the first-place Chicago Cubs but just a game back of the second-place St. Louis Cardinals.

Pittsburgh went 9-19 in June but has played much better this month to get back into the playoff hunt again.

One of the bright spots is Pirates rookie infielder Josh Bell, who is 2-for-2 at the plate after he made his big league debut July 8. Did he worry when he would be called up?

"I really tried not think about that. I feel like in years prior, when I tried to push for a call-up or anything like that, that's when I press and that's when things started to go south for me, Bell told The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. I was just focusing on being the best player I could be on a daily basis, and it's working out for me."

The Nationals had four players appear in the All-Star game: outfielder Bryce Harper, second baseman Daniel Murphy, catcher Wilson Ramos and pitcher Max Scherzer. The Pirates had two: outfielder Starling Marte and closer Mark Melancon, who received a nice play from Murphy to get out of a jam in the seventh.

Washington manager Dusty Baker knew that appearing in the All-Star game would be special for Stephen Strasburg, who grew up in San Diego.

How you set up your rotation for the second half is equally important to us, Baker said in a telling comment that came a few days before Scherzer took the active roster spot of Strasburg on the National League club.

Scherzer threw a scoreless sixth inningon Tuesday for the National League in a 4-2 loss to the American League. That means he could be available to pitch Sunday against the Pirates.

The Pirates on Friday will start right-hander Francisco Liriano, who is hardly the pitcher he was in 2013 when he was 16-8 with a 3.02 ERA.

This year Liriano, 32, who made his Major League debut in 2005, is 5-8, 5.15 in 17 starts. He has thrown 92 2/3 innings and allowed a league-high 58 walks.

Strasburg will make the start against the Pirates Friday.

He did not pitch in the All-Star game something the Nationals approached him about. Strasburg was held out of the midsummer classic in order to be ready for the second half as he missed two starts earlier this season while he was on the disabled list with right shoulder inflammation from June 26 to July 3.

"But it really wasn't a decision I had to think over," Strasburg told reporters of not pitching in San Diego.

He is 12-0 with a 2.62 ERA in 16 starts this year. Strasburg is the first National League starter to begin a season 12-0 since Rube Marquard in 1912.

He made his big league debut on June 8, 2010 against the Pirates, also at Nationals Park, and struck out 14 batters in seven innings, including the last seven.

Last year, on June 20, Scherzer no-hit the Pirates at Nationals Park after he came within one strike of a perfect game.

Strasburg last pitched on July 8 at New York and allowed just one run in seven innings in a win over the Mets. The next day Scherzer also allowed just one run in seven innings to down New York.

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