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  • MLB Betting Info. 7/30

    StatFox Super Situations

    MLB | CINCINNATI at SAN DIEGO
    Play On - All teams when the money line is +125 to -125 (SAN DIEGO) below average NL hitting team (AVG <=.255) against a team with a below avg bullpen (ERA >=4.50), starting a well rested pitcher who is working on 5 or 6 days rest
    365-260 since 1997. ( 58.4% | 109.4 units )
    14-8 this year. ( 63.6% | 6.0 units )


    StatFox Situational Power Trends

    MLB | KANSAS CITY at TEXAS
    TEXAS is 58-41 (+22.3 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
    The average score was: TEXAS (4.9) , OPPONENT (4.7)

  • #2
    Re: MLB Betting Info. 7/30

    Orioles in midst of 16-game Under streak that makes absolutely no sense
    By ROB HANSEN


    Occasionally in sports things happen that simply don't make sense and in a stat-based sport like baseball the anomalies usually involve numbers. The Baltimore Orioles are currently streaking in a direction that nobody could have predicted with the make-up of their 2016 roster.


    The pitching challenged and offensively loaded Orioles have played Under the closing total in a remarkable 16 consecutive games.


    We've had our eye on this trend since it hit six games (since even that seemed bizarre for this O's squad) and it's been largely dismissed as "the pitching has been better and the offense is slumping," but 16 games is no longer a small sample size.


    The Orioles are averaging 2.81 runs for and 3.19 runs against over their last 16 games. The math geniuses out there will quickly calculate that as 6.00 total runs per game during the streak.


    This lack of runs scored comes from a roster that currently owns a .265 batting average in 2016 to go along with a .775 OPS (3rd in MLB). The O's hitters also lead Major League Baseball in home runs with 151 (Toronto Blue Jays are second with 144).


    On the flip side, despite having a very good bullpen (3.09 ERA, 36 saves, .238 opponent batting average), their pitching overall in 2016 has been terrible. The O's hurlers (including their solid bullpen) currently possess a 4.21 ERA to go along with an opponent batting average of .261 and an OPS of .758.


    Baseball fans outside the DMV area have never really bought into the 2016 Baltimore Orioles as a legitimate threat to win the American League East (pitching is the main reason) and it appears as though the oddsmakers have yet to buy into the O's as a legitimate Under threat.


    Over the last 16 games involving the Orioles, the average closing total is 9.156. The lowest total they've seen during the streak were consecutive 8.0 totals against the Tampa Bay Rays back on July 16 and 17. During their just completed three-game series at home against the Colorado Rockies (of course all three games played Under the number) they saw Over/Under numbers of 10.0, 9.5, and 9.0.


    Their 16th consecutive Under came against MLB's leader in Overs, the Minnesota Twins (58-37), on Thursday night. The O's lost to the Twins 6-2 with a closing total of 9.0.


    On Friday night, the Orioles travel to Toronto to take on the offensively explosive Blue Jays (Kevin Gausman vs Marco Estrada). The total for Friday is set at 9.0.

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: MLB Betting Info. 7/30

      MLB roundup: Suzuki goes hitless in Marlins' 11-6 loss
      By The Sports Xchange


      MIAMI -- Ichiro Suzuki remained two hits shy of 3,000 as he went 0-for-4 with a strikeout in Miami's 11-6 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night.
      Suzuki lined into a double play, grounded twice and struck out.
      Kolten Wong went 3-for-5 with two RBI and Tommy Pham had three RBIs as St. Louis (56-47) took a one-game lead over the Marlins (55-48) for the second wild card spot in the National League.
      St. Louis right-hander Mike Leake allowed six runs in five innings.
      Jose Urena gave up eight runs and eight hits in 4 1/3 innings, doing so hours after the Marlins acquired starting pitchers Andrew Cashner and Colin Rea in a seven-player trade with the San Diego Padres.


      Nationals 4, Giants 1
      SAN FRANCISCO -- Max Scherzer ran his string of impressive starts to six and Washington escaped a jam in the eighth inning with the first triple play in franchise history.
      Jayson Werth had two hits, drove in a run and scored one for the Nationals, who roughed up Giants starter Jeff Samardzija for four extra-base hits in six innings.
      Scherzer gave up a second-inning run on two hits but then shut out the Giants on hits in the next five innings before leaving after having thrown 115 pitches.


      Red Sox 6, Angels 2
      ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Rick Porcello threw his first complete game in nearly two years to lead Boston over Los Angeles at Angel Stadium.
      Porcello (14-2) gave up two runs and five hits while making an economical 107 pitches to win his sixth consecutive start. He's also won eight decisions in a row, his last loss coming on May 17. It was Porcello's first complete game since Aug. 20, 2014, when he shut out Tampa Bay while pitching for Detroit.
      Boston had seven hits, two of them from Xander Bogaerts, who had an RBI double in the third inning and a two-run homer in the seventh.


      Dodgers 9, Diamondbacks 7
      LOS ANGELES -- Joc Pederson and Chase Utley homered to key a five-run rally in the seventh inning and Los Angeles beat Arizona before 50,966 at Dodger Stadium.
      Yasmani Grandal's run-scoring single in the seventh was the difference as the Dodgers blew a three-run lead and then came back from a four-run deficit to prevail. The win pushed Los Angeles within a game of National League West-leading San Francisco.
      After Andrew Toles singled to open the seventh, Pederson, who went 2-for-4 with a career-tying four RBIs, homered to right center off reliever Daniel Hudson to cut the Arizona lead to two runs. It was Pederson's 14th homer of the season. Chase Utley's two-run blast, his seventh this season, tied the score at 7. Grandal's single drove in Corey Seager with the game-winner.


      Reds 6, Padres 0
      SAN DIEGO -- Brandon Finnegan and two relievers ended San Diego's run of 25 straight games with a home run with a six-hit shutout and Eugenio Suarez drove in four runs with a pair of two-out, two-run hits for Cincinnati.
      Although the Padres tied the National League record with the home run streak, Friday marked the major league-leading 12th time this year that they were shut out.
      Brandon Phillips had two doubles and a single to extend his hitting streak to 16 games. Suarez, Zack Cozart and Adam Duvall each had two hits for the Reds.


      Blue Jays 6, Orioles 5
      TORONTO -- Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion and Troy Tulowitzki hit solo home runs in the first inning and Toronto moved within a half-game of first-place Baltimore in the American League East.
      Manny Machado homered for Baltimore, which has dropped four straight.
      Orioles starter Kevin Gausman (2-8) allowed six hits, three walks and six runs in three innings. Blue Jays starter Marco Estrada (6-4) gave up five hits, two walks and four runs (three earned) and had six strikeouts in six innings.


      Indians 5, Athletics 3
      CLEVELAND -- Carlos Santana homered in the sixth inning and Cleveland scored four more in the seventh and rallied past Oakland.
      Abraham Almonte and Jason Kipnis had RBI singles in the seventh for the Indians.
      Josh Reddick and Khris Davis homered for Oakland.


      Cubs 12, Mariners 1
      CHICAGO -- Jason Heyward and David Ross homered as Chicago rolled past Seattle.
      Heyward and Anthony Rizzo had three RBIs apiece for the Cubs, and Jon Lester allowed four hits in six scoreless innings.
      Hisashi Iwakuma allowed five runs and eight hits in three innings for Seattle.


      Rays 5, Yankees 1
      ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Jake Odorizzi, the subject of trade rumors, pitched six shutout innings to lead Tampa Bay past New York.
      Logan Forsythe and Corey Dickerson hit solo home runs in the first inning for Tampa Bay.
      Ivan Nova allowed five runs and six hits in 4 1/3 innings for the Yankees.


      Tigers 14, Astros 6
      DETROIT -- Tyler Collins and Justin Upton blasted three-run homers and James McCann hit a pinch-homer to help Detroit trounce Houston.
      Matt Boyd allowed four hits in five innings, but two were homers that accounted for three Astros runs.
      Collin McHugh (7-7) lasted only 1 2/3 innings and was roughed up for 10 hits and the Tigers' first eight runs.


      Rockies 6, Mets 1
      NEW YORK -- Carlos Gonzalez finished 2-for-5 with four RBIs as the Colorado remained red-hot.
      Gonzalez opened the scoring and extended his hitting streak to 11 games with an RBI double in the first inning and provided the Rockies plenty of insurance in the ninth with a long three-run homer. The Rockies have won 11 of 15 since the All-Star break to get within a game of .500.
      James Loney went 2-for-4 with a second-inning homer for the Mets, who have lost three straight and four of five, a stretch in which they have scored just 11 runs.


      Braves 2, Phillies 1
      ATLANTA -- Rookie Tyrell Jenkins allowed an unearned run in six innings and picked up his first major league victory in Atlanta's win over Philadelphia.
      Jenkins, the organization's 2015 Minor League Pitcher of the Year, gave up four hits and four walks, one intentional, in his fourth career start.
      The losing pitcher was rookie Vince Velasquez, who allowed two runs, seven hits and two walks with five strikeouts in six innings.


      Rangers 8, Royals 3
      ARLINGTON, Texas -- Rougned Odor homered twice as Texas routed struggling Kansas City.
      A.J. Griffin allowed two runs in 5 2/3 innings for his first victory in more than three months.
      Edinson Volquez allowed six runs and nine hits in six innings for Kansas City, which has lost eight of 10.


      Red Sox 6, Angels 2
      ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Rick Porcello threw his first complete game in nearly two years to lead Boston over Los Angeles.
      Porcello (14-2) gave up two runs and five hits while making an economical 107 pitches to win his sixth consecutive start. He also has won eight decisions in a row, his last loss coming May 17. It was Porcello's first complete game since Aug. 20, 2014, when he shut out Tampa Bay while pitching for Detroit.
      The Red Sox had only seven hits, two of them coming from Xander Bogaerts, who had an RBI double in the third inning and a two-run homer in the seventh, the latter giving Porcello some late-inning breathing room.


      Twins 2, White Sox 1 (12)
      MINNEAPOLIS -- Joe Mauer's pinch-hit, walk-off walk in the 12th inning lifted Minnesota over Chicago at Target Field.
      Eddie Rosario started the inning by getting hit by a pitch before a sacrifice bunt moved him to second. Byron Buxton and Brian Dozier walked to load the bases for Mauer, who received a free pass while batting for Robbie Grossman.
      Adam Eaton homered for Chicago and Melky Cabrera had two hits, including a double.


      Brewers 3, Pirates 1
      MILWAUKEE � Junior Guerra allowed four hits in 8 2/3 innings and Milwaukee beat Pittsburgh.
      Guerra (7-2) allowed a leadoff double to Starling Marte in the second inning and a leadoff single to Jordy Mercer in the sixth. He didn't allow either runner to advance as each time he retired the next three hitters. He was finally touched for a run in the ninth, allowing a single, a walk and two fielder's-choice grounders to bring in the lone run. A single by Marte chased Guerra one out short of the Brewers' first complete game in more than a year.
      Milwaukee took a 2-0 lead on Chris Carter's two-run homer in the first.

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: MLB Betting Info. 7/30

        Preview: Orioles (58-44) at Blue Jays (58-45)


        Game: 2
        Venue: Rogers Centre
        Date: July 30, 2016 1:07 PM EDT


        TORONTO -- There could be a new leader in the American League East on Saturday.


        A Toronto victory over Baltimore in an afternoon game at Rogers Centre vaults the Blue Jays past the Orioles and into first place.


        While this is an important series, there are still two months to play in the season and possible trades to be made.


        The teams still have two more series to play -- in Baltimore from Aug. 29-31 and in Toronto from Sept. 27-29. The Boston Red Sox are also close in hot pursuit as well.


        "It's an important series any time you play the guys you're chasing," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "We've always had good battles with these guys. We're down to the final two months."


        The game Friday was not a disappointment in that regard. The Blue Jays used three first-inning home runs Friday to defeat the Orioles 6-5. That moved Toronto within a half game of first-place Baltimore in the AL East.


        "It was really a typical Baltimore-Toronto type game with two teams that really just slug it out," Gibbons said.


        The Orioles have a secret weapon, however. Their starter Saturday is Yovani Gallardo (3-2, 5.37 ERA), who has never lost to Toronto.


        The right-hander is 4-0 with a 1.78 ERA against the Blue Jays in four career starts. He also is 1-0 with a 3.60 in the playoffs after starting against them in the 2015 American League Division Series when he was with the Texas Rangers.


        He will be seeking his first win since since June 29. In the five starts since, he is 0-1 with 4.88 and the Orioles are 3-2. He allowed two runs, five hits and two walks in 6 2/3 innings Monday against the Colorado Rockies but did not factor in the decision in a 3-2 Baltimore win. He struck out six.


        He has a difficult opponent in left-hander J.A. Happ (13-3, 3.27 ERA), who has already set a career best for victories in a season. He held the Seattle Mariners to one hit and four walks while striking out six in six innings of a 2-0 victory Sunday. He is 3-3 with a 3.76 ERA in 10 career games (nine starts) against the Orioles.


        Toronto leads the season series 6-5 and six of the games have been decided by one run.


        The Orioles have lost four in a row overall and 11 of their past 16 road games. They are 1-4 this season at Rogers Centre.


        After Kevin Gausman allowed six runs in three innings Friday, the Orioles had a solid four-inning relief outing from Vance Worley, who allowed only one walk and one hit.


        It gave Orioles manager Buck Showalter some encouragement.


        "Worley did a great job," Showalter said. "Our guys grinded against one of the better pitchers in the league (right-hander Marco Estrada) and got him out of there and gave us a chance. I was proud of the way the guys got back in it, tough environment."

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: MLB Betting Info. 7/30

          Preview: Mariners (51-50) at Cubs (62-40)


          Game: 2
          Venue: Wrigley Field
          Date: July 30, 2016 2:20 PM EDT


          CHICAGO -- The Seattle Mariners have not been to Wrigley Field in nearly a decade, but manager Scott Servais knows enough about the idiosyncrasies of the park and daytime baseball to give his team enough direction.


          After an ugly 12-1 loss Friday, the Mariners hope Servais' knowledge translates into a win Saturday afternoon.


          Servais played for the Cubs from 1995-98 mostly sub-par years for Chicago except for a 1998 postseason appearance.


          "I played here for three and a half years," Servais said. "It was really the first time in my career I had the chance to play every day, probably because they didn't have anybody else when they traded for me.


          His best season with Chicago was in 1996 when he hit .265 with 11 home runs and 63 RBI over 129 games.


          This weekend is only Seattle's second all-time and the Mariners have lost three of four meetings in Chicago. The Cubs took two of three from the Mariners in their last visit to Chicago from June 12-14, 2007.


          Servais will be giving a crash course in both Wrigley Field culture and big league baseball to the newest Mariner - 25-year-old Cuban prospect Guillermo Heredia who was called upon Friday from Triple-A Tacoma.


          "We want to get him comfortable," Servais said. "He's a guy who can come in and defend late in the game, pinch hit, pinch run, do those type of things. We will get him some starts eventually."


          Heredia did make his major league debut following Friday's 74-minute rain delay, settling in in right field in the bottom of the seventh. He also was 0-for-1 in his lone plate appearance.


          Heredia was pleased to get his first big league opportunity after spending 84 games between Double-A Jackson and Triple-A Tacoma.


          "The biggest adjustment is the pitching," he said through a translator. "Obviously it's different than Cuba. Here they focus more on fastball, (and the) changeup. That's the biggest thing."


          Heredia signed with the Mariners as a non-drafted free agent on March 1 after hitting .285 with 231 runs, 57 doubles, 15 triples, 23 home runs and 121 RBI in 374 career games in Cuba's Serie Nacional.


          The Mariners will be hoping their bats can perform better than Friday and Wade Miley lasts longer than Hisashi Iwakauma. Iwakuma only lasted three innings and the Mariners will look for some distance from Miley, who has dropped six straight starts.


          Miley has a 5.13 ERA since his last win on June 7 against Cleveland but the Mariners have only scored six runs for him. Miley last pitched Sunday in Toronto when he allowed two runs and four hits in six innings of a 2-0 loss.


          Miley will be facing Cubs ace Jake Arrieta, who is 3-4 since his no-hitter on May 16. Arrieta, the 2015 NL Cy Young Award winner, has struggled since he completed a run of 20 consecutive victories including a no-hitter on May 16.


          He has gone 3-4 since and the Cubs are 0-4 in his last four starts while Arrieta has a 5.55 ERA in those games.


          Seattle batters don't see Arrieta on anything approaching a regular basis although the Cubs right-hander has had two previous outings against Seattle.


          He is 0-1 with a 4.63 ERA in three career starts against the Mariners but hasn't faced them since 2012 while with the Baltimore Orioles.


          In his last outing, Arrieta allowed four runs on five hits over six innings against the White Sox. Three of those runs occurred when he allowed a home run to Todd Frazier.


          "Jake was really good except for the one pitch," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "(The) three-run homer definitely did hurt us right there.


          The Cubs have won three straight and will be hoping to give Arrieta similar support as Jon Lester had Friday. Lester had a five-run lead through three innings as David Ross and Jason Heyward homered.


          "Up and down the lineup it was a well-played game," Maddon said. "We pitched well, we played well, we did everything well. After a really hard-fought series with the White Sox it was really nice to play a game like that."

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: MLB Betting Info. 7/30

            Preview: Nationals (61-42) at Giants (59-44)


            Game: 3
            Venue: AT&T Park
            Date: July 30, 2016 4:05 PM EDT


            SAN FRANCISCO -- Two pitchers making important starts at opposite ends of the career spectrum lock horns Saturday when the Washington Nationals duel the San Francisco Giants.


            In the third game of a four-day series between National League division leaders, each team will be counting upon a pitcher who has done little or nothing to help get his team to the top of the pack.


            For the second time this season, the Nationals are recalling right-hander Reynaldo Lopez from Triple-A Syracuse to start against a playoff contender.


            The first time did not go well. The 22-year-old was roughed up for 10 hits and six runs in 4 2/3 innings at home against the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier this month.


            Lopez was impressive in one regard in his debut. He struck out nine Dodgers among the 14 he retired.


            Nationals manager Dusty Baker announced Friday he'd be pairing Lopez with someone with whom he's quite familiar. Pedro Severino, summoned from Syracuse to San Francisco one day ahead of Lopez, will catch the game, Baker disclosed.


            Washington will be trying to build upon the momentum of two wins to open the four-game series. A triple play, the first in Nationals history, helped save Friday's 4-1 win.


            "That's the first triple play that I've seen," insisted Baker, who has 39 years of experience as a major league player and manager. "There have been others. But I always seemed to be in the bathroom when it happened."


            The Nationals have received brilliant pitching performances from right-handers Tanner Roark and Max Scherzer in the first two games of the series, only to have to sweat out exciting finishes once their fate got turned over to the bullpen.


            Two days ahead of the trade deadline, the Giants will send righty Jake Peavy to the mound to oppose Lopez.


            The 35-year-old Peavy will be making his 14th career start against the Nationals, the first having come 14 years ago when the club was known as the Montreal Expos.


            Peavy has won 152 games in his career, but only five in 20 starts this season.


            That lack of production, coupled with fellow veteran Matt Cain's two-win season, has the Giants reportedly active in trade discussions for a starting pitcher at the deadline.


            It's possible Peavy or Cain, who will face the Nationals on Sunday, could lose his job with one more poor effort.


            San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy insisted Friday he's more concerned about turning around the club's recent woes -- the Giants are a worst-in-baseball 2-11 since the All-Star break -- than pondering trades or changes in his starting rotation.


            "It kind of is, really, when you get in these funks, what can go wrong, goes wrong," he lamented. "When you're in a good winning streak, the ball bounces your way. Everything's your way. And right now it's not going our way."


            The Giants are expected to have Hunter Pence back in the lineup for Game 3 of the series.


            Pence has missed 48 games with a strained right hamstring.

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: MLB Betting Info. 7/30

              Preview: Yankees (52-50) at Rays (40-61)


              Game: 2
              Venue: Tropicana Field
              Date: July 30, 2016 6:10 PM EDT


              ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Rays are 6-7 since the All-Star break and steady starting pitching has been a major part of the turnaround for a team that had lost 24 of 27 games at one point.


              "Everything is going well for our starters -- just consistent outings back-to-back-to-back," said Friday's winner, Jake Odorizzi, who pitched six-plus innings of shutout baseball in the Rays' 5-1 win over the New York Yankees.


              "It really takes the stress off the bullpen. I think another thing is our defense is playing phenomenal. They're really backing us up and it's a lot easier to pitch when you have great plays being made behind you."


              The Rays (40-61) have allowed more than four runs just once in 13 games since the All-Star break. At one point in June, they gave up at least five runs in 13 straight games, so they're at the opposite end of the spectrum.


              "We've played that way since the break," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "I know we don't have the wins to support that, but we're playing tighter ballgames, our pitching has been tremendous and the timely hits, hopefully they continue to come."


              As both teams move another day closer to the trade deadlines and teams around them continue to make moves, the Rays must decide if they're dealing starters like Odorizzi and Matt Moore.


              Meanwhile, the Yankees -- having already dealt away closer Aroldis Chapman to the Chicago Cubs -- must decide how much talent they are willing to part with while they linger on the fringe of wild-card contention.


              Asked if the trade deadline -- and the thin line between seller and buyer -- changes his approach to these games, Yankees manager Joe Girardi was adamant his focus is unchanged on putting his team in position to win games.


              "Zero," he said of how he allows the deadline to impact his decisions as a manager. "You try to win every game, no matter what the situation is."


              On Saturday, the Yankees will send RHP Nathan Eovaldi (9-6, 4.80 ERA) against Rays LHP Drew Smyly (2-11, 5.42). The Yankees have lost back-to-back games after a stretch that saw them win eight of 10. They went into Friday night with a chance to match their season high of four games above .500.


              Just as the Tampa Bay pitching has stepped up, New York has struggled in its last two games, giving up a combined nine runs after holding opponents to 10 in the previous five games. Nova gave up two home runs Friday to the first three batters, literally trailing from his third pitch of the night on.


              By the time the Rays-Yankees series ends, the trade deadline will arrive and both teams will have a better sense for whether their path to the end of this season is easier or harder, depending on how active they are at the deadline.

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: MLB Betting Info. 7/30

                Preview: Phillies (47-58) at Braves (36-67)


                Game: 3
                Venue: Turner Field
                Date: July 30, 2016 7:10 PM EDT


                ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Braves will be pleased to see Julio Teheran taking the mound on Saturday night.


                After the team's No. 1 starter had to leave his most recent start after four innings, it was feared the right-hander might be headed to the disabled list.


                But the tight muscle in his back that shortened his last appearance turned out to be less serious than believed and Teheran returns to the rotation against the Phillies when the Braves try to win for the fourth time in five games.


                Saturday's game features Teheran (3-8, 2.71) against Philadelphia right-hander Jeremy Hellickson (7-7 3.65), who has been the subject of trade rumors over the last few weeks.


                Teheran's last start was on July 22 at Colorado when he left after throwing four shutout innings. Teheran tweaked his back muscle and was planning to play through the injury, but shortstop Erick Aybar approached his teammate and encouraged him to call the trainer to the mound.


                At first the team feared the injury was serious enough to send Teheran to the DL. Instead the team was able to give Teheran a couple of extra days off without losing him for two weeks.


                "He felt a little better (Tuesday), just flat-ground throwing a little bit, more confident in turning everything loose, Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. "I think it's a good idea to take advantage of it.


                The timing may be good, as Teheran has pitched well in his career against the Phillies. He is 3-0 with a 1.23 ERA in four starts against the Phillies this season and is 6-3 with a 2.29 in 12 career appearances against Philadelphia.


                Hellickson has allowed two or fewer runs in five of his last six starts. He threw six shutout innings, giving up only one hit, in receiving a no-decision the Miami Marlins on July 25. The Phillies, who acquired him during the offseason from the Arizona Diamondbacks, have fielded plenty of calls from other teams who are looking for a pitcher before the Aug. 1 non-waiver trade deadline. But Phillies are reportedly demanding top prospects in return.


                "I guess I'm anxious just to get it over with, Hellickson said. "My focus is here and on my next start.


                Hellickson has made one career start against Atlanta and it occurred this season. He received a no-decision on July 7 after allowing two runs in six innings.


                Hellickson will be pitching after Vince Velasquez allowed two runs and seven hits in six innings. Velasquez's name has been mentioned in trade rumors along with Hellickson's


                The Braves haven't announced who their starter will be for Sunday afternoon. They recalled right-hander Ryan Weber and could use him or dip into Triple-A Gwinnett for another player, possibly Aaron Blair or Casey Kelly. Another option is Joel De La Cruz, who has made two starts for the Braves, but has worked out of the bullpen since early July.


                "We're not 100 percent sure yet," Snitker said. "We'll keep grinding away and something will rear its head and be the right thing to do."


                The Braves did enough things right to snap a five-game losing streak to the Phillies with Friday's 2-1 win. Nick Markakis went 3-for-3 and Tyrell Jenkins allowed an unearned run in six innings for his major league victory.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: MLB Betting Info. 7/30

                  Preview: Cardinals (56-47) at Marlins (55-48)


                  Game: 3
                  Venue: Marlins Park
                  Date: July 30, 2016 7:10 PM EDT


                  MIAMI -- Jose Fernandez, a good-hitting pitcher, has faced right-hander Andrew Cashner before.


                  "I didn't like it at all," Fernandez said of the experience.


                  The Miami Marlins, who on Friday acquired Cashner as the centerpiece of a seven-player trade with the San Diego Padres, are hoping that opposing hitters will hate the experience, too.


                  Miami also acquired right-handers Colin Rea, who will start Saturday against the St. Louis Cardinals, and Tayron Guerrero, who was sent to Double-A Jacksonville.


                  Rea, 26, made his major-league debut last year, going 2-2 with a 4.26 ERA. This year, he is 5-5 with a 4.98 ERA.


                  On Saturday, Rea will face Cardinals right-hander Jaime Garcia, who will make his 21st start of the season, the most he has had since getting 32 starts in 2011.


                  Garcia leads the National League in ground-ball percentage (58.7). He has also induced 16 double plays, which ranks fourth in the NL. He has fared well in five career starts against the Marlins, going 2-0 with a 1.99 ERA. That's the sixth-best ERA against the Marlins among active pitchers.


                  That's a tough matchup for Rea, and it won't get any easier for Cashner when he makes his Marlins debut on Sunday. The Cards will counter with right-hander Carlos Martinez (10-6, 2.87 ERA).


                  Marlins GM Michael Hill said Friday that he believes Miami is "a playoff team," and that's why he gave up so much in the trade -- including his organization's top hitting prospect (first baseman Josh Naylor) and two pitchers who can throw 100 mph (Luis Castillo and Carter Capps). Veteran right-hander Jarred Cosart was also sent to the Padres.


                  "Andrew has pitched at the top of a rotation," Hill said. "We felt he was the most impactful target in the (trade) market.


                  "It was a big trade for our team."


                  Cashner is 4-7 this year with a 4.76 ERA -- not impressive numbers. But he went 10-9 with a 3.09 ERA in 31 starts in 2013 and 5-7 with a 2.55 ERA in 19 starts the next year.


                  Things have gone south for Cashner since then, but he has been better in his past three starts, posting a 2.55 ERA with 23 strikeouts and three walks. His fastball averages 94.1 mph, the kind of power stuff the Marlins prefer.


                  "We wanted to get someone who is hot," Hill said, "and that did play into it as we agreed on Andrew."


                  Hill said Marlins manager Don Mattingly was part of the trade-evaluation process. Mattingly knows Cashner well -- they competed against each other in the NL West when the former was the manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers.


                  The Marlins had "a long list" of trade targets before settling on the Padres' offer that included Guerrero, a 25-year-old with a 100 mph fastball.


                  Hill said it wasn't easy to trade for an established starting pitcher such as Cashner.


                  "The asking prices -- the starting pitching market is very competitive," Hill said. "We knew we were going to have to give up very good players if we were going to accomplish our goals."


                  Now that the deal is done, we will see how it plays out on the field. The Marlins and Cardinals are in a tough fight -- as it currently stands - for the second and final NL wild-card playoff spot.


                  St. Louis, after winning the first two of the four-game series, leads Miami by one game in that pursuit.


                  But the Marlins, who have acquired three major-league pitchers -- Cashner, Rea and a previous deal with San Diego for reliever Fernando Rodney -- in the past few weeks, have at least proved they are serious about making a postseason push.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: MLB Betting Info. 7/30

                    Preview: Pirates (52-49) at Brewers (45-56)


                    Game: 2
                    Venue: Miller Park
                    Date: July 30, 2016 7:10 PM EDT


                    MILWAUKEE -- The Pittsburgh Pirates' Jameson Taillon may have a few extra thoughts running through his head when he faces Milwaukee's Hernan Perez on Saturday night.


                    Just 11 days earlier in Pittsburgh, Perez lined a pitch off the back of Taillon's head in the second inning. Fortunately, Taillon wasn't seriously injured. Even more remarkable, he remained in that game to pitch six strong innings, allowing just five hits and one earned run.


                    "To be honest, I was waiting for it to hurt when I was down," Taillon told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "I really felt good the whole way through."


                    Taillon knew he was extremely fortunate, saying on Twitter that night: "Not exactly how I imagined today going when I got out of bed. But going to bed feeling extremely lucky."


                    Taillon will make his eighth big-league start Saturday when he faces the Milwaukee Brewers.


                    The No. 2 overall pick in the 2010 draft, Taillon took six full years to reach the majors. He'll turn 26 in November. He's 2-1 with a 3.60 ERA in seven starts with the Pirates this season.


                    Taillon showed no ill effects from the close call and made his next start last Sunday against Philadelphia. He went six innings and allowed eight hits and four runs (3 earned) but did not get a decision in a 5-4 victory.


                    The Pirates will be looking to avenge a 3-1 loss to the Brewers on Friday night.


                    Milwaukee counters with right-hander Chase Anderson, who snapped a four-game losing streak in his last outing. Milwaukee is just 7-12 in games started by Anderson.


                    The Brewers hope left fielder Ryan Braun will return to the lineup.


                    Braun has missed the last two games with stiffness in his right side.


                    "It is day-to-day," Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said before Friday's game. "He's improved today. I'm hoping he's back in there tomorrow. It is improving for sure and not deemed serious."


                    Braun is hitting a team-leading .321 with 14 homers and 46 RBIs.


                    "Pretty good," Braun said when asked how he felt before Friday's game. "A little bit better than yesterday. Just a little bit tight; waiting for it to loosen up.


                    "Obviously the danger becomes when it's really tight it won't loosen up. So we're just trying to avoid hurting it badly. I'll get some treatment on it today and hopefully get back out there tomorrow."


                    Braun has dealt with similar problems in the past.


                    "It's not fun, and obviously that's what we're trying to avoid," he said. "Whenever it gets to the point where it gets tight and it won't loosen up...I felt it for a few days but yesterday it just wouldn't loosen up so obviously it made sense to not take the chance to do something worse to it."


                    At 52-49, the Pirates are three games out of the National League's second wild-card position. They have earned a wild-card playoff berth in each of the previous three seasons after a 20-year playoff drought.


                    The Pirates appear likely to be without catcher Francisco Cervelli, who took a pitch off his right ankle Friday night behind the plate. Cervelli had just returned 10 days ago from a five-week stint on the disabled list because of a broken bone in his left hand.


                    Pirates manager Clint Hurdle could only term the injury "right-foot discomfort" after the game, although Cervelli appeared to be in significant pain.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: MLB Betting Info. 7/30

                      Preview: Rockies (51-52) at Mets (53-49)


                      Game: 3
                      Venue: Citi Field
                      Date: July 30, 2016 7:10 PM EDT


                      NEW YORK -- The Colorado Rockies are hoping to hit the .500 mark Saturday and then use it as a springboard to more notable accomplishments. The New York Mets will be looking to avoid slipping another game closer to .500 while climbing out of the funk that has imperiled their chances at defending the National League pennant.


                      The Rockies try to reach .500 for the first time in more than two months Saturday night when they visit the Mets in the third contest of a four-game series at Citi Field.


                      Colorado (51-52) won its second straight game over New York (53-49) on Friday, when Carlos Gonzalez went 2-for-5 with four RBIs in a 6-1 victory. The win was the 11th in 15 games since the All-Star Break for the Rockies, who are five games behind the St. Louis Cardinals in the race for the NL's second wild card.


                      The Rockies have not been at .500 since they were 21-21 on May 21. The franchise has not been at .500 after the All-Star Break since 2010, the last time Colorado finished with a winning record.


                      "That's a good benchmark," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "We've worked hard to get in this position. We've worked really hard. That's the first benchmark and there are other ones after that. Obviously we want to be playing after the regular season's over."


                      The Mets played as long as possible last season, when they won the NL for the first time since 2000 before falling to the Kansas City Royals in five games in the World Series. But New York has lost 11 of its last 17 to fall 2 1/2 games behind the Cardinals.


                      The Mets have scored three runs or fewer 13 times in the last 17 games. On Friday, they had runners at first and second with nobody out in the eighth before Rockies right-hander Scott Oberg recorded three outs on three pitches.


                      "I think they're going to bounce back," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "We just have to quit worrying about the bad stuff and start thinking about some of the good things ahead."


                      Mets right-hander Bartolo Colon will oppose Rockies left-hander Jorge De La Rosa in a battle of rotation elder statesmen. Colon, who earned the win in the second game of a doubleheader against the Cardinals on Tuesday, will be starting on three days rest for the first time since 2005. The 43-year-old is not only the only pitcher older than 28 in the New York rotation but also the oldest player in baseball.


                      The 35-year-old De La Rosa, the only 30-something in the Rockies' rotation, will be looking for his 100th career win. Twenty-six active pitchers have reached the milestone.


                      Prior to Saturday's game, the Mets will retire the number 31 worn by recent Hall of Fame inductee Mike Piazza, who played for the team from 1998-2005.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: MLB Betting Info. 7/30

                        Preview: White Sox (50-53) at Twins (39-63)


                        Game: 3
                        Venue: Target Field
                        Date: July 30, 2016 7:10 PM EDT


                        MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Twins broke through for a victory for the second time in 10 games against the Chicago White Sox in one of the weirdest ways possible Friday night: A pinch-hit, walk-off walk by Joe Mauer.


                        Despite an illustrious career filled with batting titles, All-Star games and an MVP award, it was only the second career walk-off plate appearance for Mauer, whose walk gave the Twins to a 2-1 victory.


                        An on-base machine over his career, White Sox pitcher Tommy Kahnle got strike one before missing on four straight balls to walk in the winning run.


                        "That might be my first (walk-off walk)," Mauer said. "I was happy for the opportunity. I haven't (had that chance) a whole lot over my career but those are fun situations to be in and when you come through like tonight, it's even better."


                        It was a tough way for Chicago to lose as it's dropped three straight contests. The White Sox trail the Central Division-leading Cleveland Indians by 9 1/2 games and the Boston Red Sox, the second wildcard, by seven.


                        "You feel like you gave it to them if you're not going to throw strikes," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "That's what makes it tougher."


                        Chicago tries to get back on track with Miguel Gonzalez on the mound Saturday. Gonzalez boasts a 2-5 record and a pedestrian 4.28 ERA but has been solid in five July starts, lasting at least six innings in each turn and posting a 2.76 ERA in that span. He has won just one of those outings however and the White Sox are 2-3 in games he has started since July 1.


                        Gonzalez has struggled in three career games against the Twins, posting a 1-2 record with a 5.94 ERA.


                        Minnesota goes with Tommy Milone (3-3, 4.97 ERA), who is looking to rebound off one of his worst starts of the season last time out against the Red Sox on Sunday when he allowed eight runs (four earned) on 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings.


                        A solid outing by Milone could help boost his trade value for a contender looking for a long reliever or bottom of the rotation arm heading into Monday's trade deadline. Minnesota traded infielder Eduardo Nunez on Thursday in the first of what is expected to be a busy weekend for the team with the American League's worst record. Rumors have been swirling about the future of a number of the Twins' veterans.


                        Milone gave up five runs on nine hits and a walk in 3 1/3 innings against the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field on June 30, but has generally fared well against them in his career. The left-hander is 4-1 with a 2.75 ERA in nine starts.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: MLB Betting Info. 7/30

                          Preview: Athletics (47-56) at Indians (58-42)


                          Game: 2
                          Venue: Progressive Field
                          Date: July 30, 2016 7:10 PM EDT


                          CLEVELAND -- With both teams nervously wondering if their teams will make any moves prior to Monday's trade deadline, the Cleveland Indians and Oakland Athletics meet Saturday night at Progressive Field for the second contest of their three-game series.


                          Cleveland won the first game Friday, coming back from a 3-0 deficit to win 5-3. The Indians and A's have been subject to lots of trade speculation, and the A's speculation took a dramatic turn Friday, when it was announced that left-hander Rich Hill will not make his scheduled start Sunday.


                          Hill, who is having a good year (9-3, 2.25 ERA), hasn't started a game in nearly two weeks. Hill's last appearaance came July 17, and he was removed from that game in the first inning because of a blister on the middle finger of his pitching hand.


                          Hill had a throwing session Friday to test the finger.


                          "He's better, but it's not to the point where we want to run him out there and take the chance of him ripping a layer of skin off and then we lose him for an even longer period of time," manager Bob Melvin said. "He's eager to pitch, but he knows he has to be careful with it."


                          It seems likely Hill will be placed on the disabled list -- perhaps as early as Saturday -- in order to make room for left-hander Dillon Overton, who will be recalled from Triple-A Nashville and will start Saturday.


                          In three starts with the A's earlier this season Overton was 1-1 with an 8.40 ERA. In 17 appearances (16 starts) at Nashville, Overton was 10-4 with a 3.21 ERA.


                          The Indians on Saturday start control artist Josh Tomlin. Tomlin is 10-3 with a 3.48 ERA, and leads all American League pitchers with an average of 0.95 walks per nine innings.


                          In two career starts versus the A's, Tomlin is 0-2 with a 3.29 ERA. He is prone to giving up home runs. He has allowed 24 this year, easily the most of any Indians pitcher. Only three American League pitchers have allowed more.


                          The Indians are 6-6 since the All-Star break. They are still in first place in the AL Central, but second place Detroit has been closing the gap. The Indians' lead in the division, which was as high as 7 1/2 games on July 20, is down to 4 1/2 games.


                          The Indians did make a roster move Friday that affects their bullpen. Jeff Manship, who is one of the Indians' most used relievers and has a 3.38 ERA in 37 appearances, was placed on the disabled list with right wrist tendinitis.


                          "He's had it for a while and we felt this was a good time to shut him down for a couple weeks and let his wrist rest," manager Terry Francona said.


                          To replaced Manship on the roster, the Indians activated reliever Zach McAllister, who had been on the disabled list since July 7 with right hip discomfort.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: MLB Betting Info. 7/30

                            Preview: Astros (55-47) at Tigers (55-48)


                            Game: 2
                            Venue: Comerica Park
                            Date: July 30, 2016 7:10 PM EDT


                            DETROIT -- The Houston Astros are a little pinched in the outfield and on the bench until center fielder Carlos Gomez gets back into action.


                            Houston plays the middle of a three-game weekend series in Detroit on Saturday night with Mike Fiers facing Justin Verlander in a matchup of right-handers.


                            Doug Fister didn't travel with Houston -- he's not scheduled to start again until Monday -- to be with his wife awaiting the birth of their first child. The Astros will place Fister on paternity leave once the baby's birth is imminent and at that time could add an extra player to alleviate the bench shortage.


                            They had another setback Friday night when first baseman Marwin Gonzalez had to come out in the seventh due to right hand soreness. If Gonzalez, who is listed as day-to-day, can't play for a game or two, that would leave Houston with just its backup catcher as its reserve.


                            Gomez suffered a mild hamstring pull Wednesday and Friday said he hoped to be able to play Sunday.


                            "I don't want to put a date on it," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. He's got to run first."


                            Houston added infielder Tyler White when it placed Luis Valbuena on the 15-day disabled list but that still left the club with just catcher Jason Castro and outfielder Preston Tucker as useable reserves and it had to hold Castro in reserve Friday in case something happened to starter Evan Gattis.


                            "We had to make a move," Hinch said. "We're pretty banged up."


                            Houston is facing Detroit's best pitcher over the last decade, Verlander, on Saturday night. Verlander is going for his 11th win after earning his 10th on Monday in Boston.


                            Verlander (10-6, 3.64 ERA) is 3-0 with a 1.60 ERA for July entering his final start of the month and will be looking to pitch Detroit to its fifth straight win after Tyler Collins, Justin Upton and James McCann homered in Friday's 14-6 win after the Tigers fell behind in the first inning.


                            "Once we scored two, it's a fresh game," Detroit manager Brad Ausmus said. "Looking at it from the opponent's point of view the last thing you want to do and we've done it, is when you score runs, you don't want to give up runs the next half-inning.


                            "But when you're in our situation, down a couple runs, best thing you can do is score a couple runs, get back in it, tie it, or even score more, take the lead. But it basically reset the game."


                            Over his career, Verlander is 3-0 with a 2.06 ERA against the Astros in six starts.


                            In Fiers, Detroit will be facing a pitcher who is 1-0 against it in three career starts. He beat the Tigers earlier this season in Houston. His career ERA against the Tigers is 3.24.


                            Fiers (7-4, 4.69 ERA) won his last start, allowing three runs in seven innings to the Los Angeles Angels.


                            The Tigers brought lefty Daniel Norris back to Detroit following his second rehab start (three runs, six innings) but Ausmus declined to reveal exactly when he gets plugged back into the rotation next week.


                            Rookie Michael Fulmer has his next start pushed back because Detroit has two days off between them. But exactly when he starts again is partially contingent on when Norris and the other Tigers starter on a rehab assignment, Jordan Zimmermann, get slotted back into the rotation.


                            Norris worked Thursday so he could be dropped back into the rotation Tuesday against the Chicago White Sox. If Zimmerman comes out of his rehab start Friday well he could pitch Wednesday.


                            But Ausmus is likely to have Fulmer work one of three games against the White Sox.


                            Detroit made two minor league moves Friday. It promoted hard-throwing closer prospect Joe Jimenez to Triple-A Toledo and also signed former Texas lefty Cesar Ramos to a Triple-A contract.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: MLB Betting Info. 7/30

                              Preview: Royals (49-53) at Rangers (60-44)


                              Game: 3
                              Venue: Globe Life Park in Arlington
                              Date: July 30, 2016 8:05 PM EDT


                              ARLINGTON, Texas -- Something going to have to give Saturday when Kansas City's Ian Kennedy matches up against Texas' Martin Perez.


                              Both pitchers are having months they'd rather forget as their teams have struggled to the month. At least they have that in common.


                              Kennedy, the subject of trade rumors, is 0-3 in July and 6.9 with a 4.41 ERA in a disappointing season for the right-hander. At least Perez (7-7) knows how Kennedy is feeling. Like Kennedy, Perez has suffered through a 0-3 July and has seen his ERA jump from 3.39 to 4.38 over his last four starts.


                              While Kennedy may be pitching for his rotation spot and a chance to impress a possible trade partner, Perez is just trying to get back on track after having a stretch in which he went 6-0 over eight starts from May 24 until July 1.


                              Saturday he'll have a chance to give their Rangers three-consecutive wins from the rotation for the first time since he was part of a four-game rotation winning streak June 14-17.


                              He knows what has to happen.


                              "I need to be more aggressive," said Perez, who allowed five runs (three earned) in his last start. "My curveball is back. I need to try and get hitters early and start being aggressive early in the game. I need to make the hitters uncomfortable."


                              Even though Perez is struggling this month, he has reached some milestones. Saturday's start will be his 22nd of the season, two more than he's made in any other year. He's also thrown 125 1/3 innings, a new career high. He pitched 124 1/3 in 2013.


                              Perez is also still tied for second on the team in quality starts with 13 in his first full season back since having Tommy John surgery in 2014. He knows how important going deep into games is for a rotation that's struggled.


                              "Last year I was coming back and I didn't throw that many innings," Perez said. "This year I need to stay healthy because they believe in me, and I think it's my job to help this team win games and try to go long in the games."


                              Adding to Kennedy's struggles is the fact that his name continues to pop up in trade rumors. He's trying not to pay attention to that and focus on his job.


                              "Man I just got here," said Kennedy, who signed a five-year deal with the Royals in the offseason. "I didn't hear that one (trade rumor). I did see my face on TV once, but I didn't hear what they said."


                              Trade talk is nothing new for Kennedy. He was traded in 2009 as part of a three-team deal and then dealt again in 2013 from Arizona to San Diego.


                              He knows trade talk goes with the territory, especially at this time of the year.


                              "It's kind of nothing," he said. "It's part of the business, now especially because there are so many prospects that are really good that teams want."

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