MLB Betting Info. 5/25

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 5/25

Preview: Reds (15-31) at Dodgers (24-23)


Game: 3
Venue: Dodger Stadium
Date: May 25, 2016 10:10 PM EDT


Scott Kazmir's first season with the Los Angeles Dodgers has thus far been a letdown. Dan Straily's first with the Cincinnati Reds has been a pleasant surprise, and he hasn't even been with the club for two months.


They'll go at it Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium in the finale of a three-game series with the Dodgers seeking a sweep and the Reds just content with ending a nine-game losing streak.


Kazmir (3-3, 5.23 ERA), whose career resurgence hit a bit of a snag after being sent from Oakland to Houston in July, had a full-on regression to the crippling control issues that plagued him at the end of his time with Tampa Bay and into his seasons with the Los Angeles Angels in his latest start.


The left-hander gave up five runs, two homers and a career-high seven walks in Friday's 7-6 loss in San Diego but avoided the decision.


"I just felt like I was fighting myself for pretty much the whole game," Kazmir said. "I was getting behind in counts and not throwing good pitches down in the count."


He had no such problems in his only start against the Reds â?? a win in which he gave up a run and eight hits in seven innings three years ago while with Cleveland.


Straily (2-1, 2.85) has been Cincinnati's best starter despite being acquired off waivers April 1 and making his first three appearances with the club out of the bullpen.


The right-hander has gone 2-1 with a 2.77 ERA in seven starts while never surrendering more than three runs. That's included getting away with walking 4.38 batters per nine innings in those starts, but Straily has limited his last two opponents to a run and 10 hits in 11 innings.


Straily held Seattle to a run and four hits in six innings of Friday's 8-3 loss and wasn't stuck with the decision.


He's beginning to understand six innings, which is 1/3 of an inning off his season high, isn't enough. Over his last four starts, he's averaged 18.1 pitches per inning, which is up even from his already-high 17.8 career mark.


"I have to find a way to get as deep into the game as possible," Straily said. "Six? I always want more. I have to find a way to get my pitch count down earlier in games and find that rhythm earlier to take us deeper into the ball game. Six is better than five, but it's still not seven."


His two games against the Dodgers came in relief in 2014, but the two innings resulted in six runs, four hits and three walks. Howie Kendrick is 5 for 14 against him.


Los Angeles (24-23) has won three straight after dropping six of seven. The Dodgers have also won eight straight over Cincinnati while limiting the Reds to 14 runs and a .169 batting average.


Cincinnati (15-31), meanwhile, can't get anything right on the mound. The Reds have posted a 7.20 ERA on their nine-game skid, though that's hardly noteworthy after losing 13 straight as recently as Sept. 20-Oct. 2.

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 5/25

Preview: Athletics (20-27) at Mariners (27-18)


Game: 3
Venue: Safeco Field
Date: May 25, 2016 10:10 PM EDT


Sonny Gray going on the disabled list was said to be a big blow for the Oakland Athletics' rotation given his potential to dominate on the mound. The reality is that he's been a major disappointment and one of their most unreliable starters this season.


It won't be difficult for replacement Zach Neal to better Gray's numbers.


Neal will make his first major league start Wednesday night against Hisashi Iwakuma and the host Seattle Mariners.


Gray had a 2.88 ERA over his first three seasons while emerging as one of the game's best young pitchers, but he struggled out of the gate this year with a 6.19 ERA through nine starts before going on the DL on Sunday with a strained right trapezius muscle.


Enter the 27-year-old Neal, a unproven rookie who won't have to do much to be better than Gray. Neal made his major league debut in relief May 11 at Boston, allowing three runs and four hits in three innings of mop-up duty in Oakland's 13-3 defeat.


The right-hander has pitched well for Triple-A Nashville, though, going 5-1 with a 2.53 ERA in seven starts.


"We like the movement on his fastball and his complement of pitches," manager Bob Melvin told MLB's official website. "We rely on our people in development to have input on that, and Zach Neal's our guy.


"He's pitching well. He's been here and we like what we saw."


Iwakuma (2-4, 4.39 ERA) hasn't been pitching well. He has a 5.19 ERA over his last three starts, showing problems early in two of them and later on in the other.


The right-hander spotted Cincinnati three runs before settling down and lasted six innings to pick up an 8-3 win Friday.


"I was fighting my command early," Iwakuma said. "I was going side to side instead of top to bottom, and that gave me a hard time commanding the ball down in the zone, but I was able to make the adjustment towards the end and it paid off."


Iwakuma was efficient against the A's on May 3, giving up one run in seven innings during an 8-2 victory in his best start of the season. He's 2-0 with a 1.33 ERA in his last three outings against them.


The Mariners (26-19) sit atop the AL West and won 6-5 in dramatic fashion Tuesday when Leonys Martin hit a walkoff two-run homer in the ninth. Seth Smith had three hits, and Robinson Cano hit a two-run shot in the eighth.


It marked another tough loss for the A's (20-27), who have dropped five of their last six after blowing a three-run lead in the final two innings. Coco Crisp had three RBIs before John Axford and Ryan Madson allowed the homers.


Oakland relievers have allowed at least a run in four of the last six and have a 4.06 ERA for the season.

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 5/25

Five to Follow MLB Betting: Wednesday, May 25, 2016, Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews


It's not too often that I'll say a team missing a guy hitting .236 with five homers and 16 RBIs is a huge loss, but that's definitely the case for the Tampa Bay Rays and center fielder Kevin Kiermaier. He broke two bones attempting to make a diving catch on Saturday in Detroit and was to have surgery on Tuesday. He's out 8-10 weeks. This guy is an utter magician in the outfield. Last year, he had 42 Defensive Runs Saved, the highest ever recorded in a single season since that stat has been kept track of in 2003. He also led all center fielders with 15 assists in taking home a Gold Glove. The Rays don't have a great offense, so they generally have to win by preventing runs. That's not going to be as easy without Kiermaier.




Mets at Nationals (-111, 7.5)


First pitch of the day with a 1:05 p.m. ET start time. The Mets learned on Monday that slugging first baseman Lucas Duda had a stress fracture in his back, and he was placed on the disabled list. Duda will likely miss at least 4-6 weeks. When teammate David Wright suffered a lower back stress fracture in 2011, he missed 58 games. Duda was hitting .231 with seven homers and 19 RBIs. New York starts lefty Steven Matz (6-1, 2.81) here. He beat the Brewers last time out, allowing two runs and three hits over seven innings. It was his first start in 11 days due to forearm soreness. Matz has never faced Washington. The Nationals go with Tanner Roark (3-3, 2.89). They had lost four straight of his starts, but Roark beat the Marlins on Friday, allowing one run and six hits over 6.2 innings. He is 5-0 with a 3.05 ERA in 11 career appearances (six starts) against the Mets. Curtis Granderson is 6-for-16 with four doubles off him. Neil Walker is 2-for-5 with two doubles.


Key trends: The Mets are 6-0 in Matz's past six road starts. Washington is 1-5 in Roark's past six vs. teams with a winning record. The "over/under" has gone under in six of Roark's past eight. The Nats are 5-1 in Roark's past six vs. New York.


Early lean: Nationals and under.


Royals at Twins (-103, 8.5)


A 1:10 p.m. ET start time. Kansas City has lost outfielder Alex Gordon for 3-4 weeks. He broke a bone in his wrist after colliding with teammate Mike Moustakas on Sunday. It is the same wrist that Gordon injured in 2014 that eventually required surgery. Gordon got a big new extension this offseason but is really struggling at the plate. Like Kiermaier, he's a stellar defensive player. The Royals start Dillon Gee (1-1, 2.90) here. He beat the White Sox in his last start, allowing a run and four hits over five innings. He threw two shutout innings of relief earlier this season vs. the Twins. Joe Mauer is 2-for-4 with a double off him. The Twins counter with Tyler Duffey (1-3, 3.30). He was rocked for six runs and nine hits Friday against Toronto. Duffey has never faced Kansas City.


Key trends: The Twins are 6-2 in Duffey's past eight vs. the AL Central. They have lost eight straight Wednesday games. The under is 5-2 in Duffey's past seven.


Early lean: Twins and over.


Cubs at Cardinals (+152, 7)


A 1:45 p.m. ET matinee. I'm calling my shot: the crazy winning streak of Cubs ace and reigning NL Cy Young winner Jake Arrieta will end Wednesday in St. Louis. The Cubs have won 22 straight starts by Arrieta (8-0, 1.29), tied for the second-longest such streak in MLB history behind then-Atlanta Brave Kris Medlen (23 from 2010-12). Arrieta has won his last 16 road decisions, dating back to last season. Only Hall of Famer Greg Maddux (18 straight in 1994-95) has a longer streak in MLB history. And the Cubs have outscored their opponents by 58 runs in Arrieta's nine starts, tied for the best run differential in a pitcher's first nine starts of a season in the modern era. He hasn't faced St. Louis this year. In 2015, he was 2-1 with a 2.42 ERA in two starts against the Cardinals. Matt Holliday is just 1-for-15 against him. Matt Adams is 5-for-15 with three RBIs. The Cardinals have lost four straight starts by Carlos Martinez (4-4, 3.56). But he beat the Cubs on April 20, allowing one run and three hits over seven innings. Anthony Rizzo is 4-for-15 with two homers and six RBIs against him.


Key trends: The Cardinals are 5-0 in Martinez's past five vs. the Cubs. The over has hit just once in his past 11 overall at home. The under is 4-1 in Arrieta's past five on Wednesday.


Early lean: Cardinals and under.


Angels at Rangers (-115, 9)


Another getaway game with a 2:05 p.m. ET start. Texas has announced something that I predicted would happen weeks ago: Josh Hamilton won't play this season. He needs another surgery on his left knee, and I'd frankly be surprised if Hamilton ever takes the field again. The Rangers also have lost fellow outfielder Shin-Soo Choo back to the disabled list with a strained right hamstring. He just came off that on Friday. On the mound for the Rangers is Colby Lewis (3-0, 2.75). He has thrown exactly seven innings in five straight starts. He beat the Angels on April 29, giving up two runs and nine hits over seven innings. Kole Calhoun is a .387 hitter off him with a homer and five RBIs in 31 at-bats. Mike Trout is 13-for-33 with four homers and 11 RBIs against him. Lefty Hector Santiago (3-2, 3.93) goes for the Halos. He is 0-1 with a 4.63 ERA in two starts this year vs. Texas.


Key trends: The Angels are 7-1 in Santiago's past eight on the road. The over is 8-2-1 in Lewis' past 11 at home vs. the Angels. Texas is 2-8 in Lewis' past 10 against them.


Early lean: Angels and over.


Marlins at Rays (-148, 8)


Miami will add the designated hitter in this interleague game as the series shifts from South Florida to St. Petersburg. Will the Marlins have outfielder Christian Yelich? He hasn't played since Friday due to back spasms. Ichiro Suzuki has been starting in his place and is red hot. The Rays will now use Mikie Mahtook in center field as he was called up from Triple-A. Tampa starts Matt Andriese (3-0, 2.11) on the mound. His first two starts this year were great, but he wasn't quite as sharp last time out, allowing four runs in 5.1 innings vs. Detroit -- but still won. He has thrown one career scoreless inning vs. the Marlins. They go with lefty Justin Nicolino (2-2, 4.30). He allowed four runs over 5.1 innings in his last start vs. Washington. The Fish have dropped his past three. Nicolino has never faced the Marlins.


Key trends: The Marlins are 0-12 in their past 12 interleague road games. The Rays are 8-1 in their past nine interleague games at home. They are 4-1 in Andriese's past five at home. The under is 2-0-2 in Nicolino's past four road starts vs. teams with a losing record.


Early lean: Rays and under.

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 5/25

'Arrieta looks to stay unbeaten'


Chicago Cubs at St Louis Cardinals May 25, 1:45 EST


The Chicago Cubs and St Louis Cardinals complete a three-game set at Busch Stadium with two pitchers coming at it from opposite ends of the spectrum.


Cubbies Jake Arrieta is undefeated on the campaign at 8-0 with a sparkling 1.29 ERA and has allowed two or fewer runs in seven of nine starts. As a team, the Cubs have won twenty-four of Arrieta's last twenty-five starts. In contrast, Cardinals' Carlos Martinez has dropped his last four and has allowed four or more runs in three of those starts.


When handicapping this contest a few betting nuggets to ponder. Chicago is 4-4 in Arrieta's last eight vs Cardinals including 0-3 at Busch Stadium with their ace. On the other side, Cardinals are 5-0 vs Cubs handing the ball to Martinez including a seven inning one run gem back on April 20th.

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 5/25

MLB


Wednesday's games


National League games


Mets @ Nationals
Matz is 6-0, 1.35 in his last six starts (over 4-3).


Roark is 2-1, 3.00 in his last six starts (under 6-2 in last eight starts).


Mets won four of last five games; under is 8-4 in their last 12 road games. Washington won five of its last seven games; over is 3-1-1 in its last five home games.


Diamondbacks @ Pirates
De la Rosa is 3-1, 1.93 in his last five starts (under 6-0 last six starts).


Locke is 1-1, 4.62 in his last four starts (over 6-1 in his last seven starts). .


Arizona won seven of its last ten road games; over is 5-1-1 in last seven. Pirates won six of their last eight games; over is 9-3 in their last 12 home games.


Brewers @ Braves
Guerra is 3-0, 3.96 in his four starts this year (under 1-0-3).


Foltynewicz is 1-2, 4.57 in his four starts (under 2-1-1). .


Milwaukee lost five of last seven road games; under is 10-3-1 in last 14 games. Atlanta won split its last six games but they're 2-18 at home. Under is 10-5-1 in their last 16 games.


Cubs @ Cardinals
Arrieta is 8-0, 1.47 in nine starts this year (over 9-0).


Martinez is 0-4, 5.76 in his last four starts (over 6-1-1).


Cubs are 5-8 in their last 13 games; over is 10-4-2 in their last 16 road games. St Louis is 4-3 in its last seven games; over is 4-1-1 in their last six games.


Reds @ Dodgers
Straily is 1-0, 1.59 in his last three starts; three of his last four starts went over.


Kazmir is 2-2, 4.96 in his last five starts, last four of which went over.


Cincinnati lost its last nine games; they're 3-16 on road. Over is 7-2-1 in their last ten games. Dodgers lost four of their last seven games; over is 8-4 in their last 12.


Padres @ Giants
Shields is 1-2, 3.20 in his last three starts (under 7-2).


Peavy is 0-4, 9.58 in his last five starts (over 7-2).


Giants won 12 of their last 13 games; under is 13-4 in their last 17. San Diego lost seven of its last nine games; under is 9-4 in ther last 13 games.




American League games


Blue Jays @ Bronx
Estrada is 0-1, 3.00 in his last four starts (under 7-1).


Nova is 2-0, 1.69 in three starts this year (under 2-1).


Toronto is 7-5 in its last 12 road games; four of their last five games stayed under the total. Bronx won its last six games; six of its last eight home games went over.


Angels @ Rangers
Santiago is 1-2, 5.13 in his last five starts; three of his last four went over


Lewis is 2-0, 2.20 in his last six starts (under 4-2).


Angels won eight of their last 12 games; over is 8-5 in their last 13. Texas is 12-5 in its last 17 games; six of its last nine home games went over. .


Indians @ White Sox
Kluber is 1-2, 6.06 in his last three starts (under 3-1-1 in his last five starts). .


Quintana is 4-2, 1.74 in his last six starts; his last eight starts stayed under.


Indians won seven of last ten games; over is 13-6-1 in their last 20 games. White Sox lost ten of last 14 games; six of their last eight games stayed under.


Orioles @ Astros
Wilson is 2-2, 4.71 in his five starts (over 3-1-1). .


McHugh is 3-1, 3.82 in his last five starts (over 5-3-1).


Baltimore won 10 of its last 15 games; three of its last five road games went over the total. Houston lost four of last five games; under is 6-1-2 in its last nine home games.


Royals @ Twins
Gee is 1-1, 3.48 in two starts for the Royals (under 2-0).


Duffey is 1-3, 4.20 in five starts this year; three of his last four starts stayed under.


Royals won seven of their last nine games- under is 7-3-1 in their last 11 games. Twins are 1-11 in their last 12 home games; over is 9-3-1 in their last 13 games overall. .


A's @ Mariners
Neal is making his first MLB start; he was 5-1, 2.53 in seven starts in AAA. .


Iwakuma is 1-1, 5.19 in his last three starts; four of his last five starts went over.


Oakland is 7-15 in its last 22 games; 11 of their last 16 games went over. Seattle won six of last eight games; over is 7-4-2 in their last thirteen games.




Interleague


Phillies @ Tigers
Nola is 3-1, 2.41 in his last six starts (under 6-3).


Sanchez is 0-3, 6.38 in his last four starts (over 7-1-1).


Phillies lost four of last five games; five of their last seven games stayed under total. Detroit won eight of its last nine games; over is 13-4 in its last 17 home games.


Marlins @ Rays
Nicolino is 0-2, 6.19 in his last three starts; three of his last four went over.


Andareise is 3-0, 2.11 in his last three starts (under 2-1).


Tampa Bay lost three of its last four games; eight of its last nine went over the total. Miami lost five of its last seven games; under is 8-4-1 in its last 13 games.


Rockies @ Red Sox
Bettis is 2-2, 4.83 in his last five starts (under 5-3 in last eight starts). He also threw a scoreless inning Sunday before that game got rained out.


Wright is 1-3, 3.62 in his last four starts; five of his last seven starts stayed under. .


Colorado lost five of its last six games; six of its last nine road games stayed under. Boston is 12-2 in its last 14 home games (over 10-2 in last 12).




Teams won-lost records when this pitcher starts:


NY-Wsh-- Matz 6-1; Roark 3-6
Az-Pitt-- De la Rosa 3-4; Locke 2-6
Mil-Atl-- Guerra 4-0; Foltynewicz 1-3
Chi-StL-- Arrieta 9-0; Martinez 4-4
Cin-LA-- Straily 4-3; Kazmir 3-6
SD-SF-- Shields 2-7; Peavy 3-6


Tor-NY-- Estrada 3-5; Nova 3-0
LA-Tex-- Santiago 6-3; Lewis 5-4
Clev-Chi-- Kluber 3-6; Quintana 6-3
Balt-Hst-- Wilson 3-2; McHugh 4-5
KC-Minn-- Gee 1-1; Duffey 1-4
A's-Sea-- Neal 0-0; Iwakuma 4-5


Phil-Det-- Nola 5-4; Sanchez 3-6
Mia-TB-- Nicolino 2-3; Andriese 3-0
Colo-Bos-- Bettis 5-4; Wright 3-5




Starting pitchers allowing 1+ runs in first inning:


NY-Wsh-- Matz 1-7; Roark 1-9
Az-Pitt-- De la Rosa 0-7; Locke 1-8
Mil-Atl-- Guerra 2-4; Foltynewicz 2-4
Chi-StL-- Arrieta 0-9; Martinez 1-8
Cin-LA-- Straily 0-7; Kazmir 5-9
SD-SF-- Shields 3-9; Peavy 3-9


Tor-NY-- Estrada 3-8; Nova 0-3
LA-Tex-- Santiago 4-9; Lewis 5-9
Clev-Chi-- Kluber 2-9; Quintana 1-9
Balt-Hst-- Wilson 2-5; McHugh 5-9
KC-Minn-- Gee 0-2; Duffey 2-5
A's-Sea-- Neal 0-0; Iwakuma 2-9


Phil-Det-- Nola 4-9; Sanchez 3-9
Mia-TB-- Nicolino 1-5; Andriese 1-3
Colo-Bos-- Bettis 2-9; Wright 5-8




Umpires


NY-Wsh-- Under is 10-5 in last fifteen Reyburn games.
Chi-StL-- Four of last six Bucknor games stayed under
Az-Pitt-- Under is 5-1-1 in last seven Guccione games.
Mil-Atl-- Three of last four Hallion games stayed under.
Cin-LA-- Favorites won last six Hoberg games.
SD-SF-- Over is 3-1-1 in last five Winters games.


Tor-NY-- Last three Fairchild games stayed under total.
LAA-Tex-- Over is 10-3 in last thirteen Blakney games.
Cle-Chi-- Underdogs are 5-4 in last nine Basner games.
KC-Minn-- Four of five Kellogg games went over total.
Balt-Hst-- Six of eight Baker games went over the total.
A's-Sea-- Under is 3-0-1 in last four Scott games.


Phil-Det-- Six of eight Gorman games went over the total.
TB-Mia-- Six of eight Johnson games went over the total.
Col-Bos-- Underdogs won last three Wendelstedt games.