MLB Betting Info. 8/20

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 8/20

Preview: Brewers (52-69) at Mariners (65-56)


Game: 2
Venue: Safeco Field
Date: August 20, 2016 9:10 PM EDT


SEATTLE -- Having already been bit by the injury bug, starting pitchers Wily Peralta of the Milwaukee Brewers and Felix Hernandez of the Seattle Mariners head into Saturday's showdown with a little bit of momentum.


Both starters recently came off the disabled list and have had some success as they try to work their way back into form.


Hernandez (7-4) has gone 3-0 since coming off the disabled list on July 20, and he has had two of his stronger outings his last two times out.


Peralta (5-8) was already having a pretty rough season before an oblique strain landed him on the disabled list for nearly two months. Since his return, he has been a lot more effective, holding two opponents to a combined eight hits and three runs in 12 innings.


He'll have his work cut out for him against a Seattle team that piled up 11 hits on Friday night and has won 11 of its past 14 games.


The Mariners hit three home runs in a game that came against a rare left-handed Milwaukee starter. Rookie southpaw Brent Suter made his major-league debut, marking the first time in 474 games -- nearly three years -- that the Brewers have started a lefty.


"I think it's a little fluky," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "It's certainly nothing to do with player development ... the intention of how we acquire players. It's just a funny statistic. It's not meant to be that way."


Seattle has already used six different left-handed starters this season, as the Mariners have struggled through injuries on their pitching staff. The Hernandez injury was the most crushing blow, but Seattle has hit its stride since he returned from the disabled list.


A big part of the Mariners' resurgence has been a rebuilt bullpen that includes rookie closer Edwin Diaz, whom Brewers slugger Ryan Braun said late Friday night has "some of the best stuff going in the game right now." That came after a rare ninth inning of struggles for Diaz, who walked three batters and gave up a two-run single but survived for his ninth save of the season.


"He's human," manager Scott Servais said. "He's not a robot. He's not going to strike every one of them out every night throwing 100 miles per hour. We asked him tonight to go out and get three outs before they scored three runs, and he did that."


The man Diaz replaced as closer, Steve Cishek, returned to the bullpen after a 2 1/2-week stint on the disabled list. It was one of several moves made by the Mariners, who also demoted first baseman Dae-Ho Lee to Triple-A Tacoma.


The Brewers activated outfielder Damien Magnifico before Friday's game and brought up Suter to make his debut.


Milwaukee almost pulled a memorable ninth-inning comeback but fell just short.


"Let's keep trying to put ourselves in that situation," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said, "and one of these nights we'll get it done."

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 8/20

Preview: Yankees (62-59) at Angels (51-71)


Game: 2
Venue: Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Date: August 20, 2016 9:35 PM EDT


ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Though Yankees manager Joe Girardi insists his team is "going for it" and is focused solely on a postseason berth, yet another sign of the franchise's transition will be in evidence on Saturday, when 24-year-old right-hander Luis Cessa is scheduled to make his first major league start against the Angels.


Cessna has been shuttled back and forth between New York and its Triple-A affiliate this season. His recall on Aug. 11 is his fourth stint with the Yankees and, with Nathan Eovaldi's season-ending injury opening up a position in the starting rotation, Girardi will hand the ball to Cessna to keep the team's slight playoff chances on track.


"As a young player, you're looking to make an impression and Luis has that opportunity now," Girardi said. "His ability to mix up his pitches and locate his fastball has been good."


Though the game is a milestone in his progression, Cessa was relaxed when discussing his first big-league start.


"I'm ready, I don't feel nervous," Cessa said. "It's a great opportunity to show the team what I can do. I will be ready because the Angels have dangerous hitters throughout their lineup."


While the Yankees are still playing games that matter, the Angels are attempting to find some consistency in their game after one of the worst stretches in franchise history plummeted them into the cellar of the AL West. With nothing more than personal achievements to play for, the Angels have been reduced to the spoiler role for their final 40 games.


Ricky Nolasco will make his fourth start as an Angel trying to improve on a 1-1 record with a 5.40 ERA since being acquired from the Minnesota Twins on Aug. 1. Nolasco pitched well in a start against New York earlier this season with the Twins, tossing seven innings and allowing two earned runs on eight hits with no walks and five strikeouts. Pitching for two last-place teams this season is a contributing factor in Nolasco's 4-10 record but his struggles on the hill (5.10 ERA, 1.352 WHIP) places his status in question despite having one year left on his $ 49 million, 4-year contract.


Third baseman Yunel Escobar's status for next season is the polar opposite from Nolasco's. Escobar, acquired from the Washington Nationals last December, is the Angels' leading hitter with a .320 average and is a lock to have the Angels exercise his $ 7 million option for the 2017 season. Despite his defensive deficiencies at the base (17 errors in 108 games), he has been a consistent offensive force in the leadoff spot. Escobar fell prey to the injury bug dogging the team this season on Friday. He fouled a ball directly off his face and cheek during a bunt attempt in the fourth inning and while X-rays were negative, Escobar may have to go on the disabled list.


"Yunel is as good as we have on this team at putting the ball in play at hitting it sharply. He's having a terrific season." said Angels manager Mike Scioscia. "He's sore and we will have to make a determination on his status."


Despite the Angels being on track to miss the playoffs for the sixth time in the last seven seasons, Scioscia is not in jeopardy of being fired. General manager Billy Eppler addressed the manager's status on Friday and expects him to return for his 18th season as the Angels' bench boss. Eppler feels the injuries that plagued the team all season are a major factor in their poor performance.


"I have no reason to believe Mike wouldn't be here managing our team next season," Eppler told MLB.com. "You have to have the horses to pull the cart. If your horses get hurt, we can only do so much."


Scioscia signed a 10-year extension in January 2009 that runs through the 2018 season.

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 8/20

Five to Follow MLB Betting: Saturday, August 20, 2016, Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews


Presumably the Detroit Tigers will honor retiring Red Sox DH David Ortiz either Saturday or Sunday at Comerica Park as this will be Ortiz's last time playing in the park barring a playoff matchup. The Tigers haven't won a World Series since 1984 but won the AL Central each year from 2011-14. I believe the best club in that stretch was the 2013 team. I also believe that if Detroit had beaten Boston that year in the ALCS it would have won the World Series over the Cardinals. And, finally, I believe the Tigers get to the Fall Classic if not for Ortiz. In Game 2 of the ALCS at Fenway Park and with the Tigers holding a 1-0 series lead, Detroit was up 5-1 entering the bottom of the eighth inning. With two outs and the bases loaded, the Tigers brought in reliever Joaquin Benoit to face Ortiz because Big Papi didn't have a good history against Benoit. First pitch: grand slam. That totally changed the series as Boston would win Game 2 and take the ALCS in six on the way to its most recent World Series title. The Tigers haven't gotten close to the Fall Classic since. So if you hear some boos in the stands at Comerica this weekend for Ortiz, you will know why.




Mets at Giants (-145, 8)


Weird Saturday schedule this week as this is the only matinee, with a start time of 4:05 p.m. ET. It also should have live betting at sportsbooks with it nationally televised by Fox Sports 1. New York goes with Bartolo Colon here, and I'm more interested to see what he does at the plate in all honesty. Colon (10-7, 3.38) wasn't sharp in his last start, allowing five runs (two earned) and nine hits over four innings in a loss at Arizona. What Colon, one of the worst hitters in big-league history, did do was draw his first big-league walk, and it only took the 43-year-old 282 plate appearances. No other player in big-league history had appeared at the plate that many times without a walk. Colon hasn't faced the Giants this year. Hunter Pence is 6-for-11 off him with two homers and seven RBIs. Brandon Belt is 2-for-8 with a homer. Lefty Matt Moore (7-9, 4.14) makes his fourth start with the Giants since the trade from Tampa Bay and looking for his first win. He's 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA with San Francisco and hasn't faced the Mets this year. Yoenis Cespedes is 2-for-6 off him with a double.


Key trends: The Mets are 7-1 in Colon's past eight vs. teams with a winning record. The Giants are 4-0 in their past four on Saturday. The "over/under" has gone under in five of Colon's past six on the road.


Early lean: Giants and under.


Red Sox at Tigers (+115, 9.5)


This is shown on the MLB Network and is a matchup of southpaws. Boston's Drew Pomeranz (9-9, 2.99) was a bit shaky in his first few starts with the Red Sox after coming over from San Diego but has been much better in the past three. He won in Cleveland on Monday, allowing two runs and five hits over 7.2 innings, easily his longest start with Boston and his first win with the team. Pomeranz lost to the Tigers on July 25, allowing two runs and four hits over six innings. J.D. Martinez is 2-for-2 career off him with a double. Miguel Cabrera is 1-for-1 with two walks. Detroit's Daniel Norris (1-1, 3.47) lost to Kansas City on Monday, allowing two runs over 5.1 innings with four walks. He hasn't faced the Red Sox this year. Ortiz is 1-for-3 off him with a homer.


Key trends: The Sox are 9-3 in their past 12 vs. a lefty. The Tigers are 9-4 in their past 13 vs. a southpaw. The under is 4-1 in Pomeranz's past five. The under is 3-1-1 in Norris' past five at home.


Early lean: Red Sox and under.


Brewers at Mariners (-210, 7.5)


Lone interleague game of the weekend and the Brewers will add the designated hitter. With Ryan Braun banged up a bit (knee, ankle), I could see him playing there. The Brewers were hoping to activate surprising 31-year-old rookie Junior Guerra (7-3, 2.93) off the DL to start here, but he instead will throw in the bullpen Friday and target next week. Nice break for Seattle as it's terrible Wily Peralta (5-8, 6.00) instead. Although Peralta does come off a good outing vs. Cincinnati, allowing one run and four hits in a win. Peralta hasn't faced the Mariners this year. Adam Lind is 2-for-3 career off him with a double. Nelson Cruz is 0-for-2. The Mariners go with Felix Hernandez (7-4, 3.34). He won at the Angels on Monday, allowing two runs and four hits over 6.2 innings. He is 3-0 with a 4.12 ERA in six starts since returning from a two-month DL stint. King Felix hasn't faced Milwaukee since 2013 when he threw eight scoreless innings. Braun hasn't seen him. Jonathan Villar is 0-for-7. Chris Carter is 3-for-11 with five strikeouts.


Key trends: The Brewers are 2-5 in Peralta's past seven on the road. The Mariners are 5-2 in Hernandez's past seven at home. The under is 8-2-1 in Hernandez's past 11 following a quality start in his most recent appearance.


Early lean: Mariners and under.


Nationals at Braves (+225, 7.5)


Not a whole lot for Atlanta fans to see on their rather anonymous team these days, but it was a pretty big deal when last year's No. 1 overall pick, shortstop Dansby Swanson, debuted on Wednesday night with two hits against the Twins. Swanson took just 397 days from being signed (July 17, 2015) to getting promoted to the majors, the third-shortest amount of time since 2000. Swanson was the fastest No. 1 overall pick to reach the majors since Darin Erstad in 1995. Swanson was part of that package coming over from Arizona this past offseason for Shelby Miller, perhaps the most lopsided trade this decade if not longer. Swanson certainly didn't see anyone in the minors like Washington's Max Scherzer (12-7, 2.95). He had some issues in Denver last time out, however, allowing four runs and seven hits in four innings. That was Scherzer's shortest outing of the season, but Coors Field will do that to guys. He is 1-0 with a 4.15 ERA in two starts this year vs. Atlanta. The Braves' Tyrell Jenkins (2-3, 4.89) was shelled in Washington by these Nationals last Sunday, allowing seven runs over 4.2 innings. Anthony Rendon is 1-for-2 with a homer and four RBIs off him.


Key trends: The Nationals are 4-0 in Scherzer's past four on the road. The under is 8-1 in his past nine.


Early lean: Nationals and under.


Yankees at Angels (-123, 9)


Latest-starting game of the night, also on the MLB Network and not exactly an awe-inspiring pitching matchup. It will be the first big-league start for New York rookie Luis Cessa. He has pitched 18.2 innings of relief this season with the Yankees and is 2-0 with a 5.30 ERA. Cessa was last on the mound last Sunday vs. Tampa Bay and allowed five runs in three innings. Cessa, who has never faced the Angels, takes the rotation spot of Nathan Eovaldi, who already has been ruled out for all of next season due to major elbow surgery. He won't pitch for the Yankees again as they will surely non-tender Eovaldi this offseason. Los Angeles has lost all three starts by Ricky Nolasco (4-10, 5.13) since he came over from the Twins. Nolasco allowed three runs and eight hits over 5.1 innings last time out vs. Seattle. Guy is not a good pitcher but he did fare well against the Yankees while with the Twins on June 18, allowing two runs with no walks over seven innings in a no-decision. New York shortstop Didi Gregorius kills Nolasco, going 10-for-19 with three doubles. Brian McCann hits .323 off him with eight homers and 24 RBIs in 65 at-bats.


Key trends: The Yankees are 1-4 in their past five on Saturday. The Angels are 5-16 in their past 21 vs. a right-hander. The over is 5-1 in the Yankees' past six in Game 2 of a series.


Early lean: Way over! Go Angels.

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 8/20

'Royals extend red hot August streak'


Minnesota Twins at Kansas City Royals August 20, 7:15 EST


Streaking Royals reeling off six straight, eight of nine and eleven of thirteen look to extend the red-hot August when they host Twins in the third of this four game series at Kaufman Stadium. According to opening odds the Royals are -$1.45 home favorites with the total set at 9.0 runs across all shops.


Righthander Ian Kennedy will toe the rubber for Ned Yost’s squad tonight, bringing a 7-9 record to the hill with a 3.78 ERA. Kennedy has been sharp over his last four outings, giving up three total earned runs in that stretch recording four quality starts but Royals remain a dreadful 2-7 in hurlers last nine starts.


Kennedy will be matching pitches with Twins' Hector Santiago. Things have not gone well for the lefthander since being acquired from Halos. In his three starts with Twinkies, Santiago is 0-3 with a whopping 9.42 ERA including a loss to the Royals in his last effort surrendering 7 runs over 4.0 innings of work.


As a team, Royals have thrived in this series. In the last fourteen meetings the result has been 12 wins, 2 losses including a sparkling 5-0 in front of the home audience. Royals ridding a 9-1 streak vs the division, Paul Molitor's troops not a peg to hang your hopes on lately facing a division rival (1-5) the numbers add up well enough to conclude Royals are the right choice.

[TheGame]

Re: MLB Betting Info. 8/20

MLB


Saturday’s games


National League


Marlins @ Pirates
Phelps is 1-1, 1.84 in three starts for Miami (under 2-1).


Kuhl is 2-0, 2.00 in his last thee starts; three of his last four went over.


Marlins are 4-7 in last 11 road games; five of their last six road games went over. Pittsburgh won six of its last eight games; five of last six Pirate games went over.


Cardinals @ Phillies
Weaver allowed two runs in four IP (85 PT) in his first MLB start.


Hellickson is 4-0, 2.30 in his last five starts; under is 8-1-1 in his last ten. Phillies won three of his last four home starts.


Cardinals won their last five games; over is 11-3-1 in last 14 Cardinal games. Phillies lost three of last four games; over is 7-2-2 in last 11 Philly home games.


Dodgers @ Reds
Anderson allowed five runs in one IP (30 PT) in his first ’16 start.


Finnegan is 2-1, 2.70 in his last four starts; six of his last eight starts went over. Reds lost four of his last five home starts.


Dodgers are 6-9 in last 15 road games; over is 7-1-3 in last 11 Dodger games. Cincinnati is 11-4 in last 15 home games; seven of Reds’ last eight games went over.


Nationals @ Braves
Scherzer is 3-1, 2.68 in his last seven starts; eight of his last nine stayed under. Washington won his last four road starts.


Jenkins 2-1, 3.97 in his last four starts (under 5-1-1).


Nationals are 12-5 in last 17 games; seven of their last nine games went over. Atlanta lost eight of last nine games; seven of their last eight games went over.


Cubs @ Rockies
Montgomery was 1-1, 3.97 (over 2-0) in two starts for Seattle.


Hoffman is making his first MLB start; he was 6-9, 4.02 in 22 AAA starts this year.


Cubs are 18-4 in last 22 games; under is 3-2 in their last five games. Colorado is 5-10 in its last 15 games; over is 6-2 in their last eight games.


Diamondbacks @ Padres
Ray is 1-0, 1.50 in his last two starts; three of his last four went over. Arizona lost four of his last five road starts.


Richard allowed two runs in five IP (74 PT) in his first ’16 start.


Arizona lost its last five road games; over is 7-2 in their last nine road games. San Diego lost five of its last seven games; seven of their last eight home games went over total.


Mets @ Giants
Colon is 1-2, 4.76 in his last four starts; under is 7-3-1 in his last 11. Mets are 6-4 when he starts on the road.


Moore is 0-2, 4.50 in three starts for the Giants (under 2-1).


New York lost 16 of last 23 games; their last five games went over. Giants are 11-21 since All-Star break, but won last two; six of their last seven games went over the total.




American League


Red Sox @ Tigers
Pomeranz is 1-0, 2.37 in his last three starts; four of his last five stayed under.


Norris is 1-1, 4.03 in five starts this year (under 3-2).


Red Sox won seven of last eight games; under is 13-4 in last 17 Boston road games. Detroit lost eight of last 11 games; six of last seven Tiger games stayed under the total.


Astros @ Orioles
Fiers is 1-2, 6.32 in his last three starts; five of his last seven went over. Houston is 3-7 in his road starts.


Tillman is 1-3, 5.79 in his last five starts; under is 6-1-3 in his last ten. Orioles are 10-2 in his home starts.


Astros lost five of last six games; eight of last ten Houston games went over total. Baltimore lost six of last nine home games; under is 11-2-2 in last 15 games at Camden Yards.


Rangers @ Rays
Griffin is 1-1, 7.41 in his last three starts; under is 3-1-1 in his last five. Texas is 7-3 in his road starts.


Odorizzi is 4-0, 2.13 in his last six starts; his last three went over. Rays won his last three home starts.


Rangers are 10-3 in last 13 games; under is 7-1-2 in their last ten road games. Tampa Bay won four of last five games; over is 10-3 in last thirteen Tampa Bay games.


Blue Jays @ Indians
Sanchez is 3-1, 2.38 in his last five starts; under is 8-0-1 in his last nine. Toronto is 6-5 in his road starts.


Tomlin is 0-3, 9.37 in his last three starts; over is 12-6-2 in his last 20. Cleveland is 7-3 in his home starts.


Blue Jays are 10-6 in last 16 games; under is 9-2 in Toronto’s last 11 road games. Cleveland is 8-2 in last ten home games; under is 5-2 in their last seven home games.


A’s @ White Sox
Detwiler is 1-1, 3.55 in two starts for Oakland (under 2-0).


Sale is 0-4, 4.43 in his last six starts; under is 6-4 in his last ten. White Sox are 7-3 in his home starts. This is his first home start since he shredded the throwback uniforms.


Oakland lost five of last six games; under is 10-3 in A’s last 13 games. White Sox are 7-14 in last 21 games; four of their last six games went over the total.


Twins @ Royals
Santiago is 0-3, 10.05 in three starts for the Twins (over 3-0).


Kennedy is 1-0, 1.04 in his last four starts; under is 9-1 in his last ten.


Twins are 11-6 in last 17 road games; over is 10-1-2 in their last 13 road tilts. Kansas City won 10 of last 12 games; under is 14-5 -1 in their last 20 games.


New York @ Angels
Cessa is making first MLB start; he is 2-0, 5.30 in eight MLB relief stints (18.2 IP). He was 6-3, 3.03 in 14 AAA starts this year.


Nolasco is 0-2, 5.19 in three starts for the Angels (under 2-1).


New York won its last three road games; five of last seven Bronx games went over total. Angels lost 13 of last 15 games; under is 5-2 in their last seven games.




Interleague


Brewers @ Mariners
Peralta is 2-1, 3.18 in his last three starts; five of his last six went over. Milwaukee is 2-4 in his road starts.


Hernandez is 2-0, 2.91 in his last three starts; four of his last five went over. Seattle is 5-3 in his home starts.


Brewers lost their last six road games; six of last nine Milwaukee games went over. Seattle won its last seven home games; over is 10-5 in Mariners’ last 15 home games.




Teams’ record when this pitcher starts:


Mia-Pitt– Phelps 2-1; Kuhl 6-0
StL-Phil– Weaver 1-0; Hellickson 14-10 (5-0 last 5)
LA-Cin– Anderson 0-1; Finnegan 9-16
Wsh-Atl– Scherzer 15-10; Jenkins 4-3
Chi-Col– Montgomery 0-0/1-2; Hoffman 0-0
NY-SF– Colon 14-10; Moore 1-2/9-12
Az-SD– Ray 8-16; Richard 0-1


Hst-Balt– Fiers 12-10; Tillman 20-6
Tex-TB– Griffin 11-5; Odorizzi 12-13
Bos-Det– Pomeranz 3-3/9-8; Norris 2-3
Tor-Clev– Sanchez 14-9; Tomlin 16-6 (1-4 last 5)
A’s-Chi– Detwiler 1-1; Sale 15-8 (1-5 last 6)
Min-KC– Santiago 0-3/16-6; Kennedy 11-13
NY-LA– Cessa 0-0; Nolasco 0-3/9-12


Mil-Sea– Peralta 6-9; Hernandez 10-6




# of time pitcher allows 1+ runs in first inning:


Mia-Pitt– Phelps 0-3; Kuhl 3-6
StL-Phil– Weaver 0-1; Hellickson 7-24
LA-Cin– Anderson 1-1; Finnegan 8-25
Wsh-Atl– Scherzer 9-25; Jenkins 3-7
Chi-Col– Montgomery 1-2; Hoffman 0-0
NY-SF– Colon 8-24; Moore 5-24
Az-SD– Ray 5-24; Richard 0-1


Hst-Balt– Fiers 5-22; Tillman 8-26
Tex-TB– Griffin 2-16; Odorizzi 5-25
Bos-Det– Pomeranz 4-23; Norris 1-5
Tor-Clev– Sanchez 5-23; Tomlin 11-22
A’s-Chi– Detwiler 0-2; Sale 8-23
Min-KC– Santiago 12-25; Kennedy 8-24
NY-LA– Cessa 0-0; Nolasco 10-24


Mil-Sea– Peralta 6-15; Hernandez 3-16




Umpires


Mia-Pitt– Over is 5-0-1 in last six O’Nora games.
StL-Phil– Six of last nine Reyburn games went over.
LA-Cin– Underdogs are 6-5 in last 11 Bucknor games.
Wsh-Atl– Under is 8-4 in last twelve Cuzzi games.
Chi-Col– Over is 4-2-1 in last seven Blakney games.
NY-SF– Five of last six Carlson games stayed under.
Az-SD– Underdogs are 8-7 in last fifteen Foster games.


Hst-Balt– Underdogs won five of last six Scott games.
Tex-TB– Under is 8-3 in last eleven Cederstrom games.
Tor-Clev– Five of last six Gibson games stayed under.
A’s-Chi– Under is 7-3 in last ten Holbrook games.
Min-KC– Under is 5-2 in last seven Scheurwater games.
NY-LA– Three of last four Fletcher games went over.


Mil-Sea– Under is 7-3 in last ten Hudson games.