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All-Star Game Preview


July 14, 2015




2015 MLB All-Star Game


Great American Ballpark – Cincinnati, OH
First pitch: Tuesday, 8:00 p.m. EDT
Sportsbook.ag Line: National League -115, American League +105
Total: Over 7 (-125), Under 7 (+105)


Another mid-summer classic is set to go off when the best players in baseball head to Great American Ballpark for the 86th installment of the All-Star game.


The American League has all but dominated this game since 1997, going 14-3-1 and came away victorious in each of the last two seasons. Of course this game comes with plenty of importance as the league that wins earns home field advantage during the World Series. Since that began, the AL is 9-3 at earning home field, but has not taken advantage as they are just 5-7 in the World Series.


Before last season, the game was easy to predict if you were going for the over/under as the game went under for eight consecutive years before matching the number of eight in a 5-3 AL victory last year. With the competition for home field heating up, it seems as if the players are putting their best foot forward and the total has dropped in each successive season with the number of seven being the lowest in a decade.


It could be the year for offensive fireworks, though, with the contest being played at a hitter’s park like Great American Ballpark which has yielded 2.52 HR per game during the regular season. Look for offense to rule in a game that has typically been dominated by pitching as the young superstars like Mike Trout, Manny Machado, Bryce Harper, Kris Bryant and Joc Pederson tee off.


A ton of new names show up on the AL roster on the pitching side of things as eight of the flamethrowers are first time visitors to the event. One of those first-timers is LHP Dallas Keuchel (11-4, 2.23 ERA) who has the best WAR (3.4) amongst AL pitchers and has given up very few homers (0.46 HR/9) while benefiting from hitters batting a meager .255 against him. Three of the other six starters selected are first timers and that group features RHP Chris Archer (9-6, 2.74 ERA) who has taken a Rays team further than they were expected to go behind a big strikeout rate (10.9 K/9) as he is joined by LHP Hector Santiago (6-4, 2.33 ERA) in the group of newcomers.


There are some veterans in the staff as well with the trio of RHP Felix Hernandez (11-5, 2.84), LHP Chris Sale (8-4, 2.72 ERA) and LHP David Price (9-2, 2.38 ERA) combining for 15 appearances in the contest. The relievers are impressive for this side of the ball and are led by RHP Dellin Betances (1.53 ERA, 7 saves) who’s WAR of 1.9 is 0.5 better then the next closest AL reliever and he has struck out 14.7 batters per nine innings. RHP Glen Perkins (1.21 ERA, 28 saves) is the only other reliever on this side of the ball who has made multiple All-Star Games with this being his third after saving the most games for the AL during the first part of the season.


The starter for the NL is RHP Zack Greinke (8-2, 1.39 ERA) who has been having a historically good season while coming into the game with a scoreless innings streak of 35.2. Just like the AL squad, there are plenty of first-timers joining the squad and a few of the starters (Gerrit Cole, Shelby Miller, Jacob DeGrom, Michael Wacha) are almost certainly going to make their way back with their youth. RHP A.J. Burnett (7-3, 2.11 ERA) will be making his first appearance in the mid-summer classic at the age of 38.


Also joining the squad as starters are veterans LHP Madison Bumgarner (9-5, 3.33 ERA) and LHP Clayton Kershaw (6-6, 2.85 ERA) who have collectively been to eight of these events. The top pitcher who comes from the ‘pen is RHP Aroldis Chapman (1.69 ERA, 18 saves) who has used his 99.6 MPH average fastball to mow down 15.7 batters per nine innings of work. A couple of veterans will also be in attendance with both RHP Jonathan Papelbon (1.60 ERA, 14 saves) and RHP Francisco Rodriguez (1.41 ERA, 19 saves) making it here for the sixth time.


The offense for the American League is led by last year’s MVP, OF Mike Trout, who is having yet another stellar campaign as he leads all others in his league with a WAR of 5.6; 0.9 better than the next best. He’s tied with 1B Albert Pujols for the AL lead with 26 homers and has scored more runs (68) than anyone else. Joining him in the outfield will be Lorenzo Cain (.316) making his All-Star debut and Adam Jones (.281, 14 HR) who has been selected five times. The infield is led by 3B Josh Donaldson (21 HR, 60 RBI) who has scored 65 runs (3rd in AL) and has an ISO of .239.


Across the diamond is Pujols (26 HR) who is attending his 10th game and is joined by 2B Jose Altuve (.293, 25 SB) and SS Alcides Escobar (.290). Manning the duties behind the plate will be C Salvador Perez (15 HR) who is one of seven Kansas City players to make the roster. DH Nelson Cruz (21 HR) will give the lineup a boost as his .308 average is his best since 2010. The reserves are topped by 2B Jason Kipnis (4.7 WAR) who is hitting .323 with 59 runs scored and 10 steals while he is joined by 1B Mark Teixeira (62 RBI), the league leader in RBI, and 3B Manny Machado (19 HR, 13 SB), who has been huge as the leadoff hitter for Baltimore.


The top player on the NL squad is another young superstar in OF Bryce Harper (26 HR, 61 RBI, 59 Runs) who is sporting a tremendous 5.7 WAR and has an incredible .365 ISO. The crew around him in the outfield is led by Andrew McCutchen (.295) who is coming to his fifth All-Star Game and he will see rookie Joc Pederson (20 HR) next to him as he makes his debut a night after being the runner-up at the Home Run Derby. Moving up to the infield, the ultra-talented 1B Paul Goldschmidt (21 HR, 16 SB) will lead the way as he is hitting .340 on the season and ranks best in the NL in batting average, RBI, runs and walks. Next to him will be 2B D.J. LeMahieu (.311) who is making his All-Star Game debut and will be joined by SS Jhonny Peralta (.298, 13 HR) in the middle infield as he is at this contest for the third time.


Finishing off the infield is 3B Todd Frazier (25 HR, 8 SB) who is fresh off of a Home Run Derby victory and will clearly be a fan favorite in his hometown. C Buster Posey (.314, 14 HR, 58 RBI) will be representing the Giants for the third time here and will be batting right in front of DH Anthony Rizzo (.298, 16 HR, 12 SB). Young superstar, 3B Kris Bryant (12 HR, 51 RBI) has the best WAR (3.5) of the reserves in this group which also features OF A.J. Pollock (.299, 11 HR, 19 SB) and 3B Nolan Arenado (24 HR, 70 RBI).


ALL-STAR GAME STARTERS


American League Starters
C: Salvador Perez, Royals
1B: Albert Pujols, Angels
2B: Jose Altuve, Astros
SS: Alcides Escobar, Royals
3B: Josh Donaldson, Blue Jays
OF: Mike Trout, Angels
OF: Lorenzo Cain, Royals
OF: Adam Jones, Orioles
DH: Nelson Cruz, Mariners
Starting pitcher: Dallas Keuchel, Astros


National League Starters
C: Buster Posey, Giants
1B: Paul Goldschmidt, Diamondbacks
2B: D.J. LeMahieu, Rockies
SS: Jhonny Peralta, Cardinals
3B: Todd Frazier, Reds
OF: Bryce Harper, Nationals
OF: Andrew McCutchen, Pirates
OF: Joc Pederson, Dodgers
DH: Anthony Rizzo, Cubs
Starting pitcher: Zack Greinke, Dodgers

Pitchers to Watch - NL


July 13, 2015




NL Starting Pitcher Rankings – through 7.12.15


Starting pitching is critical to the result of any baseball game and there are many ways to evaluate the numbers. Here are my current rankings through the first half of the season in the National League. This is an objective list based on a combination of 2015 statistics and does not factor in any of the strengths and weaknesses of the respective teams these players pitch for, nor any previous season results.


1. Max Scherzer – Washington Nationals: Scherzer beats out Greinke by a slim margin at the break as he has the highest average Game Score in baseball at nearly 69. His 2.11 ERA is the NL’s fourth best mark and along with a great strikeout rate and the highest WAR of any starting pitcher he has been the NL’s best at the break.


2. Zack Greinke – Los Angeles Dodgers: With an incredible 1.39 ERA on the season it has been a magical run for Greinke. A lower strikeout rate and some good fortune on balls in play keeps Greinke out of the top spot but he has enjoyed a remarkable season so far and it is hard to argue with him getting the starting nod in the All Star game.


3. Clayton Kershaw – Los Angeles Dodgers: Kershaw didn’t even make the NL All Star team and his ERA of 2.85 checks in at 22nd in MLB at the break among qualified starters. His xFIP is the lowest in the NL and while his 6-6 record makes it feel like he is not having a great season he is striking out 11.7 batters per nine innings by far the best in the NL and only barely behind Chris Sale overall.


4. Jake Arrieta – Chicago Cubs: Arrieta owns a 0.99 WHIP with a 2.66 ERA and only Scherzer and Kershaw are higher ranked in WAR among NL starters. Arrieta has struck out over a batter per inning and he has been very consistent this season with very few marginal outings. In four of his last eight starts the Cubs have been dogged or a favorite of less -110 as he isn’t getting overvalued like many of the others on this list.


5. Jacob deGrom – New York Mets: One poor early July start knocked deGrom from a great run of outings heading into the break to lead an impressive Mets rotation. He ranks fourth in the NL in ERA while featuring a very low walk rate as a 0.92 WHIP indicates. Most players on the Mets have marginal numbers on the road but deGrom owns a 2.65 ERA and a 0.90 WHIP away from Citi Field.


6. Noah Syndergaard – New York Mets: While he is not quite a qualified starter yet he will be soon and Syndergaard has lived up to his highly regarded prospect promise through 11 starts. His home road splits contrast dramatically but he would have the fifth lowest xFIP in the NL an a .304 BABIP indicates he could deliver an even stronger second half with some better bounces.


7. Johnny Cueto – Cincinnati Reds: Cueto may have a new uniform in the coming weeks and while he has always pitched well at home moving to a more pitching friendly home park could help his cause further. Cueto had one of his worst starts of the season just before the break but he owns the third lowest WHIP in the NL, and at home his WHIP is just 0.75.


8. Francisco Liriano – Pittsburgh Pirates: The Pirated have closed to within 2.5 games of the Cardinals in the NL Central and Liriano is often overlooked as one of the league’s top pitchers as he can be erratic. He has had some good fortune in the first half and he has a much higher walk rate than the other top starters but the strikeouts still come at a very high rate and Liriano is a far better pitcher than his 5-6 record indicates.


9. Carlos Martinez – St. Louis Cardinals: Martinez deservedly won the NL’s final vote to head to the All Star game and he has struck out 25 more batters than he has allowed hits this season. Walks are occasionally an issue but it is clear that Martinez has arrived as the ace of the St. Louis staff with Adam Wainwright injured.


10. Matt Harvey – New York Mets: Harvey has perhaps been overshadowed by some of the other young starters on the staff for the Mets but he has enjoyed a great comeback season with strong numbers across the board. Perhaps he won’t ever match his initial hype but he continues to deliver strong starts though it generally costs a premium to back him.


11. Gerrit Cole – Pittsburgh Pirates: Cole owns a 2.30 ERA that is the fifth best in the NL but the advanced numbers don’t support Cole as much as his glowing 13-3 record would suggest. There is no question that Cole is one of the top young pitchers in the game but he has had few truly dominant outings and it will be interesting to see if he can maintain this high level as the innings add up.


12. Jason Hammel – Chicago Cubs: A recent injury sours what has been a great season for Hammel with the Cubs despite only five wins. His WHIP of 0.95 is the fifth best in the NL along with a very low walk rate and a higher strikeout rate that most might realize. His ability to be healthy to have a strong second half will be a key for Chicago’s postseason hopes.


13. Madison Bumgarner – San Francisco Giants: It was a bit of a slow start for the 2014 World Series MVP but Bumgarner has rounded into a form for a solid first half with a very strong month of June before two lesser outings before the break. The World Series dominance will keep him overvalued on many nights but he remains one of the best southpaws in the league.


14. Jon Lester – Chicago Cubs: Lester owns an ERA substantially higher than his FIP or xFIP as a .316 BABIP has led to some tough outings with a disappointing 4-8 record for the big addition to the Cubs staff. Lester has had a handful of bad starts this season but he could be due for a stronger second half though Arrieta and Hammel may provide better returns on the Cubs staff.


15. Lance Lynn – St. Louis Cardinals: Lynn has always produced strikeouts at a high rate and he has also been burned by a very high BABIP at this point in the season even with a strong 2.90 ERA that is 12th best in the NL. Lynn seems to have about one rough start each month but he has been a key part of leading the Cardinals to the best record at the break.


16. Cole Hamels – Philadelphia Phillies: In what could possibly be his last start with the Phillies Hamels had his worst start of the season before the break that dropped him several spots on this list. Hamels ranks just 27th in ERA in the NL but he is still one of the better strikeout pitchers in the league and joining a contender might sharpen his focus for a strong second half.


17. Tyson Ross – San Diego Padres: Not much has gone well for the Padres this season but after a slow start Ross is starting to pitch like the ace the team expected him to be after promising results last season. Over his last five starts Ross owns an average Game Score of nearly 65 and he could be a pitcher on the rise in the second half while still catching underdog pricing for the Padres at times.


18. A. J. Burnett – Pittsburgh Pirates: Making his first All Star team Burnett is having a career year, currently 2nd in the NL in ERA at 2.11. He still walks batters somewhat frequently and doesn’t have the strikeout counts of the other elite pitchers. It seems unlikely he can maintain his current clip but it has been a great story and he will have the opportunity to pitch some big games for the Pirates in the second half.


19. Chris Heston – San Francisco Giants: Throwing a no-hitter certainly provides a big boost to the numbers across the board and while Heston has pitched well he has not been consistent enough to be considered one of the elite starters in the NL. He has produced ground balls well and pitching at AT&T Park means he should be able to string together more solid outings while not being priced too high.


20. Michael Wacha – St. Louis Cardinals: Wacha has 10 wins and he has good numbers this season but he has rarely been dominant and he lacks a great strikeout rate while also catching some good fortune on balls in play. An average Game Score of just over 57 is much lower than you might expect given how successful St. Louis has been when he pitches.


Notable Absences:


Shelby Miller – Atlanta Braves (#23): With a 2.38 ERA and a handful of gems under his belt Miller made the All Star team and has been a big reason why the Braves have stayed relevant even if he has just five wins. Miller’s xFIP is more than a run higher than his ERA however and his numbers have slipped in the last several weeks.


Gio Gonzalez – Washington Nationals (#29): Gonzalez has pretty average numbers at this point in the season but he could be a climber in the second half with several strong recent outings and numbers that suggest better results than he has delivered at this point. Washington can be highly priced at home but Gonzalez has been very impressive in his home starts while struggling a bit on the road.


Mike Leake – Cincinnati Reds (#34): Leake seems like a strong candidate to be moved after the break and his brilliant road numbers suggest that leaving a hitter’s park in Cincinnati could really boost his chances for success. Leake has not been consistent but he has several high end outings under his belt in recent weeks as he has shaken off a tough month of May.


Newcomers to Watch:


Jose Fernandez – Miami Marlins: The Marlins have been a big disappointment but Fernandez can provide a boost and in two starts the Marlins are 2-0 with Fernandez looking capable of re-gaining his past form. Fernandez is certainly going to command a premium pitching for a bad team however.


Taylor Jungmann – Milwaukee Brewers: The starting rotation for the Brewers has really struggled this season but Jungmann has an average Game Score of nearly 62 with a 2.15 ERA through seven starts. The numbers suggest some regression ahead is likely but Milwaukee has received boost from their 2011 1st rounder.


Robbie Ray – Arizona Diamondbacks: Ray has pitched well in eight starts for Arizona despite lacking an overpowering strikeout rate. A low home run rate and a fortunate BABIP leaves one suspicious especially with a tough home park to pitch in but Ray has been an underdog in every outing.

Tuesday's Sports In Brief


July 14, 2015


CINCINNATI (AP) BASEBALL


Hometown All-Star Todd Frazier won the Home Run Derby at Cincinnati's Great American Ball Park, outslugging Dodgers rookie Joc Pederson 15-14 in the final round Monday night in the first year of a bracket format.


The Reds' Frazier defeated Texas' Prince Fielder 14-13 in the first round and dispatched Toronto's Josh Donaldson 10-9 in the second round.


Red-clad fans chanted Frazier's name and cheered his every homer throughout the night. Tied entering his 30-second bonus round, Frazier hit the first pitch for the title.


Pederson advanced by beating Baltimore's Manny Machado in the first round 13-12 and topping the Angels' Albert Pujols, the derby's No. 1 seed, 12-11 in the second round.


For the first time, players were seeded and placed in an elimination bracket. They had four minutes per round and each hitter received a 30-second bonus for hitting two drives farther than 425 feet.


CINCINNATI (AP) - Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Zack Greinke was announced as the starting pitcher for the National League in Tuesday night's All-Star Game and Houston Astros lefty Dallas Keuchel will be on the mound for the American League.


The 31-year-old Greinke is 8-2 with a big league-best 1.39 ERA and enters the game at Great American Ball Park following five straight scoreless starts over 35 2/3 innings. The 27-year-old Keuchel, with a distinctive long, bushy beard, is 11-4 with a 2.23 ERA.


The AL will open the game with an all right-handed-hitting lineup for the first time.


SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A federal lawsuit is trying to force Major League Baseball to install netting from foul pole to foul pole to protect spectators from flying bats and balls.


The lawsuit filed on behalf of an Oakland A's fan and other season ticket-holders throughout the major leagues does not ask for money. Instead, it wants Commissioner Rob Manfred to extend the screens that typically cover only a few sections behind the plate all the way down the first- and third-base lines.


The proposed class action was filed on behalf of Gail Payne, who has tickets in an unprotected section at the Oakland Coliseum, by Hilliard's Texas-based firm, Hilliard Munoz Gonzalez. A website asks other season ticket-holders to contact another firm handling the case, Seattle-based Hagens Berman.


The commissioner's office said it is discussing safety with the clubs, and players could also become involved in the talks.


NFL


IRVING, Texas (AP) - Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant is sending another signal that he won't play without a long-term contract.


Bryant posted a message on Twitter to Dallas fans, apologizing while saying he ''will not be there'' if he doesn't have a new deal by Wednesday's deadline.


The All-Pro, who led the NFL with 16 touchdowns receiving last season, has a one-year offer of $12.8 million under the franchise tag. Because he hasn't signed a contract, Bryant can't be fined for missing training camp, which starts July 30. He would lose about $750,000 for each regular-season game he skipped.


SOCCER


CHICAGO (AP) - Heading takes the heat in youth soccer, but limiting rough play might be a better way to prevent concussions and other injuries, a nine-year study of U.S. high school games suggests.


More than 1 in 4 concussions studied occurred when players used their heads to hit the ball. But more than half of these heading-related concussions were caused by collisions with another player rather than with the ball. These collisions included head-to-head, elbow-to-head and shoulder-to-head contact, said Dawn Comstock, a University of Colorado public health researcher who led the study.


There have been recent calls to ban or limit heading in youth soccer, particular among players younger than 14, because of concerns about long-term effects of concussions and repeated brain trauma. Women's soccer stars including 1999 World Cup star Brandi Chastain are among supporters of a ban in kids' soccer.


But says Comstock: ''If the rules of soccer were simply enforced better, we would actually be more successful in reducing concussion rates.''


GOLF


ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (AP) - Jordan Spieth sets off on his quest for the British Open by playing with the guy he beat in the U.S. Open.


Spieth is in the group with Dustin Johnson, who had a 12-foot eagle putt on the 18th hole at Chambers Bay to win the U.S. Open. Instead, he three-putted for par and finished one shot behind Spieth.


Hideki Matsuyama of Japan is the third player in the group that goes off at 9:33 a.m. local time on Thursday.


Tiger Woods is two groups behind them with Louis Oosthuizen, who won at St. Andrews in 2010. Woods won the two Opens before that on the Old Course. They will be with Jason Day, who is recovering from symptoms of vertigo he suffered at the U.S. Open.


ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (AP) - Major champions Mark O'Meara, David Graham and Laura Davies joined the World Golf Hall of Fame in an induction class that included a renowned architect who built major championship courses.


Inducted posthumously was A.W. Tillinghast, the architect of fabled courses Baltusrol and Winged Foot among more than 200 others.


The ceremony was held at Younger Hall at the University of St. Andrews. It was the first time it was held away from the World Golf Village in Florida as officials try to drum up more interest around the world.


Missing was Davies, who shaped two tours during her career. She made the cut in the U.S. Women's Open outside Philadelphia, and her flight was delayed leaving Sunday night. She had to give a videotaped acceptance, but arrived in time for the reception..


TENNIS


LONDON (AP) - Serena Williams has widened her lead at No. 1 in the WTA rankings with her fourth consecutive Grand Slam title at Wimbledon, now holding more than twice as many points as No. 2 Maria Sharapova.


Novak Djokovic's third championship at the All England Club allowed him to retain his healthy lead atop the ATP rankings over No. 2 Roger Federer, the man he beat in the final.


Sharapova, who lost to Williams in the semifinals, rose two spots, while last year's champion, Petra Kvitova, slid from No. 2 to No. 5 after exiting in the third round.


Garbine Muguruza, the 21-year-old from Spain who was the runner-up to Williams, moved into the top 10 for the first time at No. 9, an 11-spot rise.


The men's top 10 remained unchanged, including Andy Murray at No. 3, and Rafael Nadal at No. 10.

LEADING OFF: Trout, AL try for 3rd straight All-Star win


July 14, 2015


A look at what's happening all around the major leagues today:


RIVALRY RENEWED


Angels dynamo Mike Trout steps in against Dodgers ace Zack Greinke to start the All-Star Game at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. The National League leads the all-time series 43-40, with two ties. The American League is trying for its third straight win - the last NL victory came in 2012, when Houston second baseman Jose Altuve was a mid-game substitute. Now playing for the Astros in the AL, Altuve is in the starting lineup.


RED ROSE


The loudest and longest cheer on All-Star night could come well before the first pitch. That's when Pete Rose is set to walk onto the diamond as part of a Major League Baseball promotion honoring four greats from each franchise. Still beloved in his hometown, the 74-year-old banned career hits leader says ''just to be able to come out from behind home plate onto the field will be a big honor for me.'' No telling for sure, but the ovation Rose draws in Cincinnati could be thunderous.


PACING THEMSELVES


The average time of a nine-inning game before the All-Star break was 2 hours, 53 minutes, according to STATS - that's down from 3:02 for the first half of last season. If the current average remains the same in the second half, 2015 would mark the shortest since 2:52 in 2011. The last five All-Star Games, by the way, have averaged 3:01.

Gonna have some plays on the AS Game tonight?

B]Greinke, Keuchel to start All-Star game[/B]


July 13, 2015


CINCINNATI (AP) Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Zack Greinke will start for the National League in Tuesday night's All-Star Game and Houston Astros lefty Dallas Keuchel will be on the mound for the American League.


The 31-year-old Greinke is 8-2 with a big league-best 1.39 ERA and enters the game at Great American Ball Park following five straight scoreless starts over 35 2-3 innings.


''These numbers he's putting up are really, really unbelievable,'' NL manager Bruce Bochy said Monday.


Greinke's wife Emily was so excited she will be at the game even though she is about three weeks from giving birth.


''She found a way to get out here even though she probably shouldn't have,'' he said.


The 27-year-old Keuchel, with a distinctive long, bushy beard, is 11-4 with a 2.23 ERA. Keuchel said he told his family in advance but was cautioned not to inform the others.


Still, he worried that word might leak out.


''Even my family has loose lips,'' he said.


The AL will open the game with an all right-handed-hitting lineup for the first time.


AL manager Ned Yost said that Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout will lead off, followed by Toronto third baseman Josh Donaldson, Angels first baseman Albert Pujols, Seattle designated hitter Nelson Cruz, Kansas City's Lorenzo Cain in right, Baltimore's Adam Jones in left, Royals catcher Salvador Perez, Astros second baseman Jose Altuve and Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar.


The only previous team to open with all righty batters was the NL for the first of two games in 1962.


Bochy's batting order has Pittsburgh center fielder Andrew McCutchen leading off, followed by Cincinnati third baseman Todd Frazier, Washington right fielder Bryce Harper, Arizona first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, San Francisco catcher Buster Posey, the Chicago Cubs' Anthony Rizzo at DH, St. Louis shortstop Jhonny Peralta, the Dodgers' Joc Pederson in left and Colorado second baseman DJ LeMahieu.


Five fan-elected starters are missing the game because of injuries: Detroit first baseman Miguel Cabrera, Royals left fielder Alex Gordon, Miami second baseman Dee Gordon and right fielder Giancarlo Stanton and St. Louis left fielder Matt Holliday.


This is the first time the AL starting lineup did not have at least one player from Boston or the New York Yankees.

Suit seeks safety netting for MLB parks


July 13, 2015


A federal lawsuit filed in San Francisco on Monday is trying to force Major League Baseball to install netting from foul pole to foul pole to protect spectators from flying bats and balls.


The lawsuit filed on behalf of an Oakland A's fan and other season ticket-holders throughout the major leagues does not ask for money. Instead, it wants Commissioner Rob Manfred to extend the screens that typically cover only a few sections behind the plate all the way down the first- and third-base lines.


''Every type of fan is constantly at risk of serious injury or death,'' said Robert Hilliard, one of the lawyers involved in the case. ''If that foul ball is hit hard enough, reaction time is basically zero and life-threatening injury is certain. This is a needless risk. Extending the nets will, as a fact, save lives.''


The proposed class action was filed on behalf of Gail Payne, who has tickets in an unprotected section at the Oakland Coliseum, by Hilliard's Texas-based firm, Hilliard Munoz Gonzalez. A website asks other season ticket-holders to contact another firm handling the case, Seattle-based Hagens Berman.


The commissioner's office said it is discussing safety with the clubs, and players could also become involved in the talks.


''Fan safety is our foremost goal for all those who choose to support our game by visiting our ballparks, and we always strive for that experience to be safe and fan-friendly,'' MLB said in a statement. ''Major League Baseball is in the process of re-evaluating all issues pertaining to fan safety, comfort and expectations.''

The Latest: Rain expected to taper off before All-Star Game


July 14, 2015


CINCINNATI (AP) Here are the latest developments from the MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday, the summer showcase where stars from the American League and National League compete for home-field advantage in the World Series (all times local):


4:45 p.m.


A line of strong storms rolling through Cincinnati could make the All-Star Game a wet affair.


Weather officials say the rain is expected to taper off by the scheduled 8:15 p.m. start of the game on Tuesday night, but showers are possible through the evening.


A severe thunderstorm watch and flash flood watch are in effect until 8 p.m. for much of southwest Ohio.


Severe thunderstorms moved through the area late Tuesday afternoon, with extremely heavy rain at Great American Ball Park.


---


4 p.m.


Here comes the rain. The sunny morning with streets filled with red-clad fans has suddenly turned into a colossal summer storm ahead of the All-Star Game on Tuesday night.


Wind is blowing, the tarp is out and visibility at Great American Ball park is so bad, the Ohio River beyond the outfield isn't visible from the press box.


Here's video of the tarp going on the infield: https://youtu.be/gCbZlKOPJZk


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3:45 p.m.


A new format and Todd Frazier's performance in the Home Run Derby that electrified the home crowd helped bring in big overnight ratings for the event.


ESPN's telecast got a 4.9 rating, up 26 percent from last year's derby in Minnesota that received a 3.9.


---


3:40 p.m.


With all the talk this week about Pete Rose, banned from baseball for gambling on the Reds when he was their manager, it only makes sense to ask Commissioner Rob Manfred about baseball's relationship to Draft Kings.


The daily fantasy baseball site pays cash to winners who wager on nightly lineups (you've seen all the ads plastered around ballparks this season, right?).


Manfred says he's made clear to players and front office personnel that playing daily fantasy sports isn't appropriate for them. But he says baseball sees a clear distinction between people who can affect the outcome of a game and fans who want to engage through daily fantasy sports.


The players union is keeping tabs on the new association with the website.


Union head Tony Clark said Tuesday at the Baseball Writers' Association of America meeting that they're walking a very delicate line that can easily be muddled.


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3:30 p.m.


How's this for quick: MLB is running an advertising campaign this season meant to attract a more youth-orientated audience using the hashtag (hash)THIS.


In addition to spots focusing on young stars such as Mike Trout, Yasiel Puig and Chris Archer, the league has been running ads based on specific moments on the field. Todd Frazier earned his own ad for his win in the Home Run Derby in front of his home fans Monday night, just a few hours after he knocked out Joc Pederson in the final round.


Check the ad out here: http://atmlb.com/1dZ3MV7


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2:25 p.m.


MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred says there is no meeting set yet with Pete Rose, who remains a celebrated presence in Cincinnati.


Rose is being allowed on the field for pregame ceremonies before the All-Star Game on Tuesday night.


Before meeting with Rose, the first-year commissioner wants to get a grasp of all the evidence presented from when the hits king was banned from baseball in 1989 and additional material gathered since then.


Players' association head Tony Clark later says the commissioner will make the decision about whether Rose should be re-instated but he feels it's ''a travesty'' that whenever Rose is brought up in baseball conversation, it's tied to his banishment. Clark would not give his opinion on whether Rose should be re-instated.


---


2 p.m.


The head of the MLB Players Association turned to the NFL for an example when asked about his concerns on releasing more medical information to teams ahead of the MLB draft.


Tony Clark says it's a ''travesty'' that medical records belonging to defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul were apparently leaked to the public after the New York Giants star had a fireworks accident on July 4.


Clark says giving unmitigated access to such information is a problem when it shows up in blogs and social media. He says ''opening a Pandora's Box and hoping everyone plays nice in it is not something we are interested in doing right now.''


So, that's a no.


---


1:45 p.m.


Before the All-Star Game on Tuesday night, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred spent more than 30 minutes answering questions from reporters. He even got an assist from baseball executive Joe Torre. Here are some highlights:


- Manfred said no changes to address fan safety are coming soon. The subject has been a hot topic since a woman in Boston was hospitalized after being struck by a flying bat. MLB is still evaluating ballpark safety features and, if there are any changes, they will be implemented before next season.


- Strike three! Asked if umpires are calling a lower strike zone, Manfred deferred to Torre, who is in charge of on-field operations.


Conspiracy theorist fans can rest easy, Torre said there's been no change in strike zone compared to last year. Two years ago umpires began calling lower strikes. Torre insisted there has been no effort to call more strikes overall to speed up pace of play.


- Manfred says the commissioner's office is continuing to work on a new domestic violence policy and will have an announcement shortly.


---


1:40 p.m.


MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred says he's encouraged by pace of play changes and reports that games are moving along better.


He told reporters on Tuesday before the All-Star Game in Cincinnati that it's hard to ignore that the average game time is down 9 minutes, even though average length of game was not the priority in speeding things up. Manfred says the most important issue involving pace of game is player support.


He says he's talked to 29 of 30 teams about pace.


MLB has been experimenting with a 20-second pitch clock in Double-A and Triple-A. Manfred says the results are encouraging but bringing the clock to the big leagues would require negotiated changes with the players union.


MLB Players Association head Tony Clark doesn't sound too interested in using the clock in the bigs.


He says the clock's success in the minors has no bearing on how it would work in the big leagues.


The game is fundamentally different at the highest level, he says.


---


1:30 p.m.


Don't count on any postseason expansion in MLB.


Commissioner Rob Manfred said Tuesday before the All-Star Game in Cincinnati that he likes baseball's playoff format, including the one-game play-in for wild-card teams. He says the selectivity of baseball's postseason is one thing that sets the game apart from other sports.


One instance in which fans may get their best-of-three wild-card series is if MLB goes to a shorter schedule someday - perhaps after 2016 collective bargaining. It would be one way to offset revenue losses from the regular season.


On league expansion, Manfred says he thinks MLB is a growth business. He says he's open to the possibility of expansion at some point.


When asked about Montreal, where the Expos once played, Manfred said he believes the Canadian city has a rich history and showed major interest during two exhibitions.


But he says it's a long way from two exhibitions to 81 home games in a facility that meets major league standards.


---


11:30 a.m.


It's All-Star Game day and the sun is shining on Cincinnati - although thunderstorms are in the forecast for game time (8:15 p.m.) at Great American Ball Park.


It's a sea of red in the streets of downtown Cincinnati as fans start to line up for the All-Star parade.


Commissioner Rob Manfred is going to hold a Q&A with members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

WNBA Betting Recap - 7/6-7/12


July 13, 2015


League Betting Notes (from Monday, July 6 through Sunday, July 12)


-- Favorites went 7-5 straight up
-- Underdogs went 7-5 against the spread (ATS)
-- Home teams posted a 9-3 SU record
-- Home teams posted a 7-5 ATS record
-- The 'over' went 8-4


Team Betting Notes


-- After five straight weeks of underdogs cashing, the favorites asserted themselves. Underdogs are still 44-30-2 (59.5 percent) through 66 WNBA games.


-- Phoenix (8-5) picked up a fifth straight victory Sunday at Seattle (3-12). The Mercury picked up its third win in three tries against the Storm, but they did fail to cover for the first time Sunday.


-- Tulsa (10-4) picked up a second straight victory, knocking off Los Angeles (2-10) Sunday. After three straight losses from June 30-July 3, the Shock have won back-to-backs, while going 3-0 ATS over the past three. The Shock improved to 11-3 ATS through the first 14 games.


-- San Antonio (3-10) lost at Minnesota (9-3), falling to 0-7 away from deep in the heart of Texas. Despite the struggles on the road, they are still a respectable 3-2-2 ATS.


-- Atlanta (6-7) won as short dogs at home Sunday, tripping up New York (7-5). The Dream opened the season 1-5 ATS in the first six games, but they're now 4-1 ATS over the past five outings.


-- Connecticut (7-4) has certainly cooled off in a big way, as they dropped their third straight game in Chicago (8-5) Sunday. After opening a perfect 7-0 ATS through the first seven games, the Sun have managed a 1-3 ATS mark over the past four games.


-- The Sky covered back-to-back games for the first time this season after opening 4-7 ATS through the first 11 outings.


-- Indiana (7-6) had a perfect week, and they're now 4-0 SU/3-1 ATS over the past four games. One of the most certain bets has been the 'over' and the Fever, with the total going over in nine of Indiana's 13 games.

East tightens up with all teams within 2 games of each other


July 13, 2015


NEW YORK (AP) As is usually the case, the Eastern Conference is going to be a tight race to the playoffs. Only two games separate first-place Connecticut and last-place Atlanta in the standings.


In fact, the Dream are the only team under .500, sitting a game under the break-even mark.


''It always comes down to a game or two in this conference,'' Chicago coach Pokey Chatman said. ''That's why every game matters so much.''


Chatman's team had a successful week sweeping Minnesota and Connecticut in a pair of home contests. The Sky are starting to jell.


Elena Delle Donne, who leads the league in scoring, has been consistent all year. Now, the Sky are getting contributions from Cappie Pondexter, who they acquired in a blockbuster offseason deal for Epiphanny Prince. Pondexter scored a season-high 29 points in a win over Connecticut on Sunday.


''I thought Cappie got off to a great start and that got everyone else comfortable and we were able to close it out, play a lot of people, and do some really nice things to get ready for our next game, '' Chatman said.


The Sky, who are 3-0 this month, have a busy week ahead with games against Washington, Minnesota and San Antonio.


A look at news from around the WNBA:


HEY NOW YOU'RE AN ALL-STAR: Starters for the WNBA All-Star Game will be announced on Tuesday while the reserves will be unveiled a week later. Balloting concluded last Thursday night. When early returns were released, Delle Donne and Diggins were the leaders. Joining Diggins as the top vote-getters among Western Conference backcourt players was Seimone Augustus of Minnesota. The West frontcourt leaders were Maya Moore of Minnesota, Brittney Griner and Phoenix teammate Candice Dupree. Griner missed the first seven games while serving a suspension for her domestic violence arrest.


In addition to Delle Donne, the top vote-getter among Eastern Conference guards was Atlanta's Shoni Schimmel, who was the MVP of last season's All-Star game. Tamika Catchings of Indiana, Angel McCoughtry of Atlanta and Tina Charles of New York lead the frontcourt in the East.


STAT OF THE WEEK: Phoenix guard Leilani Mitchell is hitting 3-pointers at a record pace. She is shooting 53.1 percent (26 for 49) from behind the arc, just at the WNBA record. Temeka Johnson of Tulsa holds the league mark hitting 53.1 percent in 2012. Jennifer Azzi has the next two best years, making 51.7 and 51.4 of her 3s in 1999 and 2001.


Take away one game against New York where Mitchell was 0 for 5 against her former team and she'd be shooting 59 percent.


WELCOME BACK: Tulsa guard Odyssey Sims returned from a left knee injury that had sidelined her since June 9. The second-year pro scored 14 points in her first game back - a win over Los Angeles on Saturday.


''It feels great. I'm just happy to be playing again,'' said Sims, who played 24 minutes and provided a boost for the Shock, who were thin at guard with the loss of Skylar Diggins for the season with a torn ACL. ''I played as much as I could and did what I could to help my team.''


GAME OF THE WEEK: Lynx at Shock on Sunday. The top two teams in the Western Conference square off in Tulsa. The teams have split their first two meetings this season.

WNBA Capsules


July 12, 2015


ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) Cappie Pondexter scored a season-high 29 points and the Chicago Sky beat the Connecticut Sun 96-76 on Sunday, their second win in 11 days over the Eastern Conference leader.


Pondexter made her first seven shots for 19 first-half points with her first miss on a 25-footer at the halftime buzzer. She finished 11 for 14, including 5 for 6 from 3-point range.


The Sky (8-5) won their third straight overall despite the Sun (7-4) again holding the WNBA's scoring leader, Elena Delle Donne (26.9 ppg), to a season-low 12 points.


Jessica Breland added 12 points for the Sky who led 49-41 at the half and pulled away for good with a 6-0 run to open the third. Breland's jumper with 5:09 left in the fourth gave the Sky their largest lead at 90-65.


Kelsey Bone returned from her one-game suspension to lead the Sun with 18 points. Alex Bentley added 14.


MERCURY 70, STORM 60


PHOENIX (AP) - Brittney Griner scored 26 points and the Mercury beat Seattle for their second victory over the Storm in three days.


Griner had 14 straight points for Phoenix in the third quarter, extending a 10-point lead to 58-42. Four free throws by Alex Harden made it a 20-point advantage.


Seattle, which outscored Phoenix 15-8 in the fourth quarter, rallied to within eight on Ramu Tokashiki's baseline jumper with 1:17 left, but Noelle Quinn found Griner underneath for an easy basket to seal the victory.


DeWanna Bonner added 11 points for the Mercury (8-5), who won at Seattle 94-79 on Friday.


Phoenix has won five straight games and has beaten the Storm eight consecutive times.


Jewell Loyd led the Storm (3-12) with 16 points. Angel Goodrich had eight assists in place of veteran point guard Sue Bird, who rested. Seattle has lost five straight and 10 of 11.


DREAM 84, LIBERTY 76


ATLANTA (AP) - Angel McCoughtry scored 32 points and Atlanta survived a third-quarter collapse to pull out a victory over the Liberty.


The victory was the first for Atlanta (6-7) in three meetings with the Liberty this season and the first in six matchups against New York, which had a three-game winning streak end.


McCoughtry hit 12 of 19 free throws in a game that featured 70 attempts. McCoughtry has scored in double figures in every game this season and 19 in a row overall. Rookie Cierra Burdick added 12 points, a career-high, as did Sydney Carter, making her first start.


After trailing since the first quarter, Tina Charles' four straight points put the Liberty (7-5) in front 69-67 with 5:47 remaining. But Atlanta bounced back and the Dream finished with a 9-2 run over the final three minutes to secure the win.


LYNX 66, STARS 49


MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Maya Moore scored 15 of her 20 points in the first half, and the WNBA-leading Lynx never trailed in a win over the Stars.


Seimone Augustus added 12 points and Moore had nine rebounds for the Lynx (9-3) who built a 50-28 lead after opening the third quarter on an 11-2 run.


The Stars (3-10) missed their first nine field-goal attempts of the game as Minnesota opened on 15-2 run. The Lynx led by no less than 11 the rest of the way.


Dearica Hamby scored 13 points and Kayla Alexander grabbed 11 rebounds to lead San Antonio, which has lost four of its last five.


The top-ranked Lynx defense's 49 points allowed was a season best coming off a season-worst effort in Friday's 90-83 loss at Chicago.

WNBA Regular Season League Standings - 2015




EASTERN CONFERENCE


W L PCT GB CONF HOME AWAY ATS O/U


CHICAGO 8 5 .615 - 6-4 4-1 4-4 6-7-0 9-4-0


CONNECTICUT 7 4 .636 - 3-4 3-3 4-1 8-3-0 5-5-1


NEW YORK 7 5 .583 0.5 5-4 4-2 3-3 8-4-0 6-6-0


WASHINGTON 6 5 .545 1.0 5-4 3-3 3-2 3-8-0 5-6-0


INDIANA 7 6 .538 1.0 4-5 4-4 3-2 5-8-0 9-4-0


ATLANTA 6 7 .462 2.0 4-6 5-4 1-3 6-7-0 5-7-1




WESTERN CONFERENCE


W L PCT GB CONF HOME AWAY ATS O/U


MINNESOTA 9 3 .750 - 8-2 5-1 4-2 7-5-0 4-8-0


TULSA 10 4 .714 - 6-4 6-0 4-4 11-3-0 6-8-0


PHOENIX 8 5 .615 1.5 8-2 5-1 3-4 6-7-0 6-7-0


SAN ANTONIO 3 10 .231 6.5 3-7 3-3 0-7 5-7-1 5-8-0


LOS ANGELES 2 10 .167 7.0 2-6 2-4 0-6 3-8-1 7-4-1


SEATTLE 3 12 .200 7.5 3-9 2-4 1-8 7-8-0 7-7-1

Team Open Line Movements Current Moneyline Halftime Scores


7:05 PM EDT


651 MINNESOTA LYNX -7 -04 -7 / -6.5 / -7 -6.5 -300
652 CONNECTICUT SUN 147u13 145 / 144.5 / 144.5u15 143.5 +250

CON-F-Chiney Ogwumike-OUT


10:05 PM EDT


653 ATLANTA DREAM 153u11 155 / 154.5 / 155 155.5 +355
654 PHOENIX MERCURY -8.5 -8.5 -15 / -9 -05 / -8.5 -15 -8.5 -05 -450

PHO-G-Diana Taurasi-OUT | TV: FS-Arizona, DTV: 686

WNBA Consensus Picks


SIDES (ATS)


Time Away Line Picks Pct Home Line Picks Pct Detail Odds


7:00 PM Minnesota -6.5 208 36.68% Connecticut +6.5 359 63.32% View View


10:00 PM Atlanta +8.5 322 57.19% Phoenix -8.5 241 42.81% View View




TOTALS (OVER/UNDER)


Time Away Total Over Pct Home Total Under Pct Detail Odds


10:00 PM Atlanta 154.5 275 56.82% Phoenix 154.5 209 43.18% View View


7:00 PM Minnesota 144.5 322 65.45% Connecticut 144.5 170 34.55% View View

TUESDAY, JULY 14


Game Score Status Pick Amount


Minnesota - 7:00 PM ET Minnesota -6.5 500 TRIPLE PLAY


Connecticut - Under 144.5 500 TRIPLE PLAY


Atlanta - 10:00 PM ET Phoenix -8.5 500 SLAM DUNK


Phoenix - Over 154.5 500 SLAM DUNK

WNBA JUNE/ JULY RECORD:


*****...............................5 - 9 - 2
DOUBLE PLAY....................18 - 20
TRIPLE PLAY......................6 - 5
SLAM DUNK.......................13 - 8


MLB RECORD FOR JUNE/JULY:


*****.............................60 - 68 - 1 .....................,........- 2.99
double play......................103 - 106 - 2 ............................- 8.81
triple play........................41 - 32 - 1 .............................+ 21.55
grand slam......................62 - 61 - 2...............................- 18.88
double grand slam.............0 - 1.......................................- 8.00


CFL JUNE/JULY RECORD:




SINGLE PLAY.................................1 - 1
DOUBLE PLAY................................3 - 3
TRIPLE PLAY..................................3 - 0
BLOW OUT....................................0 - 2

Team Pitcher Open Line Movements Current Runline Scores


8:15 PM EDT


947 AMERICAN LEAGUE 7o20 7.5u20 / 7.5u15 / 7.5u20 7.5u15 +1.5(-205)
948 NATIONAL LEAGUE -119 -115 / -116 / -117 -118 -1.5(+175)


TV: FOX | MOSTLY CLOUDY, 30% CHANCE THUNDERSTORMS EARLY. WIND OUT TO CENTER 11-16. GAME TEMP 80, RH 69%

MLB Consensus Picks


SIDES (ATS)


7:00 PM American League +106 448 45.95% National League -115 527 54.05% View View




TOTALS (OVER/UNDER)


Time Away Total Over Pct Home Total Under Pct Detail Odds


7:00 PM American League 7.5 558 75.51% National League 7.5 181 24.49% View View