Mariners @ Orioles
Play: Under 9
Comment:
Pros:
This is a good spot for Chen to return to form, as he faces a struggling Mariners lineup that he has dominated in the past. Chen comes into today’s game with a career 1.74 ERA against the Mariners, with all his starts against them coming last year. Last year, Chen dominated Beltre and several other Mariners role players. Although Sexon did have some success against Chen last year, his style of hitter doesn’t match up well with finesse pitchers, and he has also been hitting well below .200 against left handers this year. In fact, the entire Mariners team has been struggling immensely against left handed pitching this year, as they are barely hovering over the .200 mark entering this game. Everrett, Johima, Sexon, Beltre, Bloomquist, and Suzuki all come into today’s game hitting .200 or less against left handed pitching year to date. Throughout his career, Chen has been a better home pitcher, and has pitched much better during day games as well. He has also faced teams that love left handed pitching so far this year, and it has shown in his horrid early season stats. The Mariners lineup has really been struggling to put up runs over the last couple of weeks, and this is not the ideal spot for them to start. Chen is also backed by a bullpen that is steadily improving as well.
This is also a good spot for Hernandez to return to form, as he is looking better and better in each of his starts. He appears to have gotten his slider back, and has shown much better control of his pitches in his last two starts. He also tweaked his delivery a couple of weeks ago, which his pitching coach was claiming was the main driver of his early season struggles. Since this tweak, he has resembled last year’s dominant pitcher more than this year’s sophomore slump pitcher. In my opinion, he is still one of the top 10 pitchers in baseball, but has quickly lost the respect of lines makers with his slow start. Although the Orioles lineup is hitting well as of late, they haven’t shown much against power pitchers like Hernandez. Tejada won’t be playing 100 percent today as well, as he injured his knee in last nights game, and was taken out later in the game. Although Hernandez struggled in his only start against the Orioles last year, he was mainly roughed up by hitters no longer on the team.
Lastly, both pitchers should be helped by the home plate umpire, Cousins, who has a pretty generous strike zone. It will especially work in the favor of Chen, who is a finesse pitcher who likes to corner pitch. In his only start with Cousins BHP home plate, he allowed only one run to the Yankees last year.
Cons:
My main concern is that that Mariners bats suddenly come alive. They are way too good of a lineup to continue to underachieve in the fashion they have recently. They are due for a breakout game, which could come at any time and against any pitcher. In their last game against a left handed pitcher, they seemed to get a better read on him, as they hit Buerhle rather well. Chen seems to lack the confidence and control he showcased last year as well. The same could be said for Hernandez. Betting an under which has two of these pitchers starting, involves a lot of speculation and some risk. They are also not backed by the ideal bullpens you want in an under bet.
Conclusion:
In my opinion, this is a good spot for both starting pitchers to bounce back from a slow start. I have no problem taking an under when a slumping Mariners lineup is involved, as they have yet to show any signs of breaking out of their funk. Good value on the under in my opinion.
Play: Under 9
Comment:
Pros:
This is a good spot for Chen to return to form, as he faces a struggling Mariners lineup that he has dominated in the past. Chen comes into today’s game with a career 1.74 ERA against the Mariners, with all his starts against them coming last year. Last year, Chen dominated Beltre and several other Mariners role players. Although Sexon did have some success against Chen last year, his style of hitter doesn’t match up well with finesse pitchers, and he has also been hitting well below .200 against left handers this year. In fact, the entire Mariners team has been struggling immensely against left handed pitching this year, as they are barely hovering over the .200 mark entering this game. Everrett, Johima, Sexon, Beltre, Bloomquist, and Suzuki all come into today’s game hitting .200 or less against left handed pitching year to date. Throughout his career, Chen has been a better home pitcher, and has pitched much better during day games as well. He has also faced teams that love left handed pitching so far this year, and it has shown in his horrid early season stats. The Mariners lineup has really been struggling to put up runs over the last couple of weeks, and this is not the ideal spot for them to start. Chen is also backed by a bullpen that is steadily improving as well.
This is also a good spot for Hernandez to return to form, as he is looking better and better in each of his starts. He appears to have gotten his slider back, and has shown much better control of his pitches in his last two starts. He also tweaked his delivery a couple of weeks ago, which his pitching coach was claiming was the main driver of his early season struggles. Since this tweak, he has resembled last year’s dominant pitcher more than this year’s sophomore slump pitcher. In my opinion, he is still one of the top 10 pitchers in baseball, but has quickly lost the respect of lines makers with his slow start. Although the Orioles lineup is hitting well as of late, they haven’t shown much against power pitchers like Hernandez. Tejada won’t be playing 100 percent today as well, as he injured his knee in last nights game, and was taken out later in the game. Although Hernandez struggled in his only start against the Orioles last year, he was mainly roughed up by hitters no longer on the team.
Lastly, both pitchers should be helped by the home plate umpire, Cousins, who has a pretty generous strike zone. It will especially work in the favor of Chen, who is a finesse pitcher who likes to corner pitch. In his only start with Cousins BHP home plate, he allowed only one run to the Yankees last year.
Cons:
My main concern is that that Mariners bats suddenly come alive. They are way too good of a lineup to continue to underachieve in the fashion they have recently. They are due for a breakout game, which could come at any time and against any pitcher. In their last game against a left handed pitcher, they seemed to get a better read on him, as they hit Buerhle rather well. Chen seems to lack the confidence and control he showcased last year as well. The same could be said for Hernandez. Betting an under which has two of these pitchers starting, involves a lot of speculation and some risk. They are also not backed by the ideal bullpens you want in an under bet.
Conclusion:
In my opinion, this is a good spot for both starting pitchers to bounce back from a slow start. I have no problem taking an under when a slumping Mariners lineup is involved, as they have yet to show any signs of breaking out of their funk. Good value on the under in my opinion.
