THE SPORTS ADVISORS
INTERLEAGUE
N.Y. Mets (39-41) vs. N.Y. Yankees (44-37)
Left-hander Oliver Perez (5-5, 5.29 ERA), who has just one win since shutting down the Yankees on May 18, takes the hill for the Mets as they wrap up their four-game interleague set at Shea Stadium. The Mets crushed the Yankees 15-6 in the first game of Friday?s unique split-stadium doubleheader at Yankee Stadium, but they?ve gone on to lose the next two at home by scores of 9-0 Friday night and 3-2 Saturday, Still, Jerry Manuel?s club is 11-6 in its last 17 interleague games and 7-3 in its last 10 Sunday outings.
Despite dropping the last two contests, the Mets still lead this season series 3-2, with the three wins coming by a combined score of 33-12.
Right-hander Darrell Rasner (4-5, 4.50) takes the ball for the Yankees trying to shake his own slump, having netted just one win since May 21. The Yanks are on a 24-12 roll, including 11-6 on the highway. The Bronx Bombers are also 10-3 in their last 13 in interleague play and 20-6 in their past 26 Sunday games.
The Mets are a middling 3-4 in Perez?s last seven starts, and the southpaw has figured in the decision in just three of those games, going 1-2. On Tuesday against Seattle, Perez got drilled for six runs (two homers) on seven hits in five innings in an 11-0 home loss. Perez has given up at least four earned runs in five of his last seven outings, posting a bloated 6.88 ERA in 34 2/3 total innings. On the bright side, the Mets are 7-3 in Perez?s last 10 Sunday starts.
Rasner is just 1-5 in his last six starts. On Tuesday at Pittsburgh, he got pounded for seven runs (all earned) on 10 hits in five innings in a 12-5 defeat. The young right-hander hasn?t gone beyond five innings in any of his last three starts, though he did get the win in a 5-3 home victory over San Diego on June 18, allowing two runs on three hits in five innings.
Perez is 2-2 with a 5.55 ERA at home this season, but he?s been much more successful against the Yanks, going 4-1 with a 2.88 ERA in five career starts. On May 18 at Yankee Stadium, he allowed just two runs on three hits in 7 2/3 innings of an 11-2 Mets rout. Meanwhile, Rasner is 1-4 with a 6.92 ERA in his five road starts this season. Also, in his one career outing against the Mets last season at Shea Stadium, he allowed two earned runs and failed to record an out in the first inning before leaving with an injury in a 10-7 loss.
The over is on a 5-2 tear in this interleague rivalry and is 4-2 in the last six at Shea Stadium. The over is also on streaks of 5-1 overall when Perez starts, 5-0 when Perez works on Sundays, 21-10-4 for the Mets in interleague games against winning teams, 4-2 for the Yanks on the road and 5-3 for the Yankees against left-handers.
ATS ADVANTAGE: N.Y. METS and OVER
L.A. Angels (48-33) at L.A. Dodgers (38-42)
One night after getting no-hit, yet still pulling out a 1-0 victory, the Dodgers go for a three-game sweep of the Angels when they hand the ball to veteran right-hander Derek Lowe (5-7, 4.05). The Dodgers on Saturday got their lone run in the fifth inning when Matt Kemp reached on an error, stole second base, went to third on a throwing error and scored on a sacrifice fly to steal a 1-0 victory. Joe Torre?s club, which took Friday?s series opener 6-0, became the fifth team since 1900 to win a game in which it was held hitless.
Even though they?ve won the first two games of this set, the Dodgers remain mired in slumps of 16-39 in interleague play, 6-22 in interleague games against winning teams, 18-44 as an underdog and 5-9 against the A.L. West. However, they now lead the season series against the Angels, 3-2.
Red-hot ace John Lackey (5-1, 1.65 ERA) is scheduled to toe the slab for the Angels, who still sport baseball?s best road record at 26-15, including 10-4 in their last 14 as a visitor. Mike Scioscia?s club is also on runs of7-3 in interleague road games, 9-4 in the last 13 against the N.L. West and 25-12 in its last 37 interleague games overall.
The Angels still hold a 9-4 advantage over the Dodgers in the last 13 series meetings. However, the home team is now 18-4 in the past 22 clashes.
The Angels have won five in a row behind Lackey, who has won his last four outings after missing the first six weeks of the season due to a strained triceps. On Monday at Washington, he yielded just two runs (one earned) on six hits in eight innings as the Angels rallied for a 3-2 victory, improving to 15-5 in their ace?s last 20 outings. Lackey has pitched at least seven innings in each of his eight starts this year, giving up only one earned run on six occasions.
Lowe and the Dodgers are 3-2 in his last five starts, although he got roughed up in a four-run eighth inning Tuesday against the White Sox. Lowe ended up allowing five runs on nine hits over 7 1/3 innings in a 6-1 home loss. Lowe is 3-4 with a no-decision in his last eight starts, but he?s thrown at least seven innings in six of those games.
Lackey is 3-1 with a sterling 1.80 ERA in four road starts this season, and he?s 4-1 with an even more minuscule 1.41 ERA in seven career appearances (six starts) against the Dodgers. Lowe, meanwhile, is 4-3 with a 3.52 ERA at Dodger Stadium this season, and he?s 6-6 with a 3.29 ERA in 28 career appearances (12 starts) against the Angels. However, last month in Anaheim, Lowe got tagged for seven runs on 10 hits in five innings in a 10-2 Angels shellacking.
With Lackey throwing, the under is on a 13-3-1 spree and is 21-7-3 in his last 31 road starts and 9-1 in his last 10 when facing an N.L. West opponent. The under has also cashed in Lackey?s last six starts against the Dodgers. Additionally, six of Lowe?s last seven interleague starts have stayed low, and the under is 11-3 in his last 14 outings in the third game of a series. Finally, the under is on streaks of 7-2 in this rivalry (2-0 in this series), 6-0 overall for the Dodgers, 15-5 for the Dodgers at home, 43-18-5 overall for the Angels and 20-7-2 for the Angels on the highway.
ATS ADVANTAGE: L.A. ANGELS and UNDER
Chicago Cubs (49-32) at Chicago White Sox (45-35)
Left-hander Mark Buehrle (5-6, 4.04), who has settled down significantly in his last four starts, gets the ball tonight as the White Sox look to complete a three-game sweep of the crosstown rival Cubs at U.S. Cellular Field. The Pale Hose hammered their neighbors 10-3 Friday, then came back yesterday and eked out a 6-5 victory. The White Sox, who got swept in a three-game set at Wrigley Field last weekend, have won four of their last five and they?re now 26-11 at home this year, including a stout 22-6 in their last 28 at U.S. Cellular.
The White Sox are also riding hot streaks of 11-1 in interleague home games against winning teams, 20-8 in the third game of a series and 12-5 in Buehrle?s last 17 Game 3 starts.
Left-hander Sean Marshall (0-1, 5.40 ERA), who was recalled from Triple-A Iowa earlier this week, will get the starting nod for the Cubs, who have lost four of five since sweeping a three-game home series from the White Sox last weekend. Lou Piniella?s squad is 16-22 on the highway this season, compared with a 33-10 home record, and the Cubbies have dropped five straight interleague roadies.
Despite the results the last two days, the Cubs are still on an 8-3 roll against the White Sox.
Buehrle is 3-0 with a no-decision in his last four starts, going eight strong innings in all four contests and yielding a total of just four runs, all earned, for a stellar 1.13 ERA. On Tuesday against the Dodgers, he yielded a single run ? on a solo homer ? on six hits in eight innings as Chicago rolled to a 6-1 road victory. The White Sox are 3-1 during Buehrle?s hot streak, having outscored opponents by a combined 25-5 in the three wins, and they are 5-1 in his last six interleague starts.
Buehrle is 2-2 with a 3.46 ERA in six home starts this season, and he?s 3-4 with a 5.10 ERA in nine career starts against the North Siders.
Marshall, who made 13 relief appearances in a stint earlier this season with the Cubs, got his first start of the year Tuesday against Baltimore. The 25-year-old took the loss, allowing four runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings in a 7-5 home setback. Dating to last season, the Cubs are 1-5 with Marshall start against winning teams.
Marshall has a 2.57 ERA in nine road relief appearances this season, and he?s 1-1 with a 2.92 ERA in two career starts against the South Siders.
The first two games of this series have topped the total, but the under is still 7-3 in the past 10 clashes at U.S. Cellular. Furthermore, the under is 6-1 in Marshall?s last seven starts, 5-1 for Buehrle in interleague play and 10-4-1 with Buehrle tossing the third game of a series.
ATS ADVANTAGE: CHICAGO WHITE SOX and UNDER
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