MLB
Tuesday, September 14
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Tips and Trends
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New York Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays [7:10 PM ET]
YANKEES: New York isn't playing like the best team in baseball, as they've lost their past 3 games. The Yankees have allowed an average of nearly 6 runs per game over their last 3 losses. Despite the recent struggles, the Yankees are 87-56 SU and have a magic number of 20. New York is +0.52 and +19.22 units both SU and on the RL respectively this year. Offensively, the Yankees are slumping a bit as they've only scored more than 3 runs twice in their past 7 games overall. Pitcher Ivan Nova is hopeful of getting some run support as he makes the road start tonight against Tampa. The Yankees have won 3 of the 4 games started by Nova this year. Nova is 1-0 with an ERA of 2.92 and a WHIP of 1.34 this year. The Yankees are 5-2 in their last 7 games against a right-handed starter. New York is 54-24 in their last 78 games during game 2 of a series. The Yankees are 24-11 in their last 35 Tuesday games. The Yankees are 2-5 in their last 7 road games. New York is 1-4 in their last 5 road games against a right-handed starter.
Yankees are 0-4 last 4 games against a team with a winning record.
Over is 4-1 last 5 road games against a team with a home winning percentage greater than .600%.
Key Injuries - RF Nick Swisher (knee) is questionable.
Projected Score: 3
RAYS: (-140, O/U 9) Tampa Bay has the second best record in baseball at 86-56 SU, 0.5 game back of the Yankees. Tampa is 6-5 this year against the Yankees, showing just how similar and competitive these 2 teams are. The Rays are 43-26 SU at home this year, as well as 37-25 within their own division. Tampa is +7.64 and -0.90 units both SU and on the RL this year. Righty Matt Garza will make the home start tonight, as he is 14-8 SU with an ERA of 3.68 and a WHIP of 1.21 this season. The Rays are 6-1 in their last 7 Tuesday games overall. Tampa is 22-8 in their last 30 games against a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30. The Rays are 1-4 in their last 5 games against a right-handed starter. Tampa is 5-1 in Garza's last 6 home starts against a team with a winning record. The Rays are 6-2 in Garza's last 8 starts during game 2 of a series. Tampa is 21-7 in Garza's last 28 home starts. The Rays are 19-7 in Garza's last 26 starts with 5 days of rest. The Rays are 7-3 in Garza's last 10 starts against a team with a winning record.
Rays are 7-3 last 10 games against a team with a winning percentage above .600%.
Over is 7-0-1 last 8 games against the American League East.
Key Injuries - RF Gabe Kapler (ankle) is questionable.
Projected Score: 5 (Side of the Day)
San Diego Padres at Colorado Rockies [8:40 PM ET]
PADRES: San Diego is on the verge of an epic collapse, as it was just a few weeks ago they had the 2nd largest division lead in baseball. San Diego has been a feel good story this year in MLB, as they are relatively an unknown roster with a small payroll. However, their recent losing streak has made their success this year a distant memory. The Padres are 80-62 SU this year, tied for the National League West lead. San Diego is 38-30 SU on the road this year, one of the best road records in baseball. The Padres are +19.42 and 10.27 units both SU and on the RL this season. Veteran Jon Garland will make the road start tonight, as he is 13-11 SU with an ERA of 3.52 and a WHIP of 1.36 this season. The Padres are 4-1 in their last 5 road games against a team with a home winning percentage greater than .600%. The Padres are 4-10 in their last 14 games against the National League West. San Diego is 1-5 in their last 6 road games. The Padres are 1-6 in their last 7 games against a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30. The Padres are 9-4 in Garland's last 13 starts with 4 days of rest. San Diego is 1-4 in Garland's last 5 starts against a team with a winning record. The Padres are 0-4 in Garland's last 4 starts against the National League West.
Padres are 2-9 last 11 games against a team with a winning record.
Under is 6-2 last 8 games against the National League West.
Key Injuries - CF Tony Gwynn (wrist) is out.
Projected Score: 5
ROCKIES: (-155, O/U 9.5) It's happening, again! Colorado is making their typical sensational run in September to help them move up the standings. The Rockies have won their past 10 games, and have moved to within 1.5 games of the National League West division lead. Colorado is 79-64 SU this year, including an impressive 50-22 SU at home. The Rockies are +3.68 and +7.48 units this year both SU and on the RL respectively this season. The Rockies have won 5 of their past 6 meetings against the Padres overall. Colorado will look to keep up their outstanding pitching of late when they turn to Jason Hammel tonight. Hammel is 10-7 SU this season, with an ERA of 4.34 and a WHIP of 1.31 this year. The Rockies are 6-0 in their last 6 games against the National League West. Colorado is 4-0 in their last 4 home games against a team with a winning road record. The Rockies are 6-0 in their last 6 games against a right-handed starter. Colorado is 5-0 in their last 5 games against a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30. The Rockies are 5-0 in Hammel's last 5 home starts against a team with a winning record. The Rockies are 8-0 in Hammel's last 8 starts against the National League West. Colorado is 13-1 in Hammel's last 14 starts during game 2 of a series. The Rockies are 21-6 in Hammel's last 27 home starts overall.
Rockies are 41-18 last 59 home games against a team with a winning record.
Under is 15-4 last 19 games against the National League West.
Key Injuries - C Chris Iannetta (calf) is questionable.
Projected Score: 7 (OVER-Total of the Day)
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Hot Lines: Today's best MLB bets
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Los Angeles Dodgers at San Francisco Giants (-107, 7)
The San Francisco Giants are streaking, pulling even with the San Diego Padres for first place in the National League West. The reason? No one is pitching as well as the Giants.
Over the past week the Giants have gone 5-2 thanks to a stellar performance by the team’s hurlers, posting a miniscule 1.57 ERA and giving up an MLB-low 11 earned runs over that span. The Giants also have a sterling 64-19 strikeout-to-walk ratio during that time, holding opponents to a meager .178 batting average.
Possibly more impressive, the team has averaged only 3.3 runs per game over that span. The team doesn’t get many runs, but with a staff like this, it makes the few it gets count.
“Usually about this time, I’m 20 or 30 games out and I’m counting the days till a Hawaii vacation,” Giants infielder Aubrey Huff told the New York Times. “I would get to the field at 4 every day and be the first one to leave. Now I’m the first one here and the last one to leave. I feel like I’m a rookie again.”
Pick: Giants.
Minnesota Twins at Chicago White Sox (-104, 7.5)
The White Sox pitchers get nauseous when they see the Twins on the schedule.
Not only is Minnesota 10-5 against the Pale Hose this season, but the Twins hitters are absolutely raking against their American League Central rival. In 15 games between the two teams this year, Minnesota is batting .306 with a .366 on-base percentage, 14 home runs and a staggering 34 doubles. The Twins are averaging 4.8 runs per game in the team’s meetings this year.
"We've got nothing to lose," White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko, whose team is six games back of the Twins, told the Associated Press. "There's no pressure on us and we shouldn't play with any pressure ... It's really the Twins' to lose.”
However pressure-packed situations is where Minnesota delivers the most. The two-teams have had nine games decided by a single-run this season. The Twins are 7-2 in those games.
"We feel like we need to win every game in September," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire told the Associated Press. "We've been there before, chasing. Whether you have the lead or are trying to catch up, you want to win."
And they will.
Pick: Twins.
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This Day in Baseball
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On September 14 in Baseball History...
1872 - An unusual play highlights the Athletics-Boston match in Philadelphia. With the Athletics leading 4-1 in the seventh inning, and runners on first and second, Fergy Malone pops up to shortstop George Wright. Wright catches the ball in his hat and then throws the ball to third base, after which it is thrown to second base. Wright claims a double play has been completed, as a batter cannot be retired with a "hat catch," and thus runners Cap Anson and Bob Reach are forced out. The umpire finally gives Malone another at bat, declaring nobody out. The Athletics win 6-4.
1878 - The Cincinnati Red Stockings and Indianapolis Blues play an exhibition game in which they experiment with calling every pitch a ball or a strike and allowing only six balls for a walk. The rules up to this time provide for the umpire to call a "warning pitch" on the first wide delivery. The reaction is favorable.
1890 - When the Buffalo Players League club captain Jay Faatz disagrees with management, Connie Mack become captain of the team. This unofficially marks the start of Mack's managing career that spans more than half a century.
1903 - Red Ames' debut with the New York Giants was a five-inning, 5-0, no-hit victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. The game was called in mid-afternoon because of unusual darkness.
1905 - Joe Tinker and Johnny Evers engage in a fistfight on the field during an exhibition game in Washington, Indiana, because Evers took a taxi to the park, leaving his teammates in the hotel lobby. The pair will not speak to each other again for thirty-three years.
1913 - Cubs hurler Larry Cheney hurls a 14-hit shutout against the Giants, defeating them 7-0 while setting a Major League record for most hits allowed in a whitewashing. Milt Gaston of Washington will duplicate the feat on July 10, 1928.
1923 - Red Sox first baseman George Burns pulled off an unassisted triple play against the Cleveland Indians.
1924 - Walter Johnson is elected American League Most Valuable Player with fifty-five points. White Sox second baseman Eddie Collins is second in the voting. He was runner-up to Babe Ruth in 1923.
1951 - Bob Nieman of the St. Louis Browns hit home runs in his first two at-bats in the majors. Both came off Boston Red Sox pitcher Mickey McDermott. The Red Sox won 9-6.
1954 - Johnny Antonelli's twenty-first win of the year is a 1-0 victory over the Cardinals. A first-inning double by Willie Mays is his 82nd extra-base hit, breaking Mel Ott's team record.
1955 - Herb Score of the Indians breaks Grover Alexander's rookie record of 235 strikeouts. He finishes the season with 245.
1958 - The Yankees win their 24th pennant, and ninth under Casey Stengel. This ties Casey for first with Connie Mack for the most American League pennants won.
1968 - Denny McLain of the Detroit Tigers beat the Oakland A's 5-4 to become the first pitcher since Dizzy Dean in 1934 to win thirty games.
1975 - The Red Sox top the Brewers 8-6 as Robin Yount breaks Mel Ott's 47-year-old record by playing in his 242nd game as a teenager.
1986 - Bob Brenly of San Francisco tied a Major League record with four errors in one inning, but atoned with two homers, including the game-winner, to give the Giants a 7-6 victory over the Atlanta Braves. Brenly, normally a catcher, was playing third base.
1987 - Ernie Whitt hit three of Toronto's Major League record 10 home runs as the Blue Jays rolled to an 18-3 victory over the Orioles. Baltimore shortstop Cal Ripken, Jr. had his consecutive-inning streak stopped at 8,243 when he was replaced at shortstop by Ron Washington in the eighth inning.
1989 - Jeff Reardon saves Minnesota's 2-0 win over Toronto to become the first pitcher ever to record at least 30 saves in five consecutive seasons.
1990 - Ken Griffey and his son hit back-to-back homers in the first inning of the Seattle Mariners' 7-5 loss to the California Angels. The unprecedented father-and-son homers came off Kirk McCaskill.
1994 - The baseball season, already shut down by a month-long strike, was canceled along with the World Series in a vote by 26-of-28 teams.
1996 - Oakland's Mark McGwire became the 13th Major Leaguer to hit 50 home runs in a season in a 9-8 loss to Cleveland.
1996 - Todd Hundley's opposite-field home run ties the game between the Mets and Braves and breaks Roy Campanella's record for homers by a catcher with forty-one.
1998 - The Atlanta Braves clinched their seventh straight division crown, winning the National League East with a victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. Among the major pro sports leagues - baseball, NFL, NBA and NHL - only seven franchises have finished first during the regular season at least seven times in a row.
