3-0 on the season, hit two big ones in two nights and it's time to keep this machine rolling:
Los Angeles Angels ML +106
There might not be too many fans in attendance with the Lakers down 2-0 and on the brink in Dallas (at the very same time as this game) but I don't know that there is a hotter hitting team than the Angels right now in MLB and I'm willing to ride them as a home underdog. The Indians are one of the best teams in MLB so far in 2011 putting together a 21-9 record overall but of their nine losses, two of them have been here in Los Angeles against the Angels, the same Angels who are batting an impressive .301 in their last 10 games overall, despite only winning 6 of those 10 games. Sure it's tough to against a Cleveland team that is 8-2 in Game 1 of a series this season and that are 6-0 in Game 1 coming off a win the game before but there is a time to fade good teams and there is a time to recognize lines that are off and this is one of those times. The one and only reason the Indians are road favorites in a game like this is because Justin Masterson is on the mound tonight and the Indians are 6-0 in his six starts this season (he is 5-0 in those starts).
Now on the subject of starting pitchers, as well as Masterson has pitched all season and as good as he has been, you have to keep in mind he is getting 6.33 runs of support per start in 2011 and that can't last forever. Masterson has put together a very impressive six Quality Starts this season and has not allowed more than 3 ER's in any of those starts while lasting at least 6.0 innings in each of those starts. He has been great against the Angels in his career winning three of four starts and putting together four Quality Starts in four career starts against the Halos. So why go against him and why back a starting pitcher like Tyler Chatwood for the Angels who already allowed 4 ER's in his only career start against the Indians lineup (and it was a home). Well for starts, Chatwood was making his MLB debut and nerves got the best of him. The 21 year old has not lost a game since going 2-0 in his next four starts. I think it's also important to note that Masterson is coming off 120 pitch performance against Cleveland last Sunday and that's tough to recover from against a team hitting above .300 their last 10 games. It really is.
Did you know that Cleveland was batting only .218 against right handed pitchers on the road this season despite being the fourth best hitting team in baseball? I'm telling you I have a feeling Masterson has problems recovering from that 120 pitch performance against Detroit and this Chatwood kid has not lost since losing to the Indians in his MLB debut in this very same ballpark. I won't get into stats too much but the last 11 times Justin Masterson has started on the road against a team with a winning record on the year, the Indians have won only three of those starts. He also seems to have issues with the opening game of a series where Cleveland is 3-12 in the last 15 Game 1 situations he pitches in. Traditionally when these two teams meet the games are low scoring (the last seven meetings in Los Angeles have all gone UNDER) so you have to appreciate the fact that Masterson could have another great outing but the Angels still find a way to beat him and Chatwood should already have a good idea on how to approach this very good Indians lineup. Sure it's a risk to go against the Indians but the Angels as a home underdog is too good to pass up. I have to do it.
:toast:
Los Angeles Angels ML +106
There might not be too many fans in attendance with the Lakers down 2-0 and on the brink in Dallas (at the very same time as this game) but I don't know that there is a hotter hitting team than the Angels right now in MLB and I'm willing to ride them as a home underdog. The Indians are one of the best teams in MLB so far in 2011 putting together a 21-9 record overall but of their nine losses, two of them have been here in Los Angeles against the Angels, the same Angels who are batting an impressive .301 in their last 10 games overall, despite only winning 6 of those 10 games. Sure it's tough to against a Cleveland team that is 8-2 in Game 1 of a series this season and that are 6-0 in Game 1 coming off a win the game before but there is a time to fade good teams and there is a time to recognize lines that are off and this is one of those times. The one and only reason the Indians are road favorites in a game like this is because Justin Masterson is on the mound tonight and the Indians are 6-0 in his six starts this season (he is 5-0 in those starts).
Now on the subject of starting pitchers, as well as Masterson has pitched all season and as good as he has been, you have to keep in mind he is getting 6.33 runs of support per start in 2011 and that can't last forever. Masterson has put together a very impressive six Quality Starts this season and has not allowed more than 3 ER's in any of those starts while lasting at least 6.0 innings in each of those starts. He has been great against the Angels in his career winning three of four starts and putting together four Quality Starts in four career starts against the Halos. So why go against him and why back a starting pitcher like Tyler Chatwood for the Angels who already allowed 4 ER's in his only career start against the Indians lineup (and it was a home). Well for starts, Chatwood was making his MLB debut and nerves got the best of him. The 21 year old has not lost a game since going 2-0 in his next four starts. I think it's also important to note that Masterson is coming off 120 pitch performance against Cleveland last Sunday and that's tough to recover from against a team hitting above .300 their last 10 games. It really is.
Did you know that Cleveland was batting only .218 against right handed pitchers on the road this season despite being the fourth best hitting team in baseball? I'm telling you I have a feeling Masterson has problems recovering from that 120 pitch performance against Detroit and this Chatwood kid has not lost since losing to the Indians in his MLB debut in this very same ballpark. I won't get into stats too much but the last 11 times Justin Masterson has started on the road against a team with a winning record on the year, the Indians have won only three of those starts. He also seems to have issues with the opening game of a series where Cleveland is 3-12 in the last 15 Game 1 situations he pitches in. Traditionally when these two teams meet the games are low scoring (the last seven meetings in Los Angeles have all gone UNDER) so you have to appreciate the fact that Masterson could have another great outing but the Angels still find a way to beat him and Chatwood should already have a good idea on how to approach this very good Indians lineup. Sure it's a risk to go against the Indians but the Angels as a home underdog is too good to pass up. I have to do it.
:toast:
