7/29/14 Yesterday's Results: 1-1 July Record: 31-27 (53.45%)
Angels @ Orioles <o
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Recommendation: Angels -113<o></o>
TheHalos come into this game running hot on the road, winning 6 of their last 7 onthe highway. Leading the way is Mike Trout, who can hit anywhere but leads themajors in away OPS. Both teams are in good current form, with pitching beingthe key in the success as both of these lineups have no trouble putting runs onthe board. <o></o>
TheOrioles are the current favorite to win the division, although it’s certainlyup for grabs as the Yankees are on their heels and the Rays are making a hugepush following their terrible start. Nonetheless, the O’s went 6-4 during adifficult road trip to start the 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] half. The Angels will be seeingChris Tillman for the 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] time in less than a week which is sure towork to their advantage. Tillman’s numbers on the surface look solid. He hasn’twon in his last 5 starts due to lack of run support. But this guy has been quitepossibly the luckiest pitcher in the league that last few seasons. He’s a flyball pitcher who stats are average at best, and every indicating leads to himhaving a significant drop off. He had success against the Angels last week, butI wouldn’t count on that carrying over into this one.<o></o>
JaredWeaver is 4-0 with a 2.68 ERA in his last 7 starts, and has had success againstthe Orioles. His command has been great, particularly with the fastball, soWeaver looks to be a “bet on” pitcher right now. The Angels bullpen has alsobeen strong as of late, putting up a 1.78 ERA in their last 21 games. We’relooking at a possible let down spot here for the Orioles, so let’s take advantageand lay the small chalk. Take the Angels. <o></o>
Rockies @ Cubs <o></o>
Recommendation: Rockies +107 <o></o>
Edwin Jackson is the worst startingpitcher right now in all of baseball, period. How this guy still has a startingspot in any rotation is beyond me. Theo Epstein is dreaming right now if hethinks that he’ll be able to move Jackson before the deadline. He’s 0-4 with a7.47 ERA in his last 6 starts, and the sabermetrics indicate that he’s beenevery bit as terrible as those numbers indicate. He’s also due 52 million overthe next 4 years, so anyone willing to eat up that kind of salary mine as welljust burn their money. <o></o>
JorgeDe La Rosa’s future is also unknown, although it’s becoming more and morelikely that he’ll remain in a Colorado uniform. The southpaw has actually pitchedwell lately, going 5-0 with a 3.05 ERA in his last 6 outing. Those numbers areshocking considering how abysmal the Rockies pitching has been. He’s alsoallowed one earned run or less in his last 3. I understand this lineup has beendecimated with injuries all year long, but it still has more than enoughfirepower to slap around the woeful Edwin Jackson. We have a classic “wrongside” favorite here so let’s take the underdog price and cash in with theRockies. <o></o>
Cardinals @ Padres<o></o>
Recommendation: Cardinals +102<o></o>
Thisone figures to be a pitcher’s duel as Lance Lynn and Tyson Ross take the moundfor their respective teams. I’ve been on record often talking about how anemicthis Friars offense is. They’re one of the worst offensive teams in the historyof the game and just dealt away one of their biggest threats in Chase Headley. Whatmost people don’t know is that the Cardinals offense is right behind them withthe 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] fewest runs scored in the league. The “total” sits at a verylow 6 so we’ll look to some of the extraneous factors and play the side. <o></o>
The pitchingequation in this one sets up about even. Tyson Ross is one of the most underratedpitchers in baseball due to the fact that he plays in a small market. LanceLynn is a high quality pitcher as well, but gets overshadowed in St. Louisbehind Adam Wainwright and others. Both of these pitches have ERA’s below 2 inthe month of July so we should expect dominance from both sides tonight. <o></o>
As forthe other factors, I have to give the Cardinals the edge in pretty much everycategory. Despite having an offense that is far below what is was just a yearago, this lineup far exceeds that of the one in San Diego. The Card’s alsoadded A.J. Pierzynski, who is no Yadier Molina but it certainly an upgrade fromTony Cruz. Laying any kind of chalk with the Padres right now is just a terribleidea. We’ll take the better team all the way in this one and side with theCardinals. <o></o>
Yankees @ Rangers<o></o>
Recommendation: Yankees -147<o></o>
BrandonMcCarthy is loving his fresh start in New York. He’s gone 2-0 with a 1.45 ERAin his first 3 starts in the city that never sleeps. McCarthy has been by farthe most unlucky pitcher in baseball this season. Everything that could gowrong for this guy did while in Arizona, and he had a horrible record to show forit. But every advanced metrics stat indicated that he was primed for aturnaround. It looks like that turnaround has finally begun which makesMcCarthy a “bet on” pitcher even at this kind of price. His recent quotes alsoindicate that he is feeling a great deal of confidence which will only help hisperformance. <o></o>
TheYankees are far from the powerhouse that we’re used to seeing. Injuries havetorn apart this starting rotation and the season seems to be dedicated tomaking sure that the very likeable Derek Jeter is sent off in style. However,this team is very much in the race in what is a weak AL East. They keep hangingaround and actually have a decent shot at caching the Orioles who are not usedto controlling a division lead. <o></o>
Theawful Nick Martinez takes the hill for the rangers. Martinez hasn’t won in hislast 8 starts while posting a 0-5 record with a 6.98 ERA. I could go on butthere’s just not anything positive to say about this guy right now. Big edge tothe Yanks in this one and we’ll lay the chalk and cruise to an easy victory.Take the Yankees. <o></o>
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Angels @ Orioles <o
></o>Recommendation: Angels -113<o
></o>TheHalos come into this game running hot on the road, winning 6 of their last 7 onthe highway. Leading the way is Mike Trout, who can hit anywhere but leads themajors in away OPS. Both teams are in good current form, with pitching beingthe key in the success as both of these lineups have no trouble putting runs onthe board. <o
></o>TheOrioles are the current favorite to win the division, although it’s certainlyup for grabs as the Yankees are on their heels and the Rays are making a hugepush following their terrible start. Nonetheless, the O’s went 6-4 during adifficult road trip to start the 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] half. The Angels will be seeingChris Tillman for the 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] time in less than a week which is sure towork to their advantage. Tillman’s numbers on the surface look solid. He hasn’twon in his last 5 starts due to lack of run support. But this guy has been quitepossibly the luckiest pitcher in the league that last few seasons. He’s a flyball pitcher who stats are average at best, and every indicating leads to himhaving a significant drop off. He had success against the Angels last week, butI wouldn’t count on that carrying over into this one.<o
></o>JaredWeaver is 4-0 with a 2.68 ERA in his last 7 starts, and has had success againstthe Orioles. His command has been great, particularly with the fastball, soWeaver looks to be a “bet on” pitcher right now. The Angels bullpen has alsobeen strong as of late, putting up a 1.78 ERA in their last 21 games. We’relooking at a possible let down spot here for the Orioles, so let’s take advantageand lay the small chalk. Take the Angels. <o
></o>Rockies @ Cubs <o
></o>Recommendation: Rockies +107 <o
></o>Edwin Jackson is the worst startingpitcher right now in all of baseball, period. How this guy still has a startingspot in any rotation is beyond me. Theo Epstein is dreaming right now if hethinks that he’ll be able to move Jackson before the deadline. He’s 0-4 with a7.47 ERA in his last 6 starts, and the sabermetrics indicate that he’s beenevery bit as terrible as those numbers indicate. He’s also due 52 million overthe next 4 years, so anyone willing to eat up that kind of salary mine as welljust burn their money. <o
></o>JorgeDe La Rosa’s future is also unknown, although it’s becoming more and morelikely that he’ll remain in a Colorado uniform. The southpaw has actually pitchedwell lately, going 5-0 with a 3.05 ERA in his last 6 outing. Those numbers areshocking considering how abysmal the Rockies pitching has been. He’s alsoallowed one earned run or less in his last 3. I understand this lineup has beendecimated with injuries all year long, but it still has more than enoughfirepower to slap around the woeful Edwin Jackson. We have a classic “wrongside” favorite here so let’s take the underdog price and cash in with theRockies. <o
></o>Cardinals @ Padres<o
></o>Recommendation: Cardinals +102<o
></o>Thisone figures to be a pitcher’s duel as Lance Lynn and Tyson Ross take the moundfor their respective teams. I’ve been on record often talking about how anemicthis Friars offense is. They’re one of the worst offensive teams in the historyof the game and just dealt away one of their biggest threats in Chase Headley. Whatmost people don’t know is that the Cardinals offense is right behind them withthe 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] fewest runs scored in the league. The “total” sits at a verylow 6 so we’ll look to some of the extraneous factors and play the side. <o
></o>The pitchingequation in this one sets up about even. Tyson Ross is one of the most underratedpitchers in baseball due to the fact that he plays in a small market. LanceLynn is a high quality pitcher as well, but gets overshadowed in St. Louisbehind Adam Wainwright and others. Both of these pitches have ERA’s below 2 inthe month of July so we should expect dominance from both sides tonight. <o
></o>As forthe other factors, I have to give the Cardinals the edge in pretty much everycategory. Despite having an offense that is far below what is was just a yearago, this lineup far exceeds that of the one in San Diego. The Card’s alsoadded A.J. Pierzynski, who is no Yadier Molina but it certainly an upgrade fromTony Cruz. Laying any kind of chalk with the Padres right now is just a terribleidea. We’ll take the better team all the way in this one and side with theCardinals. <o
></o>Yankees @ Rangers<o
></o>Recommendation: Yankees -147<o
></o>BrandonMcCarthy is loving his fresh start in New York. He’s gone 2-0 with a 1.45 ERAin his first 3 starts in the city that never sleeps. McCarthy has been by farthe most unlucky pitcher in baseball this season. Everything that could gowrong for this guy did while in Arizona, and he had a horrible record to show forit. But every advanced metrics stat indicated that he was primed for aturnaround. It looks like that turnaround has finally begun which makesMcCarthy a “bet on” pitcher even at this kind of price. His recent quotes alsoindicate that he is feeling a great deal of confidence which will only help hisperformance. <o
></o>TheYankees are far from the powerhouse that we’re used to seeing. Injuries havetorn apart this starting rotation and the season seems to be dedicated tomaking sure that the very likeable Derek Jeter is sent off in style. However,this team is very much in the race in what is a weak AL East. They keep hangingaround and actually have a decent shot at caching the Orioles who are not usedto controlling a division lead. <o
></o>Theawful Nick Martinez takes the hill for the rangers. Martinez hasn’t won in hislast 8 starts while posting a 0-5 record with a 6.98 ERA. I could go on butthere’s just not anything positive to say about this guy right now. Big edge tothe Yanks in this one and we’ll lay the chalk and cruise to an easy victory.Take the Yankees. <o
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