Post by Gooba on Jun 27, 2016 6:16:07 GMT -5
Monday's Diamond Notes
By Joe Williams
Hottest team: Indians (9-0 past 9)
Cleveland looks for its 10th consecutive victory in an interleague series opener at Atlanta Monday. Trevor Bauer is on the bump for the Indians, and he hasn't suffered a loss in six starts dating back to May 21. Bauer has been solid overall with a 3.20 ERA this season in 17 appearances (11 starts), and he is even better on the road with a 2.84 ERA in eight outings (five starts). The Indians are 5-0 in their past five game against a right-handed starter, and they're also 4-1 in Bauer's past five outings. On the flip side, the Braves have won just two of their past 11 interleague games against a team with a winning record.
Coldest team: Rays (0-11 past 11)
The Tampa Bay Rays have been struggling tremendously, losers of 11 straight, including four in a row at home and five consecutive setbacks within the division. Perhaps they can get well against the Boston Red Sox, as they pay a visit to St. Petersburg. The Red Sox have won just once in their past six trips to Tropicana Field. Last time out it was Blake Snell spinning a quality start by allowing three runs - two earned - with seven hits over 6 2/3 innings in Cleveland last Tuesday. Tampa won two of three from Boston at Fenway Park in the first meeting between these rivals April 19-21.
Hottest pitcher: Marco Estrada, Blue Jays (5-3, 2.70 ERA)
Estrada and the Jays head to Coors Field to open up an interleague series in Denver against the Colorado Rockies. Estrada has the temperament to withstand the power bats of the Rockies and the rarified air in Denver. Over the past month Estrada has a 3-1 record with a 2.60 ERA in five starts, holding the opposition to a .128 batting average over 34 2/3 innings with a sparkling 0.84 WHIP. The Rockies strike out 7.96 times per game, and Estrada has whiffed 26 batters over the past 26 2/3 innings in four June starts.
Coldest pitcher: Francisco Liriano, Pirates (4-7, 5.17 ERA)
The Bucs have been hovering around the .500 mark, and they would likely be well above if Liriano was hitting his averages. Liriano has lost four straight decisions, and he has won just one of his past eight starts dating back to May 6. The Pirates have lost five straight starts with Liriano on the bull, and the Pirates have won just five of their past 18 games overall. They're also 0-5 in Liriano's past five outings against teams with a winning overall record.
Biggest UNDER run: Braves (8-1 past nine)
The Braves open up an interleague series against the red-hot Indians Monday night at Turner Field. The under has cashed in eight of the past nine games for the Braves. The under has also cashed in four straight interleague games while going 6-0 in their past six against right-handed starting pitching. The under is also 4-0 in the past four outings by Indians SP Trevor Bauer, the opposing pitcher. In the past six meetings in Atlanta between these interleague clubs, the under is a perfect 6-0 and the under is 8-0-1 in the past nine meetings overall.
Biggest OVER run: Phillies (5-1 past six)
Philadelphia has the worst run differential in the National League at minus-105, scoring 3.3 runs per game while allowing 4.7 runs per outing. On their current road trip they have picked up the pace offensively, averaging 6.0 runs per game while allowing 6.4 runs per outing. That has helped the over routinely cash. Vince Velasquez comes off the 15-day disabled list to start Monday's game in Arizona. He has allowed a total of 20 runs over the past 30 1/3 innings, so another over might be just around the corner.
Matchup to watch: Angels vs. Astros
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim host the Houston Astros Monday night as they look to turn things around. The Halos have won just one of their past seven games, and they're 1-4 in their past five against right-handed starting pitching. The Astros have been red hot, winning seven of their past eight games overall while posting a 4-1 record in their past five road outings against right-handed starting pitching. They turn to Collin McHugh to stay hot. The Astros are 5-1 in his past six outings, and 20-6 in his past 26 starts against American League West foes. Houston is also 5-0 in McHugh's past five assignments against the Angels, altthough Houston is just 7-15 in their past 22 trips to the Big A.
Betcha didn’t know: Oakland and San Francisco might only be separated by 12 miles, but they're extremely far apart when they get together on the diamond. The Giants have dominated the series, winning five of the past six meetings while going 16-5 in their past 21 home dates against the Athletics. The A's are also just 2-7 in their past nine interleague games, and 1-4 in their past five interleague road outings while the Giants are 4-0 in their past four interleague games while posting a stellar 48-21 record in their past 69 interleague home games.
Biggest public favorite: Cubs (-205) at Reds
Biggest public underdog: Rangers (+130) at Yankees
Biggest line move: Angels (+115 to -105) vs. Astros
By Joe Williams
Hottest team: Indians (9-0 past 9)
Cleveland looks for its 10th consecutive victory in an interleague series opener at Atlanta Monday. Trevor Bauer is on the bump for the Indians, and he hasn't suffered a loss in six starts dating back to May 21. Bauer has been solid overall with a 3.20 ERA this season in 17 appearances (11 starts), and he is even better on the road with a 2.84 ERA in eight outings (five starts). The Indians are 5-0 in their past five game against a right-handed starter, and they're also 4-1 in Bauer's past five outings. On the flip side, the Braves have won just two of their past 11 interleague games against a team with a winning record.
Coldest team: Rays (0-11 past 11)
The Tampa Bay Rays have been struggling tremendously, losers of 11 straight, including four in a row at home and five consecutive setbacks within the division. Perhaps they can get well against the Boston Red Sox, as they pay a visit to St. Petersburg. The Red Sox have won just once in their past six trips to Tropicana Field. Last time out it was Blake Snell spinning a quality start by allowing three runs - two earned - with seven hits over 6 2/3 innings in Cleveland last Tuesday. Tampa won two of three from Boston at Fenway Park in the first meeting between these rivals April 19-21.
Hottest pitcher: Marco Estrada, Blue Jays (5-3, 2.70 ERA)
Estrada and the Jays head to Coors Field to open up an interleague series in Denver against the Colorado Rockies. Estrada has the temperament to withstand the power bats of the Rockies and the rarified air in Denver. Over the past month Estrada has a 3-1 record with a 2.60 ERA in five starts, holding the opposition to a .128 batting average over 34 2/3 innings with a sparkling 0.84 WHIP. The Rockies strike out 7.96 times per game, and Estrada has whiffed 26 batters over the past 26 2/3 innings in four June starts.
Coldest pitcher: Francisco Liriano, Pirates (4-7, 5.17 ERA)
The Bucs have been hovering around the .500 mark, and they would likely be well above if Liriano was hitting his averages. Liriano has lost four straight decisions, and he has won just one of his past eight starts dating back to May 6. The Pirates have lost five straight starts with Liriano on the bull, and the Pirates have won just five of their past 18 games overall. They're also 0-5 in Liriano's past five outings against teams with a winning overall record.
Biggest UNDER run: Braves (8-1 past nine)
The Braves open up an interleague series against the red-hot Indians Monday night at Turner Field. The under has cashed in eight of the past nine games for the Braves. The under has also cashed in four straight interleague games while going 6-0 in their past six against right-handed starting pitching. The under is also 4-0 in the past four outings by Indians SP Trevor Bauer, the opposing pitcher. In the past six meetings in Atlanta between these interleague clubs, the under is a perfect 6-0 and the under is 8-0-1 in the past nine meetings overall.
Biggest OVER run: Phillies (5-1 past six)
Philadelphia has the worst run differential in the National League at minus-105, scoring 3.3 runs per game while allowing 4.7 runs per outing. On their current road trip they have picked up the pace offensively, averaging 6.0 runs per game while allowing 6.4 runs per outing. That has helped the over routinely cash. Vince Velasquez comes off the 15-day disabled list to start Monday's game in Arizona. He has allowed a total of 20 runs over the past 30 1/3 innings, so another over might be just around the corner.
Matchup to watch: Angels vs. Astros
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim host the Houston Astros Monday night as they look to turn things around. The Halos have won just one of their past seven games, and they're 1-4 in their past five against right-handed starting pitching. The Astros have been red hot, winning seven of their past eight games overall while posting a 4-1 record in their past five road outings against right-handed starting pitching. They turn to Collin McHugh to stay hot. The Astros are 5-1 in his past six outings, and 20-6 in his past 26 starts against American League West foes. Houston is also 5-0 in McHugh's past five assignments against the Angels, altthough Houston is just 7-15 in their past 22 trips to the Big A.
Betcha didn’t know: Oakland and San Francisco might only be separated by 12 miles, but they're extremely far apart when they get together on the diamond. The Giants have dominated the series, winning five of the past six meetings while going 16-5 in their past 21 home dates against the Athletics. The A's are also just 2-7 in their past nine interleague games, and 1-4 in their past five interleague road outings while the Giants are 4-0 in their past four interleague games while posting a stellar 48-21 record in their past 69 interleague home games.
Biggest public favorite: Cubs (-205) at Reds
Biggest public underdog: Rangers (+130) at Yankees
Biggest line move: Angels (+115 to -105) vs. Astros