Post by Gooba on Jul 2, 2016 7:30:14 GMT -5
Saturday's Diamond Notes
By Joe Williams
Hottest team: Astros (11-1 past 12)
The Houston Astros blanked the Chicago White Sox 5-0 in the series opener at Minute Maid Park Friday night, staying red hot. They have four in a row, 11 of their past 12 overall and six straight at home. They will square off against a White Sox team which has won just five times in their past 19 road games, although southpaw ace Chris Sale will be on the bump. The White Sox are also 3-13 in their past 16 road games against right-handed starting pitching. That's good news for an Astros club which has won 13 of their past 16 games at home, 26 of the past 35 games overall and 10 of their past 11 home games against a team with a losing road record. And while the ChiSox roll Sale out, the Astros have a pitcher who has been hotter than nearly anyone with Doug Fister toeing the slab.
Coldest team: Angels (1-10 past 11)
The Angels have been so-so on offense, as Albert Pujols, Mike Trout and company have hit well over the past week or two. However, it is the pitching that has let down the Halos, allowing six or more runs in five of their past seven outings. The Angels have won just seven of their past 26 games overall, and they're a dismal 2-14 in their past 16 games against American League East opponents. They're also 1-7 in their past eight games against right-handed starting pitching, and they're winless in their past four road outings. The Halos have also failed to win eight straight road games against a team with a winning home record.
Hottest pitcher: Doug Fister, Astros (8-4, 3.36 ERA)
Doug Fister has won seven of his past eight decisions dating back to April 25, and he wrapped up the month of June with a season-best 2.45 ERA in five starts. His quality start streak was snapped at five last time out in Kansas City, but he has been better at home lately. Overall, he is 3-1 with a 3.58 ERA in six starts at Minute Maid Park, and he has helpd opponents to a minuscule .212 batting average. The Astros are 10-1 in Fister's past 11 outings, and 5-0 in his past five at home. He has been a stopper, too, going 7-0 in Fister's past seven starts following a Houston loss in their previous outing.
Coldest pitcher: Clay Buchholz, Red Sox (3-8, 5.90 ERA)
Buchholz has fallen apart this season, losing five of his past six decisions, including each of his past two starts since returning from a banishment to the bullpen. Since the start of the 2013 season, Buchholz has been terrible at Fenway Park, going 13-18 with a 4.49 ERA in 43 appearances (41 starts). That includes a dismal 1-5 record with a 5.69 ERA with 11 homers served up in 49 innings and a .269 opponent batting average. The Red Sox are 3-12 in Buchholz's past 15 home starts against a team with a losing record, 8-21 in his past 29 starts overall and 0-4 in his past four overall.
Biggest UNDER run: Blue Jays (7-3 past 10)
The Blue Jays have managed a total of two runs in the first two games in this series, and that production is over 28 frames after Friday's marathon 19-inning loss.The Jays have managed two or fewer runs in six of their past 12 outings. The Jays have Marco Estrada on the hill Saturday, and the Jays are 8-0 in his past eight assignments against AL Central foes, and 17-4 in his past 21 starts against teams with a winning overal record. Toronto is also 16-5 in Estrada's past 21 home outings, and 22-8-1 in his past 31 starts overall.
Biggest OVER run: Rockies (8-2 past 10)
The Rockies have actually managed a total of three runs over their past two games, although the over is 8-2 in their past 10 outings overall. In fact, the Rockies have managed to plate nine or more runs in five of the past seven, and it's a good bet they'll score frequently against Scott Kazmir. The over is 4-1 in his past five starts overall, 4-1 in his past five against NL West foes and 5-1 in his past six against teams with an overall losing record.
Matchup to watch: Diamondbacks vs. Giants
The San Francisco Giants have been red hot lately, winning 12 of their past 15 games against a left-handed starter. They're also 9-2 in their past 11 road games vs. LHP. The Giants have turned up the intensity lately, going 23-8 in their past 31 road games and 35-16 in their past 51 against teams with a losing overall record. On the flip side, the Snakes have dropped six in a row, and they're just 2-5 in Patrick Corbin's past seven outings. They're also 0-7 in his past seven starts at home. San Francisco has won each of the past five meetings, and they're 39-19 in their past 58 trips to the desert.
Betcha didn’t know: The Pirates and Athletics have a couple of unlikely heroes on the hill. Pittsburgh's Chad Kuhl made his first career start last Sunday, besting Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers. Kuhl was also 6-2 with a 2.58 ERA in 14 outings for Triple-A Indianapolis, so winning has been the Delaware native's thing. Southpaw Rich Hill (groin) comes off the 15-day disabled list for the A's, and he looks to win his sixth straight start. He is also 3-1 with a 3.79 ERA in seven career outings against the Pirates.
Biggest public favorite: Nationals (-200) vs. Reds
Biggest public underdog: Orioles (+140) at Mariners
Biggest line move: Mariners (-120 to -140) vs. Orioles
By Joe Williams
Hottest team: Astros (11-1 past 12)
The Houston Astros blanked the Chicago White Sox 5-0 in the series opener at Minute Maid Park Friday night, staying red hot. They have four in a row, 11 of their past 12 overall and six straight at home. They will square off against a White Sox team which has won just five times in their past 19 road games, although southpaw ace Chris Sale will be on the bump. The White Sox are also 3-13 in their past 16 road games against right-handed starting pitching. That's good news for an Astros club which has won 13 of their past 16 games at home, 26 of the past 35 games overall and 10 of their past 11 home games against a team with a losing road record. And while the ChiSox roll Sale out, the Astros have a pitcher who has been hotter than nearly anyone with Doug Fister toeing the slab.
Coldest team: Angels (1-10 past 11)
The Angels have been so-so on offense, as Albert Pujols, Mike Trout and company have hit well over the past week or two. However, it is the pitching that has let down the Halos, allowing six or more runs in five of their past seven outings. The Angels have won just seven of their past 26 games overall, and they're a dismal 2-14 in their past 16 games against American League East opponents. They're also 1-7 in their past eight games against right-handed starting pitching, and they're winless in their past four road outings. The Halos have also failed to win eight straight road games against a team with a winning home record.
Hottest pitcher: Doug Fister, Astros (8-4, 3.36 ERA)
Doug Fister has won seven of his past eight decisions dating back to April 25, and he wrapped up the month of June with a season-best 2.45 ERA in five starts. His quality start streak was snapped at five last time out in Kansas City, but he has been better at home lately. Overall, he is 3-1 with a 3.58 ERA in six starts at Minute Maid Park, and he has helpd opponents to a minuscule .212 batting average. The Astros are 10-1 in Fister's past 11 outings, and 5-0 in his past five at home. He has been a stopper, too, going 7-0 in Fister's past seven starts following a Houston loss in their previous outing.
Coldest pitcher: Clay Buchholz, Red Sox (3-8, 5.90 ERA)
Buchholz has fallen apart this season, losing five of his past six decisions, including each of his past two starts since returning from a banishment to the bullpen. Since the start of the 2013 season, Buchholz has been terrible at Fenway Park, going 13-18 with a 4.49 ERA in 43 appearances (41 starts). That includes a dismal 1-5 record with a 5.69 ERA with 11 homers served up in 49 innings and a .269 opponent batting average. The Red Sox are 3-12 in Buchholz's past 15 home starts against a team with a losing record, 8-21 in his past 29 starts overall and 0-4 in his past four overall.
Biggest UNDER run: Blue Jays (7-3 past 10)
The Blue Jays have managed a total of two runs in the first two games in this series, and that production is over 28 frames after Friday's marathon 19-inning loss.The Jays have managed two or fewer runs in six of their past 12 outings. The Jays have Marco Estrada on the hill Saturday, and the Jays are 8-0 in his past eight assignments against AL Central foes, and 17-4 in his past 21 starts against teams with a winning overal record. Toronto is also 16-5 in Estrada's past 21 home outings, and 22-8-1 in his past 31 starts overall.
Biggest OVER run: Rockies (8-2 past 10)
The Rockies have actually managed a total of three runs over their past two games, although the over is 8-2 in their past 10 outings overall. In fact, the Rockies have managed to plate nine or more runs in five of the past seven, and it's a good bet they'll score frequently against Scott Kazmir. The over is 4-1 in his past five starts overall, 4-1 in his past five against NL West foes and 5-1 in his past six against teams with an overall losing record.
Matchup to watch: Diamondbacks vs. Giants
The San Francisco Giants have been red hot lately, winning 12 of their past 15 games against a left-handed starter. They're also 9-2 in their past 11 road games vs. LHP. The Giants have turned up the intensity lately, going 23-8 in their past 31 road games and 35-16 in their past 51 against teams with a losing overall record. On the flip side, the Snakes have dropped six in a row, and they're just 2-5 in Patrick Corbin's past seven outings. They're also 0-7 in his past seven starts at home. San Francisco has won each of the past five meetings, and they're 39-19 in their past 58 trips to the desert.
Betcha didn’t know: The Pirates and Athletics have a couple of unlikely heroes on the hill. Pittsburgh's Chad Kuhl made his first career start last Sunday, besting Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers. Kuhl was also 6-2 with a 2.58 ERA in 14 outings for Triple-A Indianapolis, so winning has been the Delaware native's thing. Southpaw Rich Hill (groin) comes off the 15-day disabled list for the A's, and he looks to win his sixth straight start. He is also 3-1 with a 3.79 ERA in seven career outings against the Pirates.
Biggest public favorite: Nationals (-200) vs. Reds
Biggest public underdog: Orioles (+140) at Mariners
Biggest line move: Mariners (-120 to -140) vs. Orioles