LEADING OFF: O's, Jays swing away in Toronto
October 4, 2016
A look at what's happening all around the majors today:
SLUGGING IT OUT
Offense is expected when the Orioles and Blue Jays play the AL wild-card game in Toronto. Baltimore led the majors with 253 home runs this season, and Toronto was fourth with 221 - as Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said Monday, when these AL East rivals meet, ''they're normally slugfests.''
The pitching matchup favors the O's. Jays right-hander Marcus Stroman was 1-2 with a 7.04 ERA in four starts against Baltimore this season, while Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman was 1-0 with a 3.63 ERA in four starts against Toronto.
WILD ON WEDNESDAY
The Giants have arrived in New York ahead of Wednesday's NL wild-card showdown with the Mets. Ace left-hander Madison Bumgarner will take the ball just as the 2014 World Series MVP did two years ago at Pittsburgh with the season on the line. Noah Syndergaard will oppose Bumgarner, whose `14 postseason was among the best ever by a pitcher.
San Francisco inched into the playoffs on the season's final day this year following an uninspiring second half, but they're still exuding confidence that their even-year World Series success can continue. ''That energy's back,'' pitcher Jake Peavy said after a win over the Dodgers on Sunday. ''This isn't the last game we're playing at AT&T ballpark, there's no chance.''
HELP WANTED
The Braves are on the hunt for a full-time manager ahead of their move to SunTrust Park in 2017. Despite offering praise for interim skipper Brian Snitker on Monday, team president John Hart said Atlanta will bring in former big league managers Bud Black and Ron Washington to interview for the job. Snitker has already been interviewed and is still in the running after helping the youthful Braves win 50 of their final 97 games.
Elsewhere, the Diamondbacks are seeking help after firing general manager Dave Stewart and manager Chip Hale, and the Rockies need a new manager after Walt Weiss resigned Monday.
NEW DIRECTION
The Twins are moving forward after their worst season since moving to Minnesota, and doing it with a new baseball operations boss. They formally announced 33-year-old Cleveland Indians assistant general manager Derek Falvey as their new chief baseball officer Monday, putting him in charge of turning around a team that lost by far the most games (103) in the majors. Falvey has a promising young core of position players to lean on, plus veterans Brian Dozier and Joe Mauer, and said in a statement he hopes to ''nurture a progressive culture'' around Target Field.
October 4, 2016
A look at what's happening all around the majors today:
SLUGGING IT OUT
Offense is expected when the Orioles and Blue Jays play the AL wild-card game in Toronto. Baltimore led the majors with 253 home runs this season, and Toronto was fourth with 221 - as Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said Monday, when these AL East rivals meet, ''they're normally slugfests.''
The pitching matchup favors the O's. Jays right-hander Marcus Stroman was 1-2 with a 7.04 ERA in four starts against Baltimore this season, while Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman was 1-0 with a 3.63 ERA in four starts against Toronto.
WILD ON WEDNESDAY
The Giants have arrived in New York ahead of Wednesday's NL wild-card showdown with the Mets. Ace left-hander Madison Bumgarner will take the ball just as the 2014 World Series MVP did two years ago at Pittsburgh with the season on the line. Noah Syndergaard will oppose Bumgarner, whose `14 postseason was among the best ever by a pitcher.
San Francisco inched into the playoffs on the season's final day this year following an uninspiring second half, but they're still exuding confidence that their even-year World Series success can continue. ''That energy's back,'' pitcher Jake Peavy said after a win over the Dodgers on Sunday. ''This isn't the last game we're playing at AT&T ballpark, there's no chance.''
HELP WANTED
The Braves are on the hunt for a full-time manager ahead of their move to SunTrust Park in 2017. Despite offering praise for interim skipper Brian Snitker on Monday, team president John Hart said Atlanta will bring in former big league managers Bud Black and Ron Washington to interview for the job. Snitker has already been interviewed and is still in the running after helping the youthful Braves win 50 of their final 97 games.
Elsewhere, the Diamondbacks are seeking help after firing general manager Dave Stewart and manager Chip Hale, and the Rockies need a new manager after Walt Weiss resigned Monday.
NEW DIRECTION
The Twins are moving forward after their worst season since moving to Minnesota, and doing it with a new baseball operations boss. They formally announced 33-year-old Cleveland Indians assistant general manager Derek Falvey as their new chief baseball officer Monday, putting him in charge of turning around a team that lost by far the most games (103) in the majors. Falvey has a promising young core of position players to lean on, plus veterans Brian Dozier and Joe Mauer, and said in a statement he hopes to ''nurture a progressive culture'' around Target Field.
A capsule look at the Orioles-Blue Jays playoff game
October 3, 2016
A look at the American League wild-card game between the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays:
Schedule: Tuesday, at Toronto, 8:08 p.m. EDT (TBS).
---
Season Series: Blue Jays won 10-9.
---
Projected Lineups:
Orioles: RF Michael Bourn (.264, 5 HRs, 52 RBIs with Diamondbacks and Orioles), CF Adam Jones (.265, 29, 83), 3B Manny Machado (.294, 37, 96), DH Mark Trumbo (.256, 47, 108, 170 Ks), C Matt Wieters (.244, 17, 66), 1B Chris Davis (.221, 38, 84, 88 BBs, 219 Ks), 2B Jonathan Schoop (.267, 25, 82), LF Hyun Soo Kim (.302, 6, 22), SS J.J. Hardy (.269, 9, 48).
Blue Jays: 2B Devon Travis (.300, 11, 50), 3B Josh Donaldson (.284, 37, 99), 1B Edwin Encarnacion (.263, 42, 127), DH Jose Bautista (.234, 22, 69), C Russell Martin (.231, 20, 74), SS Troy Tulowitzki (.254, 24, 79), RF Michael Saunders (.253, 24, 57), CF Kevin Pillar (.266, 7, 53), LF Ezequiel Carrera (.248, 6, 23) or Melvin Upton Jr. (.238, 20, 61 with San Diego and Toronto).
---
Starting Pitchers:
Orioles: RH Chris Tillman (16-6, 3.77 ERA, 140Ks).
Blue Jays: RH Marcus Stroman (9-10, 4.37, career-high 204 IP).
---
Relievers:
Orioles: LH Zach Britton (2-1, 0.54, 47/47 saves, 18 BBs, 74 Ks), RH Brad Brach (10-4, 2.05, 2 saves, 92 Ks), RH Darren O'Day (3-1, 3.77, .214 BA against), RH Mychal Givens (8-2, 3.13, .220 BA against), RH Vance Worley (2-2, 3.53) RH Oliver Drake (1-0, 4.00, 21 Ks in 18 innings), LH Brian Duensing (1-0, 4.05), RH Tommy Hunter (2-2, 3.18 with Indians and Orioles).
Blue Jays: RH Roberto Osuna (1-6, 2.68, 36/39 saves), RH Jason Grilli (7-6, 1.29, 81Ks in 59 innings with Atlanta and Toronto), LH Brett Cecil (1-7, 3.96), RH Joe Biagini (4-3, 3.06 in 60 games as a rookie).
---
Matchups:
A single-elimination showdown between AL East foes that battled to the final day of the regular season to determine which one would host this game. ... Toronto and Baltimore tied for second place at 89-73, four games behind division champion Boston. ... This is the first postseason meeting between the teams, who have been in the same division since the Blue Jays were born in 1977. ... Orioles went 4-6 in Toronto this season but took two of three there last week, winning the final two games of a pivotal series after losing six of their previous seven road games against the Blue Jays. Baltimore got a two-run homer from Kim in the ninth inning to win one game and a stout performance by Jimenez in a 4-0 victory. ... Toronto outscored the Orioles 97-81 overall in 19
meetings. ... Machado and Donaldson have clashed in the past, most recently last year.
... Tillman went 1-0 with a 3.63 ERA in four starts against the Blue Jays this season. ... Trumbo hit only one home run in 80 plate appearances against Toronto. ... Blue Jays have won nine of the past 15 meetings, outscoring the Orioles 83-65. ... Since moving into Rogers Centre in 1989, Toronto has gone 136-86 there against Baltimore. ... The Blue Jays hit 29 home runs in the season series, while Baltimore had 28. ... This is Martin's ninth trip to the playoffs in 11 major league seasons. He has made it with four teams (also the Dodgers, Yankees and Pirates). ... The winner heads to Texas to play the AL West champion Rangers in a best-of-five Division Series beginning Thursday.
---
Big Picture:
Orioles: Baltimore has excelled under manager Buck Showalter, who took over in July 2010. After 14 straight losing seasons, the Orioles are in the playoffs for the third time in five years. They lost to the Yankees in 2012 ALDS and advanced to ALCS in 2014 before being swept in four games by Kansas City. ... This team is built for power. Trumbo led the majors in homers and five of his teammates hit at least 22. Baltimore topped the big leagues with 253 home runs, 28 more than runner-up St. Louis. ... Bourn is a threat on the bases, but the Orioles had only 19 steals - the fewest since the 1972 Detroit Tigers swiped 17. ... Orioles went 52-38 at home and 39-42 on the road but finished with a 4-2 mark on their season-ending trip to Toronto and Yankee Stadium. ... Baltimore won its final five series away from home. ... Orioles went 21-16 in one-run games and 6-2 in extra innings.
Blue Jays: After snapping a 22-year postseason drought in 2015, Toronto reached the playoffs for the second straight season under manager John Gibbons. The last time the Blue Jays did that was a three-year run from 1991-93 that ended with back-to-back World Series titles. ... The Blue Jays went 13-16 in September and October, their first losing month since April (11-14). ... Toronto averaged an AL-worst 3.69 runs per game in September and October, a full run off their season average of 4.70. ... Blue Jays starters were strong down the stretch, allowing no more than one earned run in 12 of the final 17 games. The bullpen struggled, however, blowing leads five times in a seven-game stretch that ended Oct. 1. ... The Blue Jays went 46-35 at home, the fourth-best mark in the division. ... Toronto has never played in the wild-card round before. ... Toronto has several pending free agents, including Bautista, Encarnacion, Saunders, Cecil and RHP R.A. Dickey.
---
Watch For:
- Mister Perfect. Britton converted every one of his 47 save opportunities this season and allowed only four earned runs, none after Aug. 24. If the Orioles have a lead in the eighth or ninth inning, they'll feel pretty good about Britton locking it down.
- Missing Benoit. Blue Jays reliever Joaquin Benoit went 2-0 with a 0.38 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 23 2/3 innings after being acquired from Seattle on July 26, but tore his left calf running in from the bullpen during a bench-clearing scrap with the Yankees on Sept. 26. He was ruled out for two to three weeks.
- RISP-Y Business. Toronto hit .249 with runners in scoring position, the worst mark among AL playoff teams. Over the final eight games, the Blue Jays were 13 for 66 (.197) with one double in those situations.
October 3, 2016
A look at the American League wild-card game between the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays:
Schedule: Tuesday, at Toronto, 8:08 p.m. EDT (TBS).
---
Season Series: Blue Jays won 10-9.
---
Projected Lineups:
Orioles: RF Michael Bourn (.264, 5 HRs, 52 RBIs with Diamondbacks and Orioles), CF Adam Jones (.265, 29, 83), 3B Manny Machado (.294, 37, 96), DH Mark Trumbo (.256, 47, 108, 170 Ks), C Matt Wieters (.244, 17, 66), 1B Chris Davis (.221, 38, 84, 88 BBs, 219 Ks), 2B Jonathan Schoop (.267, 25, 82), LF Hyun Soo Kim (.302, 6, 22), SS J.J. Hardy (.269, 9, 48).
Blue Jays: 2B Devon Travis (.300, 11, 50), 3B Josh Donaldson (.284, 37, 99), 1B Edwin Encarnacion (.263, 42, 127), DH Jose Bautista (.234, 22, 69), C Russell Martin (.231, 20, 74), SS Troy Tulowitzki (.254, 24, 79), RF Michael Saunders (.253, 24, 57), CF Kevin Pillar (.266, 7, 53), LF Ezequiel Carrera (.248, 6, 23) or Melvin Upton Jr. (.238, 20, 61 with San Diego and Toronto).
---
Starting Pitchers:
Orioles: RH Chris Tillman (16-6, 3.77 ERA, 140Ks).
Blue Jays: RH Marcus Stroman (9-10, 4.37, career-high 204 IP).
---
Relievers:
Orioles: LH Zach Britton (2-1, 0.54, 47/47 saves, 18 BBs, 74 Ks), RH Brad Brach (10-4, 2.05, 2 saves, 92 Ks), RH Darren O'Day (3-1, 3.77, .214 BA against), RH Mychal Givens (8-2, 3.13, .220 BA against), RH Vance Worley (2-2, 3.53) RH Oliver Drake (1-0, 4.00, 21 Ks in 18 innings), LH Brian Duensing (1-0, 4.05), RH Tommy Hunter (2-2, 3.18 with Indians and Orioles).
Blue Jays: RH Roberto Osuna (1-6, 2.68, 36/39 saves), RH Jason Grilli (7-6, 1.29, 81Ks in 59 innings with Atlanta and Toronto), LH Brett Cecil (1-7, 3.96), RH Joe Biagini (4-3, 3.06 in 60 games as a rookie).
---
Matchups:
A single-elimination showdown between AL East foes that battled to the final day of the regular season to determine which one would host this game. ... Toronto and Baltimore tied for second place at 89-73, four games behind division champion Boston. ... This is the first postseason meeting between the teams, who have been in the same division since the Blue Jays were born in 1977. ... Orioles went 4-6 in Toronto this season but took two of three there last week, winning the final two games of a pivotal series after losing six of their previous seven road games against the Blue Jays. Baltimore got a two-run homer from Kim in the ninth inning to win one game and a stout performance by Jimenez in a 4-0 victory. ... Toronto outscored the Orioles 97-81 overall in 19
meetings. ... Machado and Donaldson have clashed in the past, most recently last year.
... Tillman went 1-0 with a 3.63 ERA in four starts against the Blue Jays this season. ... Trumbo hit only one home run in 80 plate appearances against Toronto. ... Blue Jays have won nine of the past 15 meetings, outscoring the Orioles 83-65. ... Since moving into Rogers Centre in 1989, Toronto has gone 136-86 there against Baltimore. ... The Blue Jays hit 29 home runs in the season series, while Baltimore had 28. ... This is Martin's ninth trip to the playoffs in 11 major league seasons. He has made it with four teams (also the Dodgers, Yankees and Pirates). ... The winner heads to Texas to play the AL West champion Rangers in a best-of-five Division Series beginning Thursday.
---
Big Picture:
Orioles: Baltimore has excelled under manager Buck Showalter, who took over in July 2010. After 14 straight losing seasons, the Orioles are in the playoffs for the third time in five years. They lost to the Yankees in 2012 ALDS and advanced to ALCS in 2014 before being swept in four games by Kansas City. ... This team is built for power. Trumbo led the majors in homers and five of his teammates hit at least 22. Baltimore topped the big leagues with 253 home runs, 28 more than runner-up St. Louis. ... Bourn is a threat on the bases, but the Orioles had only 19 steals - the fewest since the 1972 Detroit Tigers swiped 17. ... Orioles went 52-38 at home and 39-42 on the road but finished with a 4-2 mark on their season-ending trip to Toronto and Yankee Stadium. ... Baltimore won its final five series away from home. ... Orioles went 21-16 in one-run games and 6-2 in extra innings.
Blue Jays: After snapping a 22-year postseason drought in 2015, Toronto reached the playoffs for the second straight season under manager John Gibbons. The last time the Blue Jays did that was a three-year run from 1991-93 that ended with back-to-back World Series titles. ... The Blue Jays went 13-16 in September and October, their first losing month since April (11-14). ... Toronto averaged an AL-worst 3.69 runs per game in September and October, a full run off their season average of 4.70. ... Blue Jays starters were strong down the stretch, allowing no more than one earned run in 12 of the final 17 games. The bullpen struggled, however, blowing leads five times in a seven-game stretch that ended Oct. 1. ... The Blue Jays went 46-35 at home, the fourth-best mark in the division. ... Toronto has never played in the wild-card round before. ... Toronto has several pending free agents, including Bautista, Encarnacion, Saunders, Cecil and RHP R.A. Dickey.
---
Watch For:
- Mister Perfect. Britton converted every one of his 47 save opportunities this season and allowed only four earned runs, none after Aug. 24. If the Orioles have a lead in the eighth or ninth inning, they'll feel pretty good about Britton locking it down.
- Missing Benoit. Blue Jays reliever Joaquin Benoit went 2-0 with a 0.38 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 23 2/3 innings after being acquired from Seattle on July 26, but tore his left calf running in from the bullpen during a bench-clearing scrap with the Yankees on Sept. 26. He was ruled out for two to three weeks.
- RISP-Y Business. Toronto hit .249 with runners in scoring position, the worst mark among AL playoff teams. Over the final eight games, the Blue Jays were 13 for 66 (.197) with one double in those situations.
Giants find way back into playoffs
October 3, 2016
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Pitcher Jake Peavy grabbed the microphone and promised a sellout crowd more special October baseball, and who could doubt him given the Giants' recent history of even-year World Series success?
Ace right-hander Johnny Cueto tossed a baseball into the seats in celebration Sunday, then expressed his thanks to a higher power for putting him in another winning situation this season after last fall's World Series victory in Kansas City.
''That energy's back,'' Peavy said. ''This isn't the last game we're playing at AT&T ballpark, there's no chance.''
Yet the way the Giants played in the second half, when nearly everything seemed to go wrong at some point and the old reliable bullpen blew it over and over again, manager Bruce Bochy couldn't help but wonder if his team could pull it off in the end. With all that talent and depth, San Francisco nearly squandered a big chance.
Bochy never counted on the Giants getting any help to reach the playoffs, either.
On Sunday, he knew his club would have to get there on its own - and that's exactly what San Francisco did on the season's last day.
''It's a tough group. I kept saying, `They've been through it, they're battle-tested,''' he said. ''We stayed in it a lot longer than I thought. When they needed to answer the bell, they did it.''
The Giants owned the best record at the All-Star break at 57-33, sputtered for months then all but needed to sweep the division champion Dodgers to return to the postseason. They did just that to wrap up the second wild card and headed East on Monday ahead of Wednesday night's game against the New York Mets for a spot in the Division Series against the Chicago Cubs.
Now, ace left-hander Madison Bumgarner will take the ball just as the 2014 World Series MVP did two years ago at Pittsburgh with the season on the line. Noah Syndergaard will oppose Bumgarner, whose `14 postseason was among the best ever by a pitcher.
''It comes down to that one game, all the work we've put in comes down to that,'' Bumgarner said. ''... Early in the season things were looking real promising for us, then we went through a pretty good stretch when it wasn't looking too promising at all.''
The Giants have momentum again. Things are clicking at the plate, with the pitching and on defense.
Nobody wanted to travel first to St. Louis for a potential one-game playoff to determine the last wild card.
''This game is hard to explain sometimes,'' Bochy said. ''We just got in a funk between we were missing a couple guys and then we were sputtering offensively, we were trying to get this bullpen in order. For us to get there, and how we got there, I said earlier I felt we had to win out in this series. We couldn't count on somebody helping us. It was up to us to take care of business and these guys took care of business in a great way. Five runs the first two innings, they were on a mission.''
The Giants (87-75) finished the regular season with their first four-game winning streak of the second half.
They have a chance to follow up those every-other-year championships the franchise has captured this decade: in 2010, `12 and `14. Many of the same faces have been around for them all.
''It's always fun to go to the postseason, especially with the core group of guys we have, some experience with the wild card and with the postseason,'' shortstop Brandon Crawford said. ''It's going to be fun. We've done a good job of maintaining that belief that we would get here. Hopefully we can just keep it rolling. We've been playing good baseball the last few days.''
Santiago Casilla lost his closer's job. Sergio Romo got healthy and stabilized the ninth inning, and everybody in the tight-knit bullpen stuck together.
''It's unbelievable,'' Casilla said. ''This year, I believed 100 percent we'd win the World Series, no matter what anybody was saying or how we made it. Sometimes it's easy, sometimes it's hard. We played hard, we believed. Now, we can win the World Series and make the city happy.''
Right fielder Hunter Pence has been telling Bochy for weeks how much he cherishes playing for something this time of year.
''This is October baseball,'' Pence said, ''it's the best versus the best.''
October 3, 2016
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Pitcher Jake Peavy grabbed the microphone and promised a sellout crowd more special October baseball, and who could doubt him given the Giants' recent history of even-year World Series success?
Ace right-hander Johnny Cueto tossed a baseball into the seats in celebration Sunday, then expressed his thanks to a higher power for putting him in another winning situation this season after last fall's World Series victory in Kansas City.
''That energy's back,'' Peavy said. ''This isn't the last game we're playing at AT&T ballpark, there's no chance.''
Yet the way the Giants played in the second half, when nearly everything seemed to go wrong at some point and the old reliable bullpen blew it over and over again, manager Bruce Bochy couldn't help but wonder if his team could pull it off in the end. With all that talent and depth, San Francisco nearly squandered a big chance.
Bochy never counted on the Giants getting any help to reach the playoffs, either.
On Sunday, he knew his club would have to get there on its own - and that's exactly what San Francisco did on the season's last day.
''It's a tough group. I kept saying, `They've been through it, they're battle-tested,''' he said. ''We stayed in it a lot longer than I thought. When they needed to answer the bell, they did it.''
The Giants owned the best record at the All-Star break at 57-33, sputtered for months then all but needed to sweep the division champion Dodgers to return to the postseason. They did just that to wrap up the second wild card and headed East on Monday ahead of Wednesday night's game against the New York Mets for a spot in the Division Series against the Chicago Cubs.
Now, ace left-hander Madison Bumgarner will take the ball just as the 2014 World Series MVP did two years ago at Pittsburgh with the season on the line. Noah Syndergaard will oppose Bumgarner, whose `14 postseason was among the best ever by a pitcher.
''It comes down to that one game, all the work we've put in comes down to that,'' Bumgarner said. ''... Early in the season things were looking real promising for us, then we went through a pretty good stretch when it wasn't looking too promising at all.''
The Giants have momentum again. Things are clicking at the plate, with the pitching and on defense.
Nobody wanted to travel first to St. Louis for a potential one-game playoff to determine the last wild card.
''This game is hard to explain sometimes,'' Bochy said. ''We just got in a funk between we were missing a couple guys and then we were sputtering offensively, we were trying to get this bullpen in order. For us to get there, and how we got there, I said earlier I felt we had to win out in this series. We couldn't count on somebody helping us. It was up to us to take care of business and these guys took care of business in a great way. Five runs the first two innings, they were on a mission.''
The Giants (87-75) finished the regular season with their first four-game winning streak of the second half.
They have a chance to follow up those every-other-year championships the franchise has captured this decade: in 2010, `12 and `14. Many of the same faces have been around for them all.
''It's always fun to go to the postseason, especially with the core group of guys we have, some experience with the wild card and with the postseason,'' shortstop Brandon Crawford said. ''It's going to be fun. We've done a good job of maintaining that belief that we would get here. Hopefully we can just keep it rolling. We've been playing good baseball the last few days.''
Santiago Casilla lost his closer's job. Sergio Romo got healthy and stabilized the ninth inning, and everybody in the tight-knit bullpen stuck together.
''It's unbelievable,'' Casilla said. ''This year, I believed 100 percent we'd win the World Series, no matter what anybody was saying or how we made it. Sometimes it's easy, sometimes it's hard. We played hard, we believed. Now, we can win the World Series and make the city happy.''
Right fielder Hunter Pence has been telling Bochy for weeks how much he cherishes playing for something this time of year.
''This is October baseball,'' Pence said, ''it's the best versus the best.''
A capsule look at the Giants-Mets playoff game
October 3, 2016
A look at the National League wild-card playoff between the San Francisco Giants and New York Mets:
Schedule: Wednesday, at New York, 8:09 p.m. EDT (ESPN).
---
Season Series: Mets beat Giants 4-3.
---
Projected Lineups:
Giants: CF Denard Span (.266, 11 HRs, 52 RBIs, 12 SBs), 1B Brandon Belt (.275, 17, 82, 41 2Bs, 104 BBs), C Buster Posey (.288, 14, 80, 33 2Bs), RF Hunter Pence (.289, 13, 57), SS Brandon Crawford (.275, 12, 84), LF Angel Pagan (.277, 12, 55, 15 SBs), 2B Joe Panik (.239, 10, 62), 3B Conor Gillaspie (.262, 6, 25).
Mets: 3B Jose Reyes (.267, 8, 24, 9 SBs in 60 games), SS Asdrubal Cabrera (.280, 23, 62), LF Yoenis Cespedes (.280, 31, 86), CF Curtis Granderson (.237, 30, 59), RF Jay Bruce (.250, 33, 99 with Reds and Mets; .219, 8, 19 in 50 games with Mets), 2B T.J. Rivera (.333, 3, 16 in 105 at-bats), 1B James Loney (.265, 9, 34 in 100 games) or Lucas Duda (.229, 7, 23 in 47 games), C Rene Rivera (.222, 6, 26 in 65 games).
---
Starting Pitchers:
Giants: LH Madison Bumgarner (15-9, 2.74 ERA, 251 Ks).
Mets: RH Noah Syndergaard (14-9, 2.60, 218 Ks in 183 2/3 IP).
---
Relievers:
Giants: RH Sergio Romo (1-0, 2.64, 4/4 saves), RH Derek Law (4-2, 2.13, 1 save), LH Javier Lopez (1-3, 4.05, 1 save, .211 BA vs LH hitters), RH Hunter Strickland (3-3, 3.10, 3 saves), RH Santiago Casilla (2-5, 3.57, 31/40 saves), RH George Kontos (3-2, 2.53), LH Will Smith (2-4, 3.35 with Giants and Brewers).
Mets: RH Jeurys Familia (3-4, 2.55, MLB-high 51/56 saves in 78 games), RH Addison Reed (4-2, 1.97, 1 save in 80 games), RH Fernando Salas (3-7, 3.91, 6 saves in 75 games with Angels and Mets; 0-1, 2.08, 19 Ks, no walks in 17 games with Mets), LH Jerry Blevins (4-2, 2.79, 2 saves in 73 games, 42 IP), RH Hansel Robles (6-4, 3.48, 1 save), LH Josh Smoker (3-0, 4.70, 25 Ks in 15 1/3 innings), RH Bartolo Colon (15-8, 3.43 in 34 games, 33 starts, team-high 191 2/3 IP), RH Seth Lugo (5-2, 2.67 in 17 games, 8 starts), RH Robert Gsellman (4-2, 2.42 in 8 games, 7 starts), RH Jim Henderson (2-2, 4.37) or RH Erik Goeddel (2-2, 4.54).
---
Matchups:
This is the second postseason meeting between the teams. New York beat the Giants in four games during their 2000 NL Division Series. ... Both clubs finished 87-75, and the Mets earned home-field advantage for this game by winning the season series. New York took two of three at home early in the season before the teams split a four-game series at San Francisco in August. Bumgarner had two of the Giants' three wins and is 5-0 with a 1.80 ERA in six career starts against the Mets. He allowed four runs over five innings in a 10-7 victory Aug. 18. He had allowed four runs in his first 35 innings against New York, including six scoreless innings to outpitch Syndergaard on May 1. ... Posey is a .336 career hitter against the Mets. ... New York set a franchise record with 218 home runs, which ranked second in the NL and fifth in the majors. The Mets went 77-40 when they homered. ... New York also clocked a club-record 13 pinch-hit homers this season. Only the Cardinals (17) had more. ... In addition to his quality stuff and sensational postseason resume, Bumgarner could present a matchup problem for the middle of New York's lineup simply because he's a lefty. Granderson, Bruce, Loney and Duda all bat left-handed. Reyes and Cabrera are switch-hitters, but injured infielder Wilmer Flores (wrist) will be missed. Flores hit .340 with 11 homers in 100 at-bats vs. left-handers this season, including .393 with 25 RBIs in his last 61 at-bats. He had a whopping .710 slugging percentage against southpaws. Flores had been subbing at second base for injured Neil Walker (23 HRs). That role now belongs to T.J. Rivera, an undrafted rookie from New York City who won the Pacific Coast League batting crown. He's done an excellent job filling in. ... The winner heads for Chicago to play the NL Central champion Cubs in a best-of-five Division Series beginning Friday. New York swept the Cubs in last year's NL Championship Series and went 5-2 against them this season, including a four-game sweep at Citi Field.
---
Big Picture:
Giants: After leading the majors with a 57-33 record at the All-Star break, San Francisco stumbled to the finish and nearly missed out entirely on the postseason. The Giants ended the regular season with their first four-game winning streak of the second half to beat out St. Louis by one game for the second NL wild card. Now that San Francisco is in, manager Bruce Bochy's team hopes to extend the even-year karma that led to World Series titles in 2010, `12 and `14. ... San Francisco set up its rotation with the right man on the mound for this one in Bumgarner, the 2014 World Series MVP. He is 7-3 with a 2.14 ERA in 14 career postseason appearances, and 5-1 with a 0.99 ERA in his last seven postseason starts. ... The bullpen was the biggest issue in the second half, with the team setting a franchise record by losing nine games it led after eight innings, including five in September. ... Posey hit just three HRs in his last 63 games but picked up his performance late with 12 RBIs in the final nine games. ... Pence, who missed 48 games with a hamstring injury, had a strong finish, batting .340 over his final 24 games. ... San Francisco committed a major league-low 72 errors, with Crawford playing mistake-free defense in his final 43 games at shortstop. ... With 3B Eduardo Nunez not expected to play because of a hamstring injury, Gillaspie will get the nod. He is 7 for 14 with five RBIs in the past five games.
Mets: Following last year's World Series loss to Kansas City, the well-stocked Mets began the season with big expectations and legitimate aspirations of winning their first championship since 1986. Then the aches and pains started piling up. Every established regular besides Granderson spent time on the disabled list, in addition to handy part-time players Flores (16 HRs, 49 RBIs) and Juan Lagares. Duda (back) missed four months, and captain David Wright (neck surgery) has been out since late May. By early September, the imposing young rotation had been decimated by season-ending injuries to Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom and Steven Matz. Zack Wheeler never made it back from March 2015 Tommy John surgery, further testing New York's pitching depth. The trade-deadline deal for Bruce looked like a bust before he finally went on a timely tear during the last week of the season. But when the resilient Mets reached down to the farm, several marginal prospects delivered under pressure. Lugo and Gsellman saved the rotation down the stretch, while the 43-year-old Colon was a rock throughout - even becoming the oldest major leaguer to hit his first career home run. Loney and Rene Rivera, steady veterans dumped by Tampa Bay just before the season started, arrived from the minors and provided important contributions. Reyes, released by Colorado after serving a domestic-violence suspension, rejoined his original team at a new position July 5 and combined with Cabrera to energize a sagging offense. Both dyed their hair bright, too, and manager Terry Collins' persistent team finally took off. New York was 60-62 after losing at San Francisco on Aug. 19, the day Cespedes and Cabrera came off the DL. Then the Mets went an MLB-best 27-13 the rest of the way and jumped over four teams in the pennant race. They secured the top wild card on the penultimate day of the regular season, reaching the playoffs in consecutive years for the second time in franchise history (1999-2000). That allowed them to hold back Syndergaard for this game. Now, the Mets will try to make another October run with Cespedes. The star slugger can opt out of his contract and become a free agent again this fall.
---
Watch For:
- Closing Time. The bullpen that played such a key role in San Francisco's recent World Series championships melted down in the second half. Casilla tied for the most blown saves in the majors with nine and lost his job. After struggling to find a replacement, Bochy went to Romo, the closer during the 2012 title run. He successfully converted all four save opportunities in the final two weeks. Meanwhile, the Mets have a reliable formula at the back end in Salas, Reed and Familia.
- Running Wild. The 6-foot-6, 240-pound Syndergaard has trouble holding runners and is often slow to the plate. He allowed 48 stolen bases this season, 18 more than any other major league pitcher. It's a big reason why strong-armed Rene Rivera has become his regular catcher. San Francisco probably will try to take advantage. The Giants ranked eighth in the NL with 79 steals but were caught 36 times for a success rate of 69 percent.
- Power Outage. While the bullpen woes got the most attention, the Giants' bats also struggled in the second half. The team went from scoring 4.7 runs per game before the All-Star break to 4.0 afterward, with Posey, Crawford and Belt all struggling to hit for power.
- Tried and Tested. The Mets haven't played a team that finished with a winning record since Sept. 14 at Washington. Meanwhile, the Giants are coming off a three-game sweep of the NL West champion Dodgers.
October 3, 2016
A look at the National League wild-card playoff between the San Francisco Giants and New York Mets:
Schedule: Wednesday, at New York, 8:09 p.m. EDT (ESPN).
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Season Series: Mets beat Giants 4-3.
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Projected Lineups:
Giants: CF Denard Span (.266, 11 HRs, 52 RBIs, 12 SBs), 1B Brandon Belt (.275, 17, 82, 41 2Bs, 104 BBs), C Buster Posey (.288, 14, 80, 33 2Bs), RF Hunter Pence (.289, 13, 57), SS Brandon Crawford (.275, 12, 84), LF Angel Pagan (.277, 12, 55, 15 SBs), 2B Joe Panik (.239, 10, 62), 3B Conor Gillaspie (.262, 6, 25).
Mets: 3B Jose Reyes (.267, 8, 24, 9 SBs in 60 games), SS Asdrubal Cabrera (.280, 23, 62), LF Yoenis Cespedes (.280, 31, 86), CF Curtis Granderson (.237, 30, 59), RF Jay Bruce (.250, 33, 99 with Reds and Mets; .219, 8, 19 in 50 games with Mets), 2B T.J. Rivera (.333, 3, 16 in 105 at-bats), 1B James Loney (.265, 9, 34 in 100 games) or Lucas Duda (.229, 7, 23 in 47 games), C Rene Rivera (.222, 6, 26 in 65 games).
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Starting Pitchers:
Giants: LH Madison Bumgarner (15-9, 2.74 ERA, 251 Ks).
Mets: RH Noah Syndergaard (14-9, 2.60, 218 Ks in 183 2/3 IP).
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Relievers:
Giants: RH Sergio Romo (1-0, 2.64, 4/4 saves), RH Derek Law (4-2, 2.13, 1 save), LH Javier Lopez (1-3, 4.05, 1 save, .211 BA vs LH hitters), RH Hunter Strickland (3-3, 3.10, 3 saves), RH Santiago Casilla (2-5, 3.57, 31/40 saves), RH George Kontos (3-2, 2.53), LH Will Smith (2-4, 3.35 with Giants and Brewers).
Mets: RH Jeurys Familia (3-4, 2.55, MLB-high 51/56 saves in 78 games), RH Addison Reed (4-2, 1.97, 1 save in 80 games), RH Fernando Salas (3-7, 3.91, 6 saves in 75 games with Angels and Mets; 0-1, 2.08, 19 Ks, no walks in 17 games with Mets), LH Jerry Blevins (4-2, 2.79, 2 saves in 73 games, 42 IP), RH Hansel Robles (6-4, 3.48, 1 save), LH Josh Smoker (3-0, 4.70, 25 Ks in 15 1/3 innings), RH Bartolo Colon (15-8, 3.43 in 34 games, 33 starts, team-high 191 2/3 IP), RH Seth Lugo (5-2, 2.67 in 17 games, 8 starts), RH Robert Gsellman (4-2, 2.42 in 8 games, 7 starts), RH Jim Henderson (2-2, 4.37) or RH Erik Goeddel (2-2, 4.54).
---
Matchups:
This is the second postseason meeting between the teams. New York beat the Giants in four games during their 2000 NL Division Series. ... Both clubs finished 87-75, and the Mets earned home-field advantage for this game by winning the season series. New York took two of three at home early in the season before the teams split a four-game series at San Francisco in August. Bumgarner had two of the Giants' three wins and is 5-0 with a 1.80 ERA in six career starts against the Mets. He allowed four runs over five innings in a 10-7 victory Aug. 18. He had allowed four runs in his first 35 innings against New York, including six scoreless innings to outpitch Syndergaard on May 1. ... Posey is a .336 career hitter against the Mets. ... New York set a franchise record with 218 home runs, which ranked second in the NL and fifth in the majors. The Mets went 77-40 when they homered. ... New York also clocked a club-record 13 pinch-hit homers this season. Only the Cardinals (17) had more. ... In addition to his quality stuff and sensational postseason resume, Bumgarner could present a matchup problem for the middle of New York's lineup simply because he's a lefty. Granderson, Bruce, Loney and Duda all bat left-handed. Reyes and Cabrera are switch-hitters, but injured infielder Wilmer Flores (wrist) will be missed. Flores hit .340 with 11 homers in 100 at-bats vs. left-handers this season, including .393 with 25 RBIs in his last 61 at-bats. He had a whopping .710 slugging percentage against southpaws. Flores had been subbing at second base for injured Neil Walker (23 HRs). That role now belongs to T.J. Rivera, an undrafted rookie from New York City who won the Pacific Coast League batting crown. He's done an excellent job filling in. ... The winner heads for Chicago to play the NL Central champion Cubs in a best-of-five Division Series beginning Friday. New York swept the Cubs in last year's NL Championship Series and went 5-2 against them this season, including a four-game sweep at Citi Field.
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Big Picture:
Giants: After leading the majors with a 57-33 record at the All-Star break, San Francisco stumbled to the finish and nearly missed out entirely on the postseason. The Giants ended the regular season with their first four-game winning streak of the second half to beat out St. Louis by one game for the second NL wild card. Now that San Francisco is in, manager Bruce Bochy's team hopes to extend the even-year karma that led to World Series titles in 2010, `12 and `14. ... San Francisco set up its rotation with the right man on the mound for this one in Bumgarner, the 2014 World Series MVP. He is 7-3 with a 2.14 ERA in 14 career postseason appearances, and 5-1 with a 0.99 ERA in his last seven postseason starts. ... The bullpen was the biggest issue in the second half, with the team setting a franchise record by losing nine games it led after eight innings, including five in September. ... Posey hit just three HRs in his last 63 games but picked up his performance late with 12 RBIs in the final nine games. ... Pence, who missed 48 games with a hamstring injury, had a strong finish, batting .340 over his final 24 games. ... San Francisco committed a major league-low 72 errors, with Crawford playing mistake-free defense in his final 43 games at shortstop. ... With 3B Eduardo Nunez not expected to play because of a hamstring injury, Gillaspie will get the nod. He is 7 for 14 with five RBIs in the past five games.
Mets: Following last year's World Series loss to Kansas City, the well-stocked Mets began the season with big expectations and legitimate aspirations of winning their first championship since 1986. Then the aches and pains started piling up. Every established regular besides Granderson spent time on the disabled list, in addition to handy part-time players Flores (16 HRs, 49 RBIs) and Juan Lagares. Duda (back) missed four months, and captain David Wright (neck surgery) has been out since late May. By early September, the imposing young rotation had been decimated by season-ending injuries to Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom and Steven Matz. Zack Wheeler never made it back from March 2015 Tommy John surgery, further testing New York's pitching depth. The trade-deadline deal for Bruce looked like a bust before he finally went on a timely tear during the last week of the season. But when the resilient Mets reached down to the farm, several marginal prospects delivered under pressure. Lugo and Gsellman saved the rotation down the stretch, while the 43-year-old Colon was a rock throughout - even becoming the oldest major leaguer to hit his first career home run. Loney and Rene Rivera, steady veterans dumped by Tampa Bay just before the season started, arrived from the minors and provided important contributions. Reyes, released by Colorado after serving a domestic-violence suspension, rejoined his original team at a new position July 5 and combined with Cabrera to energize a sagging offense. Both dyed their hair bright, too, and manager Terry Collins' persistent team finally took off. New York was 60-62 after losing at San Francisco on Aug. 19, the day Cespedes and Cabrera came off the DL. Then the Mets went an MLB-best 27-13 the rest of the way and jumped over four teams in the pennant race. They secured the top wild card on the penultimate day of the regular season, reaching the playoffs in consecutive years for the second time in franchise history (1999-2000). That allowed them to hold back Syndergaard for this game. Now, the Mets will try to make another October run with Cespedes. The star slugger can opt out of his contract and become a free agent again this fall.
---
Watch For:
- Closing Time. The bullpen that played such a key role in San Francisco's recent World Series championships melted down in the second half. Casilla tied for the most blown saves in the majors with nine and lost his job. After struggling to find a replacement, Bochy went to Romo, the closer during the 2012 title run. He successfully converted all four save opportunities in the final two weeks. Meanwhile, the Mets have a reliable formula at the back end in Salas, Reed and Familia.
- Running Wild. The 6-foot-6, 240-pound Syndergaard has trouble holding runners and is often slow to the plate. He allowed 48 stolen bases this season, 18 more than any other major league pitcher. It's a big reason why strong-armed Rene Rivera has become his regular catcher. San Francisco probably will try to take advantage. The Giants ranked eighth in the NL with 79 steals but were caught 36 times for a success rate of 69 percent.
- Power Outage. While the bullpen woes got the most attention, the Giants' bats also struggled in the second half. The team went from scoring 4.7 runs per game before the All-Star break to 4.0 afterward, with Posey, Crawford and Belt all struggling to hit for power.
- Tried and Tested. The Mets haven't played a team that finished with a winning record since Sept. 14 at Washington. Meanwhile, the Giants are coming off a three-game sweep of the NL West champion Dodgers.
Cederstrom, Winters are crew chiefs for wild-card games
NEW YORK (AP) Gary Cederstrom and Mike Winters will be the umpiring crew chiefs for this week's wild-card games.
Major League Baseball announced Monday that Cederstrom will work the plate for Tuesday's AL wild-card game between the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Cederstrom will be joined by Ted Barrett, Eric Cooper, Will Little, David Rackley and Bill Welke.
Winters is the plate umpire for Wednesday's NL game between the San Francisco Giants and the New York Mets at Citi Field. His crew includes CB Bucknor, Mike Everitt, Jeff Nelson, Quinn Wolcott and Jim Wolf.
Scott Barry and Mark Carlson will serve as replay officials for the wild-card games.
For the Division Series, John Hirshbeck (Giants/Mets vs. Cubs), Jeff Kellogg (Dodgers vs. Nationals), Joe West (Orioles/Blue Jays vs. Rangers) and Bill Miller (Red Sox vs. Indians) will serve as crew chiefs.
NEW YORK (AP) Gary Cederstrom and Mike Winters will be the umpiring crew chiefs for this week's wild-card games.
Major League Baseball announced Monday that Cederstrom will work the plate for Tuesday's AL wild-card game between the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Cederstrom will be joined by Ted Barrett, Eric Cooper, Will Little, David Rackley and Bill Welke.
Winters is the plate umpire for Wednesday's NL game between the San Francisco Giants and the New York Mets at Citi Field. His crew includes CB Bucknor, Mike Everitt, Jeff Nelson, Quinn Wolcott and Jim Wolf.
Scott Barry and Mark Carlson will serve as replay officials for the wild-card games.
For the Division Series, John Hirshbeck (Giants/Mets vs. Cubs), Jeff Kellogg (Dodgers vs. Nationals), Joe West (Orioles/Blue Jays vs. Rangers) and Bill Miller (Red Sox vs. Indians) will serve as crew chiefs.
MLB
Short Sheet
Tuesday, October 4
Baltimore at Toronto, 8:00 PM ET
Tillman: BALTIMORE is 11-4 SU in road games after 6 or more consecutive road games
Stroman: TORONTO is 22-31 SU after 3 consecutive game versus a division rival
Weds – Oct. 5
San Francisco at NY Mets, 8:00 PM ET
Bumgarner: SAN FRANCISCO is 13-3 SU when playing in the 1rst game of a playoff series
Syndergaard: NY METS are 13-21 SU against NL West opponents
Short Sheet
Tuesday, October 4
Baltimore at Toronto, 8:00 PM ET
Tillman: BALTIMORE is 11-4 SU in road games after 6 or more consecutive road games
Stroman: TORONTO is 22-31 SU after 3 consecutive game versus a division rival
Weds – Oct. 5
San Francisco at NY Mets, 8:00 PM ET
Bumgarner: SAN FRANCISCO is 13-3 SU when playing in the 1rst game of a playoff series
Syndergaard: NY METS are 13-21 SU against NL West opponents
Wednesday’s six-pack
Six NFL trends to ponder, with Week 5 coming up……..
— Arizona is 8-4 in last 12 tries as a road favorite.
— Packers covered 9 of last 11 post-bye games.
— San Diego is 12-2-2 as a divisional road underdog.
— Detroit is 1-7-1 in last nine games as a home dog.
— Patriots are 31-11 vs spread coming off a loss, but 4-13 as a road fave.
— Indianapolis is 3-8 in last 11 games as a home favorite.
Wednesday’s List of 13: Mid-week musings
13) A woman in Ohio was late for her job recently. Why? She claimed she was attacked by a man in a clown suit on her way to work.
Not surprisingly, the clown attack story turned out to be a lie, but she gets credit for being original. Someone should ask her what kind of a bozo does she think would buy that story?
12) Have to wonder if Billy Donovan would’ve left Florida for the NBA if he knew that Kevin Durant would skip town; Donovan probably also knew that his AD at Florida, Jeremy Foley would be retiring soon, but Oklahoma City without Durant isn’t that great a job.
11) Arizona Cardinals are only NFL team that hasn’t scored in the first quarter yet this season.
10) Texas-Oklahoma football game, one of the biggest rivalry games in the country, starts at noon ET Saturday, thats 11am in Dallas, which means the teams eat pre-game meals at 7am. Why? This is ludicrous. FOX has baseball playoffs and FS1 has UFC on at night, so they want the football game in the morning, so the morning it is. Oy.
9) Colorado Buffaloes are in the football top 25 for the first time since 2005.
8) Julio Jones is the 6th WR in NFL history with 300+ receiving yards in a game; Flipper Anderson (336) still holds the all-time record.
7) Arizona Diamondbacks fired GM Dave Stewart/manager Chip Hale after their disaster of a season ended. Colorado/Walt Weiss also parted ways, though they said Weiss chose not to pursue another contract. Who quits a major league managing job?
6) Jimmer Fredette surfaced on my TV Sunday night as a member of the Shanghai Sharks, who finished 12th in the 20-team Chinese Basketball Association last year. Jimmer shoots a lot on this team.
Odd fact about the Chinese league; their All-Star weekend is between the end of the regular season and the start of the playoffs, which seems like a really bad idea.
5) LA Rams are off to a 3-1 start, having played all three NFC West rivals already; their next divisional game isn’t until December 15- their last three games are all within the division. Their next nine games are all non-divisional games.
4) Kansas Jayhawks got a verbal commit from a kid from Chicago who is in the Class of 2019, which means he just started 10th grade. Whats the point of this, other than it might keep some recruiters away from contacting the kid? (probably not many, if he is really good)
If the young man gets hurt, is Kansas still obligated? What if he regresses as a player and the Jayhawks don’t want him anymore? What if the kid realizes that the weather in Arizona and California is way nicer than Kansas and he wants to go to school in one of those places?
3) San Diego Chargers are 3-12 in their last 15 games that were decided by 8 or less points; they’ve led by double figures in every game this year, they’ve led in the 4th quarter in every game and yet they’re 1-3, with a QB who will be 35 in December. Not good.
2) One of Duke’s star basketball recruits this year is Harry Giles, who just had his third knee surgery in three years; he didn’t play in high school last year and now his role this year will be reduced to an unknown extent.
Tough spot for everyone involved; if the kid doesn’t play a full-time role this year and then jumps into the NBA Draft next spring, which franchise will take the leap of faith and draft him? (hopefully not Portland, which has Sam Bowie/Greg Oden on its resume)
The young man needs his knees to stay healthy to become a millionaire; how long does he stay in college, risking an injury that could dash those hopes? But he also could improve his standing by staying in for an extra year and strengthening himself.
It’ll be an interesting story to follow moving forward.
1— When the Padres traded Drew Pomeranz to the Red Sox without fully disclosing his medical history, and then Boston found out about it and complained, the commissioner’s office offered to rescind the trade, but the Red Sox turned them down. Interesting decision.
Curious about two things here: a) How will Boston use Pomeranz in the playoffs? He’s pitched in long relief for the A’s- they should’ve started him more.
b) Does Padres’ GM AJ Preller keep his job when his suspension is over, and if he does, will other teams trade with him? The guy has proven to be a shady character at a young age.
Six NFL trends to ponder, with Week 5 coming up……..
— Arizona is 8-4 in last 12 tries as a road favorite.
— Packers covered 9 of last 11 post-bye games.
— San Diego is 12-2-2 as a divisional road underdog.
— Detroit is 1-7-1 in last nine games as a home dog.
— Patriots are 31-11 vs spread coming off a loss, but 4-13 as a road fave.
— Indianapolis is 3-8 in last 11 games as a home favorite.
Wednesday’s List of 13: Mid-week musings
13) A woman in Ohio was late for her job recently. Why? She claimed she was attacked by a man in a clown suit on her way to work.
Not surprisingly, the clown attack story turned out to be a lie, but she gets credit for being original. Someone should ask her what kind of a bozo does she think would buy that story?
12) Have to wonder if Billy Donovan would’ve left Florida for the NBA if he knew that Kevin Durant would skip town; Donovan probably also knew that his AD at Florida, Jeremy Foley would be retiring soon, but Oklahoma City without Durant isn’t that great a job.
11) Arizona Cardinals are only NFL team that hasn’t scored in the first quarter yet this season.
10) Texas-Oklahoma football game, one of the biggest rivalry games in the country, starts at noon ET Saturday, thats 11am in Dallas, which means the teams eat pre-game meals at 7am. Why? This is ludicrous. FOX has baseball playoffs and FS1 has UFC on at night, so they want the football game in the morning, so the morning it is. Oy.
9) Colorado Buffaloes are in the football top 25 for the first time since 2005.
8) Julio Jones is the 6th WR in NFL history with 300+ receiving yards in a game; Flipper Anderson (336) still holds the all-time record.
7) Arizona Diamondbacks fired GM Dave Stewart/manager Chip Hale after their disaster of a season ended. Colorado/Walt Weiss also parted ways, though they said Weiss chose not to pursue another contract. Who quits a major league managing job?
6) Jimmer Fredette surfaced on my TV Sunday night as a member of the Shanghai Sharks, who finished 12th in the 20-team Chinese Basketball Association last year. Jimmer shoots a lot on this team.
Odd fact about the Chinese league; their All-Star weekend is between the end of the regular season and the start of the playoffs, which seems like a really bad idea.
5) LA Rams are off to a 3-1 start, having played all three NFC West rivals already; their next divisional game isn’t until December 15- their last three games are all within the division. Their next nine games are all non-divisional games.
4) Kansas Jayhawks got a verbal commit from a kid from Chicago who is in the Class of 2019, which means he just started 10th grade. Whats the point of this, other than it might keep some recruiters away from contacting the kid? (probably not many, if he is really good)
If the young man gets hurt, is Kansas still obligated? What if he regresses as a player and the Jayhawks don’t want him anymore? What if the kid realizes that the weather in Arizona and California is way nicer than Kansas and he wants to go to school in one of those places?
3) San Diego Chargers are 3-12 in their last 15 games that were decided by 8 or less points; they’ve led by double figures in every game this year, they’ve led in the 4th quarter in every game and yet they’re 1-3, with a QB who will be 35 in December. Not good.
2) One of Duke’s star basketball recruits this year is Harry Giles, who just had his third knee surgery in three years; he didn’t play in high school last year and now his role this year will be reduced to an unknown extent.
Tough spot for everyone involved; if the kid doesn’t play a full-time role this year and then jumps into the NBA Draft next spring, which franchise will take the leap of faith and draft him? (hopefully not Portland, which has Sam Bowie/Greg Oden on its resume)
The young man needs his knees to stay healthy to become a millionaire; how long does he stay in college, risking an injury that could dash those hopes? But he also could improve his standing by staying in for an extra year and strengthening himself.
It’ll be an interesting story to follow moving forward.
1— When the Padres traded Drew Pomeranz to the Red Sox without fully disclosing his medical history, and then Boston found out about it and complained, the commissioner’s office offered to rescind the trade, but the Red Sox turned them down. Interesting decision.
Curious about two things here: a) How will Boston use Pomeranz in the playoffs? He’s pitched in long relief for the A’s- they should’ve started him more.
b) Does Padres’ GM AJ Preller keep his job when his suspension is over, and if he does, will other teams trade with him? The guy has proven to be a shady character at a young age.
NL Wild Card game is Wednesday.
Giants @ Mets
Bumgarner is 1-1, 3.54 in his last three starts; seven of his last ten starts went over total. SF is 9-8 in his road starts, 3-1 in his last four. He is 2-0, 3.27 against the Mets this year. Syndergaard is 4-2, 2.06 in his last seven starts; three of his last four went over. Mets lost four of his last six home starts. He is 1-1, 2.63 against the Giants this year.
Giants are 3-4 vs New York this year, with 10.6 runs/game scored. SF won its last four games to make playoffs after a dismal second half of season- they had best record in MLB at All-Star break. Mets are only Wild Card that had couple days to enjoy it and set up starter for this round. NY is 7-3 in last 10 games, but played also-rans the last two weeks. Last time they played a good team was Washington on September 14.
Giants won World Series is 2010, ’12, ’14; Bochy is 42-30 in postseason games as a manager. Collins made playoffs LY for first time in 11 years as a skipper (8-6); now he is in postseason for second straight year.
Giants @ Mets
Bumgarner is 1-1, 3.54 in his last three starts; seven of his last ten starts went over total. SF is 9-8 in his road starts, 3-1 in his last four. He is 2-0, 3.27 against the Mets this year. Syndergaard is 4-2, 2.06 in his last seven starts; three of his last four went over. Mets lost four of his last six home starts. He is 1-1, 2.63 against the Giants this year.
Giants are 3-4 vs New York this year, with 10.6 runs/game scored. SF won its last four games to make playoffs after a dismal second half of season- they had best record in MLB at All-Star break. Mets are only Wild Card that had couple days to enjoy it and set up starter for this round. NY is 7-3 in last 10 games, but played also-rans the last two weeks. Last time they played a good team was Washington on September 14.
Giants won World Series is 2010, ’12, ’14; Bochy is 42-30 in postseason games as a manager. Collins made playoffs LY for first time in 11 years as a skipper (8-6); now he is in postseason for second straight year.
MLB BETTING TRENDS
Our free MLB betting trends is a tool that uses a comprehensive statistical database to analyze MLB trends and make recommendations based on historical team data for the moneyline, teaser, and run lines bets as well.
Run Line
(933) SAN FRANCISCO @(934) NY METS
Play AGAINST SAN FRANCISCO using the run line in Road games when playing on Wednesday.
The record is 2 Wins and 11 Losses this season (-11.8 units)
BET NOW
-----------------------------
MLB POWER LINES
Power Line ratings are calculated using both teams' ratings and home field advantage. The Top Power Lines tool offers a way to view and compare current Power Lines in one simple report, as well as the Power Line Edge, where the Power Line differs significantly from the current line.
8:00 pm 10/5/2016
(933) SAN FRANCISCO @(934) NY METS
Play Line: SAN FRANCISCO -108
BTB PowerLine: SAN FRANCISCO -109
Edge On: SAN FRANCISCO 1
Our free MLB betting trends is a tool that uses a comprehensive statistical database to analyze MLB trends and make recommendations based on historical team data for the moneyline, teaser, and run lines bets as well.
Run Line
(933) SAN FRANCISCO @(934) NY METS
Play AGAINST SAN FRANCISCO using the run line in Road games when playing on Wednesday.
The record is 2 Wins and 11 Losses this season (-11.8 units)
BET NOW
-----------------------------
MLB POWER LINES
Power Line ratings are calculated using both teams' ratings and home field advantage. The Top Power Lines tool offers a way to view and compare current Power Lines in one simple report, as well as the Power Line Edge, where the Power Line differs significantly from the current line.
8:00 pm 10/5/2016
(933) SAN FRANCISCO @(934) NY METS
Play Line: SAN FRANCISCO -108
BTB PowerLine: SAN FRANCISCO -109
Edge On: SAN FRANCISCO 1
MadBum vs. Syndergaard set to go off
October 4, 2016
NEW YORK (AP) Bright lights, big city, ol' country hardball.
Madison Bumgarner against Noah Syndergaard with the season on the line. A pair of towering tough guys you probably don't want to mess with.
Playoff pitching matchups don't get much better.
Toting his outstanding October resume to the mound, Bumgarner will start for the San Francisco Giants against Syndergaard and the New York Mets in the NL wild-card game Wednesday night.
The winner moves on to face the major league-best Chicago Cubs (103-58) in a best-of-five Division Series. The loser heads home for the winter.
''It's going to be an exciting game,'' Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Tuesday, when both teams worked out at Citi Field. ''I mean, this is the fun thing about postseason is you're going to get great matchups like this.''
It took 162 games to set it up.
San Francisco, the top team in the majors at the All-Star break, struggled badly throughout the second half before finishing with a four-game winning streak. That was enough to hold off St. Louis by one game and secure the last NL playoff spot on the final day of the regular season.
New York, the defending NL champion, was two games under .500 on Aug. 19 after losing two straight in San Francisco. But with slugger Yoenis Cespedes and shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera back from the disabled list, the Mets posted the top mark in the majors (27-13) from that point on and jumped over four teams in the pennant race, booking their postseason trip Saturday with one game to spare.
Both teams finished 87-75, and New York earned home-field advantage by winning the season series 4-3.
''Good major league players, when it comes crunch time, they turn it on,'' Mets manager Terry Collins said. ''So I'm not really sure that momentum going in means a whole lot. Both of us have had to play good at the end - we did.''
Citi Field should be rocking Wednesday night, but Bumgarner, Bochy and the Giants know all about excelling in elimination games and thriving under postseason pressure. After winning World Series titles in 2010, `12 and `14, they want to extend their pattern of even-year championships with another run through October.
The last time Bumgarner pitched in the postseason, he saved Game 7 of the 2014 World Series in Kansas City with five scoreless innings on two days' rest to cap one of the greatest postseason performances in baseball history. His 0.25 ERA in five career outings is the lowest for any pitcher with at least 25 innings in the Fall Classic.
He was 15-9 with a 2.74 ERA and 251 strikeouts this season.
''With us finishing up the way we did, I feel really, really good about our chances,'' Bumgarner said.
The 6-foot-5, 250-pound lefty, born in Hickory, North Carolina, started San Francisco's playoff surge in the 2014 wild-card game by striking out 10 in a four-hit shutout at Pittsburgh - a similar assignment to Wednesday.
''We have been through this before. We've been down this road. I like this wild-card thing,'' Bochy said. ''I love it. I have to. We have a ring because of this wild card and have a chance now.''
The 24-year-old Syndergaard, with long blond locks and the nickname Thor, is no inexperienced sophomore.
The 6-foot-6, 242-pound righty from Mansfield, Texas, joined Bumgarner on the All-Star roster this summer and went 14-9 with a 2.60 ERA and 218 strikeouts over 183 2/3 innings. Featuring a 100 mph fastball, sharp slider and impressive control of several secondary pitches, he won a pair of postseason starts as a rookie last year - including Game 3 of the World Series against the Royals.
''He has the best stuff for a starter in all of baseball,'' Bumgarner said back in San Francisco.
Last fall, Syndergaard caught everyone's attention with his first World Series pitch: a sizzling fastball well above Alcides Escobar's head that dusted a hot hitter who liked to swing at the initial offering.
''He's not intimidated by anything,'' Collins said about Syndergaard. ''He's not afraid. He wants to take charge. His stuff speaks for itself. I think he's grown as a pitcher. I think he trusts his stuff a lot more now.''
Syndergaard, for his part, is eagerly anticipating Wednesday night.
''It's just a dream come true,'' he said. ''It's going to be really exciting and I'm looking forward to getting out there and feeling the energy from the hometown crowd, just having an awesome time.''
October 4, 2016
NEW YORK (AP) Bright lights, big city, ol' country hardball.
Madison Bumgarner against Noah Syndergaard with the season on the line. A pair of towering tough guys you probably don't want to mess with.
Playoff pitching matchups don't get much better.
Toting his outstanding October resume to the mound, Bumgarner will start for the San Francisco Giants against Syndergaard and the New York Mets in the NL wild-card game Wednesday night.
The winner moves on to face the major league-best Chicago Cubs (103-58) in a best-of-five Division Series. The loser heads home for the winter.
''It's going to be an exciting game,'' Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Tuesday, when both teams worked out at Citi Field. ''I mean, this is the fun thing about postseason is you're going to get great matchups like this.''
It took 162 games to set it up.
San Francisco, the top team in the majors at the All-Star break, struggled badly throughout the second half before finishing with a four-game winning streak. That was enough to hold off St. Louis by one game and secure the last NL playoff spot on the final day of the regular season.
New York, the defending NL champion, was two games under .500 on Aug. 19 after losing two straight in San Francisco. But with slugger Yoenis Cespedes and shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera back from the disabled list, the Mets posted the top mark in the majors (27-13) from that point on and jumped over four teams in the pennant race, booking their postseason trip Saturday with one game to spare.
Both teams finished 87-75, and New York earned home-field advantage by winning the season series 4-3.
''Good major league players, when it comes crunch time, they turn it on,'' Mets manager Terry Collins said. ''So I'm not really sure that momentum going in means a whole lot. Both of us have had to play good at the end - we did.''
Citi Field should be rocking Wednesday night, but Bumgarner, Bochy and the Giants know all about excelling in elimination games and thriving under postseason pressure. After winning World Series titles in 2010, `12 and `14, they want to extend their pattern of even-year championships with another run through October.
The last time Bumgarner pitched in the postseason, he saved Game 7 of the 2014 World Series in Kansas City with five scoreless innings on two days' rest to cap one of the greatest postseason performances in baseball history. His 0.25 ERA in five career outings is the lowest for any pitcher with at least 25 innings in the Fall Classic.
He was 15-9 with a 2.74 ERA and 251 strikeouts this season.
''With us finishing up the way we did, I feel really, really good about our chances,'' Bumgarner said.
The 6-foot-5, 250-pound lefty, born in Hickory, North Carolina, started San Francisco's playoff surge in the 2014 wild-card game by striking out 10 in a four-hit shutout at Pittsburgh - a similar assignment to Wednesday.
''We have been through this before. We've been down this road. I like this wild-card thing,'' Bochy said. ''I love it. I have to. We have a ring because of this wild card and have a chance now.''
The 24-year-old Syndergaard, with long blond locks and the nickname Thor, is no inexperienced sophomore.
The 6-foot-6, 242-pound righty from Mansfield, Texas, joined Bumgarner on the All-Star roster this summer and went 14-9 with a 2.60 ERA and 218 strikeouts over 183 2/3 innings. Featuring a 100 mph fastball, sharp slider and impressive control of several secondary pitches, he won a pair of postseason starts as a rookie last year - including Game 3 of the World Series against the Royals.
''He has the best stuff for a starter in all of baseball,'' Bumgarner said back in San Francisco.
Last fall, Syndergaard caught everyone's attention with his first World Series pitch: a sizzling fastball well above Alcides Escobar's head that dusted a hot hitter who liked to swing at the initial offering.
''He's not intimidated by anything,'' Collins said about Syndergaard. ''He's not afraid. He wants to take charge. His stuff speaks for itself. I think he's grown as a pitcher. I think he trusts his stuff a lot more now.''
Syndergaard, for his part, is eagerly anticipating Wednesday night.
''It's just a dream come true,'' he said. ''It's going to be really exciting and I'm looking forward to getting out there and feeling the energy from the hometown crowd, just having an awesome time.''
NL Wild Card - SF at NY
October 3, 2016
NL Wild Card Betting Preview (TBS, 8:05 p.m.)
San Francisco Giants at New York Mets
Wednesday, Oct. 5 from Citi Field
Sportsbook.ag Odds: San Francisco (-110), New York (-110); Total 6
The 2016 MLB Playoffs have finally arrived and like always, they begin with some very big Wildcard games where the loser goes home.
That Wildcard game in the National League should be a beauty between the Giants and Mets as they've both got their #1 pitchers on the hill to try and advance. Odds makers have opened up this game as basically a pick'em, but does one team actually have a decided edge?
These two teams met seven times over the course of the year and it was the Mets who won the season series 4-3. New York took two of three at home and split a four-game set out west to earn that mark.
2016 Head-to-Head Matchups (New York 4-3, Over 6-1)
New York vs. San Francisco (AT&T Park)
Aug. 21 - Mets 2 Giants 0 (Under 7.5)
Aug. 20 - Mets 9 Giants 5 (Over 8.5)
Aug. 19 - Mets 1 Giants 8 (Over 7.5)
Aug. 18 - Mets 7 Giants 10 (Over 6)
San Francisco vs. New York (Citi Field)
May 1 - Giants 6 Mets 1 (Over 6)
Apr. 30 - Giants 5 Mets 6 (Over 7)
Apr. 29 - Giants 1 Mets 13 (Over 7)
However, the only time the two projected starters for this Wildcard game – Madison Bumgarner and Noah Syndergaard – met, it was that lone home loss for the Mets, as San Francisco salvaged the series finale with a 6-1 victory. Neither Syndergaard or Bumgarner lasted more than six innings that day, but it clearly was the Giants pitcher who had the better day.
Bumgarner went on to lead his team to another win over the Mets later in the year (10-7), but with only five innings pitched that time, it's not like Bumgarner has been at his best vs. New York this season.
Syndergaard responded with a win of his own in San Francisco later in the year and he was much better that time around, throwing eight strong innings of shutout baseball en route to the 2-0 Mets win.
It will be interesting to see which pitcher has the better day in the playoff game, especially since it's winner take all and Bumgarner is the one who's been in that spot a few times before.
From a team perspective, the Mets are in better shape for success here because they are the ones at home and they actually have played much better baseball the last two months.
San Francisco squeaked into this Wildcard spot on the last day of the year after having the best record in baseball at the All-Star break.
That was almost a monumental collapse for the Giants this year and being one of the worst teams in the league since that time doesn't help their cause in this game.
But it's a brand new season in the playoffs and the past experiences the Giants core have gone through will definitely help them here.
Looming for the winner is a date in the NLDS with the Chicago Cubs and while the Cubs would never admit it, they'd prefer to get another crack at the Mets.
It was New York who beat Chicago in the NLCS last year to move onto the World Series and if that's the way this NL Wildcard game goes, we should have two tremendous NLDS series'.
So despite all the lazy analyst talk about this being an 'even' year and that means another successful San Francisco playoff run (they won it all in 2010, 2012, 2014), I'm siding with the home team in this game.
Syndergaard learned from his mistakes the first time out vs. San Francisco and absolutely shut them down the next time he faced them. He's got the more explosive offense behind him too as the Mets can change games with one swing of the bat, from multiple guys, and many of them have had solid success against Bumgarner in the past.
New York also has the better bullpen overall for this game and should this game be tight in the closing innings, I have more faith in the Mets bullpen closing things down.
New York seemingly has most stats in their favor for this game, but because of the Giants pedigree – especially with Bumgarner on the hill – many won't be confident in backing the home side here.
I am though, as the Mets win this game and set up a great 2015 NLCS rematch series with the Chicago Cubs this year.
Best Bet: Take the Mets on the ML
MLB Wild Card History
Betting Trends:
Road Teams have gone 6-2
Favorites have gone 5-3
The 'over/under' has gone 4-4
2015 WILD CARD RESULTS
Game Matchup Score Favorite-Underdog Over-Under
AL Houston (-110) at N.Y. Yankees 3-0 Favorite Under (7)
NL Chicago (-125) at Pittsburgh 4-0 Favorite Under (5.5)
2014 WILD CARD RESULTS
Game Matchup Score Favorite-Underdog Over-Under
AL Oakland at Kansas City (+100) 9-8 (12) Underdog Over (6.5)
NL San Francisco (-110) at Pittsburgh 8-0 Favorite Over (6.5)
2013 WILD CARD RESULTS
Game Matchup Score Favorite-Underdog Over-Under
AL Tampa Bay (-110) at Cleveland 6-2 Favorite Over (6.5)
NL Cincinnati at Pittsburgh (-145) 4-0 Favorite Under (7)
2012 WILD CARD RESULTS
Game Matchup Score Favorite-Underdog Over-Under
AL Baltimore (+210) at Texas 5-2 Underdog Under 9
NL St. Louis (+155) at Atlanta 6-3 Underdog Over 6.5
October 3, 2016
NL Wild Card Betting Preview (TBS, 8:05 p.m.)
San Francisco Giants at New York Mets
Wednesday, Oct. 5 from Citi Field
Sportsbook.ag Odds: San Francisco (-110), New York (-110); Total 6
The 2016 MLB Playoffs have finally arrived and like always, they begin with some very big Wildcard games where the loser goes home.
That Wildcard game in the National League should be a beauty between the Giants and Mets as they've both got their #1 pitchers on the hill to try and advance. Odds makers have opened up this game as basically a pick'em, but does one team actually have a decided edge?
These two teams met seven times over the course of the year and it was the Mets who won the season series 4-3. New York took two of three at home and split a four-game set out west to earn that mark.
2016 Head-to-Head Matchups (New York 4-3, Over 6-1)
New York vs. San Francisco (AT&T Park)
Aug. 21 - Mets 2 Giants 0 (Under 7.5)
Aug. 20 - Mets 9 Giants 5 (Over 8.5)
Aug. 19 - Mets 1 Giants 8 (Over 7.5)
Aug. 18 - Mets 7 Giants 10 (Over 6)
San Francisco vs. New York (Citi Field)
May 1 - Giants 6 Mets 1 (Over 6)
Apr. 30 - Giants 5 Mets 6 (Over 7)
Apr. 29 - Giants 1 Mets 13 (Over 7)
However, the only time the two projected starters for this Wildcard game – Madison Bumgarner and Noah Syndergaard – met, it was that lone home loss for the Mets, as San Francisco salvaged the series finale with a 6-1 victory. Neither Syndergaard or Bumgarner lasted more than six innings that day, but it clearly was the Giants pitcher who had the better day.
Bumgarner went on to lead his team to another win over the Mets later in the year (10-7), but with only five innings pitched that time, it's not like Bumgarner has been at his best vs. New York this season.
Syndergaard responded with a win of his own in San Francisco later in the year and he was much better that time around, throwing eight strong innings of shutout baseball en route to the 2-0 Mets win.
It will be interesting to see which pitcher has the better day in the playoff game, especially since it's winner take all and Bumgarner is the one who's been in that spot a few times before.
From a team perspective, the Mets are in better shape for success here because they are the ones at home and they actually have played much better baseball the last two months.
San Francisco squeaked into this Wildcard spot on the last day of the year after having the best record in baseball at the All-Star break.
That was almost a monumental collapse for the Giants this year and being one of the worst teams in the league since that time doesn't help their cause in this game.
But it's a brand new season in the playoffs and the past experiences the Giants core have gone through will definitely help them here.
Looming for the winner is a date in the NLDS with the Chicago Cubs and while the Cubs would never admit it, they'd prefer to get another crack at the Mets.
It was New York who beat Chicago in the NLCS last year to move onto the World Series and if that's the way this NL Wildcard game goes, we should have two tremendous NLDS series'.
So despite all the lazy analyst talk about this being an 'even' year and that means another successful San Francisco playoff run (they won it all in 2010, 2012, 2014), I'm siding with the home team in this game.
Syndergaard learned from his mistakes the first time out vs. San Francisco and absolutely shut them down the next time he faced them. He's got the more explosive offense behind him too as the Mets can change games with one swing of the bat, from multiple guys, and many of them have had solid success against Bumgarner in the past.
New York also has the better bullpen overall for this game and should this game be tight in the closing innings, I have more faith in the Mets bullpen closing things down.
New York seemingly has most stats in their favor for this game, but because of the Giants pedigree – especially with Bumgarner on the hill – many won't be confident in backing the home side here.
I am though, as the Mets win this game and set up a great 2015 NLCS rematch series with the Chicago Cubs this year.
Best Bet: Take the Mets on the ML
MLB Wild Card History
Betting Trends:
Road Teams have gone 6-2
Favorites have gone 5-3
The 'over/under' has gone 4-4
2015 WILD CARD RESULTS
Game Matchup Score Favorite-Underdog Over-Under
AL Houston (-110) at N.Y. Yankees 3-0 Favorite Under (7)
NL Chicago (-125) at Pittsburgh 4-0 Favorite Under (5.5)
2014 WILD CARD RESULTS
Game Matchup Score Favorite-Underdog Over-Under
AL Oakland at Kansas City (+100) 9-8 (12) Underdog Over (6.5)
NL San Francisco (-110) at Pittsburgh 8-0 Favorite Over (6.5)
2013 WILD CARD RESULTS
Game Matchup Score Favorite-Underdog Over-Under
AL Tampa Bay (-110) at Cleveland 6-2 Favorite Over (6.5)
NL Cincinnati at Pittsburgh (-145) 4-0 Favorite Under (7)
2012 WILD CARD RESULTS
Game Matchup Score Favorite-Underdog Over-Under
AL Baltimore (+210) at Texas 5-2 Underdog Under 9
NL St. Louis (+155) at Atlanta 6-3 Underdog Over 6.5
SAN FRANCISCO (87 - 75) at NY METS (87 - 75) - 8:00 PM
MADISON BUMGARNER (L) vs. NOAH SYNDERGAARD (R)
Top Trends for this game.
SAN FRANCISCO is 87-75 (-8.3 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
SAN FRANCISCO is 10-15 (-11.0 Units) against the money line when playing on Wednesday this season.
SAN FRANCISCO is 84-75 (-11.9 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
SAN FRANCISCO is 54-53 (-13.2 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
SAN FRANCISCO is 57-53 (-17.4 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
SAN FRANCISCO is 9-27 (-16.7 Units) against the money line in road games when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
NY METS are 41-32 (+9.2 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
SAN FRANCISCO is 62-43 (+22.9 Units) against the money line in October games since 1997.
SAN FRANCISCO is 46-30 (+20.7 Units) against the money line in playoff games since 1997.
NY METS are 58-56 (-11.8 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
NY METS are 18-20 (-11.7 Units) against the money line in home games after a loss this season.
NY METS are 195-237 (-59.9 Units) against the money line in home games when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season since 1997.
Head-to-Head Series History
NY METS is 4-3 (+1.2 Units) against SAN FRANCISCO this season
6 of 7 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+5.5 Units)
MADISON BUMGARNER vs. NY METS since 1997
BUMGARNER is 5-0 when starting against NY METS with an ERA of 1.80 and a WHIP of 1.025.
His team's record is 5-1 (+3.3 units) in these starts. The OVER is 5-1. (+4.5 units)
NOAH SYNDERGAARD vs. SAN FRANCISCO since 1997
SYNDERGAARD is 1-2 when starting against SAN FRANCISCO with an ERA of 3.66 and a WHIP of 1.118.
His team's record is 1-2 (-1.4 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 2-1. (+0.6 units)
MADISON BUMGARNER (L) vs. NOAH SYNDERGAARD (R)
Top Trends for this game.
SAN FRANCISCO is 87-75 (-8.3 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
SAN FRANCISCO is 10-15 (-11.0 Units) against the money line when playing on Wednesday this season.
SAN FRANCISCO is 84-75 (-11.9 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
SAN FRANCISCO is 54-53 (-13.2 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
SAN FRANCISCO is 57-53 (-17.4 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
SAN FRANCISCO is 9-27 (-16.7 Units) against the money line in road games when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
NY METS are 41-32 (+9.2 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
SAN FRANCISCO is 62-43 (+22.9 Units) against the money line in October games since 1997.
SAN FRANCISCO is 46-30 (+20.7 Units) against the money line in playoff games since 1997.
NY METS are 58-56 (-11.8 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
NY METS are 18-20 (-11.7 Units) against the money line in home games after a loss this season.
NY METS are 195-237 (-59.9 Units) against the money line in home games when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season since 1997.
Head-to-Head Series History
NY METS is 4-3 (+1.2 Units) against SAN FRANCISCO this season
6 of 7 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+5.5 Units)
MADISON BUMGARNER vs. NY METS since 1997
BUMGARNER is 5-0 when starting against NY METS with an ERA of 1.80 and a WHIP of 1.025.
His team's record is 5-1 (+3.3 units) in these starts. The OVER is 5-1. (+4.5 units)
NOAH SYNDERGAARD vs. SAN FRANCISCO since 1997
SYNDERGAARD is 1-2 when starting against SAN FRANCISCO with an ERA of 3.66 and a WHIP of 1.118.
His team's record is 1-2 (-1.4 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 2-1. (+0.6 units)
Unknowns often shine in October
October 5, 2016
Big Papi, Kris Bryant and Bryce Harper are just a few of the big-name offensive stars leading their teams into the postseason.
There's Josh Donaldson, Jose Bautista, Troy Tulowitzki and Edwin Encarnacion on Toronto alone. Adrian Beltre, Carlos Beltran, Adrian Gonzalez and Chase Utley are some of the other recognizable names.
Often, guys like Craig Counsell, Adam Kennedy, Cody Ross, David Freese and Marco Scutaro emerge as October heroes.
Counsell (2001 Diamondbacks), Kennedy (2002 Angels), Ross (2010 Giants), Freese (2011 Cardinals) and Scutaro (2012 Giants) each were MVPs of the league championship series. All of their teams went on to win the World Series. Only Freese and Scutaro ever made it to an All-Star game - once each.
Here's a Pick 6 of lesser-known players who could shine when the bright lights are on this month:
TREA TURNER: Only Daniel Murphy had a higher batting average for the Nationals than their rookie centerfielder. Turner hit .342 with 13 homers, 40 RBIs and 33 stolen bases after coming up from the minors to stay in July. While Harper, the 2015 NL MVP, slumped and Ryan Zimmerman and Jayson Werth had down years, Turner was a big addition for the NL East champions.
YASMANI GRANDAL: He may have been the best bargain on baseball's highest-priced roster. The Dodgers paid Grandal $693,000, or less than 1 percent of their $227 million payroll. The switch-hitting catcher tied Justin Turner for the team lead with 27 homers and had 72 RBIs in only 390 at-bats.
BEN ZOBRIST: It's easy to overlook Zobrist on a Cubs team that includes Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Jason Heyward. But Zobrist was an All-Star second baseman, started 29 games in the outfield and usually hit cleanup behind Bryant and Rizzo in Joe Maddon's lineup. He finished with a .272 average, 18 homers, 72 RBIs and team-high 96 walks.
XANDER BOGAERTS: While eyes are on David Ortiz and his farewell ride, Bogaerts has emerged as a star on a team filled with outstanding players. Bogaerts hit .294 with 21 homers and 89 RBIs. He already got a taste of the postseason in 2013 when Boston won the World Series, hitting .296 in 12 games.
ROUGNED ODOR: He's known more for delivering a hard right fist to Bautista's jaw, but Odor led the Rangers with 33 homers. The second baseman hit .271 and drove in 88 runs.
JOSE RAMIREZ: He started at three infield spots and left field and led Indians with a .312 batting average. Ramirez, the starting third baseman, also had 46 doubles, 76 RBIs and stole 22 bases.
BONUS PICK: Blue Jays second baseman Devon Travis is the unsung hero in a lineup filled with sluggers - six players had at least 20 homers. Travis led the team in hitting (.300) and solidified the leadoff spot down the stretch.
October 5, 2016
Big Papi, Kris Bryant and Bryce Harper are just a few of the big-name offensive stars leading their teams into the postseason.
There's Josh Donaldson, Jose Bautista, Troy Tulowitzki and Edwin Encarnacion on Toronto alone. Adrian Beltre, Carlos Beltran, Adrian Gonzalez and Chase Utley are some of the other recognizable names.
Often, guys like Craig Counsell, Adam Kennedy, Cody Ross, David Freese and Marco Scutaro emerge as October heroes.
Counsell (2001 Diamondbacks), Kennedy (2002 Angels), Ross (2010 Giants), Freese (2011 Cardinals) and Scutaro (2012 Giants) each were MVPs of the league championship series. All of their teams went on to win the World Series. Only Freese and Scutaro ever made it to an All-Star game - once each.
Here's a Pick 6 of lesser-known players who could shine when the bright lights are on this month:
TREA TURNER: Only Daniel Murphy had a higher batting average for the Nationals than their rookie centerfielder. Turner hit .342 with 13 homers, 40 RBIs and 33 stolen bases after coming up from the minors to stay in July. While Harper, the 2015 NL MVP, slumped and Ryan Zimmerman and Jayson Werth had down years, Turner was a big addition for the NL East champions.
YASMANI GRANDAL: He may have been the best bargain on baseball's highest-priced roster. The Dodgers paid Grandal $693,000, or less than 1 percent of their $227 million payroll. The switch-hitting catcher tied Justin Turner for the team lead with 27 homers and had 72 RBIs in only 390 at-bats.
BEN ZOBRIST: It's easy to overlook Zobrist on a Cubs team that includes Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Jason Heyward. But Zobrist was an All-Star second baseman, started 29 games in the outfield and usually hit cleanup behind Bryant and Rizzo in Joe Maddon's lineup. He finished with a .272 average, 18 homers, 72 RBIs and team-high 96 walks.
XANDER BOGAERTS: While eyes are on David Ortiz and his farewell ride, Bogaerts has emerged as a star on a team filled with outstanding players. Bogaerts hit .294 with 21 homers and 89 RBIs. He already got a taste of the postseason in 2013 when Boston won the World Series, hitting .296 in 12 games.
ROUGNED ODOR: He's known more for delivering a hard right fist to Bautista's jaw, but Odor led the Rangers with 33 homers. The second baseman hit .271 and drove in 88 runs.
JOSE RAMIREZ: He started at three infield spots and left field and led Indians with a .312 batting average. Ramirez, the starting third baseman, also had 46 doubles, 76 RBIs and stole 22 bases.
BONUS PICK: Blue Jays second baseman Devon Travis is the unsung hero in a lineup filled with sluggers - six players had at least 20 homers. Travis led the team in hitting (.300) and solidified the leadoff spot down the stretch.
MLB
Dunkel
Wednesday, October 5
San Francisco @ NY Mets
Game 933-934
October 5, 2016 @ 8:00 pm
Dunkel Rating:
San Francisco
(Bmgrner) 13.892
NY Mets
(Syndrgrd) 16.745
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
NY Mets
by 3
9
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
NY Mets
-110
6
Dunkel Pick:
NY Mets
(-110); Over
MLB
Long Sheet
Wednesday, October 5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SAN FRANCISCO (87 - 75) at NY METS (87 - 75) - 8:00 PM
MADISON BUMGARNER (L) vs. NOAH SYNDERGAARD (R)
Top Trends for this game.
SAN FRANCISCO is 87-75 (-8.3 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
SAN FRANCISCO is 10-15 (-11.0 Units) against the money line when playing on Wednesday this season.
SAN FRANCISCO is 84-75 (-11.9 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
SAN FRANCISCO is 54-53 (-13.2 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
SAN FRANCISCO is 57-53 (-17.4 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
SAN FRANCISCO is 9-27 (-16.7 Units) against the money line in road games when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
NY METS are 41-32 (+9.2 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
SAN FRANCISCO is 62-43 (+22.9 Units) against the money line in October games since 1997.
SAN FRANCISCO is 46-30 (+20.7 Units) against the money line in playoff games since 1997.
NY METS are 58-56 (-11.8 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
NY METS are 18-20 (-11.7 Units) against the money line in home games after a loss this season.
NY METS are 195-237 (-59.9 Units) against the money line in home games when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season since 1997.
Head-to-Head Series History
NY METS is 4-3 (+1.2 Units) against SAN FRANCISCO this season
6 of 7 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+5.5 Units)
MADISON BUMGARNER vs. NY METS since 1997
BUMGARNER is 5-0 when starting against NY METS with an ERA of 1.80 and a WHIP of 1.025.
His team's record is 5-1 (+3.3 units) in these starts. The OVER is 5-1. (+4.5 units)
NOAH SYNDERGAARD vs. SAN FRANCISCO since 1997
SYNDERGAARD is 1-2 when starting against SAN FRANCISCO with an ERA of 3.66 and a WHIP of 1.118.
His team's record is 1-2 (-1.4 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 2-1. (+0.6 units)
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MLB
Short Sheet
Wednesday, October 5
San Francisco at NY Mets, 8:00 PM ET
Bumgarner: SAN FRANCISCO is 13-3 SU when playing in the 1rst game of a playoff series
Syndergaard: NY METS are 13-21 SU against NL West opponents
MLB
Armadillo's Write-Up
Wednesday, October 5
Giants @ Mets
Bumgarner is 1-1, 3.54 in his last three starts; seven of his last ten starts went over total. SF is 9-8 in his road starts, 3-1 in his last four. He is 2-0, 3.27 against the Mets this year. Syndergaard is 4-2, 2.06 in his last seven starts; three of his last four went over. Mets lost four of his last six home starts. He is 1-1, 2.63 against the Giants this year.
Giants are 3-4 vs New York this year, with 10.6 runs/game scored. SF won its last four games to make playoffs after a dismal second half of season- they had best record in MLB at All-Star break. Mets are only Wild Card that had couple days to enjoy it and set up starter for this round. NY is 7-3 in last 10 games, but played also-rans the last two weeks. Last time they played a good team was Washington on September 14.
Giants won World Series is 2010, ’12, ’14; Bochy is 42-30 in postseason games as a manager. Collins made playoffs LY for first time in 11 years as a skipper (8-6); now he is in postseason for second straight year.
MLB
Wednesday, October 5
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Trend Report
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8:09 PM
SAN FRANCISCO vs. NY METS
San Francisco is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
San Francisco is 10-5 SU in its last 15 games when playing on the road against NY Mets
NY Mets are 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of NY Mets's last 5 games
Dunkel
Wednesday, October 5
San Francisco @ NY Mets
Game 933-934
October 5, 2016 @ 8:00 pm
Dunkel Rating:
San Francisco
(Bmgrner) 13.892
NY Mets
(Syndrgrd) 16.745
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
NY Mets
by 3
9
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
NY Mets
-110
6
Dunkel Pick:
NY Mets
(-110); Over
MLB
Long Sheet
Wednesday, October 5
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SAN FRANCISCO (87 - 75) at NY METS (87 - 75) - 8:00 PM
MADISON BUMGARNER (L) vs. NOAH SYNDERGAARD (R)
Top Trends for this game.
SAN FRANCISCO is 87-75 (-8.3 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
SAN FRANCISCO is 10-15 (-11.0 Units) against the money line when playing on Wednesday this season.
SAN FRANCISCO is 84-75 (-11.9 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
SAN FRANCISCO is 54-53 (-13.2 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
SAN FRANCISCO is 57-53 (-17.4 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
SAN FRANCISCO is 9-27 (-16.7 Units) against the money line in road games when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
NY METS are 41-32 (+9.2 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
SAN FRANCISCO is 62-43 (+22.9 Units) against the money line in October games since 1997.
SAN FRANCISCO is 46-30 (+20.7 Units) against the money line in playoff games since 1997.
NY METS are 58-56 (-11.8 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
NY METS are 18-20 (-11.7 Units) against the money line in home games after a loss this season.
NY METS are 195-237 (-59.9 Units) against the money line in home games when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season since 1997.
Head-to-Head Series History
NY METS is 4-3 (+1.2 Units) against SAN FRANCISCO this season
6 of 7 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+5.5 Units)
MADISON BUMGARNER vs. NY METS since 1997
BUMGARNER is 5-0 when starting against NY METS with an ERA of 1.80 and a WHIP of 1.025.
His team's record is 5-1 (+3.3 units) in these starts. The OVER is 5-1. (+4.5 units)
NOAH SYNDERGAARD vs. SAN FRANCISCO since 1997
SYNDERGAARD is 1-2 when starting against SAN FRANCISCO with an ERA of 3.66 and a WHIP of 1.118.
His team's record is 1-2 (-1.4 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 2-1. (+0.6 units)
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MLB
Short Sheet
Wednesday, October 5
San Francisco at NY Mets, 8:00 PM ET
Bumgarner: SAN FRANCISCO is 13-3 SU when playing in the 1rst game of a playoff series
Syndergaard: NY METS are 13-21 SU against NL West opponents
MLB
Armadillo's Write-Up
Wednesday, October 5
Giants @ Mets
Bumgarner is 1-1, 3.54 in his last three starts; seven of his last ten starts went over total. SF is 9-8 in his road starts, 3-1 in his last four. He is 2-0, 3.27 against the Mets this year. Syndergaard is 4-2, 2.06 in his last seven starts; three of his last four went over. Mets lost four of his last six home starts. He is 1-1, 2.63 against the Giants this year.
Giants are 3-4 vs New York this year, with 10.6 runs/game scored. SF won its last four games to make playoffs after a dismal second half of season- they had best record in MLB at All-Star break. Mets are only Wild Card that had couple days to enjoy it and set up starter for this round. NY is 7-3 in last 10 games, but played also-rans the last two weeks. Last time they played a good team was Washington on September 14.
Giants won World Series is 2010, ’12, ’14; Bochy is 42-30 in postseason games as a manager. Collins made playoffs LY for first time in 11 years as a skipper (8-6); now he is in postseason for second straight year.
MLB
Wednesday, October 5
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
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8:09 PM
SAN FRANCISCO vs. NY METS
San Francisco is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
San Francisco is 10-5 SU in its last 15 games when playing on the road against NY Mets
NY Mets are 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of NY Mets's last 5 games
MLB
Wednesday, October 5
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National League Wild Card playoff preview and odds: Giants at Mets
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Madison Bumgarner has excelled against the Mets in his career, going 5-0 with a 1.80 ERA and .189 batting average against in six career starts.
San Francisco Giants at New York Mets (A: -110, H: -110, Total: 6)
Madison Bumgarner has etched his name into history as a big-game pitcher and gets another opportunity to prove it when the San Francisco Giants visit the New York Mets in the National League wild-card game Wednesday. The left-hander is 7-3 with a 2.14 ERA in 14 postseason appearances (12 starts) and was MVP of the 2014 World Series.
Bumgarner has also excelled against the Mets in his career, going 5-0 with a 1.80 ERA and .189 batting average against in six career starts. New York right-hander Noah Syndergaard opposes Bumgarner and represented himself fine in his first postseason last year when he went 2-1 with a 3.32 ERA and struck out 26 in 19 innings. The two aces squared off against one another May 1 with Bumgarner pitching six shutout innings in San Francisco's 6-1 victory while Syndergaard gave up four runs in 5 2/3 innings. The Mets were a MLB-best 27-13 over the final quarter of the season and look to reach the World Series for the second straight season, while the Giants were 30-42 after the All-Star Game and hope to stage a turnaround as they pursue their fourth straight World Series title in even-numbered years (2010, 2012, 2014).
TV: 8:09 p.m. ET, ESPN
INJURY REPORT:
Giants - SS E. Nunez (Ques Wed, hamstring), RF M. Williamson (60-Day DL, quadricep), RP R. Black (60-Day DL, elbow), RP C. Heston (60-Day DL, oblique).
Mets - SP S. Matz (Out For Season, elbow), SS W. Flores (Out For Season, wrist), SP J deGrom (Out For Season, forearm), 2B N. Walker (Out For Season, back), RP J. Niese (60-Day DL, knee), SP Z. Wheeler (Out For Season, elbow), RF J. Ruggiano (Out For Season, shoulder), SP M. Harvey (Out For Season, shoulder), 3B D. Wright (Out For Season, neck).
WEATHER REPORT: The forecast is calling for clear skies and temperatures in the low 70's at game-time in Queens. Winds will be light, humidity will be low and there is less than a 1% chance of rain.
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants LH Madison Bumgarner (15-9, 2.74 ERA) vs. Mets RH Noah Syndergaard (14-9, 2.60)
Bumgarner won at least 15 games for the fourth time in his career and posted his fourth consecutive sub-3.00 ERA. He wasn't always sharp down the stretch as he gave up four or more runs in four of his last nine starts and is well aware he's need to be in for form in the wild-card game. "It is a winner-take-all game. It's not a series, so that's really all there is to know about it," Bumgarner said at Tuesday's press conference. "You've got to get up there and you've got to have your stuff that day. You've got to have your command. You've got to be on. And that's it."
Syndergaard finished third in the NL in ERA (Bumgarner was fourth) and strikeouts (218) while putting together one of the top all-around seasons in the league. He has a 1-2 record with a 3.66 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in three career starts against the Giants and said he isn't concerned about facing Bumgarner. "That's really outside of my control," Syndergaard said during Tuesday's press conference. "I can't control who I'm facing out there. That's not going to take away from my game or how I'm going to approach their hitters."
TRENDS:
* Giants are 4-0 in their last 4 overall.
* Giants are 1-4 in Bumgarner's last 5 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
* Mets are 8-0 in their last 8 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
* Mets are 4-1 in Syndergaard's last 5 starts with 7 or more days of rest.
* Over is 6-1 in Giants' last 7 games vs. a right-handed starter.
* Over is 7-1 in Mets' last 8 games vs. a left-handed starter.
* Under is 7-0 in Syndergaard's last 7 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
* Over is 6-1 in the last 7 meetings.
* Giants are 4-0 in Bumgarner's last 4 starts vs. Mets.
CONSENSUS: The public is heavily on Madison Bumgarner and the Giants with 57 percent of the wagers on the road team. Over 6 is picking up 57 percent of the total plays.
Wednesday, October 5
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
National League Wild Card playoff preview and odds: Giants at Mets
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Madison Bumgarner has excelled against the Mets in his career, going 5-0 with a 1.80 ERA and .189 batting average against in six career starts.
San Francisco Giants at New York Mets (A: -110, H: -110, Total: 6)
Madison Bumgarner has etched his name into history as a big-game pitcher and gets another opportunity to prove it when the San Francisco Giants visit the New York Mets in the National League wild-card game Wednesday. The left-hander is 7-3 with a 2.14 ERA in 14 postseason appearances (12 starts) and was MVP of the 2014 World Series.
Bumgarner has also excelled against the Mets in his career, going 5-0 with a 1.80 ERA and .189 batting average against in six career starts. New York right-hander Noah Syndergaard opposes Bumgarner and represented himself fine in his first postseason last year when he went 2-1 with a 3.32 ERA and struck out 26 in 19 innings. The two aces squared off against one another May 1 with Bumgarner pitching six shutout innings in San Francisco's 6-1 victory while Syndergaard gave up four runs in 5 2/3 innings. The Mets were a MLB-best 27-13 over the final quarter of the season and look to reach the World Series for the second straight season, while the Giants were 30-42 after the All-Star Game and hope to stage a turnaround as they pursue their fourth straight World Series title in even-numbered years (2010, 2012, 2014).
TV: 8:09 p.m. ET, ESPN
INJURY REPORT:
Giants - SS E. Nunez (Ques Wed, hamstring), RF M. Williamson (60-Day DL, quadricep), RP R. Black (60-Day DL, elbow), RP C. Heston (60-Day DL, oblique).
Mets - SP S. Matz (Out For Season, elbow), SS W. Flores (Out For Season, wrist), SP J deGrom (Out For Season, forearm), 2B N. Walker (Out For Season, back), RP J. Niese (60-Day DL, knee), SP Z. Wheeler (Out For Season, elbow), RF J. Ruggiano (Out For Season, shoulder), SP M. Harvey (Out For Season, shoulder), 3B D. Wright (Out For Season, neck).
WEATHER REPORT: The forecast is calling for clear skies and temperatures in the low 70's at game-time in Queens. Winds will be light, humidity will be low and there is less than a 1% chance of rain.
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants LH Madison Bumgarner (15-9, 2.74 ERA) vs. Mets RH Noah Syndergaard (14-9, 2.60)
Bumgarner won at least 15 games for the fourth time in his career and posted his fourth consecutive sub-3.00 ERA. He wasn't always sharp down the stretch as he gave up four or more runs in four of his last nine starts and is well aware he's need to be in for form in the wild-card game. "It is a winner-take-all game. It's not a series, so that's really all there is to know about it," Bumgarner said at Tuesday's press conference. "You've got to get up there and you've got to have your stuff that day. You've got to have your command. You've got to be on. And that's it."
Syndergaard finished third in the NL in ERA (Bumgarner was fourth) and strikeouts (218) while putting together one of the top all-around seasons in the league. He has a 1-2 record with a 3.66 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in three career starts against the Giants and said he isn't concerned about facing Bumgarner. "That's really outside of my control," Syndergaard said during Tuesday's press conference. "I can't control who I'm facing out there. That's not going to take away from my game or how I'm going to approach their hitters."
TRENDS:
* Giants are 4-0 in their last 4 overall.
* Giants are 1-4 in Bumgarner's last 5 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
* Mets are 8-0 in their last 8 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
* Mets are 4-1 in Syndergaard's last 5 starts with 7 or more days of rest.
* Over is 6-1 in Giants' last 7 games vs. a right-handed starter.
* Over is 7-1 in Mets' last 8 games vs. a left-handed starter.
* Under is 7-0 in Syndergaard's last 7 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
* Over is 6-1 in the last 7 meetings.
* Giants are 4-0 in Bumgarner's last 4 starts vs. Mets.
CONSENSUS: The public is heavily on Madison Bumgarner and the Giants with 57 percent of the wagers on the road team. Over 6 is picking up 57 percent of the total plays.
Bumgarner, Gillaspie lead Giants over Mets
October 5, 2016
NEW YORK (AP) Nobody takes to October like Madison Bumgarner and the San Francisco Giants.
Bumgarner pitched a four-hitter for his latest postseason gem, outlasting Noah Syndergaard in a classic duel between aces, and injury substitute Conor Gillaspie hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning that sent San Francisco to a 3-0 victory over the New York Mets in the NL wild-card game Wednesday night.
Gillaspie connected off All-Star closer Jeurys Familia, who led the majors this year with a club-record 51 saves while allowing only one home run.
With their ninth consecutive victory when facing postseason elimination, manager Bruce Bochy and the Giants advanced to face the NL Central champion Cubs in a best-of-five Division Series. Game 1 is Friday night at venerable Wrigley Field in Chicago.
The good news for the Cubs as they attempt to end a championship drought that dates to 1908 is that Bumgarner probably won't start until Game 3 - and would only be available once on full rest.
That's because the big left-hander has been untouchable under pressure.
The last time Bumgarner was on the mound in the postseason, he saved Game 7 of the 2014 World Series in Kansas City with five scoreless innings on two days' rest to cap one of the greatest playoff performances in baseball history.
Including his four-hit shutout at Pittsburgh in the 2014 wild-card game, he has tossed 23 straight scoreless innings in winner-take-all games.
Now, the Giants have a chance to extend their pattern of even-year championships after winning World Series crowns in 2010, `12 and `14.
In a matchup between the past two NL champions, Syndergaard went seven innings. Brandon Crawford doubled leading off the ninth against Familia. Angel Pagan struck out after failing to get a bunt down, and Joe Panik walked.
Gillaspie, starting at third base for injured All-Star Eduardo Nunez, drove a 1-1 pitch over the fence in right field and pumped his arm as he rounded first.
Bumgarner closed with a 1-2-3 ninth against the 3-4-5 hitters and smacked his glove in triumph when rookie T.J. Rivera flied out to end it.
With his sizzling fastball clocking 99 mph and long, blond locks dangling down his neck, Syndergaard held San Francisco hitless until Denard Span's two-out single in the sixth.
Eager to take advantage of Syndergaard's slow delivery, Span stole second before Brandon Belt sent a long drive to deep center. Curtis Granderson, moved over from right field late in the season because of injuries to two other outfielders, crashed hard with his left shoulder into the padded fence 408 feet from home plate and tumbled to the warning track.
He held onto the ball, however, and was shaken up a bit before getting to his feet and jogging off the field as teammates waited to high-five him and fans chanted ''Grandy! Grandy!'' Syndergaard raised his arm, while Belt tossed his helmet in frustration between first and second.
Syndergaard struck out 10 in seven innings of two-hit ball and fired 42 pitches at least 98 mph - more than the Phillies (41) and Indians (35) threw all year, according to a tweet from Inside Edge.
And while Syndergaard simply overpowered the Giants at times, Bumgarner kept the Mets off balance by mixing pinpoint pitches and changing speeds from around 93-77 mph.
New York came out swinging after manager Terry Collins said before the game his hitters had seen enough video of Bumgarner over the past two days to know he would challenge them. But the aggressive approach played right into the hands of Bumgarner and the Giants, with a bullpen that struggled badly down the stretch.
The big lefty was able to get quick outs early and easily went deep into the game. He needed only seven pitches to get through each of the first three innings, with the help of a double play.
Still, he was visibly aggravated at times by Mike Winters' strike zone - so was Mets reliever Addison Reed, it appeared - and had a quick chat with the plate umpire between batters in the sixth.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Giants: Nunez (strained right hamstring) was left off the wild-card roster, costing San Francisco a base-stealing threat against Syndergaard. Nunez, an AL All-Star this season with Minnesota, was acquired in a July 28 trade but hasn't played since Sept. 25. He planned to test his leg during Tuesday's workout at Citi Field but was unable to sprint, Bochy said.
Mets: INF Wilmer Flores (wrist) was missed, particularly because of his prodigious numbers against left-handed pitching. Flores has been sidelined since Sept. 10 after getting hurt in a home-plate collision. Surgery is planned this week to remove the hamate bone in his right wrist, and Flores is expected to be healthy for spring training next year. ... 1B Lucas Duda did not make the wild-card roster after he was sidelined from May 20 to Sept. 18 by a stress fracture in his lower back. Duda hit 57 home runs from 2014-15. ... Injured captain David Wright, looking very thin in his uniform, lined up with teammates during pregame introductions and received a warm hand. Wright had surgery in June to repair a herniated disk in his neck and has been rehabbing in California.
SWEET MUSIC
Wearing a Mets jacket, Grammy and Emmy Award-winning violinist Itzhak Perlman performed the national anthem.
UP NEXT
Giants: RHP Johnny Cueto figures to start the Division Series opener against LHP Jon Lester.
Mets: Open next season April 3 at home against Atlanta.
October 5, 2016
NEW YORK (AP) Nobody takes to October like Madison Bumgarner and the San Francisco Giants.
Bumgarner pitched a four-hitter for his latest postseason gem, outlasting Noah Syndergaard in a classic duel between aces, and injury substitute Conor Gillaspie hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning that sent San Francisco to a 3-0 victory over the New York Mets in the NL wild-card game Wednesday night.
Gillaspie connected off All-Star closer Jeurys Familia, who led the majors this year with a club-record 51 saves while allowing only one home run.
With their ninth consecutive victory when facing postseason elimination, manager Bruce Bochy and the Giants advanced to face the NL Central champion Cubs in a best-of-five Division Series. Game 1 is Friday night at venerable Wrigley Field in Chicago.
The good news for the Cubs as they attempt to end a championship drought that dates to 1908 is that Bumgarner probably won't start until Game 3 - and would only be available once on full rest.
That's because the big left-hander has been untouchable under pressure.
The last time Bumgarner was on the mound in the postseason, he saved Game 7 of the 2014 World Series in Kansas City with five scoreless innings on two days' rest to cap one of the greatest playoff performances in baseball history.
Including his four-hit shutout at Pittsburgh in the 2014 wild-card game, he has tossed 23 straight scoreless innings in winner-take-all games.
Now, the Giants have a chance to extend their pattern of even-year championships after winning World Series crowns in 2010, `12 and `14.
In a matchup between the past two NL champions, Syndergaard went seven innings. Brandon Crawford doubled leading off the ninth against Familia. Angel Pagan struck out after failing to get a bunt down, and Joe Panik walked.
Gillaspie, starting at third base for injured All-Star Eduardo Nunez, drove a 1-1 pitch over the fence in right field and pumped his arm as he rounded first.
Bumgarner closed with a 1-2-3 ninth against the 3-4-5 hitters and smacked his glove in triumph when rookie T.J. Rivera flied out to end it.
With his sizzling fastball clocking 99 mph and long, blond locks dangling down his neck, Syndergaard held San Francisco hitless until Denard Span's two-out single in the sixth.
Eager to take advantage of Syndergaard's slow delivery, Span stole second before Brandon Belt sent a long drive to deep center. Curtis Granderson, moved over from right field late in the season because of injuries to two other outfielders, crashed hard with his left shoulder into the padded fence 408 feet from home plate and tumbled to the warning track.
He held onto the ball, however, and was shaken up a bit before getting to his feet and jogging off the field as teammates waited to high-five him and fans chanted ''Grandy! Grandy!'' Syndergaard raised his arm, while Belt tossed his helmet in frustration between first and second.
Syndergaard struck out 10 in seven innings of two-hit ball and fired 42 pitches at least 98 mph - more than the Phillies (41) and Indians (35) threw all year, according to a tweet from Inside Edge.
And while Syndergaard simply overpowered the Giants at times, Bumgarner kept the Mets off balance by mixing pinpoint pitches and changing speeds from around 93-77 mph.
New York came out swinging after manager Terry Collins said before the game his hitters had seen enough video of Bumgarner over the past two days to know he would challenge them. But the aggressive approach played right into the hands of Bumgarner and the Giants, with a bullpen that struggled badly down the stretch.
The big lefty was able to get quick outs early and easily went deep into the game. He needed only seven pitches to get through each of the first three innings, with the help of a double play.
Still, he was visibly aggravated at times by Mike Winters' strike zone - so was Mets reliever Addison Reed, it appeared - and had a quick chat with the plate umpire between batters in the sixth.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Giants: Nunez (strained right hamstring) was left off the wild-card roster, costing San Francisco a base-stealing threat against Syndergaard. Nunez, an AL All-Star this season with Minnesota, was acquired in a July 28 trade but hasn't played since Sept. 25. He planned to test his leg during Tuesday's workout at Citi Field but was unable to sprint, Bochy said.
Mets: INF Wilmer Flores (wrist) was missed, particularly because of his prodigious numbers against left-handed pitching. Flores has been sidelined since Sept. 10 after getting hurt in a home-plate collision. Surgery is planned this week to remove the hamate bone in his right wrist, and Flores is expected to be healthy for spring training next year. ... 1B Lucas Duda did not make the wild-card roster after he was sidelined from May 20 to Sept. 18 by a stress fracture in his lower back. Duda hit 57 home runs from 2014-15. ... Injured captain David Wright, looking very thin in his uniform, lined up with teammates during pregame introductions and received a warm hand. Wright had surgery in June to repair a herniated disk in his neck and has been rehabbing in California.
SWEET MUSIC
Wearing a Mets jacket, Grammy and Emmy Award-winning violinist Itzhak Perlman performed the national anthem.
UP NEXT
Giants: RHP Johnny Cueto figures to start the Division Series opener against LHP Jon Lester.
Mets: Open next season April 3 at home against Atlanta.
