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[CNOTES]

August Pitchers Report

July 31, 2015

With the MLB trading deadline officially closed, and the NFL preseason whetting our pigskin palates, the month of August sets the table for the stretch run of the baseball season. Which pitchers can we count on to satisfy our tastes, and which ones figure to sour our stomachs? Take a look below.

Listed below are hurlers that have enjoyed a two-to-one or better success ratio in team-starts over the course of the last three seasons during the month of August. On the flip side, we've also listed pitchers that struggle in August, winning 33% percent or less of their team-start efforts. To qualify pitchers must have made a minimum of 10 starts, with at least one start each April over the last three years. And for your convenience alongside each record we break down each pitcher’s greatest success or greatest failure rate either home (H) or away (A) within his good or bad month.

Note: * designates a categorical repeat appearance by this pitcher, maintaining status quo from last season’s August list.

I’ll be back next month with September’s Good Month Pitchers. Until then, as the legendary Neil Diamond would say, enjoy the hot August nights.

GOOD MONTH PITCHERS:

*Buehrle, Mark - 11-5 (5-2 A)

If Toronto fails to make the post-season, it will not be Buehrle's fault since he had another strong season as a middle of pack starter for the Blue Jays. On July 26th he walked his first batter in the 127 he faced over the prior month and that outing ended a streak of 11 consecutive quality starts. Highly dependable.

*Gallardo, Yovani - 10-3 (6-1 A)

After pitching well in May and June, July was bumpy for this Texas hurler who longer has the blazing fastball. On the season, his numbers are fairly typical of his career and if the Rangers score a few more times, Gallardo could bounce back.

*Hamels, Cole - 11-5 (5-2 A)

Hamels will be joining the Texas Rangers and all indications are he will take the ball either Aug. 1st. His last start was historic, a no-hitter and besides the two walks, no ball put in play was really close to being a hit. Being on a better team with immediate brighter future might well propel the lefty to a strong close of the season.

Iwakuma, Hisashi - 11-5 (6-2 A)

Iwakuma struggled when first coming off the DL, but turned in terrific work over three starts, allowing just four runs on 14 hits and four walks while striking out 18 in 20.2 innings. However, he was clobbered for six runs and 10 hits in final July outing and will attempt to get back to normal.

Kershaw, Clayton - 11-5 (6-1 A)

So much for the demise Clayton Kershaw whose ERA is as 2.48 and opposing hitters are back to hitting just over .200 against him. In July the dominating lefty pitched 33 innings, allowing 19 hits, striking out 45, walking only two and surrendered ONE earned run (as of July 30th). August is looking pretty good.

Sanchez, Anibal - 9-4 (6-2 H)

After winning seven straight decisions (Tigers 8-0), Sanchez lost his last of July at Tampa Bay, 5-2. He starts this month with an ERA of 4.61 which is his highest since 2008. The culprit has been the gopher ball already having allowed 22, which is a career-high.

*Scherzer, Max - 13-4 (7-0 H)

Still a great hurler, Scherzer was tagged for five runs twice last month and conceded six of the 13 homers he's given up on the season. Chances are he will be his usual self with more big games coming up in August. Opposing hitters batting only .193 against him.

*Shields, James - 12-5 (7-1 A)

After starting 7-0, Shields is 1-4 since. Though San Diego has only won two of his last eight starts since that time, his ERA has only gone up just slightly and his ERA for July was 2.50.

Strasburg, Stephen - 13-3 (7-1 H)

Been on the DL since July 5th with an oblique strain and made rehab start on July 29th. Expected to return this month but all bets are off on his true effectiveness.

Tillman, Chris - 12-5 (4-1 A)

Tillman has found his groove since being hammered for six runs on six hits on June 21st, not allowing more than two runs in five starts. Biggest difference is the right-hander is averaging almost 10 groundball outs compared to six in five previous starts and strikeouts also are up. Should have a strong August.

Zimmermann, Jordan - 12-5 (7-2 H)

When watching Zimmermann, it always seems his record should be better. Starting the month at just 8-6, the two most notable stats that catch your eye is opposing teams have a higher OBP against him (.311 vs. career .295) and his strikeouts are on pace to be the lowest of his career. If Washington is to win the NL East and make the World Series, Zimmermann has to produce.

BAD MONTH PITCHERS:

Alvarez, Henderson - 3-10 (1-4 A)

Alvarez has been diagnosed with a tear in his right shoulder and will undergo season-ending arthroscopic surgery,

Eovaldi, Nate - 5-12 (1-7 H)

His 10-2 record is a bit suspect with a 4.27 ERA, WHIP of 1.48 and teams hitting .300 against his tosses coming into this month. But Eovaldi has done what's asked of him and he's getting double-digit groundball outs in his last five starts. Yankees 6-1 in his last seven starts, will it continue?

Happ, J. A. - 5-11 (2-7 A)

After becoming a surprise fifth starter for Seattle and owning a 2.98 ERA on May 15th, Happ his seen his ERA creep up to 4.64. Never a hard thrower, his problems start the third time around the batting order.

Harang, Aaron - 4-12 (1-7 H)

Harang has been on the disabled list since July 2 with plantar fasciitis and returned with five strong innings on July 30 (5 innings - one run allowed) against Atlanta, earning the victory and ending his seven-game losing streak. He's still on a bad club and the losses are likely to continue.

*Hellickson, Jeremy - 4-13 (2-9 A)

For the first several months the Diamondbacks starter was brutal, with an ERA over 5, and every couple of fair outings led to shelling. Hellickson was sharp in July with a 1.88 ERA, but that just probably means August will be nasty for him and backers.

Hernandez, Roberto - 4-8 (1-4 H)

Made 11 starts for Houston through June 5th before being sent to bullpen where he's been since.

*Jimenez, Ubaldo - 3-10 (1-6 A)

Jimenez will never be anything more than a back of the rotation hurler because his delivery is so hard to repeat time after time. However, for him he's having a good season like he did in Cleveland two years ago, when he was 13-9 with 3.31 ERA. His track record is not good late in the season, though, so let's see what he does.

Keuchel, Dallas - 4-11 (1-4 A)

Ace of the Houston staff having a true breakout campaign and opposing hitters are just past the Mendoza Line (.200 BA) and his WHIP is under 1.00. Don't look for his past numbers to continue.

Miley, Wade - 5-10 (3-6 H)

Miley has not come close to being the same pitcher since 2012, his first year as a starter with Arizona. This year it has been more of the same of being inconsistent in his first year with Boston and chances are he will repeat the past.

Wood, Travis - 5-13 (1-8 H)

Made a few starts early for the Cubs, before manager Joe Maddon said that was enough and Wood has been in bullpen since mid-May.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Royals (62-41) at Blue Jays (53-52)
Game: 4
Venue: Rogers Centre
Date: August 02, 2015 1:07 PM EDT

With a whole new look and a lot more swagger, the Toronto Blue Jays have been playing very well against the top club in the American League.


After coming out on the losing end of an exciting slugfest with Kansas City, the Blue Jays look to take three of four from the Royals in Sunday's series finale.


Ben Zobrist homered from both sides of the plate and Eric Hosmer singled home the go-ahead run in the eighth Saturday to help Kansas City (62-41) snap a three-game skid. Facing new Blue Jays reliever Mark Lowe, Zobrist tied it at 5 with a drive in the eighth.


"We had to have this one today," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "We had to."


Toronto (53-52) got a pair of solo homers from Jose Bautista and a two-run shot from Josh Donaldson before threatening in the bottom of the ninth to no avail.


Now the club looks for its first win in a series of at least four games against the Royals since a road sweep April 20-23, 2012, behind their only starter with a losing mark after acquiring All-Star left-hander David Price, who starts Monday against Minnesota.


R.A. Dickey (5-10, 4.27 ERA), however, takes the hill in this finale looking to win three straight starts for the first time since Sept. 2-13. After a four-start losing streak where the Blue Jays gave him just four total runs of support, the right-hander has gone 2-1 with a 1.53 ERA in his last four outings.


He's made it through at least eight in his last two, going 8 1-3 innings in a 5-2 win at Oakland on July 23 before holding Philadelphia to two unearned runs in an 8-2 victory Wednesday.


"I've been able to consistently execute a mechanic that produces a good knuckleball, that's what it always comes down to," he told MLB's official website.


With Toronto's recent moves signaling its playoff intentions, Dickey sustaining his surge could provide just as big of a boost. He's 2-0 with a 3.72 ERA in three starts against Kansas City since joining the Blue Jays, but was roughed up for five runs and 10 hits in five innings in an 8-6 loss May 29, 2014, the last time he faced them.


Zobrist is 6 for 37 (.162) with nine strikeouts lifetime against Dickey, though Omar Infante is 17 for 34.


Opposing Dickey will be right-hander Edinson Volquez (10-5, 3.21), who is also riding a two-start win streak as he tries to help earn a series split. The Royals seem to have a good chance since Volquez has lost only once in his last 10 starts.


After tossing 7 2-3 innings of one-run ball with eight strikeouts to beat Pittsburgh on July 22, he went six innings at Cleveland on Monday and gave up three runs in a 9-4 victory that gave him at least 10 in two straight seasons.


"I won 13 last year and I want to go over 13 this year," he said. "And everybody here keeps talking about how James Shields got 13 wins last year, so I want to go past him and get 15 or 16."


To continue marching toward those numbers, Volquez will have to turn the tide on his career struggles against the Blue Jays. He is 0-3 with a 7.30 ERA over five starts against Toronto, which is the only team he's faced that many times without a win.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Royals at Blue Jays
Thu, Jul 30 Final 2 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Royals at Blue Jays
Fri, Jul 31 Final 6 to 7
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Royals at Blue Jays
Sat, Aug 1 Final 7 to 6
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 4
Royals at Blue Jays
Sun, Aug 2 - 1:07PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Padres (51-53) at Marlins (42-62)
Game: 3
Venue: Marlins Park
Date: August 02, 2015 1:10 PM EDT

Jose Fernandez's performance in his first month back from Tommy John surgery has made the Miami Marlins' miserable season somewhat tolerable.


Looking to remain unbeaten at home for his career, the right-hander tries to help the lowly Marlins prevent the San Diego Padres from matching a season high with a fifth straight win Sunday.


Fernandez (4-0, 2.53 ERA) wasn't totally on his game while yielding four hits and four walks in six innings against Washington on Tuesday, but only allowed one run in a 4-1 home victory. It was good enough for him to improve to 15-0 with 1.19 ERA in 23 starts at Marlins Park.


"It's always fun to win. Winning at home is even more fun," said Fernandez after throwing a season-high 99 pitches in his fifth start since returning July 2 from elbow surgery.


Fernandez, who turned 23 on Friday, has struck out 173 and walked 40 while opponents have hit .172 against him at home in his career. He'll have the chance to join Johnny Allen (1932-33) and LaMarr Hoyt (1979-82) as the only pitchers since 1900 to win their first 16 home decisions.


'His record speaks for itself, what he's been able to do here,' interim Miami manager Dan Jennings said. 'I think it's remarkable."


Fernandez is 2-1 with a 2.29 ERA against San Diego, but allowed a two-run homer and a grand slam to Jedd Gyorko on May 9 of last season - his final outing before undergoing surgery.


More than a year later, Fernandez is in fine shape but Miami (42-62) has the majors' second-worst record and has totaled 16 runs while hitting .182 in losing seven of the last eight.


The Marlins managed three runs and five hits in each of the first two of this set and dropped their fourth in a row, 5-3 on Saturday.


Things might not get any easier against James Shields (8-4, 3.77), who has a 2.12 ERA while going 1-1 and receiving four runs of support while on the mound in his last three starts. He gave up a two-run first-inning homer and one other run in the eighth of a 4-0 loss to the New York Mets on Tuesday.


Though the right-hander's name was one of many Padre veterans rumored to be involved in trade talks this week, he's content in his first year with the club.


"As far as I'm concerned, I think I'm going to be here for a while," he said. "I think we're on the right track. We've just got to keep rolling."


Though Shields' most recent start against the Marlins came in 2012, he's allowed one earned run over 32 innings to go 3-0 in his last four.


Yangervis Solarte and Matt Kemp each had two hits with a RBI on Saturday as San Diego (51-53) won for the 12th time in the last 16 games with a fifth consecutive victory over Miami. The Padres, third in the NL West and 6 1/2 games out of the final wild-card spot, have scored at least five runs and recorded nine or more hits in each of the last four.


'The security guard from Miami told me, 'I've never seen anything like this. If they do 'Major League 4,' you guys could be 'Major League 4,'' interim Padres manager Pat Murphy said. 'We're having fun and the guys are believing.'


Kemp is batting .348 with 15 RBIs in his last 19 games.


Miami's Dee Gordon remains among baseball's leaders with a .330 average but is 1 for 15 in the last four games.


SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Padres at Marlins
Fri, Jul 31 Final 8 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Padres at Marlins
Sat, Aug 1 Final 5 to 3

GAME 3
Padres at Marlins
Sun, Aug 2 - 1:10PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Pirates (60-42) at Reds (46-55)
Game: 4
Venue: Great American Ball Park
Date: August 02, 2015 1:10 PM EDT

The Pittsburgh Pirates haven't been doing well with Cincinnati Reds pitchers who have never started against them, and they'll see another one Sunday.


Many teams going forward will be in the same situation considering the Reds rotation is now comprised solely of rookies.


Keyvius Sampson makes his first major league start looking to help Cincinnati claim its fourth series victory in as many tries against the visiting Pirates.


This four-game set began Thursday with the Reds calling up David Holmberg to make his season debut to replace Johnny Cueto, who was traded to Kansas City. Holmberg got the win by allowing two runs in six innings of a 15-5 victory.


It was a similar story Saturday when Raisel Iglesias faced Pittsburgh for the first time and emerged victorious, giving up two runs and four hits in 6 2-3 innings of a 4-3 win.


Eugenio Suarez had three RBIs - two off major league wins leader Gerrit Cole - as Cincinnati (47-55) won for the fourth time in five games.


"It was a really good night for me and the team," said Suarez, hitting .364 in six games against Pittsburgh this year.


The Reds are 9-3 in the season series and would be in position to sweep if it weren't for a 5-4 loss Friday which saw Starling Marte throw out a runner at the plate in the ninth and make a game-ending diving catch. That is Pittsburgh's only win in its last eight games in Cincinnati.


Marte had another diving grab Saturday but had a 10-game hitting streak snapped. Jung Ho Kang homered for the third time in five games and is batting .449 in his last 13.


Sampson (0-0, 0.00 ERA) made his major league debut against the Pirates (60-43) on Thursday, striking out two in one perfect inning, but didn't face any of Pittsburgh's regulars. He's filling an opening in the rotation created later that night when Mike Leake was dealt to San Francisco.


"We didn't know when he pitched that day that he'd be the Sunday starter, so it wasn't a prelim to the Sunday start," manager Bryan Price told MLB's official website. "... It's a spot start. There's no guarantees beyond (Sunday), but it does give us a better chance to look at him and give him a chance to use his full mix."


For now, the 24-year-old right-hander gives the Reds a rotation of five rookies - Michael Lorenzen and Anthony DeScalfani are the others - now that Leake and Cueto are gone. Sampson was 2-4 with a 5.08 ERA in eight games for Triple-A Louisville but did throw eight scoreless innings July 24 in his last start.


He'd be helped by Cincinnati starting fast again, having totaled seven runs in the first two innings during this series.


That doesn't bode well for Charlie Morton (6-4, 4.61). Sixteen of the 38 runs he's allowed have been in the first. Opposing batters are hitting .370 through Morton's first 30 pitches and .190 on pitches 31-to-90.


Morton is 0-2 with a 5.89 ERA in three games since the All-Star break and winless in five straight due partly to poor control, issuing 15 walks and hitting four batters in 30 1-3 innings.


He's 1-3 with a 5.40 ERA in his last six starts against the Reds. Todd Frazier is 7 for 15 with five extra-base hits against him, including two homers.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Pirates at Reds
Thu, Jul 30 Final 5 to 15
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Pirates at Reds
Fri, Jul 31 Final 5 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Pirates at Reds
Sat, Aug 1 Final 3 to 4
Boxscores

GAME 4
Pirates at Reds
Sun, Aug 2 - 1:10PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Rays (51-54) at Red Sox (47-58)
Game: 3
Venue: Fenway Park
Date: August 02, 2015 1:35 PM EDT

The Tampa Bay Rays might have looked at a series against one of the AL's worst teams as a way to get their playoff drive on track.


The Rays instead are just hoping to avoid a three-game sweep Sunday to the Boston Red Sox, who just learned that a significant change to their organization is coming soon.


Tampa Bay has all but faded from the AL East race since holding a half-game lead June 27 but still remain in striking distance for a wild-card spot, albeit facing plenty of competition. The Rays (51-54) haven't helped their cause by losing eight of 12 overall and 13 of 16 on the road.


"You just keep moving forward and keep hacking away and keep making pitches," designated hitter John Jaso said. "You just have to be professional, brush it off and get your work in."


Tampa Bay let Pablo Sandoval's replacement, Travis Shaw, have a historic performance in an 11-7 defeat Sunday. Shaw became the first Red Sox player since at least 1914 with four hits, five runs and 11 total bases in one game.


He also drove in three runs on his first two major league home runs and finished a triple shy of the cycle in his 10th major league game.


"I'm just trying to make the most of my opportunities up here and trying to help the team any way that I can," Shaw said.


He was called up after Sandoval missed a second straight game because of a bruised left forearm, caused when he was hit by a pitch while striking out Thursday. The third baseman is considered day-to-day, but he might get a longer chance to heal after batting .176 in his 10 games before getting hurt.


He's been a disappointing acquisition for a Boston club which was expected to be a contender but has the AL's second-worst record, and the first of many expected changes came Saturday with the announcement that team president and CEO Larry Lucchino is stepping down at the end of the season. Lucchino, who hopes to stay with the team in some capacity, was a member of the ownership group that purchased the Red Sox in 2002 and the franchise won three World Series in his tenure.


Wade Miley (8-9, 4.65 ERA) is another offseason acquisition who has underperformed. His ERA is the highest of his five-year career after having one of his worst outings of the season Tuesday, giving up seven runs in 5 2-3 innings in a 9-4 defeat to the Chicago White Sox.


The left-hander allowed one run in 13 innings in his prior two starts but enters Sunday on a five-game winless streak.


Miley, though, has dominated the Rays, going 3-1 with a 1.07 ERA in four starts. He might still be undefeated against them if he had received any run support in a 4-1 loss June 27 when he yielded two runs in 6 1-3 innings.


Jake Odorizzi (6-6, 2.76) will try to keep the Red Sox at bay while building on a 10-2 win over Detroit on Tuesday. The right-hander yielded one run in six innings in his first victory in three starts and his longest since May 31.


Odorizzi was making his fourth start since a five-week stint on the disabled list for a strained left oblique. He went 1-0 with a 1.32 ERA in two starts against Boston (47-58) before that injury and gave up one run in seven innings in a 5-1 win at Fenway Park on May 4.


Xander Bogaerts is batting .396 with 18 RBIs in his last 25 games after going 4 for 5 and driving in three runs Saturday for Boston, which will seek a season-high tying fourth consecutive win.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Rays at Red Sox
Fri, Jul 31 Final 5 to 7
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Rays at Red Sox
Sat, Aug 1 Final 7 to 11
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Rays at Red Sox
Sun, Aug 2 - 1:35PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Braves (46-58) at Phillies (41-64)
Game: 4
Venue: Citizens Bank Park
Date: August 02, 2015 1:35 PM EDT

The Philadelphia Phillies have proved a handful for their opponents since the All-Star break, and the scuffling Atlanta Braves have provided them little resistance.


The Phillies will try to finish off their first four-game home sweep of the Braves in 66 years Sunday.


Philadelphia (41-64) improved to 12-2 in the second half with a 12-2 rout Saturday. Cameron Rupp and Freddy Galvis hit three-run homers in the club's eighth win in nine home games.


"It looks to me like everybody feels we're going to score runs," interim manager Pete Mackanin said. "They look like they feel they're going to win. We're on a pretty good roll right now."


The Phillies have averaged 5.6 runs since the break compared with a major league-worst 3.4 in the first half. They have also posted a 2.98 ERA in their last 14 games after also ranking last with a 4.83 mark before the break.


"We basically just came out the second half with a brand-new mind-set," said first baseman Ryan Howard, who is batting .462 with 12 RBIs in his last seven games. "The first half was the first half. We left it there and came out just playing loose, having fun."


The Phillies have outscored the Braves 25-6 in this series and will try to register their first four-game sweep in Philadelphia since Sept. 2-4, 1949, against the then-Boston Braves. They haven't swept any four-game series against Atlanta since May 5-8, 1995.


Adam Morgan (2-2, 4.05 ERA) will try to secure that feat for Philadelphia while building on his first win in five starts. The left-hander yielded two runs in six innings in a 3-2 victory in Toronto on Tuesday, his sixth major league outing. He was 0-2 with a 4.98 ERA in his previous four.


Morgan gave up two runs in seven innings at Atlanta (46-58) on July 3 but was outdueled by Julio Teheran (6-6, 4.71) in a 2-1 defeat.


Teheran, though, has labored mightily on the road, going 1-5 with a 7.24 ERA in 11 starts compared with a 5-1 record and a 2.37 ERA in 10 home starts. He gave up five runs in four innings in a 7-3 loss in Baltimore on Tuesday.


"I don't know if it's mental, but the numbers sure show it," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "We can't pick and choose when he pitches. You got a five-man rotation and we're on a 10-day road trip. Send him home for the 10 days? We got to get through it."


Teheran went 2-0 with a 0.56 ERA in his two starts in Philadelphia last season and is 4-1 with a 1.69 ERA in his last six overall matchups.


He'll try to snap Atlanta's six-game losing streak - its longest since an 0-8 road trip July 29-Aug. 6, 2014. The Braves have been outscored 36-10 in the last six.


They've dropped 13 of 14 on the road, failing to score more than three runs in any of the past 13. Atlanta has totaled 16 runs in its past 10 overall contests and is 4-16 since July 8.


"Every single day, we come to the yard, just hoping for something to click," first baseman Freddie Freeman said. "When you (score two runs) in the first inning like that, you think it's going to be the day, but obviously it wasn't today. So, we've got to come back tomorrow and hopefully, it changes."


Galvis, batting .413 in 12 games against Atlanta this season compared to .253 versus everyone else, is 2 for 6 lifetime against Teheran.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Braves at Phillies
Thu, Jul 30 Final 1 to 4
Boxscores


GAME 2
Braves at Phillies
Fri, Jul 31 Final 3 to 9
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Braves at Phillies
Sat, Aug 1 Final 2 to 12
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 4
Braves at Phillies
Sun, Aug 2 - 1:35PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Cubs (55-47) at Brewers (44-60)
Game: 4
Venue: Miller Park
Date: August 02, 2015 2:10 PM EDT

Anthony Rizzo is helping the surging Chicago Cubs win ballgames, and that's all he seems to care about.


He'll look to continue his offensive roll Sunday when the visiting Cubs try to complete a four-game sweep of the lowly Milwaukee Brewers.


Rizzo homered in a career-high fourth consecutive game Saturday with a three-run shot that keyed Chicago's fourth straight victory, 4-2 over Milwaukee. Before this stretch, during which he's gone 8 for 15 with four home runs and nine RBIs, Rizzo batted .118 during the Cubs' 3-6 slump and had gone 17 games without homering.


"He's really on a roll and it's fun to watch," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said.


Rizzo has a chance to join Sammy Sosa (1998), Ryne Sandberg (1989) and Hack Wilson (1928) as the only Cubs since 1914 to homer in five consecutive games. However, his main concern is helping Chicago (56-47) win for the sixth time in seven games and record its first four-game sweep at Milwaukee (44-61) since July 28-31, 2008.


The Cubs are one game behind San Francisco for the final NL wild-card spot.


"I'm feeling really good right now," said Rizzo, who has hit at least 20 home runs in three straight seasons. "But the most important thing is we got another win."


Rizzo is batting .446 with eight home runs and 19 RBIs during a 15-game hitting streak against Milwaukee. He's hit .458 (11 for 24) with two doubles and a homer against Kyle Lohse (5-12, 6.24 ERA), who tries to avoid becoming the majors' first 13-game loser.


Though the 6 2-3 innings Lohse completed Monday were the most he's logged in his last 13 starts, the right-hander allowed four runs and walked three in a 4-2 loss at San Francisco.


He's yielded 14 homers in his last 12 starts, going 2-8. That doesn't include giving up Kris Bryant's first career homer - a three-run shot - and one other run in five innings of a 12-4 victory over the Cubs on May 9. It was Lohse's third win in his last four starts against Chicago.


Lohse, though, can't rely on getting much support from a Brewers club that's dropped nine of 11 and has scored two or fewer runs in eight of the last nine.


"We're just not swinging the bats well enough," said manager Craig Counsell, whose team has totaled five runs during a four-game skid.


With Aramis Ramirez, Carlos Gomez and Gerardo Parra all traded, Ryan Braun is left to pick up the offensive slack but is batting .182 with three homers and 13 strikeouts in his last 10 games.


After being held to five hits Saturday, the Brewers look to salvage something against Clayton Richard (1-0, 5.40).


With recently acquired Dan Haren not yet available, Richard was recalled from Triple-A Iowa to make his first appearance since July 20 when he allowed three runs and two solo homers in 5 2-3 innings of a 5-4 loss to Cincinnati. This will be his third start with the Cubs since being acquired from Pittsburgh.


The left-hander is 2-3 with a 5.97 ERA in seven starts against the Brewers but last faced them in 2013. Jonathan Lucroy is 4 for 7 with two doubles and a homer against him.



SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Cubs at Brewers
Thu, Jul 30 Final 5 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Cubs at Brewers
Fri, Jul 31 Final 4 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Cubs at Brewers
Sat, Aug 1 Final 4 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 4
Cubs at Brewers
Sun, Aug 2 - 2:10PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Rockies (43-58) at Cardinals (66-37)
Game: 4
Venue: Busch Stadium
Date: August 02, 2015 2:15 PM EDT

Jaime Garcia's worst career ERA is against the Colorado Rockies mostly thanks to one disastrous outing at Coors Field, though he also has been poor in two home losses to them.


He won't get a victory no matter how well he pitches if the St. Louis Cardinals continue their alarming trend of providing him with no support.


The Cardinals (66-38) have been blanked in half of Garcia's eight starts heading into Sunday's outing as they look to capture a four-game home series from the Rockies.


Garcia (3-4, 2.00 ERA) was activated off the 15-day disabled list Tuesday and gave up three runs in six innings in a 4-0 loss to Cincinnati, and the Cardinals have been shut out in all four of his losses as he's had a 2.67 ERA. He had been out with a left groin strain.


The left-hander is 0-3 with a 10.53 ERA in four outings versus the Rockies, with the bulk of that damage in a career-worst 12-run effort in 3 1-3 innings at Denver in a 15-4 loss May 28, 2011. That doesn't mean it will be easier for him Sunday because since that game, he's faced them twice at home and lost both with an 8.18 ERA. He also received no runs of support in any of those three defeats.


Drew Stubbs is a .310 hitter with a homer and 11 strikeouts in 29 at-bats versus Garcia and Carlos Gonzalez is 6 for 12 with a homer and two doubles.


The Rockies (44-58) are a major league-worst 5-17 against left-handed starters and could give righty-hitting first baseman Kyle Parker his first start after he was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque on Saturday. Parker, who only received 26 at-bats in 18 games for Colorado last year, was batting .280 with 58 RBIs for the Isotopes.


"He'll get an opportunity to get some more consistent playing time than he had in the past," manager Walt Weiss told MLB's official website. "It's always tough when your at-bats are hit-or-miss. He's done a good job this year and he got better as the year went on and put himself in position for this."


St. Louis is seeking to capture its sixth straight home series over Colorado, taking 16 of the last 20 meetings at Busch Stadium despite losing 6-2 on Saturday.


Nolan Arenado went 2 for 5 with a two-run homer to give him a major league-best 80 RBIs after entering in a 5-for-36 slump.


The Rockies will give Yohan Flande (1-1, 3.68) his second start after he yielded one run over five innings Tuesday to earn a 7-2 road victory over the Chicago Cubs. He went 0-6 with a 5.77 ERA in his first 10 starts - all last year.


The left-hander's only start against the Cardinals was his big-league debut June 25, 2014. He was charged with four runs over five innings and did not receive a decision in a 9-6 defeat.


Stephen Piscotty is 5 for 11 in this series for St. Louis and batting .435 during a seven-game hitting streak.


"It's like a dream," said Piscotty, who was recalled from Triple-A Memphis on July 21. "This has been the best two weeks of my life."


Jhonny Peralta seeks to homer in three consecutive games for the first time since May 10-13, 2011, with Detroit.



SERIES AT A GLANCE
GAME 1
Rockies at Cardinals


Thu, Jul 30 Final 8 to 9
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Rockies at Cardinals
Fri, Jul 31 Final 0 to 7
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Rockies at Cardinals
Sat, Aug 1 Final 6 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 4
Rockies at Cardinals
Sun, Aug 2 - 2:15PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Yankees (58-44) at White Sox (49-52)
Game: 3
Venue: U.S. Cellular Field
Date: August 02, 2015 2:10 PM EDT

Melky Cabrera is enjoying a sizzling 10-game stretch that New York Yankees starter Ivan Nova doesn't figure to be likely to slow down.


Cabrera has dominated Nova in past matchups and will try to help the White Sox capture a third straight series Sunday in Chicago.


The left fielder has been a major catalyst to this 8-2 stretch for Chicago (50-52), going 21 for 42 with three homers, 15 RBIs, 12 runs and a 1.486 OPS. His three-run homer keyed Saturday's 8-2 victory that evened this three-game set.


"He's been hot," manager Robin Ventura said. "He's been in the middle of a lot of it."


Cabrera is 6 for 9 with two homers, a double and a walk against Nova (3-3, 3.38 ERA) for his highest average versus any pitcher against which he has at least 10 plate appearances. These two haven't faced each other since 2013 with Nova missing most of last year after right elbow surgery.


Nova is 2-1 with a 2.73 ERA in five career starts against the White Sox. He has faced Alexei Ramirez the most among Chicago hitters, with the shortstop going 3 for 14.


The right-hander has yielded four runs over 11 innings in earning consecutive victories. His last streak of three in a row was a five-start run in 2012.


He'll try to help avoid an early call to the bullpen after Yankees relievers had to log 25 1-3 innings in six games this week, including 7 1-3 innings in this series while yielding seven runs. Spot starter Bryan Mitchell was charged with four runs Saturday and gave up a homer to Ramirez.


"Some of the other guys didn't throw (Saturday) so we should be fine," manager Joe Girardi said.


Chicago will start someone whom many believed wouldn't be on the team anymore in Jeff Samardzija (8-5, 3.94), who was the subject of trade rumors.


"You go out and do your job every fifth day, and those things you can't control you don't worry about it," he told MLB's official website. "So nothing changes for me."


The right-hander seeks his first career three-start win streak after pitching eight effective innings in wins at Cleveland on July 23 and Boston five days later. He was staked to five-run leads both times.


Samardzija pitched seven scoreless innings versus the Yankees (58-45) in his lone start against them for the Chicago Cubs last May 21. Carlos Beltran is 5 for 14 with a homer against him and Chase Headley is 4 for 11.


Beltran is expected back in the lineup after sitting out Saturday with a sore left foot. Girardi also plans to give catcher Brian McCann, who homered off the bench, his first start in this series.


The White Sox successfully cooled off Mark Teixeira, limiting the slugger to three hitless at-bats with a walk. Teixeira entered off consecutive two-homer efforts; his woes were part of an 0-for-16 showing with eight strikeouts for the top five hitters in the Yankees batting order.


Chicago's Jose Abreu is batting .378 with four homers and 16 RBIs in a 12-game hitting streak as he gets ready for his first look at Nova.


These teams have the AL's best records since June 30, with Chicago 19-10 and New York 17-10.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Yankees at White Sox
Fri, Jul 31 Final 13 to 6
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Yankees at White Sox
Sat, Aug 1 Final 2 to 8
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Yankees at White Sox
Sun, Aug 2 - 2:10PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Mariners (47-57) at Twins (53-49)
Game: 4
Venue: Target Field
Date: August 02, 2015 2:10 PM EDT

In the midst of a playoff race, the Minnesota Twins don't need to be reminded just how important every win can be.


Scoring, let alone winning, is something they've hardly been able to accomplish against the Seattle Mariners' Hisashi Iwakuma.


Following a dramatic victory, the Twins try to end Iwakuma's dominance against them and win their first series in three weeks Sunday.


Though Minnesota (54-49) won for the fourth time in the last 13 games, Saturday's 3-2 victory maintained its one-game lead in the race for the last AL wild-card spot. It also might be the spark the Twins need to win their first series since taking three of four against Detroit from July 9-12 and string together some victories.


"Wins, we're finding out, are a little tougher, but we found a way to stay in the game," manager Paul Molitor told MLB's official website.


After two wild pitches from Carson Smith helped the Twins tie things in the ninth, Kurt Suzuki delivered a run-scoring single with two outs for the winner.


'It's still only August 1, but you take them any way you can now,' said Suzuki, batting .310 with five RBIs in his last nine games.


"Anyone who plays this game wants to be in this position. I don't care where you are in the standings. You want to be in that spot. This is why you play. It's kinda like a playoff atmosphere."


Though the Twins have something to build on, they've totaled four runs and seven hits in the last two games and have been held to three or fewer runs in eight of the last 13.


Things don't expect to be any easier while opposing Iwakuma (2-2, 5.10 ERA), who has allowed two unearned runs over 33 2-3 innings to win all five starts against them. He has given up none in the last 23 2-3 of his last three-plus meetings.


However, if Iwakuma is to continue that dominance in his first look at Minnesota this season, he must bounce back from allowing season highs of six runs and 10 hits in 5 2-3 innings of an 8-4 loss to Arizona on Tuesday.


"His command was just not where it needed to be," manager Lloyd McClendon said. "I thought his velocity was good, he just left a lot of pitches in the middle of the plate."


The right-hander was 2-0 with a 1.74 ERA in his three previous starts.


"I have to bounce back and pitch a good game on Sunday," Iwakuma said.


Though the Mariners (47-58) have lost five of the last six, Nelson Cruz is batting .407 with seven homers, four doubles and 11 RBIs during a 12-game hitting streak. He's batting .408 with four home runs, six doubles and nine RBIs in his last 12 games at Target Field.


Looking to contain Cruz, Mike Pelfrey (5-7, 3.92) has a 3.18 ERA despite going 0-1 in two starts since the All-Star break after going 0-4 with a 7.59 ERA in his previous six. He yielded two earned runs in 5 1-3 innings while not factoring in the decision of an 8-7 loss to Pittsburgh on Tuesday.


The right-hander's only other appearance against the Mariners came in 2013.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Mariners at Twins
Thu, Jul 30 Final 5 to 9
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Mariners at Twins
Fri, Jul 31 Final 6 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Mariners at Twins
Sat, Aug 1 Final 2 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 4
Mariners at Twins
Sun, Aug 2 - 2:10PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Tigers (50-54) at Orioles (53-50)
Game: 4
Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Date: August 02, 2015 1:35 PM EDT

Ubaldo Jimenez struggled against the Detroit Tigers in his first start after the All-Star break but a return to Camden Yards - where he's often performed well - helped quickly put an end to his second-half funk.


He'll get to face the Tigers again Sunday this time in Baltimore, and there's a chance he could avoid facing J.D. Martinez in the Orioles' attempt at an eighth win in nine games.


After giving up one run in 20 innings in his final three starts before the break, Jimenez (8-6, 3.73 ERA) allowed seven in 4 2-3 innings in a 7-3 loss in Detroit on July 17. He had an even worse performance six days later at Yankee Stadium, giving up seven runs in 2 1-3 innings in a 9-3 loss, before claiming a 7-3 win over Atlanta on Tuesday.


Jimenez yielded two runs and four hits in seven innings to win his third straight home start. He's 6-1 with a 2.13 ERA in eight games in Baltimore and 2-5 with a 5.25 ERA in 12 on the road.


"It always good when you find a way to get back on track, especially after having two really tough games," he told MLB's official website. "It felt really good to go out there and compete and give the team a chance to win."


Baltimore (53-50) has five wins in its past six home contests and is one game behind Minnesota for the AL's second wild card. The Orioles are also two back of Los Angeles for the top spot.


Baltimore has totaled 22 runs and 31 hits in its three games against Detroit (50-54) after batting .212 and averaging 3.3 runs in its previous nine.


The Tigers, losers in 13 of 19 and nine of 12 on the road, had 16 runs and 32 hits while splitting the first two games in this series then registered six hits Saturday. Martinez was forced to leave after fouling a pitch off his left knee in the second inning.


X-rays were negative for the right fielder, who is among the AL leaders with a career-high 28 homers and 68 RBIs, and he's considered day to day. The Tigers are already missing Miguel Cabrera (calf) and traded Yoenis Cespedes to the New York Mets on Friday.


"I want to play," said Martinez, who hit a solo homer off Jimenez on July 17. "I'm going to do everything I can."


If Martinez sits out, that might aid Jimenez's attempt for a rare win against the Tigers. He's 0-3 with a 7.71 ERA in his past four matchups with two of the last three taking place in Detroit, where he's 2-8 with a 7.39 ERA in 10 starts.


Jimenez pitched seven scoreless innings in his only meeting with the Tigers at Camden Yards, a 4-1 loss May 13, 2014.


Daniel Norris (1-1, 3.86) will make his first start for Detroit after being acquired from Toronto on Thursday in the David Price trade. Norris will also make his first start in the majors since April 30 and his first against Baltimore.


"I feel like I couldn't be put in a better situation, an immediate opportunity to compete in the big leagues," Norris said. "I'm happy about that, kind of itching to get out there and throw."


J.J. Hardy, the owner of a 15-game hit streak, singled in his lone at-bat against the left-hander. Gerardo Parra, acquired from Milwaukee on Friday, extended his hit streak to 15 games in his Orioles debut.


Parra, batting .453 during that run and .389 in his last 44 games, has never faced Norris.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Tigers at Orioles
Thu, Jul 30 Final 9 to 8
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Tigers at Orioles
Fri, Jul 31 Final 7 to 8
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Tigers at Orioles
Sat, Aug 1 Final 2 to 6
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 4
Tigers at Orioles
Sun, Aug 2 - 1:35PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Diamondbacks (50-52) at Astros (59-46)
Game: 3
Venue: Minute Maid Park
Date: August 02, 2015 2:10 PM EDT

Houston's Collin McHugh has the chance to match Dallas Keuchel for the AL lead in victories a day after his teammate got win No. 13.


While Keuchel is pitching like a Cy Young contender and has dominated the opposition at home, McHugh hasn't been particularly sharp lately and is struggling in Houston.


McHugh looks to bounce back from another shaky outing and win a fourth consecutive start in the AL West-leading Astros' series finale with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday.


After dropping Friday's opener in 10 innings, the Astros (59-46) rebounded with a 9-2 victory Saturday for their ninth win in 12 contests to move three games ahead of second-place Los Angeles.


Hank Conger broke open the game with a fourth-inning grand slam - his second homer of the game - and Carlos Correa also went deep twice. It was the major league-leading 44th multihomer game for the Astros, who also lead all of baseball with 147 home runs.


"It's not a secret we've got a great team," said Correa, who has hit four of his 12 homers in the last five games. "We've got one of the best teams in baseball and we're going to go out there and compete."


Keuchel's 25-inning home scoreless streak ended in the second inning when gave up two runs, two hits and walked three, but the Astros staff allowed no hits and one walk the rest of the way.


Keuchel moved a win ahead of McHugh (12-5, 4.43 ERA) and Seattle's Felix Hernandez by improving to 10-0 with a 1.26 ERA in Houston.


McHugh has also found success at Minute Maid Park with an 8-2 record, but he's racked up those wins despite a 5.22 ERA. The last pitcher to have at least eight home wins in a season with a plus-5.00 ERA was Jorge De La Rosa, who went 10-6 with a 5.21 ERA at home for Colorado in 2009.


McHugh has regularly had to work out of trouble in his last three starts - all at home - surrendering 25 hits over 18 innings. Against the Angels on Tuesday, the right-hander gave up seven hits with four walks and let in five runs in five innings but was bailed out by his offense in a 10-5 win. He has a 7.57 run-support average in his victories.


"Wins and losses is not irrelevant when it comes to pitchers, but team wins and losses are a lot more important," McHugh told MLB's official website.


McHugh, who was tagged for six runs over five innings in his only start against Arizona (50-52) in 2013, has a 7.00 ERA in losing all three career starts against NL teams in Houston.


The Diamondbacks' Robbie Ray (3-5, 2.70) has fared much better against the opposite league.


The 23-year-old left-hander continued his dominance of the NL on Monday, allowing two runs with a career high-tying eight strikeouts in seven innings of a 4-3, 10-inning win at Seattle. The only times he has lasted seven innings this season have come in his three interleague starts - all in AL parks - and he's gone 2-0 with a 0.83 ERA.


Ray made his big league debut in his only appearance against the Astros on May 6, 2014, allowing a run and five hits in 5 1-3 innings of an 11-4 win for Detroit.


Arizona manager Chip Hale said rookie right fielder Yasmany Tomas will be back in the lineup Sunday after being removed in Saturday's sixth inning for not running hard on a groundout.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Diamondbacks at Astros
Fri, Jul 31 Final 6 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Diamondbacks at Astros
Sat, Aug 1 Final 2 to 9
Boxscores

GAME 3
Diamondbacks at Astros
Sun, Aug 2 - 2:10PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Giants (57-46) at Rangers (50-53)
Game: 3
Venue: Globe Life Park in Arlington
Date: August 02, 2015 3:05 PM EDT

Manager Bruce Bochy was quite familiar with Mike Leake long before the San Francisco Giants acquired him prior to the trade deadline.


He'll get a closer look at the right-hander Sunday when he makes his Giants debut in the finale of a three-game set with the Texas Rangers.


As a preteen, Leake played on a travel team out of San Diego that included Bochy's son Brett and Washington right-hander Stephen Strasburg.


"He was a good athlete then. He could pitch and played short. It was a really good club. Mike, he stood out," Bochy said. "He was the best player on the field, whether it was pitching, playing short, swinging the bat. He was their best player."


Bochy is just looking for Leake (9-5, 3.56 ERA) to excel on the mound after San Francisco (57-46) acquired him Thursday from Cincinnati for two prospects.


"He's a quality starter who's going to help us," Bochy said. "He's excited about being here. He's been throwing the ball well, good athlete. That's a great move for us to give us some depth in the rotation."


Leake, in the rotation in place of the injured Tim Hudson (shoulder), has allowed two runs and 15 hits in 30 innings while winning four straight starts, completing the eighth in three. He did that while limiting NL-leading St. Louis to four hits in Tuesday's 4-0 road win.


Leake, who spent his first five-plus seasons with the Reds, is 0-2 with a 9.60 ERA in his last three starts in AL parks. He gave up four runs - one earned - in seven innings on the road in his only career start against the Rangers in June 2013.


The Giants have won 14 of their past 17 contests to move 1 1/2 games back of NL West-leading Los Angeles.


They bounced back from Friday's 6-3 loss in the series opener by spoiling Cole Hamels' Rangers debut with a 9-7, 11-inning victory Saturday.


Hunter Pence hit the go-ahead homer to lead off the 11th after tying the game with an RBI single in a three-run eighth. He's hitting .324 with five homers and 16 RBIs in 17 road games during this injury-plagued season.


Buster Posey is on a tear with a .459 average and 12 RBIs in the last 15 games. The All-Star catcher came a triple short of the cycle Saturday, connecting for a solo homer and an RBI double. He's also put together a 13-game hitting streak on the road, batting .388 with four homers and 14 RBIs.


The Rangers (50-53), who had a three-game winning streak end Saturday, are giving Martin Perez (0-2, 10.50) a fourth chance at his first win since returning from Tommy John surgery.


The left-hander surrendered a career high-tying eight runs before getting an out in the second inning and being pulled in Tuesday's 21-5 loss to the New York Yankees.


This will be his first game against San Francisco.


Prince Fielder doubled on two of his three hits Saturday after batting .143 in his previous eight games. His .330 season average is second in the AL to Detroit's Miguel Cabrera (.350), who is on the disabled list with a calf strain.


Fielder is 2 for 8 with a homer against Leake, while Shin-soo Choo is 3 for 5 with two home runs and a double.


Choo is 6 for 14 with a homer and two doubles in his last four games.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Giants at Rangers
Fri, Jul 31 Final 3 to 6
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Giants at Rangers
Sat, Aug 1 Final 9 to 7
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Giants at Rangers
Sun, Aug 2 - 3:05PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Indians (48-55) at Athletics (46-59)
Game: 4
Venue: O.co Coliseum
Date: August 02, 2015 4:05 PM EDT

Sonny Gray is mired in the longest home winless streak of his career but is getting the ideal opponent to help end it.


The Oakland Athletics ace is coming off a shutout and now faces the other team he recently blanked as he tries to continue his mastery of the Cleveland Indians on Sunday.


Gray (11-4, 2.16 ERA) has allowed one run with 22 strikeouts in 21 innings in three career starts against Cleveland, winning both decisions on the road. No AL team has a lower batting average against him than the Indians (.129), with Carlos Santana, Yan Gomes and Jason Kipnis going a combined 1 for 22 with eight strikeouts.


The All-Star right-hander two-hit the Indians in a 2-0 road win July 12, and Cleveland (48-55) has been awful offensively in this series with six runs through three games.


Most recently, Gray tossed a three-hitter in Tuesday's 2-0 win at Dodger Stadium.


"I feel like throwing strikes was the key," he told MLB's official website. "That was the gameplan going in, and then just being able to execute the fastball to both sides. My slider was better than it has been, too, but just getting ahead was huge."


Those two shutouts made Gray 6-0 with a 1.05 ERA in his last seven road starts. It's been a different matter at home, where he's 0-2 with a 5.04 ERA in four games since beating the New York Yankees on May 29.


However, he received no runs of support in two of those outings, and the A's (46-59) are batting .197 while averaging 2.8 runs during a 2-7 stretch at home.


Stephen Vogt is in an 0-for-23 drought overall and hitting .111 in 12 contests since appearing in his first All-Star game.


Josh Reddick is a .179 hitter in 15 meetings with the Indians at the Coliseum after going 1 for 12 in this series. He was 7 for 13 with a homer and three doubles over his previous three games.


The Indians turn to Trevor Bauer (8-8, 4.13), who has lost three straight starts for the first time in his career with a 6.16 ERA despite pitching extremely well Tuesday. He gave up a solo homer in the ninth to lose 2-1 to Kansas City despite tossing a five-hitter for his first complete game, the first by an Indian in a losing effort since Justin Masterson in 2009.


"That was one of the better games we've seen from him," manager Terry Francona said. "Talk about a change of emotion in one pitch."


Facing the A's for the first time, Bauer has lost two of his last three road starts with a 5.71 ERA after going 4-1 with a 1.10 ERA in his first six.


Kipnis is 1 for 12 in this series and batting .071 in his last seven games against the A's.




SERIES AT A GLANCE


GAME 1
Indians at Athletics
Thu, Jul 30 Final 3 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 2
Indians at Athletics
Fri, Jul 31 Final 2 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps


GAME 3
Indians at Athletics
Sat, Aug 1 Final 1 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 4
Indians at Athletics
Sun, Aug 2 - 4:05PM EDT

 

[CNOTES]

MLB
Dunkel

Sunday, August 2


San Diego @ Miami

Game 901-902
August 2, 2015 @ 1:10 pm

Dunkel Rating:
San Diego
(Shields) 12.446
Miami
(Fernandez) 16.806
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Miami
by 4 1/2
5
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Miami
-160
6
Dunkel Pick:
Miami
(-160); Under

Pittsburgh @ Cincinnati

Game 903-904
August 2, 2015 @ 1:10 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Pittsburgh
(Morton) 16.581
Cincinnati
(Sampson) 13.390
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Pittsburgh
by 3
7 1/2
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Pittsburgh
-150
8
Dunkel Pick:
Pittsburgh
(-150); Under

Washington @ NY Mets

Game 905-906
August 2, 2015 @ 8:08 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Washington
(Zimmrmnn) 16.459
NY Mets
(Syndrgrd) 15.511
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Washington
by 1
7
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
NY Mets
-140
6 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Washington
(+120); Over

Atlanta @ Philadelphia

Game 907-908
August 2, 2015 @ 1:35 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Atlanta
(Teheran) 14.389
Philadelphia
(Morgan) 15.887
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Philadelphia
by 1 1/2
9
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Atlanta
-120
8
Dunkel Pick:
Philadelphia
(+100); Over

Chicago Cubs @ Milwaukee

Game 909-910
August 2, 2015 @ 2:10 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Chicago Cubs
(Richard) 13.052
Milwaukee
(Lohse) 14.619
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Milwaukee
by 1 1/2
9 1/2
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Milwaukee
No Line
N/A
Dunkel Pick:
Milwaukee
N/A

Colorado @ St. Louis

Game 911-912
August 2, 2015 @ 2:15 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Colorado
(Flande) 13.211
St. Louis
(Garcia) 15.774
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
St. Louis
by 2 1/2
9
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
St. Louis
-185
7 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
St. Louis
(-185); Over

Kansas City @ Toronto

Game 913-914
August 2, 2015 @ 1:07 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Kansas City
(Volquez) 16.295
Toronto
(Dickey) 15.117
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Kansas City
by 1
8
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Toronto
-135
9
Dunkel Pick:
Kansas City
(+115); Under

Detroit @ Baltimore

Game 915-916
August 2, 2015 @ 1:35 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Detroit
(Norris) 14.860
Baltimore
(Jimenez) 13.988
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Detroit
by 1
8
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Baltimore
-175
8 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Detroit
(+155); Under

Tampa Bay @ Boston

Game 917-918
August 2, 2015 @ 1:35 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Tampa Bay
(Odorizzi) 15.793
Boston
(Miley) 14.128
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Tampa Bay
by 1 1/2
10
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Boston
-125
9
Dunkel Pick:
Tampa Bay
(+105); Over

NY Yankees @ Chicago White Sox

Game 919-920
August 2, 2015 @ 2:10 pm

Dunkel Rating:
NY Yankees
(Nova) 18.363
Chicago White Sox
(Samardzja) 16.152
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
NY Yankees
by 2
9
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Chicago White Sox
-125
8 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
NY Yankees
(+105); Over

Seattle @ Minnesota

Game 921-922
August 2, 2015 @ 2:10 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Seattle
(Iwakuma) 15.810
Minnesota
(Pelfrey) 13.206
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Seattle
by 2 1/2
7
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Seattle
-135
8 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Seattle
(-135); Under

Cleveland @ Oakland

Game 923-924
August 2, 2015 @ 4:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Cleveland
(Bauer) 13.426
Oakland
(Gray) 14.987
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Oakland
by 1 1/2
6
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Oakland
-150
7
Dunkel Pick:
Oakland
(-150); Under

Arizona @ Houston

Game 925-926
August 2, 2015 @ 2:10 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Arizona
(Ray) 16.863
Houston
(McHugh) 15.794
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Arizona
by 1
9
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Houston
-145
8
Dunkel Pick:
Arizona
(+125); Over

San Francisco @ Texas

Game 927-928
August 2, 2015 @ 3:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
San Francisco
(Leake) 13.410
Texas
(Perez) 17.854
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Texas
by 4 1/2
11
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
San Francisco
-140
9 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Texas
(+120); Over

LA Angels @ LA Dodgers

Game 929-930
August 2, 2015 @ 4:10 pm

Dunkel Rating:
LA Angels
(Rasmus) 13.337
LA Dodgers
(Latos) 16.881
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
LA Dodgers
by 3 1/2
6
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
LA Dodgers
No Line
N/A
Dunkel Pick:
LA Dodgers
N/A

 

[CNOTES]

MLB
Long Sheet

Sunday, August 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SAN DIEGO (51 - 53) at MIAMI (42 - 62) - 1:10 PM
JAMES SHIELDS (R) vs. JOSE FERNANDEZ (R)
Top Trends for this game.
MIAMI is 50-40 (+16.7 Units) against the money line at home when the total is 7 or less over the last 3 seasons.
FERNANDEZ is 27-14 (+14.9 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
FERNANDEZ is 22-9 (+13.4 Units) against the money line when the total is 7 or less over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
FERNANDEZ is 20-3 (+17.3 Units) against the money line in home games over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
FERNANDEZ is 17-3 (+14.1 Units) against the money line at home when the total is 7 or less over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
FERNANDEZ is 27-13 (+15.9 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
FERNANDEZ is 10-1 (+9.6 Units) against the money line in home games after a loss over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
SHIELDS is 40-24 (+17.7 Units) against the money line when the total is 7 or less since 1997. (Team's Record)
SHIELDS is 21-12 (+9.5 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
SHIELDS is 31-17 (+14.2 Units) against the money line in road games in games played on a grass field over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
MIAMI is 42-62 (-19.2 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
MIAMI is 14-28 (-15.0 Units) against the money line when playing on Sunday over the last 2 seasons.
MIAMI is 42-59 (-16.2 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
MIAMI is 32-49 (-16.9 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
MIAMI is 21-40 (-17.2 Units) against the money line after a loss this season.
MIAMI is 23-35 (-14.1 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record this season.


Head-to-Head Series History
SAN DIEGO is 5-1 (+3.6 Units) against MIAMI this season
4 of 6 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+1.4 Units)



JAMES SHIELDS vs. MIAMI since 1997
SHIELDS is 5-2 when starting against MIAMI with an ERA of 3.50 and a WHIP of 1.232.
His team's record is 6-5 (-0.7 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 5-6. (-1.9 units)



JOSE FERNANDEZ vs. SAN DIEGO since 1997
FERNANDEZ is 2-1 when starting against SAN DIEGO with an ERA of 2.29 and a WHIP of 0.763.
His team's record is 2-1 (+0.7 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-2. (-1.0 units)




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


PITTSBURGH (60 - 43) at CINCINNATI (47 - 55) - 1:10 PM
CHARLIE MORTON (R) vs. KEYVIUS SAMPSON (R)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.


Head-to-Head Series History
CINCINNATI is 9-3 (+8.9 Units) against PITTSBURGH this season
7 of 10 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+4.2 Units)



CHARLIE MORTON vs. CINCINNATI since 1997
MORTON is 5-7 when starting against CINCINNATI with an ERA of 4.34 and a WHIP of 1.393.
His team's record is 8-8 (+1.8 units) in these starts. The OVER is 6-9. (-3.7 units)



KEYVIUS SAMPSON vs. PITTSBURGH since 1997
No recent starts.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


WASHINGTON (54 - 48) at NY METS (54 - 50) - 8:05 PM
JORDAN ZIMMERMANN (R) vs. NOAH SYNDERGAARD (R)
Top Trends for this game.
WASHINGTON is 20-39 (-16.3 Units) against the money line as a road underdog of +100 to +125 over the last 3 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 14-22 (-10.8 Units) against the money line in road games in night games this season.
NY METS are 133-133 (+6.9 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
NY METS are 15-1 (+13.8 Units) against the money line as a home favorite of -125 to -150 this season.
NY METS are 37-18 (+16.8 Units) against the money line in home games this season.
NY METS are 13-4 (+9.8 Units) against the money line when playing on Sunday this season.
NY METS are 19-6 (+11.7 Units) against the money line in home games against division opponents this season.
NY METS are 37-18 (+16.8 Units) against the money line in home games in games played on a grass field this season.
NY METS are 31-14 (+14.8 Units) against the money line in home games against right-handed starters this season.
NY METS are 27-7 (+19.0 Units) against the money line in home games after a win this season.
ZIMMERMANN is 58-28 (+20.8 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
ZIMMERMANN is 33-11 (+19.2 Units) against the money line when the total is 7 or less over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
ZIMMERMANN is 19-7 (+13.5 Units) against the money line on the road when the total is 7 or less since 1997. (Team's Record)
ZIMMERMANN is 58-28 (+20.8 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
ZIMMERMANN is 43-17 (+22.1 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
NY METS are 30-40 (-11.1 Units) against the money line in night games this season.


Head-to-Head Series History
NY METS is 6-6 (+0.6 Units) against WASHINGTON this season
7 of 11 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+2.4 Units)



JORDAN ZIMMERMANN vs. NY METS since 1997
ZIMMERMANN is 8-5 when starting against NY METS with an ERA of 2.96 and a WHIP of 1.140.
His team's record is 16-6 (+8.1 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 10-11. (-2.4 units)



NOAH SYNDERGAARD vs. WASHINGTON since 1997
SYNDERGAARD is 0-0 when starting against WASHINGTON with an ERA of 1.80 and a WHIP of 2.000.
His team's record is 0-1 (-1.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 0-0. (+0.0 units)




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


ATLANTA (46 - 58) at PHILADELPHIA (41 - 64) - 1:35 PM
JULIO TEHERAN (R) vs. ADAM MORGAN (L)
Top Trends for this game.
ATLANTA is 125-141 (-20.3 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
ATLANTA is 25-38 (-19.2 Units) against the money line on the road with a money line of -100 to -125 over the last 3 seasons.
ATLANTA is 18-37 (-13.0 Units) against the money line in road games in games played on a grass field this season.
ATLANTA is 29-51 (-19.8 Units) against the money line in road games after a loss over the last 2 seasons.
ATLANTA is 19-30 (-10.2 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record this season.
ATLANTA is 27-38 (-19.0 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 158-98 (+38.3 Units) against the money line in home games when playing on Sunday since 1997.
ATLANTA is 79-51 (+27.8 Units) against the money line in road games after 3 or more consecutive losses since 1997.
PHILADELPHIA is 83-109 (-34.7 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 3 seasons.


Head-to-Head Series History
PHILADELPHIA is 7-5 (+2.8 Units) against ATLANTA this season
6 of 11 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+1.1 Units)



JULIO TEHERAN vs. PHILADELPHIA since 1997
TEHERAN is 4-3 when starting against PHILADELPHIA with an ERA of 2.53 and a WHIP of 0.956.
His team's record is 4-4 (-1.1 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 5-3. (+1.3 units)



ADAM MORGAN vs. ATLANTA since 1997
MORGAN is 0-1 when starting against ATLANTA with an ERA of 2.57 and a WHIP of 1.000.
His team's record is 0-1 (-1.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 0-1. (-1.0 units)




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


CHICAGO CUBS (56 - 47) at MILWAUKEE (44 - 61) - 2:10 PM
CLAYTON RICHARD (L) vs. KYLE LOHSE (R)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.


Head-to-Head Series History
MILWAUKEE is 4-5 (-0.0 Units) against CHICAGO CUBS this season
6 of 8 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+3.8 Units)



CLAYTON RICHARD vs. MILWAUKEE since 1997
RICHARD is 2-3 when starting against MILWAUKEE with an ERA of 5.97 and a WHIP of 1.615.
His team's record is 3-4 (-0.6 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 3-3. (-0.5 units)



KYLE LOHSE vs. CHICAGO CUBS since 1997
LOHSE is 8-7 when starting against CHICAGO CUBS with an ERA of 4.97 and a WHIP of 1.403.
His team's record is 16-8 (+8.1 units) in these starts. The OVER is 16-8. (+7.5 units)




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


COLORADO (44 - 58) at ST LOUIS (66 - 38) - 2:15 PM
YOHAN FLANDE (L) vs. JAIME GARCIA (L)
Top Trends for this game.
COLORADO is 110-154 (-37.4 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
COLORADO is 41-91 (-38.3 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 2 seasons.
COLORADO is 110-154 (-37.4 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
COLORADO is 15-44 (-22.2 Units) against the money line in road games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
ST LOUIS is 66-38 (+20.6 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
ST LOUIS is 39-16 (+16.4 Units) against the money line in home games this season.
ST LOUIS is 33-13 (+15.8 Units) against the money line in home games in day games over the last 2 seasons.
ST LOUIS is 66-38 (+20.6 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
ST LOUIS is 69-44 (+17.2 Units) against the money line after a loss over the last 2 seasons.
GARCIA is 24-34 (-24.9 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record since 1997. (Team's Record)


Head-to-Head Series History
COLORADO is 3-3 (+0.9 Units) against ST LOUIS this season
3 of 6 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+0.3 Units)



YOHAN FLANDE vs. ST LOUIS since 1997
FLANDE is 0-0 when starting against ST LOUIS with an ERA of 7.20 and a WHIP of 1.400.
His team's record is 0-1 (-1.0 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 0-1. (-1.2 units)



JAIME GARCIA vs. COLORADO since 1997
GARCIA is 0-3 when starting against COLORADO with an ERA of 10.53 and a WHIP of 2.238.
His team's record is 0-4 (-5.5 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 1-3. (-2.5 units)




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


KANSAS CITY (62 - 41) at TORONTO (53 - 52) - 1:05 PM
EDINSON VOLQUEZ (R) vs. R.A. DICKEY (R)
Top Trends for this game.
TORONTO is 38-18 (+17.4 Units) against the money line in home games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
KANSAS CITY is 62-41 (+20.1 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
KANSAS CITY is 28-19 (+12.1 Units) against the money line as a road underdog of +100 to +125 over the last 2 seasons.
KANSAS CITY is 28-23 (+7.8 Units) against the money line in road games this season.
KANSAS CITY is 22-12 (+11.2 Units) against the money line in day games this season.
KANSAS CITY is 43-24 (+17.6 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
KANSAS CITY is 37-26 (+9.8 Units) against the money line after a win this season.
KANSAS CITY is 77-60 (+13.9 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
KANSAS CITY is 57-42 (+18.5 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
VOLQUEZ is 15-6 (+8.3 Units) against the money line in all games this season. (Team's Record)


Head-to-Head Series History
KANSAS CITY is 3-3 (+0.2 Units) against TORONTO this season
3 of 5 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+0.8 Units)



EDINSON VOLQUEZ vs. TORONTO since 1997
VOLQUEZ is 0-3 when starting against TORONTO with an ERA of 7.30 and a WHIP of 1.825.
His team's record is 1-4 (-4.0 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 1-3. (-2.4 units)



R.A. DICKEY vs. KANSAS CITY since 1997
DICKEY is 3-3 when starting against KANSAS CITY with an ERA of 5.01 and a WHIP of 1.500.
His team's record is 3-4 (-1.4 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 3-4. (-1.5 units)




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


DETROIT (50 - 54) at BALTIMORE (53 - 50) - 1:35 PM
DANIEL NORRIS (L) vs. UBALDO JIMENEZ (R)
Top Trends for this game.
DETROIT is 140-129 (-14.0 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
DETROIT is 24-32 (-9.9 Units) against the money line when the total is 8 to 8.5 this season.
DETROIT is 230-196 (-27.1 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 3 seasons.
DETROIT is 35-44 (-11.4 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
DETROIT is 60-67 (-20.5 Units) against the money line after a loss over the last 2 seasons.
BALTIMORE is 153-120 (+36.0 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
BALTIMORE is 34-20 (+11.0 Units) against the money line in home games this season.
BALTIMORE is 56-33 (+17.3 Units) against the money line at home when the total is 8 to 8.5 over the last 2 seasons.
BALTIMORE is 20-9 (+11.2 Units) against the money line in August games over the last 2 seasons.
BALTIMORE is 33-19 (+10.9 Units) against the money line in home games in games played on a grass field this season.
BALTIMORE is 84-67 (+17.3 Units) against the money line after a win over the last 2 seasons.
BALTIMORE is 27-15 (+10.5 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record this season.
BALTIMORE is 29-12 (+16.7 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
DETROIT is 13-5 (+9.9 Units) against the money line in road games in day games this season.
BALTIMORE is 98-144 (-70.2 Units) against the money line in home games when playing on Sunday since 1997.
BALTIMORE is 213-249 (-67.7 Units) against the money line in home games in day games since 1997.


Head-to-Head Series History
BALTIMORE is 4-2 (+1.9 Units) against DETROIT this season
4 of 5 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+3.1 Units)



DANIEL NORRIS vs. BALTIMORE since 1997
No recent starts.



UBALDO JIMENEZ vs. DETROIT since 1997
JIMENEZ is 5-10 when starting against DETROIT with an ERA of 5.60 and a WHIP of 1.510.
His team's record is 7-11 (-2.4 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 9-8. (+0.3 units)




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


TAMPA BAY (51 - 54) at BOSTON (47 - 58) - 1:35 PM
JAKE ODORIZZI (R) vs. WADE MILEY (L)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.


Head-to-Head Series History
BOSTON is 6-5 (+0.8 Units) against TAMPA BAY this season
7 of 11 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+2.9 Units)



JAKE ODORIZZI vs. BOSTON since 1997
ODORIZZI is 2-2 when starting against BOSTON with an ERA of 3.26 and a WHIP of 1.138.
His team's record is 4-3 (+0.8 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 5-2. (+2.6 units)



WADE MILEY vs. TAMPA BAY since 1997
MILEY is 3-1 when starting against TAMPA BAY with an ERA of 1.07 and a WHIP of 1.105.
His team's record is 3-1 (+2.9 units) in these starts. The OVER is 0-4. (-4.1 units)




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


NY YANKEES (58 - 45) at CHI WHITE SOX (50 - 52) - 2:10 PM
IVAN NOVA (R) vs. JEFF SAMARDZIJA (R)
Top Trends for this game.
NY YANKEES are 58-45 (+3.4 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
NY YANKEES are 32-20 (+7.0 Units) against the money line when the total is 8 to 8.5 this season.
NY YANKEES are 23-12 (+12.4 Units) against the money line in road games in day games over the last 2 seasons.
CHI WHITE SOX are 39-59 (-19.5 Units) against the money line in day games over the last 2 seasons.
SAMARDZIJA is 22-33 (-16.7 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
SAMARDZIJA is 3-11 (-9.6 Units) against the money line at home with a money line of -100 to -125 over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
SAMARDZIJA is 19-26 (-12.3 Units) against the money line in home games over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
SAMARDZIJA is 15-28 (-14.7 Units) against the money line in day games over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
SAMARDZIJA is 21-32 (-16.9 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
SAMARDZIJA is 11-21 (-13.9 Units) against the money line after a win over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
SAMARDZIJA is 15-30 (-15.4 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)


Head-to-Head Series History
CHI WHITE SOX is 1-1 (+0.2 Units) against NY YANKEES this season
2 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+2.0 Units)



IVAN NOVA vs. CHI WHITE SOX since 1997
NOVA is 2-1 when starting against CHI WHITE SOX with an ERA of 2.73 and a WHIP of 1.121.
His team's record is 2-3 (-2.0 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 3-1. (+2.0 units)



JEFF SAMARDZIJA vs. NY YANKEES since 1997
SAMARDZIJA is 0-0 when starting against NY YANKEES with an ERA of 0.00 and a WHIP of 0.857.
His team's record is 0-1 (-1.1 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 1-0. (+1.0 units)




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


SEATTLE (47 - 58) at MINNESOTA (54 - 49) - 2:10 PM
HISASHI IWAKUMA (R) vs. MIKE PELFREY (R)
Top Trends for this game.
SEATTLE is 47-58 (-18.0 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
SEATTLE is 42-57 (-22.5 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
SEATTLE is 35-42 (-12.9 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
SEATTLE is 21-29 (-10.4 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
MINNESOTA is 54-49 (+15.1 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
MINNESOTA is 19-13 (+7.7 Units) against the money line as a home underdog of +100 to +125 this season.
MINNESOTA is 34-21 (+15.9 Units) against the money line in home games this season.
MINNESOTA is 57-58 (+9.1 Units) against the money line in day games over the last 2 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 54-49 (+15.1 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
MINNESOTA is 33-33 (+6.4 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
MINNESOTA is 33-20 (+19.6 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record this season.
SEATTLE is 71-62 (+15.4 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 2 seasons.
IWAKUMA is 12-4 (+10.9 Units) against the money line when the total is 8 to 8.5 since 1997. (Team's Record)
MINNESOTA is 114-131 (-38.3 Units) against the money line in home games in August games since 1997.


Head-to-Head Series History
MINNESOTA is 4-2 (+2.8 Units) against SEATTLE this season
4 of 6 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+1.7 Units)



HISASHI IWAKUMA vs. MINNESOTA since 1997
IWAKUMA is 5-0 when starting against MINNESOTA with an ERA of 0.00 and a WHIP of 0.832.
His team's record is 5-0 (+5.3 units) in these starts. The OVER is 2-3. (-1.4 units)



MIKE PELFREY vs. SEATTLE since 1997
PELFREY is 0-1 when starting against SEATTLE with an ERA of 5.07 and a WHIP of 1.876.
His team's record is 0-1 (-1.0 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 1-0. (+1.2 units)




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


CLEVELAND (48 - 55) at OAKLAND (46 - 59) - 4:05 PM
TREVOR BAUER (R) vs. SONNY GRAY (R)
Top Trends for this game.
CLEVELAND is 48-55 (-19.4 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
CLEVELAND is 44-55 (-23.5 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
CLEVELAND is 20-24 (-12.2 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record this season.
GRAY is 10-0 (+10.3 Units) against the money line when playing on Sunday over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
CLEVELAND is 14-7 (+8.4 Units) against the money line in road games after a loss this season.
CLEVELAND is 68-32 (+26.0 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
OAKLAND is 46-59 (-21.7 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
OAKLAND is 35-49 (-25.8 Units) against the money line when the total is 7 or less over the last 2 seasons.
OAKLAND is 22-31 (-18.5 Units) against the money line in home games this season.
OAKLAND is 9-14 (-9.6 Units) against the money line at home when the total is 7 or less this season.
OAKLAND is 16-24 (-11.6 Units) against the money line in day games this season.
OAKLAND is 44-57 (-22.1 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
OAKLAND is 16-21 (-11.8 Units) against the money line in home games against right-handed starters this season.
OAKLAND is 18-27 (-14.0 Units) against the money line after a win this season.
OAKLAND is 18-27 (-12.2 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record this season.
OAKLAND is 22-23 (-16.7 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.


Head-to-Head Series History
OAKLAND is 3-3 (+0.7 Units) against CLEVELAND this season
5 of 6 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+3.8 Units)



TREVOR BAUER vs. OAKLAND since 1997
No recent starts.



SONNY GRAY vs. CLEVELAND since 1997
GRAY is 2-0 when starting against CLEVELAND with an ERA of 0.43 and a WHIP of 0.762.
His team's record is 2-1 (+0.9 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-2. (-1.1 units)




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


ARIZONA (50 - 52) at HOUSTON (59 - 46) - 2:10 PM
ROBBIE RAY (L) vs. COLLIN MCHUGH (R)
Top Trends for this game.
ARIZONA is 114-150 (-29.4 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
ARIZONA is 114-150 (-29.4 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
ARIZONA is 43-81 (-31.7 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
ARIZONA is 10-36 (-23.3 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
HOUSTON is 59-46 (+9.2 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
HOUSTON is 37-18 (+14.1 Units) against the money line in home games this season.
HOUSTON is 59-40 (+15.6 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
HOUSTON is 34-24 (+8.7 Units) against the money line after a win this season.
MCHUGH is 27-19 (+9.0 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
MCHUGH is 14-5 (+8.3 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season. (Team's Record)
ARIZONA is 7-2 (+7.2 Units) against the money line in road games in an inter-league game this season.


Head-to-Head Series History
ARIZONA is 1-1 (+0.3 Units) against HOUSTON this season
2 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+2.1 Units)



ROBBIE RAY vs. HOUSTON since 1997
RAY is 1-0 when starting against HOUSTON with an ERA of 1.69 and a WHIP of 1.126.
His team's record is 1-0 (+1.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-0. (+1.0 units)



COLLIN MCHUGH vs. ARIZONA since 1997
MCHUGH is 0-1 when starting against ARIZONA with an ERA of 10.80 and a WHIP of 2.200.
His team's record is 0-1 (-1.0 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 1-0. (+1.0 units)




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


SAN FRANCISCO (57 - 46) at TEXAS (50 - 53) - 3:05 PM
MIKE LEAKE (R) vs. MARTIN PEREZ (L)
Top Trends for this game.
TEXAS is 50-53 (+12.5 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
TEXAS is 47-49 (+12.0 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
TEXAS is 32-30 (+10.0 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
TEXAS is 29-19 (+20.8 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
SAN FRANCISCO is 57-46 (+5.6 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
SAN FRANCISCO is 397-315 (+58.9 Units) against the money line when the total is 9 to 9.5 since 1997.
SAN FRANCISCO is 76-64 (+19.1 Units) against the money line in road games over the last 2 seasons.
SAN FRANCISCO is 204-181 (+38.4 Units) against the money line on the road when the total is 9 to 9.5 since 1997.
SAN FRANCISCO is 62-40 (+19.2 Units) against the money line in day games over the last 2 seasons.
SAN FRANCISCO is 57-46 (+5.6 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
SAN FRANCISCO is 15-8 (+9.1 Units) against the money line against left-handed starters this season.
SAN FRANCISCO is 35-22 (+11.8 Units) against the money line after a win this season.
SAN FRANCISCO is 14-3 (+10.0 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record in the second half of the season this season.
LEAKE is 24-8 (+14.7 Units) against the money line when the total is 9 to 9.5 since 1997. (Team's Record)
TEXAS is 38-65 (-26.0 Units) against the money line when the total is 9 to 9.5 over the last 2 seasons.
TEXAS is 52-77 (-26.7 Units) against the money line in home games over the last 2 seasons.
TEXAS is 26-54 (-29.6 Units) against the money line at home when the total is 9 to 9.5 over the last 2 seasons.
TEXAS is 30-48 (-19.6 Units) against the money line in home games after a loss over the last 2 seasons.


Head-to-Head Series History
TEXAS is 1-1 (+0.2 Units) against SAN FRANCISCO this season
1 of 1 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+1.1 Units)



MIKE LEAKE vs. TEXAS since 1997
LEAKE is 0-0 when starting against TEXAS with an ERA of 1.29 and a WHIP of 0.571.
His team's record is 1-0 (+1.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-0. (+1.0 units)



MARTIN PEREZ vs. SAN FRANCISCO since 1997
No recent starts.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


LA ANGELS (55 - 48) at LA DODGERS (59 - 45) - 4:10 PM
CORY RASMUS (R) vs. MAT LATOS (R)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.


Head-to-Head Series History
LA DODGERS is 2-0 (+2.0 Units) against LA ANGELS this season
1 of 2 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+0.0 Units)



CORY RASMUS vs. LA DODGERS since 1997
No recent starts.



MAT LATOS vs. LA ANGELS since 1997
LATOS is 0-0 when starting against LA ANGELS with an ERA of 4.05 and a WHIP of 1.199.
His team's record is 1-0 (+1.0 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 0-1. (-1.3 units)

 

[CNOTES]

MLB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Sunday, August 2

National League
Braves @ Phillies
Teheran is 0-2, 5.16 in his last four starts; his last four on road all went over.

Morgan is 2-0, 3.78 in his last three starts; over is 3-3 in all his starts.

Phillies won 12 of their last 14 games- three of last four went over. Braves lost last four series games; over is 6-3-1 in last ten. Braves lost nine of their last ten games overall (under 7-3).

Nationals @ Mets
Zimmerman is 0-2, 4.24 in his last three starts; three of his last four starts on road went over.

Syndergaard is 3-0, 0.90 in his last four home starts; under is 7-1-1 in his last nine starts overall.

Washington lost three of last four games with Mets; under is 5-2-1 in last eight series games. Nationals are 3-6 in last nine games overall; five of last six stayed under the total. Mets won five of their last seven games.

Pirates @ Reds
Morton is 0-3, 5.04 in his last five starts (under 3-1-1).

Sampson is making first MLB start; he threw a scoreless inning in relief in his MLB debut Thursday. He was 2-4, 5.08 in seven AAA starts this year.

Pittsburgh lost nine of last 12 games with Cincinnati; six of last seven series games went over total. Pirates won six of last nine games (over 7-2). Reds won four of last five games, allowing 13 runs (under 4-2 in last six).

Padres @ Marlins
Shields is 1-1, 2.12 in his last three starts; under is 5-3-1 in his last nine.

Fernandez is 4-0, 2.53 in his five '15 starts; six of his last eight went over.

San Diego won eight of last nine games with Miami; four of last six series tilts went under the total. Padres won seven of last eight games overall; their last four games went over total. Marlins lost seven of last eight games (under 9-3 in last 12 games).

Rockies @ Cardinals
Flande won his first '15 start, allowing one run in five IP (87 PT).

Garcia is 2-3, 1.54 in his last six starts; eight of his last ten stayed under.

Colorado lost seven of last ten games with St Louis; under is 3-3-1 in last seven series games. Rockies are 4-7 in last 11 games; over is 5-1-1 in their last seven. Cardinals are 3-4 in last seven games; under is 7-2-2 in their last 11.

Cubs @ Brewers
Richard is 1-0, 3.75 in his two starts this year (over 1-1).

Lohse is 0-3, 6.23 in his last four starts (under 3-1).

Cubs won last three games with Milwaukee; under is 8-2-1 in last 11 in series. Chicago won last four games; under is 3-0-1 in those four. Brewers lost nine of last eleven games; under is 7-0-2 in last nine.

American League
Tigers @ Orioles
Newly-acquired DNorris is making first start since April 30; he was 1-1, 4.24 in five starts for Toronto this year- last four stayed under.
Jiminez is 1-2, 10.29 in his last three starts- they all went over.
Detroit lost 13 of its last 19 games; over is 4-2-1 in last seven. Tigers lost seven of last nine games with Baltimore; over is 7-3 in last ten series games. Orioles won seven of last eight; three of their last five went over.

Rays @ Red Sox
Odorizzi is 2-1, 3.20 in his last five starts; seven of his last ten stayed under.

Miley is 0-2, 5.25 in his last four starts, three of which went over.

Red Sox won their last three games-- over is 11-3 in their last 14. Boston won four of last five games with Tampa Bay- six of last nine series games stayed under total. Rays are 4-8 in last 12 games; three of last four went over.

Royals @ Blue Jays
Volquez is 2-1, 2.70 in his last three starts; over is 7-2-1 in his last ten.

Dickey is 2-1, 2.15 in his last four starts (under 5-2-1 in last eight).

Royals lost three of last four games, allowing 30 runs (over 3-1 last four); KC is 4-4 in its last eight games with Toronto (under 3-3-1 in last seven). Blue Jays won three of last four games; six of their last eight games went over.

Bronx @ White Sox
Nova is 2-0, 3.27 in his last two starts; under is 4-0-1 in his last five.

Samardzija is 3-1, 2.27 in his last five starts; his last four home starts stayed under the total.

Bronx won 11 of last 16 games (eight of last ten went over); they won nine of last 12 games with Chicago. White Sox won eight of last ten games; seven of their last eight games went over.

Mariners @ Twins
Iwakuma is 2-1, 4.31 in his last five starts; three of his last four stayed under.

Pelfrey is 0-4, 7.11 in his last six starts; under is 3-1-1 in his last five at home.

Seattle lost seven of last nine games with Minnesota; seven of last ten in series stayed under. Mariners lost five of last six games overall, allowing 33 runs; over is 5-3-1 in their last nine. Twins lost five of their last seven games,, allowing 45 runs; six of their last eight games went over the total.

Indians @ A's
Bauer is 0-3, 6.16 in his last three starts; five of his last six stayed under.

Gray is 2-1, 2.03 in his last four starts; under is 4-0-1 in his last five.

Indians won three of last four games; er. Tribe lost six of last nine games with Oakland; last three in series stayed under total. Oakland lost seven of last ninegames (six of last seven stayed under).

Interleague
Giants @ Rangers
Leake is making first start for Giants; he is 4-0, 0.60 in his last four starts- four of his last five stayed under.

Perez allowed eight runs in 1+ IP in last start; he is 0-2, 11.25 in three starts so far this season- three of his last four starts went over.

Giants are 8-4 in last 12 games with Texas (under 8-4); SF won eight of its last ten games (under 4-2-1 in last six). Rangers won seven of last 11 games; six of their last eight games went over the total.

Diamondbacks @ Astros
Ray is 1-5, 4.71 in his last eight starts; over is 2-0-1 in last three.

McHugh is 3-0, 4.00 in his last three starts; five of his last six stayed under.

D'backs won six of last seven games; over is 4-0-1 in their last five. Astros won nine of last 12 games- four of last five went over. Arizona lost four of last six games with Houston, with last three going over total.

Angels @ Dodgers
Rasmus was 0-1, 2.31 in six starts LY, but lasted total of only 19 IP; chances are this is a bullpen game for Angels- this is his first '15 start.

Latos is making first LA start; he is 1-2, 1.80 in his last three starts, all of which stayed under the total- Marlins scored five runs in the three games.

Angels lost last five games with the Dodgers; seven of last nine games went under total. Halos lost eight of last nine games after a 17-3 run- five of their last seven stayed under total. Dodgers won their last three games.

Win-loss records this year for team with this starting pitcher:
Atl-Phil-- Teheran 11-10; Morgan 4-2
Wsh-NY-- Zimmerman 13-8; Syndergaard 7-7
Pitt-Cin-- Morton 8-4; Simpson 0-0
SD-Mia-- Shields 11-11 (2-8 last 10); Fernandez 4-1
Chi-Mil-- Richard 1-1; Lohse 7-14
Col-StL-- Flande 1-0; Garcia 3-5

KC-Tor-- Volquez 15-6; Dickey 9-12
Det-Balt-- Norris (2-3 w/Tor); Jimenez 10-10
TB-Bos-- Odorizzi 8-8; Miley 10-11 (0-4 last 4))
NY-Chi-- Nova 3-3; Samardzija 11-10
Sea-Min-- Iwakuma 3-5; Pelfrey 10-9
Clev-A's-- Bauer 9-11; Gray 13-8

SF-Tex-- Leake (11-10 w/Reds); Perez 1-2
Az-Hst-- Ray 4-7; McHugh 14-7
LA-LA-- Rasmus 0-0; Latos (6-10 w/Mia)

Times this starting pitcher allowed a run in first inning:
Atl-Phil-- Teheran 8-21; Morgan 1-6
Wsh-NY-- Zimmerman 7-21; Syndergaard 3-14
Pitt-Cin-- Morton 7-12; Simpson 0-0
SD-Mia-- Shields 5-22; Fernandez 1-5
Chi-Mil-- Richard 1-2; Lohse 10-21
Col-StL-- Flande 1-1; Garcia 2-8

KC-Tor-- Volquez 4-21; Dickey 4-21
Det-Balt-- Norris 3-5; Jimenez 5-20 (3 of last 3)
TB-Bos-- Odorizzi 4-16; Miley 6-21
NY-Chi-- Nova 1-6; Samardzija 10-21
Sea-Min-- Iwakuma 4-8; Pelfrey 3-19
Clev-A's-- Bauer 3-20; Gray 3-21

SF-Tex-- Leake 4-21; ; Perez 0-3
Az-Hst-- Ray 2-11; McHugh 7-21
LA-LA-- Rasmus 0-0; Latos 6-16

Umpires
Atl-Phil-- Six of last nine HGibson games went over.
Pitt-Cin-- Home side won last five Reyburn games.
Wsh-NY-- Seven of last ten Fletcher games stayed under.
Chi-Mil-- Over is 4-0-1 in last five Hoberg games.
SD-Mia-- Underdogs won three of last four Johnson games.
Col-StL-- Over is 9-4 in last thirteen Estabrook games.

KC-Tor-- Favorites won seven of last eight Wolf games.
TB-Bos-- Eight of last eleven GGibson games stayed nnder.
Det-Balt-- Last three Woodring games went over the total.
Sea-Min-- Under is 7-3 in last ten Muchlinski games.
NY-Chi-- Under is 8-2 in last ten Hamari games.
Clev-A's-- Eight of last ten Cuzzi games stayed under.

LA-LA-- Five of last seven Wolcott games stayed under
Az-Hst-- Six of last nine Scott games went over total
SF-Tex-- Five of last seven May games stayed under

 

[CNOTES]

MLB

Sunday, August 2

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1:07 PM
KANSAS CITY vs. TORONTO
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Kansas City's last 6 games on the road
Kansas City is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games
Toronto is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Kansas City
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Toronto's last 8 games

1:10 PM
PITTSBURGH vs. CINCINNATI
Pittsburgh is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games when playing on the road against Cincinnati
Pittsburgh is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
Cincinnati is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
Cincinnati is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against Pittsburgh

1:10 PM
SAN DIEGO vs. MIAMI
San Diego is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games on the road
San Diego is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Miami's last 6 games when playing San Diego
Miami is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing San Diego

1:35 PM
ATLANTA vs. PHILADELPHIA
Atlanta is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Philadelphia
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Atlanta's last 10 games
Philadelphia is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Philadelphia's last 6 games

1:35 PM
DETROIT vs. BALTIMORE
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Detroit's last 5 games when playing on the road against Baltimore
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Detroit's last 6 games when playing Baltimore
Baltimore is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Detroit
Baltimore is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Detroit

1:35 PM
TAMPA BAY vs. BOSTON
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Tampa Bay's last 9 games when playing Boston
Tampa Bay is 3-8 SU in its last 11 games when playing on the road against Boston
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Boston's last 5 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Boston's last 5 games

2:10 PM
ARIZONA vs. HOUSTON
Arizona is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Arizona is 11-4 SU in its last 15 games when playing on the road against Houston
Houston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
Houston is 4-11 SU in its last 15 games when playing at home against Arizona

2:10 PM
NY YANKEES vs. CHI WHITE SOX
The total has gone OVER in 4 of NY Yankees's last 5 games on the road
NY Yankees are 3-9 SU in their last 12 games when playing on the road against Chi White Sox
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Chi White Sox's last 5 games
Chi White Sox are 8-2 SU in their last 10 games

2:10 PM
SEATTLE vs. MINNESOTA
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Seattle's last 9 games
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Seattle's last 12 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Minnesota's last 8 games at home
Minnesota is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against Seattle

2:10 PM
CHI CUBS vs. MILWAUKEE
Chi Cubs are 5-2 SU in their last 7 games when playing on the road against Milwaukee
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Chi Cubs's last 11 games when playing Milwaukee
Milwaukee is 2-5 SU in their last 7 games when playing at home against Chi Cubs
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Milwaukee's last 9 games

2:15 PM
COLORADO vs. ST. LOUIS
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Colorado's last 7 games on the road
Colorado is 3-10 SU in its last 13 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 16 of St. Louis's last 21 games when playing at home against Colorado
St. Louis is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Colorado

3:05 PM
SAN FRANCISCO vs. TEXAS
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of San Francisco's last 8 games when playing Texas
San Francisco is 17-5 SU in its last 22 games when playing Texas
Texas is 5-17 SU in its last 22 games when playing San Francisco
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Texas's last 8 games when playing San Francisco

4:05 PM
CLEVELAND vs. OAKLAND
Cleveland is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games
Cleveland is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games when playing Oakland
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Oakland's last 6 games when playing at home against Cleveland
Oakland is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Cleveland

4:10 PM
LA ANGELS vs. LA DODGERS
LA Angels are 0-5 SU in their last 5 games on the road
LA Angels are 0-5 SU in their last 5 games when playing LA Dodgers
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of LA Dodgers's last 9 games when playing LA Angels
LA Dodgers are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games at home

8:08 PM
WASHINGTON vs. NY METS
Washington is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Washington's last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of NY Mets's last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of NY Mets's last 6 games at home

 

[CNOTES]

MLB

Sunday, August 2

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Game of the Day: Nationals at Mets
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Washington Nationals at New York Mets (-134, 6.5)

The New York Mets have a chance to move into a tie for first place in the National League East on Sunday night when they host the division-leading Washington Nationals in the finale of a three-game series. The Mets have recorded a pair of one-run victories and can post their first three-game sweep of Washington since May 25-27, 2009.

Lucas Duda overshadowed the New York debut of newly acquired Yoenis Cespedes (0-for-3) by continuing his power surge with a pair of solo homers and a tiebreaking RBI double following an intentional walk to Cespedes. Duda has eight blasts over his past seven games and took over the major-league lead with a fifth multi-homer game. Shortstop Ian Desmond, who was 5-for-9 in a three-game series against the Mets last month, had a two-run single as the Nationals failed to score more than a pair of runs for the fifth time in six games. Washington right-hander Jordan Zimmermann attempts to prevent a sweep as he opposes New York rookie Noah Syndergaard.

TV: 8:08 p.m. ET, ESPN

LINE HISTORY: Books opened the Mets -137, but that has moved to -134. The total opened at 6.5.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Jordan Zimmermann (8-6, 3.36 ERA) vs. Mets RH Noah Syndergaard (5-5, 2.70)

Zimmermann did not factor in the decision after giving up three runs in seven innings versus the Mets on July 22 and was saddled with a loss six days later after he was reached for three runs over six innings at Miami. Zimmermann won his last three starts heading into the All-Star break but is winless over his last three turns. He beat the Mets with six innings of one-run ball in his season debut to improve to 8-5 against them.

Syndergaard was perfect through six innings in his last start and wound up tossing eight scoreless innings of three-hit ball in a 4-0 victory over San Diego. He did not factor in the decision in his previous turn versus Zimmermann and the Nationals despite giving up one run over five innings, a start marred by a season-high five walks. Syndergaard has been superb at home with a 5-1 record and 1.46 ERA in seven starts at Citi Field.

TRENDS:

* Home team is 6-0 in Baker's last six games behind home plate.
* Nationals are 8-1 in Zimmermann's last nine Sunday starts.
* Mets are 4-0 in Syndergaard's last four home starts.
* Under is 5-0 in the last five meetings in New York.

CONSENSUS: Fifty-eight percent of bettors are backing the Mets.

 

[CNOTES]

MLB

Sunday, August 2


Dickey to make rare start on three days' rest

The Toronto Blue Jays will hand the ball to knuckleballer R.A. Dickey against the Kansas City Royals Sunday, giving him his first start on three days' rest since the 2011 season.

Dickey has pitched well of late, allowing three earned runs or fewer in 10 of his previous 11 starts heading into Sunday's finale of a four-game set versus the Royals.

That has not necessarily meant wins for the Blue Jays as the club has gone just 5-6 in those 11 starts, but the Under has been a hot bet in those 11 Dickey starts, going 6-3-2 over that time.

Books are currently offering the Jays in the -128 ball park while the Royals, who are expected to counter with Edinson Volquez, are being offered around +118. The total is down to 8.5 from the opening 9.


Windy conditions in Chicago Sunday

According to forecasts, wind will blow out to leftfield at around 20 miles per hour when the Chicago White Sox host the New York Yankees Sunday afternoon.

Furthermore, there is a 40 percent possibility of thunderstorms during the game.

Ivan Nova is scheduled to pitch for the Yankees while Jeff Samardzija is slated to get the ball for the Pale Hose. Oddsmakers have the Sox priced in the -118 vicinity and the total is 8.5.


Phillies on fire against division opponents

The Philadelphia Phillies have gone 7-0 in their last seven ball games heading into Sunday's series finale against the Atlanta Braves.

The Phils, who have put together a spectacular 12-2 record since the All-Star break, have taken the first three games versus the Braves in their current series, outscoring them 25-6 in the process. The Phils came out of the break with a three-game sweep of the Miami Marlins and took the finale of a three-game series against the Washington Nationals back in late June to build their streak against the NL East.

They'll look to make eight as they go up against Julio Teheran Sunday afternoon. Adam Morgan is probable to start for the Phils.