Southpaw Afternoon
A lot of teams are travelling in baseball on Thursday, but that doesn?t mean we?ll be sitting around doing nothing for the day. We?ve got plenty of afternoon action to fawn over?four games to be precise. And almost all of the early tilts are a battle of left-handers. Let?s take a look.
Indians at Blue Jays ? 12:37 p.m. EDT
If there is anything good to say on behalf of the Indians it?s that their season will be over in just a matter of months. But before they receive the sweet release that death brings, they?ll send David Huff (4-4, 6.60 ERA) out to finish off this series.
Huff hasn?t been too bad recently in winning four of his last seven starts. But he will be looking to bounce back from a 6-2 loss at home to the Mariners on July 17. Huff lasted just five innings and gave up three earned runs on seven hits. His stamina must come into question here as he?s lasted past the six inning twice this season.
Toronto will send Marc Rzepczynksi (1-1, 2.50 ERA) to wrap up this troika. Bettors haven?t enjoyed backing the Blue Jays? southpaw in his short time with the big club as they?re 1-2 when he starts. Yet, the club has been pleased with Rzepczynksi as those outings can all be labeled as quality starts. And he?s coming off of a four-hit, six inning winning performance at home against the Red Sox on July 18.
Las Vegas Sports Consultants have listed the Jays as $1.50 home favorites (risk $150 to win $100) with a total of nine.
That line thumbs its nose at recent head-to-head history that shows Cleveland is 26-10 in the last 36 meetings. Plus, the road team is 4-2 in this matchup during the 2009 campaign.
Mariners at Tigers ? 1:05 p.m. EDT
It can?t be easy for teams to take to the field for a day game when they were in a primetime affair the night before. That?s what the M?s and Tigers are doing on Thursday.
Seattle is banking on Jarrod Washburn (7-6, 2.87 ERA) to close out this series on a high note. The numbers certainly say that Washburn will get it done in this spot as the Mariners are 5-1 in his last six starts this year. He?s allowed just two earned runs in his last three starts combined with nine total strikeouts to just two walks.
Detroit give Luke French (1-0, 1.89 ERA) the starting nod for this tilt. French?s numbers don?t look all that great because he?s been in four games that he didn?t receive a decision. However, the Tigers came away with wins in three of those four tilts. The only knock you can have against French is that he isn?t lasting too long on the mound, lasting at least five innings in his last two starts.
Most betting shops have opened this contest with the Tigers as $1.15 home faves with the total posting at 8 ?.
The numbers suggest that Detroit is the play in this instance. Washburn is 4-8 with a 5.51 earned run average in 14 career starts against the Motor City Kitties. And the Tigers are a spotless 5-0 against southpaws at home during the day this year.
Giants at Braves ? 1:10 p.m. EDT
Is it me or does it seem like the Giants are getting ready to make their tumble back to reality? San Francisco has dropped five of its last six contests. I know that they?re only a ? game behind the Rockies for the NL Wild Card, but that might as well be 10 games right now.
San Fran will try to plug the dam with uber-bust Barry Zito (5-10, 4.89 ERA). He?s dropped three of his last four decisions. And bettors backing Zito have gone 2-5 in his last seven starts. To be fair though, he did pitch well in his last game, allowing two earned runs on six hits in 6.1 innings of work. Just did get any support from his offense as the Pirates beat them 2-0 on July 18.
The Braves will send Kenshin Kawakami (5-7, 4.15 ERA) out to close out this series. This Japanese import has done well this year for Atlanta despite his overall record. Out of the 17 starts Kawakami has had, eight of them have been quality outings. What he could complain about is that he?s had shoddy run support though as evidenced by Atlanta scoring three or fewer runs in eight of those games.
LVSC has listed Atlanta as a $1.65 home ?chalk? with a total of 8 ?.
Before you hit the betting window, you may want to know that Zito is 2-1 with a 2.84 ERA in three career starts against the Braves. However, the home team has won all five games in this year?s series.
Rays at White Sox ? 2:05 p.m. EDT
A lot of people have touted the Rays as a team to watch out for in the second half of the season. Hard not to argue with that thinking on the defending AL champions. Tampa Bay has won three of its last four games and eight of its last 11.
Tampa Bay will look to keep up the pace with Scott Kazmir (4-5, 6.62 ERA) on the mound. The Rays? staff ace has won three of his last four starts this season, but is rarely going past the sixth inning in any of those occasions. They haven?t needed Kazmir to go the distance much thanks to a bullpen that ranks third in the big leagues with a 3.39 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP.
The Pale Hose are hoping to stay on Detroit?s heels in the AL Central with Mark Buehrle (10-3, 3.52 ERA) taking the mound. Chicago has fared well with its ace toeing the slab as they?ve won six of his last seven starts, while Buehrle has an ERA of 4.07 in that stretch.
It?s no surprise that the White Sox are $1.20 home favorites with a total of nine by the sportsbooks.
Buehrle is 7-2 with a 4.23 ERA for his career against the Rays. Meanwhile, Kazmir is just 3-2 with an ERA of 4.46 in six career starts against Chicago. While those numbers seem to favor the ChiSox, the road team is 5-2 in the last seven head-to-head matchups.
A lot of teams are travelling in baseball on Thursday, but that doesn?t mean we?ll be sitting around doing nothing for the day. We?ve got plenty of afternoon action to fawn over?four games to be precise. And almost all of the early tilts are a battle of left-handers. Let?s take a look.
Indians at Blue Jays ? 12:37 p.m. EDT
If there is anything good to say on behalf of the Indians it?s that their season will be over in just a matter of months. But before they receive the sweet release that death brings, they?ll send David Huff (4-4, 6.60 ERA) out to finish off this series.
Huff hasn?t been too bad recently in winning four of his last seven starts. But he will be looking to bounce back from a 6-2 loss at home to the Mariners on July 17. Huff lasted just five innings and gave up three earned runs on seven hits. His stamina must come into question here as he?s lasted past the six inning twice this season.
Toronto will send Marc Rzepczynksi (1-1, 2.50 ERA) to wrap up this troika. Bettors haven?t enjoyed backing the Blue Jays? southpaw in his short time with the big club as they?re 1-2 when he starts. Yet, the club has been pleased with Rzepczynksi as those outings can all be labeled as quality starts. And he?s coming off of a four-hit, six inning winning performance at home against the Red Sox on July 18.
Las Vegas Sports Consultants have listed the Jays as $1.50 home favorites (risk $150 to win $100) with a total of nine.
That line thumbs its nose at recent head-to-head history that shows Cleveland is 26-10 in the last 36 meetings. Plus, the road team is 4-2 in this matchup during the 2009 campaign.
Mariners at Tigers ? 1:05 p.m. EDT
It can?t be easy for teams to take to the field for a day game when they were in a primetime affair the night before. That?s what the M?s and Tigers are doing on Thursday.
Seattle is banking on Jarrod Washburn (7-6, 2.87 ERA) to close out this series on a high note. The numbers certainly say that Washburn will get it done in this spot as the Mariners are 5-1 in his last six starts this year. He?s allowed just two earned runs in his last three starts combined with nine total strikeouts to just two walks.
Detroit give Luke French (1-0, 1.89 ERA) the starting nod for this tilt. French?s numbers don?t look all that great because he?s been in four games that he didn?t receive a decision. However, the Tigers came away with wins in three of those four tilts. The only knock you can have against French is that he isn?t lasting too long on the mound, lasting at least five innings in his last two starts.
Most betting shops have opened this contest with the Tigers as $1.15 home faves with the total posting at 8 ?.
The numbers suggest that Detroit is the play in this instance. Washburn is 4-8 with a 5.51 earned run average in 14 career starts against the Motor City Kitties. And the Tigers are a spotless 5-0 against southpaws at home during the day this year.
Giants at Braves ? 1:10 p.m. EDT
Is it me or does it seem like the Giants are getting ready to make their tumble back to reality? San Francisco has dropped five of its last six contests. I know that they?re only a ? game behind the Rockies for the NL Wild Card, but that might as well be 10 games right now.
San Fran will try to plug the dam with uber-bust Barry Zito (5-10, 4.89 ERA). He?s dropped three of his last four decisions. And bettors backing Zito have gone 2-5 in his last seven starts. To be fair though, he did pitch well in his last game, allowing two earned runs on six hits in 6.1 innings of work. Just did get any support from his offense as the Pirates beat them 2-0 on July 18.
The Braves will send Kenshin Kawakami (5-7, 4.15 ERA) out to close out this series. This Japanese import has done well this year for Atlanta despite his overall record. Out of the 17 starts Kawakami has had, eight of them have been quality outings. What he could complain about is that he?s had shoddy run support though as evidenced by Atlanta scoring three or fewer runs in eight of those games.
LVSC has listed Atlanta as a $1.65 home ?chalk? with a total of 8 ?.
Before you hit the betting window, you may want to know that Zito is 2-1 with a 2.84 ERA in three career starts against the Braves. However, the home team has won all five games in this year?s series.
Rays at White Sox ? 2:05 p.m. EDT
A lot of people have touted the Rays as a team to watch out for in the second half of the season. Hard not to argue with that thinking on the defending AL champions. Tampa Bay has won three of its last four games and eight of its last 11.
Tampa Bay will look to keep up the pace with Scott Kazmir (4-5, 6.62 ERA) on the mound. The Rays? staff ace has won three of his last four starts this season, but is rarely going past the sixth inning in any of those occasions. They haven?t needed Kazmir to go the distance much thanks to a bullpen that ranks third in the big leagues with a 3.39 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP.
The Pale Hose are hoping to stay on Detroit?s heels in the AL Central with Mark Buehrle (10-3, 3.52 ERA) taking the mound. Chicago has fared well with its ace toeing the slab as they?ve won six of his last seven starts, while Buehrle has an ERA of 4.07 in that stretch.
It?s no surprise that the White Sox are $1.20 home favorites with a total of nine by the sportsbooks.
Buehrle is 7-2 with a 4.23 ERA for his career against the Rays. Meanwhile, Kazmir is just 3-2 with an ERA of 4.46 in six career starts against Chicago. While those numbers seem to favor the ChiSox, the road team is 5-2 in the last seven head-to-head matchups.
