Saturday's Fox Tip Sheet
Saturday?s televised action on Fox continues this weekend with another trio of games, including a very important National League East battle between the Braves and Phillies. Philadelphia is fresh off a three-game sweep over the Cubs in Wrigley Field and remains in first place of the division. However, the club is only up by 4 1/2 games over the Marlins and six on Atlanta, who enters this weekend with a five-game winning streak before last night. Let?s take a closer look at this tilt, plus the other National League battle between the Giants and Mets as well.
Philadelphia at Atlanta
Gamblers have to be scratching their heads right now with the Phillies. The team has been so unpredictable this year, often stepping up when you think they?re down. After losing three straight at home to the Marlins, the team rebounds with the aforementioned sweep over Chicago. Philly scored 22 runs in the victories over the Cubs, but just nine in the setbacks to the Fish. The Braves have had the Phillies? number this year, winning seven of the first nine, including a home sweep just before the All-Star break.
Last night, Ryan Howard led off the ninth inning with a tie-breaking shot that gave the Phillies a 3-2 victory over the Braves.
On Saturday, Cole Hamels (7-7, 4.77 ERA) hopes he can get some offensive support since he hasn?t been on top of his game lately. Philadelphia has dropped two straight with Hamels, who has been tagged for 15 hits and 10 earned runs in the two losses. The lefty does own a 7-4 career mark against the Braves but in his one start this season against them, he was lit up for nine hits and seven earned runs in just four innings. Total players would expect Hamels to be an ?under? pitcher but it?s been the opposite. The ?over? is on a 7-1 in his last eight efforts. Lastly, the day games have been bad news this year for Hamels, who is 0-4 with a 5.45 ERA in six outings. If you?re looking for another reason to fade Cole, then look at the Braves? record (24-16) against lefties.
The Braves look to stay hot behind the right-handed Kenshin Kawakami (5-9, 4.12 ERA). Even though the club is just 1-4 in the last five, his most recent start opened up some eyes. Kawakami threw seven scoreless innings and gave up just four hits on Aug. 8 as Atlanta nipped the Dodgers 2-1. Kawakami faced the Phils on May 10 and he helped the Braves earn a 4-2 victory by giving up two hits and two runs over five innings. The Japanese product might not have the most glaring stats but he hasn?t been helped at all. Atlanta has gone 9-12 in his 21 starts and the offense has produced four runs or less in all 12 losses. In the nine wins, the team his notched four runs or more on seven occasions. Gamblers leaning to KK today might want to look at a team total ?over? instead.
All the numbers in the pitching matchup appear to lean towards Kawakami, but the oddsmakers have still made the Phillies a short favorite. It seems very fair considering the Phillies own a league-best 36-19 record on the road which has returned a profit of over 19 units.
San Francisco at N.Y. Mets
The Giants begin their 11-game road trip in Flushing against the banged-up Mets. San Francisco is eight games better than New York in the win column but that hasn?t mattered this year. New York captured three of the first four in the Bay Area and has owned the Giants on its home turf. San Francisco has lost five in a row in Queens and 14 of 18 while visiting the Mets, including Friday's setback. The Mets? Bobby Parnell went a solid six innings and the club blanked the Giants 3-0. The bullpen finished up the final three innings, and reliever Francisco Rodriguez notched his 26th save of the season.
If the team from Northern California wants to remain in the NL Wild Card hunt, then it better win this series. That?s a lot easier said than done for the Giants and its fair to say that Saturday?s matchup will be their toughest test.
New York will throw Johan Santana (13-8, 3.00 ERA) to the mound this afternoon. The lefty is coming off an impressive 5-1 victory over the Padres last Sunday, which saw him go eight innings. Santana hasn?t received much offensive support in the past but the Mets? attack has posted four-plus runs in each of his last six starts. The former Cy Young winner is 8-2 with a 2.07 ERA at home this season, plus he?s 2-0 in his career against the Giants. Santana has produced a 7-4 record with a 2.48 ERA under the sun this season. San Francisco is 17-13 versus lefties this year.
San Francisco will try to counter the Mets? dominance at home by Santana with its own road warrior Matt Cain (12-4, 2.44 ERA). The big right-hander gave up a season-high five runs in last Sunday?s 5-2 defeat to the Reds, which was his second straight setback. Despite the losses, he still boasts a 2.44 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. It should also be noted that in his four losses, the Giants? offense has managed a total of nine runs. The afternoon affair should help Cain, who has gone 4-2 with a 2.17 ERA in day games this year. He?s faced the Mets once this year and gave up no runs and three hits over six innings.
The White Sox own a league-best 14-4 record on Saturday, followed by the Rays (12-6) and Red Sox (12-6). Looking for a couple clubs that haven?t played well on this day? Take a quick peek at the Reds (4-14) and Indians (5-13).
?Chalk? players looking for automatic winners might turn their attention to Detroit (-250) against Kansas City and St. Louis (-230) over San Diego tonight. The Cards have beaten the Padres seven out of eight, and the Tigers own a 7-3 mark against the Royals. If you toss the pair into a two-team parlay, you?ll get an even-money return.
The New York Yankees have been on fire in the month of August, posting an 11-2 record. All gamblers know that you have to lay a healthy price when backing the Bronx Bombers but the run-line has been golden during this stretch. All of the 11 victories except one were by more than one run. After two more contests against Seattle, the Yanks head to Oakland for three and then a big three-game set at Fenway Park against the Sox.
It?s really amazes me looking at the Totals Report this year and seeing Texas as a clear-cut ?under? team, considering the ball used to fly out of Arlington. The Rangers have watched the ?under? go 71-39 (65%) on the season, including 37-19 at home. Even though Friday's game saw 12 total runs, 'under' backers were on the right side. The Red Sox put up a 6-spot in their final frame and rallied for an 8-4 win over the Rangers.
Saturday?s televised action on Fox continues this weekend with another trio of games, including a very important National League East battle between the Braves and Phillies. Philadelphia is fresh off a three-game sweep over the Cubs in Wrigley Field and remains in first place of the division. However, the club is only up by 4 1/2 games over the Marlins and six on Atlanta, who enters this weekend with a five-game winning streak before last night. Let?s take a closer look at this tilt, plus the other National League battle between the Giants and Mets as well.
Philadelphia at Atlanta
Gamblers have to be scratching their heads right now with the Phillies. The team has been so unpredictable this year, often stepping up when you think they?re down. After losing three straight at home to the Marlins, the team rebounds with the aforementioned sweep over Chicago. Philly scored 22 runs in the victories over the Cubs, but just nine in the setbacks to the Fish. The Braves have had the Phillies? number this year, winning seven of the first nine, including a home sweep just before the All-Star break.
Last night, Ryan Howard led off the ninth inning with a tie-breaking shot that gave the Phillies a 3-2 victory over the Braves.
On Saturday, Cole Hamels (7-7, 4.77 ERA) hopes he can get some offensive support since he hasn?t been on top of his game lately. Philadelphia has dropped two straight with Hamels, who has been tagged for 15 hits and 10 earned runs in the two losses. The lefty does own a 7-4 career mark against the Braves but in his one start this season against them, he was lit up for nine hits and seven earned runs in just four innings. Total players would expect Hamels to be an ?under? pitcher but it?s been the opposite. The ?over? is on a 7-1 in his last eight efforts. Lastly, the day games have been bad news this year for Hamels, who is 0-4 with a 5.45 ERA in six outings. If you?re looking for another reason to fade Cole, then look at the Braves? record (24-16) against lefties.
The Braves look to stay hot behind the right-handed Kenshin Kawakami (5-9, 4.12 ERA). Even though the club is just 1-4 in the last five, his most recent start opened up some eyes. Kawakami threw seven scoreless innings and gave up just four hits on Aug. 8 as Atlanta nipped the Dodgers 2-1. Kawakami faced the Phils on May 10 and he helped the Braves earn a 4-2 victory by giving up two hits and two runs over five innings. The Japanese product might not have the most glaring stats but he hasn?t been helped at all. Atlanta has gone 9-12 in his 21 starts and the offense has produced four runs or less in all 12 losses. In the nine wins, the team his notched four runs or more on seven occasions. Gamblers leaning to KK today might want to look at a team total ?over? instead.
All the numbers in the pitching matchup appear to lean towards Kawakami, but the oddsmakers have still made the Phillies a short favorite. It seems very fair considering the Phillies own a league-best 36-19 record on the road which has returned a profit of over 19 units.
San Francisco at N.Y. Mets
The Giants begin their 11-game road trip in Flushing against the banged-up Mets. San Francisco is eight games better than New York in the win column but that hasn?t mattered this year. New York captured three of the first four in the Bay Area and has owned the Giants on its home turf. San Francisco has lost five in a row in Queens and 14 of 18 while visiting the Mets, including Friday's setback. The Mets? Bobby Parnell went a solid six innings and the club blanked the Giants 3-0. The bullpen finished up the final three innings, and reliever Francisco Rodriguez notched his 26th save of the season.
If the team from Northern California wants to remain in the NL Wild Card hunt, then it better win this series. That?s a lot easier said than done for the Giants and its fair to say that Saturday?s matchup will be their toughest test.
New York will throw Johan Santana (13-8, 3.00 ERA) to the mound this afternoon. The lefty is coming off an impressive 5-1 victory over the Padres last Sunday, which saw him go eight innings. Santana hasn?t received much offensive support in the past but the Mets? attack has posted four-plus runs in each of his last six starts. The former Cy Young winner is 8-2 with a 2.07 ERA at home this season, plus he?s 2-0 in his career against the Giants. Santana has produced a 7-4 record with a 2.48 ERA under the sun this season. San Francisco is 17-13 versus lefties this year.
San Francisco will try to counter the Mets? dominance at home by Santana with its own road warrior Matt Cain (12-4, 2.44 ERA). The big right-hander gave up a season-high five runs in last Sunday?s 5-2 defeat to the Reds, which was his second straight setback. Despite the losses, he still boasts a 2.44 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. It should also be noted that in his four losses, the Giants? offense has managed a total of nine runs. The afternoon affair should help Cain, who has gone 4-2 with a 2.17 ERA in day games this year. He?s faced the Mets once this year and gave up no runs and three hits over six innings.
The White Sox own a league-best 14-4 record on Saturday, followed by the Rays (12-6) and Red Sox (12-6). Looking for a couple clubs that haven?t played well on this day? Take a quick peek at the Reds (4-14) and Indians (5-13).
?Chalk? players looking for automatic winners might turn their attention to Detroit (-250) against Kansas City and St. Louis (-230) over San Diego tonight. The Cards have beaten the Padres seven out of eight, and the Tigers own a 7-3 mark against the Royals. If you toss the pair into a two-team parlay, you?ll get an even-money return.
The New York Yankees have been on fire in the month of August, posting an 11-2 record. All gamblers know that you have to lay a healthy price when backing the Bronx Bombers but the run-line has been golden during this stretch. All of the 11 victories except one were by more than one run. After two more contests against Seattle, the Yanks head to Oakland for three and then a big three-game set at Fenway Park against the Sox.
It?s really amazes me looking at the Totals Report this year and seeing Texas as a clear-cut ?under? team, considering the ball used to fly out of Arlington. The Rangers have watched the ?under? go 71-39 (65%) on the season, including 37-19 at home. Even though Friday's game saw 12 total runs, 'under' backers were on the right side. The Red Sox put up a 6-spot in their final frame and rallied for an 8-4 win over the Rangers.
