Sunday Tips
The Sunday card in Major League Baseball involves plenty of important matchups, especially in the American League. All three division leaders in the AL have an arms-length lead in their respective divisions, but could use a little more breathing room. Three key games inside the Junior Circuit give bettors good opportunities to wager and win.
Rays at Tigers (1:05 PM EST)
Tampa Bay and Detroit play the rubber match of their three-game set at Comerica Park, with the Rays trying to scratch and claw their way into the postseason. The Tigers continue to lead the AL Central race, looking for a return to the playoffs for the first time since winning the pennant in 2006.
Justin Verlander (14-7, 3.38 ERA) has been exceptional in two roles this season - at home, and during the day. Those two factors should bode well for Detroit backers, as Verlander is 7-2 at Comerica, and 6-2 when the sun is out. These two situations have also benefited 'under' players, as Verlander has nailed the 'under' in eight of 12 home contests, and seven of ten day games.
Jeff Niemann (12-5, 3.87 ERA) has received some of the best run support of any pitcher in baseball, as the Rays are plating an average of 6.46 runs in his 23 starts. Niemann is coming off a win over the Blue Jays his last time out, despite allowing six runs and eight hits in 6.1 innings of work. Niemann does own an impressive 7-3 mark away from Tropicana Field, but his ERA is 4.62 on the road.
Las Vegas Sports Consultants has opened the Tigers as a $1.50 home favorite, with the total set at 8 ? (Bet $1.25 to win $1.00 on the 'under').
Blue Jays at Red Sox (1:35 PM EST)
This was expected to be a pitcher's duel with Roy Halladay and Jon Lester taking the hill at Fenway Park. Halladay is still set to start, but Lester was scratched, as his start is getting pushed back to Tuesday at Tampa Bay. Nothing is wrong with Lester, but Tim Wakefield was set to take the hill Tuesday, and the knuckleballer's back is putting him on the shelf. With the changes, veteran right-hander Paul Byrd will get the start in the series finale.
Halladay (13-7, 3.03 ERA) is coming off his worst start of the season, allowing seven earned runs in six innings in a 12-7 loss to Tampa Bay. Halladay has not been particularly sharp since coming off the disabled list in late June. The Jays ace is 3-6 in 11 starts since June 29, including a 1-1 mark against Boston. Halladay pitched a gem against the Sox at Rogers Centre right after the All-Star Break, a complete-game six-hitter in a 3-1 victory. The former Cy Young Award winner was touched up by the Sox eleven days ago at home, allowing five runs and eight hits in five innings of a 6-1 loss.
Byrd will be making his first start since last September, but Boston did go 6-2 in eight starts as a member of the Sox over the final two months of 2008. Byrd compiled two less-than-stellar home starts against the Jays last season, giving up 20 hits and nine earned runs in 12.1 innings of work, losing twice.
Rangers at Twins (2:05 PM EST)
Texas will not go away in the AL Wild Card race, as the Rangers shut out the Twins Saturday night, 3-0. Minnesota remains 4 ? games behind Detroit in the AL Central, as Ron Gardenhire's club has won eight of their past 11. The Twins are finding ways to win close contests in this stretch, claiming six victories by a run.
Kevin Millwood (10-8, 3.63 ERA) takes the Metrodome hill, going for just his fourth road win on the season. The Rangers veteran righty has dropped six of his last seven starts against the Twins dating back to 2005. Millwood was knocked around by Minnesota in Arlington less than two weeks ago. He allowed seven hits and five earned runs in 5.2 innings of a 5-4 loss to the Twins.
Scott Baker (12-7, 4.47 ERA) has won four straight home starts, while the Twins are 7-2 his last nine outings overall. Baker's control has always been outstanding, as the Minnesota righty has walked just four batters his last six starts. The 'over' has turned into a solid play in Baker's home outings, hitting in nine of 13 starts at the Metrodome.
The Twins are listed as a $1.40 home favorite according to LVSC, with the totals set at 8 ? (Bet $1.25 to win $1.00 on the 'over').
The Sunday card in Major League Baseball involves plenty of important matchups, especially in the American League. All three division leaders in the AL have an arms-length lead in their respective divisions, but could use a little more breathing room. Three key games inside the Junior Circuit give bettors good opportunities to wager and win.
Rays at Tigers (1:05 PM EST)
Tampa Bay and Detroit play the rubber match of their three-game set at Comerica Park, with the Rays trying to scratch and claw their way into the postseason. The Tigers continue to lead the AL Central race, looking for a return to the playoffs for the first time since winning the pennant in 2006.
Justin Verlander (14-7, 3.38 ERA) has been exceptional in two roles this season - at home, and during the day. Those two factors should bode well for Detroit backers, as Verlander is 7-2 at Comerica, and 6-2 when the sun is out. These two situations have also benefited 'under' players, as Verlander has nailed the 'under' in eight of 12 home contests, and seven of ten day games.
Jeff Niemann (12-5, 3.87 ERA) has received some of the best run support of any pitcher in baseball, as the Rays are plating an average of 6.46 runs in his 23 starts. Niemann is coming off a win over the Blue Jays his last time out, despite allowing six runs and eight hits in 6.1 innings of work. Niemann does own an impressive 7-3 mark away from Tropicana Field, but his ERA is 4.62 on the road.
Las Vegas Sports Consultants has opened the Tigers as a $1.50 home favorite, with the total set at 8 ? (Bet $1.25 to win $1.00 on the 'under').
Blue Jays at Red Sox (1:35 PM EST)
This was expected to be a pitcher's duel with Roy Halladay and Jon Lester taking the hill at Fenway Park. Halladay is still set to start, but Lester was scratched, as his start is getting pushed back to Tuesday at Tampa Bay. Nothing is wrong with Lester, but Tim Wakefield was set to take the hill Tuesday, and the knuckleballer's back is putting him on the shelf. With the changes, veteran right-hander Paul Byrd will get the start in the series finale.
Halladay (13-7, 3.03 ERA) is coming off his worst start of the season, allowing seven earned runs in six innings in a 12-7 loss to Tampa Bay. Halladay has not been particularly sharp since coming off the disabled list in late June. The Jays ace is 3-6 in 11 starts since June 29, including a 1-1 mark against Boston. Halladay pitched a gem against the Sox at Rogers Centre right after the All-Star Break, a complete-game six-hitter in a 3-1 victory. The former Cy Young Award winner was touched up by the Sox eleven days ago at home, allowing five runs and eight hits in five innings of a 6-1 loss.
Byrd will be making his first start since last September, but Boston did go 6-2 in eight starts as a member of the Sox over the final two months of 2008. Byrd compiled two less-than-stellar home starts against the Jays last season, giving up 20 hits and nine earned runs in 12.1 innings of work, losing twice.
Rangers at Twins (2:05 PM EST)
Texas will not go away in the AL Wild Card race, as the Rangers shut out the Twins Saturday night, 3-0. Minnesota remains 4 ? games behind Detroit in the AL Central, as Ron Gardenhire's club has won eight of their past 11. The Twins are finding ways to win close contests in this stretch, claiming six victories by a run.
Kevin Millwood (10-8, 3.63 ERA) takes the Metrodome hill, going for just his fourth road win on the season. The Rangers veteran righty has dropped six of his last seven starts against the Twins dating back to 2005. Millwood was knocked around by Minnesota in Arlington less than two weeks ago. He allowed seven hits and five earned runs in 5.2 innings of a 5-4 loss to the Twins.
Scott Baker (12-7, 4.47 ERA) has won four straight home starts, while the Twins are 7-2 his last nine outings overall. Baker's control has always been outstanding, as the Minnesota righty has walked just four batters his last six starts. The 'over' has turned into a solid play in Baker's home outings, hitting in nine of 13 starts at the Metrodome.
The Twins are listed as a $1.40 home favorite according to LVSC, with the totals set at 8 ? (Bet $1.25 to win $1.00 on the 'over').