Sunday's Slate
The weekend wraps up with a handful of series involving teams battling it out for playoff positioning. The American League leaders in the Wild Card race, the Boston Red Sox, go for a series victory in Arlington against the Rangers.
Red Sox at Rangers (2:05 PM EST)
The top two teams in the AL Wild Card chase wrap up their three-game set at Ameriquest Field. The pitching matchup features a pair of young right-handers, as Dustin Nippert and Junichi Tazawa take the hill.
Nippert (3-1, 3.62 ERA) makes his sixth start of the season, coming off a 10 strikeout effort his last time out, a loss at Cleveland. Nippert has made only one home start this season, but it came against these Red Sox. The righty held Boston to one run and five hits in 5.2 innings of work, as the Rangers won, 3-1. The 'under' has been a profitable play with Nippert on the mound, hitting in four of his five starts.
Tazawa (1-1, 4.05 ERA) allowed three runs (one earned) in five innings against the Tigers in his first career start on Tuesday, a 7-5 victory. To refresh everyone's memory, that game featured the Kevin Youkilis/Rick Porcello brawl, which started when Tazawa drilled Miguel Cabrera with a pitch earlier in the contest.
The Rangers have been 'under' machines all season long, hitting the 'under' in 22 of their last 26 games as a home favorite. The Red Sox, meanwhile, are 18-8-1 to the 'under' their last 27 road contests against right-handed starters.
Las Vegas Sports Consultants has installed the Rangers as a $1.20 home favorites, with the total set at 10 ? (Bet $1.15 to win $1.00 on the 'under.')
Rockies at Marlins (1:35 PM EST)
Following Saturday night's rain-out, the Rockies and Marlins play two on Sunday, with plenty on the line. Florida held off Colorado on Friday night, 6-5, behind Josh Johnson's 12th victory. The Rockies begin the day two games ahead of the Marlins in the NL Wild Card race.
Colorado sends out Aaron Cook (10-4, 3.93 ERA), who makes his first start since a loss at Philadelphia on August 6. Cook suffered a toe injury, and actually benefited from the rain-out by getting an extra day of rest. Cook has performed well on the road, going 6-3 away from Coors Field. However, the Rockies are just 12-11 in Cook's 23 starts. Cook beat the Marlins at home earlier this season, allowing four hits and two runs in six innings.
Rick VandenHurk (2-1, 4.15 ERA) has pitched well in two home starts this season, giving up nine hits and four earned runs, as the Marlins are 1-1 in the righty's two home outings. Florida has been on a tear recently, winning seven of eight, while scoring six runs or more seven times in this stretch. The 'over' has been a great play for the Marlins lately, hitting in nine of the last ten games.
The Rockies are a $1.10 road 'chalk,' while the total is set at 9 (Bet $1.20 to win $1.00 on the 'over') according to LVSC.
Astros at Brewers (2:05 PM EST)
One week after the Astros took two of three from the Brewers in Houston, Milwaukee has turned the tables, going for the series sweep Sunday afternoon.
The Brewers send out Braden Looper (10-6, 4.99 ERA), who has actually had less success at home as opposed to the road. Milwaukee is 7-6 in Looper's 13 starts at Miller Park, as the righty has allowed five earned runs in each of his last three home outings. Looper faced the Astros five times last season as a member of the Cardinals, as St. Louis dropped four of his five starts against Houston.
Roy Oswalt (6-4, 3.87 ERA) was touched up by the Marlins in his last start, giving up nine hits and six earned runs in five innings of work. Houston lost 9-8 in extra-innings, as Oswalt made his first start after missing two turns with a back injury. That loss snapped a six-game win streak in Oswalt's previous six outings. The Astros veteran was on the losing side of a 4-3 decision against the Brewers on May 21, allowing ten hits and three earned runs in 6.1 innings. This is Oswalt's first start at Miller Park since September 3, 2007, when the Astros beat the Brewers, 9-7.
LVSC has installed the Brewers as a $1.10 home favorite, while the total is set at 9.
The weekend wraps up with a handful of series involving teams battling it out for playoff positioning. The American League leaders in the Wild Card race, the Boston Red Sox, go for a series victory in Arlington against the Rangers.
Red Sox at Rangers (2:05 PM EST)
The top two teams in the AL Wild Card chase wrap up their three-game set at Ameriquest Field. The pitching matchup features a pair of young right-handers, as Dustin Nippert and Junichi Tazawa take the hill.
Nippert (3-1, 3.62 ERA) makes his sixth start of the season, coming off a 10 strikeout effort his last time out, a loss at Cleveland. Nippert has made only one home start this season, but it came against these Red Sox. The righty held Boston to one run and five hits in 5.2 innings of work, as the Rangers won, 3-1. The 'under' has been a profitable play with Nippert on the mound, hitting in four of his five starts.
Tazawa (1-1, 4.05 ERA) allowed three runs (one earned) in five innings against the Tigers in his first career start on Tuesday, a 7-5 victory. To refresh everyone's memory, that game featured the Kevin Youkilis/Rick Porcello brawl, which started when Tazawa drilled Miguel Cabrera with a pitch earlier in the contest.
The Rangers have been 'under' machines all season long, hitting the 'under' in 22 of their last 26 games as a home favorite. The Red Sox, meanwhile, are 18-8-1 to the 'under' their last 27 road contests against right-handed starters.
Las Vegas Sports Consultants has installed the Rangers as a $1.20 home favorites, with the total set at 10 ? (Bet $1.15 to win $1.00 on the 'under.')
Rockies at Marlins (1:35 PM EST)
Following Saturday night's rain-out, the Rockies and Marlins play two on Sunday, with plenty on the line. Florida held off Colorado on Friday night, 6-5, behind Josh Johnson's 12th victory. The Rockies begin the day two games ahead of the Marlins in the NL Wild Card race.
Colorado sends out Aaron Cook (10-4, 3.93 ERA), who makes his first start since a loss at Philadelphia on August 6. Cook suffered a toe injury, and actually benefited from the rain-out by getting an extra day of rest. Cook has performed well on the road, going 6-3 away from Coors Field. However, the Rockies are just 12-11 in Cook's 23 starts. Cook beat the Marlins at home earlier this season, allowing four hits and two runs in six innings.
Rick VandenHurk (2-1, 4.15 ERA) has pitched well in two home starts this season, giving up nine hits and four earned runs, as the Marlins are 1-1 in the righty's two home outings. Florida has been on a tear recently, winning seven of eight, while scoring six runs or more seven times in this stretch. The 'over' has been a great play for the Marlins lately, hitting in nine of the last ten games.
The Rockies are a $1.10 road 'chalk,' while the total is set at 9 (Bet $1.20 to win $1.00 on the 'over') according to LVSC.
Astros at Brewers (2:05 PM EST)
One week after the Astros took two of three from the Brewers in Houston, Milwaukee has turned the tables, going for the series sweep Sunday afternoon.
The Brewers send out Braden Looper (10-6, 4.99 ERA), who has actually had less success at home as opposed to the road. Milwaukee is 7-6 in Looper's 13 starts at Miller Park, as the righty has allowed five earned runs in each of his last three home outings. Looper faced the Astros five times last season as a member of the Cardinals, as St. Louis dropped four of his five starts against Houston.
Roy Oswalt (6-4, 3.87 ERA) was touched up by the Marlins in his last start, giving up nine hits and six earned runs in five innings of work. Houston lost 9-8 in extra-innings, as Oswalt made his first start after missing two turns with a back injury. That loss snapped a six-game win streak in Oswalt's previous six outings. The Astros veteran was on the losing side of a 4-3 decision against the Brewers on May 21, allowing ten hits and three earned runs in 6.1 innings. This is Oswalt's first start at Miller Park since September 3, 2007, when the Astros beat the Brewers, 9-7.
LVSC has installed the Brewers as a $1.10 home favorite, while the total is set at 9.
