Thursday's Early Action
Bettors need to start their handicapping early because three Thursday games will come off the board by 12:35 p.m. Eastern. And the slate is already limited, especially in the American League with just four contests on tap.
The Mets have all sorts of issues but they have quietly won four games in a row. They can really gain some momentum Thursday by sweeping a day/night doubleheader at home. On the other hand, if the Rockies can produce a sweep, it may be the dagger for all intents and purposes.
Jim Tracy?s team is now one-half game behind San Francisco in the NL wild-card hunt. The Giants captured a 1-0 win over Pittsburgh in extra innings Wednesday, taking advantage of another terrific effort from Matt Cain. With the Rockies and Mets raining out, San Francisco took sole possession of first for the wild card.
Let?s touch on a few of the early games for Thursday.
**Rockies at Mets** (Game 1 of day-night doubleheader)
--The New York Mets have been one of baseball?s biggest disappointments in 2009. They have been strapped with injuries galore and find themselves out of the National League East picture and clinging to slim hopes in the wild-card mix. The situation at Citi Field was further exacerbated by GM Omar Minaya?s curious performance at a press conference announcing the dismissal of exec Tony Bernazard, whose job status came in question after media reports of his volatile behavior toward players. Minaya put his job in jeopardy by suggesting a media member was trying to get Bernazard fired in hopes of landing his job. The whole situation is embarrassing for an organization that?s missed the playoffs in back-to-back campaigns due to unfathomable September collapses. Clearly, Minaya still has his job only thanks to a three-year extension signed this past off-season.
--With all that said, the Mets bring a four-game winning streak into this spot. They are plus-110 underdogs at most books. The total is 8 ? ?over? (minus-115).
--Colorado?s Jorge De La Rosa (8-7, 4.48 ERA) owns a 4-0 record and 2.43 ERA in the month of July. The lefty is 3-2 with a 3.88 ERA in eight road assignments. He hasn?t been as effective in day games, going 2-3 with a 7.07 ERA in six appearances (five starts). De La Rosa is 1-0 with a 7.71 lifetime ERA against the Mets.
--New York LHP Jonathon Niese (1-0, 4.08) is a 22-year-old rookie who will be making his seventh career start. He has been sharp in two of his three outings since taking over the No. 5 spot in the Mets rotation two weeks ago. New York has prevailed in two of those three starts with its bats scoring 24 combined runs behind Niese.
--Jeff Francoeur?s promising career had been in decline for well over 200 games, so the Braves traded the hometown product to the Mets. The change of scenery has been huge for Francoeur, who has 16 RBI?s in his first 14 games with his new club.
--The Rockies are 15-15 against southpaws, while the Mets are just 10-13 versus lefties.
--The Mets are 27-20 at home this year, while the Rockies are 27-25 on the road.
--The ?under? is 50-44 overall for the Mets, 25-21 in their road contests.
--The ?under? is 50-47 overall for Colorado, 29-22 in its road games.
--Gamblers need to get their bets in early for this 12:10 p.m. Eastern start at Citi Field.
**A?s at Red Sox**
--Most spots are listing Boston as an expensive minus-320 favorite with a total of 9 ? ?under? (minus-120). Bettors don?t have lay quite as much ?chalk? by going the run-line route with the Red Sox at minus-150 (risk $150 to win $100).
--Boston LHP Jon Lester (9-7, 3.79) is 5-3 with a 3.06 ERA in 10 home starts this season. The southpaw is 2-3 with a 4.74 career ERA against Oakland. The BoSox have emerged victorious from eight of Lester?s last nine assignments.
--Oakland LHP Gio Gonzalez (2-2, 7.85) is 2-0 with a 4.43 ERA in five road appearances (two starts) this year. He has never faced Boston before.
--Oakland has a 14-20 record when facing left-handers. On the flip side, the BoSox took a 21-12 ledger against southpaws into Wednesday?s showdown against the A?s lefty Brett Anderson.
--Before Wednesday?s results were in, Boston had a 34-16 home record compared to Oakland?s 20-32 mark on the road.
--The ?under? is 52-38 overall for the Red Sox, 27-18 in their home outings.
--The ?under? is 52-46 overall for the A?s, 26-25 in their road games.
--Lester will throw the first pitch at Fenway Park at 1:35 p.m. Eastern.
--I?m pleased to announce that starting this week, Kevin Rogers will begin joining me every week to co-host The Power Hours on VI Radio.
-- Pittsburgh?s Zach Duke was brilliant in Wednesday?s 1-0 loss at San Francisco. The left-hander threw seven scoreless innings, only to see his club lose in 10 innings. Duke?s ERA dipped to 3.26.
--The Cubs pounded Mike Hampton and the Astros in a 12-0 victory Wednesday afternoon at Wrigley Field. Chicago cashed tickets as minus-200 favorites with Alfonso Soriano going yard again less than 24 hours after beating Houston with a walk-off grand slam on Tuesday night.
Bettors need to start their handicapping early because three Thursday games will come off the board by 12:35 p.m. Eastern. And the slate is already limited, especially in the American League with just four contests on tap.
The Mets have all sorts of issues but they have quietly won four games in a row. They can really gain some momentum Thursday by sweeping a day/night doubleheader at home. On the other hand, if the Rockies can produce a sweep, it may be the dagger for all intents and purposes.
Jim Tracy?s team is now one-half game behind San Francisco in the NL wild-card hunt. The Giants captured a 1-0 win over Pittsburgh in extra innings Wednesday, taking advantage of another terrific effort from Matt Cain. With the Rockies and Mets raining out, San Francisco took sole possession of first for the wild card.
Let?s touch on a few of the early games for Thursday.
**Rockies at Mets** (Game 1 of day-night doubleheader)
--The New York Mets have been one of baseball?s biggest disappointments in 2009. They have been strapped with injuries galore and find themselves out of the National League East picture and clinging to slim hopes in the wild-card mix. The situation at Citi Field was further exacerbated by GM Omar Minaya?s curious performance at a press conference announcing the dismissal of exec Tony Bernazard, whose job status came in question after media reports of his volatile behavior toward players. Minaya put his job in jeopardy by suggesting a media member was trying to get Bernazard fired in hopes of landing his job. The whole situation is embarrassing for an organization that?s missed the playoffs in back-to-back campaigns due to unfathomable September collapses. Clearly, Minaya still has his job only thanks to a three-year extension signed this past off-season.
--With all that said, the Mets bring a four-game winning streak into this spot. They are plus-110 underdogs at most books. The total is 8 ? ?over? (minus-115).
--Colorado?s Jorge De La Rosa (8-7, 4.48 ERA) owns a 4-0 record and 2.43 ERA in the month of July. The lefty is 3-2 with a 3.88 ERA in eight road assignments. He hasn?t been as effective in day games, going 2-3 with a 7.07 ERA in six appearances (five starts). De La Rosa is 1-0 with a 7.71 lifetime ERA against the Mets.
--New York LHP Jonathon Niese (1-0, 4.08) is a 22-year-old rookie who will be making his seventh career start. He has been sharp in two of his three outings since taking over the No. 5 spot in the Mets rotation two weeks ago. New York has prevailed in two of those three starts with its bats scoring 24 combined runs behind Niese.
--Jeff Francoeur?s promising career had been in decline for well over 200 games, so the Braves traded the hometown product to the Mets. The change of scenery has been huge for Francoeur, who has 16 RBI?s in his first 14 games with his new club.
--The Rockies are 15-15 against southpaws, while the Mets are just 10-13 versus lefties.
--The Mets are 27-20 at home this year, while the Rockies are 27-25 on the road.
--The ?under? is 50-44 overall for the Mets, 25-21 in their road contests.
--The ?under? is 50-47 overall for Colorado, 29-22 in its road games.
--Gamblers need to get their bets in early for this 12:10 p.m. Eastern start at Citi Field.
**A?s at Red Sox**
--Most spots are listing Boston as an expensive minus-320 favorite with a total of 9 ? ?under? (minus-120). Bettors don?t have lay quite as much ?chalk? by going the run-line route with the Red Sox at minus-150 (risk $150 to win $100).
--Boston LHP Jon Lester (9-7, 3.79) is 5-3 with a 3.06 ERA in 10 home starts this season. The southpaw is 2-3 with a 4.74 career ERA against Oakland. The BoSox have emerged victorious from eight of Lester?s last nine assignments.
--Oakland LHP Gio Gonzalez (2-2, 7.85) is 2-0 with a 4.43 ERA in five road appearances (two starts) this year. He has never faced Boston before.
--Oakland has a 14-20 record when facing left-handers. On the flip side, the BoSox took a 21-12 ledger against southpaws into Wednesday?s showdown against the A?s lefty Brett Anderson.
--Before Wednesday?s results were in, Boston had a 34-16 home record compared to Oakland?s 20-32 mark on the road.
--The ?under? is 52-38 overall for the Red Sox, 27-18 in their home outings.
--The ?under? is 52-46 overall for the A?s, 26-25 in their road games.
--Lester will throw the first pitch at Fenway Park at 1:35 p.m. Eastern.
--I?m pleased to announce that starting this week, Kevin Rogers will begin joining me every week to co-host The Power Hours on VI Radio.
-- Pittsburgh?s Zach Duke was brilliant in Wednesday?s 1-0 loss at San Francisco. The left-hander threw seven scoreless innings, only to see his club lose in 10 innings. Duke?s ERA dipped to 3.26.
--The Cubs pounded Mike Hampton and the Astros in a 12-0 victory Wednesday afternoon at Wrigley Field. Chicago cashed tickets as minus-200 favorites with Alfonso Soriano going yard again less than 24 hours after beating Houston with a walk-off grand slam on Tuesday night.
