Trend sheet 6/5

[cisco]

Hot Pitchers
-- Zambrano is 3-1, 3.91 in his last four starts.
-- Gallardo is 1-0, 1.35 in his last two starts. Braves won last three Jurrjens starts (2-0, 4.00) scoring 25 runs.
-- Pirates won last three Karstens starts (1-0, 4.42), scoring 19 runs.
-- Wainwright has 2.05 RA in his last four starts.
-- San Diego won Gaudin's last three starts; six of his first seven starts were on road (beat SF 2-1, six IP, one run) in his only Petco start.
-- Milton is 2-0, 2.61 in his last two starts.

-- Verlander is 6-0, 1.30 in his last seven starts.
-- Sabathia is 4-0, 2.08 in his last five starts. Price is 1-0, 3.00 in his two starts so far this season.
-- Greinke is 8-1, 1.32 in eleven starts this season.
-- Braden is 1-0, 3.60 in his last three starts.
-- Hernandez is 1-0, 3.07 in his last couple starts.


Cold Pitchers
-- Mets are 0-3 when former National Redding starts (0-2, 9.20). Martis is 0-1, 9.57 in his last three starts.
-- Owings is 0-2, 8.56 in his last three starts.
-- Volstad is 2-4, 5.02 in his last six starts. Zito is 0-4, 4.61 in his last four outings.
-- de la Rosa is 0-3, 13.50 in his last three starts.
-- Hampton has 6.41 RA in his five home starts.
-- Arizona lost last three Davis road starts (0-2, 7.98).
-- Moyer is 1-4, 8.14 in his last five starts.

-- Penny has 6.54 RA in his first ten starts this season. Millwood is 1-3, 5.08 in his last four road starts.
-- Romero is 0-2, 9.65 in his last two starts.
-- ESantana allowed 15 runs in 6.1 IP in his last two starts.
-- Danks has an 8.10 RA in his last four starts, but White Sox won last three of them, scoring 31 runs. Indians won six of Pavano's last seven starts (5-1, 3.60).
-- Guthrie has 7.77 RA in his four road starts.
-- Liriano is 0-3, 12.00 in his last three starts.

Hot Teams
-- Giants won three of their last four games. Marlins won four of their last five home games.
-- Braves won four of their last five home games.
-- Astros won five of their last seven games. Pirates won four of their last five games.
-- Cardinals won seven of their last ten home games.
-- Phillies won their last seven games, are 12-2 in last 14 on road.


-- Red Sox won their last four games, scoring 29 runs.
-- Angels won seven of their last ten road games.
-- Bronx won ten of their last thirteen home games. Rays won five of their last six games.
-- Twins won three of their last four games, but lost 11 of last 13 road contests.
-- A's won four of their last five games.
-- Mariners won five of their last seven games.


Cold Teams
-- Mets lost eight of their last ten road games. Nationals lost seven of their last nine games.
-- Brewers lost six of their last seven road games.
-- Rockies lost four of their last five games.
-- Cubs lost nine of their last eleven road games.
-- Cincinnati lost five of its last seven games, but is 5-1 in its last six home contests. .
-- Dodgers are 7-7 in last 14 home games after a 13-0 start.

-- Rangers lost three of their last four games.
-- Blue Jays lost three of their last four games.
-- Tigers lost their last five home games.
-- Royals lost their last seven games, allowing 49 runs.
-- Indians are 4-8 in their last twelve road games. White Sox just lost three in row at home to Oakland, getting blanked twice by rookies.
-- Orioles are 6-17 in their last 23 road games.


Totals
-- Under is 6-3-1 in Mets' last ten road games.
-- Seven of last nine Chicago road games stayed under the total.
-- Eight of last eleven San Francisco road games stayed under the total. Over is 9-2-1 in Florida's last twelve home games.
-- Three of last four Milwaukee games went over the total.
-- Six of last seven Pirate road games stayed under the total.
-- Five of last seven Colorado road games stayed under the total.
-- Five of last seven Arizona road games stayed under the total.
-- Under is 7-2-1 in Phillies' last ten road games.

-- Over is 3-1-1 in Angels' last five road games.
-- Seven of last nine Tampa road games went over the total.
-- Nine of last twelve Texas road games stayed under the total.
-- Nine of last eleven Kansas City road games stayed under the total.
-- Armadillosports.com is America's favorite website.
-- Under is 12-2 in White Sox' last fourteen home games.
-- Five of last seven Baltimore games stayed under the total.
-- Seven of last nine Minnesota games stayed under the total.

 

[cisco]

LA ANGELS vs. DETROIT
LA Angels are 5-2 SU in their last 7 games on the road
LA Angels are 11-4 SU in their last 15 games when playing Detroit
Detroit is 2-4 SU in their last 6 games when playing at home against LA Angels
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Detroit's last 6 games when playing at home against LA Angels

NY METS vs. WASHINGTON
NY Mets are 17-6 SU in its last 23 games when playing on the road against Washington
The total has gone OVER in 11 of NY Mets's last 14 games when playing on the road against Washington
Washington is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games when playing NY Mets
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Washington's last 6 games when playing NY Mets

TAMPA BAY vs. NY YANKEES
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Tampa Bay's last 11 games when playing NY Yankees
Tampa Bay is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
NY Yankees are 10-3 SU in their last 13 games at home
NY Yankees are 17-5 SU in their last 22 games

KANSAS CITY vs. TORONTO
Kansas City is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games
Kansas City is 1-10 SU in its last 11 games on the road
Toronto is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Kansas City
Toronto is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games when playing Kansas City

CHI CUBS vs. CINCINNATI
Chi Cubs are 2-4 SU in their last 6 games when playing Cincinnati
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Chi Cubs's last 9 games when playing Cincinnati
Cincinnati is 5-2 SU in their last 7 games when playing at home against Chi Cubs
Cincinnati is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games

SAN FRANCISCO vs. FLORIDA
San Francisco is 12-5 SU in its last 17 games when playing Florida
San Francisco is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games when playing on the road against Florida
Florida is 5-12 SU in its last 17 games when playing San Francisco
Florida is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home

TEXAS vs. BOSTON
Texas is 1-10 SU in its last 11 games when playing Boston
Texas is 15-8 SU in its last 23 games
Boston is 16-4 SU in its last 20 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Boston's last 7 games at home

MILWAUKEE vs. ATLANTA
Milwaukee is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Atlanta
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Milwaukee's last 5 games when playing on the road against Atlanta
Atlanta is 3-6-1 SU in its last 10 games
Atlanta is 4-1-1 SU in its last 6 games at home

PITTSBURGH vs. HOUSTON
Pittsburgh is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Houston
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Pittsburgh's last 7 games when playing Houston
Houston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Pittsburgh
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Houston's last 7 games when playing Pittsburgh

CLEVELAND vs. CHI WHITE SOX
Cleveland is 4-2 SU in their last 6 games when playing Chi White Sox
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Cleveland's last 6 games when playing Chi White Sox
Chi White Sox are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games at home
Chi White Sox are 8-2 SU in their last 10 games when playing at home against Cleveland

COLORADO vs. ST. LOUIS
Colorado is 7-15 SU in its last 22 games when playing St. Louis
Colorado is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
St. Louis is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games when playing at home against Colorado
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of St. Louis's last 7 games when playing at home against Colorado

ARIZONA vs. SAN DIEGO
Arizona is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Arizona's last 7 games on the road
San Diego is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Arizona
The total has gone OVER in 4 of San Diego's last 6 games when playing at home against Arizona

BALTIMORE vs. OAKLAND
Baltimore is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Baltimore's last 7 games
Oakland is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Baltimore
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Oakland's last 6 games when playing at home against Baltimore

MINNESOTA vs. SEATTLE
Minnesota is 2-11 SU in its last 13 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Minnesota's last 17 games on the road
Seattle is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Minnesota
The total has gone OVER in 14 of Seattle's last 19 games when playing Minnesota

PHILADELPHIA vs. LA DODGERS
Philadelphia is 3-6 SU in their last 9 games when playing on the road against LA Dodgers
Philadelphia is 10-3 SU in their last 13 games when playing LA Dodgers
LA Dodgers are 18-7 SU in their last 25 games at home
LA Dodgers are 15-7 SU in their last 22 games

 

[cisco]

MLB weekend cheat sheet
By Marc Lawrence

The MLB Cheat Sheet, a guide designed to help you isolate a few key best bets, we focus on two key series in both the American and National League this weekend. Keep in mind that all pitcher records are team starts unless noted otherwise.

Milwaukee Brewers at Atlanta Braves

Most Recent Series Result: Brewers 6-3 last nine games vs. Cubs

Most Recent Series Result: at the Site: Brewers 4-2 last six games away vs. Braves

Key Day/Month Stat: Braves 1-6 Sundays in June

Best Arm in the Series: Braves? Vazquez 5-1, 2.45 ERA last six home starts vs. Brewers

Worst Arm in the Series: Brewers? Suppan 1-3, 6.45 ERA away starts lifetime vs. Braves

Philadelphia Phillies at Los Angeles Dodgers

Most Recent Series Result: Phillies 9-3 last 13 games vs. Dodgers (1-2 this year)

Most Recent Series Result at the Site: Dodgers 6-2 last eight home games vs. Phillies

Key Day/Month Stat: Phillies 19-4 on Sundays (10-2 away)

Best Arm in the Series: Dodgers? Kuroda 2-0, 2.08 ERA home lifetime vs. Phillies

Worst Arm in the Series: Phillies? Moyer 0-3, 18.82 ERA last three starts vs. Dodgers

Tampa Bay Rays at New York Yankees

Most Recent Series Result: Yankees are 8-5 last thirteen games vs. Rays (2-3 this year)

Most Recent Series Result: at the Site: Yankees are 6-3 last nine home games vs. Rays (2-0 this year)

Key Day/Month Stat: Yankees are 15-3 home on Sundays; Rays are 5-14 away on Sundays

Best Arm in the Series: Rays? Sonnanstine 3-0, 2.53 ERA away lifetime vs. Yankees

Worst Arm in the Series: Rays? Garza 0-2, 7.50 ERA away lifetime vs. Yankees

Los Angeles Angels at Detroit Tigers

Most Recent Series Result: Angels are 11-4 last 15 games vs. Tigers (2-1 this year)

Most Recent Series Result at the Site: Angels are 3-1 last four away games vs. Tigers

Key Day/Month Stat: Tigers are 8-1 on Saturdays; Angels are 2-7 on Saturdays

Best Arm in the Series: Angels? Saunders 2-0, 2.64 ERA away lifetime vs. Tigers

Worst Arm in the Series: Tigers? Verlander 0-3, 4.34 ERA home lifetime vs. Angels

 

[cisco]

Friday's MLB Preview
By Josh Jacobs

There?s nothing fancy or complicated in this Friday?s baseball preview. We?re bringing you the cold hard facts in several matchups slated to take place.

Tampa Bay at N.Y. Yankees ? 7:05 p.m. EDT

The Rays were 35-24 at this time last season. Now a shell of itself from just a year ago, Tampa Bay will get the opportunity to build on its 3-2 series record versus the Yankees in ?09.

Back on May 6 and 7, the Rays cornered New York on the road as $1.54 and $1.57 underdogs. In Game 1, Tampa starter Andy Sonnanstine (4-5, 7.07 ERA) held the Pinstripes at bay, tossing 7.1 innings, giving up six hits and two runs on 99 pitches. But those performances have been few and far between as Sonnanstine has found himself coughing up five or more earned runs in five of 11 starts.

But the pitcher of interest in this matchup will be left-hander, David Price (1-0, 3.00). The Rays decided that the 23-year-old was ready for the big show again, thus recalling him from Durham on May 25. Since returning to the Majors, Price has begun to ease back into the rotation. It was last Saturday against Minnesota that the southpaw went 5.2 innings, sacrificing just one run off five hits. But 11 strikeouts in that outing is one reason why Tampa has such high hopes for the future.

Vegasinsider.com professional handicapper, Brian Edwards does advise to exercise caution before deciding to make a wager on the Rays in this spot. ?Bettors should keep in mind, that Joe Maddon has Price on a pitch count that he won?t stray from very often and certainly not at this early stage of the year,? he said. ?In other words, you have to consider Tampa Bay?s bullpen in all plays involving Price because there?s a good chance Maddon will be turning to the ?pen by the sixth inning in Price?s starts.?

Tampa has made some improvement in the pen as a 4.00 relief ERA ranks 11th in the league followed by a high ranking, .321 on base percentage allowed.

Offense has been the name of the game for New York. Specifically versus left-handers, the Yanks have kicked it into overdrive, battering the ball for a .310 BA and bringing in 83 RBIs. New York is now 4-0 in its last four games versus left-handed starters while a 5-1 record in the last six Game 1 appearances lends itself to more betting support.

Of course we can?t leave out C.C. Sabathia?s (5-3, 3.46) scheduled start in this one. The inning eating big man has thrown an average of 111.7 pitches his last six trips to the mound. A 4-0 record in his last five starts is exactly what the Yanks were hoping for when signing C.C. to the mega contract during the offseason.

Edwards said, ?I don?t think bettors want to lay the expensive straight price (-185ish) in this spot. If you?re thinking Yankees, I think you have to go the run-line route at around even-money (or for a small ?plus? payout).?

Maybe the most impressive part of this matchup is Sabathia?s unconscious 7-1 record accompanied by a 2.44 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP in 11 career starts versus the Rays.

Sportsbook.com has opened the board by placing New York as a $1.85 home favorite. A total of 10 runs has been listed. The total storm that began brewing in Yankee Stadium to begin the season has quieted down some. The ?under? is 4-1 in the Yankees? last five home games. Will it last for long?

Chicago Cubs at Cincinnati ? 7:10 p.m. EDT

The Reds need to make things happen down nine games in the Central. What better way to close out the week then to welcome division rival, Chicago into town? Bodog.com has opened this contest at -140 (bet $140 to make $100) in favor of the visiting Cubs.

Chicago has been on red alert when traveling these days. This is a club that?s dropped seven of its last eight road games. The offense has been putrid as a team, .234 BA away from home combined with a bullpen topping out at a 5.62 ERA is clear evidence. But could salvation be close as Ryan Dempster (4-3, 4.48) is slated to start in this one?

Dempster is coming off a solid, seven inning win against the Dodgers on Saturday (giving up just three hits in a shutout performance). But peering deeper into the stats reveals Dempster?s shortcomings. In-fact the two-time All-Star slinger has never claimed a victory at Great American Ballpark. In 23 games, 10 which have been starts, Dempster is 0-6 with a bloated, 6.53 ERA. Working for 7.9 strikeouts per nine innings is about the only hook that the Cubs? pitcher can hang his hat on.

Great American Ballpark has facilitated a 15-10 ?over? record on the season. A Park Factor of 1.192 (PF = ((homeRS + homeRA)/(homeG)) / ((roadRS + roadRA)/(roadG)) ) is basically telling us that the field closely resembles the action in a pinball game. As a reference point, Coors Field has a PF of 1.401 while the most pitcher friendly park in the MLB, PERTCO Park owns a PF of 0.727. Total betters; assume the position.

Despite being swept in Milwaukee, Cinci is 2-1 versus fellow rival, St. Louis (pending the outcome of Thursday?s contest). But why the 5-2 ?under? run in the last seven? It?s not too hard to conceive this fact based on a batting order struggling to locate the ball for a .239 BA while bringing in 4.2 runs per game. While Brandon Philips continues to have an on par year (batting .290 with 40 RBIs), missing Joey Votto to an ear infection has been a huge loss to the entire offensive production. Votto has been red hot, hitting for a .357 BA this year with 33 RBIs.

The Reds? starter Micah Owings (3-6, 5.10) has been disappointing to say the least. Catching criticism about being a better hitter then pitcher, Owings has been annihilated for 13 runs in the last three outings. An 0-3 record in his last four starts just adds insult to injury here. Where Owings has fallen flat on his face has been right-handed bats tagging on a .364 BA. In his 10 games this year, the righty has been installed as an underdog seven times.

The ?over?s is 7-2 in Owning?s last nine starts.

Extra Innings

Veteran lefty Jamie Moyer (4-5, 6.75) and the Phillies has been listed as $1.20 visiting underdogs. Now that the 250-win mark is in the books, Moyer can continue being scrutinized because of a 1-4 slump in his last five starts. The southpaw has been touched for a .339 BAA, a .356 BAA on the road and has coughed up at least one long ball in nine of his last 10 games. In six of his last starts, opponents have teed off with nine long balls.

Opposite side of the field will have Eric Milton (2.0, 3.14) taking the ball for the Dodgers. In just three starts, Milton has crushed fellow southpaw bats for a .077 BAA. But orthodox bats (right-handers) have been a nightmare as a .326 BAA is indicative of.

L.A.?s starting pitcher, Milton is going to have to combat a Phillies club that?s pulled off six straight wins (five as the favorite), is in the midst of using momentum from a 15-4 record in the last 19 and is playing stiff defense as an 11-3-1 ?under? performance in the last 15 demonstrates.

In their last 12 head-to-head meetings, Philadelphia is 9-3 versus going 2-6 in the last eight trips to Los Angeles.

Gametime is set to begin at 10:10 p.m. EDT.

**********

 

[cisco]

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Philadelphia (32-20) at L.A. Dodgers (37-19)

The World Series champion Phillies go for their seventh straight victory when they trot out veteran left-hander Jamie Moyer (4-5, 6.75 ERA), who opposes fellow lefty Eric Milton (2-0, 3.14) as this four-game series continues at Dodger Stadium.

Behind a dominating complete-game effort from Cole Hamels, Philadelphia took Thursday?s series opener 4-0 for its sixth consecutive victory overall (fourth straight on the road). The Phillies lead the major leagues with a 20-6 road record, and they?re are on additional upswings of 56-26 overall, 37-15 on the highway, 17-6 against the N.L. West, 37-16 versus winning teams and 40-19 against left-handers.

The Dodgers are just 3-4 in their last seven games and have been held to two runs or fewer in six of their last eight contests. Despite the recent slump, Los Angeles is still on upticks of 35-17 overall, 40-15 at Dodger Stadium, 21-9 versus southpaw starters, 18-6 against lefties at home, 4-1 against the N.L. East and 8-4 versus winning teams. Also, the Dodgers? 20-7 home record is the best in the majors, as is their 37-19 overall mark.

These teams have split their four meetings this season, three of which came in Philly, and the Phillies are 10-3 in the last 13 head-to-head battles (playoffs included). However, Philadelphia is still just 3-6 in its last nine games in Hollywood.

Moyer snapped a four-game losing streak and finally picked up his 250th career victory on Sunday against Washington, scattering a run on three hits with no walks and four strikeouts over six innings en route to the 4-2 home triumph. Moyer has a 4.00 ERA over his past three starts after posting a hefty 13.87 ERA in his previous three outings, including a 9-2 home loss to the Dodgers.

Moyer is 2-2 with a 6.64 ERA in four road starts this season. Also, including last month?s 9-2 loss to the Dodgers and a 7-2 setback in Los Angeles in last year?s NLCS, the 46-year-old lefty has faced the Dodgers three times since being traded to Philadelphia in 2007, giving up 23 runs (all earned) in 11 innings (18.82 ERA).

Milton, who hadn?t picked up a victory in the big leagues since May 2007, has earned consecutive wins in his last two outings, beating the Rockies 7-1 and the Cubs 8-2, both on the road. He gave up a combined three runs in 10 1/3 innings in those two contests, walking one and striking out seven.

Tonight marks Milton?s first appearance of the season at Dodger Stadium, but in two previous career starts there, he?s 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA. The former Phillie is 1-2 with a 5.56 ERA in four career starts against his ex-mates.

Philadelphia has won five straight Friday contests behind Moyer, but they?re 4-9 in his last 13 starts against the N.L. West.

Furthermore, the under for Philly is on streaks of 10-2-1 overall, 5-1-1 on the road and 6-0 against left-handers, but the over is 10-5-2 in the Phillies? last 17 against the N.L. West, 8-2-1 in their last 11 on Friday and 4-1 in Moyer?s last five road outings. For the Dodgers, the ?under? is on runs of 6-2 overall and 5-1-1 on Friday. Finally, even though last night?s game stayed well under the total, the over is still 10-3-2 in the last 15 series meetings in Los Angeles.

ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER


AMERICAN LEAGUE

Texas (31-21) at Boston (31-22)

The Red Sox return to Fenway Park after a three-city, 10-game road trip, and they?ll turn to Brad Penny (5-1, 5.63) in this series opener against the first-place Rangers and Kevin Millwood (4-4, 3.23).

Boston opened its road swing by losing four of the first six games against the Twins and Blue Jays, but rebounded to win the next four in a row, including a three-game sweep of the Tigers that concluded with Thursday?s 6-3 victory. In addition to their current four-game win streak, the Red Sox are on runs of 81-35 at home, 27-11 when playing on grass, 23-9 in series openers, 52-22 versus right-handed starters and 17-6 against teams with a winning record.

Texas heads north after blowing a 5-1 lead at New York on Thursday and falling 8-6. The Rangers have followed up a three-game win streak by losing three of their last four. Still, they remain on impressive runs of 21-11 overall, 13-7 against right-handed starters, 5-0 on Friday and 10-4 in series openers.

The Red Sox dominated Texas last year, winning nine of 10 head-to-head meetings, and they?ve won eight straight against the Rangers at Fenway Park. Going back further, Boston is 25-9 in the last 34 overall against Texas and 34-9 in the last 43 clashes at Fenway.

Millwood has seven quality starts in his 11 trips to the mound this season, and he gave up two runs on five hits in six innings on Sunday against Oakland, but got a no-decision as the Rangers fell 5-4 at home. Texas has alternated wins and losses in Millwood?s last six outings, but it is 7-23 in Millwood?s last 30 road starts, 4-9 in his last 13 starts against winning teams and 1-4 in his last five on Friday.

On the highway this season, Millwood is 1-3 with a 3.96 ERA in five starts. The veteran right-hander is also 1-4 with a 4-4 with a 4.46 ERA in 12 career starts against the Red Sox (3-1, 3.38 ERA in seven starts at Fenway).

Penny has given up three earned runs or fewer in five of his last six outings, including Saturday at Toronto as he yielded three runs (two earned) on 10 hits in six innings, getting a no-decision in Boston?s 5-3 loss. Penny, who hasn?t completed seven innings in any of his 10 starts this year, has a beefy 6.14 ERA in four starts at Fenway Park, but he?s 3-0 and the Sox won all four games.

Penny?s experience against Texas is limited to two interleague starts in 2003 and 2004 with the Marlins, and he went 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA.

With Millwood pitching, the Rangers are on a plethora of ?under? runs, including 16-5-2 overall, 4-1-1 on the road, 4-0 against A.L. East squads and 15-3-2 when pitching on grass. Conversely, the over is 6-3-1 in Penny?s 10 starts this year (3-0-1 at home).

Texas carries ?under? trends of 12-5-1 overall, 9-3-1 on the road, 10-4-1 versus righty starters and 5-2 on Fridays. Similarly, the Red Sox have stayed low in seven of their last nine overall and five of seven at home, and the under is also 4-0-2 in their last six on Friday and 11-4-1 in their last 16 home games following a road trip of seven or more days. On the flip side, four of the last five Rangers-Red Sox clashes at Fenway have topped the total.

ATS ADVANTAGE: BOSTON and UNDER

 

[cisco]

Friday's streaking and slumping starting pitcher
*********

Streaking

Justin Verlander (Detroit Tigers)

When the Angels pounded Justin Verlander for seven runs in five innings earlier this season, the right-hander was searching for answers on the heels of a 17-loss season and a dismal start to 2009.

This time around, the Angels will be facing a pitcher who's performing like the emerging ace he was prior to last year.

Verlander tries to win his seventh straight decision and stop a three-game Detroit losing streak as the Tigers take on the Angels at Comerica Park on Friday night.

Verlander struggled to an 11-17 mark and 4.84 ERA in 2008, and didn't pitch any better early this season. His ERA swelled to 9.00 on April 22, when Detroit beat Los Angeles 12-10 but Verlander allowed the seven runs and nine hits in five innings.

Since then, Verlander (6-2, 3.63 ERA) is 6-0 with a 1.30 ERA in seven starts, striking out 65 in 48 1-3 innings.

He's been so good that his six-inning, three-run performance Saturday at Baltimore was probably his worst outing over that span. He still earned the win in Detroit's 6-3 victory.

"Not the way I would have drawn it up," Verlander said. "It wasn't easy for me out there tonight, but my guys picked me up."

Verlander has yet to have it easy when facing the Angels, as he's 0-2 with a 6.08 ERA in four career starts against them.

C.C. Sabathia (New York Yankees)

Sabathia seeks to win his fifth straight decision.

Sabathia improved to 4-0 with a 2.08 ERA in his last five starts Saturday in his return to Cleveland, where he struck out eight and gave up three runs over seven innings in a 10-5 win over the Indians.

"It starts with pitching," Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez said. "CC had phenomenal stuff. His velocity was up to 98 (mph) with a good changeup."

Carl Pavano (Cleveland Indians)

The White Sox will try to get their bats going against Pavano (5-4, 5.29 ERA), who picked up the win over them on May 11 in a 9-4 victory. Making his first appearance against Chicago since June 16, 2004, Pavano allowed four runs and 10 hits.

Pavano went 5-1 with a 3.60 ERA in seven May starts after going 0-3 with a 9.50 ERA in April.

The right-hander nearly became the first Cleveland pitcher to win six games in a month since Chuck Finley in September 2000. Pavano left Sunday's 5-4 win over the New York Yankees with a 4-2 lead, but the bullpen could not hold the lead after he had yielded three runs and seven hits over 7 1-3 innings.

"I left some balls up and got away with some pitches, but the defense did a great job behind me," Pavano told the Indians' official Web site.

Cleveland (23-33) has won six of Pavano's last seven starts.

Slumping

Tim Redding (New York Mets)

The Mets' Tim Redding (0-2, 9.20 ERA) will face his former team after two poor starts. The right-hander has surrendered 13 runs and 16 hits in 8 2-3 total innings.

He was pulled before getting an out in the fifth inning Saturday after giving up seven runs and eight hits in a 7-3 loss to Florida.

"Even as professionals, there are days when you go out there and you are a little intimidated, because you know you don't have your quality stuff," Redding said. "You're pitching scared in a way, just trying to do the best you can."

Redding went 13-17 with a 4.53 ERA in 48 starts over the last two seasons with Washington.

Francisco Liriano (Minnesota Twins)

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire is still trying to figure out if left-hander Francisco Liriano should keep his spot in the Twins' rotation. Liriano (2-7, 6.60) has lasted just four innings in each of his last three starts - all losses. Since getting the win May 9 in a 9-6 victory over Seattle, Liriano is 0-3 with an 8.50 ERA in four starts.

"I'm definitely not ready to send (Liriano) to the minor leagues and I'm not ready to send him to the bullpen right now," Gardenhire said Sunday. "If that ends up being an option, who knows, but I'd really like to see him go back out there and we will see him go back out there the next time."

Ervin Santana (Los Angeles Angels)

Angels right-hander Ervin Santana (0-2, 9.50) started the season on the disabled list with an elbow problem, and after pitching well in his first two starts, has been ineffective in his last two.

In those outings, he's posted a 21.32 ERA as opponents have hit .528 against him.

"I'm just coming back from an injury," Santana told the Angels' official Web site. "I'm throwing 88, 90 (miles per hour). Last year, I was 95 to 97, 98 sometimes - a lot of difference."

Santana has a good history versus Detroit, winning all three of his starts against the Tigers last year with a 2.38 ERA.

 

[cisco]

Hot lines: Today?s best MLB bets

New York Mets at Washington Nationals (-123, 10)

What a week the Mets are having.

On top of numerous injuries, a rough start to a six-game road trip and a swine flu scare, New York?s bats have lost the love that powered the club to the top of the National League East.

Heading into Thursday?s series finale with the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Mets have averaged under three runs in their last five games. Hopefully, Wednesday?s rainout washed away those hitting woes. If not, a trip to the nation?s capital might do the trick.

New York opens a three-game set with the Washington Nationals Friday. The Nats are the worst defensive club in baseball and are allowing nearly six earned runs per game. While the pitching and fielding is beyond bad, Washington?s bats are giving the team a pulse.

Heading into Thursday?s double header with the San Francisco Giants, the Nationals are hitting a major league-best .378 BA to begin June. They exploded for 10 runs in series opener, getting just their second win in the past 10 games.

The Mets expect slugger Carlos Beltran to return either Thursday or Friday after fighting a stomach flu. The outfielder, who leads the team in home runs, batting average and RBI, lost five pounds while battling the illness.

"I didn't have any fever," Beltran told the New York Daily News. "I didn't have any headache. I just had a pain in my stomach and was going to the bathroom every 10 minutes."

Gross.

Pick: Over


Minnesota Twins at Seattle Mariners (-144, 7.5)

After serving up 16 earned runs in his last 12 innings of work, lefty Francisco Liriano?s spot in the Twins rotation is in peril.

Liriano hasn?t gone past the fourth inning in his last three starts, most recently a seven-hit, four-run disaster against the Tampa Bay Rays. Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire told reporters he isn?t giving up hope on the southpaw, despite his American League-high seven losses.

"Let the catcher put down a signal and go with it. Let's see what happens," Gardenhire told the Detroit Free Press. When you got a catcher like Joe Mauer that knows what's going on, trust him."

Even the mighty Joe Mauer may not be able to remedy the struggling Liriano. The pitcher has given up runs in bunches and can?t regroup after being knocked around. Since undergoing elbow surgery, his fastball has lost some pep and his once-dominant slider isn?t fooling batters, who have bashed the pitcher?s revamped arm for seven home runs in his last eight starts.

"It's not the same," Liriano told reporters. "Now I just throw like 92. I need to find a way to pitch like that, not throwing 95 or 96. Sometimes I make good pitches.

"I haven't got the rhythm, you know? Doing it over and over again. I need to get more consistent."

Minnesota?s performances on the road won?t help either. The Twins are a dismal 6-16 away from the Metrodome. They?re hitting .263 BA and putting up an average of just over four runs per road contest this season.

Pick: Seattle -144