Trend sheet 8/2

[cisco]

Trend Report

1:05 PM
DETROIT vs. CLEVELAND
Detroit is 2-8 SU in its last 10 games on the road
Detroit is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
Cleveland is 2-8 SU in its last 10 games when playing Detroit
Cleveland is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Detroit

1:10 PM
ARIZONA vs. NY METS
Arizona is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Arizona is 8-17 SU in its last 25 games when playing NY Mets
NY Mets are 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Arizona
NY Mets are 17-8 SU in its last 25 games when playing Arizona

1:10 PM
COLORADO vs. CINCINNATI
Colorado is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Cincinnati
Colorado is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games when playing Cincinnati
Cincinnati is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games at home
Cincinnati is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games

1:35 PM
BOSTON vs. BALTIMORE
Boston is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
Boston is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games on the road
Baltimore is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Boston
Baltimore is 2-13 SU in its last 15 games when playing Boston

1:35 PM
WASHINGTON vs. PITTSBURGH
Washington is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Pittsburgh
Washington is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games when playing Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games
Pittsburgh is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home

1:38 PM
KANSAS CITY vs. TAMPA BAY
Kansas City is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Tampa Bay
Kansas City is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay is 17-5 SU in its last 22 games at home
Tampa Bay is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Kansas City

2:05 PM
NY YANKEES vs. CHI WHITE SOX
NY Yankees are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games on the road
NY Yankees are 11-5 SU in their last 16 games
Chi White Sox are 4-2 SU in their last 6 games when playing NY Yankees
Chi White Sox are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games when playing at home against NY Yankees

2:10 PM
LA ANGELS vs. MINNESOTA
LA Angels are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games when playing Minnesota
LA Angels are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games on the road
Minnesota is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
Minnesota is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home

2:15 PM
HOUSTON vs. ST. LOUIS
Houston is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against St. Louis
Houston is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games on the road
St. Louis is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
St. Louis is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home

4:05 PM
MILWAUKEE vs. SAN DIEGO
Milwaukee is 2-8 SU in its last 10 games when playing on the road against San Diego
Milwaukee is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games
San Diego is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing Milwaukee
San Diego is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games

4:05 PM
PHILADELPHIA vs. SAN FRANCISCO
Philadelphia is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing San Francisco
Philadelphia is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against San Francisco
San Francisco is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Philadelphia
San Francisco is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games

4:05 PM
TORONTO vs. OAKLAND
Toronto is 11-3 SU in its last 14 games when playing Oakland
Toronto is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Oakland
Oakland is 3-11 SU in its last 14 games when playing Toronto
Oakland is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Toronto

5:05 PM
CHI CUBS vs. FLORIDA
Chi Cubs are 8-2 SU in their last 10 games
Chi Cubs are 7-3 SU in their last 10 games on the road
Florida is 8-3 SU in their last 11 games when playing at home against Chi Cubs
Florida is 15-8 SU in their last 23 games when playing Chi Cubs

8:05 PM
LA DODGERS vs. ATLANTA
LA Dodgers are 1-5 SU in their last 6 games when playing on the road against Atlanta
LA Dodgers are 3-7 SU in their last 10 games when playing Atlanta
Atlanta is 11-3 SU in its last 14 games at home
Atlanta is 7-3 SU in their last 10 games when playing LA Dodgers

8:05 PM
SEATTLE vs. TEXAS
Seattle is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games on the road
Seattle is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games
Texas is 11-5 SU in its last 16 games when playing Seattle
Texas is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against Seattle

 

[cisco]

Today?s best MLB bets

Detroit Tigers at Cleveland Indians (+104, 9.5)

The Tigers must get excited when they see Cleveland on their schedule. Entering the weekend, Detroit had taken seven of 10 from the Tribe. Detroit leads the AL Central, but the club needs a chance to get back on track after dropping four of five.

The Tigers tout a streaky lineup, but it has been their pitching that has failed them the past few games. Detroit hurlers have given up an average of almost six runs a night.

But Cleveland is no fan of Detroit pitching. The Indians have scored three or fewer runs against the Tigers six times this season, including two shutouts.

Detroit?s bats should do just enough to help their pitchers get back in the winning swing.

Pick: Tigers


Los Angeles Angels at Minnesota Twins (+114, 10)

When these two teams meet, runs are guaranteed to be scored.

Seven of the team?s eight meetings have easily passed the total this year, with the two teams combining to average 11 runs per game. This offensive production is typical of the Angels, who lead the majors in batting average (.288) and are second in runs scored (566). But it may shock some to find out the Twins also swing a pretty big stick.

Minnesota is ninth in the majors in batting average (.266) and runs scored (501) and has a 29-23 over/under mark in the Metrodome.

The Angels are one of the best plays to beat the total this year, posting an over/under mark of 60-37-4 overall and 28-19-2 on the road.

Pick: Over

 

[cisco]

Streaking and Slumping Pitchers

Streaking

Jon Garland (Arizona Diamondbacks)

Garland?s record doesn?t show it, but he is becoming one of the most consistent pitchers in the National League.

The right-hander is 5-10 with a 4.42 ERA, numbers that won?t set the world on fire. But, he has turned in a quality start in five of his past six outings. His ability to eat up innings and hold opponents to three or fewer earned runs on a consistent basis gives his club a great chance to win every night.

In his most recent outing, he was his typical self, giving up just three earned runs over six innings while striking out two against the Phillies.

?I think over my last six or seven, I've gone out and given my team a pretty darn good chance to win the ball games," Garland told the Associated Press. "That's my job.?

Cole Hamels (Philadelphia Phillies)

The 25-year-old lefty is finally starting to look like the postseason star we saw last October.

Hamels (7-5, 4.42 ERA) has won three straight decisions and the Phillies have won his past five starts overall. In his previous three outings, he has allowed a combined five earned runs over 20 innings.

In his most recent start, a 4-3 win over Arizona, he yielded only one run on four hits over eight innings with nine strikeouts and no walks.

With an impressive 105:21 strikeout-to-walk ratio, look for his resurgence to continue.

"Hamels is getting there," Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel said. "He's real close. I'm looking for him to throw shutouts and no-hitters."


Slumping

Jered Weaver (Los Angeles Angels)

Not many people are happier to see July end than this young right-hander.

Weaver (10-3, 3.71 ERA) finished the month with a brutal 6.38 ERA. He allowed no fewer than three runs in each of his starts during the month and never lasted past the seventh inning.

In each of his past three starts, Weaver allowed at least four runs and lasted an average of just over five innings. Weaver?s most recent outing saw him give up four runs on eight hits over five innings, including two walks and two home runs.

Carlos Villanueva (Milwaukee Brewers)

Milwaukee?s pitching situation has gotten so bad, that even a bad reliever seems like a good option.

With injuries to starting pitchers Jeff Suppan and Dave Bush, the struggling Villanueva was called on to make his first start of the year last week against the Nationals. And it wasn?t pretty.

He was tagged for five runs on eight hits in just four innings, including a pair of homers. Villanueva (2-8, 6.61 ERA) was just as bad in his previous two stints out of the bullpen, giving up a run in each of those appearances.

 

[cisco]

Sunday Night Baseball: Dodgers at Braves

Sunday Night Baseball: Los Angeles Dodgers at Atlanta Braves

A hot August night in Atlanta sets the scene for the ESPN Sunday night showdown between the Braves and the Dodgers at Turner Field.

Dodger All-Star Chad Billingsley (10-6 3.96 ERA) matches serve with Jair Jurrjens (9-7 2.69 ERA) in a battle of promising right-handers.

Second-half track

Coasting along with the biggest lead at the All-Star break, the Dodgers headed into Atlanta at 7-7 post-break, including 1-3 away from Chavez Ravine.

Meanwhile, the Braves? 9-5 mark since the break, including 6-2 at home, has put them back in the in the National East chase, trailing the second place Florida Marlins by two games.

Leading the surge has been outfielder Garret Anderson. Heading into the series opener on Friday, Anderson was riding an MLB-best .465 batting average in 12 games since the All-Star break, including four home runs and eight RBIs.

Black-and-blue

Be sure to check out the status of outfielder Ryan Church, shortstop Yunel Escobar and second baseman Martin Prado. All three players were on the pine nursing injuries prior to the start of this series.

Church was scratched in favor of Matt Diaz. Diaz has been good against the Marlins historically, and Church is still experiencing some soreness in his hyper extended right elbow. He was not available to pinch-hit.

Escobar (sore right wrist) left Thursday?s game in Florida.

Prado took a Matt Diaz line drive off his left ankle during batting practice Thursday. He was not available off the bench because of swelling.

"He makes the lineup go,? said manager Bobby Cox on Prado, who has sparked the Braves' offense since becoming the starting second baseman and batting second in the order.

Missing pieces

Both teams made moves to bolster their roster before the non-waiver trade deadline.

L.A. acquired former All-Star closer George Sherrill from Baltimore on Thursday. Sherrill is most welcome considering the Dodgers bullpen had pitched a staggering 354 innings this season prior to the start of this series. The key is that Sherrill has pitched just 41 1-3 innings, far fewer than any of the relievers who have been in the Dodgers? bullpen continuously since opening day.

However, the move didn?t please shortstop Rafael Furcal. He was hoping the Dodgers would add a main arm to the starting staff.

"Right now, this team is special, very special. It reminds me of some of those really good teams I played for in Atlanta,? Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal told reporters.

Meanwhile the Braves sent Casey Kotchman to the Red Sox for Andy LaRoche in a swap of first basemen.

LaRoche, who previously played for the Braves from 2004-06, has hit at least 20 homers each of the past four seasons, while Kotchman hit a total of eight in the 130 games he played for the Braves.

The arms have it

Jurrjens allowed two runs on seven hits, walked one and had five strikeouts Tuesday night against the Marlins in Florida. He settled for a no decision. Jurrjens, who could easily be 13-3 on the season with a little better run support, is 3-0 with a 0.44 ERA his last three home starts

Billingsley had a one-hitter through five innings before coming apart in a 10-6 loss at St. Louis on Tuesday. The game was delayed for nearly an hour and a half because of a threat of heavy rain that never came.

Billingsley was tagged for four hits, six runs and six walks in 5 2-3 innings. The All-Star has struggled of late on the road where he is 2-3 with a 6.37 ERA his last five road starts.

Courageous call

While the Dodgers have won six games in a row away from home on Sundays, they had dropped six of their previous seven games at Turner Field prior to the start of this series.

It?s hard to overlook a pitcher who has been perfect in his MLB career against tonight?s opponent (Jurrjens, 2-0 1.38 ERA) versus another that is winless lifetime (Billingsley, 0-2 7.86 ERA) against Atlanta. Be brave and back Atlanta.