Tuesday Tips
Winding down the month of August, plenty of teams are playing for postseason positioning, while others are trying to play out the string. A handful of matchups on the Tuesday card provide solid pitching duels, including a key showdown in the Bronx.
Rangers at Yankees (7:05 PM EST)
The Rangers avoided a sweep on Sunday by shutting out Tampa Bay, 4-0. Texas heads north for a crucial series with the Yankees, as the Rangers sit one game behind the Red Sox inside the AL Wild Card race entering Monday's action. New York helped out Texas' cause by taking two of three from Boston this past weekend at Fenway Park.
Joba Chamberlain (8-3, 3.98 ERA) is coming off three unimpressive starts, allowing 12 earned runs in his last 16 innings of work. Chamberlain was knocked around by the Mariners his last time out, tossing only five innings in a 10-3 loss. The Bombers are 11-2 in Chamberlain's 13 home starts, while hitting the 'over' nine times at Yankee Stadium. Chamberlain was on the losing side of a 7-3 setback in Arlington three months ago, allowing four hits and three earned runs in four innings of work.
Kevin Millwood (9-8, 3.48 ERA) beat Chamberlain and the Yankees on May 25, lasting 5.2 innings, while giving up nine hits and three earned runs. The Rangers righty hasn't won in his last four starts, coming off consecutive home defeats to the Twins and Red Sox. The Boston meltdown had little to do with Millwood's performance, as the Rangers' bullpen gave up a ninth-inning lead in an 8-4 loss. The 'under' has been drilled in eight of Millwood's eleven road outings this season, while the Rangers are just 3-8 in his away starts.
The Yankees have taken four of six meetings with the Rangers this season, but Tuesday's posted total of 9 ? is the lowest seen in their seven matchups.
Sportsbook.com has opened the Yanks up as a $1.85 home favorite.
Astros at Cardinals (8:15 PM EST)
Two of the more unheralded pitchers in the National League take the mound in St. Louis, as the Astros and Cardinals begin a three-game set. The Redbirds return home following a 5-2 road trip at Los Angeles and San Diego. Houston had its four-game winning streak snapped on Sunday to Arizona, 7-5. That game finished 'over' the posted total of 8 ?, which ended a five-game 'under' streak for the Astros.
Adam Wainwright (14-7, 2.61 ERA) has owned the Astros in his career, with St. Louis taking seven of the last eight meetings when the righty has taken the mound. The only smudge to that record was a 2-0 loss to Houston earlier this month, despite pitching seven strong innings. Interestingly, Wainwright possesses a losing record at Busch Stadium this season (5-6), even though his home ERA is 2.02. Wainwright has tossed 11 consecutive quality starts, and if it wasn't for teammate Chris Carpenter, Wainwright would be an ace on plenty of other staffs around the league.
Wandy Rodriguez (12-7, 2.89 ERA) is coming off a dynamic start against the Marlins, a 4-1 victory. Rodriguez outdueled Florida ace Josh Johnson, allowing four hits and one run in eight innings of work. In Rodriguez's last three starts at Busch Stadium, the Astros have tallied a grand total of two runs, all Houston losses. However, the Astros lefty exited his last outing at St. Louis after four innings with a hamstring strain.
These two teams have been great 'under' plays when they get together. The 'under' has hit in seven of nine meetings this season, including all three in Houston in early August.
The Cardinals are a $1.70 home 'chalk,' while the total is set at 7 (Bet $1.20 to win $1.00 on the 'over') at Sportsbook.com.
Dodgers at Rockies (8:40 PM EST)
The National League West race isn't done just yet. Los Angeles, despite taking three of four from Chicago over the weekend, sits 3 games ahead of Wild Card-leading Colorado in the division, after the Rockies rallied past the Giants last night, 6-4.
The Rockies will not have the fortune of sending out its top two pitchers against the Dodgers, as Ubaldo Jimenez took the mound Sunday and Jason Marquis went Monday against San Francisco. Jason Hammel (8-8, 4.60) has turned into a quality pickup by the Rockies. Hammel may not be a top-of-the-rotation type of pitcher, but he is capable of providing six or seven innings in any given start. The righty has struggled at Coors Field, going 2-3, with an ERA of 7.02, but Colorado is 7-3 in Hammel's ten home starts. Hammel lost a tough 1-0 decision to the Dodgers back on July 1, allowing only five hits and one run in eight innings.
Clayton Kershaw (8-7, 2.96 ERA) has run into a string of bad luck over the month, as the Dodgers are 0-6 in the lefty's last six starts. The southpaw has lasted five innings or less in three of his last four trips to the hill, including a 3-2 defeat to the Cardinals last Wednesday. Kershaw tossed five scoreless innings against the Rockies in that July 1 win over Hammel, but received a no-decision.
Sportsbook.com has listed the Dodgers as a $1.25 road favorite, with the total set at 9 (Bet $1.15 to win $1.00 on the 'over').
Winding down the month of August, plenty of teams are playing for postseason positioning, while others are trying to play out the string. A handful of matchups on the Tuesday card provide solid pitching duels, including a key showdown in the Bronx.
Rangers at Yankees (7:05 PM EST)
The Rangers avoided a sweep on Sunday by shutting out Tampa Bay, 4-0. Texas heads north for a crucial series with the Yankees, as the Rangers sit one game behind the Red Sox inside the AL Wild Card race entering Monday's action. New York helped out Texas' cause by taking two of three from Boston this past weekend at Fenway Park.
Joba Chamberlain (8-3, 3.98 ERA) is coming off three unimpressive starts, allowing 12 earned runs in his last 16 innings of work. Chamberlain was knocked around by the Mariners his last time out, tossing only five innings in a 10-3 loss. The Bombers are 11-2 in Chamberlain's 13 home starts, while hitting the 'over' nine times at Yankee Stadium. Chamberlain was on the losing side of a 7-3 setback in Arlington three months ago, allowing four hits and three earned runs in four innings of work.
Kevin Millwood (9-8, 3.48 ERA) beat Chamberlain and the Yankees on May 25, lasting 5.2 innings, while giving up nine hits and three earned runs. The Rangers righty hasn't won in his last four starts, coming off consecutive home defeats to the Twins and Red Sox. The Boston meltdown had little to do with Millwood's performance, as the Rangers' bullpen gave up a ninth-inning lead in an 8-4 loss. The 'under' has been drilled in eight of Millwood's eleven road outings this season, while the Rangers are just 3-8 in his away starts.
The Yankees have taken four of six meetings with the Rangers this season, but Tuesday's posted total of 9 ? is the lowest seen in their seven matchups.
Sportsbook.com has opened the Yanks up as a $1.85 home favorite.
Astros at Cardinals (8:15 PM EST)
Two of the more unheralded pitchers in the National League take the mound in St. Louis, as the Astros and Cardinals begin a three-game set. The Redbirds return home following a 5-2 road trip at Los Angeles and San Diego. Houston had its four-game winning streak snapped on Sunday to Arizona, 7-5. That game finished 'over' the posted total of 8 ?, which ended a five-game 'under' streak for the Astros.
Adam Wainwright (14-7, 2.61 ERA) has owned the Astros in his career, with St. Louis taking seven of the last eight meetings when the righty has taken the mound. The only smudge to that record was a 2-0 loss to Houston earlier this month, despite pitching seven strong innings. Interestingly, Wainwright possesses a losing record at Busch Stadium this season (5-6), even though his home ERA is 2.02. Wainwright has tossed 11 consecutive quality starts, and if it wasn't for teammate Chris Carpenter, Wainwright would be an ace on plenty of other staffs around the league.
Wandy Rodriguez (12-7, 2.89 ERA) is coming off a dynamic start against the Marlins, a 4-1 victory. Rodriguez outdueled Florida ace Josh Johnson, allowing four hits and one run in eight innings of work. In Rodriguez's last three starts at Busch Stadium, the Astros have tallied a grand total of two runs, all Houston losses. However, the Astros lefty exited his last outing at St. Louis after four innings with a hamstring strain.
These two teams have been great 'under' plays when they get together. The 'under' has hit in seven of nine meetings this season, including all three in Houston in early August.
The Cardinals are a $1.70 home 'chalk,' while the total is set at 7 (Bet $1.20 to win $1.00 on the 'over') at Sportsbook.com.
Dodgers at Rockies (8:40 PM EST)
The National League West race isn't done just yet. Los Angeles, despite taking three of four from Chicago over the weekend, sits 3 games ahead of Wild Card-leading Colorado in the division, after the Rockies rallied past the Giants last night, 6-4.
The Rockies will not have the fortune of sending out its top two pitchers against the Dodgers, as Ubaldo Jimenez took the mound Sunday and Jason Marquis went Monday against San Francisco. Jason Hammel (8-8, 4.60) has turned into a quality pickup by the Rockies. Hammel may not be a top-of-the-rotation type of pitcher, but he is capable of providing six or seven innings in any given start. The righty has struggled at Coors Field, going 2-3, with an ERA of 7.02, but Colorado is 7-3 in Hammel's ten home starts. Hammel lost a tough 1-0 decision to the Dodgers back on July 1, allowing only five hits and one run in eight innings.
Clayton Kershaw (8-7, 2.96 ERA) has run into a string of bad luck over the month, as the Dodgers are 0-6 in the lefty's last six starts. The southpaw has lasted five innings or less in three of his last four trips to the hill, including a 3-2 defeat to the Cardinals last Wednesday. Kershaw tossed five scoreless innings against the Rockies in that July 1 win over Hammel, but received a no-decision.
Sportsbook.com has listed the Dodgers as a $1.25 road favorite, with the total set at 9 (Bet $1.15 to win $1.00 on the 'over').
