Tuesday's Tip Sheet
As we enter Round 3 of Interleague Play, the matchups are becoming more intriguing by the day. Plenty of fresh storylines appear with the first battle of the Windy City between the White Sox and Cubs, while the two Texas teams get together in Arlington. There's also potential to see the highest favorite on the board all season when the Yankees host the woeful Nationals. Four matchups catch our eye in the Tuesday Interleague edition of Tip Sheet.
Marlins at Red Sox - 7:10 PM EDT
Two of the top Interleague teams of all-time get together at Fenway Park, as the Marlins try to continue their current hot streak. Florida swept through Toronto this past weekend, outscoring the Jays, 24-11. The Marlins avoid Red Sox ace and ex-Fish righty Josh Beckett in this series, after facing the likes of former Cy Young winners Roy Halladay, Tim Lincecum, Chris Carpenter, Randy Johnson, and Barry Zito over the last ten days. Florida takes its 114-93 (55%) lifetime Interleague record into Beantown, facing right-hander Tim Wakefield. The veteran knuckleballer has been money as a home favorite in Interleague play, as the Red Sox have won seven of Wakefield's last nine starts in this situation, dating back to 2006.
Marlins sophomore righty Chris Volstad has been a profitable play on the road, with Florida winning nine of Volstad's 12 career road outings. The 'under' has hit a consistent rate in Volstad's road ventures, going 'under' the total in nine of twelve games, as nine opponents have scored three runs or less in this span. Despite a 3-3 Interleague record this season, the Sox are 119-98 (54.8%) lifetime against the National League, while sporting a 39-13 mark at home in Interleague since 2004. The Red Sox have taken ten of the last 15 meetings against the Marlins since 1999, including a 6-3 mark at Fenway.
According to Sportsbook.com, Boston is a $1.75 home 'chalk,' with the total set at 9.5.
Blue Jays at Phillies - 7:10 PM EDT
Philadelphia avoided a sweep by Boston with an 11-6 victory on Sunday, as the Phillies battle a struggling Blue Jays team at Citizens Bank Park. 1993 World Series this certainly is not, as the Phillies will try to improve on their 13-16 home record. Toronto has been horrible on the road recently, winning just two of their past 12 away from the Rogers Centre, despite taking two of three in their last road series at Texas. The Jays will not have the luxury of the aforementioned Halladay in this series, after he pitched and got hurt Friday night. Toronto sends out southpaw Ricky Romero, who brings in a 3-3 mark, with an ERA of 3.71. The road has not been kind to Romero, as the Jays lefty is 0-2 in three road starts, with Toronto scoring only five runs.
The Phillies roll out ace Cole Hamels, as last year's NLCS and World Series MVP has bounced back following a slow start. Philadelphia has won seven of Hamels' last eight starts, delivering a quality outing in five of his last seven trips to the hill. The Jays are the lone 0-6 team in Interleague play (Astros are other winless team at 0-3), and are just 8-16 since 2008 against the National League. Following a dreadful 3-15 mark in Interleague action last season, the Phillies have equaled their win total already through six games, already playing two solid opponents in the Yankees and Red Sox.
Sportsbook.com has the Phillies installed as a long favorite of $2.20, with the total listed at 8.5.
White Sox at Cubs - 8:05 PM EDT
The annual battle of the Windy City begins on the North Side of Chicago when two underachieving teams tangle at Wrigley Field. The White Sox beat Trevor Hoffman and the Brewers on Sunday, 5-4, to take two of three from Milwaukee. The Pale Hose still sit at 30-34 despite the series victory, trying to end a three-game skid at Wrigley. The Cubs escaped a sweep at the hands of the Twins with a walk-off victory on Sunday, 3-2. However, Lou Piniella's club has tallied only nine runs the last five games, losing four times.
The always fiery Carlos Zambrano takes the mound for the Cubs, coming off three solid starts, allowing two earned runs in the last 21 innings. Zambrano didn't face the Sox last season, but the right-hander shut down Ozzie Guillen's unit on June 22, 2007, striking out 12, and giving up three hits and a run in eight innings of a 5-1 victory. John Danks has struggled to find consistency for the Sox, but is coming off an encouraging effort his last time out, a 2-1 loss to the Tigers. Danks allowed two earned runs and five hits in 7.1 innings, but the lack of run support has done in Danks multiple times this season. The Sox lost Danks' lone start against the Cubs, coming last season at Wrigley Field. Danks registered a quality outing, allowing five hits and one run in six innings, but the Sox came up short, 4-3. The home team won all six meetings last season, while the Cubs have owned the upper-hand in this series, claiming eight of the last 12 meetings.
The Cubs are a $1.60 favorite, according to Sportsbook.com
Tigers at Cardinals - 8:10 PM EDT
The rematch of the 2006 World Series (and 1968 for you old-timers) takes place at Busch Stadium, as an outstanding pitching matchup takes center-stage in the series opener. Both teams dropped two of three on the road in their respective weekend series, as Detroit fell at Pittsburgh, while St. Louis stumbled in Cleveland. Justin Verlander has been outstanding recently, putting together nine consecutive quality starts, allowing only eight earned runs in this stretch. To put things in perspective on how great Verlander has been, the righty allowed 21 earned runs in his first four starts of the season, and two of his losses in this current stretch have come by a run each. Verlander's Interleague numbers are spectacular, as Detroit has won nine of his ten regular season matchups with NL competition. Notice the key words, regular season, as Verlander lost two starts against the Cardinals in the '06 Fall Classic (Verlander did rebound in 2007, beating St. Louis, 6-3 at home).
St. Louis counters with Adam Wainwright, who is coming off a win in his last outing against the Marlins, his sixth victory of the season. Wainwright, the former closer, hasn't been as consistent this season, compiling quality starts at a rate of only 46%. Wainwright will go deep into games, tossing over 100 pitches in each of his last seven starts, pitching past the seventh inning five times in this stretch. No such thing as too little, too late, but since losing the World Series in 2006, the Tigers have won five of the past six meetings with the Cardinals, with five of those games flying 'over' the total.
The Tigers are road 'chalk,' with Sportsbook.com listing Detroit as $1.20 favorites. A pitcher's duel is expected at Busch, as the total is set at 7.
Things to Watch For:
-- CC Sabathia is listed as a higher favorite than his actual weight, when the Yankees host the Nationals. New York is a $3.60 home favorite, according to Sportsbook.com, by far the highest number posted all season. The Bombers are coming off a series victory over the Mets, now taking on the worst team in baseball. Washington is 1-5 in IL play, and will send out righty Shairon Martis, who is winless in his last three starts.
-- The Astros return to Interleague action after taking two of three at Arizona, traveling back to the Lone Star State to take on the Rangers. Houston has hit the 'over' in eight of their last 11 games, including all three against the Diamondbacks. Two pitchers with ERA's below 3.00 take the mound, as Wandy Rodriguez and Kevin Millwood each are coming off solid outings. Rodriguez rebounded from two awful starts to shut down the Cubs, while Millwood pitched seven scoreless innings in a victory over the Blue Jays. The Rangers swept a three-game series from the Astros in late May at Minute Maid Park.
-- The hottest team in baseball, the Colorado Rockies, go for their 12th straight victory, hosting the defending AL Champion Rays. Colorado has found its offensive "pop," averaging 7.1 runs/game during this hot streak. The normally inconsistent Jorge De La Rosa has won his last two starts, both on the road at St. Louis and Milwaukee. The Rockies are 0-5 in De La Rosa's home starts this season, while getting outscored by four runs a game. Jeff Niemann looks for a bounce-back effort against Colorado, after getting racked at home against the Angels. The road has been kind to Niemann, with Tampa Bay winning five of his seven road outings.
-- For the traditionalists out there, the Braves and Reds represent the lone National League matchup. Jair Jurrjens and Aaron Harang take the mound, as both teams are coming off embarrassing weekends. Atlanta dropped two of three at Baltimore, while Cincinnati was swept at Kansas City, the first sweep all season by the Royals. With the struggles of both these offenses, the 'under' may warrant a strong look. The 'under' has hit in nine of Jurrjens' 12 starts this season, while Harang has nailed the 'under' in eight of 12 starts.
-- I'm still failing to understand how the Blue Jays were such heavy favorites ($2.50) on Friday night against the Marlins. Obviously, Halladay has been spectacular. But, Ricky Nolasco is coming off a 15-win season in 2008, and the Fish came into Friday's contest five games worse than Toronto. Halladay got hurt, but the Marlins won the game, 7-3. It goes back to the old discussion regarding line value. There was absolutely none in Toronto, and very little if you took the Jays on the run-line. I'm not going to tell you to side with the Nationals every time they are a heavy 'dog, but teams as $2.00 underdogs or more should consider a second look moving forward.
As we enter Round 3 of Interleague Play, the matchups are becoming more intriguing by the day. Plenty of fresh storylines appear with the first battle of the Windy City between the White Sox and Cubs, while the two Texas teams get together in Arlington. There's also potential to see the highest favorite on the board all season when the Yankees host the woeful Nationals. Four matchups catch our eye in the Tuesday Interleague edition of Tip Sheet.
Marlins at Red Sox - 7:10 PM EDT
Two of the top Interleague teams of all-time get together at Fenway Park, as the Marlins try to continue their current hot streak. Florida swept through Toronto this past weekend, outscoring the Jays, 24-11. The Marlins avoid Red Sox ace and ex-Fish righty Josh Beckett in this series, after facing the likes of former Cy Young winners Roy Halladay, Tim Lincecum, Chris Carpenter, Randy Johnson, and Barry Zito over the last ten days. Florida takes its 114-93 (55%) lifetime Interleague record into Beantown, facing right-hander Tim Wakefield. The veteran knuckleballer has been money as a home favorite in Interleague play, as the Red Sox have won seven of Wakefield's last nine starts in this situation, dating back to 2006.
Marlins sophomore righty Chris Volstad has been a profitable play on the road, with Florida winning nine of Volstad's 12 career road outings. The 'under' has hit a consistent rate in Volstad's road ventures, going 'under' the total in nine of twelve games, as nine opponents have scored three runs or less in this span. Despite a 3-3 Interleague record this season, the Sox are 119-98 (54.8%) lifetime against the National League, while sporting a 39-13 mark at home in Interleague since 2004. The Red Sox have taken ten of the last 15 meetings against the Marlins since 1999, including a 6-3 mark at Fenway.
According to Sportsbook.com, Boston is a $1.75 home 'chalk,' with the total set at 9.5.
Blue Jays at Phillies - 7:10 PM EDT
Philadelphia avoided a sweep by Boston with an 11-6 victory on Sunday, as the Phillies battle a struggling Blue Jays team at Citizens Bank Park. 1993 World Series this certainly is not, as the Phillies will try to improve on their 13-16 home record. Toronto has been horrible on the road recently, winning just two of their past 12 away from the Rogers Centre, despite taking two of three in their last road series at Texas. The Jays will not have the luxury of the aforementioned Halladay in this series, after he pitched and got hurt Friday night. Toronto sends out southpaw Ricky Romero, who brings in a 3-3 mark, with an ERA of 3.71. The road has not been kind to Romero, as the Jays lefty is 0-2 in three road starts, with Toronto scoring only five runs.
The Phillies roll out ace Cole Hamels, as last year's NLCS and World Series MVP has bounced back following a slow start. Philadelphia has won seven of Hamels' last eight starts, delivering a quality outing in five of his last seven trips to the hill. The Jays are the lone 0-6 team in Interleague play (Astros are other winless team at 0-3), and are just 8-16 since 2008 against the National League. Following a dreadful 3-15 mark in Interleague action last season, the Phillies have equaled their win total already through six games, already playing two solid opponents in the Yankees and Red Sox.
Sportsbook.com has the Phillies installed as a long favorite of $2.20, with the total listed at 8.5.
White Sox at Cubs - 8:05 PM EDT
The annual battle of the Windy City begins on the North Side of Chicago when two underachieving teams tangle at Wrigley Field. The White Sox beat Trevor Hoffman and the Brewers on Sunday, 5-4, to take two of three from Milwaukee. The Pale Hose still sit at 30-34 despite the series victory, trying to end a three-game skid at Wrigley. The Cubs escaped a sweep at the hands of the Twins with a walk-off victory on Sunday, 3-2. However, Lou Piniella's club has tallied only nine runs the last five games, losing four times.
The always fiery Carlos Zambrano takes the mound for the Cubs, coming off three solid starts, allowing two earned runs in the last 21 innings. Zambrano didn't face the Sox last season, but the right-hander shut down Ozzie Guillen's unit on June 22, 2007, striking out 12, and giving up three hits and a run in eight innings of a 5-1 victory. John Danks has struggled to find consistency for the Sox, but is coming off an encouraging effort his last time out, a 2-1 loss to the Tigers. Danks allowed two earned runs and five hits in 7.1 innings, but the lack of run support has done in Danks multiple times this season. The Sox lost Danks' lone start against the Cubs, coming last season at Wrigley Field. Danks registered a quality outing, allowing five hits and one run in six innings, but the Sox came up short, 4-3. The home team won all six meetings last season, while the Cubs have owned the upper-hand in this series, claiming eight of the last 12 meetings.
The Cubs are a $1.60 favorite, according to Sportsbook.com
Tigers at Cardinals - 8:10 PM EDT
The rematch of the 2006 World Series (and 1968 for you old-timers) takes place at Busch Stadium, as an outstanding pitching matchup takes center-stage in the series opener. Both teams dropped two of three on the road in their respective weekend series, as Detroit fell at Pittsburgh, while St. Louis stumbled in Cleveland. Justin Verlander has been outstanding recently, putting together nine consecutive quality starts, allowing only eight earned runs in this stretch. To put things in perspective on how great Verlander has been, the righty allowed 21 earned runs in his first four starts of the season, and two of his losses in this current stretch have come by a run each. Verlander's Interleague numbers are spectacular, as Detroit has won nine of his ten regular season matchups with NL competition. Notice the key words, regular season, as Verlander lost two starts against the Cardinals in the '06 Fall Classic (Verlander did rebound in 2007, beating St. Louis, 6-3 at home).
St. Louis counters with Adam Wainwright, who is coming off a win in his last outing against the Marlins, his sixth victory of the season. Wainwright, the former closer, hasn't been as consistent this season, compiling quality starts at a rate of only 46%. Wainwright will go deep into games, tossing over 100 pitches in each of his last seven starts, pitching past the seventh inning five times in this stretch. No such thing as too little, too late, but since losing the World Series in 2006, the Tigers have won five of the past six meetings with the Cardinals, with five of those games flying 'over' the total.
The Tigers are road 'chalk,' with Sportsbook.com listing Detroit as $1.20 favorites. A pitcher's duel is expected at Busch, as the total is set at 7.
Things to Watch For:
-- CC Sabathia is listed as a higher favorite than his actual weight, when the Yankees host the Nationals. New York is a $3.60 home favorite, according to Sportsbook.com, by far the highest number posted all season. The Bombers are coming off a series victory over the Mets, now taking on the worst team in baseball. Washington is 1-5 in IL play, and will send out righty Shairon Martis, who is winless in his last three starts.
-- The Astros return to Interleague action after taking two of three at Arizona, traveling back to the Lone Star State to take on the Rangers. Houston has hit the 'over' in eight of their last 11 games, including all three against the Diamondbacks. Two pitchers with ERA's below 3.00 take the mound, as Wandy Rodriguez and Kevin Millwood each are coming off solid outings. Rodriguez rebounded from two awful starts to shut down the Cubs, while Millwood pitched seven scoreless innings in a victory over the Blue Jays. The Rangers swept a three-game series from the Astros in late May at Minute Maid Park.
-- The hottest team in baseball, the Colorado Rockies, go for their 12th straight victory, hosting the defending AL Champion Rays. Colorado has found its offensive "pop," averaging 7.1 runs/game during this hot streak. The normally inconsistent Jorge De La Rosa has won his last two starts, both on the road at St. Louis and Milwaukee. The Rockies are 0-5 in De La Rosa's home starts this season, while getting outscored by four runs a game. Jeff Niemann looks for a bounce-back effort against Colorado, after getting racked at home against the Angels. The road has been kind to Niemann, with Tampa Bay winning five of his seven road outings.
-- For the traditionalists out there, the Braves and Reds represent the lone National League matchup. Jair Jurrjens and Aaron Harang take the mound, as both teams are coming off embarrassing weekends. Atlanta dropped two of three at Baltimore, while Cincinnati was swept at Kansas City, the first sweep all season by the Royals. With the struggles of both these offenses, the 'under' may warrant a strong look. The 'under' has hit in nine of Jurrjens' 12 starts this season, while Harang has nailed the 'under' in eight of 12 starts.
-- I'm still failing to understand how the Blue Jays were such heavy favorites ($2.50) on Friday night against the Marlins. Obviously, Halladay has been spectacular. But, Ricky Nolasco is coming off a 15-win season in 2008, and the Fish came into Friday's contest five games worse than Toronto. Halladay got hurt, but the Marlins won the game, 7-3. It goes back to the old discussion regarding line value. There was absolutely none in Toronto, and very little if you took the Jays on the run-line. I'm not going to tell you to side with the Nationals every time they are a heavy 'dog, but teams as $2.00 underdogs or more should consider a second look moving forward.
