Wednesday's Tip Sheet
August 20, 2014
Braves at Pirates – 7:05 PM EST
Probable Pitchers:
ATL: Wood (9-9, 3.07 ERA)
PIT: Cole (7-4, 3.78 ERA)
Series recap: These two clubs are going in completely opposite directions, as Atlanta won its fifth straight game on Tuesday, dominating Pittsburgh for the second consecutive night, 11-3 as +150 road underdogs. The Pirates are spinning out of control, riding a seven-game losing streak, while allowing 18 runs in the first two losses of this series.
What to watch for: It’s been a while since Gerrit Cole has taken the mound for the Bucs, making his first start since July 4. In seven home starts this season, the Pirates own a 5-2 record when Cole toes the rubber at PNC Park, while Pittsburgh is 12-3 in his last 15 starts dating back to last September in the role of a favorite. The Pirates have fared well in home series finales recently, putting together an 8-2 mark.
Tigers at Rays – 7:10 PM EST
Probable Pitchers:
DET: Porcello (13-8, 3.28 ERA)
TB: Odorizzi (9-9, 3.82 ERA)
Series recap: The Tigers outlasted the Rays in a wild 8-6 triumph last night, as Detroit erased an early 4-0 deficit. Detroit cashed as -120 road favorites, as it won on the highway for just the third time in its past 13 games away from Comerica Park.
What to watch for: Following a slow start, Jake Odorizzi has turned it on since mid-June as the Rays have put together an 8-3 record in his past 11 trips to the mound. The Tigers are just 1-5 on the road in their past six tries off a victory, but Detroit has compiled a 4-1 mark in Rick Porcello’s previous five starts.
Angels at Red Sox – 7:10 PM EST
Probable Pitchers:
LAA: Richards (13-4, 2.53 ERA)
BOS: Buchholz (5-7, 5.79 ERA)
Series recap: The Angels have taken the first two games of this four-game set, as Los Angeles put up a ninth-inning run to sneak past Boston on Tuesday, 4-3 as -125 favorites. The Halos cashed the ‘under’ in each of the first two contests, extending their ‘under’ streak to six games.
What to watch for: Los Angeles owns a spectacular 11-3 record in Garrett Richards’ 14 road starts, including a 9-1 mark in the away favorite role. The Red Sox are winless in Clay Buchholz’s past five trips to the mound, while Boston has compiled a dreadful 1-6 ledger in the right-hander’s last seven home starts.
Reds at Cardinals – 7:15 PM EST
Probable Pitchers:
CIN: Cueto (15-6, 2.06 ERA)
STL: Lynn (13-8, 2.91 ERA)
Series recap: The Cardinals walked-off past the Reds for the second straight night, topping Cincinnati, 5-4 as -170 home favorites on Tuesday. Cincinnati is falling apart fast, dropping its fourth consecutive game with all four defeats coming after holding the lead heading into the seventh inning.
What to watch for: The Reds are in the midst of an awful 5-16 stretch in the last 21 road contests, which includes a 2-5 record in the past seven away series finales. Johnny Cueto has won each of his previous five starts for the Reds, including three in a row on the road. The Cardinals have been on fire at home recently, winning nine of their past 11 at Busch Stadium, including six of those victories by one run.
Orioles at White Sox – 8:10 PM EST
Probable Pitchers:
BAL: Chen (12-4, 3.76 ERA)
CHW: Noesi (7-8, 4.84 ERA)
Series recap: The Orioles are back on track following consecutive losses at Cleveland last weekend, as Baltimore won its third straight game last night, 5-1 as short underdogs. The O’s have won four of five meetings with the Sox this season, while outscoring Chicago, 13-3 in the first two wins of this series.
What to watch for: Baltimore continues to play well on the road, winning 11 of its past 16 games away from Camden Yards since late July. The ‘under’ has cashed in six of Wei-Yin Chen’s last seven starts, but the O’s are winless in the southpaw’s past two road outings. The Sox have responded well with Hector Noesi on the mound, especially at home, as Chicago has won each of the right-hander’s past four starts at U.S. Cellular Field.
