Saturday's Diamond Notes
August 6, 2016
Hottest team: Nationals (7-3 last 10)
Washington has caught fire since blowing a late lead in a 7-6 setback at Cleveland on July 26. The Nationals have won seven of their past nine games, including three victories over the reeling Giants. Washington’s offense continue to hit the ball well by knocking out two homers in Friday’s 5-1 triumph over San Francisco to pick up its fourth consecutive win. The Nationals have been inconsistent at home recently by splitting their last 16 games in D.C., but hope for another victory against San Francisco when ace Stephen Strasburg takes the mound tonight, searching for his 16th win of the season
Coldest team: Mets (3-7 last 10)
New York has slipped to third place in the National League East behind Miami after dropping seven of its past 10 contests. The Mets fell short against the Tigers in Friday’s 4-3 setback, as New York owns an 0-10 record in its past 10 games off a victory. Will things turn around tonight in the Motor City? The Mets have won six straight on the road off a loss, which is a good sign. However, right-hander Logan Verrett is winless in his last two outings in spite of the Mets holding leads in the eighth inning or later in losses to the Cardinals and Yankees.
Hottest pitcher: Danny Duffy, Royals (7-1, 2.98 ERA)
The two-year reign with Kansas City as the top dog in the American League will come to an end this season with the Royals sitting seven games below the .500 mark. The only bright spot in their pitching staff is Duffy, who is coming off an incredible performance in his past outing at Tampa Bay, striking out 16 batters and allowing one hit in eight innings of a 3-0 shutout. The Royals have won six straight starts made by Duffy, including four consecutive victories at home. Kansas City knocked out Toronto in the ALCS last season, but owns an 0-4 record against the Blue Jays this season as Duffy tries to put the Royals in the win column.
Coldest pitcher: Patrick Corbin, Diamondbacks (4-10, 5.30 ERA)
Arizona snapped a four-game losing streak in Friday’s walk-off triumph over Milwaukee, as the D-backs improved to 18-38 at home this season. Corbin hasn’t been successful at all at Chase Field this season with Arizona posting a 1-9 record in his 10 home starts, while allowing 18 earned runs in his past three home defeats. Arizona is 0-5 in Corbin’s previous five trips to the mound, including a 9-4 setback at Milwaukee on July 26 in which he gave up four earned runs in five innings.
Biggest UNDER run: Rangers (6-0 last six)
Texas suffered only its second loss in 11 tries this season against Houston on Friday, getting blanked, 5-0 by Dallas Keuchel. The Rangers made plenty of moves at the trade deadline to bolster in their lineup, but Texas has plated eight runs in the past four games. Texas has finished UNDER the total in six of its previous seven road contests, as recently acquired Lucas Harrell heads to the mound tonight. Harrell is coming off a victory in his Texas debut, while finishing UNDER the total of 10 in a 5-3 win over Kansas City. Another UNDER may be in order for Harrell and the Rangers as the right-hander has given up one earned run or less in two of three road starts this season.
Biggest OVER run: Twins (7-0 last seven)
Minnesota’s offense has heated up of late by scoring at least six runs in five of the past six games, including six in last night’s 6-2 victory at Tampa Bay. The Twins have scored 41 runs in four wins on their current road trip at Cleveland and Tampa Bay, while sailing OVER the total in eight of the past nine contests away from Target Field. Rookie right-hander Jose Berrios heads to the mound for Minnesota tonight as the Twins have put together a 4-0-1 mark to the OVER in his five starts, including a pair of easy OVERS in his last two road outings.
Matchup to watch: Marlins vs. Rockies
Colorado has steamrolled its way into the NL Wild Card race by winning 11 of 13 games heading into its weekend series with Miami. However, the Rockies couldn’t hold onto a late 3-1 lead in Friday’s 5-3 setback to the Marlins as Miami scored four runs in the ninth inning. Miami improved to 4-1 in five games against Colorado this season as Andrew Cashner makes his second start for the Marlins since getting acquired from the Padres in late July. The last time Cashner took the mound at Coors Field on June 10, the right-hander exited after only six pitches due to a neck injury.
Chad Bettis counters for Colorado, as the right-hander has tossed at least six innings in six consecutive outings. The Rockies have performed well when Bettis takes the hill as Colorado owns an 8-2 record in his last 10 starts, including five straight victories at Coors Field. Colorado has struggled in Game 2’s of a home series recently, posting a 2-4 record in the last six tries.
Betcha didn’t know: The Orioles have been terrific when Chris Tillman takes the mound this season, going 19-4 in his 23 starts. Since the start of July, Tillman has finished UNDER the total in six consecutive outings, while going 7-2 to the UNDER in his previous nine road starts. The White Sox have hit the OVER in five of their past six Game 2’s of a home series, while scoring at least five runs in three of their last four home contests.
Biggest public favorite: Cardinals (-270) vs. Braves
Biggest public underdog: Royals (+120) vs. Blue Jays
Biggest line move: Pirates (-125 to -145) vs. Reds
August 6, 2016
Hottest team: Nationals (7-3 last 10)
Washington has caught fire since blowing a late lead in a 7-6 setback at Cleveland on July 26. The Nationals have won seven of their past nine games, including three victories over the reeling Giants. Washington’s offense continue to hit the ball well by knocking out two homers in Friday’s 5-1 triumph over San Francisco to pick up its fourth consecutive win. The Nationals have been inconsistent at home recently by splitting their last 16 games in D.C., but hope for another victory against San Francisco when ace Stephen Strasburg takes the mound tonight, searching for his 16th win of the season
Coldest team: Mets (3-7 last 10)
New York has slipped to third place in the National League East behind Miami after dropping seven of its past 10 contests. The Mets fell short against the Tigers in Friday’s 4-3 setback, as New York owns an 0-10 record in its past 10 games off a victory. Will things turn around tonight in the Motor City? The Mets have won six straight on the road off a loss, which is a good sign. However, right-hander Logan Verrett is winless in his last two outings in spite of the Mets holding leads in the eighth inning or later in losses to the Cardinals and Yankees.
Hottest pitcher: Danny Duffy, Royals (7-1, 2.98 ERA)
The two-year reign with Kansas City as the top dog in the American League will come to an end this season with the Royals sitting seven games below the .500 mark. The only bright spot in their pitching staff is Duffy, who is coming off an incredible performance in his past outing at Tampa Bay, striking out 16 batters and allowing one hit in eight innings of a 3-0 shutout. The Royals have won six straight starts made by Duffy, including four consecutive victories at home. Kansas City knocked out Toronto in the ALCS last season, but owns an 0-4 record against the Blue Jays this season as Duffy tries to put the Royals in the win column.
Coldest pitcher: Patrick Corbin, Diamondbacks (4-10, 5.30 ERA)
Arizona snapped a four-game losing streak in Friday’s walk-off triumph over Milwaukee, as the D-backs improved to 18-38 at home this season. Corbin hasn’t been successful at all at Chase Field this season with Arizona posting a 1-9 record in his 10 home starts, while allowing 18 earned runs in his past three home defeats. Arizona is 0-5 in Corbin’s previous five trips to the mound, including a 9-4 setback at Milwaukee on July 26 in which he gave up four earned runs in five innings.
Biggest UNDER run: Rangers (6-0 last six)
Texas suffered only its second loss in 11 tries this season against Houston on Friday, getting blanked, 5-0 by Dallas Keuchel. The Rangers made plenty of moves at the trade deadline to bolster in their lineup, but Texas has plated eight runs in the past four games. Texas has finished UNDER the total in six of its previous seven road contests, as recently acquired Lucas Harrell heads to the mound tonight. Harrell is coming off a victory in his Texas debut, while finishing UNDER the total of 10 in a 5-3 win over Kansas City. Another UNDER may be in order for Harrell and the Rangers as the right-hander has given up one earned run or less in two of three road starts this season.
Biggest OVER run: Twins (7-0 last seven)
Minnesota’s offense has heated up of late by scoring at least six runs in five of the past six games, including six in last night’s 6-2 victory at Tampa Bay. The Twins have scored 41 runs in four wins on their current road trip at Cleveland and Tampa Bay, while sailing OVER the total in eight of the past nine contests away from Target Field. Rookie right-hander Jose Berrios heads to the mound for Minnesota tonight as the Twins have put together a 4-0-1 mark to the OVER in his five starts, including a pair of easy OVERS in his last two road outings.
Matchup to watch: Marlins vs. Rockies
Colorado has steamrolled its way into the NL Wild Card race by winning 11 of 13 games heading into its weekend series with Miami. However, the Rockies couldn’t hold onto a late 3-1 lead in Friday’s 5-3 setback to the Marlins as Miami scored four runs in the ninth inning. Miami improved to 4-1 in five games against Colorado this season as Andrew Cashner makes his second start for the Marlins since getting acquired from the Padres in late July. The last time Cashner took the mound at Coors Field on June 10, the right-hander exited after only six pitches due to a neck injury.
Chad Bettis counters for Colorado, as the right-hander has tossed at least six innings in six consecutive outings. The Rockies have performed well when Bettis takes the hill as Colorado owns an 8-2 record in his last 10 starts, including five straight victories at Coors Field. Colorado has struggled in Game 2’s of a home series recently, posting a 2-4 record in the last six tries.
Betcha didn’t know: The Orioles have been terrific when Chris Tillman takes the mound this season, going 19-4 in his 23 starts. Since the start of July, Tillman has finished UNDER the total in six consecutive outings, while going 7-2 to the UNDER in his previous nine road starts. The White Sox have hit the OVER in five of their past six Game 2’s of a home series, while scoring at least five runs in three of their last four home contests.
Biggest public favorite: Cardinals (-270) vs. Braves
Biggest public underdog: Royals (+120) vs. Blue Jays
Biggest line move: Pirates (-125 to -145) vs. Reds
