Sunday's Diamond Notes
July 17, 2016
Hottest team: Red Sox (8-1 past nine)
The Boston Red Sox look to continue their ascension in the American League East by completing a three-game sweep at Yankee Stadium over their archrivals Sunday night. The Red Sox were not flummoxed by the All-Star break, as they have picked up right where they left off. The Red Sox have won six in a row, and eight of the past nine to rocket up the standings while possibly putting a nail in the coffin of the Yankees. The Red Sox head into this series finale with a 7-1 record in their past eight against right-handed starters, and they're 5-0 in their past five against teams with an overall losing record. Conversely, the Yankees have dropped seven of their past eight against divisional foes and appear headed for the sellers line leading up to the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.
Coldest team: Rays (3-24 past 27)
Sticking in the AL East, the Rays have been on a sustained cold streak since mid-June and it is likely to cost manager Kevin Cash his job soon. The good news is the Rays continue to fight hard, and three of their past five losses have come by one run. That's because their pitching has been great, and the offense has been on vacation. Tampa is averaging just 1.8 runs per game over the past seven outings, and as you might imagine the 'under' has been the play for them. It has hit in four straight, and is 9-1-1 over their past 11.
Hottest pitcher: Max Scherzer, Nationals (10-6, 3.03 ERA)
Scherzer's overall numbers won't bowl you over, but he is making up for lost time lately after a slow start by his standards. He is 2-1 with a 0.44 ERA over his past three outings, turning in a spiffy 0.74 WHIP with 26 strikeouts and just six walks over the past 20 1/3 innings. He will face a Pirates team he no-hit back on June 20, 2015. The Bucs have managed just five wins in their past 18 tries on the road against a right-handed starter, while the Nationals are 6-0 in their past six at home against a team with a winning record. Things look very positive for Scherzer in Sunday's afternoon game in the capital.
Coldest pitcher: Jon Gray, Colorado (5-4, 4.67 ERA)
Gray looks to help the Rockies cap off a road sweep, but he hasn't been at his best away from Coors Fields. He is just 2-4 with a 4.63 ERA while issuing a staggering 20 walks in just 46 2/3 road innings. The Rockies offense is never a problem, even on the road, and they have scratched out 7.5 runs per game in the first two outings in this series. They'll need every bit of that offense with Gray pitching rather uneven lately with a 5.01 ERA over his past four appearances.
Biggest UNDER run: Astros (7-3 past 10)
The 'under' has been a regularity for the Astros lately, including Saturday's 1-0 setback at Safeco Field against the Mariners. The 'under' is 5-2-2 in their past nine against Seattle, and the 'under' has hit in four of their past five on the road against left-handed starters and 11 of their past 15 overall against southpaws. In addition, the under is 12-4 in Houston's past 16 road games, and 13-5 in their past 18 inside the division. Also, the 'under' has cashed in five straight starter with Collin McHugh on the hill against a team with a winning overall record.
Biggest OVER run: Rangers (7-3-1 past 11)
While yes, the 'under' has hit in the first two games of their series against the Cubs, the Rangers might break out the lumber against John Lackey, a team many Texas players know well from his days in Boston and inside the division with the L.A. Angels. The 'over' was 7-1-1 in the nine games leading up to the All-Star break, and pitching had been the concern. Texas has allowed five or more runs in nine of the past 11 outings, something 'over' bettors love to see.
Matchup to watch: Red Sox vs. Yankees
The Yankees are desperately trying to stay in the race, but they entered the All-Star break at 44-44 and did themselves no favors with two straight losses to open the second half. Now, they face an unofficial must-win game against LHP David Price. They Yankees have been so-so against left-handed starters, but not very good at home lately, especially against teams with a winning overall record. New York has won just twice in the past seven on home turf, and they're 2-5 in their past seven at home against teams with a winning overall record and 1-7 in their past eight inside the division. If they're going to win it's with Masahiro Tanaka, as the team is 7-1 in his past eight outings at home and 4-1 in his past five against teams with a winning overall mark.
Betcha didn’t know: The Giants have won 21 of their past 27 inside the division, and a large part of their success has been their ability to keep their eyes on the prize. San Francisco is 20-8 in their past 28 road games against teams with a losing overall record, and they're 39-16 in their past 55 against teams with a losing overal mark. They turn to All-Star Johnny Cueto, who was rocked on this very same mound in Tuesday's mid-summer classic. However, the Giants are 16-2 in his past 18 outings, and 13-0 in his past 13 against teams with a losing overall record. He is 3-0 with a 0.33 ERA and three complete games against the Friars this season.
Biggest public favorite: Nationals (-245) vs. Pirates
Biggest public underdog: Rangers (+140) at Cubs
Biggest line move: Nationals (-230 to -245) vs. Pirates
July 17, 2016
Hottest team: Red Sox (8-1 past nine)
The Boston Red Sox look to continue their ascension in the American League East by completing a three-game sweep at Yankee Stadium over their archrivals Sunday night. The Red Sox were not flummoxed by the All-Star break, as they have picked up right where they left off. The Red Sox have won six in a row, and eight of the past nine to rocket up the standings while possibly putting a nail in the coffin of the Yankees. The Red Sox head into this series finale with a 7-1 record in their past eight against right-handed starters, and they're 5-0 in their past five against teams with an overall losing record. Conversely, the Yankees have dropped seven of their past eight against divisional foes and appear headed for the sellers line leading up to the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.
Coldest team: Rays (3-24 past 27)
Sticking in the AL East, the Rays have been on a sustained cold streak since mid-June and it is likely to cost manager Kevin Cash his job soon. The good news is the Rays continue to fight hard, and three of their past five losses have come by one run. That's because their pitching has been great, and the offense has been on vacation. Tampa is averaging just 1.8 runs per game over the past seven outings, and as you might imagine the 'under' has been the play for them. It has hit in four straight, and is 9-1-1 over their past 11.
Hottest pitcher: Max Scherzer, Nationals (10-6, 3.03 ERA)
Scherzer's overall numbers won't bowl you over, but he is making up for lost time lately after a slow start by his standards. He is 2-1 with a 0.44 ERA over his past three outings, turning in a spiffy 0.74 WHIP with 26 strikeouts and just six walks over the past 20 1/3 innings. He will face a Pirates team he no-hit back on June 20, 2015. The Bucs have managed just five wins in their past 18 tries on the road against a right-handed starter, while the Nationals are 6-0 in their past six at home against a team with a winning record. Things look very positive for Scherzer in Sunday's afternoon game in the capital.
Coldest pitcher: Jon Gray, Colorado (5-4, 4.67 ERA)
Gray looks to help the Rockies cap off a road sweep, but he hasn't been at his best away from Coors Fields. He is just 2-4 with a 4.63 ERA while issuing a staggering 20 walks in just 46 2/3 road innings. The Rockies offense is never a problem, even on the road, and they have scratched out 7.5 runs per game in the first two outings in this series. They'll need every bit of that offense with Gray pitching rather uneven lately with a 5.01 ERA over his past four appearances.
Biggest UNDER run: Astros (7-3 past 10)
The 'under' has been a regularity for the Astros lately, including Saturday's 1-0 setback at Safeco Field against the Mariners. The 'under' is 5-2-2 in their past nine against Seattle, and the 'under' has hit in four of their past five on the road against left-handed starters and 11 of their past 15 overall against southpaws. In addition, the under is 12-4 in Houston's past 16 road games, and 13-5 in their past 18 inside the division. Also, the 'under' has cashed in five straight starter with Collin McHugh on the hill against a team with a winning overall record.
Biggest OVER run: Rangers (7-3-1 past 11)
While yes, the 'under' has hit in the first two games of their series against the Cubs, the Rangers might break out the lumber against John Lackey, a team many Texas players know well from his days in Boston and inside the division with the L.A. Angels. The 'over' was 7-1-1 in the nine games leading up to the All-Star break, and pitching had been the concern. Texas has allowed five or more runs in nine of the past 11 outings, something 'over' bettors love to see.
Matchup to watch: Red Sox vs. Yankees
The Yankees are desperately trying to stay in the race, but they entered the All-Star break at 44-44 and did themselves no favors with two straight losses to open the second half. Now, they face an unofficial must-win game against LHP David Price. They Yankees have been so-so against left-handed starters, but not very good at home lately, especially against teams with a winning overall record. New York has won just twice in the past seven on home turf, and they're 2-5 in their past seven at home against teams with a winning overall record and 1-7 in their past eight inside the division. If they're going to win it's with Masahiro Tanaka, as the team is 7-1 in his past eight outings at home and 4-1 in his past five against teams with a winning overall mark.
Betcha didn’t know: The Giants have won 21 of their past 27 inside the division, and a large part of their success has been their ability to keep their eyes on the prize. San Francisco is 20-8 in their past 28 road games against teams with a losing overall record, and they're 39-16 in their past 55 against teams with a losing overal mark. They turn to All-Star Johnny Cueto, who was rocked on this very same mound in Tuesday's mid-summer classic. However, the Giants are 16-2 in his past 18 outings, and 13-0 in his past 13 against teams with a losing overall record. He is 3-0 with a 0.33 ERA and three complete games against the Friars this season.
Biggest public favorite: Nationals (-245) vs. Pirates
Biggest public underdog: Rangers (+140) at Cubs
Biggest line move: Nationals (-230 to -245) vs. Pirates