Monday's Tip Sheet
July 20, 2014
Giants at Phillies – 7:05 PM EST
Probable Pitchers:
SF: Vogelsong (5-7, 3.86 ERA)
PHI: Lee (4-4, 3.18 ERA)
Previous series recap: The Giants failed to pull off the sweep of the Marlins, falling on Sunday, 3-2 as -130 road favorites. In the first two victories of the series, San Francisco outscored Miami, 14-4, as the Giants have won three of their past four series. The Phillies dropped two of three at Atlanta, including Sunday’s 8-2 setback as +170 underdogs. Philadelphia has lost six of its past seven meetings with Atlanta, while falling to 5-2 in the last seven road contests.
What to watch for: Lee is making his first start since May 18 after spending the last two months on the disabled list with a left elbow injury. The Phillies own a 1-4 record in Lee’s five home outings, in spite of a 1.77 ERA at Citizens Bank Park. The Giants are just 2-6 in their last eight road series openers, while San Francisco has been shut out in each of Vogelsong’s past three starts.
Dodgers at Pirates – 7:05 PM EST
Probable Pitchers:
LAD: Ryu (10-5, 3.44 ERA)
PIT: Volquez (8-6, 3.65 ERA)
Previous series recap: Pittsburgh swept a reeling Colorado squad at home, as the Bucs rallied from a 3-0 deficit for a 5-3 victory on Sunday. The Dodgers were tripped up at St. Louis this past weekend, losing the first two games before holding off the Cardinals on Sunday night as a heavy favorite. Los Angeles has stumbled on the road of late, putting together a 2-5 ledger the last seven away from Chavez Ravine.
What to watch for: The Pirates are on fire at home of late, winning 12 of their past 14 games at PNC Park, including four straight victories in home series openers. The last time these two teams met up at Chavez Ravine in late May, Pittsburgh captured three of four matchups, as the Pirates are 5-2 in the last seven games against the Dodgers. Los Angeles is 6-2 to the ‘under’ the last eight contests, including three of the past four on the highway.
Red Sox at Blue Jays – 7:05 PM EST
Probable Pitchers:
BOS: Lackey (10-6, 3.79 ERA)
TOR: Hutchison (6-8, 4.16 ERA)
Previous series recap: The Red Sox finished off a three-game home sweep of the slumping Royals, including Sunday’s 6-0 shutout of Kansas City as -155 favorites. Boston has won seven of its past eight contests, but still sit six games below the .500 mark. The Blue Jays bounced back from Friday’s loss to the Rangers, as Toronto won the final two games of the series as heavy favorites.
What to watch for: Toronto swept Boston at Fenway Park in late May, as the Jays scored 20 runs in the three victories, resulting in three ‘overs.’ The Red Sox have drilled the ‘over’ in each of Lackey’s last four starts, while Boston is 3-1 in his past four road outings. The Jays have struggled when Hutchison pitches at Rogers Center, as Toronto posted a 2-5 record in his seven home starts.
Reds at Brewers – 8:10 PM EST
Probable Pitchers:
CIN: Latos (2-1, 2.79 ERA)
MIL: Peralta (10-6, 3.72 ERA)
Previous series recap: The Reds were swept by the Yankees in the Bronx, capped off by a walk-off defeat on Sunday, 3-2. Cincinnati fell to 0-5 on the road against American League foes, while slipping to 0-6 in the last six away contests. The Brewers grabbed the series opener at Washington on Friday as a heavy underdog, but lost the final two games, including Sunday’s 5-4 walk-off setback as +115 underdogs.
What to watch for: Cincinnati has performed well against division foes on the road, owning a 9-3 mark in the past 12 games within the NL Central away from the Great American Ballpark. The Brewers have cashed the ‘over’ in each of Peralta’s last six outings, while Milwaukee has dropped seven of its past eight games at Miller Park.
Orioles at Angels – 10:10 PM EST
Probable Pitchers:
BAL: Norris (7-6, 3.96 ERA)
LAA: Shoemaker (7-2, 4.38 ERA)
Previous series recap: The Angels keep rolling at home, improving to 20-3 the last 23 contests at Angels Stadium after rallying past the Mariners on Sunday, 6-5 to cash as heavy -170 favorites. Since May, the Halos have captured 10 consecutive home series, including five straight series finales in Orange County. The Orioles began their West Coast swing by dropping two of three to the Athletics, as Baltimore was blown out on Sunday, 10-2. All three games finished ‘over’ the total at Oakland, extending Baltimore’s road ‘over’ streak to six games.
What to watch for: Monday marks the first meeting between these teams this season, as the Orioles took five of seven matchups in 2013. The Halos are 4-1 in Shoemaker’s five home starts, while L.A. has compiled eight consecutive victories in home series openers. The Orioles have won eight of their past 12 away contests, as Baltimore looks to improve on a 5-3 mark in the previous eight road games against AL West foes.
