Thursday's Tip Sheet
July 31, 2014
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com
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Mariners at Indians – 7:05 PM EST
Probable Pitchers:
SEA: Young (9-6, 3.04 ERA)
CLE: McAllister (3-6, 5.65 ERA)
Series recap: These two clubs have split the first two games of this set after Cleveland blanked Seattle on Wednesday, 2-0 in a pitcher’s duel between Corey Kluber and Felix Hernandez. Kluber tossed a complete-game shutout to cash as a short favorite, one night after the Mariners knocked around the Indians in a 5-2 triumph on Tuesday.
What to watch for: Seattle continues to be an ‘under’ machine, drilling the ‘under’ in nine consecutive games. The M’s own an impressive record off a road loss since May, posting a 10-2 mark in this situation. The Indians have responded well in home series finales the last two months, putting together a 7-1 record. Cleveland has struggled with McAllister on the mound this season, losing seven of his past nine starts.
Angels at Orioles – 7:05 PM EST
Probable Pitchers:
LAA: Skaggs (5-5, 4.49 ERA)
BAL: Norris (8-7, 3.94 ERA)
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Series recap: The Orioles go for the sweep tonight after holding off the Angels in a pair of one-run victories. Following Tuesday’s walk-off win in extra innings, Baltimore edged Los Angeles on Wednesday, 4-3 as +125 underdogs. The O’s built a 4-0 lead before the Angels rallied to cut the deficit to one run, but Baltimore held on for its fourth win in five tries against Los Angeles this season.
What to watch for: Baltimore’s pitching is cruising lately, allowing three runs or less seven times in the last nine games, resulting in eight ‘unders.’ After going nearly six weeks without a win when Skaggs takes the mound, the Angels are 3-0 in the southpaw’s last three starts. The Orioles have hit six straight ‘unders’ when Norris starts, while Baltimore is 5-2 in his past seven trips to the hill.
Reds at Marlins – 7:10 PM EST
Probable Pitchers:
CIN: Cueto (11-6, 2.08 ERA)
MIA: Koehler (7-7, 3.91 ERA)
Previous series recap: The Reds continue to fall backwards in the NL Central race after losing two of three to the Diamondbacks at home. Cincinnati dropped a 5-4 decision to Arizona on Wednesday, as the four runs scored by the Reds were the most they have plated since the All-Star break. The Marlins couldn’t pull off the home sweep of the Nationals, losing on Wednesday 4-3 to snap a six-game winning streak.
What to watch for: This is the first meeting between these teams this season, as Cincinnati put together a 6-1 record against Miami in 2013. The Reds ended a nine-game ‘under’ streak with Wednesday’s ‘over’ against Arizona in which Cincinnati scored three runs in the ninth inning to bust the total of 7. Cincinnati has lost nine consecutive road games, but the club is 7-2 in Cueto’s past nine starts. Koehler is making his first home start since July 2, as Miami is 1-4 in his last five outings at Marlins Park.
Pirates at Diamondbacks – 9:40 PM EST
Probable Pitchers:
PIT: Locke (2-2, 3.54 ERA)
ARZ: Collmenter (8-5, 4.03 ERA)
Previous series recap: The Pirates continue their venture through the NL West after grabbing two of three from the Giants at AT&T Park. Pittsburgh fell to San Francisco in the series finale on Wednesday, 7-5 as a short underdog, snapping a three-game winning streak. The Diamondbacks return home following a 3-3 road trip at Philadelphia and Cincinnati in which Arizona alternated wins and losses during the six-game stretch, capped off by Wednesday’s one-run triumph over the Reds.
What to watch for: Pittsburgh beat Arizona two of three times at PNC Park earlier this month, which included a 3-2 walk-off victory as Pittsburgh scored each of its three runs in the ninth inning to capture the series opener. Locke took the mound in that contest, tossing eight innings while receiving a no-decision. Arizona owns a 5-1 record in Collmenter’s past six starts, which includes a pair of solid performances in home wins over the Cubs and Marlins.
Braves at Dodgers – 10:10 PM EST
Probable Pitchers:
ATL: Teheran (10-6, 2.71 ERA)
LAD: Kershaw (12-2, 1.76 ERA)
Series recap: The Dodgers remain hot following last night’s walk-off victory in 10 innings, 3-2 as a -170 favorite. Los Angeles is riding a five-game winning streak, while improving to 4-0 in its past four home matchups with Atlanta dating back to last season’s NLDS.
What to watch for: Kershaw has been unbeatable in the last two months, as the Dodgers are 10-0 in his past 10 trips to the mound, while tossing at least seven innings in eight consecutive appearances. The Braves have stumbled to a 3-6 record in their past nine road contests, but Atlanta has put together a solid 6-2 record in its last eight series finales.