Thursday's Diamond Notes
May 26, 2016
Hottest team: Red Sox (7-3 last 10)
Boston looks to become the first American League club to reach the 30-win mark with a victory tonight against Colorado. The Red Sox have outscored the Rockies, 18-6 in the first two games of this 2007 World Series rematch, improving to 11-1 in their last 12 opportunities as a home favorite. Boston is in the midst of a 12-4 stretch the past 16 games, while opening up a two-game advantage over Baltimore in the AL East after the Orioles lost the last two nights. The Red Sox begin a key seven-game road trip on Friday that extends to Toronto and Baltimore, as Boston owns a 5-5 record this season against those two division rivals.
Coldest team: White Sox (3-7 last 10)
The fast start for Chicago is quickly in the rear-view mirror as Cleveland has pulled into a tie for first place atop the AL Central. The White Sox dropped three of four to the surging Indians at home, while losing 11 of their past 15 games overall. In this stretch, the offense has dried up as the Sox have scored three runs or less in eight of the last nine contests, resulting in seven ‘unders.’ Oh by the way, Chicago travels to Kansas City to face the defending champions for a four-game series starting tonight as the Sox dropped two of three to the Royals at home last weekend.
Hottest pitcher: Jose Fernandez, Marlins (6-2, 3.02 ERA)
After allowing five earned runs in his first start of the season against the Tigers, Fernandez has bounced back as the Marlins are 7-1 in his last eight outings. The Miami ace owns a perfect 5-0 mark in his last five trips to the mound, including a pair of dominating performances against the division-leading Nationals. Fernandez has cashed the ‘under’ in four straight starts, while striking out 31 batters in his last three outings.
Coldest pitcher: Wily Peralta, Brewers (2-5, 6.99 ERA)
The good news for Peralta is he is facing a team in Atlanta that owns a dreadful 2-19 home record. The bad news is the right-hander is winless in his past three outings, while Milwaukee is 1-3 in his four starts away from Miller Park this season. Peralta has lasted six innings only once this season, while giving up at least four earned runs in six of nine starts. The Brewers are looking to pull off a sweep for the first time this season if they can knock off the Braves tonight, coming off a pair of one-run victories at Turner Field.
Biggest UNDER run: Astros (6-1 last seven)
For some reason, Houston has owned Baltimore at home over the last two seasons. The Astros picked up another one-run victory over the Orioles on Wednesday to improve to 5-1 in the past six home meetings. In fact, five of Houston’s last six games overall have been decided by one run, as seven combined runs or fewer have been scored in five of those contests. Houston’s pitching has stepped up at home by giving up three runs or less in nine of the last 11 games at Minute Maid Park, as the ‘under’ is 7-2-2 in this span.
Biggest OVER run: Yankees (8-3 last 11 at home)
New York’s six-game winning streak came to an end in Wednesday’s 8-4 defeat to Toronto, but the ‘over’ cashed for the eighth time in the past 11 contests in the Bronx. Following a slow start, the Yankees’ offense has picked it up in May by scoring at least four runs in 11 of the last 16 games, as the ‘over’ has hit 10 times in this stretch. CC Sabathia takes the mound for the Yankees this afternoon in the series finale against the Blue Jays, as New York has scored at least six runs in three of his last four starts.
Matchup to watch: Cardinals vs. Nationals
Washington pulled off a three-game sweep at St. Louis last month, while winning the final two games by outscoring the Cardinals, 12-2. In one of those blowout victories, Nationals’ right-hander Joe Ross scattered six hits and allowed one earned run in six innings of a 6-1 triumph, but that was the last time Ross won a game as he is 0-4 in his last four outings. Mike Leake has overcame a slow start for St. Louis by winning three straight starts, including a pair of road starts at Los Angeles against the Dodgers and Angels. The Cardinals have played well on the highway recently by posting a 9-4 record in their last 13 games away from Busch Stadium.
Betcha didn’t know:
The Diamondbacks look to avoid the sweep in a getaway game against the Pirates at PNC Park. Since the start of last season, Arizona owns a putrid 2-12 record in its last 14 tries when attempting to avoid the broom, including an 0-3 mark this season. However, Patrick Corbin takes the mound for Arizona, as the southpaw has pitched well on the road with a 4-1 team record in his five starts away from Chase Field.
Biggest public favorite: Pirates (-185) vs. Diamondbacks
Biggest public underdog: Orioles (+100) at Astros
Biggest line move: Marlins (-102 to -108) at Rays
