Friday's Tip Sheet
July 17, 2015
Seattle Mariners at New York Yankees | 7:10 p.m. ET (MLB Network)
It's been an extremely frustrating season for the Seattle Mariners, who were picked by many to be a serious contender in the American League this year. Instead, they've floundered to a 41-48 mark, and are barely separated from last-place Oakland within the division. One of the bright spots, though, has been the performance of rookie Mike Montgomery (4-3, 2.29 ERA), tonight's starting pitcher for the road team at Yankee Stadium. Montgomery, you may recall, was one of the big names in the controversial James Shields-Wil Myers trade a few years ago, but despite this, he didn't even make his Major League debut until about a month-and-a-half ago. In fact, it came against these same Yankees, whom he held to one run on four hits in six sharp innings. Thus, he looks like a good value as a +150 road 'dog.
It won't be easy, though, as Seattle must combat Yankees Opening Day starter Masahiro Tanaka (5-3, 3.63 ERA), who has been up-and-down for the Bronx Bombers since returning from injury at the beginning of June. He's coming off one of his finest outings of the season, however, as he lasted a season-high 7.2 innings against the Athletics, yielding only two hits and one run while striking out six. That could be a good sign for the Yankees, who are trying to hold onto first-place in one of baseball's tightest division races this year with all five teams realistically in it. Tanaka's starts have seen the over go 5-3-3, and the over/under for this one is 7.5 at most books.
Los Angeles Dodgers at Washington Nationals | 7:05 p.m. ET (MLB Network)
If you're not getting the Mariners-Yankees game on MLB Network tonight, then this is what will be showcased instead, as two of the top contenders in the National League square off against one another to kick off the season's second half. Both teams are looking to maintain their stranglehold on their respective divisions, especially the Nationals, who are now just two up on the surging second-place Mets in the NL East. The Nats will go with Jordan Zimmermann (8-5, 3.22 ERA) to get things started, as the 29-year-old has been enjoying another solid campaign in 2015. His consistency has helped propel Washington to an 11-7 record in his starting assignments, including four straight victories.
The Dodgers have a bit more room to spare in the NL West, being 4.5 games up one the defending World Champion Giants, who reside right behind them. They're countering with Mike Bolsinger (4-3, 3.08 ERA), who has been one of the surprise stories of '15 after a disastrous rookie season in Arizona last year. In fact, opponents have hit nearly 60 points lower against the right-hander this season, having a .244 batting average versus Bolsinger compared to a .308 mark a season go. Remarkably, Bolsinger has been such a godsend for the Dodgers, who have endured numerous injuries to their starting rotation, that he's allowed two runs or less in 10 of his 13 starts. He's a +105 road 'dog in this series opener.
Chicago Cubs at Atlanta Braves | 7:35 p.m. ET
Go ahead and try and guess what starting pitcher has the longest active scoreless streak in baseball right now. That distinction surprisingly belongs to one of the two pitchers involved in this matchup in Atlanta this evening, that being Cubs second-year right-hander Kyle Hendricks (4-4, 3.55 ERA), who has spun 22.1 consecutive innings without surrendering a single run. Hendricks hasn't allowed a run in almost a month, in fact, last doing so on June 24 against the Dodgers. Since then, he's lowered his ERA almost a full run, and has also registered four straight 'under' victories. As a result, the linesmakers are being tight on this series opener, offering an over/under of just 7.
That aforementioned scoreless streak certainly wouldn't belong to the other pitcher in tonight's affair from Turner Field, that being Julio Teheran (6-4, 4.56 ERA), who has clearly been one of the more disappointing hurlers this year after such successful showings in each of the prior two seasons, especially last year when he won 14 games and produced a desirable 2.89 ERA. Teheran has allowed four runs or more in 7 of his 18 outings this year, which is not a good ratio, but he has improved as of late, having churned out quality starts in three of his past four tries. He's also lasted six innings or more in eight straight assignments, perhaps serving as a sign that he's turned the corner. Despite the fact that the Braves are 6-2 when Teheran starts at home, Atlanta is a +115 home 'dog this evening.
Minnesota Twins at Oakland Athletics | 10:05 p.m. ET
When Sonny Gray (10-3, 2.04 ERA) toes the rubber at home at the O.co Coliseum in Oakland, a quality start is seemingly automatic. That's been exactly the case through the first half of the 2015 season, as Gray has registered six quality starts in seven tries from his home field, although the one instance where he didn't accomplish this came in his last home outing on June 19 against the Angels. Even so, Gray, has been enjoying another phenomenal season in what has been a brilliant career thus far for the A's, and he's continued his home success, posting a ridiculous 0.83 WHIP and .185 opposing batting average in seven home starts, to go along with a 2.32 ERA in those outings. The 24-year-old All-Star did not pitch in the Midsummer Classic this past Tuesday, but that's because he started Oakland's last game on Sunday, when he recorded his finest performance of the campaign -- a complete game, two-hit shutout of the Indians.
The Twins, one of the feel-good stories of the first-half, will look to try and sustain their success, starting with Ervin Santana (0-0, 6.00 ERA), their big free-agent acquisition, going in game one. Santana, you probably recall, was suspended for the first 80 games of the season due to PEDs, and since coming back, he's made a couple of starts, yielding mixed results. He was great his first time out against the Royals, holding the American League's best offense to two runs on three hits over eight sharp innings, while striking out eight as well. In his second start of the year, though, which came a week ago against the Tigers, he was belted around for six runs on eight hits in just four innings, hence why his ERA stands where it's currently at. He'll have to bring his 'A' game if he wants to take down Gray before his home fans, and as a result, he's a +160 road 'dog and the over/under is 7.
July 17, 2015
Seattle Mariners at New York Yankees | 7:10 p.m. ET (MLB Network)
It's been an extremely frustrating season for the Seattle Mariners, who were picked by many to be a serious contender in the American League this year. Instead, they've floundered to a 41-48 mark, and are barely separated from last-place Oakland within the division. One of the bright spots, though, has been the performance of rookie Mike Montgomery (4-3, 2.29 ERA), tonight's starting pitcher for the road team at Yankee Stadium. Montgomery, you may recall, was one of the big names in the controversial James Shields-Wil Myers trade a few years ago, but despite this, he didn't even make his Major League debut until about a month-and-a-half ago. In fact, it came against these same Yankees, whom he held to one run on four hits in six sharp innings. Thus, he looks like a good value as a +150 road 'dog.
It won't be easy, though, as Seattle must combat Yankees Opening Day starter Masahiro Tanaka (5-3, 3.63 ERA), who has been up-and-down for the Bronx Bombers since returning from injury at the beginning of June. He's coming off one of his finest outings of the season, however, as he lasted a season-high 7.2 innings against the Athletics, yielding only two hits and one run while striking out six. That could be a good sign for the Yankees, who are trying to hold onto first-place in one of baseball's tightest division races this year with all five teams realistically in it. Tanaka's starts have seen the over go 5-3-3, and the over/under for this one is 7.5 at most books.
Los Angeles Dodgers at Washington Nationals | 7:05 p.m. ET (MLB Network)
If you're not getting the Mariners-Yankees game on MLB Network tonight, then this is what will be showcased instead, as two of the top contenders in the National League square off against one another to kick off the season's second half. Both teams are looking to maintain their stranglehold on their respective divisions, especially the Nationals, who are now just two up on the surging second-place Mets in the NL East. The Nats will go with Jordan Zimmermann (8-5, 3.22 ERA) to get things started, as the 29-year-old has been enjoying another solid campaign in 2015. His consistency has helped propel Washington to an 11-7 record in his starting assignments, including four straight victories.
The Dodgers have a bit more room to spare in the NL West, being 4.5 games up one the defending World Champion Giants, who reside right behind them. They're countering with Mike Bolsinger (4-3, 3.08 ERA), who has been one of the surprise stories of '15 after a disastrous rookie season in Arizona last year. In fact, opponents have hit nearly 60 points lower against the right-hander this season, having a .244 batting average versus Bolsinger compared to a .308 mark a season go. Remarkably, Bolsinger has been such a godsend for the Dodgers, who have endured numerous injuries to their starting rotation, that he's allowed two runs or less in 10 of his 13 starts. He's a +105 road 'dog in this series opener.
Chicago Cubs at Atlanta Braves | 7:35 p.m. ET
Go ahead and try and guess what starting pitcher has the longest active scoreless streak in baseball right now. That distinction surprisingly belongs to one of the two pitchers involved in this matchup in Atlanta this evening, that being Cubs second-year right-hander Kyle Hendricks (4-4, 3.55 ERA), who has spun 22.1 consecutive innings without surrendering a single run. Hendricks hasn't allowed a run in almost a month, in fact, last doing so on June 24 against the Dodgers. Since then, he's lowered his ERA almost a full run, and has also registered four straight 'under' victories. As a result, the linesmakers are being tight on this series opener, offering an over/under of just 7.
That aforementioned scoreless streak certainly wouldn't belong to the other pitcher in tonight's affair from Turner Field, that being Julio Teheran (6-4, 4.56 ERA), who has clearly been one of the more disappointing hurlers this year after such successful showings in each of the prior two seasons, especially last year when he won 14 games and produced a desirable 2.89 ERA. Teheran has allowed four runs or more in 7 of his 18 outings this year, which is not a good ratio, but he has improved as of late, having churned out quality starts in three of his past four tries. He's also lasted six innings or more in eight straight assignments, perhaps serving as a sign that he's turned the corner. Despite the fact that the Braves are 6-2 when Teheran starts at home, Atlanta is a +115 home 'dog this evening.
Minnesota Twins at Oakland Athletics | 10:05 p.m. ET
When Sonny Gray (10-3, 2.04 ERA) toes the rubber at home at the O.co Coliseum in Oakland, a quality start is seemingly automatic. That's been exactly the case through the first half of the 2015 season, as Gray has registered six quality starts in seven tries from his home field, although the one instance where he didn't accomplish this came in his last home outing on June 19 against the Angels. Even so, Gray, has been enjoying another phenomenal season in what has been a brilliant career thus far for the A's, and he's continued his home success, posting a ridiculous 0.83 WHIP and .185 opposing batting average in seven home starts, to go along with a 2.32 ERA in those outings. The 24-year-old All-Star did not pitch in the Midsummer Classic this past Tuesday, but that's because he started Oakland's last game on Sunday, when he recorded his finest performance of the campaign -- a complete game, two-hit shutout of the Indians.
The Twins, one of the feel-good stories of the first-half, will look to try and sustain their success, starting with Ervin Santana (0-0, 6.00 ERA), their big free-agent acquisition, going in game one. Santana, you probably recall, was suspended for the first 80 games of the season due to PEDs, and since coming back, he's made a couple of starts, yielding mixed results. He was great his first time out against the Royals, holding the American League's best offense to two runs on three hits over eight sharp innings, while striking out eight as well. In his second start of the year, though, which came a week ago against the Tigers, he was belted around for six runs on eight hits in just four innings, hence why his ERA stands where it's currently at. He'll have to bring his 'A' game if he wants to take down Gray before his home fans, and as a result, he's a +160 road 'dog and the over/under is 7.
