PORT PORT SPORTS
TODAY’S ACTION — (MLB)
BOSTON RED SOX (-125) AND
UNDER 9 – DETROIT TIGERS @ BOSTON RED SOX (-105)
The Red Sox pulled out a big win in last night’s ball game, possibly indicating that their cold streak is behind them. Boston had dropped 8 straight games before notching the W yesterday, while Detroit has been equally as bad lately, dropping to 3-8 ML in their L11 themselves. Detroit has been without Cabrera for a while now and they have managed without him somewhat, going 7-10 in those 17 games without him in the lineup. On the other side of the diamond,we actually hope the Red Sox will be without Pedroia in the lineup, as they are 0-6 ML in their L6 and a woeful 2-16 ML in their L18 games when Pedroia is in the lineup. Weird stat there. But the Tigers have a weird stat of their own, having not homered in two straight games, and now posting a 4-22 record in the L26 games without a HR. Unfortunately, Wright allows an average of nearly 1.7 HR a game. And he has been struggling overall, going 1-3 with a 5.79 ERA over his L5 starts. Fortunately he is facing off against Simon, who has been even worse as of late. Simon has compiled a 1-3 tally with a 10.13 ERA over his L6 outings, allowing 4 runs or more in each and every one. He has been just as bad on the road this season, going 2-4 with a 7.68 ERA in his L7 starts away from home. But the trends are screaming this one stays under here today. And even though the Red Sox have been scuffling lately, they have been listed as the underdog in those games. When playing as the favorite lately, the Sox are 6-1 in their L7 laying the odds and 7-3 in their L10 at home as the favorite. However they have won 5 straight as a favorite of -125 or higher and have gone 8-1 in the L9 in that same situation. The Tigers don’t win much when playing as the dog either, dropping each of their L5 as the underdog and going 2-10 in their L12 when getting favorable odds. One of those wins came as a +105 too. They are 1-7 ML in their L8 as an underdog of +120 or higher. Go with the BOSTON RED SOX and the UNDER in this Saturday matinee……
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS RL -1.5 (+140)
The Giants blasted the A’s with a 9-3 win Friday and they continue to roll to kick off this 2nd half. No reason to expect that to change here today, especially with their ace hurler on the mound. San Francisco is 9-1 ML in their L10 overall, hitting a combined .339 as a team and averaging 7 RPG in that stretch. They might need that hitting here today too, as Bumgarner has struggled against the A’s in his career, with a 1-2 mark and 6.38 ERA in 3 career starts against their rival over the bridge. Surprisingly he hasn’t pitched past the 6th in any of his L3 starts, bus he most likely will turn that page today, as he had gone 6 innings or more in 30 of his previous 32 starts. But even if he doesn’t, we won’t mind him turning it over to the bullpen, as they have been blazing as well lately, shutting down all opponents with a 1.05 ERA over the Giants L10 overall. Bassit has won only once in his brief career bouncing back and forth between the pros and minors, with the A’s posting a 1-8 record in the L9 games he has appeared in, dating back to last season. When the Giants win, they have been winning by more than one run usually, in fact, over their L21 wins, they are averaging a run-differential of 4.28 RPG. They come into this one having won their L3 games by exactly 6 runs in each. And again, when the Giants have been winning, they have been winning on the RL as well, going 19-2 on the RL in their L21 wins and 15-0 against the RL in their L15 wins in the bay area. Finally, the Giants are only 5-3 ML this season when they have been listed as the favorite of -170 or higher, but all 5 of those wins came by 2+ runs. Take the SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS on the run line in this one…..
BALTIMORE ORIOLES (-110)
The Orioles killed us yesterday, looking like a casher as a +140 underdog with a 1-0 lead with 2 out in the bottom of the 8th. Unfortunately it wasn’t to be as the Rays clawed through for 3 runs in the inning and held on for the 3-1 victory. It won’t be easy, but the trends suggest they get it don’t today. Why won’t it be easy? Because they face perhaps the hottest starter in MLB lately in Ramirez, who comes into this one having allowed 2 runs or less in each of his L9 starts. He has been downright impressive since becoming a starter, posting an 8-2 record with 2.09 ERA since the call was made. He has been even more dominant over his current 9-game stretch, going 6-1 with a 1.29 ERA in those outings. Included in that stretch was a 7 inning, 0 run performance in a 3-0 win over the O’s. But Gonzalez has been equally as good against the Rays in his career, posting a 1-1 mark and 0.84 in 4 starts against Tampa Bay this season. He also holds a 4-2 lifetime mark in Tampa Bay through 7 starts, with an ERA barely over 2. Take the BALTIMORE ORIOLES in this one……
