THE SPORTS ADVISORS
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Arizona (57-52) at L.A. Dodgers (54-55)
The N.L. West?s top two teams square off for the third game of a four-game set, with the Diamondbacks trotting out Yusmeiro Petit (1-1, 2.55 ERA) to face Hiroki Kuroda (5-8, 4.40) and the Dodgers. Arizona posted a 2-1 win Friday night in Manny Ramirez?s debut for the Dodgers. Arizona is on a 7-1 run, all on the road, and is 9-2 in its last 11 outings, but the DBacks are in a 1-5 slide in Petit?s last six road starts.
Los Angeles was on a 5-1 run before dropping the first two games of this series, and the Dodgers are still 6-3 in their last nine home games, but they are on a 1-6 skid in their last seven against winning teams.
The Diamondbacks, who lead the Dodgers by three games in the N.L. West, are 10-4 in the last 14 clashes in this rivalry, winning seven of 10 contests this season.
Petit, who has primarily been a reliever this season, will make his third start of the year. In his last start, July 22 against the Cubs, he allowed one run on three hits in five innings of a 9-2 home victory.
Kuroda has gotten pounded in his last three outings, allowing 18 runs (17 earned) in a mere 11 2/3 innings, for a bloated 13.91 ERA. That stretch started with an 8-7 win at Arizona, but Kuroda allowed six runs (five earned) on eight hits in just two innings of that July 18 game. On Monday against San Francisco, he got bashed for seven runs on nine hits in 3 2/3 innings in a 7-6 home loss.
Petit is 0-1 with a 1.17 ERA in five road appearances this season, though this will be his first road start, and he?s 0-0 with a 3.00 ERA in four career appearances against Los Angeles. Kuroda, meanwhile, is 3-1 with a 3.55 ERA in nine home starts this year, and he?s 0-1 with an inflated 8.22 ERA in two career starts against Arizona.
For Arizona, the over is on runs of 9-3 on the road, 13-5 overall and 4-0-1 with Johnson throwing at Dodger Stadium. On the flip side, L.A. sports under streaks of 8-1 overall, 17-5 against winning teams and 4-1 behind Kershaw at home.
ATS ADVANTAGE: ARIZONA
AMERICAN LEAGUE
L.A. Angels (69-40) at N.Y. Yankees (59-50)
The streaking Angels send Jered Weaver (9-8, 4.11 ERA) to the mound for the third game of a four-game series against the Yankees, who will give the ball to fellow right-hander Mike Mussina (13-7, 3.56).
In a pitchers? duel Friday night, Ervin Santana threw eight scoreless innings, and Torii Hunter?s RBI single in the top of the ninth gave Los Angeles a 1-0 victory. The Angels are on a 7-1 tear, all on the highway, and are on further runs of 14-2 in their last 16 games and 16-3 against the A.L. East. They also continue to sport baseball?s best road record at 38-19.
New York has lost five of its last six games, but the Yankees are still 11-4 in their last 15 home games, 14-5 in their last 19 against the A.L. West and 22-8 in their last 30 Saturday contests.
The Angels have won four of the last five meetings in this rivalry dating to last season, and they are 7-3 in the last 10 clashes and 4-0 in their last four against Mussina at Yankee Stadium.
Los Angeles has won in three of Weaver?s last four starts, including the last two, with Weaver getting the decision Monday in a 7-5 win at Boston. Weaver allowed three runs on six hits in 5 2/3 innings, seemingly having shaken off back troubles from a three-inning start in a 3-2 win over Cleveland on July 22.
Mussina had thrown at least six innings in 10 straight games before Monday?s start at home against Baltimore, in which he got tagged for six runs on eight hits in five innings of a 13-4 Orioles drubbing. In the four starts prior to that, he allowed just three earned runs in 26 innings (1.04 ERA).
Weaver is 5-4 with a 4.52 ERA in 11 road starts this year, and he?s 2-0 with a 3.27 ERA in two career starts against New York. Mussina is 8-6 with a 3.63 ERA in 15 home starts this year, and he?s 15-9 with a 3.71 ERA in 31 career starts against Los Angeles.
The over has cashed in five of the last six games in this rivalry and is 6-1 overall for New York (4-1 at home), but with Mussina throwing, the under is on runs of 6-1 overall, 7-1 at home and 7-2 against Los Angeles.
ATS ADVANTAGE: N.Y. YANKEES
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Arizona (57-52) at L.A. Dodgers (54-55)
The N.L. West?s top two teams square off for the third game of a four-game set, with the Diamondbacks trotting out Yusmeiro Petit (1-1, 2.55 ERA) to face Hiroki Kuroda (5-8, 4.40) and the Dodgers. Arizona posted a 2-1 win Friday night in Manny Ramirez?s debut for the Dodgers. Arizona is on a 7-1 run, all on the road, and is 9-2 in its last 11 outings, but the DBacks are in a 1-5 slide in Petit?s last six road starts.
Los Angeles was on a 5-1 run before dropping the first two games of this series, and the Dodgers are still 6-3 in their last nine home games, but they are on a 1-6 skid in their last seven against winning teams.
The Diamondbacks, who lead the Dodgers by three games in the N.L. West, are 10-4 in the last 14 clashes in this rivalry, winning seven of 10 contests this season.
Petit, who has primarily been a reliever this season, will make his third start of the year. In his last start, July 22 against the Cubs, he allowed one run on three hits in five innings of a 9-2 home victory.
Kuroda has gotten pounded in his last three outings, allowing 18 runs (17 earned) in a mere 11 2/3 innings, for a bloated 13.91 ERA. That stretch started with an 8-7 win at Arizona, but Kuroda allowed six runs (five earned) on eight hits in just two innings of that July 18 game. On Monday against San Francisco, he got bashed for seven runs on nine hits in 3 2/3 innings in a 7-6 home loss.
Petit is 0-1 with a 1.17 ERA in five road appearances this season, though this will be his first road start, and he?s 0-0 with a 3.00 ERA in four career appearances against Los Angeles. Kuroda, meanwhile, is 3-1 with a 3.55 ERA in nine home starts this year, and he?s 0-1 with an inflated 8.22 ERA in two career starts against Arizona.
For Arizona, the over is on runs of 9-3 on the road, 13-5 overall and 4-0-1 with Johnson throwing at Dodger Stadium. On the flip side, L.A. sports under streaks of 8-1 overall, 17-5 against winning teams and 4-1 behind Kershaw at home.
ATS ADVANTAGE: ARIZONA
AMERICAN LEAGUE
L.A. Angels (69-40) at N.Y. Yankees (59-50)
The streaking Angels send Jered Weaver (9-8, 4.11 ERA) to the mound for the third game of a four-game series against the Yankees, who will give the ball to fellow right-hander Mike Mussina (13-7, 3.56).
In a pitchers? duel Friday night, Ervin Santana threw eight scoreless innings, and Torii Hunter?s RBI single in the top of the ninth gave Los Angeles a 1-0 victory. The Angels are on a 7-1 tear, all on the highway, and are on further runs of 14-2 in their last 16 games and 16-3 against the A.L. East. They also continue to sport baseball?s best road record at 38-19.
New York has lost five of its last six games, but the Yankees are still 11-4 in their last 15 home games, 14-5 in their last 19 against the A.L. West and 22-8 in their last 30 Saturday contests.
The Angels have won four of the last five meetings in this rivalry dating to last season, and they are 7-3 in the last 10 clashes and 4-0 in their last four against Mussina at Yankee Stadium.
Los Angeles has won in three of Weaver?s last four starts, including the last two, with Weaver getting the decision Monday in a 7-5 win at Boston. Weaver allowed three runs on six hits in 5 2/3 innings, seemingly having shaken off back troubles from a three-inning start in a 3-2 win over Cleveland on July 22.
Mussina had thrown at least six innings in 10 straight games before Monday?s start at home against Baltimore, in which he got tagged for six runs on eight hits in five innings of a 13-4 Orioles drubbing. In the four starts prior to that, he allowed just three earned runs in 26 innings (1.04 ERA).
Weaver is 5-4 with a 4.52 ERA in 11 road starts this year, and he?s 2-0 with a 3.27 ERA in two career starts against New York. Mussina is 8-6 with a 3.63 ERA in 15 home starts this year, and he?s 15-9 with a 3.71 ERA in 31 career starts against Los Angeles.
The over has cashed in five of the last six games in this rivalry and is 6-1 overall for New York (4-1 at home), but with Mussina throwing, the under is on runs of 6-1 overall, 7-1 at home and 7-2 against Los Angeles.
ATS ADVANTAGE: N.Y. YANKEES
