Welcome to Ecks & Bacon for August 23, 2014 (Chalk)
Told you that this was gonna be a busy weekend, and my time for homework is limited. As a matter of fact, I am typing this from the "Toptional" pool at the Mandalay Bay. If you are questioning my flow, C'MON, it's VEGAS BABY!!! Okay, who's jealous??? Raise your hand. It was a very complex decision as to whether or not I would go topless, but after looking in the mirror, and thinking that three or four extra pounds ain't gonna be a big deal, Eck pulled off the old N.Y. Daily News softball T-shirt. Sorry, NO selfies. As for the rest of the patrons, you'll have to Email me to get all the details. Don't wanna let a Saturday go without a little bit of a wager, so we'll throw down on the Arsenal/Everton game and pop half a Benjamin on the draw. Why the draw? Three of the last four league games between these two have been draws. It's never easy to beat Everton at home, but the Toffees will be without Ross Barkley and Bryan Oviedo, while the Gunners should have Mesut Ozil, Per Mertesacker and Lukas Podolski back on the pitch. Add it up, and it comes out draw.It had to end sometime, but last night wasn't what we were expecting. The Nationals 10 game winning streak came to an end as the Giants busted out a 10-3 W. That cost me $75 bones, and after pressing the proper buttons, the calculator says that +$1843 is the current figure.And for all my baseball fanatics, we're leaning on the Cubs this afternoon.
Andre Gomes
MLB Pick #1: 981 Baltimore Orioles @ 982 Chicago Cubs
(Starting Pitchers: B. Norris vs. K. Hendricks)
Rating: 3 units - Single Dime Play
Pick: 981 Baltimore Orioles ML @ -115 / 1.87 on Bookmaker
BAL's SP Bud Norris has been great lately w/ a nice run of 4 straight quality outings. Note that he faced some tough matchups in those starts like LAA, TOR & CWS - all dangerous lineups and still he looked pretty good.
His K% numbers have been excellent in this second half of season w/ 22.4% K% mark vs. 16.5% in this second half of season and this is good news for him because CHC lineup has been a "K machine" for quite some time - I have them ranked dead last (#30) in the league in L30 days w/ an abysmal 26.0% K% mark!
BAL will face K. Hendricks who has been pretty good as well. However his advanced numbers are screaming for some regression as his 1.66 ERA does not match his 3.54 FIP & 3.85 xFIP numbers! BAL offense was shut down by J. Arrieta last night and they are looking to bounce back today - they are ranked #6 in L14 days, so I expect them to do some damage in here.
MLB Pick #1: 981 Baltimore Orioles @ 982 Chicago Cubs
(Starting Pitchers: B. Norris vs. K. Hendricks)
Rating: 3 units - Single Dime Play
Pick: 981 Baltimore Orioles ML @ -115 / 1.87 on Bookmaker
BAL's SP Bud Norris has been great lately w/ a nice run of 4 straight quality outings. Note that he faced some tough matchups in those starts like LAA, TOR & CWS - all dangerous lineups and still he looked pretty good.
His K% numbers have been excellent in this second half of season w/ 22.4% K% mark vs. 16.5% in this second half of season and this is good news for him because CHC lineup has been a "K machine" for quite some time - I have them ranked dead last (#30) in the league in L30 days w/ an abysmal 26.0% K% mark!
BAL will face K. Hendricks who has been pretty good as well. However his advanced numbers are screaming for some regression as his 1.66 ERA does not match his 3.54 FIP & 3.85 xFIP numbers! BAL offense was shut down by J. Arrieta last night and they are looking to bounce back today - they are ranked #6 in L14 days, so I expect them to do some damage in here.
LineCatchers
The Mariners take on the Red Sox in game 2 of their mini 3 game set at Fenway Park this afternoon and left it late on Friday to wipe out a 3-0 deficit in the 9th inning by scorching Koji Uehara for 5 ER on 5 hits and a walk in just 2/3 IP.
Saturday sees Seattle give the baseball to righty Chris Young who has been solid all season, he sports a 12-6 record with a 3.11 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 24 starts this campaign. Young has been especially stingy in 11 ‘Day’ starts, this year, going 5-2 with a 2.51 ERA and 1.00 WHIP. Among qualifying pitchers (Min 60 IP), he has held opponents to a .195 BAA which ranks 3rd in all of baseball in those matinee outings.
Brandon Workman gets the nod the the Red Sox and has been fairly inconsistent so far this season having struggled with his command throughout 2014. He has the tendency to work up 3 ball counts on a regular basis. Workman is 1-6 with a 4.41 ERA and 1.28 WHIP in 11 starts this season. He has issued an average of 2.4 walks per game in his 11 games as a starter and the Red Sox are just 2-9 when Workman toes the rubber. In 6 ‘Home’ starts in 2014, the Boston hurler has pitched to a 4.46 ERA and 1.40 WHIP.
With the Mariners sitting just half a game above the Tigers in the 2nd AL WC spot, I believe the vale is on the road team in this match up. During their six-game skid, the Red Sox are just 3-for-47 with RISP and have left 50 men on base in those 6 games. Being opposed by the stingy Chris Young, I foresee Boston’s opportunity’s for run scoring to be few and far between.
Seattle Mariners - 109
The Mariners take on the Red Sox in game 2 of their mini 3 game set at Fenway Park this afternoon and left it late on Friday to wipe out a 3-0 deficit in the 9th inning by scorching Koji Uehara for 5 ER on 5 hits and a walk in just 2/3 IP.
Saturday sees Seattle give the baseball to righty Chris Young who has been solid all season, he sports a 12-6 record with a 3.11 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 24 starts this campaign. Young has been especially stingy in 11 ‘Day’ starts, this year, going 5-2 with a 2.51 ERA and 1.00 WHIP. Among qualifying pitchers (Min 60 IP), he has held opponents to a .195 BAA which ranks 3rd in all of baseball in those matinee outings.
Brandon Workman gets the nod the the Red Sox and has been fairly inconsistent so far this season having struggled with his command throughout 2014. He has the tendency to work up 3 ball counts on a regular basis. Workman is 1-6 with a 4.41 ERA and 1.28 WHIP in 11 starts this season. He has issued an average of 2.4 walks per game in his 11 games as a starter and the Red Sox are just 2-9 when Workman toes the rubber. In 6 ‘Home’ starts in 2014, the Boston hurler has pitched to a 4.46 ERA and 1.40 WHIP.
With the Mariners sitting just half a game above the Tigers in the 2nd AL WC spot, I believe the vale is on the road team in this match up. During their six-game skid, the Red Sox are just 3-for-47 with RISP and have left 50 men on base in those 6 games. Being opposed by the stingy Chris Young, I foresee Boston’s opportunity’s for run scoring to be few and far between.
Seattle Mariners - 109
