Joe Gavazzi MLB
MLB
LA Dodgers (Greinke) (-150) at NY Mets (Niese) 7:10 ET MLB
4% LA Dodgers (-150)
As predicted in my MLB article last week, the Dodgers are beginning to ascend, while the Mets are in descent. The New Yorkers are 1-7 of late, being outscored 31-17. At 10-13 at home, the Mets are being outscored 4.0 to 3.0. With last night’s 4-3 victory, LAD has gone 11-1 in this series. The Dodgers have averaged 5.5 RPG L10. Niese has pitched well for the season with a 2.54 ERA. But, there have been chinks in the armor in his last 2 starts. In those games, Niese has worked 10 innings, allowing 8 runs, 16 BR. Such is clearly not the case for Greinke, who has a record of 7-1, 2.03 ERA, a 61/12 KBB, and has allowed 2 or less runs in his last 21 starts. His last 15 starts on the road have seen Greinke go 11-1 with a 1.86 ERA.
Milwaukee Brewers (Garza) at Atlanta Braves (Harang) (-135) 7:10 ET
4% Atlanta (-135)
Even with last night’s 6-1 victory, the Braves are just 8-12 following their 20-7 start. That includes 3-8 away, in which they have been outscored 52-38. The Braves have still gone 11-3 against Milwaukee on this field, where Atlanta is a combined 71-34 L2Y. The pitching dichotomy seals the deal. Garza is 2-4 with a 4.83 ERA, including a 6.86 in 4 road starts. Recently against Atlanta, Garza is 0-3 with a 4.50 ERA. Harang has worked to a 2.98 ERA this season with a 59/17 KBB. In 5 starts spanning 30 innings at home, Harang has a 2.10 ERA. Finally, 5 recent starts against Milwaukee have seen Harang log a 1.42 ERA.
Arizona Diamondbacks (Miley) at St. Louis Cardinals (Lynn) (-150) 7:15 ET
3% St. Louis (-150)
Eager to ride the St. Louis bandwagon in this home stand! St. Louis has now gone 7-2 of late. In the last 6 games of this home stand, St. Louis has outscored the opposition 30-17. Miley has been mediocre at best this season with a 4.94 ERA. Lynn has been a bit better posting a mark of 5-2 with a 3.67 ERA and 53/19 KBB. Lynn pitched a return to form game in his previous outing, working 7 sterling innings in a 5-2 victory vs. Atlanta. In 5 appearances vs. Arizona, Lynn is 2-0 with a 2.37 ERA. Play the better pitcher and better team who is on a positive run at home.
Oakland A’s (Gray) (-110) at Tampa Bay Rays (Cobb) 4:10 ET
3% Oakland (-110)
Hard to believe that yesterday I threw out an Oakland team that has been a meal ticket for us for more than a week. Of course, they won (3-2) extending their winning streak to 5-0 and 11-1, in which they have outscored the opposition 77-20. The A’s are now 18-6 away, where they have outscored foes 5.9 to 3.1. Such is not the case for a TBay team who has lost 4 straight, is 1-9 at home of late, and has scored just 16 total runs in their last 8 games. Cobb is a solid starter but has not pitched since April 12th. He figures to be on a limited pitch count. Oakland has won 7/9 Gray starts, in which he has a 2.10 ERA. In his most recent 4 starts spanning 28 IP, Gray has allowed just 6 runs on 16 hits. Four road starts have spanned 28 IP with a 1.29 ERA.
NY Yankees (Phelps) at Chicago White Sox (Sale) (-150) 8:10 ET
3% Chicago White Sox (-150)
No Abreu? No problem! The Pale Hose took 2/3 against the Royals, scoring 15 runs in the process. Now, they get back their best starter, who has been on the shelf for 5 weeks with a flexor strain in his pitching arm. But, rehab has gone well, meaning there will be no pitch count for Sale. Prior to his stint on the DL, Sale was 3-0 with a 2.30 ERA and 29/7 KBB. In 6 appearances vs. NYY, Sale has a 1.21 ERA with 30 Ks in 25 2/3 IP. Phelps has struggled on the road, where in 7 appearances spanning 17 2/3 IP, he has a 5.09 ERA. Remember those Yankee stats, 21-0 when allowing 3 or less runs, but 3-21 when giving up 4 or more runs. I think CWS can get 4 or more tonight, while Sale will do the rest.
