OC Dooley
2* Over 8 New York Mets/Pittsburgh Pirates
Both sides have had recent infusions which will bolster overall OFFENSIVE production. Pittsburgh’s Neil Walker was leading all major league second-basemen in overall statistics prior to being placed on the disabled list and has since returned. Meanwhile with the recent callup of prized outfielder George Polanco who hit safely in each of his initial nine games at the major league level, the Pirates have one of the game’s more dynamic outfields led by MVP Andrew McCutchen. Yesterday the Pittsburgh bats were silenced on the road however it was due to Tampa ace David Price possibly making his final assignment in a Rays uniform. The Mets offense is coming off consecutive high scoring affairs and are now getting back outfielder Juan Lagares from a stint on the disabled list. Just last night the Mets received a three-run HOMER from Lucas Duda and a two-run HOMER from the same Chris Young (.201 average) who was rumored to be soon being released. On the mound for Pittsburgh tonight is the same Vance Worley who in his career (6.64 ERA) has struggled with facing the Mets attack
2* Over 8 New York Mets/Pittsburgh Pirates
Both sides have had recent infusions which will bolster overall OFFENSIVE production. Pittsburgh’s Neil Walker was leading all major league second-basemen in overall statistics prior to being placed on the disabled list and has since returned. Meanwhile with the recent callup of prized outfielder George Polanco who hit safely in each of his initial nine games at the major league level, the Pirates have one of the game’s more dynamic outfields led by MVP Andrew McCutchen. Yesterday the Pittsburgh bats were silenced on the road however it was due to Tampa ace David Price possibly making his final assignment in a Rays uniform. The Mets offense is coming off consecutive high scoring affairs and are now getting back outfielder Juan Lagares from a stint on the disabled list. Just last night the Mets received a three-run HOMER from Lucas Duda and a two-run HOMER from the same Chris Young (.201 average) who was rumored to be soon being released. On the mound for Pittsburgh tonight is the same Vance Worley who in his career (6.64 ERA) has struggled with facing the Mets attack
Larry Ness' 100% Situational Stunner (+$24,262 L54 days all sports)
My 9* Situational Stunner is on the StL Cards at 10:10 ET.
The Dodgers have won SEVEN of nine after beating Kansas City 5-4 on Wednesday and have won 12 of 17 to cut a 9 1/2 game deficit in the NL West to just THREE games, as the first-place Giants are only just 4-11 over their last 15 games. Coming to LA to open a four-game series tonight will be the St Louis Cardinals, who beat the Dodgers in six games in last season's NLCS. Getting the start in tonight’s opener will be Adam Wainwright, whose stellar outing five days ago helped the St Louis begin its current hot stretch.
St Louis has struggled at the plate most of the season (3.84 RPG) but it's been the Cards offense that has provided a major spark during the team’s current run. The Cardinals have averaged 6.2 runs while winning FOUR of five, with Wainwright pitching them to a 4-1 win over the Phils back on June 21 to jump start the run. Wainwright had missed one start due to elbow tendinitis but returned to limit Philadelphia to one run and six hits in eight innings (also 8 Ks and zero walks) on Saturday. Wainwright is 10-3 on the season in 15 starts (Cards are 12-3), posting a 2.08 ERA, a 98-21 KW ratio, an 0.91 WHIP plus opponents are batting just .200 against him.
He’ll be opposed by LA’s Josh Beckett. I was not a believer in Beckett’s ability to bounce back here in 2104 but he’s proven me wrong. Beckett has allowed just 62 hits over 86.2 innings, posted a 2.28 ERA, owns an 84-26 KW and a 1.02 WHIP while opponents have batted just .201 against him this season. However, Beckett is just 3-3 over his last six outings, despite giving up only seven earned runs in 40 innings during the stretch (1.58 ERA). He didn’t allow a run in all three of the victories, beginning with his first career no-hitter on May 25 against Philadelphia. Beckett deserves MUCH better than his 5-4 won-loss mark and the Dodgers should be WAAAY better than 6-8 in his 14 starts.
That said, you are what your record says you are and I believe more “bad news” is on the way for Beckett here, up against Wainwright, who attempts to become the National League’s first 11-game winner this season. Wainwright can match Masahiro Tanaka of the New York Yankees for most wins in the majors and he’s also second in the major-league ERA race behind Cincinnati’s Johnny Cueto (1.86). Wainwright’s had two “head-scratching” starts in 2014, allowing six ERs on 10 hits in five innings at Wrigley on May 2 and home on May 30 to the Giants, he allowed seven ERs on eight hits over 4.1 innings.
Now we CAN”T erase those games from his record but it’s worth pointing out that in Wainwright’s other 13 starts this year, he’s allowed two ERs or les in 12 of them, checking with 12 ERs allowed on just 60 hits over 99.1 innings for as 1.09 ERA. The Dodgers are MLB’s third-worst moneyline team at home (minus-$1,141), ahead of just Tampa Bay (minus-$1,685) & Arizona (minus-$1,851). Beckett is in the WRONG place at the WRONG time!
My 9* Situational Stunner is on the StL Cards at 10:10 ET.
The Dodgers have won SEVEN of nine after beating Kansas City 5-4 on Wednesday and have won 12 of 17 to cut a 9 1/2 game deficit in the NL West to just THREE games, as the first-place Giants are only just 4-11 over their last 15 games. Coming to LA to open a four-game series tonight will be the St Louis Cardinals, who beat the Dodgers in six games in last season's NLCS. Getting the start in tonight’s opener will be Adam Wainwright, whose stellar outing five days ago helped the St Louis begin its current hot stretch.
St Louis has struggled at the plate most of the season (3.84 RPG) but it's been the Cards offense that has provided a major spark during the team’s current run. The Cardinals have averaged 6.2 runs while winning FOUR of five, with Wainwright pitching them to a 4-1 win over the Phils back on June 21 to jump start the run. Wainwright had missed one start due to elbow tendinitis but returned to limit Philadelphia to one run and six hits in eight innings (also 8 Ks and zero walks) on Saturday. Wainwright is 10-3 on the season in 15 starts (Cards are 12-3), posting a 2.08 ERA, a 98-21 KW ratio, an 0.91 WHIP plus opponents are batting just .200 against him.
He’ll be opposed by LA’s Josh Beckett. I was not a believer in Beckett’s ability to bounce back here in 2104 but he’s proven me wrong. Beckett has allowed just 62 hits over 86.2 innings, posted a 2.28 ERA, owns an 84-26 KW and a 1.02 WHIP while opponents have batted just .201 against him this season. However, Beckett is just 3-3 over his last six outings, despite giving up only seven earned runs in 40 innings during the stretch (1.58 ERA). He didn’t allow a run in all three of the victories, beginning with his first career no-hitter on May 25 against Philadelphia. Beckett deserves MUCH better than his 5-4 won-loss mark and the Dodgers should be WAAAY better than 6-8 in his 14 starts.
That said, you are what your record says you are and I believe more “bad news” is on the way for Beckett here, up against Wainwright, who attempts to become the National League’s first 11-game winner this season. Wainwright can match Masahiro Tanaka of the New York Yankees for most wins in the majors and he’s also second in the major-league ERA race behind Cincinnati’s Johnny Cueto (1.86). Wainwright’s had two “head-scratching” starts in 2014, allowing six ERs on 10 hits in five innings at Wrigley on May 2 and home on May 30 to the Giants, he allowed seven ERs on eight hits over 4.1 innings.
Now we CAN”T erase those games from his record but it’s worth pointing out that in Wainwright’s other 13 starts this year, he’s allowed two ERs or les in 12 of them, checking with 12 ERs allowed on just 60 hits over 99.1 innings for as 1.09 ERA. The Dodgers are MLB’s third-worst moneyline team at home (minus-$1,141), ahead of just Tampa Bay (minus-$1,685) & Arizona (minus-$1,851). Beckett is in the WRONG place at the WRONG time!
