SPORTS ADVISORS
N.Y. Mets (73-59) at Philadelphia (72-59)
Fresh off a four-game home sweep of the Dodgers, the Phillies now open a critical two-game set against the first-place Mets at Citizens Bank Park, with Jamie Moyer (11-7, 3.54 ERA) set to oppose New York’s Pedro Martinez (4-3, 4.97).
Philadelphia completed the sweep of Los Angeles with a 5-0 victory Monday night, outscoring the Dodgers 27-5 in the four games. The Phillies, who trail the Mets by a half-game in the N.L. East race, are on streaks of 8-2 overall, 8-1 at home, 8-3 in divisional play and 24-11 on Tuesdays.
New York pounded the Astros 9-1 on Monday to halt a two-game slide and split the four-game series with Houston. The Mets are on impressive runs of 11-3 overall, 6-1 on the road, 16-5 against the N.L. West and 4-0 on Tuesdays. Also, New York is 9-4 against the Phillies this year, including 5-1 in the last six overall and 5-2 in games played at Citizens Bank Park.
Martinez had a streak of three straight quality starts snapped in Thursday’s outing against the Braves, as he gave four runs on seven hits in seven innings, but New York’s offense bailed him out in winning 5-4 at home. Martinez, who has pitched at least six innings in each of his last four trips to the bump, is 3-1 on the road despite an ugly 6.15 ERA.
Martinez has faced the Phillies once this year, back on July 7, when he allowed two runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings, getting a no-decision in a 10-9 Mets victory. Prior to that contest, New York had lost four straight games against Philadelphia with Martinez on the hill. For his career, the veteran right-hander is 8-5 with a 3.27 ERA in 23 games (19 starts) against the Phillies.
Moyer got a no-decision in Thursday’s home start against Washington, giving up just two runs (one earned) on five hits in 6 2/3 innings, with his team losing, 4-3. The 45-year-old southpaw has now given up three earned runs or less in 14 consecutive starts, lowering his ERA from 4.65 to 3.54, but Philadelphia is just 7-7 during this stretch.
At home this year, Moyer is 4-4 with a 4.32 ERA in 13 starts. He’s also 6-4 with a 2.66 ERA in 15 lifetime starts against the Mets, including 1-1 with a 2.81 ERA in four efforts this season. three of which the Phillies have lost.
For the Mets, the over is on streaks of 5-1-1 overall (3-0 last three), 5-2-1 with Martinez on the mound, 19-7-1 when Martinez works on the road (7-1 this year) and 7-2 when Martinez faces Philadelphia. Conversely, the under is 6-1-1 in the Phillies’ last eight games overall, 10-1-1 in their last 12 at home, 4-0-1 in their last five versus the N.L. East, 11-3 in Moyer’s past 14 outings and 3-1 when Moyer has faced New York this year.
ATS ADVANTAGE:NONE
Milwaukee (76-55) at St. Louis (73-59)
The two teams chasing the Cubs in the N.L. Central kick off a brief two-game series at Busch Stadium, with the Brewers’ Ben Sheets (11-7, 3.75) set to face off against Todd Wellemeyer.
Both squads were off Monday, and both have been playing solid baseball of late, with Milwaukee winning four straight and 14 of its last 18, while the Cardinals have taken seven of their last 10. However, the Brewers, who are 16-6 in August, have won six straight games against St. Louis and eight of last nine, including a four-game sweep at Busch Stadium a month ago.
Milwaukee, which leads the Redbirds by 3½ games in the wild-card race, sports additional hot streaks of 14-5 on the road, 35-17 on Tuesdays and 13-5 when Sheets works on the road.
Sheets has struggled of late, losing four of his last five starts while posting a 4.36 ERA. He’s also 5-14 with a 4.20 ERA in 25 career starts against the Cardinals, getting no-decisions with a 3.21 ERA in two outings versus the Redbirds this season. On the bright side, Sheets is 6-3 with a 2.91 ERA in 15 road starts, 10 of which the Brewers have won.
Wellemeyer is 3-0 with a 2.66 ERA in his last three outings, he’s undefeated in his last eight and he’s given up two earned runs or fewer in five of his last six starts. However, all four of the right-hander’s losses have come at home, where he is 7-4 with a 4.58 ERA. Finally, in two career starts against Milwaukee (both this year), Wellemeyer has allowed just four runs (two earned) in 11 innings, but St. Louis lost both games (one home, one road) by identical 4-3 scores.
The under is 4-0 in Sheets’ last four starts and 10-3-1 in his last 14 against the Cardinals (6-1 in the last seven at Busch Stadium. The under is also on streaks of 4-0 in this rivalry, 5-0 when these teams meet in St. Louis, 13-6-3 for the Brewers overall, 12-3-1 for the Brewers on the road and 10-4-1 when Wellemeyer faces the N.L. Central.
ATS ADVANTAGE:MILWAUKEE and UNDER
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Boston (75-55) at N.Y. Yankees (70-60)
The Red Sox head to Yankee Stadium for the final time, with veteran knuckleballer Tim Wakefield (7-8, 3.67) set to return from the disabled list and oppose New York’s Andy Pettitte (13-9, 4.17).
The Yankees took Monday off after sweeping a three-game weekend series at Baltimore, putting up 22 runs in the process. New York is 6-2 in its last eight games overall, 4-1 in its last five at home and 62-29 in Pettitte’s last 96 starts at the Stadium.
Boston, which also was idle Monday, is 4-2 on its current road trip, alternating wins and losses in its last five contests. The Red Sox are still just 32-37 on the road in 2008, compared with 43-18 at Fenway Park.
These rivals have split their 12 meetings this season, but New York has won four of the last five. Also, the Yankees have won seven of the last 10 clashes inside their yard.
Wakefield has been sidelined since Aug. 6, when he held the Royals to two runs (one earned) on four hits in six innings of an 8-2 road victory. The right-hander has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 18 of his 23 starts this season, giving up two runs or fewer in nine of the last 13. However, despite the win in Kansas City, he’s only 2-5 in 13 road outings despite a 3.95 ERA, and Boston has dropped seven of his last nine on the highway.
Pettitte is coming off Wednesday’s strong 5-1 win at Toronto, as he allowed just one run on five hits and no walks in seven innings. The veteran southpaw has pitched exactly seven innings in each of his last three starts (3.00 ERA), but New York is 1-4 in his last five efforts and 6-7 in his 13 homes starts in 2008, with Pettitte posting a 4.72 ERA in the Bronx.
Wakefield has struggled against the Yankees in his career, going 9-17 with a 5.14 ERA in 47 regular-season appearances (30 starts). In fact, the Red Sox are 0-6 the last six times Wakefield has faced New York, including 0-3 in the Bronx. Conversely, the Yankees are 5-1 in Pettitte’s last six starts against Boston, and he’s 16-7 with a 3.54 ERA in his career versus the BoSox.
The over is on streaks of 7-3 for the Yankees at home, 8-3 for the Yankees against the A.L. East, 15-7 for the Yankees on grass, 5-0-2 for the Red Sox overall (all against divisional foes) and 4-0 for the Red Sox on the road. The over is also 7-2 in Pettitte’s last nine starts against the Red Sox, but the under is 11-5-3 in Wakefield’s last 19 against New York (including 6-0-3 in the last nine at Yankee Stadium).
ATS ADVANTAGE:N.Y. YANKEES and OVER
N.Y. Mets (73-59) at Philadelphia (72-59)
Fresh off a four-game home sweep of the Dodgers, the Phillies now open a critical two-game set against the first-place Mets at Citizens Bank Park, with Jamie Moyer (11-7, 3.54 ERA) set to oppose New York’s Pedro Martinez (4-3, 4.97).
Philadelphia completed the sweep of Los Angeles with a 5-0 victory Monday night, outscoring the Dodgers 27-5 in the four games. The Phillies, who trail the Mets by a half-game in the N.L. East race, are on streaks of 8-2 overall, 8-1 at home, 8-3 in divisional play and 24-11 on Tuesdays.
New York pounded the Astros 9-1 on Monday to halt a two-game slide and split the four-game series with Houston. The Mets are on impressive runs of 11-3 overall, 6-1 on the road, 16-5 against the N.L. West and 4-0 on Tuesdays. Also, New York is 9-4 against the Phillies this year, including 5-1 in the last six overall and 5-2 in games played at Citizens Bank Park.
Martinez had a streak of three straight quality starts snapped in Thursday’s outing against the Braves, as he gave four runs on seven hits in seven innings, but New York’s offense bailed him out in winning 5-4 at home. Martinez, who has pitched at least six innings in each of his last four trips to the bump, is 3-1 on the road despite an ugly 6.15 ERA.
Martinez has faced the Phillies once this year, back on July 7, when he allowed two runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings, getting a no-decision in a 10-9 Mets victory. Prior to that contest, New York had lost four straight games against Philadelphia with Martinez on the hill. For his career, the veteran right-hander is 8-5 with a 3.27 ERA in 23 games (19 starts) against the Phillies.
Moyer got a no-decision in Thursday’s home start against Washington, giving up just two runs (one earned) on five hits in 6 2/3 innings, with his team losing, 4-3. The 45-year-old southpaw has now given up three earned runs or less in 14 consecutive starts, lowering his ERA from 4.65 to 3.54, but Philadelphia is just 7-7 during this stretch.
At home this year, Moyer is 4-4 with a 4.32 ERA in 13 starts. He’s also 6-4 with a 2.66 ERA in 15 lifetime starts against the Mets, including 1-1 with a 2.81 ERA in four efforts this season. three of which the Phillies have lost.
For the Mets, the over is on streaks of 5-1-1 overall (3-0 last three), 5-2-1 with Martinez on the mound, 19-7-1 when Martinez works on the road (7-1 this year) and 7-2 when Martinez faces Philadelphia. Conversely, the under is 6-1-1 in the Phillies’ last eight games overall, 10-1-1 in their last 12 at home, 4-0-1 in their last five versus the N.L. East, 11-3 in Moyer’s past 14 outings and 3-1 when Moyer has faced New York this year.
ATS ADVANTAGE:NONE
Milwaukee (76-55) at St. Louis (73-59)
The two teams chasing the Cubs in the N.L. Central kick off a brief two-game series at Busch Stadium, with the Brewers’ Ben Sheets (11-7, 3.75) set to face off against Todd Wellemeyer.
Both squads were off Monday, and both have been playing solid baseball of late, with Milwaukee winning four straight and 14 of its last 18, while the Cardinals have taken seven of their last 10. However, the Brewers, who are 16-6 in August, have won six straight games against St. Louis and eight of last nine, including a four-game sweep at Busch Stadium a month ago.
Milwaukee, which leads the Redbirds by 3½ games in the wild-card race, sports additional hot streaks of 14-5 on the road, 35-17 on Tuesdays and 13-5 when Sheets works on the road.
Sheets has struggled of late, losing four of his last five starts while posting a 4.36 ERA. He’s also 5-14 with a 4.20 ERA in 25 career starts against the Cardinals, getting no-decisions with a 3.21 ERA in two outings versus the Redbirds this season. On the bright side, Sheets is 6-3 with a 2.91 ERA in 15 road starts, 10 of which the Brewers have won.
Wellemeyer is 3-0 with a 2.66 ERA in his last three outings, he’s undefeated in his last eight and he’s given up two earned runs or fewer in five of his last six starts. However, all four of the right-hander’s losses have come at home, where he is 7-4 with a 4.58 ERA. Finally, in two career starts against Milwaukee (both this year), Wellemeyer has allowed just four runs (two earned) in 11 innings, but St. Louis lost both games (one home, one road) by identical 4-3 scores.
The under is 4-0 in Sheets’ last four starts and 10-3-1 in his last 14 against the Cardinals (6-1 in the last seven at Busch Stadium. The under is also on streaks of 4-0 in this rivalry, 5-0 when these teams meet in St. Louis, 13-6-3 for the Brewers overall, 12-3-1 for the Brewers on the road and 10-4-1 when Wellemeyer faces the N.L. Central.
ATS ADVANTAGE:MILWAUKEE and UNDER
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Boston (75-55) at N.Y. Yankees (70-60)
The Red Sox head to Yankee Stadium for the final time, with veteran knuckleballer Tim Wakefield (7-8, 3.67) set to return from the disabled list and oppose New York’s Andy Pettitte (13-9, 4.17).
The Yankees took Monday off after sweeping a three-game weekend series at Baltimore, putting up 22 runs in the process. New York is 6-2 in its last eight games overall, 4-1 in its last five at home and 62-29 in Pettitte’s last 96 starts at the Stadium.
Boston, which also was idle Monday, is 4-2 on its current road trip, alternating wins and losses in its last five contests. The Red Sox are still just 32-37 on the road in 2008, compared with 43-18 at Fenway Park.
These rivals have split their 12 meetings this season, but New York has won four of the last five. Also, the Yankees have won seven of the last 10 clashes inside their yard.
Wakefield has been sidelined since Aug. 6, when he held the Royals to two runs (one earned) on four hits in six innings of an 8-2 road victory. The right-hander has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 18 of his 23 starts this season, giving up two runs or fewer in nine of the last 13. However, despite the win in Kansas City, he’s only 2-5 in 13 road outings despite a 3.95 ERA, and Boston has dropped seven of his last nine on the highway.
Pettitte is coming off Wednesday’s strong 5-1 win at Toronto, as he allowed just one run on five hits and no walks in seven innings. The veteran southpaw has pitched exactly seven innings in each of his last three starts (3.00 ERA), but New York is 1-4 in his last five efforts and 6-7 in his 13 homes starts in 2008, with Pettitte posting a 4.72 ERA in the Bronx.
Wakefield has struggled against the Yankees in his career, going 9-17 with a 5.14 ERA in 47 regular-season appearances (30 starts). In fact, the Red Sox are 0-6 the last six times Wakefield has faced New York, including 0-3 in the Bronx. Conversely, the Yankees are 5-1 in Pettitte’s last six starts against Boston, and he’s 16-7 with a 3.54 ERA in his career versus the BoSox.
The over is on streaks of 7-3 for the Yankees at home, 8-3 for the Yankees against the A.L. East, 15-7 for the Yankees on grass, 5-0-2 for the Red Sox overall (all against divisional foes) and 4-0 for the Red Sox on the road. The over is also 7-2 in Pettitte’s last nine starts against the Red Sox, but the under is 11-5-3 in Wakefield’s last 19 against New York (including 6-0-3 in the last nine at Yankee Stadium).
ATS ADVANTAGE:N.Y. YANKEES and OVER
Jimmy The Moose
Game: Toronto Blue Jays at Tampa Bay Rays Aug 26 2008 7:10PM
Prediction: Tampa Bay Rays
Reason: The Jays have been playing better and are trying to claw their way back into the wild card race but they just can't seem to make up any ground. The Jays send their ace Roy Halladay to the mound t9o face a Tampa team that both the Jays and he have struggled against. The Jays have lost his last 3 starts vs. the Rays and two of them have come in Tampa. The Rays counter with Shields tonight and they have won 5 of his last 6 starts vs. the Jays. Tampa has won his last 5 home starts vs. Toronto. The Jays are 1-7 in their last 8 trips to Tampa and Toronto has lost 10 of the last 13 meetings overall. Play on the Tampa Bay Rays -.
Prediction: Tampa Bay Rays
Reason: The Jays have been playing better and are trying to claw their way back into the wild card race but they just can't seem to make up any ground. The Jays send their ace Roy Halladay to the mound t9o face a Tampa team that both the Jays and he have struggled against. The Jays have lost his last 3 starts vs. the Rays and two of them have come in Tampa. The Rays counter with Shields tonight and they have won 5 of his last 6 starts vs. the Jays. Tampa has won his last 5 home starts vs. Toronto. The Jays are 1-7 in their last 8 trips to Tampa and Toronto has lost 10 of the last 13 meetings overall. Play on the Tampa Bay Rays -.
EZ WINNERS
1 STAR: (951) NY METS (+$112) over Philadelphia
(Listing Martinez only)
(Risking $100 to win $112)
1 STAR: (954) PITTSBURGH (+$205) over Chicago
(Listing Snell only)
(Risking $100 to win $205)
1 STAR: (956) WASHINGTON (+$178) over LA Dodgers
(Action)
(Risking $100 to win $178)
1 STAR: (957) FLORIDA (+$140) over Atlanta
(Listing Olsen only)
(Risking $100 to win $140)
1 STAR: (970) DETROIT (+$147) over Cleveland
(Action)
(Risking $100 to win $147)
1 STAR: (971) BOSTON (+$143) over NY Yankees
(Listing Wakefield only)
(Risking $100 to win $143)
1 STAR: (951) NY METS (+$112) over Philadelphia
(Listing Martinez only)
(Risking $100 to win $112)
1 STAR: (954) PITTSBURGH (+$205) over Chicago
(Listing Snell only)
(Risking $100 to win $205)
1 STAR: (956) WASHINGTON (+$178) over LA Dodgers
(Action)
(Risking $100 to win $178)
1 STAR: (957) FLORIDA (+$140) over Atlanta
(Listing Olsen only)
(Risking $100 to win $140)
1 STAR: (970) DETROIT (+$147) over Cleveland
(Action)
(Risking $100 to win $147)
1 STAR: (971) BOSTON (+$143) over NY Yankees
(Listing Wakefield only)
(Risking $100 to win $143)
ope:
hno:
