Tuesday 8/2/16 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Yankees (53-52) at Mets (54-51)

Game: 2
Venue: Citi Field
Date: August 02, 2016 7:10 PM EDT

NEW YORK -- The 105th regular-season game between the New York Mets and New York Yankees, played Monday night at Citi Field, might have been the most unusual one yet.

The teams will look to return to normalcy Tuesday night when the Mets host the Yankees in the second game of a four-game, home-and-home Subway Series.

The Yankees won the series opener Monday, when Starlin Castro's sacrifice fly in the top of the 10th inning produced a 6-5 victory. The game featured two ties and three lead changes but was as memorable for what happened beforehand, when both teams made two trades.

The Yankees (53-52) are 5 1/2 games behind the American League's two wild-card leaders -- the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays -- but they continued to rebuild by trading outfielder Carlos Beltran to the Texas Rangers for three prospects and right-handed pitcher Ivan Nova to the Pittsburgh Pirates for two players to be named.

Both Beltran and Nova were at Citi Field when the trades were announced, so pulling off a wild win on a day in which the club bid goodbye to two teammates was doubly satisfying for the Yankees.

"It's been a little bit tough because we lost good people in the trades," Castro said, "but we don't have any control over this. We've just (got to) continue grinding out like we did today. We're going to miss those guys, but we'll try to go out there, have some fun and play hard."

The Mets (54-51), who are 2 1/2 games behind the Miami Marlins in the race for the National League's second wild card, acquired outfielder Jay Bruce from the Cincinnati Reds and left-handed pitcher Jonathon Niese from the Pittsburgh Pirates.

A win would have been extra gratifying for the Mets, who squandered a 5-3 lead in the eighth inning. They technically had a 25-man roster Monday but were without the services of injured shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera (left patellar tendon) and outfielder Yoenis Cespedes (right quad strain). As a result, manager Terry Collins had to use pitcher Steven Matz to pinch-hit in the sixth inning.

"It's something you've got to do and get through it," Collins said. "We were in good shape. We got ourselves where we wanted to be."

Mets right-hander Jacob deGrom (6-5, 2.56 ERA) is scheduled to oppose Yankees right-hander Masahiro Tanaka (7-3, 3.16 ERA) on Tuesday.

DeGrom threw seven shutout innings in his most recent start last Thursday. However, he didn't get a decision after closer Jeurys Familia blew the save by allowing two runs in the top of the ninth inning of a 2-1 loss to the Colorado Rockies.

Tanaka took his first loss in more than six weeks last Wednesday, when he gave up four runs over five innings as the Yankees fell 4-1 to the Houston Astros. He was 4-0 with a 2.84 ERA in seven starts dating back to his previous loss, June 11.

Following the Tuesday game, the teams will play a two-game set at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday and Thursday.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Marlins (57-49) at Cubs (64-41)

Game: 2
Venue: Wrigley Field
Date: August 02, 2016 8:05 PM EDT

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs, who face the Miami Marlins Tuesday, not only bolstered their relief corps with a Monday trade with the Los Angeles Angels, they added a completely different look.

The Cubs added right-hander Joe Smith, who has a sidearm delivery that contrasts sharply with the Cubs mostly hard-throwing relievers.

"He's a sidearm, ground ball guy. We don't have that look or that ability right now in our bullpen,"

said Jed Hoyer, the Cubs general manager. "It's great to have hard-throwing guys with great breaking balls, but it's nice to add a different look. He's also a guy that Joe (manager Joe Maddon) can use to get a big double play in the right spot."

The deal for the 32-year-old reliever came as the Cubs wrapped up a busy pre-deadline stretch that also saw arrivals of left-handed relievers Aroldis Chapman and Mike Montgomery.

"You definitely assess your bullpen over the first half of the season and if there are areas you want to improve, you look to do that," Hoyer said. "When we looked at this team that was an area that we thought we could make some changes -- adding two left-handers and adding a guy like Smith, who can be a right-handed specialist. We felt that would improve the mix of our bullpen."

The Smith deal reportedly closed just before Monday's 3 p.m. Central time trading deadline. The Cubs gave up Class-A Eugene right-handed pitcher Jesus Castillo, 2-3 with a 3.27 ERA in seven minor league starts.

Smith is a veteran of three teams and 10 big league seasons. He is 1-4 with a 3.82 ERA , 25 strikeouts and four saves in 38 appearances this season. Smith has a career 40-27 record with 2.94 ERA and 461 strikeouts in 623 games.

He has reached 70 relief outings in each of the last five seasons, showing versatility by both closing and working set-up over the last three years.

On July 25, Chicago acquired Chapman -- the left-handed closer recently clocked with a 105-miles per hour fastball -- from the New York Yankees.

Five days earlier they landed Montgomery, 27, in a four-player trade with the Seattle Mariners for first base prospect Dan Vogelbach and pitcher Paul Blackburn while receiving minor-league pitcher Jordan Pries.

Hoyer said it wasn't just the Cubs looking at bullpen help this time of year.

"I don't want to say that almost all contenders improve their bullpen," Hoyer said, "but I'll bet if you look around the league the majority of teams in contention did something to address their bullpen."

The Miami Marlins made one trade prior to the deadline as they shed injured right-hander Colin Rea.

But the NL East contenders -- currently 4 1/2 games in back of first-place Washington -- otherwise stood pat as the trading deadline passed and a final eight-week chase commenced.

They sent Rea back to the San Diego Padres in exchange for minor league pitcher Luis Castillo. Miami had acquired Rea and pitcher Andrew Cashner in a seven-player deal but reportedly determined Rea was already hurting when he arrived.

Most attention this week around the Marlins is on outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, who is just two hits away from becoming the 30th major-league hitter to reach 3,000 career hits.

He would be the third to reach 3,000 against Chicago, following Stan Musial (May 13, 1958 at Wrigley Field) and Lou Brock (Aug. 13, 1979 at St. Louis).

The Mariners send one of the league's top strikeout artists against the Cubs in Tuesday's middle game. Right-hander Jose Fernandez (12-5, 2.79 ERA) has 184 strikeouts for the season, good for second in the league.

Tuesday's start will be the second of his career against Chicago.

The Cubs will counter with right-hander Jason Hammel (10-5, 3.23 ERA) in his 21st start of the season. He is 2-5 with a 3.97 ERA in 11 games (nine starts) against Miami. He has allowed three or fewer runs in 17 starts this year and is 3-0 with a 2.00 ERA in three starts since the All-Star break.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Blue Jays (59-47) at Astros (56-49)

Game: 2
Venue: Minute Maid Park
Date: August 02, 2016 8:10 PM EDT

HOUSTON -- While the Houston Astros and Toronto Blue Jays have immediate concerns for the second game of their four-game series on Tuesday, how their respective rotations will shape out over the final two months of the season came into focus Monday.

Toronto knuckleballer R.A. Dickey (7-12, 4.66 ERA) will get the start against the Astros right-hander Lance McCullers (6-4, 3.18 ERA) on Tuesday.

In his career against Houston, Dickey is 2-5 with a 4.96 ERA over 13 games (11 starts). However, the biggest news impacting the Blue Jays' rotation was the acquisition of three pitchers Monday at the trade deadline.

In addition to landing right-handed relievers Scott Feldman and Mike Bolsinger from the Astros and the Los Angeles Dodgers, respectively, Toronto (59-47) acquired left-handed starter Francisco Liriano from the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Liriano (6-11, 5.46 ERA) has struggled this season, but reuniting him with catcher Russell Martin, his former Pittsburgh batterymate, bodes well for a rebound.

The addition of Liriano to the rotation will enable the Blue Jays to transition right-hander Aaron Sanchez (11-1, 2.71 ERA) to the bullpen. Although Sanchez has pitched like an ace this season, his innings total (139 1/3) has already surpassed his previous professional career high of 133 1/3 set in 2014.

The Blue Jays haven't announced when the transition will take place, but they did make clear that Liriano eventually will replace Sanchez and that a six-man rotation isn't plausible.

"(Sanchez) will make his next start in Kansas City (on Friday), I do know that," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said.

Toronto general manager Ross Atkins said, "We feel like ... transitioning him to a relief role will be the best thing for us being in a Game 7 of the World Series."

McCullers will start against the Blue Jays for the first time in his career. The 22-year-old enters Tuesday on quite a roll, as he went 3-2 with a 2.00 ERA over his last six starts. McCullers has 50 strikeouts in 36 innings during that stretch, and if he had enough innings to qualify, he would lead the American League in strikeouts per nine innings (11.79) and strikeout rate (30.1 percent).

Like the Blue Jays, the trade the Astros made on Monday will impact the rotation. By shipping Feldman to Toronto, Houston (56-49) opened a spot on its staff for right-hander Joe Musgrove, the organization's seventh-best prospect, according to MLB.com.

"He'll be down in the bullpen as a long guy. We've got a couple of those guys down there," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said, referring to right-handers Chris Devenski and Michael Feliz, who combined for 5 1/3 scoreless, hitless innings Monday in a 2-1, 14-inning win over the Blue Jays. "And for the foreseeable future, he looks to be a guy who'll be in the 'pen for now.

"He's always an option to join our rotation. We'd like to get him acclimated to the big leagues a little bit and determine his role later. We're very excited about his career. We think he's a guy who's got a ton of upside."

Musgrove, who earned a promotion from Triple-A Fresno, has worked largely as a starter during his professional career. In a combined 16 games (14 starts) in Double-A and Triple-A this year, he was 7-4 with a 2.74 ERA.

"I told him his role, I expect him to help us win," Hinch said. "He'll take the ball whenever we call down there and put him in the game."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Dodgers (59-46) at Rockies (52-53)

Game: 1
Venue: Coors Field
Date: August 02, 2016 8:40 PM EDT

DENVER -- Two surging teams will meet when the Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Dodgers begin a three-game series Tuesday at Coors Field.

The Rockies are coming off a 5-2 road trip in which they played Baltimore and the New York Mets. Colorado has won nine of its past 11 games and is 12-5 in the second half. Entering Monday, the Rockies (52-53) are five games behind Miami for the second wild-card spot, with St. Louis, the Mets and Pittsburgh also trailing the Marlins but ahead of the Rockies.

"We're playing really well, and it's really exciting where we are at right now," second baseman DJ LeMahieu said. "We believe in ourselves, and you can't fake that belief. Everybody is doing their job and doing it very well. Everybody knows their role, and we are executing. It's been fun."

The three-game series with the Dodgers is the start of an eight-game homestand that will include visits by the Marlins (three games) and Texas Rangers (two). The Rockies are 25-24 at home, having moved above .500 for the first time since they were 4-3 on April 22 when they completed a four-game sweep of the Braves on July 24 to conclude a 5-2 homestand.

The Rockies' starting pitchers recorded 20 quality starts in July, the most in franchise history for a single month. In the past 11 games, the Colorado starters have gone 8-0 with a 2.09 ERA (69 innings, 16 earned runs.

Jon Gray, who is 7-4 with a season-low 3.94 ERA in 18 starts and will take the mound Tuesday, has been a rotation mainstay as of late. He has pitched seven innings in his past three starts, going 2-0 with an 0.86 ERA in those games. Gray, who leads the team with 19 quality starts, is 4-0 with a 4.22 ERA in eight starts this season at Coors Field. He hasn't lost since July 3 when he gave up three runs to the Dodgers in six innings at Los Angeles, and the Rockies fell 4-1.

Rockies left fielder David Dahl will make his Coors Field debut Tuesday after hitting .370 (10-for-27) in his first seven games in the majors with two homers, three RBIs and six runs scored.

Rockies shortstop Trevor Story hopes to play. He jammed his left thumb and left Saturday's game in the fourth inning and didn't play Sunday.

The Dodgers were active Monday before the non-waiver trade deadline. They acquired outfielder Josh Reddick and starting pitcher Rich Hill from Oakland, and obtained reliever Jesse Chavez from Toronto and pitcher Josh Fields from Houston. Hill is on the disabled list with a blister but could return as soon as this weekend.

"We were real motivated to keep the momentum going and help the team's recent surge continue," general manager Farhan Zaidi said. "We're in a pretty good position to make a run, and we wanted to go out and get the pieces to help."

The addition of Reddick as a potential right fielder puts into question Yasiel Puig's status with the team. Puig did not travel with the Dodgers to Colorado on Monday after he was told he would be traded or demoted, FOX Sports reported.

The Dodgers were eight games behind the Giants in the NL West when Clayton Kershaw last pitched for them on June 26. They have since gone 18-10, including five wins in their past seven games, and are just two games behind the Giants.

The Dodgers averaged 4.14 runs per game in the 77 games while Kershaw was active. But in the past 28 games without Kershaw, the Dodgers have averaged one more run per game. And while going 15-9 in July, the Dodgers led the National League with an average of 5.25 runs per game.

Brandon McCarthy, who will start for Los Angeles on Tuesday, is 2-1 with a 2.39 ERA in five starts since returning from Tommy John surgery April 30, 2015. The first of those starts was July 3 against the Rockies at Dodger Stadium, and McCarthy threw five scoreless innings. In his two career starts at Coors Field, McCarthy is 0-1 with a 7.50 ERA. McCarthy has made six career starts against Colorado, going 2-2 with a 4.63 ERA.

Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez is one home run away from 300 for his career. But he has hit only nine homers this season. Gonzalez, who last homered on July 24, has hit 19 homers in 360 plate appearances at Coors Field where he is hitting .311 with a .943 OPS.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Nationals (62-44) at Diamondbacks (43-63)

Game: 2
Venue: Chase Field
Date: August 02, 2016 9:40 PM EDT

PHOENIX -- Washington manager Dusty Baker said he always admired the way Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice went about his business, and he wants the Nationals to apply that style as they enter the final two months of the season.

"The best mentality to have is thinking about crossing the finish line before anyone else does and carrying it toward the playoffs," Baker said after the Nationals' 14-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first game of a three-game series at Chase Field on Monday.

"But it's crossing the finish line first. It's like stacking dollars, stacking pennies. More victories, more victories, more victories. Our goal is to win getaway days, win series and try to sweep some teams along the way. And look at the finish line.

"I watched Jerry Rice for years, and I never saw Jerry Rice look back. When he got open, he didn't look back. He looked straight to the finish line. To the goal line. They said Jerry Rice was too slow, but I never saw him get caught."

The Nationals (62-44) increased their lead in the National League East to five games over the Miami Marlins and 7 1/2 over the defending NL champion New York Mets when Stephen Strasburg earned his major-league-leading 15th win Monday.

Washington right-hander Tanner Roark will start the second game of the series against Arizona left-hander Robbie Ray, who was selected by the Nationals in the 12th round of the 2010 draft before being traded to Detroit and then Arizona prior to the 2015 season.

Roark (10-6, 2.96 ERA) is one of three 10-game winners on the Nationals, and Arizona will see a third when former D-backs right-hander Max Scherzer starts the final game of the series Wednesday.

Ray (5-10, 4.70 ERA) set career highs in strikeouts in each of his past two outings, getting 10 at Cincinnati on July 23 and 11 at Milwaukee on Thursday.

"He has that kind of fastball," Arizona manager Chip Hale said. "He can throw 10 fastballs in a row and probably not get hit. It's the ability to maybe spin the ball in there that has made the difference with him."

Ray will be facing the Nationals for the first time in his career. Roark, meanwhile, will be looking to extend his dominance against the Diamondbacks. In five games (two starts) covering 18 1/3 innings vs. Arizona, Roark has yet to allow an earned run.

Washington collected a season-high 19 hits Monday when the D-backs gave up 14 runs for the second game in a row.

Arizona (43-63) has lost 15 of 20 games and is 17-36 at home. Washington has 31 road victories, tied with St. Louis for the most in the majors.

The Nationals broke a two-game losing streak Monday after losing the final two games of a series at NL West-leading San Francisco, and Baker sees good things ahead.

"The Giants, they had a 20-game run," said Baker, who saw the Giants go 15-5 in June. "In my heart, I know there is a 20-gamer in there for us."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Athletics (47-58) at Angels (47-58)

Game: 1
Venue: Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Date: August 02, 2016 10:05 PM EDT

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Angels and Oakland Athletics open up the post-trade deadline portion of their season Tuesday in Anaheim, both having made it clear that they have given up on contending for a playoff spot.

Both teams traded their top starting pitchers this season, in terms of victories, on Monday.

The Angels traded Hector Santiago to Minnesota, even though Santiago (10-4, 4.25 ERA) has won seven decisions in a row. He will likely win American League Pitcher of the Month honors for July after going 6-0 with a 1.78 ERA in six starts.

The A's traded Rich Hill to the Dodgers, though Hill is currently on the disabled list with a blister on his finger. Hill is 9-3 with a 2.25 ERA in 14 starts, having missed all of June with a groin injury.

Angels general manager Billy Eppler told MLB.com the trade of Santiago was more about what they were getting than what they were giving up. Los Angeles acquired veteran pitcher Ricky Nolasco, but the key to the trade was pitcher Alex Meyer, a highly-regarded pitching prospect.

"I think for us to get to where we are now to where we want to go, we have to take a little more of a risk than the play-it-safe type," Eppler added. "Alex Meyer represents that. He has an extraordinary ceiling of potential that we hope to be able to harness and reap the rewards of."

For the A's, knowing that Hill -- along with outfielder Josh Reddick, also traded to the Dodgers for a package of minor leaguers -- will be free agents at the end of the season played a part in making the deal.

"It's tough," A's pitcher Sonny Gray told the San Francisco Chronicle. "But you know it's going to happen one way or another, either they're going to try to get guys or get rid of guys. Everyone knows it's coming, at least."

The Angels also traded Joe Smith, their best set-up man in the bullpen the last few years, though he recently had been replaced by Cam Bedrosian for the eight-inning spot.

Smith, eligible for free agency at end of the season, went to the Cubs for pitching prospect Jesus Castillo.

The Angels and A's open the series Tuesday tied for last place in the American League West and are hoping to at least finish strong.

Matt Shoemaker's name popped up in trade discussions as well, but he instead will make the start for the Angels on Tuesday. His record of 5-11 is a bit misleading, considering his ERA of 4.17 is actually better than Santiago's.

Shoemaker has had some outstanding performances this season.

He shut out Baltimore on three hits over 7 1/3 innings on May 21, then silenced Cleveland on three hits over eight frames on June 11.

Most recently, Shoemaker threw a shutout against the Chicago White Sox on July 16.

Sean Manaea, 3-5 with a 4.57 ERA in 15 games (14 starts), will start for Oakland.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Brewers (47-57) at Padres (46-60)

Game: 2
Venue: PETCO Park
Date: August 02, 2016 10:10 PM EDT

SAN DIEGO -- Zach Davies gets his first August start on Tuesday, and he would be pleased if it duplicates his July efforts.

The Milwaukee Brewers right-hander faces San Diego, hoping his summer surge has life. Right-hander Luis Perdomo goes for the Padres at Petco Park.

Davies (8-4, 3.59 ERA) was sensational in July, starting four games, winning three and showing the Brewers why they have such high hopes for him. He pitched to a 1.71 ERA in the month, posting a nifty 17-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio as he leaned on his pinpoint control.

"He's a real pitcher," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "He has four pitches, and he lives out on the edge with them. He speeds up their bats and slows them down."

Davies has impressed Counsell -- as well as the batters he has faced the past month.

"He's got those four pitches, and he can manipulate all four of them," Counsell said.

The Padres eventually hope to see similar results from Perdomo (5-4, 6.89 ERA). The 23-year-old had never pitched above Class A ball before this season. A Rule 5 draft pick out of the St. Louis Cardinals' system last winter, he was expected to have a long role out of the bullpen.

The Padres hoped to ease him into his role as a major league starter, but following a flurry of trades, Perdomo is being asked to accelerate his learning curve.

After San Diego nearly wiped the rotation clean by trading away James Shields, Drew Pomeranz and Andrew Cashner -- and with Tyson Ross sidelined due to a shoulder injury since his Opening Day start -- Perdomo's responsibilities blossomed.

So, too, has his pitching.

Perdomo has given up three earned runs or fewer in six of his past eight starts dating to June 15. Five outings in that span were quality starts. He won both of his past two starts, including a road victory over the Toronto Blue Jays last Wednesday, when he gave up four runs in 5 2/3 innings.

In his prior start, Perdomo pitched a career-high seven innings and allowed just two runs on four hits in a road win against the Washington Nationals.

"We've seen tremendous gains in Perdomo," Padres manager Andy Green said. "When he made his major league debut (in) April, he was a Rule 5 draft pick who had never pitched above low Single-A. Now he's growing confidence that his pitches play in the major leagues. He can get outs with that very good sinker of his. He's making steps. The next step is ... to locate his pitches with consistency.

"It's there, he just has to keep developing it. There are going to be peaks and valleys, but we're seeing substantial strides forward."

The Brewers hope the lineup that faces Perdomo will include left fielder Ryan Braun. He hasn't played since Wednesday due to tightness in his right side.

Milwaukee's catching situation is also worth watching in the wake of trading Jonathan Lucroy, a two-time All-Star, to the Texas Rangers. Martin Maldonado was in the lineup on Monday, going 1-for-3 in the Brewers' 7-3 loss to the Padres, and he is expected to get his second consecutive start Tuesday.

However, Counsell said Manny Pina, who was brought up from Triple-A Colorado Springs on Monday, also will see action going forward.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Red Sox (58-46) at Mariners (52-52)

Game: 2
Venue: Safeco Field
Date: August 02, 2016 10:10 PM EDT

SEATTLE -- The last time Seattle left-hander Wade LeBlanc started a game, teammate Felix Hernandez was on the disabled list, fellow left-hander Wade Miley was a part of the Mariners' rotation, and the bullpen included Mike Montgomery, Joaquin Benoit and Nathan Karns.

Things certainly have changed in Seattle over the past two weeks.

Due to a flurry of moves leading up to the trade deadline, LeBlanc is back in the rotation and scheduled to start Tuesday against the Boston Red Sox. It will mark his first action since July 23, his first start since July 18 and only his third appearance since the All-Star break.

Injuries to the rotation led to the Mariners dealing for LeBlanc in June. He was pitching for the Toronto Blue Jays' Triple-A affiliate after spending the 2015 season in Japan, yet Seattle was so desperate that he was immediately added to the Mariners' rotation -- only to become a welcome addition while throwing solid outings over his first two starts.

The return of Hernandez left LeBlanc in limbo. However, recent deals that included starter Miley and part-time starter Montgomery left the Mariners pretty thin in terms of starters -- so LeBlanc (1-0, 4.26 ERA) is back in the rotation as of Tuesday.

He is one of several journeymen who will get the call for the Mariners (52-52) as they finish off a lost season. First-year general manager Jerry Dipoto refuses to use those terms, and he doesn't see the recent moves as a selling-off of a team out of contention, but the transactions spoke volumes about where the Mariners are after leading the American League West for much of April and May.

"We had a lot of oars in the water," Dipoto said before the Mariners' 2-1 loss to Boston on Monday, "but obviously nothing else came to fruition after we finished the Miley-(Ariel) Miranda deal (on Sunday). It was not for lack of trying to be creative and trying to get some things done."

The Red Sox (58-46) were only slightly more active as they pursue the AL East title. They are tied with Toronto, a game behind the Baltimore Orioles, after a dramatic win Monday. Another ninth-inning home run, this one by Mookie Betts, finished off another comeback victory.

"You've got to play 27 outs to beat us," Betts said. "You're starting to see that more and more now."

Boston added veteran southpaw Fernando Abad to its bullpen in a Monday trade, and the former Minnesota Twin should be in uniform and ready to make his Red Sox debut Tuesday. It could also be the major league debut for outfield prospect Andrew Benintendi, who was called up from Triple-A after Monday's win. Manager John Farrell said the left-handed-hitting Benintendi probably won't be in the lineup against southpaw LeBlanc on Tuesday but is likely to start Wednesday night.

"He's ready," Farrell said. "We're going to get a first-hand look very soon."

Boston lefty David Price, who already beat the Mariners once this season, is scheduled to start Tuesday. Price (9-7, 4.26 ERA) allowed one run on six hits over eight innings during a 2-1 victory over Seattle on June 19. In six career starts against the Mariners, Price is 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA.

LeBlanc's only career appearance against the Red Sox came in 2011, when he gave up three runs in three innings during a no-decision for the San Diego Padres.

Seattle might debut a new closer, as veteran Steve Cishek blew a save Sunday night and gave up the game-winning homer Monday. Manager Scott Servais said after Monday's loss that the Mariners would try to get Cishek "in some better spots without the game on the line."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Five to Follow MLB Betting: Tuesday, August 2, 2016, Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews

Sometimes it can be costly to wait too long to trade one of your top assets. Sure, you might get more from another team right at the deadline, but if you wait that long you also run the risk of injury to the player you want to trade. And that's exactly what happened to the Kansas City Royals and All-Star closer Wade Davis. On Sunday, the team announced it was placing Davis on the 15-day DL with a Grade 1 forearm strain. It's the second time this season he has landed on the DL with that problem, and it often can lead to Tommy John surgery. The Royals say his elbow looks fine, but obviously they won't be able to trade him now. In his first season as the Royals' full-time closer, Davis has posted a 1.60 ERA with 21 saves. In his most recent outing Wednesday, Davis allowed three walks for the first time as a reliever. Kelvin Herrera will take over as the closer.


Yankees at Mets (-115, 6.5)

The Bombers are in full sale mode as after dealing closer Aroldis Chapman early last week, they sent fellow lefty reliever Andrew Miller to Cleveland over the weekend. Now the Yankees might have the best farm system in baseball with the hauls they got for those two. Righty Dellin Betances takes over as the team's closer for now. I would be surprised if outfielder Carlos Beltran is still a Yankee following Monday's deadline. The Yankees lose the DH for this interleague game, meaning Alex Rodriguez takes a seat. They start ace Masahiro Tanaka (7-3, 3.16) on the mound. He suffered his first loss since June 11 last time out, allowing four runs and seven hits over five innings in Houston. He is 1-1 with a 1.20 ERA in two career starts against the Mets. One Met he won't be facing is shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera as he suffered a strained patellar tendon in his left knee while running the bases on Sunday. It's expected to land him on the DL. The Mets start Jacob deGrom (6-5, 2.56). He shut out the Rockies on five hits over seven innings in his last start but took a no-decision. The Yankees' Jacoby Ellsbury is 2-for-6 off him with a homer. Mark Teixeira is 2-for-5 with two homers.

Key trends: The Yankees are 5-1 in Tanaka's past six vs. teams with a winning record. The Mets are 1-4 in deGrom's past five on Tuesday. The "over/under" has gone under in eight of Tanaka's past 11 road starts. The under is 5-1 in deGrom's past six at home.

Early lean: Mets and under.

Blue Jays at Astros (-128, 8.5)

Toronto shortstop Troy Tulowitzki suffered a small fracture in his right thumb after he was hit by a pitch on Sunday against Baltimore. As of this writing, Tulo hasn't been placed on the DL but it seems a matter of time. The Jays are going to wait a few days to see if he shows improvement before making that move. Toronto starts knuckleballer R.A. Dickey (7-12, 4.66) on the mound here. The Jays have dropped his past three and he has allowed at least five runs in each of them. He hasn't faced Houston this season. George Springer is 2-for-4 off him with a homer. Jose Altuve is 4-for-20 against Dickey. Houston goes with second-year right-hander Lance McCullers (6-4, 3.18). He beat the Yankees last Wednesday, allowing one run and striking out 10 over six innings. This is McCullers' first career start vs. the Blue Jays.

Key trends: The Jays are 1-5 in Dickey's past six on five days of rest. The Astros are 4-1 in McCullers' past five at home. The over is 4-1 in Dickey's past five.

Early lean: Astros and over.

Cardinals at Reds (+138, 9)

Game should have live betting at sportsbooks with it nationally televised by Fox Sports 1. You apparently won't see Jay Bruce in a Reds uniform for this game; he was traded Monday to the Mets -- although there was a late hang up in the deal regarding the medicals on a Mets prospect going back to Cincinnati. I also think there's a decent chance that Tuesday's starter, Dan Straily, also is moved. Straily (6-6, 3.84) allowed a run and three hits over 7.2 innings in his last outing against the Giants. He was still a reliever back when he pitched against the Cardinals on April 15, allowing a run in three innings. Matt Holliday is 1-for-1 off him with a homer. St. Louis goes with Adam Wainwright (9-5, 4.16). The Cards won all five of his starts last month and Wainwright had a 1.77 ERA. He is 0-1 with a 7.15 ERA in two starts this year against the Reds. Brandon Phillips is a career .305 hitter off him in 59 at-bats. Joey Votto is just 7-for-38 against Wainwright with eight strikeouts.

Key trends: The Cards are 8-2 in Wainwright's past 10 on Tuesday. The Reds are 4-1 in Straily's past five at home. The under is 5-0 in Wainwright's past five vs. the NL Central.

Early lean: Cardinals and under.

Red Sox at Mariners (+153, 8)

Also a national TV game but on the MLB Network. Could the Red Sox acquire White Sox ace Chris Sale by Monday's deadline? Apparently it's down to them, but it's most likely that Sale stays on the South Side of Chicago at least the rest of the season. If Boston were to get him, it would immediately become the AL favorite in my book. Probably at sportsbooks too (it's currently Cleveland). The Red Sox go with ace lefty David Price (9-7, 4.26) in this one. He hasn't won since July 10 but deserved to last time out, shutting out the Angels over eight innings. Price beat the Mariners on June 19, allowing one run and eight hits over eight innings. He is 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA in six career starts at Safeco Field. Nelson Cruz is 9-for-25 off him with two homers. Kyle Seager is 3-for-17. The Mariners go with lefty Wade LeBlanc (1-0, 4.26). He had been shifted to the bullpen and allowed three runs over three innings in his most recent outing on July 23 in Toronto. LeBlanc went 1-0 with a 3.63 ERA in four starts after being acquired from the Blue Jays. David Ortiz is 2-for-2 off him with two RBIs.

Key trends: The Sox are 5-1 in their past six vs. a lefty. The Mariners are 1-4 in their past five against a southpaw. The under is 10-2 in Price's past 12.

Early lean: Red Sox and under.

Brewers at Padres (+110, 8)

I feel pretty confident in saying that All-Star catcher Jonathan Lucroy will not be a Brewer on Tuesday; he actually was traded over the weekend to the Cleveland Indians but the Tribe were one of eight teams that Lucroy could block a deal to and he did. Not really sure why. But he was likely going somewhere by Monday's trade deadline. Milwaukee starts Zach Davies (8-4, 3.59) here. He beat Arizona on Thursday, allowing two earned over 6.1 innings. Davies hasn't allowed a homer in his past four starts. San Diego's Wil Myers is 0-for-3 career against him. Brett Wallace is 2-for-3 with a homer. The Padres go with Luis Perdomo (5-4, 6.89). He won in Toronto in his most recent start, allowing four runs over 5.2 innings. He pitched two innings of relief on May 14 in Milwaukee, allowing two runs. Jonathan Villar is 2-for-2 off him.

Key trends: The Brewers are 4-1 in Davies' past five vs. teams with a losing record. The Padres are 4-1 in Perdomo's past five. The under is 4-0 in San Diego's past four at home.

Early lean: Brewers and under.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

'Big Home Favorites August/September'

August is upon the baseball season which means MLB clubs in the playoff hunt are giving their all and teams outside the October picture are planning holiday's. That disparity in motivation can lead to some big odds baseball bettors must deal with.

On the surface, it may seem like easy money when you see a home winning team with a great pitcher hosting a mediocre team. However, what seems like a sure thing seldom is in baseball. The very best teams clock in with a 60% winning percentage, the worst teams are usually good for a win 40% of the time so winning 2 out 3 doesn't cut it with heavy juice.

Over the past five seasons (2011-2015) home favorites priced -$2.40 or more during August/September were 95-35 for a 73.3% winning clip. But, the heavy chalk resulted in +$401 at the betting window. Not exactly a good return on investment.

Putting down your hard-earned money on these humungous home favorites when hosting a division opponent down the stretch would have left you in a -$924 hole despite the teams winning at a 68.7% clip (55-25).

Something to keep in mind as the season moves along.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

'Hammel looks for pay-back'

Miami Marlins at Chicago Cubs August 2, 8:05 EST

Chicago and Miami get ready to duel again at Wrigley Field Tuesday night. The pitching matchup featuring Cubs Jason Hammel and Marlins' Jose Fernandez is a rematch of the June 26th meeting in Miami. In that contest, Hammel (10-5, 3.23 ERA) tossed 6.0 innings of 2-run ball only to see the relief staff surrender 4 runs in a 6-1 loss. Fernandez (12-5 2.79 ERA) spun 7.0 innings of 1-run ball in that victory.

The Cubs righthander has pitched well recently, winning his last three assignments allowing just 4 runs with a 18-5 KW ratio over 18.0 innings of work. The hurler has also been light's out at Wrigley Field posting a 5-1 record, 2.11 ERA with Cubs 9-2 in his eleven starts in front of the home audience.

Meanwhile, Fernandez suffering a rare home loss last effort giving up 5 runs over five innings is 1-1 with a 4.42 ERA in his last three trips to the mound. The road has not been kind towards Fernandez as he is 3-3 in eight starts and comes in saddled with an 0-2 record his last three away from Marlins Park surrendering 4 long ball, 15 runs.

Hammel in great form, the game in Chicago, Fernandez suspect on the road the lean is Cubbies.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

MLB

Tuesday’s games

National League


Giants @ Phillies
Bumgarner is 0-2, 3.43 in his last three starts; his last four stayed under total. Giants are 6-3 in his road starts.

Eflin is 1-2, 4.29 in his last three starts (over 5-4). He is 1-2, 2.61 in three home starts.

Giants lost seven of last eight road games; eight of their last ten games stayed under. Giants are 8-9 in road series openers. Phillies are 5-9 in last 14 games, 4-12 in home series openers. Eight of last nine Philly home games stayed under.

Pirates @ Braves
Cole is 1-1, 1.20 in his last two starts; over is 9-5 in his last 14. Pirates are 4-3 in his road starts.

Foltynewicz is 2-2, 5.28 in his last five starts (under 4-1). Braves are 2-3 in his home starts.

Pirates lost six of last seven road games, are 10-8 in road series openers. Last seven Pirate road games stayed under. Atlanta is 6-11 in last 17 games, 6-11 in home series openers. Four of last six Atlanta home games stayed under.

Cardinals @ Reds
Wainwright is 3-0, 1.77 in his last five starts; eight of his last ten stayed under. St Louis won six of his last seven road starts.

Straily is 3-0, 1.31 in his last three starts; his last four stayed under the total. Reds won seven of his last nine home starts.

Cardinals won six of last nine road games, with last five going over total. St Louis is 7-9 in road series openers. Cincinnati is 10-5 in its last 15 games, 9-8 in home series openers. Reds’ last four games stayed under the total.

Marlins @ Cubs
Fernandez is 2-1, 3.55 in his last four starts; four of his last six went over the total. Miami is 5-3 in his road starts.

Hammel is 3-0, 2.00 in his last three starts; three of his last four stayed under. Chicago is 7-1 in his home starts.

Marlins are 6-7 in their last 13 games; five of last six Miami games went over. Cubs won six of last seven home games. Under is 11-3 in last 14 games at Wrigley Field.

Dodgers @ Rockies
McCarthy is 2-1, 2.73 in his five starts (under 5-0) this year.

Gray is 2-0, 1.32 in his last four starts; his last five stayed under. Colorado is 4-3 in his home starts.

Dodgers won four of last six games, are 6-11 in road series openers. Over is 7-2-1 in LA’s last ten road games. Colorado won nine of last 11 games, is 9-7 in home series openers. Under is 10-4-2 in their last 16 games.

Nationals @ Diamondbacks
Roark is 4-1, 2.63 in his last six starts; six of his last seven starts stayed under. Washington is 6-1 in his last seven road starts.

Ray is 1-3, 5.56 in his last four starts; under is 4-2-1 in his last seven. Arizona lost six of his last nine home starts.

Nationals won four of last six games; five of last six Washington games stayed under. Arizona lost ten of last 13 games; over is 10-2-1 in last 13 games at Chase Field.

Brewers @ Padres
Davies is 3-0, 2.05 in his last four starts; under is 6-3-1 in his last ten. Milwaukee is 2-4 in his road starts.

Perdomo is 2-0, 4.26 in his last two starts (over 7-3). He is 1-1, 7.20 in three home starts.

Brewers won six of last eight games; under is 10-5 in their last 15 games. San Diego is 5-9 in last 14 games; under is 8-5 in their last 13 games.


American League

Rangers @ Orioles
Darvish is 0-2, 3.38 in his last four starts (under 4-2).

Bundy is 1-2, 5.14 in his first three starts (under 3-0).

Rangers won seven of last nine games, are 8-9 in road series openers. Over is 8-5-1 in their last 14 road games. Baltimore lost five of last six games, is 10-7 in home series openers. Under is 7-0-1 in their last eight home games.

White Sox @ Tigers
Shields is 3-3, 1.67 in his last six starts; White Sox scored one run in the three losses. Under is 3-0-1 in his last four starts.

Sanchez is 0-7, 7.50 in his last ten starts; under is 3-0-1 in his last four. Detroit lost his last four home starts.

White Sox lost nine of last 11 road games; they’re 1-9 in last ten road series openers. Four of last six Chicago road games went over. Detroit won its last seven games; they’re 10-6 in home series openers. Three of last four Tiger games went over.

Royals @ Rays
Ventura is 0-5, 5.66 in his last six starts; three of his last four stayed under. Royals are 3-8 in his road starts.

Andriese is 2-1, 3.91 in his last four starts, last of which was June 25. Under is 5-2-1 in his starts this year.

Royals lost 18 of last 25 games- they’re 2-18 in last 20 games not started by Duffy; seven of last nine KC road games stayed under. Tampa Bay won four of last five home games; under is 14-4 in Rays’ last 18 games.

Twins @ Indians
Gibson is 1-1, 3.15 in his last three starts (under 3-0). Minnesota is 2-3 in his road starts.

Carrasco is 2-1, 2.41 in his last three starts; under is 7-3 in his last ten. Cleveland is 5-2 in his home starts.

Twins are 8-5 in last 12 games; over is 10-4 in Minnesota’s last 14 road games. Cleveland won four of last six games; under is 3-1-1 in Tribe’s last five games.

Blue Jays @ Astros
Dickey is 0-3, 11.05 in his last three starts; four of his last five went over. Toronto is 5-5 in his road starts.

McCullers is 2-1, 1.40 in his last three starts; his last nine starts stayed under. Houston is 6-3 when he starts at home.

Blue Jays lost three of last five games; over is 4-1-1 in last six Toronto games. Houston lost five of last seven games; under is 10-4-1 in last 15 Astro home games.

A’s @ Angels
Manaea is 1-0, 1.25 in his last three starts; under is 7-3-1 in his last 11 starts. Oakland lost four of his five road starts.

Shoemaker is 0-2, 4.97 in his last two starts; under is 8-3 in his last 11. Angels are 3-6 in his home starts.

Oakland lost its last three games, is 10-7 in road series openers. Under is 6-3-2 in their last 11 road games. Angels won eight of last ten home games, are 8-9 in home series openers. Halos’ last four games all stayed under.

Red Sox @ Mariners
Price is 0-1, 3.72 in his last three starts; under is 4-1-1 in his last six. Boston lost his last three road starts.

LeBlanc is 1-0, 4.03 in his four starts this year (under 3-1).

Red Sox won three of last four games; last nine Boston road games stayed under. Seattle lost four of last five games; three of Mariners’ last five home games stayed under the total.


Interleague

Bronx @ Mets
Tanaka is 1-1, 2.65 in his last three starts; under is 9-4 in his last 13. Bronx is 6-4 in his road starts.

deGrom is 3-1, 1.82 in his last six starts; eight of his last ten stayed under. Mets are 7-3 in his home starts.

Bronx lost four of last five games; over is 15-5 in last 20 Bronx road games. Mets lost nine of last 11 home games; over is 4-1-1 in last six Met games.


Teams’ record when this pitcher starts

SF-Phil– Bumgarner 13-9 (0-3 last 3); Eflin 4-5
Pitt-Atl– Cole 7-8; Foltynewicz 5-7
StL-Cin– Wainwright 15-6; Straily 10-9
Mia-Chi– Fernandez 14-6; Hammel 12-8
LA-Col– McCarthy 2-3; Gray 8-10
Wsh-Az– Roark 12-9; Ray 6-15
Mil-SD– Davies 10-8; Perdomo 7-3

Tex-Balt– Darvish 2-4; Bundy 1-2
Min-Clev– Gibson 6-7; Carrasco 11-4
Chi-Det– Shields 4-6/2-9; Sanchez 3-12
KC-TB– Ventura 9-11 (0-6 last 6); Andriese 5-3
Tor-Hst– Dickey 7-15; McCullers 8-5
A’s-LA– Manaea 7-7; Shoemaker 6-14
Bos-Sea– Price 11-11 (1-5 last 6); LeBlanc 3-1

NYY-NYM– Tanaka 15-6; deGrom 9-9


Starting pitchers allowing 1+ runs in first inning:

SF-Phil– Bumgarner 5-22; Eflin 3-9
Pitt-Atl– Cole 4-15; Foltynewicz 3-12
StL-Cin– Wainwright 6-21; Straily 5-19
Mia-Chi– Fernandez 5-20; Hammel 4-20
LA-Col– McCarthy 1-5; Gray 6-18
Wsh-Az– Roark 3-21; Ray 4-21
Mil-SD– Davies 5-18; Perdomo 6-10

Tex-Balt– Darvish 3-6; Bundy 1-3
Min-Clev– Gibson 7-13; Carrasco 3-15
Chi-Det– Shields 9-21; Sanchez 6-15
KC-TB– Ventura 5-20; Andriese 2-8
Tor-Hst– Dickey 6-22; McCullers 3-13
A’s-LA– Manaea 1-14; Shoemaker 4-20
Bos-Sea– Price 8-22; LeBlanc 2-4

NYY-NYM– Tanaka 3-21; deGrom 2-18


Umpires

Mia-Chi– Six of last nine Muchlinski games stayed under.
Wsh-Az– Home team won last six Fletcher games.
Mil-SD– Underdogs split last eight Hudson games; four of his last six stayed under.

KC-TB– Last three Torres games stayed under.
Min-Cle– Three of last four Bucknor games stayed under.
Tor-Hst– Under is 3-1-1 in last five Randazzo games.
Bos-Sea– Underdogs are 4-3 in last seven Demuth games.

NY-NY– Over is 6-0-1 in last seven Gorman games.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

StatFox Super Situations

MLB | ST LOUIS at CINCINNATI
Play Against - Any team (CINCINNATI) averaging 2.75 or less extra base hits per game on the season, after allowing 2 runs or less 4 straight games
73-41 over the last 5 seasons. ( 64.0% | 34.2 units )
10-6 this year. ( 62.5% | 3.1 units )


StatFox Situational Power Trends

MLB | TEXAS at BALTIMORE
TEXAS is 58-47 (+37.0 Units) against the money line in Road games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.
The average score was: TEXAS (4.5) , OPPONENT (4.1)

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Tuesday’s 6-pack

— Red Sox 2, Mariners 1– Mookie Betts went yard in ninth inning for the game-winning run.

— Why Cleveland traded for Andrew Miller: Indians are 4-13 on road in games where winning run scores after 6th inning.

— Last three years, Atlanta Falcons are 5-17 vs spread in games where spread was 3 or less points.

— Now that the Bronx Bombers are selling off expensive players, will they lower their ticket prices?

— Royals 3, Rays 0– Danny Duffy had 16 strikeouts for KC.

— Astros 2, Blue Jays 1 (14)– Total of six walks, 40 strikeouts in this game. Plate ump Ryan Blakney called so many strikes, you’d think he had both starting pitchers on his fantasy team.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

#1 Sports

Tuesday's Free Selection: Los Angeles Angels - 140

 

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Mike Wynn

Bonus Play: MLB Houston w/McCullers -150 Over Toronto

 

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Razor Sharp

FREE PICK FOR TUESDAY: Take TEXAS (Darvish) -110 over Baltimore

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Totals4U

Tuesday's Free Selection: Toronto/Houston over 8 1/2

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Atlantic Sports

Tuesday's Free Selection from Atlantic Sports: Houston - 150

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Platinum Plays

Free Pick: Baltimore Orioles w/Bundy +105 over Texas