Wednesday 7/22/15 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Cards add OF Piscotty, option Pham
The Sports Xchange

The St. Louis Cardinals purchased the contract of Stephen Piscotty from Triple-A Memphis and optioned fellow outfielder Tommy Pham to Memphis.

To make room for Piscotty on the 40-man roster, Memphis infielder Ty Kelly was designated for assignment.

Piscotty, 24, was hitting .272 with 28 doubles, 11 home runs and 41 RBI in 87 games for Memphis this season. The 36th overall pick by the Cardinals in 2012 out of Stanfordt is a converted third baseman who has played in 73 games in the outfield this season, but recently played six at first base.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Dodgers LHP Anderson exits with foot injury
The Sports Xchange

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Brett Anderson left Tuesday's game against the Atlanta Braves in the third inning due to what the team described as an irritated left Achilles tendon.

The left-hander allowed three runs on five hits in 2 2/3 innings before exiting the game.

Anderson is due to be re-evaluated Wednesday.

Heading into Tuesday's game, Anderson was 5-5 record this season with a 3.17 ERA in 18 starts.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Royals' Vargas re-injures pitching elbow
The Sports Xchange

Kansas City Royals left-hander Jason Vargas, who was making his first start since going on the disabled list June 9 with a left flexor strain, left the game Tuesday after throwing just 26 pitches.

The preliminary diagnosis was left medial elbow pain. He will have an MRI exam Wednesday.

The Royals activated Vargas on Tuesday to start against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Kansas City optioned Opening Day starter Yordano Ventura to Triple-A Omaha to make room on the roster for Vargas.

Vargas already spent two stints on the disabled list this season because of a balky elbow. The 32-year-old is in his second year of a four-year deal that guarantees him $8.5 million this season and next and $8 million more in 2017.

He has thrown fewer than 45 innings this season and has a 5-2 record.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Jays sign reliever Chamberlain
The Sports Xchange

The Toronto Blue Jays reached agreement on a minor league deal with free agent reliever Joba Chamberlain on Tuesday.

Chamberlain is expected to join Triple-A Buffalo for now. He was waived by the Detroit Tigers right before the All-Star break.

Chamberlain went 0-2 with a 4.09 ERA in 22 innings for the Tigers.

The 29-year-old veteran spent parts of nine seasons with Detroit and the New York Yankees, compiling a 25-21 record, seven saves and a 3.82 ERA.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Mariners' Cruz flexes his muscles again
By THE SPORTS XCHANGE

DETROIT -- Seattle Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon proved prophetic in his observations about Nelson Cruz's power stroke prior to Tuesday's game.

"His power numbers are not where you're used to seeing them, but I think they'll come back. It may come back with a bang tonight," he said. "I saw some swings (Monday night) that were real close."

Cruz showed off his power in the evening, blasting a home run over the 420-foot mark in center field during the Mariners' 11-9 win over the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.

"I guess he was right," the designated hitter said. "Hopefully, he can say that tomorrow."

Cruz carried the Mariners during the first two months of the season when he blasted 18 home runs. However, from May 28 until Tuesday, he added only three more long balls.

McClendon noticed as the All-Star break approached that the 35-year-old outfielder looked tired, and it showed at the plate.

"The season is a grind and you get banged up," McClendon said pregame. "He's no different than anybody else. He probably got a little fatigued because 10 to 12 days ago, the hands started to drop. But you see the hands back up in a good position to hit. I suspect he'll break out of it any day now."

It wasn't a function of pitchers being more careful with him, though McClendon moved him up to the No. 3 spot this week and dropped second baseman Robinson Cano to the cleanup spot, offering Cruz better protection.

"They've tried to pitch him the same way all season," McClendon said. "I think it's execution. They make mistakes, he takes advantage of it. He just hasn't had a lot of mistakes to swing at."

That's not to say Cruz was totally unproductive until his 455-foot solo shot against Tigers starter Shane Greene. He still is the only Mariners regular hitting .300. His 22 home runs lead the club by a wide margin, and he also tops the Mariners in RBIs (54), runs (45) and hits (104).

"You're going to have streaks and you're going to fall into little funks," McClendon said. "The thing that's neat about Nellie is even when he's in a little slump, he's still able to get a hit here or there."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Ausmus: Sub-.500 Tigers remain a contender
By THE SPORTS XCHANGE

DETROIT -- Brad Ausmus is growing weary of the questions regarding the Tigers being buyers or sellers at the trade deadline. What's clear is that Detroit's manager is not ready to give up on the season.

The Tigers are 46-47 after an 11-9 loss to the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday in which reliever Neftali Feliz squandered a two-run lead in the eighth. Detroit is 10 1/2 games behind the Kansas City Royals in the American League Central and four games behind in the chase for the two AL wild-card spots.

The media was kicked out of the clubhouse 10 minutes after it opened up on Tuesday afternoon so that the team could hold a closed-door meeting. Ausmus wouldn't divulge what was discussed but grew testy afterward when a columnist suggested the team had fallen out of the race.

"I don't subscribe to the theory that we're out of it," he said. "Four games out of a playoff position is far from out of it. I know people like to make it a big story because the Tigers have been so successful and all of a sudden, they're .500 with the trade deadline looming.

"It's a big story to say the Tigers are sellers ... because they haven't been sellers in so long, it's very sensationalistic to talk about it. And sensationalism sells."

A story in USA Today intimated that general manager Dave Dombrowski was already shopping his top would-be free agents, with ace David Price and left fielder Yoenis Cespedes heading that list.

"Things can turn dramatically over a 10-game period. But you have to play well, at some point, on a consistent basis," Dombrowski said in the story. "We're at a point where we have to do what's best in our heart for the franchise."

Ausmus, who meets with Dombrowski daily, said his boss isn't keen on selling off assets.

"Dave believes in this team, too," Ausmus said. "You put together a team for 162 games. You don't put together a team for two-thirds of the season."

Even so, Ausmus admits he is disappointed in how the season is unfolding.

"I'm in charge of the team, so the responsibility falls on me," he said. "When I say I'm disappointed in our record, I'm not saying I'm disappointed in our effort. The effort is there, and that includes the coaching staff. I am disappointed in the record, and I'll take the blame for it because of what my job title is. But I still firmly believe that over this six-month season, our record will be where it's supposed to be."

So is Ausmus ready to offer a playoff guarantee? He won't go that far.

"I'm not Joe Namath," he said.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Six-game skid wrecks Red Sox's momentum
By THE SPORTS XCHANGE

HOUSTON -- Just prior to dropping their final game before the All-Star Game break, the Boston Red Sox enjoyed a 15-7 stretch in which they did not lose consecutive games, a run that gave them hope of climbing back into contention in the wide open American League East.

On Tuesday night, Boston dropped its sixth consecutive game, falling 8-3 to the Houston Astros. Combined with the New York Yankees' 3-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles, the Red Sox dropped 10 games out of first place.

Just as quickly as it arrived, hope appears to have vanished.

"We've got to lead from the mound. We've got to give our offense a chance to get on track," Red Sox manager John Farrell said, discussing the myriad problems plaguing the team. "That looked to be the case tonight where we put together some hits and scored the three runs. We were swinging the bat pretty darn well. We had a number of hard-contact hits tonight that they made some very good defensive plays on. But this is frustrating for everyone involved."

The Red Sox, whose pitching has been ineffective this season, hoped that right-hander Justin Masterson could provide a boost following a move to the bullpen that included consecutive scoreless outings. However, against the Astros, he surrendered three runs on four hits while recording just five outs.

After the Red Sox were on the wrong end of a four-game series sweep against the Angels, with the final two losses coming Monday in a doubleheader that forced Farrell to juggle his rotation, Boston is in desperate need for someone, anyone, to step forward.

"Yeah we got to be professional," catcher Ryan Hanigan said. "Keep playing hard, representing the city of Boston. We got to go out there and compete. We've got a lot of talented guys that have been through adversity, and there's a lot of season left. We just have to get ourselves going. Have everything click at the same time -- offense, defense, pitching, the whole deal."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Brewers' surge likely too little, too late
By THE SPORTS XCHANGE

MILWAUKEE -- This is exactly what Milwaukee Brewers general manager Doug Melvin and manager Craig Counsell -- previously an assistant to Melvin -- had in mind when they began the 2015 season.

The Brewers won their fourth in a row and fifth in six tries Tuesday, knocking off the Cleveland Indians 8-1 behind a strong effort from right-hander Matt Garza, a lineup that produced offense from top-to-bottom and a crisp defense that turned a season-high four double plays.

The result left Milwaukee (42-52) within 10 games of .500 for the first time since May 19 and 37-35 since Counsell replaced Ron Roenicke as manager on May 4.

So with the Brewers playing their best baseball of the year -- and performing to the level the front office had in mind -- is it too early to start dreaming?

"We're playing better, we're more consistent," catcher Jonathan Lucroy said. "It's always possible, but a lot of things have to go right for us."

The Brewers are 17 1/2 games behind the front-running St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central and nine games back of the Chicago Cubs for the second NL wild-card spot, but with six teams separating them, it is still wishful thinking.

"In this game, today, it's tough," Lucroy said. "Not impossible, but tough."

What the Brewers can accomplish, and in the very near future, is a move out of the NL Central basement. They are only a half-game behind the fourth-place Reds (41-50), who are expected to begin a fire sale in the very near future.

"I think we're in a mood right now of, 'Let's play a good game tomorrow,'" Counsell said. "We've been doing good in that mode, and I think that's the mode to stay in."

Milwaukee, too, is in selling mode, and the sudden resurgence of some of its veteran talent could lead to some deals. Left fielder Gerardo Parra, who is batting .426 this month, might be headed elsewhere.

"I don't worry about it," Counsell said. "I plan on writing his name in the lineup tomorrow. He's doing a great job. He's going to be our leadoff hitter tomorrow.

"I'm lost for words to say about him, but it's fun watching him play right now. He's just been exceptional, he really has."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

'On the Diamond'

Washington Nationals and New York Mets conclude this crucial three game set at Nationals Park with each having notched a victory. Jordan Zimmermann gets the call for Matt Williams' crew. Zimmermann one of the most overlooked pitchers in the National League is undefeated in five starts allowing 7 runs, striking out 24, walking just 2 batters with Nationals 5-0 during those contests. This being a divisional game should get the attention of sports handicappers keeping close tabs recently on Washington. The Nationals are 9-2 last eleven at home vs the division. But, the most compelling numbers in the Nationals’ favor are the figures compiled by Zimmermann. The hurler is 4-0 last five vs Mets with Nationals 5-0 over the span. Additionally, the team has a 5-0 streak vs the NL East with Zimmermann and Nationals have won 8-of-11 this season when he starts in front of the friendly home crowd, including 7-3 as chalk. Zimmermann trades pitches with Mets Noah Syndergaard. The rookie is still seeking his first career road win after being tagged with a loss at St Louis last effort moving the mark to 0-4 with a 4.73 ERA in six road starts (1-5 TSR).

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Streaks, Tips, Notes

Los Angeles Dodgers at Atlanta Braves July 22, 12:10 EST

Julio Teheran looks to remain undefeated at the friendly confines of Turner Field Wednesday. Teheran is 5-0 with a 2.18 ERA in nine starts at home with Braves 7-2 in those games. That might change in the series finale vs L.A. The Dodgers seem to have Teheran's number. In the past three vs Braves w/Teheran the Dodgers are 3-0 inluding a win this season spanking the hurler for 8 earned runs over 4 1/3 innings.

Braves are currently +$1.25 underdogs with the total set a 7.5 runs.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Teyas Sports

7/22/2015 FREE PICK CUBS GAME #2 OVER 8 1/2

DID YOU KNOW? WHEN UMP DAN BELLINO IS BEHIND HOME PLATE (RANGERS @ ROCKIES TODAY) THE HOME TEAM IS 35-17 HIS LAST 52 GAMES CALLING BALLS & STRIKES.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Jeff Saad of Las Vegas Sports Services

7/22/2015: Wednesay Bonus Play:

Your Bonus Play from LVSS for Wednesday is on 964. NY Yankees (Nova)

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Mr. Vegas

Mr Vegas FREE MLB play for Wednesday, July 22, 2015. 10:05 PM ET

(969) MINNESOTA TWINS VS (970) LOS ANGELES ANGELS

Take: Over

Reason: High End Bailout Total: Minnesota/LA Angels over the total. Anaheim is a good offensive park and a pair of strong offenses meet. Minnesota is 11th in baseball in runs scored. Starter Mike Pelfrey (5-6, 4.00 ERA) is 2-4 on the road with a 6.02 ERA where opponents hit .344 off him. The over is 5-2 in the Angels last 7 games vs. a right-handed starter. Angels starter C.J. Wilson has walked 7 his last two starts and the last four years he has a 4.56 ERA against Minnesota. LA is loaded with offensive talent, the Over is 34-13-4 in the last 51 meetings, and this total is too low. Play Minnesota/LA Angels over the total.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Dave Cokin

Bonus Play Wednesday

ORIOLES (Gausman) @ YANKEES (Nova) 7:05 PM

Take: ORIOLES +113

Kevin Gausman was crushed in his most recent outing and the talented Baltimore righty continues to be plagued by inconsistency. The stuff is definitely there, but the ability to keep things together still hasn’t arrived.

I’ll still favor Gausman over Ivan Nova for the time being. Nova just hasn’t looked sharp in his four starts since coming back from his long DL stint and he’s going to have to show me more before I can consider backing him.

The Yankees are establishing themselves as the favorite to win the AL East and Joe Girardi has his team playing with confidence right now. But Nova is at least for the time being the weak link in the rotation. We’re talking small sample with both Gausman and Nova here in terms of 2015 innings, but the meaningful metrics clearly indicate Gausman when compared with Nova. That’s big for me, as I like going with underdog pitchers who own the edges in the key categories I focus on.

I made this game a virtual pick ’em, so while it’s not slam dunk value, grabbing more than a dime with the visitors is a worthwhile wager and I’m taking the Orioles for my Wednesday Bonus Play.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Stephen Nover

Texas Rangers vs Colorado Rockies

Bonus Play Colorado Rockies

It can be dangerous to lay a decent-size price on a bad team such as the Rockies.
But Colorado starter Jorge De La Rosa is one of the few who can pitch well at Coors Field. The southpaw isn't bothered by Coors. The Rockies are 53-13 during De La Rosa's last 66 home starts. They also have won nine of his past 11 starts.
Colorado should be fired-up after Tuesday night's 9-0 embarrassment to Texas. Before that defeat, though, the Rockies had won five in a row at Coors.
The Rangers have lost 19 of their past 27 and are 14-21 versus lefties on the season.
Colorado has good hitters and they usually perform much better at home. I can see them doing plenty of damage against Martin Perez, who is making only his second start of the year coming back from Tommy John surgery.
It often takes a pitcher an entire year to fully recover from serious elbow surgery, which Perez had to undergo in May of 2014. Perez had a rough season debut this past Friday in a loss to the Astros giving up three runs on nine hits with two walks in five innings.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Heath Mac

Minnesota Twins vs Los Angeles Angels

Bonus Play Los Angeles Angels

· The Angels beat the Twins for the 9th straight time yesterday, winning easily 7-0 on 13 hits v 2 hits, while the Twins are struggling with just 3 runs in total in their last 3 games.

· The Angels are 7-0 in their L7 games when favorite and 4-0 in their L4 games at home.

· The Twins start Mike Pelfrey who has allowed 112 hits and 44 earned runs while striking out 49 over 99 innings for a 5-6 record and a 4.00 ERA. With the Angels hitting the ball so well, we expect them to pile up the runs here.

· The Angels start CJ Wilson who has won his last 4 straight games against the Twins. With plenty of run support, we expect the same here.

Take the Angels BIG.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Coach Fletcher’s Wednesday Scouting Edge

9:35 am Chicago Cubs vs Cincinnati Reds

Pitching Takes Top Bill in Game One of Double Header

This is scheduled to be the first game of today’s doubleheader and pitching should be the name of the game here. The Cubs Kyle Hendricks takes on the Reds Mike Leake in the opener. It may well be Leake’s final appearance as a Red as he has been mentioned in numerous trade scenarios. But we have heard many rumors and few have happened. Hendricks is 4-4 on the year with a 3.44 era. But he has been on fire in his last few starts. In his last 3 starts Hendricks has posted a near invisible 0.45 era. He has only given up 1 run in 20 innings in his last 3 starts. Leake has been almost as good himself. He is 7-5 on the year with a 3.95 era. In his last 3 starts over 20 innings, Leake has just given up 4 runs for a 1.80 era. Leake has been less effective at home where his era is 5.46. Hendricks has a 3.97 era on the road. Leake is 8-2 lifetime against the Cubs with a 3.28 era while Hendricks is 1-0 vs the Reds with an era of 3.00.

9:35 am New York Mets at Washington Nationals

Syndergaard Tries to Halt Road Hex in Washington ; In Tough Against Zimmerman

Noah Syndergaard has been a nice surprise for the New York Mets and has been tough on oppposing batters. But his road struggles must be noted. He’s not going to find easy going against Jordan Zimmerman and the Nats today. Syndergaard is 4-5 with a 3.30 era this season. But 4 of those 5 losses have come as the visitor. Noah is 1-1 in his last 3 with a sharp 1.71 era. The road tells a different story for Syndergaard. There his era balloons to 5.29. He has yet to face down the Nats. Zimmerman is clearly on a roll. Zimmerman hasn’t lost in a month and in his last 5 starts he’s 3-0 with a 1.99 era. His era is 2.40 at home and 2.91 versus the Mets.

10:05 am Tampa Bay Rays vs Philadelphia Phillies

Odorizzi Tries to Put Worst Start Behind Him ; Phils Look to Embrace Morgan

Jake Odorizzi is 5-6 on the year with a 2.80 era. But his last start against the Blue Jays was one he’d like to forget. He gave up 6 runs in 4 2/3 innings, the most he’s allowed in a game all year. The Jays also dinged him for 5 in one inning, another high against Jake for the year. In his previous 10 innings he allowed 0 runs. His era is 3.94 on the road and he has yet to face the Phils. The Phillies are desperate for pitching and hope that Adam Morgan can fill that job. Morgan is 1-2 on the year with a 3.91 era. He has exceled at home where his era is 2.25. In his last 3 starts however, he sits at a 4.67 era. He also has never faced his opponent. In 1 daytime appearance Morgan did well allowing just 1 run in 5 2/3 innings. One disturbing fact about Morgan is that in 2013 at Triple-A Lehigh Valley he was 2-0 with a 4.04 era and this year, prior to be called up by the Phils, Morgan was 0-6 with a 4.74 era.

11:10 am Cleveland Indians at Milwaukee Brewers

If You Don’t Know Cody Anderson – You Should Get to Know Him

Cody Anderson may well be the next – well, you name him. That name could be Kershaw, Greinke, Heaney, DeGrom or any dozen of other top notch pitchers. Anderson has come into the league and taken it by storm with very little notice. What’s he done? He’s the only pitcher in Modern Day history who has started his career with 4 straight starts of at least 6 2/3 innings allowing only 1 run or less. Despite that flashy stat, Anderson is just 2-1 but he does have a snazzy era of just 0.89. That’s right, 0.89. In 30 1/3 innings Anderson has allowed only 3 runs. In his only loss, he went 8 innings against the Pirates and gave up 6 hits and 1 run. He’s walked 3 and struck out 12. It looks like he will have it easy tomorrow going against the Brewers Kyle Lohse. Lohse is 5-10 with a 6.17 era this year. Lohse had an 8.06 era at home during the first half. Anderson opened as a -120 favorite and early betting took the line down to -112 on Tuesday. Go figure!

7:05 pm Minnesota Twins at Los Angeles Angels

Which Pelfrey – Which Wilson Will Show Up Tonight?

Two pitchers who have been wildly inconsistent tangle at Angel Stadium Wednesday night. The Halos are rolling, but the same can’t be said for Pelfrey or Wilson. During the early first half of the season, Pelfrey was superb. In his first 11 starts his era was a spiffy 2.28. Since then he’s had nothing but trouble. Pelfrey’s era has skyrocketed to a horrendous 7.59 in his last 6 starts. He’s settled at an even 4.00 for the season with a 5-6 record. Wilson tossed a good one versus the Red Sox after the break only allowing 5 hits and no runs in 8 innings. But Wilson has been hard to figure this year. He’s 7-7 with a 3.59 era. As Pelfrey has regressed, Wilson has improved with an era of 2.61 in his last 3 while Pelfrey’s era in his last 3 is an atrocious 9.88. Neither hurler has been effective in slowing down the other team even though they have good records. Pelfrey is 3-1 with a 4.15 era against the Halos and Wilson is 6-2 against the Twins with a hefty 5.67 era.

Free Pick — SF Giants +101