Matchup: Chi. White Sox at Cleveland
Time: 7:05 PM EDT (Tue)
Listed pitchers must go: (R) PEAVY, J vs. (R) TALBOT, M
Play: Chi. White Sox (ML -125)
I think you would have to classify Jake Peavy's season to date as a disappointment. But the hard throwing righty has thrown it better lately and he's in good position to snare a win tonight. Mitch Talbot has done some good work for the Indians, but his peripheral numbers indicate strongly that he'd due for a big crash. Talbot has a disturbing 24/20 BB/K ratio in his 53 innings of work. That's a fairly high BB rate combined with an inability to get punchouts. So he's survived but his strand rate is due for a bump, and I expect the losses to start piling up. This is basically a top of the rotation guy against one from the back end. Beyond that, the Indians are an incredibly bad team. Going back to last season, they have now dropped 53 of their last 76 games, and they're on a 2-10 skid at home. The Chisox are no bargain on the road, but they own plenty of edge tonight and should get the win.
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Matchup: L.A. Lakers at Phoenix
Time: 9:00 PM EDT (Tue)
Play: L.A. Lakers (PK +101)
I was on the wrong side of the Game Three contest between the Lakers and Suns. I'll admit to being surprised at how soft the Lakers were on defense in this game, pretty much allowing the Suns to dictate the tempo on their home court. That's a good way to guarantee a loss, and that's precisely what happened to the Lakers. Lesson learned, or at least I'm expecting that to be the case. The Lakers do not want this to turn into a tense two out of three series, so they will treat this as their single biggest game of the season. The Suns have the guts to stay with LA, but not the height nor the ability to get the big stops. I don't see any way the Phoenix side will lay down here, as they have momentum and confidence. But look for the class to show tonight, and back the Lakers to notch the vital Game Four win and cover.
