Originally Posted by
MILEHIGHMONSTERS
07/01 Plays
Florida (. Johnson) ML -170 (2 units)
San Francisco (M. Cain) ML +126 (2 units)
Houston (B. Moehler) ML -120 (2 units)
CWS (J. Contreras) ML +108 (2 units)
Write-Ups:
Florida (. Johnson) ML -170 (2 units)
FLA: RHP Josh Johnson (7-1, 2.76 ERA)
Considering the high standards Johnson has set for himself this season, his no-decision against the Rays on Friday wasn't exactly on par. But he still gave up just three runs in six innings to get his 14th quality start and left with the game tied. The 25-year-old right-hander was hurt when he threw 27 pitches in the first inning, and he was dealing with a high pitch count his entire outing. Johnson, who gave up seven hits and walked three while striking out six, left after throwing 105 pitches (66 strikes). It was just the fourth time in 16 starts this year that Johnson didn't go more than six innings. For his career, he is 4-0 with a 3.49 ERA in seven appearances -- six starts -- against the Nationals.
WSH: RHP Jordan Zimmermann (3-3, 4.65 ERA)
Zimmermann gave up one run in seven innings against the Red Sox on Thursday. His only blemish against Boston came in the sixth inning, when he allowed a sacrifice fly to David Ortiz. It was Zimmermann's first win since April 26 against the Mets at Citi Field.
San Francisco (M. Cain) ML +126 (2 units)
SF: RHP Matt Cain (9-2, 2.57 ERA)
Cain allowed five runs, matching his season-worst, in Friday's 5-1 loss at Milwaukee. But he still managed to look mostly effective, allowing six hits in seven innings and striking out nine. The decision ended his personal seven-game winning streak over a span of nine starts. Cain, who appears bound for the National League All-Star squad, has worked at least six innings in every start and has recorded 10 quality starts in 15 outings. He's living up to his workhorse reputation by averaging 105 pitches per game.
STL: RHP Adam Wainwright (8-5, 3.51 ERA)
Wainwright has settled into something of a pattern this season. He hasn't been efficient, getting into trouble far too often and running up high pitch counts. But he's shown an ability to limit the damage, locking down with men on base. It's added up to a lot of good but not great starts. The problem is that Wainwright and the team expect closer to great from Wainwright, who was the Opening Day starter at Busch Stadium.
Houston (B. Moehler) ML -120 (2 units)
HOU: RHP Brian Moehler (4-4, 6.05 ERA)
Moehler fell victim to sloppy defense in his last start, against the Kansas City Royals. Moehler received a no-decision after giving up four runs over five innings, but just one of those runs was earned, as the Astros committed three errors behind the right-hander. He has faced the Padres once this season already, picking up the win on May 9 with a seven-inning start, in which he allowed one run on five hits and struck out six.
SD: RHP Walter Silva (0-1, 9.35 ERA)
Silva posted his worst start of the season on Friday against the Rangers. He allowed nine runs -- eight earned -- over 2 1/3 innings, as well as seven hits and four walks. It was his fourth Major League start. Silva has never faced the Astros. In two starts at PETCO Field, he is 0-0 with a 4.36 ERA over 10 1/3 innings pitched. Silva has yet to win his first Major League game.
CWS (J. Contreras) ML +108 (2 units)
CWS: RHP Jose Contreras (2-7, 5.19 ERA)
One bad pitch cost Contreras from producing a fourth straight quality start in a 5-4 loss against the Cubs on Friday. Contreras left a pitch high to Cubs catcher Geovany Soto, who crushed it to center for the decisive three-run home run in the seventh inning. For the game, Contreras lasted 7 1/3 innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits. Those were the most runs he has allowed in four starts since being recalled from Triple-A Charlotte on June 8. On a more positive note, Contreras matched a season high by striking out eight Cubs batters. Contreras toted an 8.19 ERA in six starts before his stint in Triple-A, but he has posted a 2.15 ERA in four starts since rejoining the big league club. Lifetime against the Indians, Contreras is 5-2 in 13 appearances (12 starts) with a 3.25 ERA.
CLE: LHP Jeremy Sowers (2-5, 5.44 ERA)
In his outing against the Reds on Friday, Sowers saw something he hadn't seen all season -- the seventh inning. He even saw the eighth, though he didn't make it out of that inning. In seven-plus innings of work, he gave up a pair of runs on six hits with a walk and six strikeouts. It was his strongest of eight starts this season, and just in time, as his rotation spot might be on the line with Aaron Laffey likely rejoining the club soon. Sowers is 0-2 with a 6.30 ERA in two starts against the Sox this season.
YTD:
ML Plays: 19-12, 61%, +13.25 units
RL Plays: 2-0, 100%, +2.0 units
Totals: 4-4, 50%, +.10 units