[Mr. Miyagi]

Yankees LHP CC Sabathia (9-9, 4.65 ERA) at Padres RHP Andrew Cashner (7-5, 3.88 ERA), 7:10 p.m.
Line: NYY -110, SDP -100
The New York Yankees visit Petco Park and the Padres Friday night for the last leg of their West Coast interleague road trip. New York split a two game series against the red hot Dodgers by beating Kershaw Wednesday night. The Yankees come in struggling a little bit having lost 7 of 12 since the all Star Break. The Padres are 8 up and 5 down over the same stretch.
Joe Girardi sends his horse CC Sabathia and his 5.42 road ERA to start the opener. CC is starting to show signs of age as his fastball has lost some of its zip and movement. His strikeouts per nine are at a career low and he’s already given up 23 long balls which is also a career high. He’s gotten shelled the past two times out as well giving up 14 earned in his past 10 innings – both season highs.
Bud Black will trot out Andrew Cashner to start Friday night for the hometown Friars. Cashner has been great at home posting a 2.50 home ERA. Cashner has been a reliable starting pitcher for the Padres this year giving a quality start in 12 of 15. If they do have an ace Cashner is probably it. He’ll be juiced up tonight facing the Yankees and we’re looking for the radar gun to hit 100MPH.
The Yankees get Granderson back in the lineup tonight and all of sudden the Yankees lineup looks a whole lot better, but remember it’s been close to 70 days since Granderson saw big league pitching. Even with Granderson, Jeter and the newly acquired Soriano in the lineup we’re still predicting a Padres victory.
Prediction: Padres 4, Yankees 3
PLAY ON: PADRES -100

Rangers RHP Alexi Ogando (4-3, 3.05 ERA) at Athletics LHP Tommy Milone (9-8, 4.10 ERA), 7:05 PM
Line: OAK -130, TEX +120
The Texas Rangers travel to the Oakland Coliseum to take on the division leading Athletics in the first of a 3 game series Friday night. The Rangers are currently 3.5 games back of the A’s which makes these head to head matchups much more important as we start the second third of the season.
Oakland boasting an AL leading 34-18 home record comes in having lost 2 of 3 to last place Toronto. The Athletics were the American League’s first half surprise team proving once again that great pitching and timely hitting is all it takes to win ball games.
Texas started off the second half with a 1-8 record but has since righted the ship reeling off 4 straight victories including a gem last night by Yu Darvish (7 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 14 K’s). The Rangers are still a very good team with post season aspirations. They were and still are our choice to represent the American League in the 2013 World Series.
Ogando starts for the Rangers who need a stronger effort out of him tonight. He lasted 4 2/3 in a loss last time out as the Rangers got blanked 0-6 in Cleveland. Alexi has started 12 games this season but only pitched 62 innings. Ron Washington needs him to get deeper into games. The Athletics are second in MLB in pitches seen so we don’t see him lasting too long tonight as he’s only pitched into the 7^th twice this year.
The A’s send out second year man Tommy Millone to start the series opener. Millone had a decent rookie season last year posting a 13-10 record with a 3.74 ERA after being traded as part of the Gio Gonzalez deal in 2011. He’s not going to over power hitters as his fastball won’t hit 90MPH but like most of the Athletics starters he’ll keep his team in the ballgame tonight with his excellent control.
This game will come down to the bullpens as both will have to pitch 3 innings +. We give the bullpen edge to Oakland tonight.
Prediction: Athletics 6, Rangers 3
PLAY ON: ATHLETICS -130

Blue Jays RHP T Redmond (1-1, 3.81 ERA) at Angels LHP Tommy Hanson (4-2, 5.15 ERA), 7:05 PM
LINE: LAA – 120, TOR +110
Game 2 of 4 as the last place Blue Jays are in Southern California to face the underachieving Los Angeles Angels. Remember just a few months ago when most pundits had these two teams as runaway favorites to win their divisions? Wow, how things have changed.
In game one last night the Angels jumped all over Josh Johnson with a 4 spot in the first inning then tacked on 3 more to send him to the showers early giving up 6 earned in 2 1/3. What a disaster Josh Johnson has become, this is one bad year for one bad pitcher. He is now 1-8 with a 6.60 ERA and a 1.68 WHIP.
Todd Redmond will be starting his 5^th game of the year for the Blue Jays Friday night. Drafted in 2004 he’s only pitched in 8 games for a total of 31 innings. If it weren’t for the poor play of the Blue Jays, chances are Redmond wouldn’t even see the big leagues this year. He probably should’ve changed careers years ago but apparently his persistence in AA/AAA is now paying off as the 28 year old has a chance to pitch well the rest of the year and possibly earn a spot next year in the rotation.
Tommy Hanson gets the bump for the home town Angels. Tonight will be his 12th start of the season as he’s been on DL with lower back pain. As much grief as Pujols and Hamilton get, this guy should be right up there next to them as biggest busts of 2013. He was supposed to bolster the starting rotation. That being, Hanson does have good stuff, a 90-92MPh fastball, with a good slider and curve. Reyes and Bautista have had success against Hanson in the past so we look for the Blue Jays to score some runs tonight.
Good hitting lineups, a hot Trumbo and bad starting pitching combined with lousy bullpens is a recipe for runs. We think both teams will put up 4+ runs each.
Prediction: Blue Jays 7, Angels 5
PLAY ON OVER 8.5 -110

[innovation]

Like Oaktown and Blow jays to win.



When you catch a dawg by its tail are you using chop sticks?

GL mr miyagi

[ItsMeMrMattE]

good write ups. with ya on OAK.