Tough day yesterday, going 1-3 with all three dogs losing by 1.
Considering:
Royals +107: Mariners playing great ball, but Felix Hernandez has been a liability since coming off the DL. In his nine starts since returning from injury, Queen Felix is 2-3 with a 5.26 ERA. Of those nine games, only two have been quality starts - his 8 inning gem against Pittsburgh's inept offense two weeks ago, and a 6 inning, 3 R performance @ SD, in which he escaped several early jams. He's given up an astounding 78 H in his last 51.1 IP since returning from the DL, and in those nine starts, only once has he given up fewer hits than innings pitched. Hernandez has also not been pitching deep into games, as he's only pitched past the sixth once during that span.
Gil Meche, on the otherhand, has been remarkably consistent most of the year, although his worst outing of the season did come against his former team.
Twins +170: Another day, another inflated Yankees line. NY's pen, a liability to begin with, is in bad shape heading into this series after Pettitte failed to make it out of the second inning Sunday. This is a huge concern considering 86-year-old Roger Clemens gets the call tomorrow night. Clemens will be counted on to pitch deep in the game, and at this point in his career, he might not be capable, particularly against a very good Minnesota lineup. Tough to pass up the Twins at this price. Even if Clemens pitches well, he's basically a five or six inning pitcher, leaving the game in the hands of the Yanks overused and largely ineffective bullpen. Boof Bonser is a young and very talented pitcher who's more than capable of throwing a good game. If he does get hit, Minnesota should still be in this game in the late innings as a result of the significant bullpen advantage they hold.
Also considering the Nats + if the line moves in Washington's favor.
Considering:
Royals +107: Mariners playing great ball, but Felix Hernandez has been a liability since coming off the DL. In his nine starts since returning from injury, Queen Felix is 2-3 with a 5.26 ERA. Of those nine games, only two have been quality starts - his 8 inning gem against Pittsburgh's inept offense two weeks ago, and a 6 inning, 3 R performance @ SD, in which he escaped several early jams. He's given up an astounding 78 H in his last 51.1 IP since returning from the DL, and in those nine starts, only once has he given up fewer hits than innings pitched. Hernandez has also not been pitching deep into games, as he's only pitched past the sixth once during that span.
Gil Meche, on the otherhand, has been remarkably consistent most of the year, although his worst outing of the season did come against his former team.
Twins +170: Another day, another inflated Yankees line. NY's pen, a liability to begin with, is in bad shape heading into this series after Pettitte failed to make it out of the second inning Sunday. This is a huge concern considering 86-year-old Roger Clemens gets the call tomorrow night. Clemens will be counted on to pitch deep in the game, and at this point in his career, he might not be capable, particularly against a very good Minnesota lineup. Tough to pass up the Twins at this price. Even if Clemens pitches well, he's basically a five or six inning pitcher, leaving the game in the hands of the Yanks overused and largely ineffective bullpen. Boof Bonser is a young and very talented pitcher who's more than capable of throwing a good game. If he does get hit, Minnesota should still be in this game in the late innings as a result of the significant bullpen advantage they hold.
Also considering the Nats + if the line moves in Washington's favor.
