105pm CLE +170 (Westbrook) @ TOR -200 (Cecil):
In today’s only early afternoon contest, the traveling Tribe looks to get a win against Brett Cecil and the Blue Jays. Last night the Jays won with relative ease, took an early lead, and hung on, squeezing the hope out of the Indians early en route to an 8-1 win.
Today the Indians send Jake Westbrook to the mound to try to level things, who in his only start versus Toronto, faired quite well. He got the win and went 6 innings of 1 run ball. Jake has also had some success this season, posting a record just under .500 (6-7) for a pretty bad ball club with a 4.65. In his last outing, he took the loss to the Yanks, but went 8 innings and allowed only 3 earned. The Tribe just didnt get the guy much support in the 2-3 loss. Westbrook has given the Indians a quality start 50% of his last 10 starts. He seems to fair pretty well, and the +170 seems a little steep.
The Indians do, however, face Brett Cecil, on the road, and Brett has been nothing short of impressive over his last handful of outings, allowing a combined total of 7 earned in his last four starts (26.1 IP) with the Blue Jays getting wins in three of four. He also had some success in his one start versus today’s opponent, going 8 innings and allowing just one hit, one run and two walks getting the win in relative easy fashion.
The Blue Jays’ offense sure looked good yesterday, and hit the ball very well in their home. I do expect them to win again tonight, just find the juice a little hefty. Parlay piece for sure.
There is also a trio of 4pm starts this afternoon.
LOS -103 (Billingsley) @ SFO -117 (Zito); o/u7.5.
There is a fantastic pitching matchup today in the Bay Area, as the fire-engulfed Chad Billingsley takes the hill looking to get back on the right side of things versus their division rival Giants. In his last two outings, both versus NL West teams, Billingsley put together two wins, two 2-0 shutout victories, 15 IP and a combined 8 hits in those starts. Clearly he is focused in big division contests and we shouldn’t expect anything different this afternoon.
He faces Barry Zito (8-6, 3.49), who has been the model of consistency this season. He seems to always pitch well against the Dodgers, posting a lifetime 4.01 era, and went 7.1 and allowed 2 ER in his last outing, getting the loss. Zito has also lost two straight starts, both very low totals, and only allowing a combined 5 earned in those two losses.
coin flip here.
ATL +101 (Jurrjens) @ CIN -121 (Arroyo):
Another great 4pm pitching matchup in another huge game, as the Reds managed to blow an early 3-1 lead last night, only to tie the game late and blow it in extras. The Braves desperately needed that game last night, and proved they are going to stay in this division battle.
Today they look to Jurrjens, who has pitched very well in the starts I have watched, challenging hitters with a nasty hard fastball up. In his last outing, he got hit around a little bit, giving up 4 earned in 7 innings down in Florida in a 5-4 loss. Today, he should have an even bigger challenge versus the Central contending Reds, who also need every game from here on out.
Bronson Arroyo goes for Cincy and he has not been as successful his last two outings. Arroyo still sits at 10-6, with an ERA just over 4, but has taken back-to-back losses, @MIL and vWAS. The latter start he was roughed up pretty badly, giving up 7 earned in 5.2.
Braves today, and Im not sure why. I hate those guys.
DET +157 (Scherzer) @ BOS -177 (Matsuzaka):
Max lost his last start, as well as 2 of his last three, but has posted some great numbers in his last ten starts, allowing just 21 earned in those 10. He has nasty stuff, a devastating heavy fastball, and seems to dominate lineups, every now and then. Today he takes the ball in the confines of Fenway in Boston and takes on the highest scoring lineup in the bigs. He’ll need his best stuff to get out of this one with a dubya and get back-to-back wins for his Tigers.
His afternoon competition is Daisuke and the Sox. Matsuzaka has been phenomenal of late and really seems to be back after all of injury trouble and command issues with which he was dealing. Daisuke has only allowed 4 earned runs in one of his starts over his last ten, and has allowed a combined 4 earned in his four starts since giving up the 4 spot on July 5th in Tampa. Expect good things from Daisuke today, coming off of a loss and facing a depleted Tiger lineup.
Blue Jays, Braves, Red Sox +370.
In today’s only early afternoon contest, the traveling Tribe looks to get a win against Brett Cecil and the Blue Jays. Last night the Jays won with relative ease, took an early lead, and hung on, squeezing the hope out of the Indians early en route to an 8-1 win.
Today the Indians send Jake Westbrook to the mound to try to level things, who in his only start versus Toronto, faired quite well. He got the win and went 6 innings of 1 run ball. Jake has also had some success this season, posting a record just under .500 (6-7) for a pretty bad ball club with a 4.65. In his last outing, he took the loss to the Yanks, but went 8 innings and allowed only 3 earned. The Tribe just didnt get the guy much support in the 2-3 loss. Westbrook has given the Indians a quality start 50% of his last 10 starts. He seems to fair pretty well, and the +170 seems a little steep.
The Indians do, however, face Brett Cecil, on the road, and Brett has been nothing short of impressive over his last handful of outings, allowing a combined total of 7 earned in his last four starts (26.1 IP) with the Blue Jays getting wins in three of four. He also had some success in his one start versus today’s opponent, going 8 innings and allowing just one hit, one run and two walks getting the win in relative easy fashion.
The Blue Jays’ offense sure looked good yesterday, and hit the ball very well in their home. I do expect them to win again tonight, just find the juice a little hefty. Parlay piece for sure.
There is also a trio of 4pm starts this afternoon.
LOS -103 (Billingsley) @ SFO -117 (Zito); o/u7.5.
There is a fantastic pitching matchup today in the Bay Area, as the fire-engulfed Chad Billingsley takes the hill looking to get back on the right side of things versus their division rival Giants. In his last two outings, both versus NL West teams, Billingsley put together two wins, two 2-0 shutout victories, 15 IP and a combined 8 hits in those starts. Clearly he is focused in big division contests and we shouldn’t expect anything different this afternoon.
He faces Barry Zito (8-6, 3.49), who has been the model of consistency this season. He seems to always pitch well against the Dodgers, posting a lifetime 4.01 era, and went 7.1 and allowed 2 ER in his last outing, getting the loss. Zito has also lost two straight starts, both very low totals, and only allowing a combined 5 earned in those two losses.
coin flip here.
ATL +101 (Jurrjens) @ CIN -121 (Arroyo):
Another great 4pm pitching matchup in another huge game, as the Reds managed to blow an early 3-1 lead last night, only to tie the game late and blow it in extras. The Braves desperately needed that game last night, and proved they are going to stay in this division battle.
Today they look to Jurrjens, who has pitched very well in the starts I have watched, challenging hitters with a nasty hard fastball up. In his last outing, he got hit around a little bit, giving up 4 earned in 7 innings down in Florida in a 5-4 loss. Today, he should have an even bigger challenge versus the Central contending Reds, who also need every game from here on out.
Bronson Arroyo goes for Cincy and he has not been as successful his last two outings. Arroyo still sits at 10-6, with an ERA just over 4, but has taken back-to-back losses, @MIL and vWAS. The latter start he was roughed up pretty badly, giving up 7 earned in 5.2.
Braves today, and Im not sure why. I hate those guys.
DET +157 (Scherzer) @ BOS -177 (Matsuzaka):
Max lost his last start, as well as 2 of his last three, but has posted some great numbers in his last ten starts, allowing just 21 earned in those 10. He has nasty stuff, a devastating heavy fastball, and seems to dominate lineups, every now and then. Today he takes the ball in the confines of Fenway in Boston and takes on the highest scoring lineup in the bigs. He’ll need his best stuff to get out of this one with a dubya and get back-to-back wins for his Tigers.
His afternoon competition is Daisuke and the Sox. Matsuzaka has been phenomenal of late and really seems to be back after all of injury trouble and command issues with which he was dealing. Daisuke has only allowed 4 earned runs in one of his starts over his last ten, and has allowed a combined 4 earned in his four starts since giving up the 4 spot on July 5th in Tampa. Expect good things from Daisuke today, coming off of a loss and facing a depleted Tiger lineup.
Blue Jays, Braves, Red Sox +370.
