New York Mets Struggling as Rockies Arrive
There are enough MLB betting Aces to satisfy even the most passionate chalk eater on Tuesday, including Colorado's Ubaldo Jimenez in New York taking on the Mets.
A pair of third-place teams in their respective divisions collide Tuesday at Citi Field when the visiting Colorado Rockies continue their road trip against the New York Mets. With just seven weeks remaining in the regular season, it's time for either or both teams to start bringing it if they want to be part of the baseball betting scene come playoff time.
The game will feature a pair of solid-to-decent right-handers in a series that will be dominated by left-handers after Tuesday's opener. Bettors who love to play home dogs are in luck with Mike Pelfrey and the Mets opening at +145 at Bookmaker.com. Those who prefer following an ace who has been money all season will drool like ol' Pavlov's puppy when they see Ubaldo Jimenez and the Rockies -150 at BetJamaica.
MLB oddsmakers also set the total at seven with the 'under' even money.
Jimenez (18-4, 2.61) has been a cash cow all season and has seemingly rediscovered some of his earlier stuff in his last two outings. Home wins against the Pirates and Giants saw Jimenez throw seven in each outing, giving up one earned each game and striking out a combined 15 with five free passes. The most recent win was a big one over the Giants on Aug. 4 as a 180 favorite.
That helped to make up for a couple of shellings he suffered just after the midseason break. In road starts at Florida and Philadelphia – both in this same chalk range, 145-155 – Jimenez surrendered 10 earned runs in 7 1/3 innings with nine walks and seven whiffs.
Jimenez missed facing the Mets when they came to Coors Field in April, so that could work in his favor. He last appeared in Queens on July 27, 2009 when he took a no-decision with seven innings of three-run ball in an eventual 7-3 New York triumph. Believe it or not, Jimenez was a 130 underdog in that game to Oliver Perez and the Mets.
Pelfrey (13-9, 4.16) did catch the Rockies back in April and pitched a very nice game at Coors. The one-time Wichita State Shocker was a big 180 underdog on the MLB odds board on April 15 when the Mets skated to a five-zip win. Pelfrey worked the first seven and allowed five hits with six strikeouts and nary a walk.
Alas, Pelfrey's hot start has turned ice cold of late with the Mets having dropped six straight starts he's made since the end of June. Even his home starts in that span have been bad with 14 earned runs in 13 1/3 innings over three losing efforts.
New York comes off a tough road trip through Atlanta and Philadelphia, and the offense has been rightfully blamed for the team slipping a game below .500 with a 7-16 run since the All-Star Game. Colorado also suffered from post-ASG depression but has rebounded with seven wins its last 10 games. A big part of that uplift has come from Carlos Gonzalez who has seven multi-hit games in that 10game span, including seven homers.
Weather forecasters are calling for a 30 percent chance of a passing t-storm at Citi Field for Tuesday night. First pitch should find the thermometer at a muggy 83ºF or thereabouts with an ENE breeze in the 5-8 mph range (in from RF towards 3B on-deck circle).
The two teams continue the series Wednesday night with a battle of southpaws as Jeff Francis (8-7, 4.67) goes against Jonathan Niese (11-9, 3.63). Thursday's finale is a noon matinee in Queens with Jason Hammel (11-9, 4.38) on the hill for the Rockies against New York ace Johan Santana (12-12, 3.06).
NOTE: W-L records displayed for starting pitchers are team records in games the pitchers start.
There are enough MLB betting Aces to satisfy even the most passionate chalk eater on Tuesday, including Colorado's Ubaldo Jimenez in New York taking on the Mets.
A pair of third-place teams in their respective divisions collide Tuesday at Citi Field when the visiting Colorado Rockies continue their road trip against the New York Mets. With just seven weeks remaining in the regular season, it's time for either or both teams to start bringing it if they want to be part of the baseball betting scene come playoff time.
The game will feature a pair of solid-to-decent right-handers in a series that will be dominated by left-handers after Tuesday's opener. Bettors who love to play home dogs are in luck with Mike Pelfrey and the Mets opening at +145 at Bookmaker.com. Those who prefer following an ace who has been money all season will drool like ol' Pavlov's puppy when they see Ubaldo Jimenez and the Rockies -150 at BetJamaica.
MLB oddsmakers also set the total at seven with the 'under' even money.
Jimenez (18-4, 2.61) has been a cash cow all season and has seemingly rediscovered some of his earlier stuff in his last two outings. Home wins against the Pirates and Giants saw Jimenez throw seven in each outing, giving up one earned each game and striking out a combined 15 with five free passes. The most recent win was a big one over the Giants on Aug. 4 as a 180 favorite.
That helped to make up for a couple of shellings he suffered just after the midseason break. In road starts at Florida and Philadelphia – both in this same chalk range, 145-155 – Jimenez surrendered 10 earned runs in 7 1/3 innings with nine walks and seven whiffs.
Jimenez missed facing the Mets when they came to Coors Field in April, so that could work in his favor. He last appeared in Queens on July 27, 2009 when he took a no-decision with seven innings of three-run ball in an eventual 7-3 New York triumph. Believe it or not, Jimenez was a 130 underdog in that game to Oliver Perez and the Mets.
Pelfrey (13-9, 4.16) did catch the Rockies back in April and pitched a very nice game at Coors. The one-time Wichita State Shocker was a big 180 underdog on the MLB odds board on April 15 when the Mets skated to a five-zip win. Pelfrey worked the first seven and allowed five hits with six strikeouts and nary a walk.
Alas, Pelfrey's hot start has turned ice cold of late with the Mets having dropped six straight starts he's made since the end of June. Even his home starts in that span have been bad with 14 earned runs in 13 1/3 innings over three losing efforts.
New York comes off a tough road trip through Atlanta and Philadelphia, and the offense has been rightfully blamed for the team slipping a game below .500 with a 7-16 run since the All-Star Game. Colorado also suffered from post-ASG depression but has rebounded with seven wins its last 10 games. A big part of that uplift has come from Carlos Gonzalez who has seven multi-hit games in that 10game span, including seven homers.
Weather forecasters are calling for a 30 percent chance of a passing t-storm at Citi Field for Tuesday night. First pitch should find the thermometer at a muggy 83ºF or thereabouts with an ENE breeze in the 5-8 mph range (in from RF towards 3B on-deck circle).
The two teams continue the series Wednesday night with a battle of southpaws as Jeff Francis (8-7, 4.67) goes against Jonathan Niese (11-9, 3.63). Thursday's finale is a noon matinee in Queens with Jason Hammel (11-9, 4.38) on the hill for the Rockies against New York ace Johan Santana (12-12, 3.06).
NOTE: W-L records displayed for starting pitchers are team records in games the pitchers start.