Game Time: 10/05/2007 05:00 PM -
By: Tony George | 10starpicks.com
The Indians have the better pitcher in Fausto Carmona, and their lineup will rake against the Yankees' Andy Pettitte. Cash in on Cleveland as home dogs versus New York.
The Cleveland Indians hit .308 against lefties and, quite frankly, Andy Pettitte is inconsistent and has tossed out 5.79 ERA his last three outings. After last night's debacle, I look for the same ol' NY Yankees to struggle on the road where they are playing a team that is confident and 16-5 at home their last 21 games.
Cleveland has the better pitcher on the hill in Fausto Carmona. The Tribe's bullpen is better as well with an ERA of 3.05.
The Bronx Bombers will have more issues against this pitching staff tonight, I look for New York to lose this one and then head back to the Bronx and take some games. Cleveland is strong at home, a good value as an underdog and I say it is a live dog that bites tonight!
Game Time: 10/05/2007 08:30 PM -
By: Al McMordie | bigal.com
The Under won easily on Wednesday and should cash again this evening when the Red Sox host the Angels at Fenway. Play Boston and LA Under the total in Game 2.
Our Friday night MLB Playoffs selection is on the Los Angeles Angels and Boston Red Sox scoring under the total in Game 2 of their ALDS at Fenway Park.
Although the main story coming out of game one of this series was the pitching of Boston ace Josh Beckett, the Angels have to continue to be concerned about their lack of offense. It's not just that they were facing Beckett. Los Angeles has now only scored a total of 10 runs in their last six games, which is an average of well under two runs per game.
Tonight's pitching matchup is not that different than Game 1. Each team is throwing a very talented and experienced right-hander as its starter. For the Angels, that means 31-year-old Kelvim Escobar who has always had talent, but constantly battled injury problems in the past. This year he finally put it all together: 30 starts, 18 wins, a 3.40 ERA and 160 strikeouts. Interestingly, Escobar did not face the Red Sox in 2007, but the last two times he's faced them in Boston (in 2006 and 2005), he's pitched very well, only giving up two earned runs in 12 innings.
Boston goes with Daisuke Matsuzaka, a baseball veteran who is a major league rookie, much the same way Ichiro Suzuki was when he first came over from Japan to join Seattle. Matsuzaka has never faced the Angels before, but the way that team is hitting right now, he probably won't need much run support in this one. He will also have the added benefit of pitching in front of a very appreciative home crowd where he has been very tough lately.
The Under is now 6-2 in the Angels' last eight playoff appearances. Take the Under.
Game Time: 10/05/2007 08:30 PM -
By: Marc Lawrence | playbook.com
Look for the Angels to even up their ALDS with the Red Sox tonight as Kelvim Escobar takes the hill against Daisuke Matsuzaka. Back the Halos as the dogs in Game 2 at Fenway.
The Los Angeles Angels look to even up the series behind Kelvim Escobar who has struggled somewhat coming down the stretch.
His last start, though, was an in-form effort, an indicator he's rounding back into the quality arm that he is. Escobar, 18-7 on the season with a 3.40 ERA, held Oakland to just one run in six innings in that start, allowing just five hits and working nine groundball outs.
Look for the Halos to even things up in Beantown tonight.
Game Time: 10/05/2007 08:35 PM -
By: LT Profits Sports Group | who2beton.com
The Red Sox and Angels have a recent history of high-scoring games in Boston, Game 1 notwithstanding. With Dice-K and Kelvim Escobar stumbling lately, look for an Over.
Now Daisuke Matsuzaka of the Boston Red Sox and Kelvim Escobar of the Los Angeles Angels are obviously very talented, but neither of them finished the regular season strong, so we look for the offenses to rule this game.
Escobar had just one Quality Start in his last five outings, and that came vs. the light-hitting Oakland Athletics. The Over went 4-1 in those starts, and this assignment may be even tougher. Escobar did not pitch well the last time he faced the Red Sox, allowing five earned runs in a 5-4 Angels loss, and that was when he was in much better form than he is now.
Dice-K may be showing signs of fatigue, as his season would have been over by now if he was still pitching in the Japanese League. Matsuzaka had one Quality Start in his last six starts, and he has thrown at least 115 pitched in each of his last three starts, which may not be the best thing for a tired arm right now.
Finally, the Over is 7-3-1 in the last 11 head-to-head meetings between these teams here in Boston, and that included the Under in the 4-0 Red Sox win in Game 1. Look for a lot more scoring tonight.
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