Today’s big plays are being spit around the message boards here on SBR and the sentiment seems to be about the same every where we look. Nearly everyone seems to be interested in putting some coin on the Twins and Reds today. I am also on that Twins Run Line today, but here we will look in another direction.
First off, in the 105 eastern start, the New York Yankees will look to Javier Vazquez to get some redemption after being nearly embarrassed in front of the home-folk at the hands of the M’s and King Felix. Today’s task isn’t nearly the obstacle that was yesterday’s, as the Yanks get Jason Vargas (12-11, 3.15). Vargas has been pretty good this year, with his dismal squad posting a winning record in his outings. He is coming off three consecutive wins, allowing only 6 earned in his last 19 innings pitched. But his last two wins were in Cleveland and at home against the traveling Royals. His last outing against the Yanks was a good one as well, going 7 strong and scattering 9 hits, allowing only one earned, but his career numbers against the Bronx Bombers is not as impressive. He has only logged two starts against them, and one was a great one, the other was a bombs-away kind of day. Vargas’s road ERA is 1.35 higher than the one he has established on the season.
The Yanks will go to Vazquez (12-11, 4.89) today, to rectify the turd laid by AJ on Friday in the opener. The Vazquez win/loss totals are identical to Vargas’s, and that is pretty pathetic considering the offenses and team records behind each, but since the first of June, the New York Yankees are 9-5 in his starts. He has only lasted 4.1 and 4 inning respectively in his last two outing, but has alternated wins and losses over his last four. Today is the win day.
No way in hell the Yanks lose this series to the Mariners. No chance. Don’t hesitate today. Play the Yanks, and I am on the run line as the Yanks are 10 games over .500 on the season against the run line.
My other big play today is on Cliff Lee (12-9, 2.77; 3-5 as a Ranger) and Rangers in Baltimore. There is a lot of talk about fading the Rangers against the O’s out there, especially after the 4-zip shutout in the opener on Thursday. I’m not buying it. Cliff Lee has been rocked in his last two outings, both losses, but both against the best team in the AL East. One was a 6 earned, 9 hit, 10k, 7.2 inning outing at the Tampa Bay Rays, and the other was a 4 earned, 8 hit, 11k, 6.1 inning outing in the Bronx. Today he has the AL East again, but this time it is Bergesen and Orioles. A completely different cup of tea. Cliff still has a 14.7:1 k:bb rate, which is ridiculous. Cliff is still one of the best pitchers in the game and this is just the type of thing that he is looking for to get him back on the winning side of things.
Brad Bergersen (7-14, 5.80) takes the ball today for the Orioles. He is in the midst of the three-game winning streak. He had another three game winning streak this season back starting on the first of May. What happened after those three wins? Bergesen lost 12 of his next 13. This guy is out of his league today, will give up at least 4 thru 6 and Lee will not. Today is the redemption day for that opening start for the Rangers against the O’s for Lee.
Mark it down, Lee big today. I’m on the Rangers -1.5.
First off, in the 105 eastern start, the New York Yankees will look to Javier Vazquez to get some redemption after being nearly embarrassed in front of the home-folk at the hands of the M’s and King Felix. Today’s task isn’t nearly the obstacle that was yesterday’s, as the Yanks get Jason Vargas (12-11, 3.15). Vargas has been pretty good this year, with his dismal squad posting a winning record in his outings. He is coming off three consecutive wins, allowing only 6 earned in his last 19 innings pitched. But his last two wins were in Cleveland and at home against the traveling Royals. His last outing against the Yanks was a good one as well, going 7 strong and scattering 9 hits, allowing only one earned, but his career numbers against the Bronx Bombers is not as impressive. He has only logged two starts against them, and one was a great one, the other was a bombs-away kind of day. Vargas’s road ERA is 1.35 higher than the one he has established on the season.
The Yanks will go to Vazquez (12-11, 4.89) today, to rectify the turd laid by AJ on Friday in the opener. The Vazquez win/loss totals are identical to Vargas’s, and that is pretty pathetic considering the offenses and team records behind each, but since the first of June, the New York Yankees are 9-5 in his starts. He has only lasted 4.1 and 4 inning respectively in his last two outing, but has alternated wins and losses over his last four. Today is the win day.
No way in hell the Yanks lose this series to the Mariners. No chance. Don’t hesitate today. Play the Yanks, and I am on the run line as the Yanks are 10 games over .500 on the season against the run line.
My other big play today is on Cliff Lee (12-9, 2.77; 3-5 as a Ranger) and Rangers in Baltimore. There is a lot of talk about fading the Rangers against the O’s out there, especially after the 4-zip shutout in the opener on Thursday. I’m not buying it. Cliff Lee has been rocked in his last two outings, both losses, but both against the best team in the AL East. One was a 6 earned, 9 hit, 10k, 7.2 inning outing at the Tampa Bay Rays, and the other was a 4 earned, 8 hit, 11k, 6.1 inning outing in the Bronx. Today he has the AL East again, but this time it is Bergesen and Orioles. A completely different cup of tea. Cliff still has a 14.7:1 k:bb rate, which is ridiculous. Cliff is still one of the best pitchers in the game and this is just the type of thing that he is looking for to get him back on the winning side of things.
Brad Bergersen (7-14, 5.80) takes the ball today for the Orioles. He is in the midst of the three-game winning streak. He had another three game winning streak this season back starting on the first of May. What happened after those three wins? Bergesen lost 12 of his next 13. This guy is out of his league today, will give up at least 4 thru 6 and Lee will not. Today is the redemption day for that opening start for the Rangers against the O’s for Lee.
Mark it down, Lee big today. I’m on the Rangers -1.5.
