MLB Betting – Phillies vs Astros Preview & Pick
The Philadelphia Phillies have the National League East all but locked up. However, they still have something to play for against last-place Houston Tuesday.
Tag: mlb handicapping
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MLB Power Rankings / September 8th 2011
Shea’s MLB Power Rankings (as of 9/1/2011)
Power rankings in September mean it’s really time for the men to separate themselves from the boys. Which teams made critical moves in their divisional races over the last week?
MLB Betting – Dodgers vs Giants Preview & Pick
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ playoff dream ended long ago. But It’s nice to write about them for a change since they have two very important items on their agenda.
MLB Betting – Red Sox vs Rays Preview & Pick
Though they’re comfortably in position for a playoff berth of some sort, the Boston Red Sox still need to be at their best every game in September if they want to retake the American League East from the New York Yankees.
MLB Betting – Phillies vs Brewers Preview & Pick
Date: Thursday, September 8, 2011
Venue: Miller Park, Milwaukee, WI
Broadcast: CSN, FSWI
Philadelphia Phillies at Milwaukee Brewers Betting Lines from Sportsbook.com
Money Line: OFF
Over/Under: 8
Philadelphia Phillies (90-48 through September 6)
Cole Hamels (13-7, 2.63)
There wasn’t much to say about the Phillies’ chances at the National League East when the season started; the team was so stacked that it was almost a foregone conclusion. Now, a week into September, nothing’s changed. Through Tuesday, the Phils had widened their lead over Atlanta to 9.5 games and gone 7-2 over their last nine.
Thursday will mark Cole Hamels’ second start since returning from the 15-day DL last week. Most people around the game agree that 2011 has been his finest season yet. He’s maintained his outstanding control and strikeout rate but has cut his homer rate in half. Last week, he did serve up two taters, however, so the Phillies only hope it was a blip on the radar.
Hamels is 4-2 against the Brewers in his career but he’s had some trouble at Miller Park, where the Brewers happen to be 50-19 this season. Hamels has a 5.00 ERA with six homers allowed over 27 innings there.
Milwaukee Brewers (85-58 through September 6)
Chris Narveson (10-6, 4.26)
The only other team in baseball with a division lead as comfortable as Philadelphia’s is Milwaukee. The Brewers are in cruise control. The Cardinals swept them last week but they bounced back to take three of four from lowly Houston.
Is Chris Narveson up to the task of stopping the Phillies? The innings eater has lost once in his last 10 starts. He’s 6-2 with a 3.76 ERA at home this season.
Though Narveson turned in a quality start his last time out against the Phillies (6 IP, 3 ER), they rocked him the time before that, so he’s somewhat of a wild card.
The pick:
Hamels is twice as talented as Narveson but his two homers allowed in his last start are troubling. The Brewers have a proven track record of power-hitting success against him. Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder have four homers in 39 combined at-bats versus Hamels. Narveson seems comfortable at home, just like the whole Brewer team, and the Phillies didn’t faze him the last time out.
Take the Brewers and you may even get home dog value because Hamels is pitching.
Phillies vs Brewers prediction: Brewers 6, Phillies 5
MLB Betting – Braves vs Phillies Preview & Pick
The Atlanta Braves are firmly entrenched in the National League Wildcard spot. If they want any shot at the NL East crown, however, they need a strong showing at Philadelphia this week.
MLB Betting – White Sox vs Tigers Preview & Pick
Thanks to a recent five-game winning streak, the Chicago White Sox aren’t quite out of the hunt in the American League Central.
MLB Betting – Rangers vs Red Sox Preview & Pick
The Texas Rangers are fighting to hold off the Los Angeles Angels in for the American League West lead and got a little shot in the arm this week with Adrian Beltre’s return from the DL.
MLB Betting – Diamondbacks vs Giants Preview & Pick
The D-Backs can see the light! Six games up on the Giants and set to play them three straight times, they have a chance to essentially lock up the National League West with a good series this weekend.
Categories
MLB Power Rankings / September 1st 2011
Shea’s MLB Power Rankings (as of 9/1/2011)
Power rankings in September mean it’s really time for the men to separate themselves from the boys. Which teams made critical moves in their divisional races over the last week?
MLB Betting – Cardinals vs Brewers Preview & Pick
Nine and a half games back of Milwaukee through Tuesday, it’s an understatement to stay the St. Louis Cardinals are on the ropes. They’re more like on the canvas with the referee’s count up to eight seconds.
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MLB Betting – N.Y. vs. Boston Preview & Pick
MLB Betting – Rays vs Rangers Preview & Pick
To me, Wednesday’s matchup with Boston represents the New York Yankees’ season in a nutshell. They’re major contenders, narrowly behind Boston, and they need Phil Hughes to step up if they want to close the gap.
MLB Betting – Rays vs Rangers Preview & Pick
After pummelling the Toronto Blue Jays over the weekend, the Rays have sent a clear message to the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox in the American League East: we’re not ready to quit just yet.
Sunday Night Baseball Betting – Angels vs Rangers Preview & Pick
Date: Sunday, August 28, 2011
Venue: Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Arlington, TX
Broadcast: ESPN
Los Angeles Angels at Texas Rangers Betting Lines from Sportsbook.com
Money Line: Texas -115
Over/Under: 8.5
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Los Angeles Angels (71-59 through August 25)
Jered Weaver (15-6, 2.03)
Talk about a perfect matchup for Sunday Night Baseball. Riding a six-game winning streak through Thursday night’s action, Angels climbed right back into the American League West hunt behind the Texas Rangers. The three-game weekend set between the two squads could make or break the season.
Jered Weaver will get the nod Sunday night at Texas. While he’s had the odd blip on the radar, he’s been a Cy Young contender all season long. He’s allowed one or zero earned runs in seven of his last 10 starts, so the dog days of August clearly aren’t slowing him down.
Weaver has already faced Texas four times this season, going 2-1 with a 1.86 ERA. He’s done a fine job against most of the Rangers’ top hitters in 2011, holding Nelson Cruz to a .200 average, Ian Kinsler to .133, Adrian Beltre to .200 and keeping Josh Hamilton hitless.
But boy, does Elvis Andrus ever own Weaver. He’s a whopping 10 for 14 (.714) against the Halos’ ace this year.
Texas Rangers (71-59 through August 25)
Colby Lewis (11-9, 4.07)
Eek. The Rangers picked a bad time to drop three straight against Boston and five of six overall. They’ve let the Angels off the mat. Though Boston shut them out on Thursday, pitching has been their prime problem of late. In three of their last four defeats, they’ve allowed 10 or more runs. That void left by Cliff Lee’s offseason departure stands out. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
Colby Lewis will start for Texas on Sunday night. He’s almost matched his resurgent 2010 numbers, as his walks, strikeouts and WHIP are right in line with last year. But Lewis’ game has regressed in one noteworthy area: homers.
He can’t stop serving up gopher balls. Lewis has been taken deep a whopping 30 times in 165.2 innings (26 starts). Only Bronson Arroyo has allowed more long balls this season.
MLB Trends:
Over is 8-1 in LAA last 9 games following a win.
LAA are 7-1 in their last 8 overall.
LAA are 7-1 in their last 8 games on grass.
Over is 7-2 in TEX last 9 vs. American League West.
Over is 10-3 in Lewis’ last 13 home starts.
Under is 15-5-1 in Weavers last 21 starts vs. TEX.
Free MLB pick:
Weaver has been lights-out against Texas this season. Yeah, Andrus has his number, but that won’t matter if none of Texas’ other hitters can drive him in.
On the flipside, Lewis has really struggled at home in 2011, posting a 5.56 ERA. His homer rate at Rangers Ballpark is especially high; he’s allowed 20 in just 79.1 innings. Almost every stat points to an Angels win on Sunday night.
Sunday Night Baseball Prediction: Angels 5, Rangers 2
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MLB Betting – Rockies vs Dodgers Preview & Pick
The Colorado Rockies are out of the National League West hunt. Right? Right!?
MLB Betting – Rays vs Blue Jays Preview & Pick
Is there still a glimmer of hope for the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East race?
