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INSIDE THE LINES

SUNDAY, AUGUST 2


NATIONAL LEAGUE


L.A. Dodgers (64-40) at Atlanta (53-51)


The Dodgers send right-hander Chad Billingsley (10-6, 3.96 ERA) to the mound opposite Braves righty Jair Jurrjens (9-7, 2.69) in the rubber match of a three-game set at Turner Field.


After losing 5-0 on Friday night, the Braves rallied to beat Los Angeles 4-3 on Saturday afternoon behind the stellar pitching of former Dodger Derek Lowe. Atlanta has won five of the last six meetings with the Dodgers in Atlanta and seven of the last 10 clashes overall.


Los Angeles is on positive streaks of 23-9 in the third game of a series, 5-2 on Sundays and 13-7 against N.L. East foes, but the Dodgers are just 3-5 in Billingsley’s last eight trips to the mound. Atlanta is on runs of 11-3 at home, 8-3 as a favorite, 7-1 against right-handed starters, 5-1 in the third game of a series and 5-0 when Jurrjens faces N.L. West opponents.


Billingsley has been a disaster lately, going 1-2 with a 9.45 ERA in his last three outings. On Tuesday in St. Louis, he allowed six runs in 5 2/3 innings of a 10-0 loss to the Cardinals, and over his last four starts he’s given up 19 runs in just 18 1/3 innings as the Dodgers have gone 2-2. Billingsley has only faced the Braves twice in his career – both last season – and he lost both contests, yielding a combined 10 runs (nine earned) on 12 hits in 10 1/3 innings.


Jurrjens has been magnificent in his three starts since the All-Star break, going 2-0 with a 1.37 ERA, giving up a total of three runs over 19 2/3 innings. In his last three at home, Jurrjens has surrendered a grand total of one earned run as the Braves went 3-0. Jurrjens beat the Dodgers twice last year, allowing a combined two runs on eight hits in 13 innings, prevailing 9-3 on the road (against Billingsley) and 6-1 at home.


With Billingsley on the mound, Los Angeles is on “over” streaks of 4-0-1 overall, 5-0 on the road, 5-1 on Sundays, 4-1-1 as a ‘dog and 4-1 against teams with winning records. As a team, the Dodgers have also topped the total in 11 of 15 Sunday games, but overall they are on “under” runs of 5-1 on the road, 5-1 against right-handed starters and 5-1 against teams with a winning record.


When Jurrjens throws for Atlanta, the under is on streaks of 4-1 overall and 5-2-1 as a home favorite. Like L.A., the Braves have gone over the number in 11 of 15 Sunday contests, but they’re otherwise on “under” streaks of 15-6-2 at home, 21-7-5 against right-handers, 13-4-2 as a home chalk and 7-2 in the third game of a series. Finally, the under is 7-1 in the last eight series clashes between these squads, including 5-0 in Atlanta.


ATS ADVANTAGE: ATLANTA and UNDER




AMERICAN LEAGUE


N.Y. Yankees (62-42) at Chicago White Sox (54-51)


The White Sox send red-hot southpaw Mark Buehrle (11-4, 3.45 ERA) to the hill at U.S. Cellular Field looking to complete a four-game sweep of the Yankees and ace left-hander C.C. Sabathia (10-7, 3.83).


Chicago crushed New York 14-4 on Saturday afternoon, using a pair of six-run innings to do the damage, after beating the Yankees 10-5 on Friday night. New York, which had entered this series on a 10-4 overall run against the White Sox, has now lost four straight in the Windy City.


The Yankees are on positive streaks of 24-10 overall, 8-1 in the fourth game of a series, 7-2 on the road against southpaws, 35-17 against the A.L. Central, 41-21 as a favorite and 37-18 on Sundays, but they are just 2-7 in their last nine roadies and they’ve lost seven in a row as road favorites. The White Sox are on runs of 5-0 at home, 11-3 against left-handed starters, 6-1 as a home ‘dog and 5-0 against the A.L. East.


Sabathia got beaten up in Tampa on Tuesday, allowing six runs (five earned) on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings of a 6-2 loss. The Yankees have split his last 10 outings and are just 2-4 in his last six on the highway. He faced the White Sox three times last season as a starter for Cleveland, giving up 11 runs on 19 hits in 20 1/3 innings (4.87 ERA) as the Indians went 1-2. During his career with Cleveland, though, Sabathia was 14-4 with a 3.65 ERA in 26 starts versus the Pale Hose.


After throwing his perfect game against the Rays on July 23, Buehrle went to the Metrodome Tuesday and retired the first 17 Twins hitters he faced before eventually allowing five runs in 6 1/3 innings of a 5-3 loss. Including the perfect game against Tampa Bay, Buehrle is 7-1 in front x with a 2.50 ERA in 12 starts in front of the home fans.


With Buehrle on the hill, Chicago is on runs of 7-2 overall, 10-3 on Sundays, 49-20 at home, 4-0 as a home ‘dog, 4-0 against the A.L. East and 9-1 at home against winning clubs. Also, Buehrle saw the Yankees just once last season and allowed two runs on six hits in six innings of a 4-2 loss, dropping to 1-5 with a 6.11 ERA in eight career starts against New York.


With Sabathia on the hill, the Yankees have topped the total in five of eight overall, four of five on the road and five of eight as a favorite. As a team, though, they are on “under” runs of 10-5-1 overall, 9-4-1 as a favorite and 4-2 against the A.L. Central. Meanwhile, with Buehrle pitching, the White Sox carry “under” streaks of 17-7 overall, 9-4 at home and 10-4 as a home underdog. As a team, the Sox are on “under” streaks of 13-4 overall, 38-18 at home, 23-10-2 as underdogs, 5-2 against the A.L. East and 5-0 against southpaws.


Finally, six of the last seven New York-Chicago meetings in the Windy City have topped the total, and the over is 5-3 in Buehrle’s eight lifetime starts against the Yanks.


ATS ADVANTAGE: CHICAGO WHITE SOX

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Hot lines: Sunday's best MLB bets


Detroit Tigers at Cleveland Indians (+104, 9.5)

The Tigers must get excited when they see Cleveland on their schedule. Entering the weekend, Detroit had taken seven of 10 from the Tribe. Detroit leads the AL Central, but the club needs a chance to get back on track after dropping four of five.

The Tigers tout a streaky lineup, but it has been their pitching that has failed them the past few games. Detroit hurlers have given up an average of almost six runs a night.

But Cleveland is no fan of Detroit pitching. The Indians have scored three or fewer runs against the Tigers six times this season, including two shutouts.

Detroit’s bats should do just enough to help their pitchers get back in the winning swing.

Pick: Tigers

Los Angeles Angels at Minnesota Twins (+114, 10)

When these two teams meet, runs are guaranteed to be scored.

Seven of the team’s eight meetings have easily passed the total this year, with the two teams combining to average 11 runs per game. This offensive production is typical of the Angels, who lead the majors in batting average (.288) and are second in runs scored (566). But it may shock some to find out the Twins also swing a pretty big stick.

Minnesota is ninth in the majors in batting average (.266) and runs scored (501) and has a 29-23 over/under mark in the Metrodome.

The Angels are one of the best plays to beat the total this year, posting an over/under mark of 60-37-4 overall and 28-19-2 on the road.

Pick: Over

[G-men]

Trend Report

1:05 PM
DETROIT vs. CLEVELAND
Detroit is 2-8 SU in its last 10 games on the road
Detroit is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
Cleveland is 2-8 SU in its last 10 games when playing Detroit
Cleveland is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Detroit

1:10 PM
ARIZONA vs. NY METS
Arizona is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Arizona is 8-17 SU in its last 25 games when playing NY Mets
NY Mets are 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Arizona
NY Mets are 17-8 SU in its last 25 games when playing Arizona

1:10 PM
COLORADO vs. CINCINNATI
Colorado is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Cincinnati
Colorado is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games when playing Cincinnati
Cincinnati is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games at home
Cincinnati is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games

1:35 PM
BOSTON vs. BALTIMORE
Boston is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
Boston is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games on the road
Baltimore is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Boston
Baltimore is 2-13 SU in its last 15 games when playing Boston

1:35 PM
WASHINGTON vs. PITTSBURGH
Washington is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Pittsburgh
Washington is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games when playing Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games
Pittsburgh is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home

1:38 PM
KANSAS CITY vs. TAMPA BAY
Kansas City is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Tampa Bay
Kansas City is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay is 17-5 SU in its last 22 games at home
Tampa Bay is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Kansas City

2:05 PM
NY YANKEES vs. CHI WHITE SOX
NY Yankees are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games on the road
NY Yankees are 11-5 SU in their last 16 games
Chi White Sox are 4-2 SU in their last 6 games when playing NY Yankees
Chi White Sox are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games when playing at home against NY Yankees

2:10 PM
LA ANGELS vs. MINNESOTA
LA Angels are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games when playing Minnesota
LA Angels are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games on the road
Minnesota is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
Minnesota is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home

2:15 PM
HOUSTON vs. ST. LOUIS
Houston is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against St. Louis
Houston is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games on the road
St. Louis is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
St. Louis is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home

4:05 PM
MILWAUKEE vs. SAN DIEGO
Milwaukee is 2-8 SU in its last 10 games when playing on the road against San Diego
Milwaukee is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games
San Diego is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing Milwaukee
San Diego is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games

4:05 PM
PHILADELPHIA vs. SAN FRANCISCO
Philadelphia is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing San Francisco
Philadelphia is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against San Francisco
San Francisco is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Philadelphia
San Francisco is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games

4:05 PM
TORONTO vs. OAKLAND
Toronto is 11-3 SU in its last 14 games when playing Oakland
Toronto is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Oakland
Oakland is 3-11 SU in its last 14 games when playing Toronto
Oakland is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Toronto

5:05 PM
CHI CUBS vs. FLORIDA
Chi Cubs are 8-2 SU in their last 10 games
Chi Cubs are 7-3 SU in their last 10 games on the road
Florida is 8-3 SU in their last 11 games when playing at home against Chi Cubs
Florida is 15-8 SU in their last 23 games when playing Chi Cubs

8:05 PM
LA DODGERS vs. ATLANTA
LA Dodgers are 1-5 SU in their last 6 games when playing on the road against Atlanta
LA Dodgers are 3-7 SU in their last 10 games when playing Atlanta
Atlanta is 11-3 SU in its last 14 games at home
Atlanta is 7-3 SU in their last 10 games when playing LA Dodgers

8:05 PM
SEATTLE vs. TEXAS
Seattle is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games on the road
Seattle is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games
Texas is 11-5 SU in its last 16 games when playing Seattle
Texas is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against Seattle

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