A battle of the N.L.’s top wild-card contenders resumes when the Giants send ace right-hander Tim Lincecum (12-3, 2.37 ERA) against fellow righty Ubaldo Jimenez (11-9, 3.41) and the Rockies at Coors Field for the third game of a four-game set.
The Rockies rallied from a 6-1 fourth-inning deficit Saturday night to win a shootout 14-11, putting up seven runs in the sixth inning and four more in the seventh. The Rockies are on a 49-23 roll in their last 72 games and are on further upticks of 8-3 at home and 6-1 on Sunday, However, they are just 2-4 in their last six against winning teams.
The Giants are 2-5 in their last seven Sunday contests but are on a 4-2 overall run with two games left on their 11-game road trip. San Francisco still has a slim 5-4 edge in this rivalry in 2009, but the Giants are just 2-5 in Lincecum’s last seven starts against Colorado.
The Giants have won two in a row and four of five behind Lincecum, including an 8-5, 10-inning victory Tuesday at Cincinnati, despite the right-hander having a rough outing. He allowed five runs on six hits and three walks in six innings, getting a no-decision. Lincecum is 5-2 with a solid 2.82 ERA in 12 road starts this year, and he’s 3-2 with a 4.40 ERA in eight career starts against Colorado.
Jimenez has won his last four starts, going eight innings three times and allowing five earned runs in 30 2/3 innings in that four-game stretch for a 1.46 ERA, and Colorado has won in six of the righty’s last seven starts. On Tuesday at Washington, he allowed two runs on seven hits and a walk in eight innings of a 4-3 victory.
Jimenez is 6-4 with a 3.31 ERA in 11 home starts this year, and he’s 2-2 with a 2.44 ERA in seven career starts against San Francisco. The Rockies are also 10-4 in Jimenez’s last 14 home starts, but they are 1-4 in the 25-year-old’s last five Sunday outings.
The under for San Francisco is on rolls of 5-2 behind Lincecum, 4-1 on Sunday, 8-2-1 against righty starters and 21-11-4 in the National League West, and with Jimenez starting, the under is on runs for Colorado of 4-0 overall and 4-0 against winning teams. However, the over for the Rockies is on surges of 8-0-1 against winning teams and 5-1-2 at home, with last night’s tilt sailing over the posted price of 9½.
Finally, in this rivalry, the under is 5-2 in Jimenez’s last seven starts against the Giants, but with Lincecum hurling, the over is on stretches of 5-2-1 overall versus Colorado and 4-1 at Coors Field.
ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE
AMERICAN LEAGUE
N.Y. Yankees (77-46) at Boston (70-52)
After a pair of blowouts in the first two games of this three-game weekend set, the Red Sox send Josh Beckett (14-4, 3.38 ERA) to the Fenway Park mound against CC Sabathia (14-7, 3.58) and the Yankees in a battle of aces at Fenway Park.
Boston, which got drubbed 20-11 Friday night, bounced back Saturday with a 14-1 beatdown, scoring seven runs over the first two innings and finishing with 14 hits. The Sox are on rolls of 38-17 at home and 30-14 at Fenway against lefty starters, but they are also just 4-7 in their last 11 A.L. East contests.
New York remains on tears of 39-14 overall, 9-3 on the highway, 24-8 in division play and 36-18 against winning teams. The Bronx Bombers lost the first eight games of the season to Boston, then won the next five before Saturday’s blowout loss. The Red Sox are 8-1 in the last nine Fenway clashes, and behind Beckett, the Sox are on runs against the Yanks of 7-2 overall and 4-1 at home.
The BoSox are 9-2 in Beckett’s last 11 starts, getting a 10-9 victory Tuesday at Toronto despite the 29-year-old allowing seven runs on nine hits (three homers) and a walk. Beckett is a perfect 8-0 with a 2.58 ERA in 11 home starts this season, and he’s 9-4 in 16 career starts against New York, despite a somewhat inflated 5.03 ERA. On Aug. 7 at New York, he threw seven shutout innings in a 2-0, 15-inning loss.
Boston is on additional hot streaks behind Beckett of 19-7 overall, 10-1 at home and 6-1 in division play.
Sabathia is 6-1 in his last seven starts, winning the last four in a row, and he’s allowed just three runs in 22 2/3 innings over his last three trips to the hill for a 1.19 ERA. On Tuesday, he allowed two runs on five hits and a walk with seven strikeouts in a 7-2 win at Oakland. The Yanks are on runs backing the southpaw of 5-2 on the road and 4-1 against winning teams.
Sabathia is 9-5 with a 3.54 ERA in 15 road starts this season, and he’s 3-5 with a 3.57 ERA in nine career starts against Boston. On Aug. 8, he threw 7 2/3 shutout innings in the Yanks’ 5-0 home victory.
In this rivalry, the under was on a 6-1-1 run at Fenway before the first two games of this series flew over the posted price. The over is on a 9-1 roll for Boston at home, and the over for New York is on surges of 6-1 against righties, 7-2 on the road against winning teams, 8-3-1 behind Sabathia and 7-1 in the southpaw’s last eight road starts.
Baltimore Orioles at Chicago White Sox (-230, 9.5)
Will someone tell the Baltimore Orioles they are 27 games out of the American League East and don’t have a prayer at landing the Wild Card spot.
Baltimore has risen from the dead and taken it to its last two opponents. On Thursday, the O’s hung on to an 8-7 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. And Friday, the team won their first back-to-back contests since the end of July with a 5-1 victory against the White Sox.
The catalyst for this sudden offensive jolt is second baseman Brian Roberts, who has an 11-game hit streak going including knocking four home runs in his last three games. Roberts is hitting .354 in August with 15 RBIs.
"I know my job and my role," he said. "It doesn't really change no matter who's on this team. We could add Albert Pujols and Matt Holiday and that wouldn't change what my role is. My job is not to try to pick up the homers that Aubrey left off. That's for sure. I just try to do the same thing every day and see what happens."
Heading into Saturday’s game, Baltimore has a 13-12 record versus the AL Central – it’s only winning record in the American League. The Orioles are 4-3 against Chicago this season.
Pick: Baltimore +212
New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox (-110, 9)
These AL East rivals kept the scoreboards at Fenway working overtime in the first two games of this series. New York and Boston combined for 46 total runs on 62 hits Friday and Saturday.
Now with staff aces C.C. Sabathia and Josh Beckett on the bump, the total for Sunday’s finale is set at an inflated 9 runs. While the BoSox and Bronx Bombers can put runs on the board, these two aces deserve more respect than that. The total opened at 8.5 before Game 2 Saturday but has climbed with the amount of action at the plate influencing total bettors.
Beckett is coming off one of his rockiest starts of the season earlier this week. But in August, the crafty right-hander has been stellar, posting a 3.08 ERA and a strikeout-to-walk count of 22-to-6. Against New York, Beckett hasn’t given up an earned run in his last two starts and has a team win record of 7-3 during his career.
Sabathia is one of the hottest pitchers in baseball. He has a 2.35 ERA this month and hasn’t lost a start since the end of July. In his most recent start, the chunky southpaw struck out seven batters while allowing just two earned runs in eight innings versus Oakland.
SEATTLE vs. CLEVELAND
Seattle is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Cleveland
Seattle is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Cleveland
Cleveland is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games at home
Cleveland is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Seattle
LA ANGELS vs. TORONTO
LA Angels are 6-2 SU in their last 8 games
LA Angels are 6-2 SU in their last 8 games on the road
Toronto is 3-6 SU in their last 9 games when playing at home against LA Angels
Toronto is 2-4 SU in their last 6 games when playing LA Angels
PHILADELPHIA vs. NY METS
Philadelphia is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing NY Mets
Philadelphia is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games on the road
NY Mets are 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
NY Mets are 2-4 SU in its last 6 games at home
CINCINNATI vs. PITTSBURGH
Cincinnati is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games
Cincinnati is 3-13 SU in its last 16 games on the road
Pittsburgh is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Pittsburgh is 8-17 SU in its last 25 games
FLORIDA vs. ATLANTA
Florida is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Atlanta
Florida is 10-5 SU in its last 15 games
Atlanta is 10-4 SU in its last 14 games
Atlanta is 16-7 SU in its last 23 games at home
MILWAUKEE vs. WASHINGTON
Milwaukee is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
Milwaukee is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Washington is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Milwaukee
Washington is 2-9 SU in its last 11 games when playing Milwaukee
TEXAS vs. TAMPA BAY
Texas is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games when playing on the road against Tampa Bay
Texas is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
Tampa Bay is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
Tampa Bay is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games at home
ARIZONA vs. HOUSTON
Arizona is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games
Arizona is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing Houston
Houston is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Arizona
Houston is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home
BALTIMORE vs. CHI WHITE SOX
Baltimore is 5-13 SU in its last 18 games on the road
Baltimore is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games
No trends available
MINNESOTA vs. KANSAS CITY
Minnesota is 9-2 SU in its last 11 games when playing on the road against Kansas City
Minnesota is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing Kansas City
Kansas City is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
Kansas City is 3-14 SU in its last 17 games at home
SAN FRANCISCO vs. COLORADO
San Francisco is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
San Francisco is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Colorado is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games at home
Colorado is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
DETROIT vs. OAKLAND
Detroit is 6-3 SU in its last 9 games
Detroit is 4-13 SU in its last 17 games on the road
Oakland is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games when playing at home against Detroit
Oakland is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games at home
ST. LOUIS vs. SAN DIEGO
St. Louis is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against San Diego
St. Louis is 8-2 SU in its last 10 games
San Diego is 1-10 SU in its last 11 games when playing St. Louis
San Diego is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games
CHI CUBS vs. LA DODGERS
Chi Cubs are 1-5 SU in their last 6 games
Chi Cubs are 1-7 SU in their last 8 games on the road
LA Dodgers are 6-1 SU in their last 7 games when playing at home against Chi Cubs
LA Dodgers are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games when playing Chi Cubs
NY YANKEES vs. BOSTON
NY Yankees are 1-8 SU in their last 9 games when playing on the road against Boston
NY Yankees are 15-4 SU in their last 19 games
Boston is 10-5 SU in their last 15 games when playing NY Yankees
Boston is 1-5 SU in their last 6 games when playing NY Yankees
The first-place Yankees conclude their huge series against second-place Boston at Fenway Park in a battle for American League bragging rights.
A matchup of former Cy Young award winners pairs C.C. Sabathia (14-7 3.58 ERA) against Josh Beckett (14-4 3.38 ERA) in a premier pitching matchup Sunday evening.
Hit parade
In the first two games of this series there have been 62 total hits. New York won Game 1 with a 20-run, 23-hit explosion, taking a 20-11 victory.
In Game 2, the Yankees put 12 hits on the scoreboard but managed to cash in just one run - a solo home run from Nick Swisher. The Bronx Bombers fell 14-1 to the home-town BoSox, who hit four home runs and scored 13 of their 14 runs with two outs.
In the blink of an eye
At the All-Star break, the Red Sox led the Yankees by three games. Entering this weekend the Yankees were 7.5 games ahead.
That is a 10.5-game swing, in little more than a month.
"They're a really good team feeling real good about themselves." Boston manager Terry Francona said following the Yankees’ four-game sweep in the Bronx two weeks ago.
"This is a race that will go down to the end," countered Yankees manager Joe Girardi. "Is the lead surprising? Yes. Is it comfortable? No, because we have a long way to go."
Here we go again
Like last year with Milwaukee, Sabathia is heating up after the All-Star break.
The big lefty pitched eight strong innings for the second straight start while winning his fourth straight start in Oakland Tuesday. He allowed two runs on five hits, issuing one walk and recording seven strikeouts.
Sabathia has hurled at least seven innings in six of his last seven starts and looks like he's beginning another second-half hot streak.
Prior to Tuesday’s win, Sabathia had struggled throughout his career when returning to his hometown of Oakland, losing four times while posting a sky-high 7.12 ERA.
“C.C.'s just one of those guys who seems to get stronger down the stretch and that's a good thing,” commented Girardi.
S-W-I-S-H!
Yankees 1B Nick Swisher has clubbed 20 homers this season, but unlike many of his teammates, he has not taken advantage of the Yankees' homer-happy ballpark. Swisher has hit the majority of his home runs on the road, with only three coming at the new Yankee Stadium. He registered New York's only score in Game 2 with a solo home run.
Gimme five
There have been only five players in major league history who have hit 20 home runs in back-to-back years while also playing at least 30 games at both first base and third base.
Boston’s Kevin Youkilis gained entry into that club when he hit his 20th home run of the season this month, joining notable sluggers Harmon Killebrew, Mike Schmidt, Dave Kingman and Al Rosen.
Youkilis added two more dingers Saturday and totaled six RBIs in the Red Sox 14-1 victory.
Form and function
Beckett left Tuesday’s game in Toronto after 5.3 innings of work with the game tied at seven. He allowed seven earned runs in the game on nine hits, including three homers and a walk. Beckett gave up two more runs on Tuesday than he had in his previous four starts combined.
Sabathia is just 2-8 with a 4.74 ERA last 10 team starts versus Boston. Conversely, Beckett stands 7-2 with a 3.39 ERA in his last nine team starts against the Pinstripes.
No edge on Sundays: the Yankees are 8-3 last 11; the Red Sox 7-2 last nine home.
Inside the lines 8/23
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