One night after a miraculous 14-inning victory, the Rockies try to keep the pressure on the division-leading Dodgers when these N.L. West rivals begin a three-game series at Coors Field. Jason Hammel (8-8, 4.60 ERA) is slated to pitch for the hosts opposite Los Angeles southpaw Clayton Kershaw (8-7, 2.96).
Colorado capped a four-game series against the Giants in incredible fashion Monday, rallying from a 4-1, 14-inning deficit to pull out a 6-4 victory, getting a walk-off grand slam from Ryan Spillborghs. The Rockies have now won three in a row and seven of their last eight overall and they’ve have used a 51-23 run to close to within three games of Los Angeles, which has led the N.L. West virtually the entire season. Jim Tracy’s club is on additional streaks of 26-10 at Coors Field, 11-1 at home against left-handed starters and 5-1 in divisional play. However, the Rockies have lost four of five series openers.
The Dodgers took Monday off after falling to the Cubs 3-1 at home on Sunday, failing to put the finishing touches on a four-game sweep. Los Angeles is 5-3 in its last eight games, but had lost 13 of 20 prior to that, going 6-7 on the highway. On a positive note, Joe Torre’s troops are on runs of 49-22 against the N.L. West and 17-5 when playing on Tuesday.
L.A. remains in first place thanks largely to its dominance of Colorado this season, winning 10 of 12 meetings, including five of six at Coors Field. Dating to last September, the Dodgers are on a 13-3 roll in this rivalry (7-2 in Denver).
Kershaw’s struggles continued on Wednesday against St. Louis, as he lasted just 3 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on five hits in four walks, getting a no-decision in the Dodgers’ 3-2 loss. Los Angeles has now lost six straight games behind Kershaw after going 7-0 in his previous seven outings. So far in August, the 21-year-old is 0-2 with a 4.26 ERA in four starts, walking 15 in 19 innings.
The Dodgers have won five of Kershaw’s last seven starts on the highway, where he’s 5-4 with a 4.12 ERA in 11 outings this year, including 1-1 with a whopping 10.13 ERA in two games at Coors Field. Since coming up to the big leagues last year, Kershaw has made six starts against the Rockies, going 2-3 with a 6.07 ERA, including 2-2 with an 8.24 ERA in four road efforts.
Hammel is coming off a 4-1 win at Washington, yielding the one run on three hits in seven innings. He’s given up three earned runs or fewer in four straight starts, with Colorado going 3-1. The right-hander is 2-3 with a hefty 7.02 ERA at home this year, but the Rockies are still 7-3 when he starts at Coors, including 6-1 in the last seven.
Hammel’s lone start against the Dodgers came in L.A. on July 1 and he was a tough-luck 1-0 loser to Kershaw, scattering five hits and no walks in an eight-inning complete game. Including that setback, Colorado is 1-4 in Hammel’s last five against N.L. West foes.
With Kershaw pitching, the Dodgers are on “under” streaks of 4-1 overall (all as a favorite), 4-1 on the road and 4-1 against the N.L. West. Additionally, L.A. comes into this series carrying “under” trends of 4-1-1 overall, 8-3 on the road and 5-2 against righty starters. The under is also 4-2-1 in the Rockies’ last seven overall and 8-3-1 in their last 12 on Tuesday, but otherwise Colorado is on “over” runs of 6-2-2 at home, 9-1-1 against winning teams and 4-0-1 overall with Hammel on the hill.
Finally, the over is 4-1 in the last five Dodgers-Rockies battles at Coors Field.
ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Texas (69-54) at N.Y. Yankees (78-46)
Fresh off a successful 10-game, three-city bicoastal road trip, the Yankees return to action in the Bronx, with Joba Chamberlain (8-3, 3.98 ERA) set to oppose the Rangers’ Kevin Millwood (9-8, 3.48) in the opener of a three-game series between playoff contenders.
Both teams took Monday off after completing series’ with victories in A.L. East ballparks. The Yankees took down the Red Sox 8-4 at Fenway Park on Sunday night, finishing their road trip with a 7-3 record as they won all three series. Earlier that day, Texas avoided a three-game sweep at Tampa Bay by blanking the Rays 4-0.
New York owns baseball’s best record thanks to an incredible 40-14 overall run that has given the Bronx Bombers a 7½-game lead over Boston in the A.L. East. The Yanks are on additional positive spurts of 49-19 at The Stadium, 53-25 as a favorite, 25-7 against right-handed starters, 6-2 against the N.L. West, 6-1 on Tuesday and 4-0 after an off day.
Texas, which remains in the hunt for the A.L. wild card, is on runs of 14-6 against teams with a winning record and 10-3 against the A.L. East, but it has lost four of six overall and four of its last five as a pup. Also, the Rangers are 9-25 in their last 34 meetings with the Yankees (2-4 this season).
Millwood got lit up by the Twins six days ago at home, allowing five runs on seven hits in over 5 2/3 innings of a 5-4 loss, as the Rangers fell to 0-3 in his last three starts. With the veteran right-hander on the bump, Texas is on upticks of 7-0 on Tuesday, 4-1 versus the A.L. East and 8-2 when he opens a series, but it has lost 27 of his last 36 road starts.
This year, Millwood is 2-6 with a 4.28 ERA in 11 starts on the highway (eight of which the Rangers have lost). Against the Yankees, he’s 1-4 with a 4.50 ERA in eight career starts, including a no-decision back on May 26 when he surrendered three runs in 5 2/3 innings, with Texas going on to a 7-3 home win.
Chamberlain has allowed exactly four runs in each of his last three starts covering 16 total innings (4.15 ERA). The 23-year-old right-hander hasn’t pitched since a 10-3 loss in Seattle nine days ago, a setback that ended a personal five-game winning streak as well as the Yankees’ five-game win streak overall behind Chamberlain. New York is still 14-2 in Chamberlain’s last 16 home starts and 22-8 in his last 30 as a favorite.
Although New York has enjoyed a lot of success when Chamberlain pitches at Yankee Stadium this year, going 11-2, he’s just 3-2 with a 4.72 ERA in those 13 contests. Also, Chamberlain has a 7.11 ERA in three career starts versus Texas, all of them Yankees losses. He failed to make it out of the fifth inning in all three games.
Millwood has been a big-time “under” pitcher lately, with the “under” on runs of 23-7-3 in his last 33 starts overall, 7-1 on the road, 6-0 on Tuesday, 7-1 against the A.L. East and 4-0 when he faces the Yankees. Also, as a team, the Rangers carry “under” trends of 47-19-4 overall, 35-16-2 on the road, 22-6-1 as a road pup, 21-6-2 against the A.L. East, 9-3 in series openers and 4-0 after a day off.
With Chamberlain pitching, the Yankees are on “over” streaks of 8-2 overall, 5-1 at home and 4-0 against the A.L. West. Also, New York as a team is on “over” runs of 4-1 overall, 17-8-2 against the A.L. West and 4-0 against right-handed starters. However, the under is 15-6-2 in the Yanks’ last 23 after a day off.
Arizona Diamondbacks at San Francisco Giants (-138, 7)
The Giants are starting a series and a homestand, which has been a winning formula all season.
The Giants won the opener of their first six series at Pacific Bell Park and are 14-5 overall in series openers.
When starting a homestand, the Giants are even better. San Francisco won the opening game of a homestand eight straight times before losing its last one to Cincinnati on Aug. 7.
Did we mention that the Diamondbacks have lost nine of their last 10 road games? Or that Cy Young Award candidate Matt Cain is pitching for the Giants?
Pick: San Francisco
Cleveland Indians vs. Kansas City Royals (-163, 8)
For the Indians, the kids are all right.
Cleveland has won five of its last eight games with the help of hot hitting from a pair of youngsters.
Second baseman Luis Valbuena, who hit less than .200 through the first two months of the season, is batting .305 since July 1. He is riding a six-game hitting streak (8-for-23) with four runs, two homers and four RBI.
Outfielder Matt LaPorta has hit safely in all four games since his recall from the minor leagues, batting .333 with three doubles, four runs and four RBI.
To keep their hitting streaks alive, Valbuena and LaPorta have to get the better of slumping Royals ace Zack Greinke, who has won just one of his last nine starts.
Winding down the month of August, plenty of teams are playing for postseason positioning, while others are trying to play out the string. A handful of matchups on the Tuesday card provide solid pitching duels, including a key showdown in the Bronx.
Rangers at Yankees (7:05 PM EST)
The Rangers avoided a sweep on Sunday by shutting out Tampa Bay, 4-0. Texas heads north for a crucial series with the Yankees, as the Rangers sit one game behind the Red Sox inside the AL Wild Card race entering Monday's action. New York helped out Texas' cause by taking two of three from Boston this past weekend at Fenway Park.
Joba Chamberlain (8-3, 3.98 ERA) is coming off three unimpressive starts, allowing 12 earned runs in his last 16 innings of work. Chamberlain was knocked around by the Mariners his last time out, tossing only five innings in a 10-3 loss. The Bombers are 11-2 in Chamberlain's 13 home starts, while hitting the 'over' nine times at Yankee Stadium. Chamberlain was on the losing side of a 7-3 setback in Arlington three months ago, allowing four hits and three earned runs in four innings of work.
Kevin Millwood (9-8, 3.48 ERA) beat Chamberlain and the Yankees on May 25, lasting 5.2 innings, while giving up nine hits and three earned runs. The Rangers righty hasn't won in his last four starts, coming off consecutive home defeats to the Twins and Red Sox. The Boston meltdown had little to do with Millwood's performance, as the Rangers' bullpen gave up a ninth-inning lead in an 8-4 loss. The 'under' has been drilled in eight of Millwood's eleven road outings this season, while the Rangers are just 3-8 in his away starts.
The Yankees have taken four of six meetings with the Rangers this season, but Tuesday's posted total of 9 ½ is the lowest seen in their seven matchups.
Sportsbook has opened the Yanks up as a $1.85 home favorite.
Astros at Cardinals (8:15 PM EST)
Two of the more unheralded pitchers in the National League take the mound in St. Louis, as the Astros and Cardinals begin a three-game set. The Redbirds return home following a 5-2 road trip at Los Angeles and San Diego. Houston had its four-game winning streak snapped on Sunday to Arizona, 7-5. That game finished 'over' the posted total of 8 ½, which ended a five-game 'under' streak for the Astros.
Adam Wainwright (14-7, 2.61 ERA) has owned the Astros in his career, with St. Louis taking seven of the last eight meetings when the righty has taken the mound. The only smudge to that record was a 2-0 loss to Houston earlier this month, despite pitching seven strong innings. Interestingly, Wainwright possesses a losing record at Busch Stadium this season (5-6), even though his home ERA is 2.02. Wainwright has tossed 11 consecutive quality starts, and if it wasn't for teammate Chris Carpenter, Wainwright would be an ace on plenty of other staffs around the league.
Wandy Rodriguez (12-7, 2.89 ERA) is coming off a dynamic start against the Marlins, a 4-1 victory. Rodriguez outdueled Florida ace Josh Johnson, allowing four hits and one run in eight innings of work. In Rodriguez's last three starts at Busch Stadium, the Astros have tallied a grand total of two runs, all Houston losses. However, the Astros lefty exited his last outing at St. Louis after four innings with a hamstring strain.
These two teams have been great 'under' plays when they get together. The 'under' has hit in seven of nine meetings this season, including all three in Houston in early August.
The Cardinals are a $1.70 home 'chalk,' while the total is set at 7 (Bet $1.20 to win $1.00 on the 'over') at Sportsbook.
Dodgers at Rockies (8:40 PM EST)
The National League West race isn't done just yet. Los Angeles, despite taking three of four from Chicago over the weekend, sits 3 games ahead of Wild Card-leading Colorado in the division, after the Rockies rallied past the Giants last night, 6-4.
The Rockies will not have the fortune of sending out its top two pitchers against the Dodgers, as Ubaldo Jimenez took the mound Sunday and Jason Marquis went Monday against San Francisco. Jason Hammel (8-8, 4.60) has turned into a quality pickup by the Rockies. Hammel may not be a top-of-the-rotation type of pitcher, but he is capable of providing six or seven innings in any given start. The righty has struggled at Coors Field, going 2-3, with an ERA of 7.02, but Colorado is 7-3 in Hammel's ten home starts. Hammel lost a tough 1-0 decision to the Dodgers back on July 1, allowing only five hits and one run in eight innings.
Clayton Kershaw (8-7, 2.96 ERA) has run into a string of bad luck over the month, as the Dodgers are 0-6 in the lefty's last six starts. The southpaw has lasted five innings or less in three of his last four trips to the hill, including a 3-2 defeat to the Cardinals last Wednesday. Kershaw tossed five scoreless innings against the Rockies in that July 1 win over Hammel, but received a no-decision.
Sportsbook has listed the Dodgers as a $1.25 road favorite, with the total set at 9 (Bet $1.15 to win $1.00 on the 'over').
Tuesday’s streaking and slumping starting pitchers
Streaking
Joe Blanton (8-6, 3.86 ERA), Philadelphia Phillies
This righty gets forgotten sometimes on Philly’s southpaw-dominated rotation. But sharp bettors know the good work the hefty hurler is providing.
Blanton has delivered a quality start in nine of his last 10 outings, dropping his once-bloated ERA under 4.00.
The under is 7-2-1 in his last 10 outings and the Phils are 6-2 in his last eight starts.
“He’s a bulldog who comes right after you,” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel told reporters following his last start.
Slumping
Jarrod Washburn (8-7, 3.18), Detroit Tigers
The move to acquire this lefty hasn’t worked out as well has the Tigers had hoped. The former Mariner had 2.48 ERA at Seattle’s home park this year, but he’s not finding the confines as friendly in Detroit.
Washburn has allowed 17 earned runs in just four starts for the Tigers – all of which were at Comerica Park.
“It hasn’t gone the way I wanted so far,” Washburn said of his Tiger career following his latest poor showing.
He got the early hook in his last start after giving up six runs and four dingers against his former team. Washburn is 0-1 with a 6.04 ERA in a Detroit uniform.
Returning
Carlos Zambrano (7-4, 3.35), Chicago Cubs
This fiery righty makes his return from the disabled list tomorrow against the Nationals. A sore back has kept Zambrano out of the Cubs' lineup since Aug. 1.
He drew some headlines shortly after making his way to the DL. He admitted to reporters that his back was acting up because he was too lazy to strengthen his abdominal muscles.
He threw five scoreless innings in a minor league start last week and pronounced himself healthy afterwards. Chicago had won Zambrano’s last five starts prior to the DL detour.
What bettors need to know: Rangers at Yankees
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Texas Rangers at New York Yankees
Game 1 odds: -173, 9.5
Season series
The Yankees lead 4-2, with two of those wins coming during a three-game series at Yankee Stadium in early June when New York outscored Texas 22-13.
No Texas starter has lasted longer than 6 2-3 innings in the six games this year against the Yankees. Overall, Texas has won just nine of its past 34 meetings against the Yanks.
How they enter
Texas avoided a three-game sweep at Tampa Bay with Sunday’s 4-0 victory. Another loss would have dropped the Rangers into a tie with the Rays in the wild-card standings.
New York just finished a 10-game road trip by taking two of three in Boston to finish the swing at 7-3. The Yankees, 27-9 since the All-Star break, hit five homers off Josh Beckett in Sunday’s win, the first time Beckett has allowed that many dingers in his career.
Probable pitchers
Tuesday
Kevin Millwood (9-8, 3.48) vs. Joba Chamberlain (8-3, 3.98)
Millwood has just one career win in eight starts against the Yankees but does have a 2.84 ERA in his past five against them. He allowed three earned runs over 5 2-3 innings in a no-decision earlier this year. Texas has dropped his past four when priced as an underdog.
Chamberlain pitches for the first time since Aug. 16 because the Yankees continue to limit his innings pitched. Chamberlain lasted only four innings in an earlier start against Texas this year and has never lasted more than five innings against the AL West club in three starts.
New York is 14-2 in his past 16 home starts overall.
Wednesday
Derek Holland (7-7, 4.72) vs. Andy Pettitte (10-6, 4.25)
Holland has been tremendous of late, going 4-1 with a 1.85 ERA since July 30. That’s the second best ERA in the AL during that stretch.
Pettitte is 1-6 in his last seven decisions against the Rangers. That includes a loss on June 3, when he walked six in five innings.
Thursday afternoon
Dustin Nippert (4-2, 3.95) vs. A.J. Burnett (10-7, 4.08)
Nippert has had trouble in road starts this year, going 1-2 with a 5.14 ERA. Burnett shut out the Rangers through six innings on May 27 and then allowed three runs to them in seven innings on June 2.
He totalled 15 strikeouts in those two starts and is 3-2 with a 3.99 ERA career against Texas. But Burnett also is coming off giving up a career-high nine runs in a start against Boston.
This and that
Rangers third baseman Michael Young has an 11-game hitting streak. During that streak, Young is hitting .444 with 20 hits and 11 RBIs. He was named AL Player of the Week on Monday.
New York’s Hideki Matsui had four multi-homer games in his career entering this past weekend, then had two of them in the series with Boston, adding nine RBIs.
Texas first baseman Hank Blalock, who has just seven hits in is his past 43 at-bats, is about to lose some playing time - at least at first base where he has started the past 44 games.
Texas is recalling Chris Davis from Triple-A and manager Ron Washington said Davis will be his first baseman for the opener against New York and mostly going forward. Blalock will spell Davis at first some but will mostly play DH.
The Yankees have won 10 of 11 series since the All-Star break, with the lone series loss coming at the White Sox.
Inside the lines 8/25
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