New Bears QB Jay Cutler didn’t have to wait long to get a shot at his old team as Chicago travels to Invesco Field to square off against the Broncos and rookie coach Josh McDaniels, the man who traded Cutler in the offseason.
In getting dealt to Chicago, Cutler ended up swapping places with former Bears starting QB Kyle Orton, who makes his debut in front of the home fans in Denver after a tumultuous first two preseason games that has seen him throw for 271 yards, but also toss four INTs and just one TD. Last week, Orton had one TD and one pick in the Broncos’ 27-13 loss in Seattle as a three-point ‘dog.
Orton and the rest of the Broncos starters will play the first three quarters tonight, with third-stringer Tom Brandstater leading the offense in the final quarter. No. 2 QB Chris Simms, who has been Denver’s most consistent passer in camp, will not suit up because of an ankle injury. In addition to Simms, the Broncos will be without the services of rookie RB Knowshon Moreno tonight (knee), WR Brandon Lloyd (undisclosed injury) or WR Brandon Marshall (team suspension).
The Bears scored a 17-3 home win over the Giants a week ago, cashing as three-point favorites. Coach Lovie Smith plans to play his starters, including Cutler, into the third quarter. Cutler has thrown for 185 yards in the first two preseason games, with one TD and one INT. Backup QB and second-year pro Caleb Hanie is likely to replace Cutler and play the rest of the game, leaving veteran reserve Brett Basanez as the odd man out. WR Devon Hester is slated to return punts tonight, his first duties on special teams this August.
Chicago is just 6-5 SU and ATS on the highway the last five-plus preseasons and it is just 2-4 SU and 1-5 ATS in Week 3 of the preseason the last six years, including 0-3 ATS in the past three summers.
The Broncos are 6-2 SU but just 4-4 ATS in their last eight preseason home games and just 1-4 SU and ATS in its last four exhibition contests overall.
The over is 7-3 in Chicago’s last 10 preseason contests and 4-2 in Denver’s last six in August.
ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Atlanta (68-61) at Philadelphia (74-53)
The top two teams in the National League East wrap up a three-game set at Citizens Park when the Braves send right-hander Jair Jurrjens (10-8, 2.91 ERA) to the mound opposite Phillies’ righty Joe Blanton (8-6, 3.88).
After dropping Friday’s contest 4-2, Atlanta’s bats came alive Saturday and scored a 9-1 win in a rain-shortened, eight-inning contest. The Braves have beaten Philadelphia seven of the last 10 meetings, but still trail the Phillies by seven games. Atlanta has won six of their last eight on the highway and five straight as an underdog. Meanwhile, despite Saturday’s setback, Philadelphia is still on runs of 35-17 overall, 20-8 at homn, 72-33 on Sundays, 29-13 as a favorite and 19-8 as a home favorite.
Jurrjens is 1-0 in his last three games with a 2.18 ERA, but the Braves are just 1-2 in those three starts. On Tuesday, he allowed one run in 7 2/3 innings to the Padres but Atlanta lost 2-1. In three starts against the Phillies this season, Jurrjens has allowed three runs (two earned) in 19 2/3 innings as Atlanta is 2-1 in the three outings. Finally, the Braves are 7-3 in Jurrjens’ last 10 starts against N.L. East foes and 4-1 in his last five when he gets four full days off.
Blanton gave up three runs in six innings in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, losing 6-4, but the veteran hruler hasn’t allowed the opposition more than three runs in any of his last 11 starts. He’s faced the Braves four times this season, including Aug. 14 when he held them to two runs (one earned) in seven innings of a 3-2 victory. Philadelphia is 12-5 in Blanton’s last 17 starts against division rivals, 9-3 in his last 12 as a favorite and 7-0 in his last seven when he works on Sundays.
Atlanta has stayed under the total in seven of Jurrjens’ last 10 starts as a ‘dog and six of his last eight when he faces a winning team on the road. As a team, the Braves have topped the total in 18 of 25 Sunday games and eight of 11 roadies. With Blanton on the hill, the Phils are on “under” runs of 10-4-2 overall, 7-3 at home and 4-0-1 against the N.L. East. Additionally, Philadelphia has stayed low in 20 of 30 against the N.L. East, 12 of 17 in the third game of a series and 19 of 27 against right-handers.
Finally, the “under” is 5-2 in the last seven meetings in Philly and 5-0 in the last six clashes overall, with last night’s rain-shortened contest ending up as a “no play” for the total.
ATS ADVANTAGE: ATLANTA
Colorado (72-58) at San Francisco (71-59)
The Giants will try to make it a three-game sweep and draw even in the race for the N.L. wild-card race when they send All-Star Matt Cain (12-4, 2.39 ERA) to the mound at AT&T Park against the Rockies’ Jason Hammel (8-8, 4.50).
San Francisco held on for a 5-3 win Saturday night, giving up three runs in the ninth before getting the final out. The Giants trail the Rockies by one game in the wild-card standings and trail the Dodgers by 5½ in the N.L. West standings.
Colorado is just 1-8 in its last nine as an underdog and 5-12 after losing the first two games of a series, but it is 7-1 in its last eight on Sunday. Meanwhile, San Francisco is on runs of 40-19 at home, 37-17 as a favorite and 42-20 at home against right-handers. Also, these teams have split 14 meetings this season.
Hammel has been solid in his last two outings, allowing a combined three runs in 14 innings in victories over the Nationals on Aug. 20 and Dodgers on Tuesday. He’s seen the Giants twice this season but didn’t get any offensive support in either outing. He blanked San Francisco for six innings on May 3 but the Rockies lost 1-0, then he gave up three runs in six innings on July 24 in a 3-1 Colorado loss. With Hammel on the hill, the Rockies are on runs of 13-6 overall and 4-0 on Sundays, but just 1-4 when he’s a road ‘dog.
Cain, who has a 2.01 ERA in his last three starts despite not registering a decision, is 6-2 with a 2.28 ERA in front of the home fans this season. Against Arizona on Tuesday he gave up two runs (one earned) on four hits in seven innings of a 5-4 victory. Cain has been dominant in two victories over Colorado this season, allowing a combined one run in 13 innings. With Cain on the hill, San Francisco is on runs of 16-5 at home, 9-1 as a home chalk, 11-3 when he’s a favorite and 5-0 against the N.L. West.
When Hammel pitches, the Rockies are on “under” runs of 7-1-1 in the third game of a series and 4-0 against N.L. West teams, while as a team, Colorado has stayed under the total in four of five overall, four of five on the road, six of seven against right-handed starters and four of five against N.L. West teams. The Giants’ are on “under” streaks of 7-2 with Cain starting, 6-1 when he’s a favorite and 6-1 against winning teams, while as a team San Francisco has stayed under the total in 15 of 21 as a favorite and five of six on Sundays.
Finally, the under is on streaks of 4-0 when Cain starts at home against Colorado and 5-1 when these two meet in Northern California.
Inside the lines 8/30
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