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Wednesday's MLB Tip Sheet
 

There are a couple of interesting pitching matchups on Wednesday’s schedule, sometimes pitting polar opposites. The Los Angeles-Florida has a matchup between a pitcher still searching for his first victory against a hurler who is still undefeated.

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However, the best pitching matchup of the day is reserved for the Oakland-Los Angeles contest. Both pitchers in that game are a combined 7-1 with ERA’s under 3.00 in a key American League West meeting. Now, let’s break down four games on Wednesday’s schedule.

**Dodgers (Billingsley) at Marlins (Olsen)**

-Caesars Palace opened Florida as a $1.10 home ‘chalk’ over Los Angeles, with the total set at 8 ½ ‘under’ (minus $1.20). This National League tilt is slated to start at 7:10 p.m. ET.

-Los Angeles pitcher Chad Billingsley (0-4, 6.87 ERA) is still searching for his first victory of the season after Thursday’s setback to Arizona as a $1.30 home favorite, 6-4. The 6-foot-1 hurler was reached for five runs on six hits (one home run) with two walks and 12 strikeouts over six innings.

-The combined 10 runs toppled the 8 ½-run closing total, ending back-to-back ‘under’ outings for the right-hander.

-Billingsley picked up a no-decision against the Marlins last year, tossing five innings while allowing three runs on six hits (one home run) with three walks and five strikeouts. The Dodgers eventually dropped that affair as a $1.32 home ‘chalk,’ 6-5, while the combined 11 runs went ‘over’ the 8 ½-point closing total.

-Florida southpaw Scott Olsen (3-0, 2.06 ERA) is off a no-decision against Milwaukee Friday despite tossing 7 1/3 innings of scoreless ball. The four-year veteran surrendered four hits with five walks.

-The Marlins eventually won that affair as a $1.50 road underdog, 3-0, while the three runs never seriously threatened the nine-run closing total. Florida has won all five of his starts this season, with the ‘under’ going 4-1.

-Olsen fell to Los Angeles last year as a $1.22 road underdog, 9-3, yielding three runs on five hits (one home run) with a walk and a strikeout over just one inning. The combined 12 runs eclipsed the nine-run closing total.

**Brewers (Suppan) at Cubs (Dempster)**

-Caesars Palace installed Chicago as a $1.30 home favorite over Milwaukee. There are no totals posted on Wrigley Field contests until the day of the game due to the unpredictable winds. This NL Central contest is scheduled to begin at 8:05 p.m. ET.

-Milwaukee’s Jeff Suppan (1-0, 3.48 ERA) has received four consecutive no decisions after Thursday’s effort against Philadelphia. The veteran right-hander went seven innings, surrendering one run on five hits (one home run) with three walks and three strikeouts.

-The Brewers ended up dropping that contest as a $1.40 home favorite, 3-1, while the combined four runs went ‘under’ the 10-run closing total. The ‘under’ is 3-1 his last four outings.

-Suppan beat Chicago April 2 as a $1.50 road underdog, 8-2, allowing two runs on six hits (two home runs) with two walks and two strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings. The combined 10 runs slithered ‘over’ the 9 ½-run closing total.

-Chicago hurler Ryan Dempster (3-0, 2.90 ERA) picked up a no-decision in Friday’s matchup with Washington. The 30-year-old went seven innings while being reached for three runs (two earned) on four hits (one home run) with three walks and five strikeouts.

-The Cubs eventually dropped that game as a $1.25 road favorite, 5-3, while the combined eight runs went ‘under’ the nine-run closing total. Chicago had won his first four starts, with the ‘over’ going 3-0-1.

-Dempster beat the Brewers April 3 as a $1.30 home ‘chalk,’ 6-3, yielding two runs (one earned) on three hits with two walks and five strikeouts over six innings. The combined nine runs landed directly on the closing total.

**Blue Jays (McGowan) at Red Sox (Matsuzaka)**

-Caesars Palace lists Boston as a $1.80 home ‘chalk’ over Toronto, with the total set at 9 ½ ‘under’ (minus $1.20). This American League East matchup is scheduled to start at 7:05 p.m. ET.

-Toronto’s Dustin McGowan (1-2, 4.18 ERA) heads to the hill for the first time since Thursday’s setback to Tampa Bay as a $1.00 road underdog, 5-3. The Georgia native lasted four innings, yielding five runs (four earned) on four hits with seven walks and six strikeouts.

-The combined eight runs failed to eclipse the eight-run closing total. The Blue Jays are 1-4 when McGowan is pitching, with the ‘under’ going 4-0-1.

-The 6-foot-3 right-hander went 1-1 versus Boston last year in two starts, going a combined 14 innings while allowing seven runs on 13 hits (three home runs) with two walks and 13 strikeouts. The Blue Jays fell as a $2.00 road underdog, 9-4, while prevailing as a home ‘pick,’ 6-1.

-Boston righty Daisuke Matsuzaka (4-0, 3.14 ERA) continued his winning ways after beating Texas April 18 as a $2.20 home ‘chalk,’ 11-3. The Japanese native was tagged for three runs on five hits (one home run) with two walks and four strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings.

-The combined 14 runs toppled the 10-run closing total, helping the ‘over’ cash his second consecutive contest. The Red Sox have won all five of Matsuzaka’s starts.

-The 27-year-old went 3-1 against the Blue Jays last year in four starts, going a combined 24 1/3 innings while surrendering 14 runs on 27 hits (four home runs) with nine walks and 23 strikeouts. Boston prevailed as a $1.65 road favorite, 9-3, as a $2.20 home ‘chalk,’ 9-4, and as a $2.00 home favorite, 13-10, while losing as a $1.55 road ‘chalk,’ 2-1. The ‘over’ was 3-1 during those four games.

**Athletics (Eveland) at Angels (Santana)**

-Caesars Palace opened Los Angeles as a $1.55 home favorite over Oakland, with the total listed at nine ‘under’ (minus $1.20). This AL West game is scheduled to start at 10:05 p.m. ET.

-Oakland left-hander Dana Eveland (3-1, 2.48 ERA) is coming off back-to-back victories after slipping past Seattle Friday as a $1.00 road underdog, 4-3. The four-year veteran went 5 1/3 innings, yielding three runs on six hits with a walk and three strikeouts.

-The combined seven runs failed to eclipse the 8 ½-run closing total, helping the ‘under’ improve to 5-0 when he’s pitching.

-Eveland has not started against the Angels the past few years.

-Los Angeles counters with Ervin Santana (4-0, 2.97 ERA), who is off Friday’s victory over Detroit as a $1.00 road underdog, 4-3. The Dominican Republic native was reached for three runs on six hits (one home run) with two walks and four strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings.

-The combined seven runs went ‘under’ the 10 ½-run closing total, helping the ‘under’ improve to 4-1 when he’s on the mound.

-Santana beat the Athletics last season as a $1.45 home ‘chalk,’ 9-5, tossing 6 1/3 innings of scoreless ball on two hits with five walks and four strikeouts. The combined 14 runs went ‘over’ the 9 ½-run closing total.

Brad Young can be reached at byoung@vegasinsider.com.

  
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