The weekend is upon us and that means another full day of games to wager on. The FOX Broadcasting Company plans on covering four regional games all taking place at 3:55 p.m. EDT, while a plethora of 7:05 p.m. EDT contests will make the transition from daytime to nighttime action.
Here’s what Saturday’s card will bring to the table.
Oakland (Duchscherer) at N.Y. Yankees (Chamberlain) – 1:05 p.m. EDT
The Athletics’ starting pitcher, Justin Duchscherer (10-5, 1.82 ERA) has been lights out this season. In a total of 16 starts, the 30-year old veteran has recorded an earth shattering 0.82 WHIP (ranked tops in the majors), a league leading 1.82 ERA and has placed only 23 men on base by way of base on balls.
Duchscherer is coming off a solid performance against the Angels just before the All-Star break, giving up five hits and two runs in 7.2 innings of work. However, L.A. was able to secure a 4-3 victory in that contest as Duchscherer was credited with a no decision. The right-hander has gone seven innings or more in seven straight starts.
Oakland is 6-2 in Duchscherer’s last eight starts.
Alright, so you may have noticed that these tip sheets are sometimes top heavy on pitching matchups, but can you argue about the importance that this defensive element has on any given ballgame?
With that said, the Yankees will turn to newly transformed MLB starter, Joba Chamberlain (2-3, 2.62). While Chamberlain’s eight starts have been effective in the stats department, New York’s bats have struggled to support the right-hander (3.8 runs of support per start). Just taking a glance, Chamberlain has been responsible for surrendering a skimp 1.8 runs per game, while striking out close to six batters per start. The good news for backer is that the Yanks are 5-3 in the second-year hurlers eight starts.
The Pinstripes have been a hot 20-8 in their last 28 games played on Saturday, but backers should be concerned about the absence of production at the plate. New York is placing the bat on the ball for a .216 BA in the last 10. The struggle in the box has also helped the ‘under’ go 7-2-1 in the same 10-game slide.
Boston (Beckett) at Chicago White Sox (Garland) – 3:55 p.m. EDT
For a club that has problems scratching together hits, let alone runs, the Angels have been a bettor’s best friend with a money line profit sitting at +1266 and a run line income returning backers +12.69 units.
In Friday’s tip sheet it was pointed out that L.A. is a monster on the road with a current record at 31-18. But sticking to the matter at hand the Halos will find themselves facing a Red Sox team bent on sticking the bat to the ball. Boston has been hitting .280 versus righties and .292 against southpaws this season. With the White Sox placing right-hander, Jon Garland (8-6, 4.20) on the hill, you can bet your bottom dollar that the Red Sox will look to jump out of the gate on offense early on.
Chicago’s Garland has been tattooed for a .289 BAA with lefties at the plate and a handicapping .293 BAA versus righty bats. And then there’s his poor performance in Oakland on Jul. 11. Garland was slaughtered for seven runs (all seven earned) on 10 runs in a grand total of 2.2 innings pitched.
Books have been consistent in installing the total score in the last 20 head-to-head clashes at 9 ½ so don’t expect much deviation from that figure. Also take into consideration that the Angels offense hasn’t been the most reliable. While the team is swinging for a .274 BA in the last 10, June witnessed the club registering a .252 BA, with the month of May serving as rock bottom at .232. The ‘over’ has been an erratic 4-4-2 in L.A.’s last 10.
N.Y. Mets (Perez) at Cincinnati (Fogg) – 7:40 p.m. EDT
It’s official, the Mets are in a groove and the run looks to have released a lot of the pressure that was plaguing the organization. On a 10-game winning streak as of Friday afternoon, New York has been hammering the cover off the ball for a .323 BA. Players have crossed the plate for 6.4 runs scored per game in the last 10, while the pitching game has logged in a 2.52 ERA, allowing just 2.7 runs per game in (the same 10-game run).
The Metropolitans will designate southpaw slinger Oliver Perez (6-5, 4.44) for work on Saturday. In his last seven starts, Perez has allowed an average of just two runs to cross home plate. Catching a no decision in his last start versus Colorado, two hits allowed with one run translated into a win for the Mets but a no decision was given to Perez.
The Reds have been dominated by New York in the last 11 meetings with a 3-8 record. Cinci was able to construct a successful 6-3 run, while batting just .247 during a recent nine-game stretch (before meeting with New York on Thursday), but the Mets have been a road block for the squad. In the four games that the Reds have met up with New York, pitching has been atrocious with a combined ERA of 7.94.
In the last 20 head-to-head meetings, books have gone onto install the Mets as favorites for a total of 14 times. Most books have already set an early line in favor of the visiting New York club at -137.
The Mets are 13-3 in their last 16 with the ‘over’ going 7-2-1 in their last 10 road games.
In the last 11 head-to-head meetings in Cincinnati, the ‘over’ is 8-3.
Joshua Jacobs can be reached at jacobs@vegasinsider.com.
