Sign In $
MLB

Friday’s Diamond Notes

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
6 minute read
Hottest team: Giants (9-1 last 10)

Following a strong 6-1 road trip at Milwaukee and Colorado, the Giants returned home for an unexpected marathon with the Mets on Thursday. New York and San Francisco were deadlocked at 1-1 through 15 innings before the Mets took a 2-1 advantage in the top of the 16th. The Giants rebounded in the bottom half of the frame by scoring two runs and walking off past the Mets, 3-2 to pick up their 13th victory in the last 15 games.

San Francisco is listed as a heavy home underdog tonight against Jacob deGrom and the Mets as the Giants are seeking their sixth straight win in the ‘dog role. Tyler Beede takes the mound for San Francisco tonight as the Giants have won five of the right-hander’s last six starts, including recent victories at San Diego and Milwaukee. Beede was knocked around by the Mets at Citi Field in early June by allowing six runs in five innings of a 7-0 defeat.

Coldest team: Rockies (2-8 last 10)

Since winning consecutive games against the Dodgers in late June, the Rockies have dropped 11 of their past 13 games. The biggest lowlight of the season for Colorado came in a recent four-game home sweep at the hands of San Francisco this week, as the Rockies allowed 40 runs in the four defeats. Colorado has sunk to the bottom of the NL West along with San Diego following this skid, as the Rockies have lost five of their past seven series openers.

The Rockies face another tough test tonight with a trip out east for a three-game series with the Yankees in the Bronx. Kyle Freeland won 17 games in 2018 for Colorado, but the Rockies’ left-hander has taken a step back this season by posting a 7.39 ERA in 13 starts, while allowing five earned runs in his last outing against Cincinnati in a 17-9 defeat.

Hottest pitcher: Patrick Corbin, Nationals (7-5, 3.39 ERA)

Washington continues its torrid pace by winning its 14th game in the last 18 contests following Thursday’s blowout of Atlanta. Corbin was tagged for seven runs in a 7-5 loss to the White Sox on June 11. Five starts later, the Nationals’ southpaw has given up a total of six runs, while Washington is 5-0 in this stretch. Corbin is coming off consecutive double-digit strikeout performances against the Royals and Phillies, while tossing seven innings in four of the last five outings. Corbin has not faced the Braves this season, as he split a pair of matchups with Atlanta last season as a member of the D-backs.

Coldest pitcher: Jhoulys Chacin, Brewers (3-9, 5.18 ERA)

Milwaukee is riding a three-game winning streak since a 2-8 run as the Brewers pulled away from the D-backs last night in a 5-1 victory. Chacin is winless in his past three outings even though the right-hander has given up five earned runs in this stretch in 16 innings of work. Since May 12, the Brewers own a dismal 1-8 record in Chacin’s last nine starts, while Milwaukee has compiled an 0-8 mark in his past eight outings away from Miller Park. Chacin did pitch well against Arizona in two starts last season by allowing one run in 12 innings of work, but the Brewers scored one run in each of those contests to go 1-1.

Biggest OVER run: Rangers (8-2 last 10)

Texas sprang out of the All-Star break with a pair of impressive home wins over Houston. However, the Rangers have gone backwards of late by losing four straight games, including allowing 19 runs in Wednesday’s blowout loss to Arizona. During this OVER stretch, Texas has given up 19, 9, 12, 7, and 8 runs since blanking the Astros last Thursday. The last four OVERS for the Rangers have been on totals of 10 or higher as they send out ace Mike Minor to the mound tonight in Houston. Minor went through a seven-start stretch of UNDERS prior to OVERS in his last two outings, as the southpaw yielded four runs in a 7-6 loss to Houston last Saturday.

Biggest UNDER run: Orioles (7-2 last nine)

Baltimore is one victory away from 30 on the season, as the Orioles welcome in the Red Sox this weekend. The O’s are coming off a rare win with Wednesday’s comeback against the rival Nationals in a 9-2 upset, but the game remained UNDER the total of 11 ½. Baltimore scored a grand total of eight runs in its previous four games prior to Wednesday’s effort as the O’s crossed home plate eight times in the seventh and eighth innings alone. John Means takes the mound for Baltimore tonight as the southpaw has seen the OVER cash in four straight starts, but he has given up four earned runs in three starts against Boston this season.

Matchup to watch: Athletics vs. Twins

Minnesota snapped a season-high three-game losing streak in Thursday’s 6-3 comeback victory over Oakland at Target Field. The A’s led the Twins, 3-1 headed to the seventh inning prior to Minnesota busting out for five late runs, highlighted by a pinch-hit three-run home run from Eddie Rosario. Taking in consideration the All-Star break, Minnesota won its first game at Target Field since July 6 against Texas, while the Twins and A’s have split four meetings this season.

Jake Odorizzi seeks a career-high 12th victory for Minnesota tonight as the right-hander defeated Cleveland in the underdog role last Saturday, 6-2. Odorizzi scattered three hits and one run in 5.1 innings to pick up his first win since June 15, while allowing his fewest runs in a start since June 9 against Detroit. The former Rays’ hurler was tagged for six runs in three innings in an 8-6 defeat at Oakland on July 2, as Minnesota couldn’t hold onto an early 3-0 lead.

Chris Bassitt counters for Oakland, as the right-hander is fresh off his best start of the season in a 13-2 trouncing of the White Sox by posting six scoreless innings for his sixth victory of 2019. The A’s own a 4-1 record in Bassitt’s last five starts, while going 3-0 in his previous three opportunities as a road underdog. Oakland’s six-game winning streak was snapped on Thursday, as the A’s haven’t lost consecutive games since a doubleheader sweep at the hands of Texas on June 8.

Betcha didn’t know: Both the White Sox and Mariners have yet to win since the All-Star break as the two teams try to break through this evening. Chicago visits Tampa Bay as a heavy road underdog, while Seattle hosts Los Angeles. The M’s were swept by the Angels last weekend in Anaheim, as Mike Leake allowed seven runs in less than one inning of work in a 13-0 loss. The only good news for Leake is the Mariners own a 4-2 record in the role of a home underdog, but the Angels are 5-1 in their last six opportunities in a road series opener.

You can reach Kevin Rogers via e-mail at rogers@vegasinsider.com

Kevin Rogers can be followed on Twitter at virogers.

Mlb News

VegasInsider Staff

VegasInsider Staff

More from VegasInsider Staff
•