Weekly Total Talk

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Thursday, Aug. 8

It's a lefty-on-lefty battle in Beantown when LHP Dillon Peters takes the ball for the Angels against LHP Chris Sale of the Red Sox. Peters checks into the game with a 2-0 record, 3.20 ERA and 19 strikeouts over 25 1/3 innings across two starts nad five relief appearances. In his two official starts, the over has connected in each of the outings. The over is also 4-0 in his past four appearances overall. As far as the Angels are concerned, the over is 4-0 in the past four road games vs. LHP, and 5-1 in the past six against American League East teams. The over has also hit in four of the past five road outings against teams with a losing home record. The over is also 8-2-1 in the past 11 for the Angels in Game 1 of a new series.

For the Red Sox, the over is 20-7 in their past 27 games at Fenway Park, while cashing in seven of the past eight against left-handed starting pitchers. The over is also 18-7-2 in the past 27 at home against LHP, while hitting in 25 of the past 35 games overall. The over is 38-16-2 in the past 56 in Game 1 of a new series. The over is 5-1-2 in the past eight starts by Sale against teams with a losing record. The over is also 10-4-1 in Sale's past 15 outings in Game 1 of a series. In this series, the over is 4-1-1 in the past six meetings, although the under is 3-1-1 in the past five battles at Fenway Park.

 It's another southpaw showdown in the Queen City when LHP Cole Hamels and the Cubs battle LHP Alex Wood and the Reds at Great American Ball Park. Lately it's all about the under for the Cubbies, going 6-1 in the past seven games on the road, and 6-0 in their past six games against teams with a losing record. The under is also 10-2 in their past 12 games inside the division. The under is also 8-2-1 in the past 11 games for the Cubs vs. LHP, while going a perfect 7-0 in the past seven starts by Hamels, and 11-1 in his past 12 inside the division. The over is 4-0 in Cincinnati's past four overall, and 5-1 in the past six in Game 1 of a series. However, the under is 18-7-1 in the past 26 following a day off, and 15-7-2 in the past 24 at home against teams with a winning overall mark. The under is 5-1 in the past six meetings in this series, too.

For the Indians-Twins showdown starting on Thursday at Target Field, RHP Mike Clevinger takes the ball for the Indians against RHP Kyle Gibson of the Twins. The under has connected in five in a row for the Indians, and four straight against teams with a winning overall record. The under is aso 35-17-2 in the past 54 against a right-handed starting pitcher, and 7-3 in Clevinger's past 10 road outings against a team with a winning record. The over has connected in six of the past eight games overall for the Twins, while going 8-2 in the past 10 at home and 6-1 in the past seven against winning teams. The under is 4-1 in Gibson's past five against winning teams, too. In this series, the under is 6-1 in Clevinger's past seven aginst the Twins, while going 5-1 in the past six meetings overall at Target Field.

Wind Report

The Royals and Tigers will square off at Comerica with a gusty wind at 11-14 mph blowing to left-center field. Outside of the Motor City, the wind and precipitation will cooperate and not affect the results.

Friday, Aug. 9

The Nationals and Mets hook up at Citi Field in a good pitching matchup, as RHP Stephen Strasburg takes the ball against RHP Marcus Stroman of New York. The over cashed in Stroman's first outing with the Mets in Pittsburgh, allowing three earned runs, seven hits and two walks with three strikeouts over 4 1/3 innings in a no-decision. As far as Strasburg is concerned, the over has connected in each of his past four outings. He was hammered for nine earned runs, nine hits and two walks with three homers allowde in just 4 2/3 innings in a loss at Arizona on Aug. 3. The under is 19-9-1 in the past 29 road outings by Strasburg, and 7-3-1 in the past 11 against teams with a winning overall mark, too.

RHP Chris Archer and RHP Dakota Hudson lock horns at Busch Stadium II in St. Louis. The over has hit in six of the past eight starts on the road by Archer, although the under is 5-1-1 in his past seven when working on five days of rest. As far as Hudson is concerned, the under is 5-0 in his past five road starts, while the under is 7-2-1 in the past 10 for St. Louis following an off day. The under is also 7-1 in Hudson's past eight starts following a team loss in his previous outing. The under is 21-9 in the past 30 meetings in St. Louis between these NL Central rivals, too.

LHP Robbie Ray works for the Diamondbacks against RHP Walker Buehler of the Dodgers in a prime pitching matchup. The over has cashed in nine of the past 13 starts by Ray against teams with a winning overall mark, while hitting in five of his past six starts on a Friday. The over is also 6-2-1 in his past nine outings in Game 1 of a series. For the Dodgers, the over is 5-1 in Buehler's past six starts, although the under is 16-5-3 in his past 24 assignments in Chavez Ravine. The under is also 13-5-1 in the past 19 starts by Buehler inside the National League West. The over is 5-0-1 in the past six meetings in L.A. between these NL West clubs, while going 3-1-1 in the past five meetings overall, and 4-1 in Ray's past five in SoCal. The over is also 7-3 in the past 10 starts overall by Ray against Dodger Blue.

LHP Kyle Freeland pitches for the Rockies against RHP Cal Quantrill of the Padres, who was not dealt at the trade deadline despite a bevy of rumors. The under has cashed in four straight starts by Freeland, while going 5-2-1 in his past eight outings on the road against teams with a losing overall mark. The under is 24-10-2 in the past 36 starts by Freeland against NL West rivals, too. The under is 7-3-1 in his past 11 on the road, as well. For the Padres, the under is a perfect 7-0 in their past seven games played on a Friday. More important, the under is 8-2 in the past 10 by San Diego vs. LHP, while going 8-3 in the past 11 inside the division. While the over is 5-0 in the past five meetings in this series, the under is 5-2 in the past seven battles at Petco Park.

Wind Report

The only MLB venue which will face anything more than light and variable winds will be in San Francisco, as the Phillies and Giants have to negotiate a strong 12-15 mph gust to straightaway center field on the shores of San Francisco Bay.