The Giants look to gain more ground in the divisional race by sending their ace to the hill in the series finale.
San Diego Padres at San Francisco Giants
San Diego had its five-game winning streak snapped with Saturday’s 3-2 loss to San Francisco at AT&T Park. “We had our chances,” said manager Bud Black, whose team lost to the Giants for just the second time in 10 chances this season. The Padres left a season-high 16 runners on base and were 2-for-18 with runners in scoring position. The club has posted an impressive 13-5 record on Sundays this year (+880), which is their best winning percentage of any day. San Diego has won each of its last eight Sunday games and 11 of the last 12. With the team being 21 games over .500, it’s important to note that the only other San Diego teams to reach that mark at any point of the season are the two National League champion clubs (1998 and 1994). The Padres bring in a solid 23-13 record in day games this season (+1,160) and the total stands at 17-14 O/U in those contests.
Detroit picked up a 3-2 comeback victory on Saturday night over the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field and giving the team a chance to end a streak of 10 straight road series losses. The win in the second game of the series was also just the club’s second win in 15 road games. “I’ve been around this game long enough to know we’ve got to start putting something together,” Brandon Inge said. The offense is led by 1B Miguel Cabrera in games away from Comerica Park, as he is leading the American League with a .345 road batting average. The Tigers are now 19-26 against division opponents this season and the total stands at an even 21-21 O/U in those contests. The club is a dismal 6-16 on the road when the total is 9 to 9.5 in 2010 and 36-58 in this situation over the last three years (-2,100).
Chicago has lost 14 of its last 16 games including a 6-3 defeat in the first game of this three-game series against its main NL Central rival. “We just didn’t hold the game in check,” manager Lou Piniella said. The Cubs are now also 1-7 in their 17-game stretch in which they face teams that either rank first or second in their division. The club is now 12-26 in series openers this season. Offensively, the team is awaiting the return of 3B Aramis Ramirez, who was withheld from Friday’s lineup with a sore left oblique muscle. Chicago has been a road underdog of +200 to +225 just once this year (-100) and three times over the last three seasons (-300). The team is a disappointing 26-33 in day games in 2010 (-1,550) and the total stands at 29-27 O/U in those contests. The Cubs average 4.5 runs and hit for a combined .258 average under the sun.
San Diego travels up to San Francisco leading the Giants by 2 1/2 games and are riding a four-game winning streak into this pivotal series. “We’re feeling good about ourselves,” said pitcher Jon Garland. “We can’t get a little overexcited. We just need to go up there an continue to play good baseball.” The Padres picked up their seventh sweep of the season in beating the Pirates in a three-game set and enter with the National League’s best record at 67-46 (+2,360). New addition Ryan Ludwick has been leading the offense, hitting three home runs in his past four games, after hitting just .222 during his first 10 games with the club. The club is a solid 21-11 against left-handed starters this year (+1,190) and the total is 15-16 O/U in those contests. San Diego has compiled a solid 8-4 record as a road underdog of +100 to +125 this season (+520) and are 27-25 in this situation the last three years (+560).
Boston will look to rebound from a disappointing 6-5 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday in Toronto, as closer Jonathan Papelbon suffered his sixth blown save of the season. “I didn’t have much power or energy in my delivery today,” said Papelbon. The Red Sox are now 4-3 on their current 10-game road trip and have fallen four games back in the wild card race behind the Rays. The collapse of the bullpen was unusual, with the unit posting a 1.57 ERA over its last 15 games and the closer’s 0.75 ERA in 24 previous appearances against the Blue Jays. The club is 10-5 as a road underdog of +100 to +125 this season (+600) and the total is 7-7 O/U in those contests. Boston is just 7-6 over the course of this month, but is a fantastic 41-27 in August the last three years (+900).
Colorado picked up a 6-2 victory in the second game of this series over the Mets at Citi Field. The club will be looking to pick up its first road series win over today’s opponent in more than eight years. The Rockies are 25-17 in games against left-handed starters this season (+500), after posing a 27-26 mark in 2009. Offensively, the team has 162 RBIs versus southpaws, which is the most in the National League. The lineup is being led by outfielder Carlos Gonzalez having the second-most extra-base hits since the All-Star break in the league (16) and shortstop Troy Tulowitzki batting .375 with one home run and 12 RBIs in 14 games since returning from the disabled list. Colorado is a dismal 4-11 as a road underdog of +125 to +150 (-560) and the total in those games stands at 6-9 O/U in that span.
Los Angeles may have finally broken out of its offensive slump, scoring a combined 23 runs in the last two games, including 15 in a Tuesday night victory over the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. “We hope to give the pitching staff a little confidence and let them know their offense is clicking,” outfielder Andre Ethier said. “At the same time, it gives us a little confidence.” The team averaged just 2.5 runs in its first 23 games after the All-Star break before this two-game outburst. The Dodgers are still just 3-10 at Citizens Bank Park since 2008, which includes five postseason games. The club is a dismal 2-8 as a road underdog of +125 to +150 this season (-520) and the total in those games is 4-6 O/U. Los Angeles has won five of its last six games against the NL East, but still stand at 11-13 versus the division this year.
Boston moved its record to 9-2 against the Blue Jays in capturing a 7-5 victory on Tuesday night at the Rogers Centre. “You know what? Tonight was like our whole season,” manager Terry Francona said. “It wasn’t perfect. But we kept playing.” The Red Sox have won eight of their last 12 road contests and have a 23-16 record away from Fenway Park since May 22. The club sits five games in the divisional race and just 4.5 back in the Wild Card. Boston is 6-1 on artificial turf this season, managing to average 6.5 runs and hit for a combined .291 average in those contests. The team is a fantastic 7-1 on the road with a money line of -100 to -125 this season (+590), but falls off to a 26-32 mark in this situation the last three years (-1,020). The Red Sox evened up their record against divisional opponents (23-23, -400) and the total in those games is 25-18 O/U.
Boston failed to pick up any ground on the first place Yankees, splitting a four-game series in the Bronx, as the team sits six games back in the divisional race. “We’re leaving here with a good taste in our mouths,” reliever Daniel Bard said. “We didn’t move up, but to stay where you’re at is kind of an accomplishment.” The Red Sox have won seven of their last 11 road games and are 22-16 away from Fenway Park since May 22. The bullpen has been a major strength over the last 13 games, posting a 1.32 ERA and holding opponents to a .144 average. The club has posted a solid 8-4 record this year on artificial turf (+480), but is still a dismal 26-34 over the last three seasons (-880). Boston has also compiled a winning 20-16 mark against left-handed starters this season (+110), averaging 5.5 runs per game and hitting for a combined .271 average.
Los Angeles has lost nine of its last 10 road games and is suffering through a five-game losing streak away from Dodger Stadium. In those five games, the offense is managing to average just 1.8 runs and hit for a .156 combined average. The club hopes to build off of an eight-run outburst in the homestand finale against the Nationals. “Today was a good day,” manager Joe Torre said about Sunday’s output. “But we need more contributions from the guys in the middle. The Dodgers are in the middle of a 10-game stretch against opponents from the National League East (2-1) and have posted a 10-13 record against the division this season. Los Angeles if 5-4 this month (-100) and 32-35 in August over the last three seasons (-1,580). The Blue Crew has compiled a solid 8-4 record on the road with a money line of -100 to -125 (+360), which differs greatly from the 22-30 mark the last three years in this situation (-1,160).
