The first place Braves may stumble in their first game back from the All-Star break.
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Author: Jeff Mattinger
Orange County, California
The Senior Circuit is primed to breakthrough with its power pitching staff and end the Junior Circuit’s dominance in the Midsummer Classic.
National League at American League
It’s been well-documented that the National League has failed to capture a victory in the Midsummer Classic since 1996, even though the last four contests have been decided by a single run. Ever since the game was changed to hand the victor home-field advantage in the World Series, the National League has failed to deliver as well. “The priority is to win the ballgame,” Philadelphia Phillies and National League manager Charlie Manuel said. “That’s why we are here.” All the talk about the Senior Circuit is centered on the pitching staff, with Florida starter Josh Johnson, Philadelphia ace Roy Halladay and San Francisco’s two-time Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum set to come out of the pen.
Both teams may show impatience at the plate with the All-Star break looming.
Chicago Cubs at Los Angeles Dodgers
Chicago has won two of the first three games on its current road trip, averaging 6.5 runs in the process. The Cubs entered the game ranked 14th in the National League in runs scored and had scored three or fewer runs in 14 of their last 20 games before Saturday’s 7-3 victory. “Finally,” said third baseman Aramis Ramirez. “We just have to come back after the break and keep doing what we’re doing now.” Ramirez has posted five consecutive multi-hit games to raise his season average from .178 to .209. The club is 11-4 against NL West competition this season, while going 28-45 against all other teams. Chicago has had a difficult time in producing winning streaks this season, posting a 14-24 record after a win (-1,510).
Continue reading “ESPN Sunday Night Baseball Betting Preview – Cubs at Dodgers”
The two division rivals have been involved in low-scoring affairs the last nine meetings.
Atlanta Braves at New York Mets
Atlanta has pushed its lead in the NL East standings to six games with its current five-game winning streak after shutting out the New York Mets 3-0 at Citi Field on Saturday afternoon. “It’s good to be in first place going into the break,” said manager Bobby Cox. The Braves are now a season-high 17 games over .500 for the first time since the end of the 2005 season. The latest win pushed its daytime record to 18-11 this season (+660) and the total moving to 16-13 O/U with just four runs posted on the scoreboard. Atlanta is averaging 5.6 runs per game offensively while holding teams to 4.2 runs with a combined .238 average. The club is 17-14 versus the division this season (+10), but a dominating 13-3 in their past 16 meetings.
Continue reading “Sunday MLB Betting Preview – Braves at Mets”
The division rivals are both in a good spot to light up the scoreboard at Comerica Park.
Minnesota Twins at Detroit Tigers
Minnesota has dropped 12 of its last 17 games after dropping a 7-3 road game to the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. “Silly baserunning, getting picked off in bad situations, and we kind of nonchalanted a bung play there,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. “Those things just can’t happen in a big game like this.” The Twins still lead the season series 6-4 and are 19-11 against the division (+340). Minnesota has dropped eight of 10 on the road and could be without the services of first baseman Justin Morneau for a third straight games, as he suffered a mild concussion by getting kneed in the head on Wednesday. Outfielder Denard Span may be asked to lead the offense, as he’s hitting .350 against the Tigers this season and his 65 career hits against them are his most versus any opponent.
Continue reading “Saturday MLB on FOX Betting Preview – Twins at Tigers”
The Blue Jays look to snap a long losing streak against today’s opponent at the Rogers Centre.
Boston Red Sox at Toronto Blue Jays
Boston continues a seven-day, six-game road trip with the second of three games, after clobbering the Toronto Blue Jays 14-3 at the Rogers Centre. The team now comes in carrying a 6-1 series advantage, after compiling an 11-7 series win in 2009. The Red Sox have now won seven straight games at the venue and broke a four-game losing streak in which the team scored just 12 runs. “We kind of needed that,” said manager Terry Francona. At 50-36, the club is tied for the fourth-best record in baseball, behind only the Yankees, Rays and Braves. The Red Sox hope to improve upon their 7-12 daytime record this year (-870), as the team is 7-3 on artificial turf (+480). The team hasn’t always been successful on the face stuff, going 25-33 the last three years (-880).
Continue reading “Saturday MLB Betting Preview – Red Sox at Blue Jays”
The Tigers send their ace to the mound in the opening game of a crucial AL Central series at Comerica Park.
Minnesota Twins at Detroit Tigers
Minnesota will be happy to leave Toronto and AL East opponents, dropping to 9-15 against the division with a 8-1 loss to the Blue Jays last night. “We know they are a home run hitting team and you have to make pitches,” manager Ron Gardenhire said. “We didn’t make very many of them tonight.” The Twins continue their road trip and hope to improve upon its 19-10 divisional record (+440) against the Tigers. First baseman Justin Morneau hopes to return to the lineup after sitting out with a mild concussion due to getting kneed in the head on Wednesday night. “He wasn’t feeling very good. We’ll see how he does today,” Gardenhire said. The club has seen its games post a 5-1 O/U mark this month and 32-22 O/U the last three years in July.
Continue reading “Friday MLB Betting Preview – Twins at Tigers”
Both teams look to pick up a crucial series victory at Citi Field tonight.
Cincinnati Reds at New York Mets
Continue reading “ESPN Wednesday Night Baseball Betting Preview – Reds at Mets”
The Phillies seek their sixth home series victory of the season with a seasoned veteran on the hill.
Atlanta Braves at Philadelphia Phillies
Atlanta ended a two-game skid with a 6-3 extra-innings victory over the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park and quieted the home town media about making a run at the first place team. “All you heard last night, whether you were watching television, listening to the radio, was the fact this series was going to turn the momentum around,” Braves third baseman Chipper Jones said. The club is now 3-2 in July (+70) after going 17-11 in June and 20-8 in May. Atlanta gets set to deal with a left-handed starter for the 26th time this season, posting a 12-13 record in those games (-260) and 63-68 mark the last three years (-1,500).
Continue reading “Wednesday MLB Betting Preview – Braves at Phillies”
The Blue Jays are easily the best home underdog on Tuesday’s MLB card.
Minnesota Twins at Toronto Blue Jays
Minnesota gets no break in traveling up north for a series against the Toronto Blue Jays, with the club carrying a disappointing 8-12 mark against the AL East division. The Twins also currently stand at 18-21 on the road this season (-210) and have dropped 13 of their last 19 away from Target Field. Offensively, the lineup will be led by the All-Star combination of catcher Joe Mauer and first baseman Justin Morneau. Mauer is hitting .388 in his last 14 games against the Blue Jays, while Morneau is a sizzling .354 with seven home runs and 26 RBIs in his last 25 meetings. Minnesota is an even 1-1 on artificial turf this season – the surface of the team’s old home the Metrodome.
Continue reading “Tuesday MLB Betting Preview – Twins at Blue Jays”
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