10-6-14

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Notebook: Nats turn to Fister in Game 3
By THE SPORTS XCHANGE

WASHINGTON -- Doug Fister, acquired in a trade with the Detroit Tigers before the season, will start for the Washington Nationals in Game 3 on Monday in San Francisco.

The tall right-hander was 16-6 with an ERA of 2.41 in 25 starts this season.

"I don't know that we are in this situation without Doug," first baseman Adam LaRoche said Saturday. "I think he's helped our starters a ton."

Fister, who began this season on the disabled list, works fast and gets a lot of groundball outs.

"You know, the guy doesn't break 90 miles an hour very often," LaRoche added. “He has a knack for sawing guys off, which is pretty tough to do, with that velocity."

--Tim Hudson, the Game 2 starter for the Giants, is no stranger to the Nationals.

In regular-season play he is 18-5 with an ERA of 2.35 in 31 starts against Washington, with many of those games coming when he played for the Atlanta Braves.

So how does Washington first baseman Adam LaRoche approach Hudson, his teammate in Atlanta in 2005, 2006 and 2009?

"You have to get to him early," LaRoche said before Game 2. "Huddy, throughout his career, he is known for, once he gets past the third, fourth inning and settles in, he gets to be really tough.

"If you can get to him the first two, three innings, ideally, it is huge. Not to say he can't be beat after that, but once he gets rolling, he's good. Really good.

"So, yeah, I mean, I don't know. He's got it figured out. He knows when to make adjustments. He knows how to read hitters well. He has a knack for that again. He pounds the zone, typically. Be read ready to hit early."

The Giants were 2-5 against Washington in regular-season play this year and both wins came in games started by Hudson.

--Nationals Park is about 107 miles north of The Diamond in Richmond, the home of the Double-A affiliate of the Giants.

And while the Giants are some 3,000 miles away from the Virginia capital the team has strong ties to the Old Dominion.

The Richmond Flying Squirrels have been the Double-A Eastern League affiliate of the Giants since 2009. Many of the current contributors of the Giants came through Richmond on their way up the minor league ladder, including Brandon Crawford, Brandon Belt, Joe Panik and Hunter Strickland.

"It seems like here, it doesn't matter who you are, you are treated like one of the team," Belt said before Game 2. "You are treated like everyone else."

Strickland, who pitched in Game 1 for the Giants, was 1-1 with an ERA of 2.02 in 38 games with 11 saves for Richmond earlier this year. He was then promoted to Triple-A Fresno before he got the call to the Giants in early September.

Panik, the second baseman, had five hits in the first two postseason games this year to set a Giants record. He hit .257 in 137 games with 27 doubles, four triples and four home runs while spending all of 2013 in Richmond.

For good measure Giants reliever Javier Lopez is a graduate of Robinson High in Fairfax, Va., about 30 miles from Nationals Park, and manager Bruce Bochy lived in Falls Church, Va., for part of his boyhood.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Baseball Crusher
Washington Nationals +130 over SF Giants
(System Record: 108-2, lost last game)
Overall Record: 108-76

Rest of the Plays
Los Angeles Dodgers -101 over St. Louis Cardinals
Los Angeles Dodgers + St. Louis Cardinals UNDER 7.5
Washington Nationals + SF Giants UNDER 6

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Football Crusher
Seattle Seahawks + Washington Redskins OVER 45
(System Record: 12-2, lost last 2 games)
Overall Record: 12-14-1

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Soccer Crusher
Rosario Central + Lanus OVER 2
This match is happening in Argentina
(System Record: 643-22, won last 2 games)
Overall Record: 643-534-97

[Can'tPickAWinner]

big al mc mordie
3* wash +7.5

[Can'tPickAWinner]

VIP-picks

Exclusive VIP Tips
RB Leipzig - Heidenheim
Tip: >2,5

Bonus:
Viborg - Vejle
Tip: Viborg -0.5, 1

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NFL

Seahawks (2-1) @ Redskins (1-3)—Washington imploded in last game, turning ball over six times, converting 1-8 on 3rd down in 45-14 home loss to division rival Giants. Skins’ only win was over lowly Jaguars, now defending champs come in off bye. Seattle is 5-3 in last eight games as road favorite but lost only road game this year, at San Diego. Redskins is 3-4 in last nine games as a home dog; they won six of last nine series games- all three losses came in playoff games. NFC West teams are 5-5 vs spread outside division, 3-1 on road. NFC East teams are 7-4 vs spread, 3-2 as underdogs. Last three Washington games, two of three Seahawk games went over the total. Serious question: If you’re Pete Carroll, how much do you tell ESPN’s Jon Gruden in your production meeting, seeing as his brother coaches the Redskins?

[Can'tPickAWinner]

MLB

Giants-Nationals
Fister is 4-0, 1.57 in his last four starts, 3-2, 2.98 in seven postseason starts; he is 1-1, 2.77 against San Francisco this season.

Bumgarner is 6-1, 2.16 in his last nine starts, 4-2, 3.02 in seven playoff starts, 0-1, 2.57 against Washington this season (two runs in seven IP).

Washington scored four runs in last three games, three runs in first two games of this series; taking Zimmerman out with two out in 9th inning Saturday is going to haunt this franchise, unless they come back and win the series.

Giants won last ten playoff games, an all-time record; they won World Series in 2010/2012. SF won its last five games overall, allowing seven runs.

Fister 18-7.........6-25 first inning
Bumgarner 20-14.......10-34 first inning

Cardinals-Dodgers
Ryu is 1-2, 4.43 in his last four starts; he's had shoulder issues. He is 1-0, 3.60 in two playoff starts, 0-1, 3.86 against the Cardinals this year.

Lackey is 1-1, 2.76 in his last three starts, 6-5, 3.03 in 16 postseason starts but he didn't pitch against the Dodgers this season.

Dodgers won six of last seven games, scoring 48 runs; they're in playoffs second year in row, after missing the three years before that. LA scored 44 runs in last six games.

St Louis is in playoffs for 4th year in row, 8th time in last 12 years-- they are 4-5 in last nine games overall, 4-1 in last five at home- their last home game was September 21.

Ryu 16-10.........4-26 first inning
Lackey 12-9/6-5.............8-32 first inning

[Can'tPickAWinner]

MNF - Seahawks at Redskins
By Kevin Rogers

The Redskins are featured on national television for the second straight week, as Washington hopes to turn in a better performance than it did last week against the Giants. The task doesn’t get easier, hosting the defending champion Seahawks on Monday night, as Seattle is fresh off its bye week, while seeking its first road win of the season.

Starting with Washington, the Redskins embarrassed themselves last Thursday night in a 45-14 home setback to the Giants as three-point home favorites. New York racked up 449 yards of offense on Washington, while Kirk Cousins threw four interceptions in his second start of the season. Washington turned the ball over six times in the loss, as the Redskins held the ball for only 23 minutes. Washington’s opponents scored 27 points in the first two weeks, but the Eagles and Giants combined to score 82 points in the past two games.

The Seahawks last took the field in Week 3, knocking off the Broncos in a Super Bowl rematch, 26-20 in overtime. Seattle grabbed a 17-3 advantage, seven months after steamrolling Denver, 43-8 in Super Bowl XLVIII to win the franchise’s first title. The Broncos didn’t fold as easily this time around, scoring a late touchdown in regulation to force overtime, tying the game at 20-20 as four-point underdogs. Marshawn Lynch scored the game-winning touchdown in OT from six yards out to give the Seahawks the cover, but the game stayed ‘under’ the total of 48.

Pete Carroll’s team won seven of eight road games last season, but dropped its first contest away from CenturyLink Field this season. Seattle dropped a 30-21 decision at San Diego in Week 2 as 4 ½-point favorites, the first win of a current four-game winning streak for the Chargers. Seattle held the ball for less than 18 minutes in that defeat, while allowing more than 19 points for the first time in the past five road games.

The last time these teams met up came in the Wild Card round of the 2012 season at FedEx Field. The Redskins built a 14-0 first quarter lead before the Seahawks scored three unanswered touchdowns to take a 21-14 advantage in the fourth quarter. Robert Griffin III tore his ACL minutes after Lynch’s go-ahead score in the final quarter, sealing Washington’s fate in a 24-14 defeat. The Seahawks advanced to the divisional round, while covering as three-point road favorites to win the franchise’s first away playoff game since 1983.

Since the 17-6 loss at Houston in the opener, Jay Gruden’s squad has hit the ‘over’ in three straight games, even though Washington’s only win came against 0-5 Jacksonville, 41-10 in Week 2. Griffin remains out with an ankle injury suffered in that victory over the Jaguars, as Cousins has thrown for 934 yards and six touchdowns with five interceptions in three games.

The Seahawks have won eight straight Monday night games since 2005, including a 4-0 SU and 3-1 ATS under Carroll. Last season, Seattle failed to cover as 13-point road favorites in a 14-9 victory at St. Louis, as the Seahawks held the Rams out of the end zone on a goal-to-go on the final play of the game. The Seahawks have cashed six of their past eight as an away favorite of single-digits, while winning in all three trips to the East Coast last season.

The Redskins have been dreadful on Mondays since 2008, losing seven of eight times, including six losses at FedEx Field. Last season, Washington lost twice on Monday night football, allowing 60 points in defeats to Philadelphia and San Francisco. The only victory for Washington in this span came against the Giants in 2012, edging New York, 17-16 as three-point underdogs as part of a seven-game winning streak en route to the NFC East title.

Washington is listed as a home underdog for the first time this season, as the Redskins are 4-10 ATS when receiving points since 2013. The Redskins haven’t been a home ‘dog of at least a touchdown since 2011, when they barely covered as 7 ½-point underdogs in a 34-27 setback to New England. Last season, Washington cashed just two of six times at home in the ‘dog role, as three of those games closed with the Redskins as one-point ‘dogs (1-2 SU/ATS).

The Seahawks are currently seven-point favorites with the total set at 45 ½. Temperatures are expected to be in the mid-60’s with clear skies as the game kicks off at 8:30 PM EST and can be seen on ESPN.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Fister tasked with extending Nationals' season
By THE SPORTS XCHANGE

WASHINGTON -- The Washington Nationals have traded several top pitching prospects for proven big leaguers over the past few years.

Before the 2013 season, the Nationals traded Alex Meyer to the Minnesota Twins in a deal that sent center fielder Denard Span to Washington.

Prior to this season, Nathan Karns, a young right-hander, was sent to Tampa Bay in part of a deal that netted backup catcher Jose Lobaton.

And back in December, the Nationals parted ways with top pitching prospects Robbie Ray and Ian Krol, along with infielder Steve Lombardozzi and his big league experience, to the Detroit Tigers in a deal that brought right-hander Doug Fister to the nation's capital.

Now, Fister is tasked with trying to keep the Nationals alive when he pitches on Monday in Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the San Francisco Giants as his team is down 2-0 after a crushing 2-1 loss in 18 innings on Saturday night.

Fister may have been the most consistent pitcher for the Nationals once he came off the disabled list in early May with a lat sprain.

The tall right-hander was 16-6 with an ERA of 2.41 in 25 starts this season.

"I don't know that we are in this situation without Doug," first baseman Adam LaRoche said. "I think he's helped our starters a ton."

Fister works fast and gets a lot of ground-ball outs.

"You know, the guy doesn't break 90 miles an hour very often," LaRoche said. "He has a knack for sawing guys off, which is pretty tough to do, with that velocity."

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Giants aim to close out Nationals in NLDS
By THE SPORTS XCHANGE

WASHINGTON -- The San Francisco Giants are heading home with a 2-0 lead in the National League Division Series and a chance to wrap up the series against the Washington Nationals on Monday with lefty ace Madison Bumgarner.

"I think we are confident with Bum on the mound on Monday," said first baseman Brandon Belt. "Definitely not taking it for granted. We have seen teams come back 0-2 and win the series. We are going to go in there and try to play our best baseball. If we don't they will take advantage of it. That is what we will do."

Bumgarner is coming off a four-hit shutout of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the NL wild-card game. He struck out 10 and walked one. In the regular season, Bumgarner went 18-10 with a 2.98 ERA.

The Giants topped the Nationals 2-1 in 18 innings Saturday in the longest game by time in postseason history. Belt hit a solo homer in the top of the 18th against Tanner Roark, who was part of the Washington starting rotation during the season.

Belt was hitless in his previous six at-bats and took a borderline pitch to make the count 3-2 before he pulled a pitch over the Washington bullpen in right.

"That was incredible," rookie second baseman Joe Panik said.

Yusmeiro Petit threw six scoreless innings and allowed just one hit as he got the win in Game 2.

"He shut them down for six innings. For a guy that has been starting for a while ... he was incredible," Panik said.

What did manager Bruce Bochy think of the homer by Belt?

"You are hoping that somebody gets ahold of one. We are facing a tough pitcher out there," Bochy said.

The Giants have now won 10 postseason games in a row, a National League record.

"It's a tough group," Bochy said. "They are relentless. They don't quit. We had our hands full tonight. We had the right guys coming up. I can't say enough again about what our bullpen did for us. Those guys never quit."

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Dodgers' Ryu back from shoulder woes for Game 3
By THE SPORTS XCHANGE

ST. LOUIS -- Hyun-Jin Ryu had a great seat to watch a lot of baseball recently.

The Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander threw just one inning in the past three weeks and only 7 2/3 since the start of September due to a sore shoulder. The injury forced him out of his Sept. 12 start in San Francisco after the first inning.

Ryu will finally take the mound again as the Dodgers' starter in Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday. The series is tied at one game apiece.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said he has no concerns about handing Ryu the ball in such a pivotal game despite the lefty's inactivity over the past five weeks because of Ryu's low-maintenance approach.

"It's just his track record and kind of his work in between," Mattingly said. "It's not like he hasn't thrown. He's thrown, I think, two (bullpen sessions) now, and a (simulated) game.

"Hyun-Jin is a guy that we trust, and he's been unflappable from the standpoint of anything that comes along he just seems to handle."

The shoulder inflammation flared up twice this season, sending Ryu to the disabled list in April and May. However, Ryu said he is not concerned about the pain returning once he gets in a game again.

"I'm thinking that there's very little -- almost zero percent chance -- that the injury is going to come back tomorrow," Ryu said through his interpreter Sunday. "I'm not even thinking about it. I don't think it's good for my psyche to think that way.

"I threw a few bullpen sessions and I went 100 percent. I felt great in all those sessions. I don't foresee a reason why I would feel anything tomorrow."

Ryu made one start against the Cardinals in last year's NL Championship Series and held them scoreless for seven innings in the Dodgers' Game 3 victory.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Cardinals call on playoff-tested Lackey for Game 3
By THE SPORTS XCHANGE

ST. LOUIS -- John Lackey is no stranger to the postseason stage.

In 2002, he became the first rookie since 1909 to start and win a World Series Game 7 when he took the ball in the decisive game against the San Francisco Giants.

He has been a postseason regular since then, making 19 appearances in all and pitching 104 October innings during a career that included a second World Series clincher. Lackey was the starter and winner for the Boston Red Sox when they closed out the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 6 in last year's World Series.

Now, Lackey is a member of the Cardinals, and he will start against the Dodgers in Game 3 of the National League Division Series on Monday. The series is tied one game apiece.

"I didn't bring it up and they didn't either," Lackey said of waving his World Series ring in the faces of his new teammates when he joined the Cardinals in July. "We're trying to do it together this year."

Lackey was acquired from the Red Sox at the trade deadline in exchange for outfielder/first baseman Allen Craig and right-hander Joe Kelly. He made 10 starts for the Cardinals, going an unimpressive 3-3 with a 4.30 ERA.

Even so, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said the 35-year-old veteran was a valuable addition to the pitching staff.

"We were very happy to bring him onto our club," Matheny said. "We had a real good idea what we were going to get -- a veteran presence, a guy who knows what he's doing, knows how to go about and use his stuff and just another starter to be in a leadership role and a voice for the rest of our staff.

"And he's been all of the above. He's come out and pitched well. He's competed and kept us in games, and he's a gamer. He's a competitor. He's a guy that we like to watch compete, especially on this kind of stage."

[Can'tPickAWinner]

StatFox Super Situations

MLB | WASHINGTON at SAN FRANCISCO
Play On - Road teams when the money line is +125 to -125 (WASHINGTON) with a very good bullpen whose ERA is 3.33 or better on the season, after a game where their bullpen blew a save
235-162 since 1997. ( 59.2% | 78.6 units )
18-18 this year. ( 50.0% | 0.1 units )

StatFox Situational Power Trends

MLB | LA DODGERS at ST LOUIS
ST LOUIS is 48-17 (+24.6 Units) against the money line in Home games vs. NL teams allowing 4.3 or less runs/game in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was: ST LOUIS (4.5) , OPPONENT (3.5)

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Today's NFL Picks

Seattle at Washington

The Seahawks head to Washington on Monday night to face a Redskins team that is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games in Week 5 of the season. Washington is the pick (+7 1/2) according to Dunkel, which has the Seahawks favored by only 4 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Washington (+7 1/2). Here are all of this week's picks.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 6 Time Posted: 10:00 a.m. EST (10/1)

Game 477-478: Seattle at Washington (8:30 p.m. EST) Dunkel Ratings: Seattle 136.913; Washington 132.393 Dunkel Line: Seattle by 4 1/2; 42 Vegas Line: Seattle by 7 1/2; 45 Dunkel Pick: Washington (+7 1/2); Under