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Monday's Tip Sheet
June 15, 2015
Atlanta Braves at Boston Red Sox | 7:10 p.m. ET (ESPN)
If ever there was a must-win series in the middle of June, this might be that rare scenario, at least as it pertains to the slumping Red Sox, who desperately need to stop their current bleeding. Entering this Interleague series with the Braves, Boston is on a six-game losing streak, after getting swept in consecutive series by the division-rival Orioles and Blue Jays. Being in the AL East cellar eight games back of first place, it's not too late, however, to make a run similar to the 2013 Dodgers, who were in last place in their division at the end of June.
The Red Sox will turn to Rick Porcello (4-6, 5.26 ERA) in the first game, trying to help flip the year-long trend that has been disastrous starting pitching. Porcello has been one of the main culprits, but has also shown flashes of the excellent pitcher he was last season, providing hope that he can help contribute steady pitching in the long run. Braves rookie right-hander Williams Perez (2-0, 2.70 ERA) toes the Fenway Park rubber for the Braves, looking pretty impressive in his first season. The Man With Two Last Names has surrendered one run or less in four of his five starts, albeit while averaging an unhealthy 4.59 BB/9. Despite their aforementioned losing streak, the Red Sox are -150 favorites in tonight's matchup.
Toronto Blue Jays at New York Mets | 7:10 p.m. ET
The hottest team in baseball, the Toronto Blue Jays, enters the third week of June with not only the longest active winning streak in baseball at 11 games, but a newfound sense of confidence, suddenly being only one game out of first place in the AL East. Their notable surge is mostly due to the fact that they lead baseball in runs scored. At one point this season, the Mets were just as red hot, also owning an 11-game winning streak in 2015, and while they’re currently still in first place in their division, they’ve been inconsistent since that strong run, being only four games over.500. Tonight, the two clubs begin a rare Interleague series at Citi Field.
The ageless Mark Buehrle (7-4, 4.25 ERA) will try to keep it going for Toronto, currently contributing his best pitching of the season. In fact, he’s brought his ERA down by two-and-a-half full runs since his outing on May 1, and has recorded six straight starts going six innings or more, while yielding three runs or less in four of them. He’ll be opposed by Mets rookie Noah Syndergaard (2-4, 4.15 ERA), who has struggled a bit in his past couple of starts in allowing 11 runs, after surrendering a combined five runs in his first four assignments. In any case, Syndergaard has been good for under bets to begin his very promising career, posting a 4-1-1 record in that department, although the Mets are 2-4 in games he’s started. The over/under is currently 7.5, with both teams having -110 moneyline odds.
Colorado Rockies at Houston Astros | 8:10 p.m. ET
Who has been more consistent than Astros ace Dallas Keuchel (7-2, 1.90 ERA) this season? You’d be hard-pressed to find someone that successfully answers that question, considering the fourth-year southpaw has gone at least six innings in all 13 of his starts this season. In the process, he’s remarkably allowed two earned runs or less in ten of them, and has not yet had an outing where he submitted more than four. Simply put, Keuchel has been enjoying an All Star-caliber campaign and will certainly find himself on the American League squad when that juncture comes. In the meantime, the 27-year-old will try to keep up his impressive 6-1 unders record at home, and he’s cashed five straight unders overall entering this one.
Meanwhile, Chad Bettis (2-1, 3.05 ERA) hasn't been as successful towards such bets, going 4-2 for overs, but that hasn't been his fault, considering the superb pitching he's contributed since being inserted into the rotation on May 14. Of his six starts, the 26-year-old right-hander has registered a quality outing in four of them, including a near no-hitter a few weeks ago in Philadelphia. Bettis also has a solid 33/11 K/BB ratio in his 38 innings of work, and is getting relatively good value as a +175 road 'dog. It also helps that the Rockies are second in baseball in team batting average against southpaws, which should aid their cause versus Keuchel.
Minnesota Twins at St. Louis Cardinals | 8:15 p.m. ET
At 41-21, the Cardinals are the best team in the big leagues and have a fine opportunity to add to that sparkling record during their upcoming Interleague hookup with the Twins, who are suddenly reeling. After their own stretch being baseball's hottest team, Minnesota has cooled off considerably and enters this series having lost seven of their past nine to fall out of first place in the AL Central.
St. Louis will go with ol' reliable John Lackey (4-4, 3.74 ERA) in the opener. The veteran right-hander has been mostly consistent this year, as he seemingly always is, surrendering three runs or less in nine of his 12 starts. He's coming off his worst outing of the year, though, after getting pounded by the Rockies at Coors Field, but usually is a fine bet to bounce back. He takes on Twins youngster Trevor May (4-4, 4.16 ERA) in this series-opening clash, and the 25-year-old right-hander has been performing his best work of his still-young Major League career, bringing his ERA down more than a full run over the past month. In fact, he’s gone at least six innings or more in five straight starts, a career-high, while allowing three runs or less in four of them. May is 7-4 towards over bets this year but has helped cash the under in three of his past four assignments. The line for tonight’s affair is currently 7.
Oakland Athletics at San Diego Padres | 10:10 p.m. ET
It won't get much hype, considering neither of these teams is currently over .500, but this is the return of Jesse Hahn (3-5, 3.84 ERA) to San Diego, after spending his rookie campaign with the Padres a season ago. Hahn was very solid as a freshman, going 7-4 with a 3.07 ERA, including owning a 2.95 ERA in seven games (six starts) at Petco Park. The 25-year-old endured his shortest outing of the season his last time out but had logged five consecutive quality starts prior to his most recent assignment.
Opposing the former Friar will be former teammate Tyson Ross (3-6, 3.81 ERA), who is arguably the most underrated pitcher in the entire National League. Ross has once again exhibited his usual trademark extreme consistency in 2015, having yielded exactly two or three runs in all but one of his 13 starts, while going five innings or more in every single one. Ross has also continued to be one of the better strikeout artists this season, racking up 83 punch-outs in his 75.2 innings of work. Predictably, the linesmakers have given this pitching matchup an over/under line of 7 in San Diego, but it may not stay that high leading up to first pitch.
June 15, 2015
Atlanta Braves at Boston Red Sox | 7:10 p.m. ET (ESPN)
If ever there was a must-win series in the middle of June, this might be that rare scenario, at least as it pertains to the slumping Red Sox, who desperately need to stop their current bleeding. Entering this Interleague series with the Braves, Boston is on a six-game losing streak, after getting swept in consecutive series by the division-rival Orioles and Blue Jays. Being in the AL East cellar eight games back of first place, it's not too late, however, to make a run similar to the 2013 Dodgers, who were in last place in their division at the end of June.
The Red Sox will turn to Rick Porcello (4-6, 5.26 ERA) in the first game, trying to help flip the year-long trend that has been disastrous starting pitching. Porcello has been one of the main culprits, but has also shown flashes of the excellent pitcher he was last season, providing hope that he can help contribute steady pitching in the long run. Braves rookie right-hander Williams Perez (2-0, 2.70 ERA) toes the Fenway Park rubber for the Braves, looking pretty impressive in his first season. The Man With Two Last Names has surrendered one run or less in four of his five starts, albeit while averaging an unhealthy 4.59 BB/9. Despite their aforementioned losing streak, the Red Sox are -150 favorites in tonight's matchup.
Toronto Blue Jays at New York Mets | 7:10 p.m. ET
The hottest team in baseball, the Toronto Blue Jays, enters the third week of June with not only the longest active winning streak in baseball at 11 games, but a newfound sense of confidence, suddenly being only one game out of first place in the AL East. Their notable surge is mostly due to the fact that they lead baseball in runs scored. At one point this season, the Mets were just as red hot, also owning an 11-game winning streak in 2015, and while they’re currently still in first place in their division, they’ve been inconsistent since that strong run, being only four games over.500. Tonight, the two clubs begin a rare Interleague series at Citi Field.
The ageless Mark Buehrle (7-4, 4.25 ERA) will try to keep it going for Toronto, currently contributing his best pitching of the season. In fact, he’s brought his ERA down by two-and-a-half full runs since his outing on May 1, and has recorded six straight starts going six innings or more, while yielding three runs or less in four of them. He’ll be opposed by Mets rookie Noah Syndergaard (2-4, 4.15 ERA), who has struggled a bit in his past couple of starts in allowing 11 runs, after surrendering a combined five runs in his first four assignments. In any case, Syndergaard has been good for under bets to begin his very promising career, posting a 4-1-1 record in that department, although the Mets are 2-4 in games he’s started. The over/under is currently 7.5, with both teams having -110 moneyline odds.
Colorado Rockies at Houston Astros | 8:10 p.m. ET
Who has been more consistent than Astros ace Dallas Keuchel (7-2, 1.90 ERA) this season? You’d be hard-pressed to find someone that successfully answers that question, considering the fourth-year southpaw has gone at least six innings in all 13 of his starts this season. In the process, he’s remarkably allowed two earned runs or less in ten of them, and has not yet had an outing where he submitted more than four. Simply put, Keuchel has been enjoying an All Star-caliber campaign and will certainly find himself on the American League squad when that juncture comes. In the meantime, the 27-year-old will try to keep up his impressive 6-1 unders record at home, and he’s cashed five straight unders overall entering this one.
Meanwhile, Chad Bettis (2-1, 3.05 ERA) hasn't been as successful towards such bets, going 4-2 for overs, but that hasn't been his fault, considering the superb pitching he's contributed since being inserted into the rotation on May 14. Of his six starts, the 26-year-old right-hander has registered a quality outing in four of them, including a near no-hitter a few weeks ago in Philadelphia. Bettis also has a solid 33/11 K/BB ratio in his 38 innings of work, and is getting relatively good value as a +175 road 'dog. It also helps that the Rockies are second in baseball in team batting average against southpaws, which should aid their cause versus Keuchel.
Minnesota Twins at St. Louis Cardinals | 8:15 p.m. ET
At 41-21, the Cardinals are the best team in the big leagues and have a fine opportunity to add to that sparkling record during their upcoming Interleague hookup with the Twins, who are suddenly reeling. After their own stretch being baseball's hottest team, Minnesota has cooled off considerably and enters this series having lost seven of their past nine to fall out of first place in the AL Central.
St. Louis will go with ol' reliable John Lackey (4-4, 3.74 ERA) in the opener. The veteran right-hander has been mostly consistent this year, as he seemingly always is, surrendering three runs or less in nine of his 12 starts. He's coming off his worst outing of the year, though, after getting pounded by the Rockies at Coors Field, but usually is a fine bet to bounce back. He takes on Twins youngster Trevor May (4-4, 4.16 ERA) in this series-opening clash, and the 25-year-old right-hander has been performing his best work of his still-young Major League career, bringing his ERA down more than a full run over the past month. In fact, he’s gone at least six innings or more in five straight starts, a career-high, while allowing three runs or less in four of them. May is 7-4 towards over bets this year but has helped cash the under in three of his past four assignments. The line for tonight’s affair is currently 7.
Oakland Athletics at San Diego Padres | 10:10 p.m. ET
It won't get much hype, considering neither of these teams is currently over .500, but this is the return of Jesse Hahn (3-5, 3.84 ERA) to San Diego, after spending his rookie campaign with the Padres a season ago. Hahn was very solid as a freshman, going 7-4 with a 3.07 ERA, including owning a 2.95 ERA in seven games (six starts) at Petco Park. The 25-year-old endured his shortest outing of the season his last time out but had logged five consecutive quality starts prior to his most recent assignment.
Opposing the former Friar will be former teammate Tyson Ross (3-6, 3.81 ERA), who is arguably the most underrated pitcher in the entire National League. Ross has once again exhibited his usual trademark extreme consistency in 2015, having yielded exactly two or three runs in all but one of his 13 starts, while going five innings or more in every single one. Ross has also continued to be one of the better strikeout artists this season, racking up 83 punch-outs in his 75.2 innings of work. Predictably, the linesmakers have given this pitching matchup an over/under line of 7 in San Diego, but it may not stay that high leading up to first pitch.
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