Thursday 7-12-18 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

[Can'tPickAWinner]

WNBA
Long Sheet

Thursday, July 12

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DALLAS (11 - 8) at LOS ANGELES (13 - 8) - 7/12/2018, 3:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
DALLAS is 1-9 ATS (-8.9 Units) in road games in July games over the last 3 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 37-25 ATS (+9.5 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 31-20 ATS (+9.0 Units) as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 21-11 ATS (+8.9 Units) in home games over the last 2 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 21-11 ATS (+8.9 Units) in a home game where where the total is greater than or equal to 150 over the last 2 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 17-8 ATS (+8.2 Units) in home games versus good offensive teams - scoring 77+ points/game over the last 2 seasons.
DALLAS is 13-6 ATS (+6.4 Units) in all games this season.
DALLAS is 13-6 ATS (+6.4 Units) in May, June, or July games this season.
DALLAS is 18-9 ATS (+8.1 Units) after a division game over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
DALLAS is 6-3 against the spread versus LOS ANGELES over the last 3 seasons
LOS ANGELES is 6-3 straight up against DALLAS over the last 3 seasons
7 of 9 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

[Can'tPickAWinner]

WNBA

Thursday, July 12

Trend Report

Dallas Wings
Dallas is 6-0-1 ATS in its last 7 games
Dallas is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Dallas's last 10 games
Dallas is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Dallas is 6-13 SU in its last 19 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Dallas's last 5 games on the road
Dallas is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Los Angeles
Dallas is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games when playing Los Angeles
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Dallas's last 10 games when playing Los Angeles
Dallas is 12-4-2 ATS in its last 18 games when playing on the road against Los Angeles
Dallas is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Los Angeles
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Dallas's last 5 games when playing on the road against Los Angeles
Los Angeles Sparks
Los Angeles is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games
Los Angeles is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Los Angeles's last 5 games
Los Angeles is 15-5-1 ATS in its last 21 games at home
Los Angeles is 18-4 SU in its last 22 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Los Angeles's last 13 games at home
Los Angeles is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Dallas
Los Angeles is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games when playing Dallas
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Los Angeles's last 10 games when playing Dallas
Los Angeles is 4-12-2 ATS in its last 18 games when playing at home against Dallas
Los Angeles is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Dallas
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Los Angeles's last 5 games when playing at home against Dallas

[Can'tPickAWinner]

CFL Betting Recap - Week 4
Joe Williams

League Betting Notes

-- Favorites/underdogs went 2-2 SU in Week 4
-- Favorites/underdogs went 2-2 ATS in Week 4
-- Home teams posted a 3-1 SU record in Week 4
-- Home teams posted a 3-1 ATS record in Week 4
-- The 'Under' went 3-1 in Week 4

Analysis

Saskatchewan (2-2) has been a difficult club to figure out. They opened with a win against the defending champs, they dropped two in a row, including last week when they were favored by 10 1/2. This week, they were underdogs by six points at home to Hamilton (2-2) in a low-scoring affair. The 'under' has now connected in three of four games so far for the Roughriders.

Thursday's battle marked the ninth consecutive 300-yard passing performance for Ti-Cats QB Jeremiah Masoli, so that's why QB Johnny Manziel remains nailed to the bench. The defense continues to get better for the boys from The Hammer, allowing 17.5 PPG over the past two games. The 'under' is 3-1 for the Cats to this point.

Ottawa (2-1) maintained their dominance against Montreal (1-3), winning 28-18 as the 'under' connected again. The RedBlacks have hit the under in each of the past two, while the under is 3-1 in four outings for the Alouettes. Offense has been a real chore for the Alouettes, as they have scored 18 or fewer points in three of their past four, averaging just 15.3 PPG.

Edmonton (2-2) was dumped 20-17 in Toronto (1-2), as the Esks continue to alternate wins and losses. They're also a dismal 1-3 ATS overall, and 0-2 ATS on the road. They'll get another crack at the Argos in Edmonton on Friday night.

The Argos picked up their first win of the season, as the bye seemed to do them some good. They were averaging just 13.0 PPG in their first two losses, but they hit 20 for the first time this season in the win. The defense was much improved against the Esks, too. They allowed 34.0 PPG in the first two outings, but the halved that in Week 4. The 'under' has hit in three straight to open the season.

Winnipeg (2-2) hammered the BC Lions (1-2), as the Blue Bombers have alternated wins and losses like the Eskimos. The Bombers are a respectable 3-1 ATS so far this season, including 2-0 ATS at home with the 'over' also 2-0 in their two games on home turf.

Team Betting Notes and A Look Ahead

-- Calgary (3-0) will look horns with the RedBlacks for the second time this season, this time in Canada's capital city. The RedBlacks will be looking to avenge a 24-14 loss in Calgary on June 28 as 7 1/2-point underdogs. The Stamps are 3-0 ATS with the under also 3-0. The Stamps are 9-3-2 ATS in their past 14 following a bye week.

-- Meanwhile, the RedBlacks are 4-0 ATS in their past four games in July, but just 2-5 ATS in the past seven after a straight-up victory. The 'over' is 3-0-1 in the past four meetings in Ottawa, while going 6-1-1 in the past eight in this series.

-- The Argos have posted a dismal 4-12 ATS mark across their past 16 road games, and for what it's worth, they're a dismal 1-10 ATS in their past 11 appearances on Friday. However, the Esks are 2-5 ATS in their past seven on Friday, so that doesn't really matter. The Esks are 3-8-2 ATS in the past 13 against teams with a losing record, too. The 'over' is 10-2 in the past 12 meetings, while going 5-0 in the past five meetings in Edmonton. Of course, last week was an 'under' result.

-- The Blue Bombers and Lions will square off for a second straight week, this time in Vancouver. Winnipeg won 41-19 last weekend in Manitoba. Winnipeg is 18-5 ATS in their past 23 road outings, while going 6-2 ATS in their past eight against teams with a losing record. They're also 12-4 ATS in the past 16 against Western Conference foes.

-- For the Lions, they're a poor 5-15-1 ATS in the past 21 meetings against Western Conference opponents. They're also 1-4 ATS in the past five home outings. The 'over' looks pretty attractive, going 18-7-2 in the past 27 against Western Conference foes for WPG, while going 13-4 in their past 17 road outings. The over is 4-0 in BC's past four against the West, while going 5-1 in their past six overall. That includes last week in Winnipeg. In fact, the over is 7-1 in the past eight meetings, and 4-0 in the past four meetings in BC.

-- Winnipeg is 4-0 ATS in their past four trips to Vancouver, while going 15-5-1 ATS in the past 21 meetings overall in this series.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

CFL Betting Notes - Week 5
David Schwab


Thursday, July 12

Calgary Stampeders (3-0 SU, 3-0 ATS) at Ottawa RedBlacks (2-1 SU, 2-1 ATS)
Point-spread: Calgary -3
Point-spread: 54 ½

Game Overview

Calgary went into last week’s bye fresh off a 24-14 victory against Ottawa as a 7 ½-point home favorite in Week 3. It has now won each of its first three games by double figures while easily covering the spread. The total has stayed UNDER the closing line in all three contests. Bo Levi Mitchell is off to a solid start throwing the ball with 872 passing yards and six touchdown throws. Don Jackson has also done a good job on the ground with 294 yards rushing and two scores on 36 carries for an average of 8.2 yards a run.

The RedBlacks took the early lead in the East Division with last week’s victory against Montreal. After Trevor Harris was held to 135 yards passing in the loss to the Stampeders, he returned to form against the Alouettes with 342 yards through the air and three scoring strikes. Harris completed 66.7 percent of his 42 passing attempts in that game with Brad Sinpoli coming down with 11 receptions for 148 yards and one of those three touchdown throws. William Powell had another big game running the ball with 138 yards rushing on 23 carries.

Betting Trends

-- Calgary has gone 4-2-1 SU in its last seven games against the RedBlacks, but it falls to 2-4 ATS in its last six road games against Ottawa. The total has gone OVER in four of the last five meetings in Ottawa.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

CFL
Long Sheet

Week 5

Thursday, July 12

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CALGARY (3 - 0) at OTTAWA (2 - 1) - 7/12/2018, 7:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
OTTAWA is 29-12 ATS (+15.8 Units) in games where the line is +3 to -3 since 1996.
OTTAWA is 9-2 ATS (+6.8 Units) as an underdog over the last 2 seasons.
CALGARY is 18-8 ATS (+9.2 Units) after 2 or more consecutive straight up wins over the last 3 seasons.
CALGARY is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) in weeks 5 through 9 over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
OTTAWA is 3-3 against the spread versus CALGARY over the last 3 seasons
CALGARY is 3-1 straight up against OTTAWA over the last 3 seasons
5 of 6 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

[Can'tPickAWinner]

CFL

Week 5

Trend Report

Thursday, July 12

Calgary Stampeders
Calgary is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games
Calgary is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Calgary's last 8 games
Calgary is 2-4-1 ATS in its last 7 games on the road
Calgary is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Calgary's last 7 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Calgary's last 8 games when playing Ottawa
Calgary is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Ottawa
Calgary is 1-5-2 SU in its last 8 games when playing on the road against Ottawa
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Calgary's last 5 games when playing on the road against Ottawa
Ottawa RedBlacks
Ottawa is 16-8 ATS in its last 24 games
Ottawa is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Ottawa's last 12 games
Ottawa is 1-4-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing Calgary
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Ottawa's last 8 games when playing Calgary
Ottawa is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Calgary
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Ottawa's last 5 games when playing at home against Calgary

[Can'tPickAWinner]

CFL
Dunkel

Week 5


Thursday, July 12

Calgary @ Ottawa

Game 361-362
July 12, 2018 @ 7:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Calgary
123.821
Ottawa
115.752
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Calgary
by 8
48
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Calgary
by 3 1/2
55
Dunkel Pick:
Calgary
(-3 1/2); Under

[Can'tPickAWinner]

CFL

Week 5


Calgary (3-0) (-3.5, 55) @ Ottawa (2-1)— Stampeders (-7.5) beat Ottawa 24-14 at home two weeks ago, then had their bye last week; home teams are 6-0-2 in last eight series games, with four of those going to OT- Stamps are 0-2-2 in last four visits here. Calgary won its first three games this year, all by 10+ points- they won their only road game, 41-7 at Toronto. Ottawa averaged nine yards per rush but completed only 50% of their passes in that loss two weeks ago; RedBlacks won their only home games 40—17 vs Saskatchewan, then split pair of road games. Over is 6-1-1 in last eight series games.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Athletics at Astros
Gracenote
Jul 12, 2018

The Oakland Athletics attempt to extend their series unbeaten streak to eight when they visit the American League West-leading Houston Astros on Thursday afternoon for the finale of their four-game set. Khris Davis knocked in three runs and extended his hitting streak to a career-high 13 contests as the Athletics, who went 6-0-1 in their previous seven series, earned an 8-3 victory on Wednesday - their second in the set.

Oakland, which has won 12 of its last 15 games, is just 3-9 against the Astros this year but an impressive 28-20 on the road after getting a three-run homer from Chad Pinder on Wednesday that contributed to a 6-0 lead. Trevor Cahill will try to clinch a series victory for the Athletics on Thursday as he takes the mound opposite Houston’s Charlie Morton, who has limited opponents to a .199 batting average this season. The Astros dropped to 7-3 in July with Wednesday’s loss and could be without the versatile Marwin Gonzalez, who is day-to-day after sitting out the setback with wrist and elbow injuries. Reigning AL MVP Jose Altuve (11-for-33) and Yuli Gurriel (12-for-30) bring eight-game hitting streaks into the series finale for Houston, which is 30-19 at home this season.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Trevor Cahill (1-2, 2.77 ERA) vs. Astros RH Charlie Morton (11-2, 2.83)

Cahill (Achilles) is expected to come off the disabled list to make his first start since June 2, when he yielded four runs over 4 2/3 innings of a no-decision at Kansas City. The 30-year-old Californian has recorded five quality starts in his eight outings this year, registering 47 strikeouts and 11 walks over 48 2/3 frames. One of those quality starts came in Houston on April 29, when he permitted three earned runs over six innings of an 8-4 loss that dropped him to 1-1 lifetime against the Astros.

Morton managed to post his 11th victory on Saturday despite allowing five runs over 5 2/3 innings against the Chicago White Sox. The 34-year-old native of New Jersey had strung together four straight quality starts before that outing and has totaled 13 in 18 games this year. Davis is 3-for-11 with a pair of homers against Morton, who is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA in two career outings versus Oakland and 8-1 with a 2.66 mark in 11 starts at home this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Houston 3B Alex Bregman is 5-for-13 with two solo homers in the series and has matched his career high with 19 blasts this year.

2. Oakland OF Stephen Piscotty, who has homered in four of his last five games, left Wednesday’s contest with a wrist contusion suffered when he was hit by a pitch.

3. Astros DH Evan Gattis, who leads the team with 62 RBIs, is hitless in his last 14 at-bats.

PREDICTION: Astros 5, Athletics 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Diamondbacks at Rockies
Gracenote
Jul 12, 2018

The Colorado Rockies evened their three-game set with the Arizona Diamondbacks in a big way and aim for their fourth straight series victory when they host their National League West rivals for the rubber match on Thursday afternoon. The Rockies avenged a series-opening 5-3 setback with a 19-2 triumph thanks in part to five home runs, including one by starting pitcher German Marquez.

Carlos Gonzalez went deep twice to reach double digits in homers for the 10th consecutive season, drove in six runs and scored four while Ian Desmond was one of three players to notch three hits for the Rockies, who saw 10 of their 19 hits go for extra bases. Desmond homered and recorded five RBIs, matching the total from his previous 12 games. The Diamondbacks registered only six hits and actually owned a 1-0 lead before going on to suffer their first loss in 10 contests at Coors Field and second in 10 overall road games. Paul Goldschmidt put Arizona ahead in the first inning with his 21st blast of the year, giving him 10 RBIs in as many contests this month.

TV: 3:10 p.m. ET, FS Arizona

PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks LH Robbie Ray (3-1, 5.23 ERA) vs. Rockies LH Kyle Freeland (8-6, 3.18)

After giving a strong performance in his return from an oblique injury, Ray has struggled in his last two outings, surrendering 10 runs on 13 hits - five homers - and five walks over 9 1/3 innings. The 26-year-old Tennessean escaped with a no-decision against San Diego on Saturday after yielding four runs on four hits - three blasts - and four walks in 4 1/3 frames. Ray, who owns a 2.78 ERA on the road as opposed to a ghastly 7.97 mark at home, improved to 3-3 in 10 career starts versus Colorado in his season debut on March 30 despite being tagged for seven runs and seven hits - three homers - over five innings.

Freeland had his streak of six straight outings of six or more innings snapped at Seattle on Saturday as he lasted only five and came away with a no-decision despite allowing just one run on five hits and four walks. The 25-year-old native of Denver has worked at least six frames in 12 of his last 14 turns after failing to reach that plateau in three of his first four outings this year. Freeland fell to 1-2 with a 4.74 ERA in four career starts against Arizona on June 10, when he surrendered four runs on four hits and as many walks in six innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rockies 3B Nolan Arenado entered Wednesday tied with Milwaukee's Jesus Aguilar for the National League lead with 23 home runs.

2. Arizona's pitching staff took a hit in more ways than one on Wednesday as RHP Shelby Miller exited the loss with tightness in his right elbow while LHP T.J. McFarland left with a stiff neck.

3. Colorado activated RHP Bryan Shaw (calf) from the 10-day disabled list on Wednesday and optioned Jerry Vasto to Triple-A Albuquerque while fellow LHP Zac Rosscup was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

PREDICTION: Rockies 7, Diamondbacks 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Phillies at Orioles
Gracenote
Jul 12, 2018

The Philadelphia Phillies and Baltimore Orioles failed to unleash any semblance of offense as they were thwarted in their bids to win their respective four-game series on Wednesday. After losing for just the fourth time in 14 outings, the Phillies (51-40) will look to get back on track on Thursday as they visit the Orioles (26-67) in the makeup game of a rainout on May 15.

Cesar Hernandez recorded his second multi-hit performance of the series against the New York Mets in Wednesday's 3-0 setback in 10 innings. Nick Williams also had a hit to boost his total to 13 to go along with seven RBIs and six runs scored in July for Philadelphia, which is 3-0 against Baltimore this season and 8-4 in interleague play. The Orioles' bid to take three of four from the New York Yankees went up in smoke, as the latter evened the season series at five wins apiece with an emphatic 9-0 romp on Wednesday. Baltimore's Jonathan Schoop had a double to extend his hitting streak to 10 games, during which he is 17-for-41 with two homers and six doubles.

TV: 6:05 p.m. ET, NBCS Philadelphia, MASN2 (Baltimore)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Nick Pivetta (5-7, 4.62 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Kevin Gausman (4-6, 4.11)

Pivetta has struggled mightily in his last two starts, as he allowed three homers in a seven-run performance over 1 2/3 innings versus Washington on June 29 before permitting three runs on five hits over 2 2/3 frames at Pittsburgh on Friday. The 25-year-old British Columbia native pitched significantly better against Baltimore on May 16, yielding one solo homer among two hits while striking out 11 in seven innings of a 4-1 triumph. Adam Jones went deep in the first inning before Pivetta got into a groove, retiring 12 straight batters.

Gausman breezed into the fifth inning in his last outing before allowing three runs to effectively end his afternoon with a no-decision at Minnesota. The 27-year-old has been victimized by the home-run ball, having been taken deep in each of his last four starts and 18 times in as many appearances this season. Carlos Santana is 2-for-7 with a pair of doubles and three walks versus Gausman, who will face Philadelphia for the first time in his career.

WALK-OFFS

1. Philadelphia 3B Maikel Franco is 4-for-10 with a walk against Baltimore this season.

2. Orioles SS Manny Machado, who is just 1-for-10 versus the Phillies in 2018, is 4-for-8 with three extra-base hits (two homers, one double) in his last two games.

3. Philadelphia RHP Aaron Nola will move up a day in the rotation to draw the start on Saturday versus Miami as a means to be available to pitch in the All-Star Game.

PREDICTION: Phillies 4, Orioles 3

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Brewers at Pirates
Gracenote
Jul 12, 2018

The Milwaukee Brewers and Pittsburgh Pirates will be ready for the All-Star break by the time they’re done with this week’s series. The National League Central rivals clash Thursday in Pittsburgh for the first of five games over four days heading into the break.


The five-game set will continue a taxing week for the Brewers, who went to extra frames twice in their three-game series at Miami - including a 5-4 loss in 12 innings Wednesday. Milwaukee’s bullpen had to work overtime in the finale after starter Freddy Peralta lasted only 3 2/3 innings. Pittsburgh has won three of its last four games after blanking Washington 2-0 on Wednesday. The Pirates have claimed three of five meetings with the first-place Brewers this season, outscoring Milwaukee 21-12.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh


PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers LH Wade Miley (1-0, 1.42 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Jameson Taillon (5-7, 4.05)

After his second lengthy stint on the disabled list, Miley is ready to return from a strained right oblique and make his third start for the Brewers. The 31-year-old missed the first month of the season with a groin injury and went to the 60-day disabled list after leaving his second outing in the first inning. Miley is 2-2 with a 3.79 ERA in seven starts against the Pirates, but he hasn’t beaten them since 2013.

Taillon had a couple of rough outings early in the season, but he has posted a 3.51 ERA across his last eight outings with five quality starts over that stretch. The 26-year-old allowed three runs over 6 2/3 innings in a tough-luck loss against Philadelphia on Saturday. Taillon is 1-4 with a 3.70 ERA in eight starts against the Brewers, including a loss and a no-decision this season.


WALK-OFFS

1. Brewers 1B Jesus Aguilar, who was named to the All-Star team Wednesday after winning the Final Vote, is 9-for-23 with three doubles, four homers and 11 RBIs over his past six games.

2. Pittsburgh CF Starling Marte is 12-for-26 with two homers and six RBIs during a seven-game hitting streak.

3. Milwaukee CF Lorenzo Cain is 6-for-13 in three games since returning from the disabled list and has recorded multiple hits in each of the last two.


PREDICTION: Brewers 5, Pirates 3

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Yankees at Indians
Gracenote
Jul 12, 2018

One of the best pitching matchups of the first half of the season will be center stage when the Cleveland Indians host the New York Yankees on Thursday for the opener of their four-game series. Cleveland sends two-time Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber to the mound to face fellow All-Star Luis Severino, leading off the set between American League heavyweights.

Severino, who has recorded a major league-high 14 wins, takes on an Indians offense that is coming off a 19-4 victory over Cincinnati on Wednesday that snapped a four-game losing streak and improved the AL Central leaders to 29-17 at home. All-Star Jose Ramirez belted a pair of homers, giving him three in two days and 27 on the season - one shy of major-league leader J.D. Martinez of Boston. The Yankees avoided losing a series against the major league-worst Baltimore Orioles with a 9-0 victory on Wednesday as Greg Bird led the way with his first career grand slam - one of three blasts by New York. Slugger Giancarlo Stanton added four hits and two RBIs for the Yankees and is 10-for-23 over his last five contests, raising his season batting average to .276.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, YES (New York), SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Luis Severino (14-2, 2.12 ERA) vs. Indians RH Corey Kluber (12-4, 2.49)

Severino allowed three runs and five hits - two homers - over five innings at Toronto on Saturday but still was able to record his fifth consecutive victory. That outing was one of just five non-quality starts in 19 appearances for the 24-year-old Dominican, who has registered 143 strikeouts over 123 1/3 frames this year. Ramirez is 3-for-10 with a pair of homers versus Severino, who is 2-1 with a 2.49 ERA in four career regular-season starts against the Indians.

Kluber was unable to post his 13th win last time out despite tossing seven scoreless innings against Oakland - his 17th quality start in 19 outings. The 32-year-old native of Alabama, who is 7-1 with a 1.43 ERA in 10 starts at home this season, has registered 123 strikeouts over 126 1/3 frames while limiting opponents to a .207 batting average. Brett Gardner is just 4-for-19 with a homer versus Kluber, who is 5-1 with a 1.80 ERA in seven career regular-season starts against the Yankees.

WALK-OFFS

1. New York SS Didi Gregorius (9-for-26) and OF Aaron Judge (8-for-24) both are riding six-game hitting streaks.

2. Ramirez needs one stolen base to become the second Cleveland player to record at least 20 homers and 20 steals before the All-Star break.

3. The Yankees are 3-0 against the Indians this season after losing five of seven regular-season matchups last year.

PREDICTION: Indians 4, Yankees 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Blue Jays at Red Sox
Gracenote
Jul 12, 2018

Boston Red Sox left-hander David Price will try to rebound from back-to-back rocky outings when he takes on the visiting Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday in the opener of a four-game series. Price was rocked for eight runs over 3 1/3 innings at Yankee Stadium two turns ago and failed to find a soft landing spot in Kansas City on Saturday in an erratic outing that saw him hit three batters in one inning and fail to complete five.

"To give up that lead the way I gave it up today, to not be able to get through five innings, that's tough," Price told reporters. "My teammates really picked me up tonight, that's huge. I'm struggling right now, searching." Price's team is having no such issues and matched its longest winning streak of the season at nine straight with a 4-2 victory over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday. J.D. Martinez drove in two more runs to bump his major league-leading total to 79 as Boston moved 36 games over .500 (65-29) for the first time since Oct. 1, 1978. The Blue Jays fell to 3-6 in July with a 9-5 loss at Atlanta on Wednesday and they are 2-7 against the Red Sox in 2018.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Sportsnet, TVA (Toronto), NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays LH J.A. Happ (10-5, 4.44 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH David Price (9-6, 4.44)

Happ earned his first career All-Star nod but is limping toward the break after giving up 13 runs across 8 1/3 innings over his last two starts. He walked a season-high six and served up two home runs in an ugly 2 2/3-inning outing against the New York Yankees on Saturday. The 35-year-old struck out 10 Red Sox hitters in seven dominant innings in an April 24 encounter to improve to 7-3 with a 3.09 ERA in 18 career meetings (17 starts).

Price allowed a career-high five home runs in the loss to the Yankees and has given up nine over his last four outings. He was unable to finish six innings in two earlier matchups with the Blue Jays this year but is 19-3 with a 2.46 ERA in his career against Toronto. Devon Travis (5-for-14, one home run) is one of the few Blue Jays hitters to have some success against Price, who is 4-2 with a 3.63 ERA at home in 2018.

WALK-OFFS

1. Red Sox RF Mookie Betts is hitting .421 and has 11 runs scored during a nine-game hitting streak.

2. Blue Jays 1B Justin Smoak is 8-for-18 with three home runs, five RBIs and five runs scored during a five-game hitting streak.

3. Boston optioned LHP Jalen Beeks to Triple-A Pawtucket and recalled LHP Robby Scott.

PREDICTION: Red Sox 5, Blue Jays 4

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Nationals at Mets
Gracenote
Jul 12, 2018

Max Scherzer will make his last start before the All-Star Game when he leads the Washington Nationals (46-46) into Citi Field on Thursday for the opener of a four-game series against the New York Mets (37-53). The three-time Cy Young Award winner bounced back from being shut out in three of his previous five starts to post his first win since June 5 in Saturday's 18-4 romp versus Miami.

"Consistency is the name of the game. The one day we hit, we score a lot. One day, we don't," said Washington manager Dave Martinez, who saw his offense go limp as it was blanked for the ninth time since the start of June in Wednesday's 2-0 setback versus Pittsburgh. The skidding Nationals have dropped 11 of their last 16 to fall back to .500 and reside 5 1/2 games out of first place in the National League East. New York also has struggled mightily with its offense, as it entered Wednesday's contest with eight runs in its previous five games and labored through nine scoreless innings before Brandon Nimmo's walk-off three-run homer in a 3-0 victory versus Philadelphia. Nimmo's blast accounted for the Mets' second walk-off win of the four-game series against the Phillies and third in the first seven contests of their 11-game homestand.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MASN (Washington), SNY (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Max Scherzer (11-5, 2.33 ERA) vs. Mets LH Steven Matz (4-6, 3.31)

Scherzer allowed a season-high three homers and recorded a campaign-worst three strikeouts in Saturday's resounding victory over the Marlins. The 33-year-old will tune up for the Midsummer Classic versus the Mets, against whom he is 8-4 with a 2.23 ERA and 0.86 WHIP while limiting the club to a .180 batting average. Jose Bautista (9-for-20) and Jose Reyes (10-for-29) have feasted off Scherzer, however.

Matz suffered the hard-luck loss on Saturday after allowing one run on five hits over 6 1/3 innings of a 3-0 setback versus Tampa Bay. The 27-year-old has reduced his ERA by over a full run (4.42 to 3.31) in his last nine starts while working at least five innings in each of his last seven trips to the mound. Matz recorded a pair of no-decisions against Washington in April, permitting four runs on six hits in nine innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Washington RF Bryce Harper is hitless in six of his last eight outings, going 4-for-25 with 10 strikeouts in that span.

2. New York SS Amed Rosario is 5-for-7 with three extra-base hits and three runs scored in his last two contests.

3. Nationals CF Adam Eaton went 6-for-11 with two RBIs in his past three games.

PREDICTION: Nationals 3, Mets 2