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Re: 7-25-09
Drew Gordon
Today's Games...
1. 100,000? Diamondbacks
2. 50,000? Brewers
1. Diamondbacks- Couple things I like about this match up for Arizona, but let's start with the fact they're seeing the ball well, recording 10 or more hits in 5 of their L7 games, despite going 3-4 over that span. True, the Pirates dropped 10 runs on the D-Backs yesterday, but don't be fooled, you don't trade away so many pieces without feeling an effect sooner or later. True, the emergence of Garrett Jones has helped soften the blow, but rest-assured, the Bucs will have their work cut out for them tonight.
Why you ask? Because I believe this is the spot where veteran southpaw Doug Davis bounces back. I know full well he's gotten stomped the last two times out, but before you putting him on your "fade list," consider he got touched up by to teams that happen to be solid against lefties (Florida 10-6 away vs lefties AND we all know Colorado kills lefties at Coors). Its only makes sense that he should settle down tonight at home (where he posts a solid 3.33 ERA) against a less potent Pirates offense.
Surprisingly the Diamondbacks offensive surge has taken place on the road for the most part, where they've been below average this season. Now in their first two games of this series back at Chase Field, we've seen a total of 14 runs on 23 hits! We know the D-Backs can hit at home, and that's bad news for the Pirates Ross Ohlendorf. Not only has the Pirates righty been atrocious on the road, going 2-5 with a 5.91 ERA this season, but we've seen a marked decrease in stamina over his last 3 starts. In other words, in his first full season as a starter, Ohlendorf is starting to fatigue. Look for the D-Backs suddenly surging offense to take full advantage tonight.
Finally, I leave you with one key stat... Did you know the Pirates are just 4-11 vs left-handed starters on the road this season?! They average a meager 4.3 runs per game in that spot, and are batting just .243 in the process. In the end, don't give up on Davis just yet, as the Pirates Ohlendorf gets into big trouble tonight on the road, giving Davis the support he so desperately needs.
Take the Diamondbacks behind Davis over the Pirates and Ohlendorf as your top-rated play of the day.
2. Brewers- Tommy Hanson at plus money? This is a "gift" from Vegas right? Of course NOT! Guys, how many times do I have to tell you: Vegas is not in the habit of giving away "gifts," and that remains true in this match up. So why take the struggling Brewers in this match up? Two words: Yovani Gallardo.
You see, bettors who are so enamored with Tommy Hanson seem to forget how well Gallardo pitched against Atlanta his last time out, he tossed 8 scoreless, allowing only 2 hits in one of his best starts of the season June 5th... And that was at Turner Field! In fact, the Brewers righty is 1-0 with a 1.20 ERA in 2 career starts versus Atlanta! Coming off a nice quality effort at Cincinnati, I'm looking for Gallardo to get his first win in almost a month tonight.
I'm not going to sit here and bad mouth Hanson, who is one of the more electric rookie pitchers out there. However, let's not get carried away, as the young gun still has a lot to learn, and just because he dominated a piss-poor Giants offense in his last start, doesn't mean he's going to do the same to the Brewers tonight. In fact, the only team to give Hanson trouble was the Brewers in his Major League debut, touching him up for 6 runs over 6 innings June 7th.
Bottom line, its never easy to go against a team that's surging like the Braves are right now, but if there's any pitcher who can throw a cold bucket of water on their offense, its Gallardo. On the flip side, I like Hanson as much as the next guy, but the Brewers have proven a tough match up for the young righty, and I suspect that'll continue tonight. In the end, the Brewers AND Gallardo are desperate for a W, and I say they get it tonight at Miller Park.
Take the Brewers behind Gallardo over the Braves and Hanson in this MLB match up.
Drew Gordon
Today's Games...
1. 100,000? Diamondbacks
2. 50,000? Brewers
1. Diamondbacks- Couple things I like about this match up for Arizona, but let's start with the fact they're seeing the ball well, recording 10 or more hits in 5 of their L7 games, despite going 3-4 over that span. True, the Pirates dropped 10 runs on the D-Backs yesterday, but don't be fooled, you don't trade away so many pieces without feeling an effect sooner or later. True, the emergence of Garrett Jones has helped soften the blow, but rest-assured, the Bucs will have their work cut out for them tonight.
Why you ask? Because I believe this is the spot where veteran southpaw Doug Davis bounces back. I know full well he's gotten stomped the last two times out, but before you putting him on your "fade list," consider he got touched up by to teams that happen to be solid against lefties (Florida 10-6 away vs lefties AND we all know Colorado kills lefties at Coors). Its only makes sense that he should settle down tonight at home (where he posts a solid 3.33 ERA) against a less potent Pirates offense.
Surprisingly the Diamondbacks offensive surge has taken place on the road for the most part, where they've been below average this season. Now in their first two games of this series back at Chase Field, we've seen a total of 14 runs on 23 hits! We know the D-Backs can hit at home, and that's bad news for the Pirates Ross Ohlendorf. Not only has the Pirates righty been atrocious on the road, going 2-5 with a 5.91 ERA this season, but we've seen a marked decrease in stamina over his last 3 starts. In other words, in his first full season as a starter, Ohlendorf is starting to fatigue. Look for the D-Backs suddenly surging offense to take full advantage tonight.
Finally, I leave you with one key stat... Did you know the Pirates are just 4-11 vs left-handed starters on the road this season?! They average a meager 4.3 runs per game in that spot, and are batting just .243 in the process. In the end, don't give up on Davis just yet, as the Pirates Ohlendorf gets into big trouble tonight on the road, giving Davis the support he so desperately needs.
Take the Diamondbacks behind Davis over the Pirates and Ohlendorf as your top-rated play of the day.
2. Brewers- Tommy Hanson at plus money? This is a "gift" from Vegas right? Of course NOT! Guys, how many times do I have to tell you: Vegas is not in the habit of giving away "gifts," and that remains true in this match up. So why take the struggling Brewers in this match up? Two words: Yovani Gallardo.
You see, bettors who are so enamored with Tommy Hanson seem to forget how well Gallardo pitched against Atlanta his last time out, he tossed 8 scoreless, allowing only 2 hits in one of his best starts of the season June 5th... And that was at Turner Field! In fact, the Brewers righty is 1-0 with a 1.20 ERA in 2 career starts versus Atlanta! Coming off a nice quality effort at Cincinnati, I'm looking for Gallardo to get his first win in almost a month tonight.
I'm not going to sit here and bad mouth Hanson, who is one of the more electric rookie pitchers out there. However, let's not get carried away, as the young gun still has a lot to learn, and just because he dominated a piss-poor Giants offense in his last start, doesn't mean he's going to do the same to the Brewers tonight. In fact, the only team to give Hanson trouble was the Brewers in his Major League debut, touching him up for 6 runs over 6 innings June 7th.
Bottom line, its never easy to go against a team that's surging like the Braves are right now, but if there's any pitcher who can throw a cold bucket of water on their offense, its Gallardo. On the flip side, I like Hanson as much as the next guy, but the Brewers have proven a tough match up for the young righty, and I suspect that'll continue tonight. In the end, the Brewers AND Gallardo are desperate for a W, and I say they get it tonight at Miller Park.
Take the Brewers behind Gallardo over the Braves and Hanson in this MLB match up.
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