7-6-11

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MLB NEWS AND NOTES
New York Yankees Close Series At Cleveland Indians
By: Michael Robinson



New York Yankees-Cleveland Indians (-110, 9)

The New York Yankees haven’t needed much help lately, but they’ll get a big boost to their rotation on Wednesday when Phil Hughes pitches at the Cleveland Indians.

ESPN will have the series finale from Progressive Field at 4:05 p.m. (PT). Hard-luck Justin Masterson (6-6, 2.85 ERA) goes for the Tribe.

New York lost the first game of the series 6-3, with shortstop Derek Jeter returning from his calf injury and going 0-for-4 while batting leadoff. He’s still stuck on 2,994 hits. The Yankees have now lost two straight after winning their previous seven.

Game 2 on Tuesday night was still pending with the Yankees a 150 favorite behind ace CC Sabathia. New York has the best record in the American League (50-33) and a 1.5-game lead over Boston in the AL East standings.

Wednesday’s game is marked by another big injury story in Hughes. He was 0-1 with a 13.94 ERA in three April starts before going on the DL (shoulder inflammation). His velocity was a big problem, clocked consistently under 90 mph after averaging 92-94 last year.

The 25-year-old right-hander had a cortisone shot in his right shoulder in late April and mostly had his fastball back in his rehab starts. He struck out eight over 6 1/3 innings in his last start for Double-A Trenton on June 30. That means he’ll be pitching on an extra day’s rest.

The Yankees were expecting big things from Hughes after going 18-8 last season. They also sent down a pretty good pitcher in Ivan Nova (8-4, 4.12 ERA), so Hughes will need to prove he’s healthy right from the start.

Hughes is 2-0 with a 3.50 ERA in three lifetime starts versus Cleveland, 1-0 with a 4.09 ERA in two starts at Progressive.

Cleveland (45-38) is 4-1 in its last five games after an awful stretch of 11-22. The offense has struggled after a great April (5.42 runs per game, tops in the AL). Having outfielder Shin-Soo-Choo (thumb) and first baseman Matt LaPorta (ankle) out isn’t helping.

The ‘under’ is 7-1-1 in Cleveland’s last nine home games and 13-6-3 in the last 22 overall.

Masterson’s 2.85 ERA easily leads Tribe starters with Carlos Carrasco next (3.54). The sinkerballer actually has the lowest strikeout rate of his career (6.33), but he’s allowed just four home runs and his OPS allowed is also a career-low (.662).

The 26-year-old right-hander allowed just one earned run over eight innings at Cincinnati last Friday. It was incredibly his first win since April (starting 5-0), with Cleveland going 2-8 in his prior 10 starts despite his 3.43 ERA. Cleveland scored 17 total runs in those 10 games.

This is Masterson’s first start against the Yankees this year. He’s 1-2 with a 3.80 ERA in seven lifetime appearance against them (three starts). Most of those outings came with Boston. He did pitch at Yankee Stadium with the Tribe last year (three earned runs over 6 2/3 innings in a 7-3 loss).

Cleveland has won the last two games against New York after dropping the first three this year. New York was 6-2 against Cleveland last year (3-1 home and away).

Cleveland is 25-14 at home this year (+11.5 units, best in the AL). New York is 22-15 on the road (+6.0 units, second best in the AL).

The ‘under’ is 12-3-1 in New York’s last 16 road games.

Marty Foster will call balls and strikes and his trends favor New York. The Yanks are 11-1 in his last 12 games behind home plate. The Indians are 3-10 in his last 13 games behind the dish.

Weather will be warm, around 80 degrees, with scattered thunderstorms. Both teams start 4-game home series on Thursday. The Yanks have a huge set with Tampa Bay, while Cleveland welcomes Toronto.

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Wednesday's Streaking and Slumping Starting Pitchers

STREAKING

Jason Vargas (6-5, 3.57), Seattle Mariners

Vargas completed his third complete-game shutout in six starts with a 6-0 blanking of the San Diego Padres the last time he took the ball.

“Vargas was outstanding tonight,” manager Eric Wedge said. “He was hitting his spots all night long. He did a good job of mixing it up whether it be left to right on the plate, up and down, add and subtract from velocity. He just did a great job.”

His control isn’t too shabby either. He was walked three or more batters just three times in 17 starts this season.

Jair Jurrjens (11-3, 1.89 ERA), Atlanta Braves

Jurrjens just picked up the first complete-game shutout of his career and it was a doozy. He gave up just one hit and walked a batter while striking out eight in a 4-0 win over Baltimore.

Jurrjens has allowed more than two earned runs only twice this season and now leads the NL in ERA and is tied with Roy Halladay for the NL lead with 11 victories.


SLUMPING

Josh Collmenter (4-5, 3.17 ERA), Arizona Cardinals

Collmenter started off this season like a house on fire, chucking a pair of shutouts in his first two starts and compiling a 1.05 ERA over his first six trips to the hill.

Since then it’s been all downhill. He has allowed at least five runs in three of his last four outings and has lost each of those starts.

Bronson Arroyo (7-7, 5.49), Cincinnati Reds

Arroyo has managed to win two of his last three starts, but he has to be the most unpredictable pitchers in the bigs.

After firing an eight-inning gem two weeks ago against Toronto, he gave up five runs and four homers in a 10-5 win over Baltimore and was then hammered for eight earned runs and three dingers in an 8-2 loss to Cleveland.

He has now allowed an NL-high 24 jacks this season.

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HOT LINES


Wednesday's Best MLB Bets

Cincinnati Reds at St. Louis Cardinals (-120, 9)

The St. Louis Cardinals welcomed Albert Pujols back to the locker room before Tuesday’s game and word is they’ll have him actually back on the field Wednesday, about a month ahead of schedule from a broken wrist.

Pujols makes a habit of shocking everyone, so we shouldn’t be overly surprised about his speedy return, but you have to wonder if he’s coming back too soon.

The Cardinals headed into Tuesday’s game atop the NL Central and the club managed to hold it together without him at 6-7.

"He's not in the starting lineup because he hasn't had a rigorous workout and I feel like it would be good for him to get one of those, and then play tomorrow," manager Tony La Russa told reporters ahead of Tuesday’s game. "I just try to use common sense."

Whether coming back this early and with the All-Star break so close can be debated, but the boost in confidence and quality he’ll give the team can’t.

PICK: Cardinals


Baltimore Orioles at Texas Rangers (-190, 9.5)

Heading into Tuesday night’s game against the Rangers, the Orioles had last six of their last seven and scored more than four runs only twice during that span.

Then they released news that Luke Scott was hitting the DL with a right labrum tear. While Scott is hitting only .223 with nine homers, it remains to be seen if Felix Pie and Nolan Reimold can fill the void.

The shoulder has been bothering Scott for a while and now that it’s become obvious that he can’t play through it any longer, he’s just hoping to avoid surgery following an MRA on Friday.

“I do not want to be cut on. I want to avoid surgery at all costs if I can,” Scott told reporters. “But at the end of the day, if it turns out that surgery is the best option, it’s necessary that I have to do it, then of course I have to do it. But I am still on my knees praying and just hoping that I don’t have to have surgery.”

Baltimore’s offense didn’t exactly need this right now and should be in tough Wednesday. We’ll stick with the under and hope Jeremy Guthrie holds it together.

PICK: Under

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Wednesday’s Betting Tips: SP Hughes Returns For NYY

Who's Hot

MLB: The under is 15-6 in Wade Davis’ last 21 starts for Tampa Bay.

MLB: Milwaukee is 9-2 in Yovani Gallardo’s last 11 home starts.

Who’s Not

MLB: Washington has won just two of its last nine home games against the Cubs.

MLB: Colorado has won just three of its last 11.

Key Stat

4 – New York Yankees captain Derek Jeter is just four hits away from the 3000 milestone after picking up a pair against the Indians Tuesday night. Jeter and the Yankees face off against Cleveland’s Justin Masterson on Wednesday.

Injury That Shouldn’t Be Overlooked

Asdrubal Cabrera, Cleveland Indians – The All-Star shortstop is considered day-to-day after spraining his right ankle Tuesday. Cabrera is hitting .293 with 14 homers this season.

Game Of The Day

Cincinnati Reds at St. Louis Cardinals (-125, 9)

Notable Quotable

"I can safely say that there's not going to be one player or person or staff member from the United States that's going to say, 'We want a tie.' We want to win this game because we want to keep the momentum going forward. Obviously, you have to be smart. We want to get some of those 90-minute players some rest if we can do that. But first and foremost, we want to make sure and secure the first place out of this group." – Abby Wambach of the U.S. women’s World Cup team about Wednesday’s matchup with Sweden. The U.S. side is favored at about -185.

Tips And Notes

Phil Hughes comes off the DL to start for the first time since mid-April, when he went on the shelf with the dreaded “dead arm.” He won 18 games for the Yanks last year, but was hammered early this season before the team shut him down. "There was never really a point where I felt like it was gone for good," Hughes said. "It was certainly disheartening to have to go through that and not know what's going on. But I don't think there was ever a point where I doubted it was ever going to come back." Reports from the minors have him hitting 94 mph, so maybe his problems are behind him.

The 22-year-old sensation Yani Tseng is currently set as the favorite to win the Women’s U.S. Open which begins Thursday at Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. Oddsmakers have her set around +400 after she won the LPGA Championship, becoming the youngest player to win four Grand Slam tournaments. Cristie Kerr is on her heels at +650, while Suzann Pettersen and Jiyai Shin check in at +1100. Reply With Quote

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Arthur Ralph Sports

670- 507 57 % Run over 3 YEARS

Free one WED Brewers -150

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Hondo

Hondo, who'd been making progress on his D-RP (deficit-reduction plan), wiped out with the Tigers and Giants last night and saw his debt mushroom to 1,545 milners.

Tonight, Mr. Aitch hopes to do the Hiroki-pokey with the Dodgers by putting 10 units in and taking 20 out. That's what it's all about.

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Gamblers Data

Free Play Wednesday

Nationals -150

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Baseball Crusher

Play of the Day:

Athletics -125 over Mariners

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Soccer Crusher

Play of the Day:

Avai + Bahia OVER 2.5
This match is happening in Brazil

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Sportsbook Investing

Play of the Day:

Athletics -125 over Mariners

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Today's MLB Picks
Arizona at Milwaukee

The Diamondbacks look to build on their 11-3 record in their last 14 games as an underdog from +110 to +150. Arizona is the pick (+135) according to Dunkel, which has the Diamondbacks favored by 1. Dunkel Pick: Arizona (+135). Here are all of today's picks.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6
Time Posted: 7:00 a.m. EST

Game 951-952: Arizona at Milwaukee (2:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Arizona (Collmenter) 14.676; Milwaukee (Gallardo) 13.713
Dunkel Line: Arizona by 1; 9
Vegas Line: Milwaukee (-155); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Arizona (+135); Over

Game 953-954: Chicago Cubs at Washington (7:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Cubs (Wells) 14.679; Washington (Gorzelanny) 14.950
Dunkel Line: Washington by 1/2; 8
Vegas Line: Washington (-145); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Washington (-145); Under

Game 955-956: Houston at Pittsburgh (7:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Houston (Norris) 13.758; Pittsburgh (Morton) 16.225
Dunkel Line: Pittsburgh by 2 1/2; 8 1/2
Vegas Line: Pittsburgh (-115); 7 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Pittsburgh (-115); Over

Game 957-958: Philadelphia at Florida (7:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Philadelphia (Kendrick) 15.663; Florida (Sanchez) 14.387
Dunkel Line: Philadelphia by 1 1/2; 7
Vegas Line: Florida (-130); 8
Dunkel Pick: Philadelphia (+110); Under

Game 959-960: Colorado at Atlanta (7:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Colorado (Cook) 15.465; Atlanta (Jurrjens) 14.704
Dunkel Line: Colorado by 1; 8
Vegas Line: Atlanta (-200); 7 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Colorado (+170); Over

Game 961-962: Cincinnati at St. Louis (8:15 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Cincinnati (Arroyo) 14.687; St. Louis (Westbrook) 15.570
Dunkel Line: St. Louis by 1; 8 1/2
Vegas Line: St. Louis (-125); 9
Dunkel Pick: St. Louis (-125); Under

Game 963-964: NY Mets at LA Dodgers (10:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: NY Mets (Niese) 14.822; LA Dodgers (Kuroda) 15.108
Dunkel Line: LA Dodgers by 1/2; 8
Vegas Line: LA Dodgers (-125); 7
Dunkel Pick: LA Dodgers (-125); Over

Game 965-966: San Diego at San Francisco (10:15 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: San Diego (Moseley) 15.876; San Francisco (Bumgarner) 15.040
Dunkel Line: San Diego by 1; 5 1/2
Vegas Line: San Francisco (-150); 6 1/2
Dunkel Pick: San Diego (+130); Under

Game 967-968: Tampa Bay at Minnesota (1:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Tampa Bay (Davis) 15.528; Minnesota (Liriano) 15.813
Dunkel Line: Minnesota by 1/2; 9
Vegas Line: Minnesota (-125); 8
Dunkel Pick: Minnesota (-125); Over

Game 969-970: Kansas City at Chicago White Sox (2:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Kansas City (Chen) 15.990; White Sox (Jackson) 14.811
Dunkel Line: Kansas City by 1; 8
Vegas Line: Chicago White Sox (-150); 9
Dunkel Pick: Kansas City (+130); Under

Game 971-972: Detroit at LA Angels (3:35 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Detroit (Penny) 15.083; LA Angels (Chatwood) 16.152
Dunkel Line: LA Angels by 1; 8
Vegas Line: LA Angels (-120); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: LA Angels (-120); Under

Game 973-974: Seattle at Oakland (3:35 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Seattle (Vargas) 15.584; Oakland (Moscoso) 14.747
Dunkel Line: Seattle by 1; 7
Vegas Line: Oakland (-125); 6 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Seattle (+105); Over

Game 975-976: NY Yankees at Cleveland (7:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: NY Yankees (Hughes) 17.353; Cleveland (Masterson) 15.848
Dunkel Line: NY Yankees by 1 1/2; 10
Vegas Line: Cleveland (-110); 9
Dunkel Pick: NY Yankees (-100); Over

Game 977-978: Toronto at Boston (7:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Toronto (Romero) 15.350; Boston (Wakefield) 16.570
Dunkel Line: Boston by 1; 9
Vegas Line: Boston (-125); 10
Dunkel Pick: Boston (-125); Under

Game 979-980: Baltimore at Texas (8:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Baltimore (Guthrie) 14.327; Texas (Ogando) 13.702
Dunkel Line: Baltimore by 1/2; 8 1/2
Vegas Line: Texas (-200); 9 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Baltimore (+170); Under

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Cappers Access

Brewers -1.5
W.Sox -1.5
Indians -110

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Insider Sports Report

4* Milwaukee (Gallardo) -140 over Arizona (Collmenter)
Range: -125 to -160

3* Seattle (Vargas)/Oakland (Moscoso) UNDER 6.5
Range: 7 to 6

3* St. Louis (Westbrook) -120 over Cincinnati (Arroyo)
Range: -105 to -140

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Todays Picks

Pirates -115

Indians -105