MLB Games of the Week: (5-5 through 5-11)

Written by Red Coffman on May, 7th 2008 | 0 Comments

Week 6 MLB Baseball Betting Odds

This is a return to yester-year where these pitchers were absolutely running this league. Not so much this year, but are things ready to change back into reality? I have a feeling the glass slipper might just find a foot or two this coming week. It’s all American League match-ups in my games of the week, and I expect a little better pitching from the fireballers this time around.

Boston Red Sox @ Detroit Tigers:
7:05pm EST: 5-8-2008

Probably Starters: Josh Beckett (R) vs. Justin Verlander (R)

Records/Recent Action: After sweeping their series with the Rays, the Red Sox have found some room in between themselves and what was once a tight leader board in the AL East. The Red Sox have taken 6 of their last 7 games, including a win over the Tigers on Monday. After two low scoring wins against Toronto, and a shutout loss to the Jays - the Red Sox have found their offensive game. In their last 4 games they’ve found no fewer than 6 runs, while their pitching staff has given up no more than 4. The Sox are 21-13 SU this season with a positive money line of +760. They are 14-5 at home and 7-8 on the road. In a division in which no team is more than a game under .500 (Toronto is 16-17) the Red Sox will have to continue their solid play to hold off the challengers. The Tigers, on the other hand, are just 14-19 and in the midst of a 4 game losing streak. However, their 14 wins ties them with 3 of the other 4 teams in the AL Central, and the Central leading Twins are just 16-14. Like I said, the Tigers have lost 4 straight, and they did so after sweeping the Yankees in New York. Needless to say, they are all over the map. The Tigers have the 3rd worst money line in baseball, sitting at -916 heading into Tuesday’s games. They are 6-5 against the AL East.

Significance: The Red Sox are doing what the Red Sox have come accustomed to do, winning baseball games. The Tigers are struggling despite spending like the Yankees this offseason. Miguel Cabrera is playing like an all-star, but the pitching staff has really struggled, and the rest of the batters haven’t played up to snub. Luckily, they play in the AL Central where a couple games over .500 looks like it will keep you in playoff contention. But if they want to get to .500, they’re going to need some better stuff from their pitching staff, more importantly their ace. Justin Verlander hasn’t gotten the results he produced last season. Last seasons run at the Cy Young saw him go 18-6 with an ERA of 3.66. This season, Verlander has already filed away 5 losses while winning just once. His 6.28 ERA is telling of his control problems and mediocre strikeout totals (20 walks - 25 Ks). He’ll really have to step up against a Red Sox lineup that is getting warmed up. Josh Beckett, Boston’s ace, also hasn’t been as good as last season. The 20 game winner and playoff hero is just 3-2 with a 4.19 ERA after 5 starts. This game will go how these aces go, as both will have to bring their A games to slow down the opposing lineup.

Hot Bats: Manny may be in a homerun slump over the last 10 games, but his .315 batting average still leads the regulars. Manny and Big Papi are tied with 6 HRs apiece, and Kevin Youkilis, Manny, and Papi all have 20+ RBIs (22,23,26 respectively). Jacoby Ellsbury is leading the team with 11 steals having yet to be caught. Carlos Guillen leads the Tigers with a .214 average, Magglio Ordonez and Cabrera both have 6 HRs and 23 and 22 RBIs respectively. Curtis Granderson has 5 HRs in just 45 at-bats since coming off the DL.

Toronto Blue Jays @ Cleveland Indians:
7:05pm EST: 5-9-2008

Probably Starters: Roy Halladay (R) vs. C.C. Sabathia (R)

Records/Recent Action: Toronto is 16-17 on the season but still rest in last place in a tight AL East race. The Blue Jays are 26th in runs per game, while their pitching has been lights out, ranking 2nd with a 3.24 ERA. The Jays have a -389 money line, and have finished under the total in 22 games, going 9-22-2 O/U. The Indians have lost 5 of their last 7 but are still just a couple games out in a very mediocre AL Central. They are 14-17 on the season. They have a solid team ERA (3.83 - 9th overall) but rank 21st in runs scored and 27th in batting average. The Indians are just 8-11 at home this season. They also hold the 2nd worst money line in the game, -971.

Significance: I like this match-up because, in a day where complete games are about as likely as somebody hitting for the cycle, these two pitchers have the consistency and strength, making them the most likely starters to go the distance. Roy Halladay may not have the unhitable stuff he used to throw, but, all by himself, he leads any other team in the Majors with 4 CGs thus far. He threw 4 straight complete games earlier this season - which is unheard of. Even crazier, he lost 3 of those 4 games… Where’s the run-support?

At 3-4 with an ERA right at 3, 38 Ks and just 7 walks, Halladay is an old school ace if I’ve ever seen one. C.C. Sabathia has had his fair share of problems to start the season, going 1-5 with an ERA of 7.51. However, he’s been much better lately, making 2 straight quality starts, and finding the stuff that made him the All-Star he is. With 10 complete games over the last 2 seasons, C.C. has shown his ability to power through opposing hitters. With both of these teams struggling to put up runs, we could see a short game on Friday.

Hot Bats: Matt Stairs leads the Jays with 4 HR while Alex Rios is the team leader with a .300 batting average. The Indians are really struggling at the plate, but Victor Martinez continues to hit for a very high average. At .347 he easily leads the team (2nd best is Grady Sizemore at .277). But he hasn’t hit for power (0 HR and 10 RBI). Jhonny Peralta leads the team with 5 HR while Casey Blake’s 19 RBI are best.

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