New York Yankees (29-19) @ Baltimore Orioles (26-23)
Start Time: 00:05
Opening Lines: Yankees 1.79, Total – O/U 9.
The Baltimore Orioles finally snapped a 7 game losing streak last night. Buck Showalter’s men hung tough in a 3-2 win against in-form divisional rivals the New York Yankees. Game 2 of this series gets underway tonight and the Birds will be looking to put a marker down going into June.
PITCHING MATCH-UP
Yankees RH Luis Severino (3-2, 3.11 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Chris Tillman (1-1, 4.43)
Yankees starting pitcher Luis Severino has been a pleasant surprise for the Bronx Bombers this season. Severino has been dominant of late allowing 3 or fewer runs in his past 4 starts. Whilst not being as formidable against the O’s this season, he has a decent 4.74 ERA and a 1-1 record when going up against the Birds.
Chris Tillman, the Baltimore ace, has been up and down this year. An average 4.43 ERA for a top of the range starting pitcher would indicate a lack of control and consistency in 2017. The sight of the pinstriped Yankees however could well heal Tillman’s woes. The right hander is an impressive 4-0 SU in his last 4 starts vs New York.
KEY PLAYERS
Towering Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge has been a revelation this year. In what was expected to be a building year for a young New York unit, Judge in particular has come out of the gates swinging totting up a league high 17 home runs so far on the season. Embedded in those 17 long balls are 5 Home Runs vs the Orioles including a dinger to centre field at Camden Yards last night.
A regular sight all year has been Aaron Judge admiring his long balls to the upper decks.
The Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop is a model of consistency both at the plate and in the field. Schoop is averaging .275 with 47 hits and 24 RBI’s on the season. Around the diamond third baseman Manny Machado has 2 Home Runs vs the Yankees this season with 7 RBI’s.
NOTABLE BETTING TRENDS
- Yankees are 1-4 in their last 5 road games.
- Yankees are 11-5 SU against divisional rivals.
- Orioles are 14-3 in Tillman’s last 17 starts vs. American League East.
- Under is 7-1 in Yankees last 8 overall.
- Under is 5-1 in Orioles last 6 overall.
- Over is 4-1 in Severino’s last 5 starts overall.
- Under is 13-3 in Tillman’s last 16 starts vs. American League East.
UMPIRE TRENDS – BILL MILLER
- Road team is 7-0 in Miller’s last 7 games behind home plate.
- Over is 7-3 in Miller’s last 10 games behind home plate.
Los Angeles Dodgers (32-20) @ St Louis Cardinals (24-24)
Start Time: 00:05 (Live on BT ESPN)
Opening Lines: Dodgers 1.83, Total – O/U 8.5
Is it crisis time in St Louis? The Cardinals have lost 9 of their last 12, and to add to their woes they play host to the in form Dodgers in Busch stadium this week. These teams squared off in LA last week where the Dodgers got the better of the Redbirds winning the series 2-1.
PITCHING MATCH-UP
Dodgers RH Kenta Maeda (4-2, 5.08 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Michael Wacha (2-2, 3.66)
This duel is a repeat of last Thursday’s head to head where Maeda and the Dodgers eventually outlasted the Cardinals in a 7-3 win. Japanese superstar Maeda gave up 3 early runs to St Louis but bounced back well to keep them scoreless thereafter. The Dodgers are 4-0 SU in Maedas last 4 starts.
There’s no place like home for Cardinals pitcher Michael Wacha who seems to thrive in the elements of Busch Stadium throughout his young career. This season Wacha is 2-0 at home with a powerful 2.35 ERA. In spite of these strong numbers a power packed Dodgers offense will look to continue their recent strong run against Wacha. LA knocked Wacha for 6 runs last week out west and will be confident of repeating the feat tonight.
Cardinals pitcher fans will hope that ace Michael Wacha can bring his good stuff tonight.
KEY PLAYERS
The Dodgers have seemingly unearthed a gem in the form of rookie Cody Bellinger. The Outfielder has ripped it up so far in his debut year with 11 Home Runs on the season to date. Second Baseman Chase Utley seems to like the look of Redbirds as he has homered twice against St Louis already this season, and has hit the long ball in 3 of his last 5 games.
Ever present St Louis stalwart Matt Carpenter has been strong offensively and has found the long ball 9 times already this season. Carpenter has long shuffled between positions in the field but seems to have found himself at home manning first base this year. Rookie infielder Paul DeJong is also one to note for the Cardinals and is 3-for-5 with a home run and a double in his first two big-league games.
NOTABLE BETTING TRENDS
- Dodgers are 22-8 in their last 30 overall.
- Dodgers are 5-0 in their last 5 vs. National League Central.
- Cardinals are 1-4 in their last 5 overall.
- Cardinals are 1-4 in Wachas last 5 starts.
- Over is 5-0-1 in Maedas last 6 road starts.
- Over is 18-7-1 in Maedas last 26 starts overall.
- Over is 4-1 in Wachas last 5 home starts.
UMPIRE TRENDS – MARK WEGNER
- Home team is 9-1 in Wegners last 10 games behind home plate.
- Dodgers are 0-4 in their last 4 games with Wegner behind home plate.
