Chopping Lines: Oaktown 357
READ MORE: A.J. Benza, Chopping Lines, Cleveland Indians, MLB Betting, Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics (80-63,K. Saarloos)
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Cleveland Indians (82-62,K. Millwood)
With the Angels, Yankees, Indians and A’s so close together these days, the Wild Card race reminds me of a Friday night at The Vault, more than a baseball league. But, with 19 games left before the big money shot, Oakland looks sexiest to me. And tonight’s match-up with Cleveland seems pretty easy to handicap. A team in a Divisional/Wild Card race comes to rely on their No. 5 pitcher as much as their ace. But when that No. 5 guy hits a hot streak, they can practically book their post-season hotel rooms ahead of time. The A’s Kirk Saarloos, who lost for the first time in six starts his last time out, will be pitching on nine days of rest. The long layoff ain’t shit for Saarloos, though. As Oakland’s fifth starter, he’s gone as long as 11 days between starts and worked out of the bullpen on occasion. And that unselfish attitude around is like the flu in a clubhouse: When one guy has it, everyone else gets it. And after snapping the Indians’ 7-game win streak last night, the A’s look they’re about to make another solid run.
BENZAPICK!: OAK +152
Chopping Lines: Indians Will Treat Tigers Like They Stole Their Land
READ MORE: A.J. Benza, Chopping Lines, Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, MLB Betting
7:05 p.m.
Detroit Tigers
(62-67, N. Robertson)
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Cleveland Indians
(74-58, C. Lee)
It’s funny you say “breaking balls,” because I was just thinking how Cliff Lee’s breaking ball will have Tigers’ batters unable to get their bats off their shoulders, thus breaking their balls in the process. The crafty lefthanded Lee has won his last five starts, with his last being a 4-hit, 5-K ditty against the pesky Devil Rays. And wait…the legend of Lee’s breaking ball gets better: He has just given up one run in his last two starts . Meanwhile Detroit’s Mike Maroth has given up 10 hits in each of his last two outings, not to mention getting his tits lit against the ChiSox for 8 earned runs before the 4th inning. Currently, the bats belonging to Cleveland’s Native Americans have been red hot. The Jake will be awash in Tiger blood tonight.
BENZAPICK!: CLE -159
Chopping Lines: Jeremy Bonderman Only Needs One Wrist to Win
READ MORE: Chopping Lines, Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, MLB Betting
7:05 p.m.
Detroit Tigers (62-66, J. Bonderman)
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Cleveland Indians (73-58 ,S. Elarton)
So this is what Vegas linesmen will have me believe: Cleveland’s no. 5 starter, Scott Elarton, oughta be favored in a match-up against Detroit ace Jeremy Bonderman? Nice try guys. For starters, neither guy has been spectacular lately, but no. 5 guys rarely are while aces always find a way to bounce back. After taking a linedrive off his writs last week, Bonderman tested his wrist over the weekend at Fenway Park and looks to be fine. He’s 2-2 vs. the Tribe this season, but the difference is his Tigers have registered some impressive victories lately, and that ought to carry them here. Elarton got knocked around by Tampa Bay last time out and with his never-overpowering stuff, I look for Mr. Dimitri Young to take him deep and send him out. No overturned cars in nearby Motown, but a nice win for Bonderman’s rubber game.
BENZAPICK!: DET +123
(YTD 6-3)
Chopping Lines: Blind in Texas
READ MORE: Chopping Lines, Cleveland Indians, MLB Betting, Texas Rangers
12:05 p.m.
Texas Rangers (57-72,C.Wilson)
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Cleveland Indians (64-56, J. Westbrook)
Best Line: Texas +180, Cleveland -188
The Rangers finally got a win last night from their 8 foot-tall pitcher Chris Young, who pitched 8 shutout innings, something he hasn’t done since, oh, before the All-Star break. Today Texas will once again need help from their starter in order to keep this game close. The Indians are starting all-star pitcher Jake Westbrook, who is going for his fifth win in a row, something he hasn’t done so far this year. His mound opponent will be…drumroll…C.J. Wilson. The highly touted lefthander seemingly named after a barbecue restaurant chain is 0-5 since entering the big leagues and has a lovely 8.56 ERA. However, last week he pitched four innings against the Yankees and gave up only one run in a long relief stint. This is just the kind of game we love to bet on when there’s a young pitcher with nothing to lose(except his chances to ever succeed at the major league level, of course) going up against a team with playoff hopes. Plus we love the fact that Wilson not only had Tommy John surgery last year, but also a bacterial infection that caused him to cough up blood and mucus. Mmm.
PICK!: Texas +180
(YTD: 5-7)
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Chopping Lines: Wankee Your Yankee
READ MORE: Chopping Lines, Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees
7:05 pm
New York Yankees (56-49, M. Mussina)
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Cleveland Indians (56-51, C.Lee)
Best Line: NY Yankees -131
The Yankees started their 6-game road trip with a 6-5 loss to the Indians as Ronnie Belliard hit a three-run double and Victor Martinez homered for Cleveland on Tuesday. The Indians have won eight of their last ten games and tonight’s starting pitcher Cliff Lee boasts a 2-0 record with a 4.26 ERA in that stretch. The last time these two teams met up at Yankee Stadium, the Yankees won 3 of 4 games. On Tuesday, the Yankees also declined to pick up $15 million dollar contract on Bernie Williams. For the Yankees to win tonight they need to provide right-handed pitcher Mike Mussina with run support. Facing Cleveland Lee and his 9.22 ERA in three starts against the Yankees might be just what Moose needs.
The Yankees hope that Mike Mussina (10-6, 3.80 ERA) can help them keep pace with the Red Sox in the AL East.. Yesterday’s loss put them at 3.5 games behind the first place Red Sox. The good news for the Yankees is that RHP Mussina is 5-2 with a 4.54 ERA in 12 road starts this season but the bad news is that Mussina is only 9-7 with a 4.52 ERA in 21 career starts against the Indians. Although, Mussina pitched perhaps his best game this season against Cleveland on July 7 at Yankee Stadium. In the 7-2 win, Mussina allowed two runs over seven innings.
Indians ace Cliff Lee (11-4, 3.95 ERA) will try to continue winning for the Indians. His last outing, Lee allowed four runs and nine hits over 6 2-3 innings in the Indians’ 6-5 win over Seattle on Friday, but did not receive a decision. While the southpaw is 2-0 with a 4.26 ERA over his last three starts, Lee is an unimpressive 0-2 with a 9.22 ERA in three career starts against the Yankees. Lee got tattooed for five runs in six innings of a 6-5 loss at Yankee Stadium on July 8.
PICK! Yankees -126
Chopping Lines: Still Time to Cash in on Moneyball Ducats
READ MORE: Chopping Lines, Cleveland Indians, MLB Betting, Oakland A's
10:05 p.m.
Cleveland Indians (51-48, C. Sabathia)
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Oakland A’s (53-45, B.Zito)
These teams met at the end of May with the Indians sweeping the three game series and outscoring the A’s 16-6. But that was a different Oakland A’s team. Today, the Oakland A’s are one of the hottest teams in MLB and are on a six game win streak as they swept the Texas Rangers over the weekend. Oakland has won an impressive 26 of 32 games since May. Conversely, the Cleveland Indians have won only five games in their last 17 games despite Sunday’s 6-3 home win against the Mariners.
The A’s will put there 30-17 home record on the line tonight when left-handed pitcher Barry Zito (8-8, 3.55 ERA) takes the hill against the Tribe tonight. While Zito’s record is back to .500, in six career starts against the Indians, Zito boasts a 3-2 record and a miniscule 1.03 ERA. On the other side of the card, Indian LHP CC Sabathia’s (6-7, 4.70 ERA) record is 1-1 in seven career starts against the A’s with a 5.63 ERA. Against other teams In eight road starts this season, Sabathia is 5-2 with a 3.35 ERA. Sabathia is coming off his third straight loss and he has given up 12 earned runs in 15 1/3 starts at home this year.
PICK!: Oakland -190
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