SPORTS ADVISORS
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Detroit (5-10) at Cleveland (5-10)
Two struggling teams that were thought to contend for the A.L. Central crown conclude their brief two-game series at Progressive Field, with the Indians? Fausto Carmona (1-1, 2.20) set to oppose Tigers ace Justin Verlander (0-2, 6.52).
Detroit pounded out a 13-2 victory on Wednesday for its third consecutive victory after starting the season 2-10. With the victory, the Tigers improved to 3-4 on the road this year and snapped a five-game losing skid to the Indians dating to 2007. Meanwhile, Cleveland has lost three in a row and six out of eight, going 1-5 during its current homestand. The two clubs share last place in the A.L. Central.
The Indians are 10-3 in Carmona?s last 13 starts, but just 1-2 this year. That includes Saturday?s ugly 7-3 home loss to the A?s, when the right-hander gave up three runs on two hits and eight walks, lasting just 3 1/3 innings. Prior to that contest, Cleveland had won eight straight Carmona starts at home, including a 7-2 victory over the White Sox on April 2 when Carmona gave up just a run on four hits and four walks in seven innings en route to a 7-2 win.
Carmona is 3-2 with a 3.35 ERA in eight appearances (five starts) against the Tigers over the past two seasons. Last year, he faced Detroit at home twice, giving up five runs in six innings and getting a no-decision in a 12-11 Indians win and allowing two runs (one earned) in eight innings in a 5-2 victory.
Verlander has gotten off to a very rough start, giving up 19 runs (15 earned) over three outings spanning 19 1/3 innings. On Saturday at Chicago, he went 7 2/3 innings and got charged for six runs on four hits and four walks in a 7-0 loss. Last year, the Tigers ace went 8-3 with a 3.57 ERA in 15 road starts, but he got hammered in two outings in Cleveland, going 0-2 with an 11.81 ERA, as he allowed seven runs in each start, lasting a combined 10 2/3 innings.
Going back to 2006, the Tigers are 1-5 in Verlander?s last six starts against the Tribe. For his career, the veteran right-hander is 3-5 with a 6.84 ERA in nine starts versus his division rival
The over is 6-0 in Verlander?s last six starts against Cleveland and 5-0 in Carmona?s last five starts overall. However, the under is 3-1-1 in Carmona?s five starts.
ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE
Boston (9-7) at N.Y. Yankees (9-7)
Red Sox ace Josh Beckett (1-1, 6.35) opposes the Yankees? Mike Mussina (1-2, 4.15) for the second time in five days as these bitter rivals conclude their two-game set at Yankee Stadium.
Beckett got the best of Mussina in Saturday?s 4-3 victory at Fenway Park, which jump-started Boston?s four-game winning streak that ended with Wednesday?s 15-9 loss in New York. Meanwhile, the Yankees have won three in a row for the first time this season, and they?re on a 46-20 roll at home (5-3 this year).
These teams have split their four meetings this season, but New York is still 10-4 in the last 14 battles overall, including 5-0 in the Bronx.
Beckett followed up a rough season debut at Toronto (five runs in 4 2/3 innings) with a quality effort against New York on Saturday, giving up three runs on five hits and one walk in 6 2/3 innings. Including that contest, the Red Sox are 26-10 in Beckett?s last 36 starts overall. Also, Beckett is now 5-3 despite a beefy 6.24 ERA in nine career starts against the Yanks, including 2-2 with a 6.86 ERA over four starts in New York.
Although he struggled at Toronto 10 days ago, Beckett was dynamite on the road last year, going 11-2 with a 2.18 ERA. Boston has won 20 of his last 28 outings as a visitor.
Mussina was charged with four runs on eight hits over 5 2/3 innings in getting tagged with Saturday?s loss at Fenway. In two home starts this year, he is 1-1 with a 3.09 ERA, beating Tampa Bay 6-1 while losing to Toronto 5-2.
The Yankees are 0-4 in Mussina?s last four starts against Boston going back to 2006, with Mussina registering a 6.94 ERA during this stretch. For his career, the right-hander is 19-16 with a 3.70 ERA in 53 outings against the BoSox.
The under is 3-1 in Mussina?s last four outings versus Boston and 3-0 in his three starts this year. However, the over is 6-3 in Beckett?s last nine starts against the Yankees (2-2 at Yankee Stadium) and 6-2 in Mussina?s last eight at home.
Even though Wednesday?s game flew over the posted total, the under is still 12-4 in Yankee games this year, including 6-2 in the Bronx. Also, the under is 6-4 in the last 10 series meetings (2-2 this year) and 5-2 in the last seven clashes at Yankee Stadium.
ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE
