Sports Advisors
Milwaukee (83-67) at Chicago Cubs (90-58)
One day after the stunning firing of manager Ned Yost, the Brewers hand the ball to CC Sabathia (9-0, 1.59 ERA) to open a crucial three-game series at Wrigley Field. Chicago is scheduled to counter with Ryan Dempster (15-6, 3.02).
After getting swept in a four-game series over the weekend in Philadelphia, Milwaukee lowered the boom on Yost on Monday and turned the team over to third-base coach Dale Sveum. In addition to the current four-game slide, the Brewers have dropped 11 of their last 14 and seven of their last eight, and they begin this series eight games behind Chicago in the N.L. Central and tied with the Phillies in the wild-card race.
The Cubs capped a strange abbreviated series against the Astros with Monday?s 6-1 victory in Milwaukee, which hosted the two-game set after the teams were forced out of Houston in the wake of Hurricane Ike. One day after Carlos Zambrano pitched the first no-hitter for Chicago since 1972, Ted Lilly took a no-hitter into the seventh inning Monday to lead the Cubs to their fourth straight win, which comes on the heels of a 1-8 slump.
On the bright side for the Brewers, they?ve won 12 of their last 16 divisional games, and they?re 5-1 in their past six after an off day. Meanwhile, Chicago is on hot streaks of 29-14 overall, 50-21 at home and 11-3 versus lefty starters. Also, the Cubs swept the Brewers in Milwaukee last month and they hold a slim 6-4 edge in the season series, with the visitor winning eight of the 10 contests.
Sabathia has been sensational since being acquired from Cleveland, delivering a quality effort ? at least seven innings pitched and three earned runs or fewer allowed ? in all 13 of his starts. Milwaukee is 12-1 behind the big lefty, including eight consecutive wins coming into this contest. What?s more, Sabathia is 5-0 with a 0.85 ERA in five outings on the road, yielding just four runs in 42 1/3 innings.
The only loss Milwaukee has suffered with Sabathia on the hill came on July 28 against the Cubs, as he gave up four runs (three earned) in 6 2/3 innings, getting a no-decision as Chicago rallied for a 6-4 victory.
Dempster has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 25 of his 30 starts, and Chicago is 20-10 behind the right-hander this season, including 14-4 at home and 3-0 against Milwaukee. However, the Cubs have come up empty in Dempster?s last two outings, losing 4-0 to Houston at home and 4-3 at St. Louis, with Dempster yielding three earned runs in seven innings both times out.
Dempster is 12-3 with a 2.90 ERA at home, and he?s won all three decisions this year against the Brewers, posting a 2.37 ERA. For his career, Dempster is 7-2 with a 2.45 ERA and 10 saves in 33 games (11 starts) against Milwaukee.
For Chicago, the under is on streaks of 8-3 overall, 5-1 at home and 9-4 when Dempster starts at Wrigley. Conversely, the Brewers are on over streaks of 4-0-3 overall and 5-2-2 on the road, but the under is 5-2-1 in Sabathia?s last seven starts. Finally, the over is 20-8-3 in the last 31 head-to-head clashes in this rivalry, including 7-2-1 this year.
ATS ADVANTAGE: CHICAGO CUBS
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Chicago White Sox (83-66) at N.Y. Yankees (80-70)
Still clinging to a one-game lead in the A.L. Central, the White Sox continue their critical four-game series at Yankee Stadium, with Gavin Floyd (15-7, 3.77) set to oppose New York veteran Andy Pettitte (13-13, 4.52).
New York scored a 4-2 victory on Monday, its third straight win following a 2-6 slump. Despite the recent mini run, Joe Girardi?s club remains nine games behind the Rays and Red Sox in both the A.L. East and wild-card races.
Chicago is mired in slumps of 3-5 overall, 2-6 on the road and 2-7 versus the A.L. East, but Ozzie Guillen?s troops still lead the Twins by a game in the Central after Minnesota also lost last night. On the positive end of the spectrum, the White Sox are on streaks of 16-6 against lefty starters, 9-4 on Tuesdays, 8-2 with Floyd on the mound and 4-1 when Floyd starts on the road.
New York has won three of the four meetings with Chicago this season, and the Yankees are 8-2 in the last 10 head-to-head clashes overall and 7-1 in the past eight in the Bronx.
Floyd has pitched at least six innings in five straight starts, but he?s gotten roughed up in his last two, surrendering a combined nine runs (all earned) in 14 1/3 innings. He?s 6-4 with a 3.93 ERA on the road this season, and in the right-hander?s first career start against the Yankees on April 24, he allowed five runs in six innings, failing to get a decision in his team?s 7-6 victory.
Pettitte is 0-4 with a 7.15 ERA in his last four starts, including Wednesday?s 4-2 loss at the Angels in which he yielded all four runs (three earned) in 4 2/3 innings. The veteran southpaw is 3-6 with a 5.43 ERA in 11 post-All-Star break starts, and he?s 5-7 with a 5.32 ERA in 15 outings at Yankee Stadium in 2008.
Pettitte is 11-8 with 4.41 ERA in 21 career starts against the White Sox, including a dominating 8-1 home win last year when he gave up just the one run in seven innings.
The over is 6-2 in the last eight series meetings between these teams (3-1 this year), 8-1-1 in Floyd?s last 10 starts overall and 5-1 in Pettitte?s last six outings against the ChiSox. On the flip side, the under is on streaks of 5-1-1 for Chicago on the road, 20-7-2 for Chicago versus the A.L. East, 36-17 with Pettitte on the mound overall and 15-6 when Pettitte toils at home.
ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE
Boston (89-61) at Tampa Bay (88-60)
Six days after facing off in a thrilling 14-inning affair at Fenway Park, the Rays? Andy Sonnanstine (13-7, 4.47) once again opposes Red Sox ace Josh Beckett (12-9, 4.10), this time at Tropicana Field as these rivals look to break a tie atop the A.L. East.
Boston finally pulled even with the Rays in the division standings courtesy of Monday?s 13-5 rout. The Red Sox have won 15 of their last 21 games since Aug. 24, going 6-2 on the road during this stretch. Additionally, Terry Francona?s team is on runs of 11-4 in divisional games, 19-7 on Tuesdays, 7-2 against right-handed starters and 21-8 when Beckett pitches on the road.
Tampa Bay has lost seven of its last 10 games overall, but the Rays still sport positive streaks of 49-15 at home, 20-10 against right-handed starters, 18-8 with Sonnanstine on the hill and 7-1 when Sonnanstine pitches at home.
With Monday?s rout, the Red Sox snapped a seven-game losing skid in Tampa Bay that dated to last September. In fact, after the home team won the first 14 meetings in this rivalry this season, the visitor has taken the last three.
Beckett (one run in six innings) and Sonnanstine (one unearned run in seven innings) both pitched brilliantly on Wednesday at Fenway Park, but they departed in a 1-1 tie, which wasn?t broken until the 14th inning.
Beckett has made two starts since returning from a stint on the disabled list, allowing just a run on 10 hits with two walks and 14 strikeouts in 11 innings. He?s been solid on the road this year at 7-5 with 3.00 ERA, including 3-0 with a 1.08 ERA in the last three on the highway. The veteran right-hander is also 2-1 with a 2.33 ERA in four starts against Tampa Bay in 2008.
Prior to Wednesday?s strong effort in Boston, Sonnanstine had four consecutive bumpy starts, allowing 16 earned runs in 21 innings (6.86 ERA). He?s also 1-1 with a 6.59 ERA in five career starts against Boston. However, the right-hander is 7-3 at home this season with a 4.88 ERA.
For the Rays, the over is on streaks of 7-0 at home, 12-4 overall (all against the A.L. East), 9-2 against right-handed starters, 4-1 in Sonnanstine?s last five starts overall, 4-0 in his last four at home and 4-1 in his five career outings against the Red Sox. Also, the over is 8-3 in Boston?s last 11 road games and 5-0-1 in its last six on Tuesdays.
ATS ADVANTAGE: BOSTON and OVER
