Red-hot Yankees eye seventh straight win vs. Jays
Baseball Betting Lines
09/03/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Yankees hoped to be playing their best baseball in September, and the early returns of this month seem to indicate they may have reached that goal.
The defending world champions set their sights on a seventh consecutive victory in this afternoon's opener of a three-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays from Yankee Stadium.
After winning the final two tests of last weekend's three-game road set with the contending Chicago White Sox, the Yankees began their current homestand by taking all four meetings with the Oakland Athletics. New York capped the sweep behind a dominating performance from staff ace CC Sabathia, with the All-Star hurler firing eight scoreless innings of Thursday's one-hit shutout of the A's to become the first 19-game winner in the majors this season.
Sabathia (19-5) surrendered only a Mark Ellis single in the second inning and three walks during the 5-0 verdict to continue his impressive unbeaten streak at Yankee Stadium. The Bay Area native has not lost in 21 straight home starts and is 16-0 over that span, becoming the first Yankee pitcher to win 16 straight decisions in the Bronx since Ron Guidry (1985-86).
"[The AL East] is definitely the toughest division in baseball by far. To do what I can, it feels pretty good," said Sabathia following the game.
Curtis Granderson supplied the offense for New York with a pair of homers and three RBI, while Jorge Posada added a solo shot to help the Bronx Bombers move 1 1/2 games in front of idle Tampa Bay for the American League East lead.
Granderson entered Thursday's contest in the second inning as an injury replacement for outfielder Nick Swisher, who was removed after experiencing stiffness in his left knee. The 2010 All-Star reserve is considered day-to-day and questionable to play today.
If the Yankees prevail again this afternoon, they will have matched a seven- game tear from July 3-9 as their longest win streak of the season. The team will have to get past a very tough pitcher in order to get there, however, with the Blue Jays set to send out the surging Brandon Morrow in the opener.
Morrow is riding quite a lengthy streak of his own at the moment, as the right-hander is 5-0 with a 2.91 earned run average in seven starts since the All-Star break and is unbeaten over nine outings following a June 29 loss at Cleveland. He's faced the Yankees three times during that time period and registered a win and two no-decisions in those games.
The 26-year-old has produced mixed results in his recent meetings with New York, though. Morrow notched a win at Yankee Stadium on August 2 despite giving up five runs and two homers over 5 1/3 shaky innings, but limited the Yanks to two runs and four hits while racking up 12 strikeouts in a six-inning no-decision in Toronto on August 23.
Morrow, who also fanned a career-best 17 hitters in a one-hit shutout of the Rays less than a month ago, notched his latest win by tossing six innings of one-run ball with nine punchouts in a home decision over Detroit on Saturday.
The offseason acquisition is 1-0 with a 4.81 ERA in four overall encounters with the Yankees this season and 2-0 with a 4.46 ERA over 12 lifetime appearances (six starts) against New York.
The Yankees counter with a promising young pitcher of their own today in Ivan Nova. The rookie will be making his third start since a recent callup from Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre and performed well in each of the first two, including a matchup with Morrow at the Rogers Centre on August 23.
Nova also did not get a decision in that game, a 3-2 Blue Jays' triumph, but allowed just two runs on six hits and a walk over the first 5 1/3 innings. The 23-year-old followed up by holding the White Sox to a run in 5 2/3 frames and striking out seven this past Sunday in Chicago to earn his first win in the majors.
The right-hander compiled an outstanding 12-3 record and a 2.86 ERA in 23 starts for Scranton-Wilkes Barre prior to the promotion and makes his first- ever Yankee Stadium start this afternoon.
Nova will be taking on a Toronto squad that leads the majors with 202 home runs but didn't generate much offense in its last game, a 2-1 defeat at Tampa Bay on Wednesday.
The Blue Jays mustered just four hits and a run off David Price in the Rays standout's eight innings of work, with Rafael Soriano finishing things off with a scoreless ninth to record his major league-leading 40th save.
The game's deciding run was scored in the bottom of the eighth inning, when Tampa's Evan Longoria singled off reliever Shawn Camp (4-3) with one out to plate Ben Zobrist and snap a 1-1 deadlock.
Toronto made it interesting in the ninth, however, as Vernon Wells tripled off Soriano with one out to put the potential tying run at third. However, the Rays closer struck out Adam Lind before John Buck flied out to the warning track in left field to end the threat.
"We just came up a little short," manager Cito Gaston told the Blue Jays' official site afterward.
Buck did not come up short on a fifth-inning solo homer off Price that accounted for Toronto's only run. Jays starter Shaun Marcum pitched well in a no-decision, yielding just one run and fanning seven in a six-inning stint.
The Blue Jays have lost three of their last four games and could be without three regulars for today's tilt. Shortstop Yunel Escobar (back) and first baseman Lyle Overbay (concussion-like symptoms) are questionable to return to the lineup after sitting out the entire Tampa Bay series, while outfielder Fred Lewis exited Wednesday's finale in the sixth inning with a strained right elbow.
Toronto has won seven of 12 meetings with New York so far this season, with the two divisional foes having split six bouts that have taken place in Yankee Stadium.
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Eastern Conference Playoff Betting Trends
We all know by now that the “public” loves to put their money on the FAVORITES and the OVERS. Just by taking a quick glance at Sportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends” it appears as is this tendency will continue as far as the Eastern Conference games are concerned. For the inaugural games of the first round, 69% of the early money is on Toronto -4.5; 59% of bettors prefer Chicago -4.5; 84% are backing Detroit -9; and 56% think Cleveland -11.5 is the way to go. As far as TOTALS are concerned, the only UNDER the “public” is backing is the Cleveland/ Washington game in which 83% are pounding the UNDER (190). Remember, there is no better way to predict a possible line change than by monitoring MySportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends”. By determining who the “public” is backing, you can get the most ideal line for your bet. For example, if you are siding with the public you better place your bet before the line moves in the wrong direction. On the other side of the coin, if you prefer the team that the “public” is betting against; you might be able to get and extra ½ or even more by placing your bet a bit later. Under the “Betting Trends” section, Sportsbook.com also provides plenty of statistical data and trends in order for the bettor to make the most informed pick. Below are some extremely important trends for the first round opponents of the Eastern Conference match-ups, more can be found at MySportsbook.com
New Jersey Nets vs. Toronto Raptors
Toronto was the most reliable covering team this season with a 48-33-1 ATS record but covered the OVER only 41.5% of the time.
The last 20 times these teams have played, the TOTAL has gone UNDER 16 times.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Toronto is 33-19 ATS including 17-9 at home.
New Jersey has covered four games in a row while Toronto has failed to cover their last four games.
When playing a team with a winning record during the second half of the season, New Jersey was just 5-13 ATS this season.
After scoring 105 points or more, Toronto has covered the OVER only 28% of the time this season.
Miami Heat @ Chicago Bulls
Miami has failed to cover their last 7 games whereas Chicago has covered 6 out of their last 8 games.
Miami has covered the UNDER in four of their last five games whereas Chicago has covered the UNDER in five out of their last six.
When playing on Saturdays, Miami covered 80% of their games this season.
Away from home, Chicago is just 16-25 ATS this season.
At home, Miami covered the UNDER about 66% of the time whereas Chicago covered the UNDER about 61% of the time.
The last 13 times these teams have played each other, Chicago has covered 9 times.
In Miami’s last 11 road games, the UNDER covered 9 times.
Orlando Magic @ Detroit Pistons
Detroit has covered 5 out of their last 6 games.
Away from home, Detroit is 28-13 ATS but just 14-26-1 ATS at home.
At home, Orlando covered the UNDER 64% of the time while Detroit covered the UNDER in 63% of their away games.
The last five times these teams have played in Detroit, the OVER covered each time.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Detroit is 8-17-1 ATS at home but 17-9 ATS away.
Detroit covered the spread 5 out of the last 6 times they played Orlando.
After a Division game, Orlando covered the UNDER 87% of the time this season.
Washington Wizards @ Cleveland Cavaliers
In a home game where the TOTAL is between 190 and 194.5 points, Cleveland is 9-1 ATS this season.
Washington has covered the UNDER in their last 6 games and in 8 of their last 9 games.
The last 6 times these teams have played each other, the UNDER covered each time.
When playing on 3 or more days of rest, Washington is just 18-37 ATS since 1996.
Since 1996, Washington is 28-16 ATS versus Cleveland including 11-5 over the last 3 seasons.
In their last 7 road games, Washington is 6-1 ATS.
Versus Eastern Conference teams at home, Washington is just 6-18-2 ATS.
For even more betting trends for not just the NBA but for all of the major sports, log on to Sportsbook.com and click on “Trends”. With only two months left in the NBA betting season it is important to be as well informed as possible in order to maximize your profit. Also for all of you poker players, check out MySportsbook.com’s “WSOP Low Bid Auction”. You could be on your way to Vegas to play against the world’s best poker players for under a buck.
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