Posted on
4/7/2008 5:29:56 PM
MLB Baseball Wagering - Cleveland Indians at Los Angeles Angels
By Eric Williams
The Cleveland Indians, (3-3), snapped a three-game losing streak on Sunday, beating the Oakland A’s 2-1 and come into tonight’s contest against the Los Angeles Angels with blossoming starter Fausto Carmona, (1-0, 1.29 ERA), looking to toss another gem after limiting the Chicago White Sox to just one run on four hits in seven innings in Wednesday’s 7-2 home win over their AL Central rivals.
Carmona’s outstanding sinkerball helped him to record 16 of his 21 outs on groundballs.
"It's pretty good," Indians center fielder Grady Sizemore said. "Sometimes you think it's a changeup, and you look up (at the scoreboard) and it's 93 mph. He was tough."
The right-hander didn't allow more than three runs in any of his road starts last season, going an impressive 9-4 with a 2.80 ERA in 16 road outings.
Carmona will be going up against another fine hurler when the Angels send starter Joe Saunders to the mound. Saunders, (1-0, 0.00) makes his first home start of the season for the Angels after shutting down the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday, limiting them to just four hits in eight innings as the Angels won 1-0.
"It felt great, and I had a lot of fun," Saunders said. "Guys have to step up, you know? Myself included. That's what I tried to do tonight - step up."
The Angels were pounded on Sunday, losing to the Texas Rangers 10-4 while the Indians beat the Oakland A’s 2-1 also on Sunday.
Here is a look at tonight’s key trends followed by my MLB Wagering Free Picks:
Key Indians Trends
The Indians are 6-1 in their last seven games as a road favorite of -110 to -150.
The Indians are 11-2 in their last 13 games as a favorite of -110 to -150.
The Indians are 12-3 in their last 15 during game one of a series.
Key Angels Trends
The Angels are 4-0 in their last four games vs. a right-handed starter.
The Angels are 4-1 in their last five overall.
The Angels are 38-14 in their last 52 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
Key Totals Trends
The Over is 4-0 in Indians last four during game one of a series.
The Under is 7-1-2 in Indians last ten games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
The Over is 6-1-1 in Indians last eight road games.
The Over is 6-1 in Angels last seven games a home underdog.
The Under is 7-2-1 in Angels last ten vs. American League Central.
The Over is 9-3-1 in Angels last 13 home games vs. a team with a road winning percentage of less than .400.
Key Head-to-Head Trends
The Under is 8-1 in the last nine meetings.
The Under is 6-1 in the last seven meetings in Los Angeles.
The Pitchers: Fausto Carmona is 1-0 in one starts covering four strikeouts, four walks and an ERA of 1.29.
Joe Saunders is 1-0 in one starts with four strikeouts, one walk and a 0.00 ERA.
Analysis: This matchup has the look and feel of a classic ‘pitcher’s duel.’ I like the Angels to win at home in the late innings behind their relief pitching which is a tad bit better than Cleveland’s.
MLB Free Picks: Angels 3 Indians 2
10:05 PM EST MLB Odds
Cleveland Indians
Fausto Carmona - R -1½ +135
Los Angeles Angels
Joe Saunders - L +1½ -155
Over 8½ -120
Under 8½ EV
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