MLB Tipping Sheet: Yankees to compound Red Sox woes

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It's getting near crunch time in the MLB so will the true play-off contenders please stand up? Richard Fletcher selects the Saturday night ball bets...

Texas Rangers @ Toronto Blue Jays, 18:07 BST

It's that time of the season where the wheat should finally begin to separate itself from the chaff. Or it should be. The 68-50 Rangers lost last night's series opener 3-2 after the 56-63 Jays established a bold 2-0 first innings lead.

Roy Oswalt (4-2 ERA 6.53) steps up again for the Rangers after being recalled from the Minor Leagues in June. Although he started off well, winning his first two games, he still has a tendency to get smashed around the ballpark if he is not bang-on-form. For Toronto, the righty Carlos Villanueva (6-2, ERA 3.12) has been much more consistent this year (he's allowed three runs or more in just one game this year), and was on fire against the White Sox last time, where he struck-out a career-high eight batters in seven tightly-constructed innings. Whilst the Rangers are undoubtedly the best hitters in the business, last night's performance and the superiority of Villanueva, persuades me to back Toronto tonight.

Boston Red Sox @ New York Yankees, 21:05 BST, 0-0/3

The Red Sox are now drinking in the last chance saloon when it comes to play-off contention, and its closing time. In a so-far disappointing 58-62 season, the Red Sox are now 3-7 (including last night's 6-4 reversal) against the Yankees, and are losing ground in the American League East. Starting on the mound is Jon Lester (6-10, ERA 5.20), who was mightily impressive last time out versus Cleveland, where he struck out 12 batters in six superb innings, whilst conceding just one run. However, one word of caution is that Lester is 0-1 with an ERA of nearly 7.00 in two starts versus the Yankees this year. For the 71-48 Yankees, David Phelps (3-3, ERA 2.53) starts again since his recall from Triple-A ball, and on his last appearance against Texas he conceded just two earned runs in five innings to earn the win. Back the all-round superior Yankees again tonight at 1.84/5.

Tampa Bay Rays @ Los Angeles Angels, 02:05, BST 1-0/4

Both the 65-54 Rays and the 62-58 Angels are involved in a mighty scrap to stay in American League playoff contention. And last night's thumping 12-3 victory for the Rays is perhaps a harbinger of how the regular season could now pan-out. Righty Alex Cobb (7-8, ERA 4.08) is 1-1 with an ERA of 4.80 career-wise against the Angels, and has racked up three consecutive wins during August and has four consecutive quality starts. Conversely, the Angels' C J Wilson (9-9, ERA 3.32) has been unfortunate to have gone nine consecutive games without picking up a win. In his last outing against the Indians he went well, only allowing three runs in nearly seven innings pitched, but in a 6-2 reversal he didn't get any offensive help in a strangely blunt hitting performance by the Halos. Bite the bullet and back the 2.35 Rays.

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MLB Tipping Sheet: Yankees can turn tide against Tigers

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Back New York Yankees @ 1.84/5
Back Washington -1.5 runs @ 1.774/5
Back San Francisco @ 2.13n/a

Richard Fletcher selects a trio of Wednesday night bets and backs the Yankees to overcome the Tigers...

New York Yankees @ Detroit Tigers - 00:05 BST

Having lost the first two games of this series - including a 6-5 defeat last night, in which the Tigers' long at-bats grinded the Yankees into submission - the 63-46 Yankees start with their in-form pitcher CC Sabathia (11-3 ERA 3.53). Sabathia pitched a complete game last time versus the Mariners, where he struck-out ten whilst allowing only three runs. He is also 2-0 against the Tigers this year. Anibal Sanchez (6-8, ERA 3.99) is the man for the 60-50 Tigers, who, after a dodgy debut, rebounded with a strong performance against Cleveland, pitching for six innings and allowing just two runs. However, Sanchez lacks experience against the Yankees' big hitters, so the 1.84/5 Sabathia-inspired Yankees make the most appeal here.

Washington Nationals @ Houston Astros - 01:05 BST

Washington, having not dominated their 36-75 opponents in the first few games of this series like a 67-43 team should (they won 3-2 yesterday), they have on the mound this evening arguably one of the most underrated pitchers in the league. Gio Gonzalez (13-6, ERA 3.34) admirably pitched for eight innings last week against Miami whilst striking-out ten, in a defeat where one bad innings pitching cost him the win. New recruit Armando Galarraga (0-1, ERA 5.23), was decidedly average against Atlanta in a 4-1 reversal last time, though he did show an aptitude not to crumble in the face of adversity. However, expect Washington to cut-loose tonight, and Washington -1.5 runs is the recommendation here.

San Francisco Giants @ St Louis Cardinals - 01:15 BST

Two equally matched teams are now tying at one-apiece in a four game series, with the Giants evening things up last night with a 4-2 victory. Both teams now have a 60-50 record, and a win here could make all the difference come the end of the season. Ryan Vogelsong (9-5, ERA 2.38) leads from the front, and went 16 consecutive games this year in which he conceded three runs or fewer, and the Giants have won 13 of his last 16 starts. Young-gun righty Joe Kelly (2-4, ERA 3.14), like many rookies, lacks the consistency of his more experienced rivals, but he got his first win since June versus the Brewers last time in a gritty performance. But the Giants at 2.13n/a is just too tempting to let pass.

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Back New York Yankees @ 1.84/5
Back Washington -1.5 runs @ 1.774/5
Back San Francisco @ 2.13n/a

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MLB Tipping Sheet: Home run heroes can fire Yankees to victory

"Eleven of the 17 home runs given up by Alvarez this season have been off the fastball. MLB's top 50 in home runs off fastballs contains five Yankee's regulars."

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Phil Dolan takes over from Richard Fletcher with today's baseball tips and he fancies New York to stretch their lead at the top of the AL East

Washington Nationals @ Miami Marlins
This is the final fixture in a four-game NL East series. Washington have a 2-1 lead in the series after their 4-0 victory on Sunday. Carlos Zambrano (4-7, 4.20 ERA), who has not won since June 3, starts for the Marlins this evening. Edwin Jackson has pitched well in his first season with the Nationals (5-4, 3.73 ERA) and with a little support I expect Washington to extend their lead over the Braves at the top of the NL East.

Toronto Blue Jays @ New York Yankees
The Bronx Bombers host the Blue Jays in the opening game of this AL East series. This is a tough matchup for Toronto's starting pitcher Henderson Alvarez (5-7, 4.36 ERA) against #2 in the Yankees rotation Phil Hughes (9-7, 4.33 ERA). According to ESPN Stats and Information, 11 of the 17 homeruns given up by Alvarez this season have been off the fastball. MLB's top 50 in homeruns off fastballs contains five Yankee's regulars. Even at 1.58n/a I'm backing the Yankees!

Philadelphia Phillies @ LA Dodgers
Live on ESPN America
The Dodgers open this three game series against the Phillies with Chris Capuano (9-4, 2.41 ERA) on the mound. Capuano lost his last start, however he has been one of the biggest surprises of the Dodgers season, solidifying their rotation. Joe Blanton (7-8, 4.98 ERA) starts for the Phillies. Blanton has lost his last two starts and the Phillies lost 10 of their last 11 before the All-Star Break. I expect a Dodgers victory.

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