When last season looked like a washout for the Cleveland Indians, they did what they could to trade off assets like C. C. Sabathia and Casey Blake, in looking towards the future. The way Cleveland has played in 2009; it’s hard to say what they will do for an encore after being so miserable.The Indians offense by all appearances is still productive, ranking sixth in runs scored at 5.2. The Tribe’s team batting average is ordinary at .261 and they have been slumping of late, hitting under .250 as club the last 20 games, despite hanging 15 runs on Oakland last Friday.
While some will quote baseball statistics and point out – what you see is not what you get – the fact is Cleveland pitching shows precisely what it has to offer.
The Tribe allows 5.5 runs per game, same as Washington, making this tandem the two worst in baseball. Cleveland hurlers surrender the second most free passes at 3.9 per game, which is huge problem if you concede 9.8 hits per contest (29th), meaning opposing team have almost 14 base-runners each night, not including errors, placing tremendous pressure on the offense to score six runs every contest at a minimum.
If starting pitchers David Huff, Tomo Ohka, Carl Pavano, Jeremy Sowers and tonight’s starter Aaron Laffey (3-1, 3.93 ERA) don’t exactly seem impressive; think about what hitters in the opposite clubhouse are dreaming of. Adding fuel to this combustible situation is the Indians bullpen, which has 5.13 ERA, 12-17 record and paid closer Kerry Wood (he’d be fired as car salesman for not closing) leads a pen that is 50-50 (14 of 28) in save opportunities this season. It’s no wonder Cleveland is 33-51 and lost 22.8 units.
The Indians after losing 10-6 to AL Central division adversary Chicago last evening will face an aging pitcher who likely salvaged his career in Charlotte of all places. Jose Contreras (3-7, 4.84) at age 37, probably can figure his best days are behind him and it looked like it might be way behind him after starting 0-5 with an ERA over eight, placing him behind the 8-ball so to speak.
He went to Triple-A Charlotte, worked on his mechanics and rewound his career. Since returning to the White Sox (43-30, +3.6 units), Contreras is 3-2 with a sparkling 2.17 ERA in five starts. He’s been part of the Sox surge which has led to 12 wins in last 16 outings. “I’ve got it back,” said Contreras, when asked about 3-0 record in last four starts.
With Cleveland pitching in ruins, the batters not hitting as well and having to tackle a starting pitcher in a zone, this sets up as awful situation for the Tribe and DiamondSportsbook.com has the Indians as +130 underdogs.
Play Against road underdogs with a money line of +100 or higher, who are cold hitting team - batting .250 or worse over their last 20 games, against opponent with a hot starting pitcher, with WHIP of 1.000 or less over his last five starts.
This system comes up fairly frequently and is 110-34 since 2005, 76.4 percent. In 2009, the numbers have improved slightly at 12-3, adding even more confidence. And speaking of confidence that is exactly what White Sox hitters have after posting big crooked numbers at US Cellular Field, with 17-4 mark after scoring nine or more runs. Even more impressive for the Pale Hose is 13-1 record at home after a game where they had six or more extra base hits over the last two seasons.
For the sports bettor looking for one big play tonight, this might be the one at affordable number.
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