HE SPORTS ADVISORS
INTERLEAGUE
L.A. Angels (43-30) at Philadelphia (42-32)
Ervin Santana (8-3, 3.40 ERA) takes the hill for the Angels when they open a three-game interleague series at Citizens Bank Park against Adam Eaton (2-4, 4.57) and the Phillies. Los Angeles, which took Thursday off, comes into this series having dropped two of three games to the Mets at home, including Wednesday?s 5-4 loss in 10 innings. The Angels, who have lost four of their last six games, are 2-9 in their last 11 after an off day and 1-4 in Santana?s last five against winning teams, but they are on positive streaks of 20-9 overall against the N.L., 9-2 against winning teams in interleague play and 8-3 coming off a loss. Philadelphia, which like the Angels was idle Thursday, dropped two of three in its interleague home series against Boston, winning the opener and losing the next two. Still, the Phillies are on a 9-4 run at home and are 18-5 in their last 23 Friday games, 37-16 in their last 53 in series openers and 18-8 in their last 26 following a loss, but they are 6-18 in their last 24 interleague contests against winning teams. These two teams haven?t met since 2003, when L.A. took two out of three at home. The Angels have lost their last two games behind Santana, including a 9-4 home setback Saturday against Atlanta. Santana got knocked around for six runs (all earned) on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings, the most runs he?s given up all season. The right-hander had allowed just two runs in each of his previous three starts over 23 innings (2.35 ERA), going 2-0 with a no-decision. Santana, who was 1-10 with an 8.38 ERA on the road last year, is 5-1 with a 3.50 ERA in eight starts as a visitor in 2008, winning his first four on the highway before going 1-1 with two no-decisions in his last four. The 25-year-old is making his first career start against Philly. The Phillies had won three in row with Eaton taking the ball before Saturday?s 3-2 loss at St. Louis. In that game, the right-hander gave up all three runs on nine hits in 6 2/3 innings.
Eaton is 2-1 with a 3.89 ERA in six home starts this season, and the Phils have won five of those six outings. The 30-year-old is 2-1 with a 5.26 ERA in five career starts against the Angels. The under is on a 9-3-1 run with Santana starting, but the over is 11-5-2 in his last 18 road outings. With Eaton hurling, the under is on streaks of 14-3-1 overall, 9-0 at Citizens Bank and is also 5-0 when he throws on five days? rest.
Furthermore, the under trends for Los Angeles include 37-16-5 overall, 14-5-2 on the road, 8-3-1 against winning teams and 10-4 in series openers, though the over is 8-3-1 in the Angels? last 12 interleague road games. For Philadelphia, the under has cashed in 12 of the last 16 games overall and is 6-0 in the last six against the A.L. West, but the over is on runs of 8-2 in interleague play and 14-5 in series openers.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
Cleveland (33-40) at L.A. Dodgers (34-38)
A pair of southpaws will square off when the Indians send Cliff Lee (10-1, 2.55 ERA) to the bump against rookie Clayton Kershaw (0-1, 3.75) and the Dodgers an interleague matchup of underachieving clubs.
Cleveland arrives in Los Angeles after getting swept in a three-game series at Colorado, losing 6-3 in Thursday?s finale. The Indians have lost four of their last five and they?re 7-17 in their last 24 games against losing teams and 2-8 in their last 10 interleague outings. One positive: Despite getting swept by the Rockies, the Cleveland is still 15-5 in its last 20 against the N.L. West and 12-3 in Lee?s last 15 interleague starts.
Los Angeles held off Cincinnati 7-4 Thursday to complete a three-game road sweep ? the team?s first sweep of any kind since taking three straight from the Reds at home from May 19-21. The Dodgers, who had dropped five in a row prior to the Reds series, return to interleague play, where they have really struggled over the years, going 15-36 in their last 51, including 1-5 this year. They?re also 3-14 in their last 17 facing the A.L. Central and 0-5 in their last five against lefty starters. On the bright side, Joe Torre?s club is on a 50-21 roll at home versus losing teams.
These two teams last met in 2003, with L.A. sweeping a three-game road set. Lee had won four straight games and was on his way to a fifth after allowing just two runs on eight hits in 6 1/3 innings Saturday against San Diego, exiting with a 3-2 lead. But the bullpen blew up, allowing six runs, including five in the 10th inning of an 8-3 loss. Lee has gone 4-1 with a no-decision in his last six games, despite allowing 22 runs (21 earned) and 50 hits over 34 2/3 innings, posting a 5.56 ERA in that stretch.
Lee is 7-1 with a solid 2.92 ERA in eight road starts this year, and he?s won his last three on the highway, though that was primarily due to Cleveland totaling 28 runs in those contests. This will be Lee?s first career start against the Dodgers. The 20-year-old Kershaw has gotten four no-decisions in his first five big-league starts, with the Dodgers going 3-2 in those games. On Sunday at Detroit, he allowed two hits in four scoreless innings, but departed after a lengthy rain delay and the Dodgers were ultimately dealt a 5-4 loss. Kershaw has pitched six full innings just once so far ? in his May 25 debut, when he got a no-decision against St. Louis in which he allowed two runs on five hits in a 4-3, 10-inning victory for L.A. The ?over? has been the play when Lee takes the ball, going 4-1-1 in his last six overall, 6-1-1 in his past eight interleague matchups and 20-7-2 when pitching in a series opener. Meanwhile, the total has alternated in each of Kershaw?s first five outings, with Sunday?s game at Detroit barely staying under the total. Both of his home starts have stayed low.
In addition, the over for Cleveland is on a 6-2 run overall and is 6-2 in the last eight series openers, but otherwise for the Tribe, the under is on streaks of 10-2-1 in interleague road games, 16-2 in interleague roadies against left-handers and 16-6-2 on the highway against lefties. Finally, for Los Angeles, the under is on a 9-3 spree at home and is 5-0 in the last five against left-handers, but the total has gone high in 23 of the Dodgers? last 34 series openers.
ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER
34-16 L50, Yesterday 1-1 (CHI White Sox"W",CIN Reds"L")
