Mlb suday afternoon

[Earl]

Not many games that grab my attention today but I do like this one. 2-1 on Friday. I hope to get it going before the season ends.

GAME 1
The Chicago White Sox are hoping to head into a lengthy stretch against AL Central foes with some momentum. The Sox just hit the .500 marker and need to get this train rolling if they are going to be play-off contenders. Sweeping the Seattle Mariners on the road for the first time in 17 years could help, but Chicago has been a contender on the road as of late posting a 10-3 record in their last 13 games and have taken 22 of the last 30 contests from the Mariners. Gavin Floyd will try to help the White Sox accomplish that feat Sunday with another strong performance against the Mariners. Floyd enters this start having won five of six decisions since the All-Star break after allowing three hits over seven innings during a 10-0 victory against Texas last Sunday. His last 3 starts have been phenomenal posting a 2-0 record with an ERA of 3.72. Floyd has not been so bad on the road this year either owning a 7-5 record with an ERA of just 3.13. The right-hander is 2-0 with a 0.96 ERA in his last four matchups, giving up three hits over eight innings during his most recent start at Safeco a 6-0 win May 7.
Jason Vargas will counter for the Mariners, who is 1-6 with a 5.54 ERA in his last nine starts, However,The left-hander bounced back Monday after giving up eight runs to Toronto on Aug. 16, but he did not get a decision after allowing two unearned runs over seven innings in a 3-2 win at Cleveland. Seattle has won 2 of his last 3 starts. Vargas has not been the man for this job at home posting a below average record of 5-7 with an elevated ERA of 4.60. Seattle has dropped 9 of his 14 starts at Safeco. Vargas has no record and a 4.91 ERA in three career starts against Chicago. He gave up three runs over 7 1/3 innings during Seattle's 7-4, 10-inning road win June 8.
Chicago has won 15 of 18 against the Mariners and four straight at Safeco Field, but hasn't recorded a sweep in Seattle since the Mariners played in the Kingdome. The White Sox won four straight there June 23-26, 1994, and recorded their previous three-game sweep July 30-Aug. 1, 1993.Judging by his recent outings against Seattle, Floyd might be the right man to have on the mound.

3* CHICAGO WHITE SOX -119 (FLOYD)

[Earl]

GAME 2

The Angels of Anaheim have been on a quest winning 7 of their last 8 games. The Angels will try to cut their AL West deficit to one by claiming Sunday night's finale of a three-game series in Arlington. Los Angeles Angels ace Jered Weaver will get the call to take the hill on just 3 days rest for the 1st time in his career. Weaver has been at the top of his game this year posting a record of 15-6 and an ERA of just 2.03 ERA. Not too mention the huge contract the Angels just gave him. Dispite the 5 out 7 victories Weaver has claimed runs were had to come by for him as he got 2 runs or less in his last 7 plate apperances, but that has changed. The Angels have hit 17 homers and batted .324 while winning seven of eight. They've also outscored opponents 54-32 since falling seven games behind Texas on Aug. 17. Howie Kendrick has four homers in the past five games, and Vernon Wells, who also homered Saturday, is 9 for 17 with six extra-base hits over that same span. The Right-Hander did struggle in his last visit to Arlington back in May giving up four runs over six innings in a 4-1 loss. Overall Weaver has produced wins on the road this year going 8-5 with an ERA of just 2.60. Weaver is 4-1 with a 1.99 ERA in his last seven starts against the Rangers and 2-1 with a 1.86 ERA in four this season. He gave up one run over six innings during the game in Anaheim on Aug. 18 but also didn't receive a decision. Not only is this win crucial for the Angels to bring them within one but Another win would help him match his 2009 career high.

Colby Lewis will counter Weaver. Lewis is coming off one of his worst starts of the season. Though he does have an above average season holding firm an 11-9 record supported by an ERA of just over 4. The right-hander was tagged for seven runs over six innings in an 11-5 loss to Boston on Tuesday after giving up four hits over seven scoreless against the Angels on Aug. 18 and is just 1-1 in his last 3 starts for Texas. after dropping to 0-2 with a 6.30 ERA in his last three home starts, it has not been much different in Arlington for him this year where he owns a 4-5 record with an ERA of 5.56. Overall the Rangers have drop 7 of in 13 starts in Arlington behind Colby Lewis this year while Lewis has lost his last 4 starts to the Angles. The only thing that concerns me with all of this is how the line looks to these Phenomenal stats Weaver has put up not only on an averall bases but against the Rangers as well. I look for the Angels to keep the Rangers at bay with Weaver on the hill dispite the 3 days rest but hit Lewis all day long as well as his struggles will continue with this red hot Angels team that needs this win desperately.

1* ANAHEIM ANGELS +114

[Earl]

I should have known this was a trap.