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Five To Follow MLB Betting: Wednesday, August 26, 2015 Opening Line Report

by - 8/25/2015

C. C. Sabathia of the Yankees

CC Sabathia used to be one of the best pitchers in baseball, but there was always a fear that his weight would end up shortening his career. And that might be the case as the Yankees have placed the big lefty on the DL with a troublesome knee injury that not only might end Sabathia's season but potentially his career. He had to leave Sunday's game against the Indians with "stabbing" pain in his right knee. That right knee has taken a lot of punishment with Sabathia, who is north of 300 pounds, having thrown more than 3,300 pro innings. He had knee surgery in 2010 and more issues there limited him to eight starts in 2014. He basically has no cartilage left in there. Do I think Sabathia retires? No, as he's due $25 million next year and with a $25 million vesting option in 2017. But maybe he and the team work on a buyout.

Astros at Yankees (-148, 7.5)

Sabathia's loss isn't really much of an issue with the Bombers as he was just 4-9 with a 5.27 ERA. Plus, New York gets back one of its best starters on Wednesday in Michael Pineda (9-7, 3.97). He hasn't pitched in the majors since July 24 due to a forearm injury. Pineda allowed one run on three hits while striking out three and walking zero in 4.2 innings in a rehab start with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday. He lost in Houston on June 28, allowing three runs over eight innings. Carlos Correa is 2-for-3 with two doubles off him. Chris Carter is 0-for-7 with four strikeouts. Houston has lost three straight starts by Collin McHugh (13-7, 3.96) even though he has allowed only four earned runs in that stretch. Alex Rodriguez is 1-for-3 off him.

Key trends: The Astros are 9-1 in McHugh's past 10 vs. teams with a winning record. The Yankees are 5-1 in Pineda's past six vs. teams with a winning record. The "over/under" has gone under in four straight McHugh starts. The under is 4-1 in Pineda's past five.

Early lean: Yankees and under.

A's at Mariners (-166, 6.5)

You could see Seattle make a trade here soon as center fielder Austin Jackson, who will become a free agent after this season, has cleared waivers. Jackson, who was part of that three-way David Price trade with Detroit and Tampa last summer, is hitting .259 with 34 RBIs in 101 games this season entering Tuesday. I'm definitely interested to see how Seattle ace Felix Hernandez (14-8, 3.74) looks here as the former Cy Young winner is just 2-3 with an 8.48 ERA in his past five starts. He is 1-1 with a 3.32 ERA in three starts vs. Oakland in 2015. Josh Reddick is just a .149 hitter off him in 47 at-bats. Stephen Vogt is 9-for-15 with a homer off Hernandez. Oakland's Chris Bassitt (1-5, 2.48) continues to get little run support. He is 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA in two appearances (once start) vs. the M's this year. Nelson Cruz is 1-for-3 off him with a double.

Key trends: The A's are 1-4 in Bassitt's past five vs. teams with a winning record. The Mariners are 1-4 in Hernandez's past five vs. teams with a losing record. The under is 5-1 in Bassitt's past six. The under is 4-1-1 in Hernandez's past six vs. Oakland.

Early lean: Mariners and under.

Padres at Nationals (-191, 6.5)

Washington is running out of time to catch the Mets in the NL East, but perhaps the Tuesday return of outfielder and leadoff man Denard Span from a long stay on the disabled list will spur the club. I don't think there's any argument that the Nats' Max Scherzer (11-10, 2.79) is one of the best pitchers in MLB, but somehow he hasn't won a game at home since no-hitting Pittsburgh on June 20. Scherzer hasn't lasted longer than six innings in his past four outings overall. Perhaps Matt Kemp gets this game off as he's just 1-for-24 career off Scherzer with seven strikeouts. Justin Upton is 0-for-5 with three punchouts. It's Tyson Ross (8-9, 3.32) for Washington. San Diego's Petco Park is maybe the most pitcher-friendly park in MLB yet Ross has a much better 2.71 ERA away from there this season. Span is 4-for-12 off him. Bryce Harper is 2-for-3 with a solo homer.

Key trends: The Padres are 4-0 in Ross' past four on the road. Washington is 1-5 in Scherzer's past six following a quality start in his last appearance. The under is 9-1 in Ross' past 10 on Wednesday. The over is 5-2 in Scherzer's past seven at home vs. teams with a losing record.

Early lean: Nationals and under.

Rockies at Braves (-136, 7.5)

Monitor the status of Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez for a few days as he left Monday's game with a knee injury and is being called day-today. He has been killing the ball since the All-Star break with 17 homers and 36 RBIs. So it might be a bit easier lineup to face for Atlanta's Shelby Miller (5-10, 2.50), who brings a 17-start winless streak into this one. One of those came July 10 in Colorado where Miller allowed five runs and 11 hits over five innings. Gonzalez is 1-for-6 career off him with a homer. Colorado lefty Yohan Flande (3-1, 3.94) beat Washington last time out, giving up two runs and three hits over seven. He has never faced Atlanta.

Key trends: The Rockies are 2-5 in Flande's past seven on the road. The under is 8-1 in Miller's past nine.

Early lean: Braves and under.

Cubs at Giants (-112, 7)

This is your ESPN Wednesday night game and thus will have live betting at sportsbooks. The Cubs go with Kyle Hendricks (6-5, 4.03). They have won his past five outings. That includes Aug. 8 vs. the Giants where Hendricks allowed three runs and five hits over 5.1 innings. Brandon Belt is 1-for-2 with a homer and two RBIs off him. Buster Posey is 1-for-3 with a strikeout. The Giants' Jake Peavy (3-6, 4.35) lost on Aug. 9 in Chicago, allowing two runs over five innings. He is 2-2 with a 4.13 ERA in five home starts in 2015. Chris Coghlan is a .308 hitter off him in 13 at-bats. Miguel Montero is 6-for-24 with two doubles and a homer.

Key trends: The Cubs are 1-4 in Hendricks' past five on Wednesday. The Giants are 8-1 in Peavy's past nine on five days of rest. The over is 8-1 in Hendricks' past nine road starts against teams with a winning record.

Early lean: Cubs and over.

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