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2021 NFL: Another Long Year For ...

by Ben Burns

Sunday, Jul 25, 2021

Interested in how your favorite team is expected to do this season? The projected regular season wins numbers provide excellent insight. The list below is courtesy of Pinnacle.Based on these numbers, Detroit will be the worst team in the league. Don't worry Lions' fans. You've got a couple of things working in your favor. 1. Predictions made before the season can be way off. 2. You're used to it.Indeed, it figures to be another long year for Detroit. New coach and a rebuilding team. The Lions have gone 3-15 in division play the past few seasons. Wins in the NFC North figure to again be hard to come by. The non-conference schedule, which includes the likes of the 49'ers, Ravens, Rams and Steelers, isn't exactly easy either.  In fact, based on last year's records, the Lions' 2021 schedule is tied for the 6th most difficult in the league. (Teams they will play this year went a combined 143-127-2 last season.) Hardly seems fair. Looking for a chance at a victory? Circle October 17th, the day the Lions host the Bengals, as a potential "W." Regular Season WinsArizona CardinalsOver 8.5 Wins +113Under 8.5 Wins -134Atlanta FalconsOver 7.5 Wins -145Under 7.5 Wins +122Baltimore RavensOver 10.5 Wins -177Under 10.5 Wins +147Buffalo Bills Over 10.5 Wins -164Under 10.5 Wins +137Carolina PanthersOver 7.5 Wins -107Under 7.5 Wins -111Chicago Bears Over 7.5 Wins +105Under 7.5 Wins -125Cincinnati BengalsOver 6.5 Wins -101Under 6.5 Wins -118Cleveland Browns Over 10.5 Wins +101Under 10.5 Wins -120Dallas CowboysOver 9.5 Wins +102Under 9.5 Wins -121Denver BroncosOver 8.5 Wins -120Under 8.5 Wins +101Detroit Lions Over 5 Wins -101Under 5 Wins -117Indianapolis ColtsOver 9.5 Wins -139Under 9.5 Wins +117Jacksonville Jaguars Over 6.5 Wins +108Under 6.5 Wins -129Kansas City ChiefsOver 12.5 Wins +117Under 12.5 Wins -139Las Vegas RaidersOver 6.5 Wins -183Under 6.5 Wins +152Los Angeles ChargersOver 9.5 Wins +130Under 9.5 Wins -155Los Angeles RamsOver 10.5 Wins +120Under 10.5 Wins -143Miami Dolphins Over 9.5 Wins +143Under 9.5 Wins -171Minnesota Vikings Over 8.5 Wins -187Under 8.5 Wins +155New England Patriots Over 9.5 Wins -105Under 9.5 Wins -113New Orleans SaintsOver 9.5 Wins +128Under 9.5 Wins -153New York Giants Over 7.5 Wins +117Under 7.5 Wins -139New York JetsOver 6 Wins +105Under 6 Wins -125Pittsburgh SteelersOver 8.5 Wins +116Under 8.5 Wins -138Philadelphia EaglesOver 6.5 Wins -144Under 6.5 Wins +121San Francisco 49ers Over 10.5 Wins +118Under 10.5 Wins -140Seattle SeahawksOver 9.5 Wins -144Under 9.5 Wins +121Tampa Bay Buccaneers Over 11.5 Wins -143Under 11.5 Wins +120Tennessee Titans Over 9 Wins -134Under 9 Wins +113Washington Football TeamOver 8.5 Wins -114Under 8.5 Wins -104

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Sunday Night MLB: Chicago White Sox vs Milwaukee Brewers Preview and Odds - 07/25/2021

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Jul 25, 2021

Sunday MLB ESPN Preview: Chicago White Sox versus the Milwaukee Brewers.The Milwaukee Brewers host the Chicago White Sox on ESPN at 7:08 PM ET in the final game of their three-game series. The Brewers have won the first two games after a 6-1 victory yesterday. The recently acquired Rowdy Tellez clubbed solo home runs in the sixth and eighth innings to lead the way. He went 3-4 with three runs batted in. Milwaukee traded for the first baseman from the Toronto Blue Jays on July 6th. The Brewers have won five of their last seven games to improve their record to 58-41. They are first place in the National League Central, 6 1/2 games ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals.Milwaukee is scoring 4.4 runs per game, with a .223 batting average, .305 on-base percentage, and an OPS of .687. Avisail Garcia leads the team with 17 home runs and 58 RBIs. He has a .253 batting average. Luke Urias is second on the team with 13 homers and 45 RBIs. He is hitting .237. Christian Yelich has disappointed this season with a .240 batting average, six home runs, and 28 RBIs.Manager Craig Counsell pitches Brandon Woodruff tonight. The right-hander allowed two runs in 5 2/3 innings of work in Cincinnati in his last start last Saturday. He has a 7-4 record this season with a 2.04 ERA and a 0.83 WHIP in 19 starts. The Brewers bullpen has a 3.66 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. They have earned 25 saves and blown 16 of their save opportunities. Chicago has lost three games in a row to drop their record to a 58-40 mark. They are in first place in the American League Central, nine games ahead of the Cleveland Indians. The White Sox are scoring 5.0 runs per game this season with a .254 batting average, .331 on-base percentage, and an OPS of .749. Tim Anderson leads the team with a .304 batting average. He has added nine home runs and 36 RBIs. Jose Abreau’s 18 home runs and 75 RBIs are tops on the squad. He is hitting .256. Yoan Moncada has a .275 batting average with eight home runs and 44 RBIs. Eloy Jimenez and Nick Madrigal are on the 60-day disabled list. Yasmani Grandal went on the 10-day disabled list three weeks ago with a knee injury.Manager Tony LaRussa turns to Lance Lynn in his starting rotation. The right-hander last pitched on Monday when he allowed one run in seven innings against Minnesota. He has a 9-3 record with a 1.94 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP in 27 starts. The Chicago bullpen has a 4.22 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. They have earned 26 saves and blown 16 of their save opportunities. The White Sox continue their seven-game road trip by beginning a four-game swing in Kansas City against the Royals tomorrow. The Brewers get tomorrow off before starting a six-game road trip with a three-game series in Pittsburgh.DraftKings lists the White Sox as a -160 money line favorite with a total of 7.5.

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CONCACAF Gold Cup Quarterfinals Preview - 07/25/2021

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Jul 25, 2021

Sunday CONCACAF Gold Cup: Quarterfinals Preview.The knockout stage of the CONCACAF Gold Cup continues on Sunday with the final two quarterfinals matches at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Both matches are on FS1.Canada plays Costa Rica in the opening match at 7 PM ET. Les Rouges settled for second place in Group B after a 1-0 loss to the United States last Sunday. They conceded the lone goal in the opening minute of the match but could never level the score. Canada opened the tournament with a 4-1 victory against Martinique. They followed that up with a 4-1 win against Haiti. The Canucks have scored eight times in this event while conceding three goals. Les Rouges won the Gold Cup in 2000, and they find themselves amidst a golden generation of talent. Canada has not lost to a team from the CONCACAF region since 2019 before their loss to the Stars and Stripes last week. They entered this event with six straight victories with a 31 to 1 goal margin. Manager John Herman is without two of his best players for this tournament. Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies and Lille’s Jonathan David are training with their professional teams. The Canucks have established depth with Vancouver White Cap’s Lucas Cavallini and Turkish Super League star Cyle Larin leading a potent Canadian attack. Canada ranks 70th in the world by FIFA and 41st in the ELO ratings.Costa Rica completed their perfect group stage campaign with a 1-0 victory against Jamaica on Tuesday. Bryan Ruiz scored the winning goal in the 53rd minute. The Ticos won the match despite playing with ten men for the final 18 minutes. Leonel Moreira got suspended for this game after being issued a red card in the 72nd minute. Costa Rica defeated Guadeloupe, 3-1, in their opening match in this tournament. They then beat Suriname, 2-1, in their second match. They have scored six times and conceded two goals. The Ticos reached the quarterfinals of the 2014 World Cup. After reaching the semifinals of the 2017 Gold Cup, Costa Rica lost in a penalty shootout to Mexico in the quarterfinals of the 2019 Gold Cup. They have reached the knockout quarterfinals stage of this tournament six straight times. The Ticos were winless in their last six matches in international play entering this event. They lost on penalty kicks again to Mexico in the semifinals of the CONCACAF Nations League on June 3rd. Joel Campbell leads the attack with 20 goals in 102 caps for the team. Midfielders Celso Borges and Allan Cruz form the foundation in the midfield. Borges plays professionally in Spain, and Cruz plays for FC Cincinnati in the MLS. Paris Saint-German goalkeeper Keylor Navas is not on this roster as he prepares for the upcoming Ligue 1 season. FIFA ranks Costa Rica 50th in the world. The ELO ratings place them 51st. MGM lists this match as a pick ‘em with the total set at 2.Jamaica plays the USMNT in the nightcap at 9:30 PM ET. The Reggae Boyz had already qualified for the knockout stage before the loss to Costa Rica by winning their first two group stage matches. Jamaica opened the tournament with a 2-0 victory against Suriname. They followed that up with a 2-1 victory against Guadeloupe on Friday. They have scored four times and conceded twice in their three matches. The Reggae Boyz have reached three straight semifinals in this competition with two-second place finishes in 2015 and 2017. Jamaica was unbeaten in 11 straight group stage matches in the Gold Cup before their loss to the Ticos on Tuesday. The team entered this event winless in their last four games, although all four games were friendlies. Manager Theodore Whitmore aggressively recruits European professionals who meet the eligibility requirements to represent the Jamaican national team. This roster consists primarily of players who play in the MLS, with a few players who compete in Europe. MLS’s Philadelphia Union is represented with three players in forward Cory Burke, defender Alvas Powell, and Andre Blake, who was named the top keeper in the league last season. Bayer Leverkusen wing Leon Bailey plays upfront. Miami FC midfielders Lamar Walker and Devon Williams patrol the middle of the field. The Reggae Boyz rank 45th in the world by FIFA and 61st in the ELO ratings.Shaquell Moore scored the opening goal in the first minute against Canada to give the USMNT their third victory in their three group stage matches. The Yanks began the tournament with a 1-0 win against Haiti before a 6-1 thumping against Martinique in their second match. The USMNT has scored eight times and conceded only one goal. The Stars and Stripes claimed the CONCACAF Nations League title last month with a 3-2 victory in extra time against Mexico. The USMNT won the Gold Cup for the seventh time in 2017. They finished in second place behind Mexico in the 2019 Gold Cup. Manager Gregg Berhalter is testing his B team at this event, with many of the players that lifted the trophy last month now training with their professional teams. Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic, Borussia Dortmund’s Giovanni Reyna, Werner Bremen’s Josh Sargent, and Manchester City’s Zack Steffan will not compete. Nineteen of the 23 players on Berhalter’s roster play on an MLS squad, led by Orlando City striker Daryl Dike. The Yanks enter the knockout stage on an 11-1-1 run in their last 13 matches. They have not lost on home soil since an upset loss to Venezuela in a friendly on June 9th, 2019. In their last 12 games in the United States, the USMNT has scored 48 goals and has conceded only five times, with eight clean sheets. FIFA ranks the USA at 20th in the world. The ELO ratings place them 22nd. MGM lists the USMNT as a -1 goal favorite with an over/under of 2.5.

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Sunday MLB: New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox Preview and Odds - 07/25/2021

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Jul 25, 2021

Sunday MLB TBS Preview: New York Yankees versus the Boston Red Sox.The Boston Red Sox host the New York Yankees on TBS at 1:10 PM ET in the final game of their four-game series. New York won their first game in this series yesterday with a 4-3 comeback victory. The Yankees were down 3-0 with two outs in the 8th inning before Brett Gardner clubbed an RBI single that knocked starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi out of the game. Rougned Odor’s two-run double later in the inning gave the Bronx Bombers the 4-3 lead. Aroldis Chapman struck out Kike Hernandez in the bottom of the ninth inning with Boston runners on second and third to claim his 18th save of the season.The Yankees have won five of their last seven games to raise their record to 51-46 on the season. They remain in third place in the American League East, eight games behind the Red Sox.New York scores 4.2 runs per game with a .235 batting average, .319 on-base percentage, and an OPS of .714. Aaron Judge leads the team with a .282 batting average, 21 home runs, and 47 runs batted in. Giancarlo Stanton has a .261 batting average, 16 home runs, and 46 RBIs. D.J. LeMahieu has a .266 batting average, seven homers, and 37 RBIs.Manager Aaron Boone turns to Domingo German in his starting rotation this afternoon. The right-hander comes off four innings of work at home, where he allowed two runs in his last start against Philadelphia on Tuesday. German has a 4-5 record with a 4.71 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. He is supported by a bullpen that has a 3.62 ERA with a 1.19 WHIP. The New York pen has collected 23 saves with 11 blown opportunities. The Yankees hope to have Gio Urshela activated from the COVID list for this game. Aaron Judge and Kyle Higashioka are expected to join the team today to fly to Tampa Bay for their next series, with their coming off the COVID list coming soon. There is no update yet on the status of Wandy Peralta, who was one of the six Yankee players who went into COVID quarantine last week. Relievers Nestor Cortes and Jonathan Loaisiga got activated on Friday. First baseman Luke Voigt is still on the disabled list from the knee injury he suffered last week. Boone hopes that catcher Gary Sanchez will be back in the lineup after experiencing back spasms the last two days.Boston had won four straight games before their loss yesterday. The Red Sox have a 60-38 record, which places them in a tie for first place with Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East. Boston has trailed in 31 of their 60 victories. They have won nine of their 12 games against the Yankees this season. Manager Alex Cora’s team averages 5.1 runs per game, with a .258 batting average, .316 On-Base Percentage, and an OPS of .761. Xander Bogaerts leads the team with a .311 batting average. He has added 15 home runs and 52 RBIs. Rafael Devers leads the BoSox with 26 homers and 80 RBIs. He is hitting .282. J.D. Martinez is hitting .302 with 20 home runs and 64 RBIs.Martin Perez takes the ball for Boston this afternoon. The left-hander has a 7-6 record with a 4.16 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP in 19 starts. He pitched last Sunday in Yankee Stadium against New York, allowing three runs in 4 innings of work. The Red Sox bullpen has a 3.66 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. The pen has collected 31 saves but blown 14 save opportunities after yesterday’s setback.DraftKings lists Boston as a -135 money line favorite, with the total set at 10.5.

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Funny Thing, Those NFL Playoffs

by Will Rogers

Sunday, Jul 25, 2021

You figure if your team is good enough to make it in last year, with some upgrades through the draft, free agency and trades you’d be able to return the following year. But every season roughly half of the teams fall by the wayside. Out with the old, in with the new. So if form holds this coming season, about seven of the 14 qualifiers from last winter will be on the outs, replaced by .  . . who knows?Here are the betting odds, with the three teams who didn’t qualify last season mostly likely to crash the party this time; and the three longest shots among 2020-21’s non-qualifiers.Shortest odds for getting in:San Francisco 49ers (-175) – It’s all about the quarterback, isn’t it? But no one knows right now who SF likes at the position. Always-injured Jimmy Garoppolo somehow remains on the roster, even as first-round draft pick Trey Lance waits his turn. The NFC West sent two teams (Rams, Seahawks) to the playoffs last season, and with seven teams in the post-season mix it’s possible that three teams could make it. The Niners would have to flip a 6-10 record to 10-7 to have a shot, and oddsmakers like their chances of doing just that.Dallas Cowboys (-150) – The Boys are another 6-10 team starving for a playoff berth, Jerry Jones figuring that a 26-year Super Bowl drought is long enough. The good news is that QB Dak Prescott has signed that long-sought contract extension and appears recovered from that ankle injury that shortened his 2020 season. The better news is that the Cowboys play in the NFC East, where Mediocrity is king and 10-7 is likely to be good enough to win it.Miami Dolphins (+130) – That 30-point loss to Buffalo in the season finale last year notwithstanding, the Dolphins feel like the arrow is pointing up. With New England on the skids, it doesn’t appear that the AFC East is a locked door these days. Miami is all in on QB Tua Tagovailoa, after rumors that the Fins would seek to upgrade the position. Speaking of upgrades, Miami has nibbled at the margins, notable wide receiver, but it’s basically the same cast as last season’s.Teams with longest odds to crack the playoff party:Cincinnati Bengals (+450) – In a nutshell, here’s the Bengals’ problem: The other three teams in the AFC North – Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Cleveland – had a combined record of 34-14 last season, and all three made the playoffs. At least one of those three will have to have serious engine trouble to open the door for Cincinnati. There are a few encouraging signs, however. QB Joe Burrow appears to be recovered nicely from last year’s season-ending knee injury, and the Bengals uncharacteristically signed 10 free agents.New York Jets (+500) – See you later, Sam Darnold. Hello, Zach Wilson. Welcome to a team that had one of the worst offenses in the NFL last season. Even if Wilson is the real deal, it’s hard to see how he makes the offense considerably better, considering the talent gap at so many spots. Job One for new coach Robert Saleh is making sure that the offensive line is good enough to keep Wilson upright and healthy for the best part of 17 games. Even then, getting to double digits in wins looks like a pipedream.Houston Texans (+750) – Was it all that long ago that Houston had the Defensive Player of the Year (J.J. Watt), one of the best quarterbacks in the league (Deshaun Watson) and one of the NFL’s best wideouts (DeAndre Hopkins)? With Watt and Hopkins in Arizona, and Watson plotting ways to stay out of jail, the cupboard is pretty bare in south Texas. For the record, 30-something Tyrod Taylor will be the fill-in at QB while the front office spends most of the season scouting college signal-callers.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: MLB and CONCACAF Gold Cup Previews and Odds - 07/25/2021

by Big Al Staff

Sunday, Jul 25, 2021

The Sunday sports card features action in MLB and the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Fifteen games are on the MLB docket. Two games begin the card at 1:05 PM ET. Philadelphia hosts Atlanta as a -180 money line favorite with the total set at 8.5 (all MLB odds from DraftKings). Aaron Nola pitches for the Phillies against Touki Toussaint of the Braves. Baltimore plays at home against Washington as a -120 money line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The Orioles pitch John Means against the Nationals’ Paulo Espino. Five games start at 1:10 PM ET. Tampa Bay completes their visit at Cleveland as a -150 money-line road favorite with a total of 10. Shane McClanahan pitches for the Rays against Triston McKenzie of the Indians. Cincinnati is at home against St. Louis as a -170 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. Boston hosts the New York Yankees on TBS as a -140 money line favorite with a total of 10.5. Martin Perez pitches for the Red Sox against Domingo German of the Yankees. San Diego plays at Miami as a -155 money line road favorite with an over/under of 6.5. The Padres send out Yu Darvish to pitch against a starting pitcher yet to be named. The New York Mets are at home against Toronto as a -130 money line favorite with a total of 9. New York pitches the newly acquired Rich Hill against the Blue Jays Ross Stripling. Three games start at 2:10 PM ET. Houston plays at home against Texas as a -210 money line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Astros pitch Zack Greinke against the Rangers Taylor Hearn. Detroit concludes their series at Kansas City as a -115 money line road favorite with a total of 10. Minnesota hosts the Los Angeles Angels as a -115 money line favorite with an over/under of 10. Bailey Ober pitches for the Twins against Jaime Barria of the Angels. The Chicago Cubs are at home against Arizona at 2:20 PM ET as a -180 money line favorite with a total of 8. The Cubs pitch Trevor Williams against the Diamondbacks Caleb Smith. San Francisco is at home against Pittsburgh at 4:05 PM ET as a -170 money line favorite with an over/under of 8. Alex Wood pitches for the Giants against J.T. Brubaker of the Pirates. Two games start at 4:10 PM ET. The Los Angeles Dodgers play at home against Colorado as a -180 money line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Dodgers pitch Josiah Gray against the Rockies Jon Gray. Oakland concludes their series with Seattle as a -125 money line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Cole Irvin pitches for the A’s against Marcos Gonzales of the Mariners. The Chicago White Sox plays at Milwaukee on ESPN at 7:08 PM ET. The White Sox pitch Lance Lynn against the Brewers’ Brandon Woodruff. Milwaukee is a -140 money line favorite with a total of 7.The knockout stage of the CONCACAF Gold Cup continues with the final two matches in the quarterfinals. Both games take place on FS1 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Canada plays Costa Rica at 7 PM ET in a pick ‘em match with an over/under of 2. The United States Men’s National Team plays Jamaica in the nightcap at 9:30 PM ET. The Stars and Stripes are a -1 goal line favorite with a total of 2.5. 

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Saturday MLB: New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox Preview and Odds - 07/24/2021

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Jul 24, 2021

Saturday MLB FS1 Afternoon Preview: New York Yankees versus the Boston Red Sox.The Boston Red Sox host the New York Yankees on FS1 at 4:05 PM ET. Boston won the first two games of this series after their 6-2 victory last night. For the second straight night, the Red Sox spotted the Yankees the early lead. Rafael Devers gave Boston the lead with a two-run homer in the fifth inning against Gerrit Cole. Devers then blasted a three-run homer in the seventh inning to extend the Red Sox lead. Yacksel Rios got the win out of the Boston bullpen.The Red Sox have won four straight games to improve their record to 60-38. They are one game ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays for first place in the American League East. Boston has trailed in 31 of their 60 victories. They have won nine of their 11 games against the Yankees this season. Manager Alex Cora’s team averages 5.1 runs per game, with a .258 batting average, .317 On-Base Percentage, and an OPS of .761. Xander Bogaerts leads the team with a .312 batting average. He has added 15 home runs and 52 RBIs. Rafael Devers leads the BoSox with 26 homers and 79 RBIs. He is hitting .280. J.D. Martinez is hitting .302 with 20 home runs and 64 RBIs.Nathan Eovaldi takes the ball for Boston this afternoon. The right-hander has a 9-5 record with a 3.57 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP in 19 starts. He pitched last Saturday in Yankee Stadium against New York when he allowed one run and two hits in 5 innings of work. The Red Sox bullpen has a 3.62 ERA and a 1.375 WHIP. The pen has collected 31 saves but blown 13 save opportunities.Last night’s loss lowered the Yankees record to 50-46 on the season. The Bronx Bombers remain in third place in the American League East, nine games behind the Red Sox.New York scores 4.2 runs per game with a .234 batting average, .319 on-base percentage, and an OPS of .714. Aaron Judge leads the team with a .282 batting average, 21 home runs, and 47 runs batted in. Giancarlo Stanton has a .261 batting average, 16 home runs, and 46 RBIs. D.J. LeMahieu has a .266 batting average, seven homers, and 37 RBIs.Manager Aaron Boone turns to Jameson Taillon in his starting rotation. The right-hander comes off 5 1/3 scoreless innings at home against the Red Sox last Sunday night. Taillon has a 5-4 record with a 4.60 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP in 18 starts. He is supported by a bullpen that has a 3.64 ERA with a 1.18 WHIP. The New York pen has collected 22 saves with 11 blown opportunities. The Yankees are still undermanned from the COVID outbreak that impacted six players last week. Hitters Aaron Judge, Kyle Higashioka, and Gio Urshela, and pitcher Wandy Peralta remain quarantine. Relievers Nestor Cortes and Jonathan Loaisiga were activated yesterday. First baseman Luke Voigt is still on the disabled list from the knee injury he suffered last week.DraftKings lists Boston as a -180 money line favorite, with the total set at 9.

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Saturday MLB: Tampa Bay Rays vs. Cleveland Indians Preview and Odds - 07/24/2021

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Jul 24, 2021

Saturday MLB FS1 Night Preview: Tampa Bay Rays at the Cleveland Indians.The Tampa Bay Rays play at the Cleveland Indians in the second game of the FS1 Saturday doubleheader at 7:10 PM ET. The Rays won the first two games of this weekend series after a 10-5 victory last night. Nelson Cruz banged his 20th home run of the season and his first in a Rays uniform after being acquired in a trade on Thursday. Matt Wisler got the victory for Tampa Bay from two innings pitched in relief.The Rays have won four in a row to raise their record to 59-39. They are in second place in the American League East, one game behind the Boston Red Sox. Tampa Bay continued their activity before the trade deadline next Friday by trading starting pitcher Rich Hill to the New York Mets for pitcher Tommy Hunter and minor league catcher Matt Dyer.Tampa Bay averages 4.9 runs per game, with a .232 batting average, a .309 on-base percentage, and an OPS of .708. Brandon Lowe leads the team with 21 home runs. Randy Arozarena is hitting .254 with 13 homers and 46 RBIs. Auston Meadows has 16 homers and a team-leading 66 RBIs. Manager Kevin Cash opts for Drew Rasmussen to pitch as an opener tonight. The right-hander has only started as an opener one other time this season in his 23 appearances. He has a 0-1 record with a 4.55 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP in 29 2/3 innings. Ryan Yarbrough is expected to be Cash’s bulk pitcher tonight after pitching on Monday. The lefty has a 6-4 record with a 4.59 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. The Rays’ bullpen has a 3.28 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP. They have earned 27 saves and blown ten of their save opportunities. Cleveland got a three-run homer from Jose Ramirez last night in a losing cause. The future Guardians have lost 14 of their last 20 games to fall to a 48-47 mark. The currently-named Indians are in second place in the American League Central, nine games behind the first-place Chicago White Sox. Manager Terry Francona’s team averages 4.3 runs per game, with a .229 batting average, a .291 on-base percentage, and an OPS of .688. Ramirez leads the way with 20 home runs and 56 RBIs. Franmil Reyes has added 17 home runs and 45 RBIs that accompany his .263 batting average. Cesar Hernandez has 16 home runs, 43 RBIs, and a .227 batting average. J.C. Mejia gets the start for Francona after giving up four runs in 4 1/3 innings in his last start at Houston on Monday. He did strike out a career-high eight batters in that effort. He has a 1-5 record this season with a 7.53 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. The Cleveland bullpen has a 3.52 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP this season. They have earned 25 saves and blown 11 of their save opportunities. DraftKings lists Tampa Bay as a -160 money line road favorite with an over/under of 10.5.

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CONCACAF Gold Cup Quarterfinals Preview and Odds - 07/24/2021

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Jul 24, 2021

Saturday CONCACAF Gold Cup: Quarterfinals Preview.The knockout stage of the CONCACAF Gold Cup begins on Saturday with two quarterfinals matches at the University of Phoenix at Glendale, Arizona. El Salvador plays Qatar in the opening match at 7:20 PM ET. La Selecta comes off a 1-0 loss to Mexico last Sunday. Manager Hugo Perez’s team did not need a result in that match after clinching a spot in the quarterfinals with two victories in their opening two matches. El Salvador defeated Guatemala in their first group stage match before beating Trinidad and Tobago by the same score in their second game. They have scored four goals and conceded one time in their three games.La Selecta will be playing their second knockout stage match in their last six Gold Cups. This group may be El Salvador’s best national team in years after a recent successful run in their World Cup qualifying matches. They have eight victories in their last ten matches over a span where they scored 23 goals. They conceded only three times in their most recent ten games, and they have nine clean sheets in their last 13 matches. Seattle Sounders midfielder Alex Roldan offers a creative spark in the midfield. Toronto FC center back Eriq Zavaleta anchors the backline. FIFA ranks El Salvador 69th in the world. The ELO ratings place them 74th.Qatar claimed first place in Group D with a 2-0 victory against Honduras on Tuesday. Homam Ahmed scored their opening goal in the 25th minute before Abdulaziz Hatem scoring the final goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time in the second half. The Maroon opened the tournament with a 3-3 draw with Panama. They defeated Grenada, 4-0, in their second group stage match last Saturday. Qatar has scored nine times in their three games and allowed three goals. The Maroon was a guest to participate in this North American tournament as preparation for their squad when they compete and host the 2021 World Cup next November. Most of the roster consists of club-level players in Qatar. Manager Felix Sanchez’s squad is led by forward Akram Afif, who has scored 19 goals in 64 caps for the national team. Forward Hassan Al-Haydos is the all-time leader in caps with 141. The Maroon entered the event with four straight victories from friendlies and World Cup qualifying matches. FIFA ranks Qatar 58th in the world. The ELO ratings place them 45th in the world. MGM lists Qatar as a -0.5 goal line favorite with a total of 2.Honduras plays Mexico on FS1 at 10:30 PM ET. Los Catrachos had already clinched a spot in the quarterfinals with two victories in their opening two matches before losing to Qatar, 2-0. They Los opened the tournament with a 4-0 win against Grenada. Honduras followed that up with a 3-2 victory against Panama last Saturday. They have scored seven times and have conceded four goals in their three group stage matches. Los Catrachos competed in the 2010 and 2014 World Cups before not qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. They finished last in their group in the 2019 Gold Cup with only three points. Honduras finished in third place in the CONCACAF Nations League that concluded last month. Los Catrachos have an experienced back line led by Houston Dynamo defender Maynor Figueroa. The 41-year-old captain is the national team’s all-time leader with 168 caps entering this event. Houston Dynamo midfielder Boniek Garcia had 128 caps for the squad when the tournament started. FIFA ranks Honduras 67th in the world. The ELO ratings place them 58th. Mexico won Group B with their victory against El Salvador last Sunday. Luis Alfonso Rodrigo scored their winning goal in the 26th minute. El Tri opened their defense of the 2019 Gold Cup title with a 0-0 draw with Trinidad and Tobago. They followed that up with a 3-0 victory against Guadeloupe. Mexico has scored four goals and has yet to concede a goal in their three matches. Manager Gerardo Martino has assembled most of the nation’s top players to compete in this event. The notable exceptions on the roster were forwards Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez and Raul Jimenez, and goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa. Mexico lost for Napoli forward Hirving “Chucky” Lozano for the tournament after incurring a head injury in the opening match against Trinidad and Tobago. Mexico is led by Porto forward Jesus Corona, Atletico Madrid midfielder Hector Herrera, and Ajax defender Edson Alvarez. El Tri is ranked 11th in the world by FIFA. The ELO ratings place them 15th. MGM lists Mexico as a -1 goal line favorite with an over/under of 2.5.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: MLB and CONCACAF Gold Cup Previews and Odds - 07/24/2021

by Big Al Staff

Saturday, Jul 24, 2021

The Saturday sports card features action in MLB and the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Fifteen games are on the MLB docket, with two games starting in the afternoon. The Chicago Cubs host Arizona at 2:20 PM ET. The Cubs send out Alec Mills as their starting pitcher against the Diamondbacks Merrill Kelly. Chicago is a -150 money line favorite (all MLB odds from DraftKings). Boston plays at home against the New York Yankees on FS1 at 4:05 PM ET. The Red Sox pitch Nathan Eovaldi against the Yankees’ Jameson Taillon. Boston is a -165 money line favorite with the total set at 9.Philadelphia is at home against Atlanta at 6:05 PM ET. Vincent Velasquez pitches for the Phillies against the Braves Drew Smyly. Philadelphia is a -125 money line favorite with an over/under of 95. San Diego visits Miami in the third game of their four-game series at 6:10 PM ET. The Padres pitch Ryan Weathers against the Marlins’ Ross Detwiler. San Diego is a -135 money line road favorite with a total of 8. Washington plays at Baltimore in Game 2 of their weekend series at 6:35 PM ET. Max Scherzer pitches for the Nationals against Matt Harvey of the Orioles. Washington is a -210 money line road favorite with an over/under of 9.5.Seven games start at 7:10 PM ET. Tampa Bay visits Cleveland in the third game in their four-game series on FS1. Jean Carlos Mejia pitches for the Indians against a starting pitcher yet to be named. The Rays are a -125 money line road favorite with a total of 9. Houston is at home against Texas as a -195 money line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Astros pitcher Framber Valdez against the Rangers Kyle Gibson. Milwaukee is at home against the Chicago White Sox as a -125 money line favorite with a total of 7. Corbin Burnes pitches for the Brewers against Carlos Rodon of the White Sox. Minnesota hosts the Los Angeles Angels as a -130 money line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Twins pitch Jose Berrios against the Angels Patrick Sandoval. Toronto is at New York to play the Mets as a -130 money line road favorite with a total of 8. Hyun Jin Ryu pitches for the Blue Jays against Taijuan Walker of the Mets. Kansas City plays at home against Detroit as a -125 money line favorite with an over/under of 10. The Royals pitch Carlos Hernandez against the Tigers’ Carlos Mize. Cincinnati is at home against St. Louis as a -180 money line favorite with a total of 9.5. Luis Castillo pitches for the Reds against Jake Woodford.San Francisco hosts Pittsburgh at 9:05 PM ET. The Giants pitch Kevin Gausman against the Pirates Will Crowe. San Francisco is a -280 money line favorite with a total of 8. The Los Angeles Dodgers are at home against Colorado at 9:10 PM ET. Tony Gonsolin pitches for the Dodgers against Kyle Freeland of the Rockies. Los Angeles is a -255 money line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Oakland plays at Seattle at 10:10 PM ET. The A’s pitch Chris Bassitt against the Mariners Logan Gilbert. Oakland is a -130 money line road favorite with a total of 7.5.The CONCACAF quarterfinals begin on Saturday with two matches at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Phoenix, Arizona. El Salvador plays Qatar on FS2 at 7:20 PM ET. Qatar is a -0.5 goal line favorite with an over/under of 2 at MGM. Honduras plays Mexico on FS1 at 10:30 PM ET. El Tri is a -1 goal line favorite with a total of 2.5.

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2021 CFL Preview: Calgary Stampeders

by Sean Murphy

Friday, Jul 23, 2021

We'll wrap up our 2021 CFL West Division team previews with a perennial Grey Cup contender in the Calgary Stampeders. Here's what you can expect from the Stamps this season.The sky is the limit for Calgary after it went 12-6 and finished second in the West Division in the face of plenty of adversity in 2019. The Stamps were forced to go without QB Bo Levi Mitchell for an extended period and when he returned it was too little, too late as they fell to the eventual Grey Cup champion Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the West semi-final. Mitchell is back healthy and ready to guide an explosive, albeit new-look Stamps offense in 2021. There's reason for concern on the offensive line, which is nothing new in Calgary. With such a prized talent like Mitchell under center, the Stamps need the o-line to be better than just 'good enough' and certainly made a move to bolster that line with the acquisition of center Sean McEwen. As the anchor of the Argos o-line, McEwen played in all 18 games in each season from 2016-2019. RB Ka'Deem Carey will be tasked with taking over the backfield duties from Don Jackson who was lost to free agency. Carey had gotten off to a fine start in 2019 before breaking his arm and missing the remainder of the season. There may not be a lot of household names, but the Stampeders wide receiving corps is brimming with talent. WR Markeith Ambles will make his long-awaited return to the fold after missing the entire 2019 season due to an undisclosed injury. SB Kamar Jorden also missed the bulk of the 2019 season due to an ACL tear but did return for the playoffs. Back in 2018 he racked up 944 receiving yards and caught 10 touchdown passes. No fewer than three former Stampeders defensive starters have moved on to the NFL so there will be plenty of turnover on that side of the football entering 2021 as well. That's not to say the cupboard is bare, however - far from it, in fact. Calgary still boasts plenty of veteran talent led by the likes of SAM LB Jamar Wall, LB Cory Greenwood and DL Derek Wiggan. There are some question marks in the secondary but if the Stamps can apply as much pressure on opposing quarterbacks as we think they can, that defensive backfield should hold up just fine. Despite the roster shake-up, Calgary is being given the benefit of the doubt by most sportsbooks, currently priced around 6-1 to win the Grey Cup. 

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2021 CFL Preview: Winnipeg Blue Bombers

by Sean Murphy

Friday, Jul 23, 2021

In our fourth installment of 2021 CFL team previews, here's a look at what to expect from the defending Grey Cup champion Winnipeg Blue Bombers this season.Interestingly, the Blue Bombers narrowly avoided disaster in 2019, finishing the regular season 11-7 before catching fire in the playoffs and running the table on their way to an improbable Grey Cup championship.The Bombers are well positioned to challenge for the Grey Cup again this season with the nucleus from that championship team remaining intact and still under the guidance of head coach Mike O'Shea. In keeping with CFL tradition, the Bombers welcome a former starting quarterback to take over the reins as offensive coordinator with Buck Pierce getting the nod. Pierce takes over from Paul LaPolice, who is now the head coach in Ottawa. LaPolice squeezed every bit of production he could out of this dare-I-say middle of the road offense talent-wise. Can Pierce continue the offense on the same path in 2021?QB Zach Collaros and RB Andrew Harris return to the fold to lead the offense. Both do have plenty of miles on them at this point of their careers, however, and the Bombers will obviously need them to stay healthy to contend in a crowded West Division. I would suggest that Winnipeg doesn't have quite the same wealth of talent at the wide receiver position as perhaps the Lions, Riders and Stampeders possess. Defensively, the Bombers have few weaknesses, keyed by what should once again be one of the league's most-feared pass rushes. That unit is anchored by Willie Jefferson, the league's reigning Most Outstanding Defensive Player after leading the CFL in sacks and forced fumbles in 2019. A number of Bombers defensive players trained together in the offseason - you might not find a closer-knit defensive group in the league. Despite serving as defending champions, the Bombers actually enter the 2021 campaign with a chip on their shoulder thanks to some considering their 2019 Grey Cup title a 'fluke'. Of course, the truth is that their title run was anything but a fluke and this team ranks as one of the league's most complete squads heading into the new season.Winnipeg is currently priced around 6-1 to repeat as Grey Cup champions. 

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