If you're like some baseball bettors and look for big-name pitchers to bet on this weekend, you may want to skip over the Saturday schedule and go right to Sunday.
Saturday's pitching probables only boast a couple of big names, C.C. Sabathia and Pedro Martinez, and Martinez is nowhere near the reliable pitching option he used to be.
Sabathia is definitely back to his old self after a rough start to the season. Sabathia threw a complete-game shutout against the Twins last week, and he held San Diego to three runs over eight innings, with 10 strikeouts, in his last start.
Sabathia faces off against Chan Ho Park and the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday, while Martinez gets Ubaldo Jimenez and the Colorado Rockies. He opened as a -145 road moneyline favorite at online sportsbook .
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Sunday's pitching matchups are stacked with aces - often a preferred method of handicapping baseball games - including Cole Hamels, Scott Kazmir, Brandon Webb, Tim Lincecum, and Justin Verlander.
Hamels held the Boston Red Sox at bay in his last start, earning the win after allowing only two runs over seven strong innings. Opposing Hamels on Sunday will be inconsistent Angels starter Jered Weaver, who was roughed up for six runs in 6 1-3 innings against the Mets in his last start.
Kazmir lasted only 4 2-3 innings in his last start due to a high pitch count. However, Kazmir was effective, holding the Cubs to one run, while striking out seven. Brandon Backe goes up against Kazmir. The Astros starter is 0-3 with a 7.57 ERA in his last four starts.
Webb's recent troubles continued in his last start after he was ripped for seven runs in only 3 1-3 innings against Oakland. That was the first time this season Webb has allowed more than four earned runs in a game. Livan Hernandez starts for Minnesota against Webb on Sunday.
In his last start Hernandez held Washington to one run in seven innings to earn his first win since May 12. Between those two victories Hernandez's ERA rose by more than 1.5 runs.
Lincecum surrendered more than three runs for the first time this season in his last start, allowing four runs in seven innings in a no-decision against Detroit. Kyle Davies will try to remain perfect while pitching against Lincecum for Kansas City. Since getting called up from the minors in late May Davies is 3-0 with a 1.46 ERA in four starts.
Verlander may finally be figuring things out after posting another quality start last time out, holding San Francisco to two earned runs in six innings. He also had seven strikeouts in the no-decision.
Randy Wolf looks to get back on track for San Diego in that game after getting shelled for five runs in four innings last time out.
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