Streaking
Ervin Santana (9-7, 3.55 ERA), Los Angeles Angels
The Angels can’t seem to make up any ground on the division-leading Rangers. Taking advantage of solid performances from their starting hurlers would certainly help out. Ervin Santana is enjoying a fantastic July with a 2.30 ERA, but the Halos are just 1-3 in his four starts this month.
Santana, who sometimes has a habit of getting taken out of the park, has surrendered just two big flies in the 31 1/3 innings this month. Not surprisingly, the under is 4-0 in his last four outings and 7-3 in his last 10 trips to the bump.
Wade Davis (8-9, 4.32 ERA), Tampa Bay Rays
Davis, sometimes forgotten in TB’s stacked five-man rotation, is 3-0 in his last three starts with a 2.11 ERA. The under is 7-1 in the 24-year-old righty’s last eight starts.
Johnny Cueto (10-2, 3.18 ERA), Cincinnati Reds
It seems like we’re praising Cueto every five days in this space. He pitched eight innings of shut-out ball in his last start improving to 4-0 in his last six appearances.
“I went out there today just concentrating on my location more,” Cueto told reporters through a translator. “I wanted to make sure I did not go out there and over throw. I just feel better and better every time I go out there.”
The Reds are 13-7 in games started by Cueto, but they’ve never been priced higher than -174 with him on the bump.
Slumping
Phil Hughes (12-3, 4.04 ERA), New York Yankees
You wouldn’t be able to tell Phil Hughes was slumping if you just looked at the win-loss column. The Georgia native is 2-2 in his last five starts despite owning a 6.52 ERA over the same period.
The over is also 10-2 in his last 12 appearances.