MLB’s Best Arms on Display this Week

The MLB betting schedule is loaded with aces to start the week. Four former Cy Young Award winners are all slated to take to the mound on Tuesday, with Johan Santana, Tim Lincecum, Jake Peavy, and Roy Halladay all on tap to start.

Santana (7-2, 1.77) gets the start against the Pirates on Tuesday, as the Mets continue a four-game series against the Bucs. In his last outing Santana went six innings against the Nationals and earned the win after allowing three runs on three hits while striking out 11. In two career starts at Pittsburgh’s PNC Park Santana is 2-0 with an 0.56 ERA.

Getting the start for the Pirates on Tuesday will be another lefty, Zach Duke (5-4, 2.75). Duke received a no-decision in his last start against the Cubs after giving up two runs on eight hits in seven innings. In two starts against the Mets last season Duke was 0-1 with a high 6.75 ERA.

Lincecum (4-1, 3.03) looks for a win over Washington on Tuesday after dominating the Braves in his last start. Against Atlanta, Lincecum pitched eight shutout innings, allowing only five hits with eight strikeouts. In his lone start against Washington last season he held the Nats to one run on five hits in seven innings.

Washington will send Craig Stammen (0-1, 5.56) to the mound on Tuesday for only his third Major League start. In his last outing Stammen took the loss after surrendering three runs on seven hits in five innings versus the Mets.

The Padres announced over the weekend that Peavy (5-5, 3.67) will get the start Tuesday despite recent trouble with right ankle tendinitis. Peavy turned the ankle while running the bases in a game against the Cubs on May 22. In his first start after suffering the injury he allowed four runs on eight hits in 6 1-3 innings in a win over Arizona. Peavy will face the Phillies on Tuesday for the first time since 2007.

The Phillies are expected to send minor leaguer Antonio Bastardo to the mound on Tuesday in place of injured starter Brett Myers. Myers needs hip surgery to repair a torn labrum and could be done for the season. Bastardo will be making his big-league debut after posting a 2-2 record and a 1.83 ERA at AA and a 1-0 record and a 2.08 ERA at AAA this season.

Shifting to the American League, Halladay (8-1, 2.63) returns to the mound for Toronto on Tuesday to face the Los Angeles Angels. Halladay should have picked up his ninth win in his last start after allowing three runs on eight hits in seven innings. Halladay left that game with the lead, but the Toronto bullpen couldn’t hold it and they lost 12-10 to the Orioles as a -150 favorite on the MLB odds. Halladay faced the Angels in early May and allowed only one run on six hits in eight innings in a win.

Opposing Halladay for the Angels will be lefthander Joe Saunders (6-3, 3.26). Saunders was tagged with a loss in his last start after giving up three runs in 6 2-3 innings against the White Sox. In four career starts against Toronto Saunders is 1-2 with a 3.62 ERA.