Daily tips for August 27

MLB for August 27

Philadelphia Phillies (59-71, 24-40 away) @ New York Mets (58-70, 26-36 home), Citi Field, New York, NY, Tuesday, August 27, 9.10am

While a fellow up-and-coming starter has taken the Big Apple by storm, rookie Zack Wheeler is starting to garner some well-deserved acclaim, too. Seeking a third straight win, Wheeler takes the mound opposite Cliff Lee as the New York Mets open a four-game set against the Philadelphia Phillies. After posting a 5.06 ERA in his first three starts, the 23-year-old Wheeler (6-2, 3.49 ERA) has compiled a 5-1 record and a 3.02 ERA in nine outings since the start of July. Still pitching in the shadow of Mets All-Star starter Matt Harvey, Wheeler has gone at least six innings in a season-best three straight starts and has four walks in that span – he averaged 3.1 in his first nine outings. After striking out a career-high 12 in a 4-1 win at San Diego on Aug. 15, Wheeler allowed three runs in 6 2/3 innings to beat Atlanta 5-3 on Tuesday.

Wheeler struggled in his only match-up against Philadelphia (59-71), yielding two runs and seven hits in a season low-tying 4 2/3 innings in a 5-4 win on July 20. I’m going with Lee (10-6, 3.16) to snap a season-worst four-game losing streak. He’s gone winless in his last six starts with a combined eight runs of support. The All-Star left-hander had a 4.62 ERA in that span but pitched well on Wednesday, surrendering two runs in seven innings in a 4-3 walk-off win over Colorado. He's had the Mets’ number over his career, going 5-1 with a 2.09 ERA in his first nine starts against them, before getting tagged for five runs in six innings of a 5-0 road loss on July 21. Lee could have an easier time on Monday against a Mets team that has been outscored 24-5 during a four-game losing streak. New York (58-70) was swept by Detroit last weekend, falling 11-3 in Sunday's finale.

Suggested bet: Phillies WIN (3.5 units @ $1.81) WIN, game total -7 (1.5 units @ $1.85) WIN (2-1)

Other tips

AL: Rays @ Royals WIN $2.10 WIN (1-11)

AL: Yankees @ Blue Jays WIN $1.93 WIN -9 $1.85 WIN (2-5)

AL: Athletics @ Tigers WIN $1.61 LOSE -8 $2.02 LOSE (8-6)

AL: Astros WIN $2.38 @ White Sox WIN (10-8)

AL: Rangers WIN $1.75 WIN @ Mariners +8 $1.80 WIN (8-3)

NL: Reds WIN $2.00 @ Cardinals LOSE (6-8)

NL: Giants +1.5 $1.73 LOSE @ Rockies -10.5 $1.87 WIN (1-6)

NL: Padres WIN $2.18 @ D'backs LOSE (1-6)

NL: Cubs @ Dodgers -1.5 $1.86 WIN (2-6)

EPL for August 26-27

Manchester United v Chelsea, Old Trafford, Manchester, UK, Tuesday, August 27, 5am

So on the 10th day of this new Premier League season comes the first big summit meeting of the season. This is a bold test for Manchester United’s new manager David Moyes (pictured) – as he pointed out, he was not done any favours when the fixture computer served up Jose Mourinho’s new Chelsea as his team’s opponents. Mourinho has been down a similar path. Nine years ago to the month, in his first coming as the Chelsea manager, his first competitive match in charge was against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea won on that day with a first-half goal from Eidur Gudjohnsen against a United team that included Eric Djemba-Djemba, Quinton Fortune and Liam Miller in the starting line up. Nine months later, Chelsea were champions of England for the first time in 50 years. In 42 Premier League matches between the two clubs, there have only been three goalless draws (April 1995; December 1998; May 2007).

Wayne Rooney will doubtless be a central figure regardless of whether he starts the match, is a substitute or is nowhere to be seen. Rumour has it that Chelsea will make a third offer for Rooney after this game is out of the way. The fact is that David Moyes has steadfastly maintained the position that Rooney will not be sold.  And who will be Mourinho’s choice for Chelsea up front? Fernando Torres sat out their league game against Aston Villa last Wednesday, but he's not started either of their two matches against Manchester United at Old Trafford since perpetrating the most glaring of misses in front of the Stretford End when Andre Villas Boas’ Chelsea were beaten 3-1 almost two years ago. When we see David Moyes in the home dug-out for this one it will be the time when it finally hits home that the Old Trafford guard has truly changed.

Suggested bet: Both Teams Score (2.5 units @ $1.61) LOSE, correct score 1-1 (0.5 units @ $5.25) LOSE (0-0)

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