If you follow MLB baseball news, you probably paid attention to New York’s pursuit of Zack Greinke, the former Cy Young winner who was on the market in Kansas City last summer, but Greinke, who suffered from depression and anxiety issues, decided to shun the bright lights of the Bronx for Milwaukee. Greinke has been all over the place as of late, and now he’ll head to New York as the Brewers open a three-game set with the Yankees.
Brewers vs. Yankees Betting – Tuesday, 7:05 PM ET
Greinke (7-2, 4.77) whiffed 10 batters for the second straight game in a 5-1 win at home over Tampa Bay, scattering a run on four hits, and he never allowed a walk. That was coming off a six-run out in which he also struck out 10 in Chicago against the Cubs, and those who bet on MLB baseball wondered when Greinke was going to hit his stride after missing the beginning of the year with broken ribs. The 2009 Cy Young winner has shown glimpses of that form, and he just needs to be consistent, although Greinke has been receiving some great run support. The 27-year-old righty is 2-3 in 10 games (Seven starts) against the Yankees with a 5.27 ERA, and this is his first outing in the new Yankee Stadium.
Freddy Garcia (6-6, 3.30) gave up a pair of runs, but they weren’t earned in a 4-2 win in Cincinnati, and he also allowed three hits through seven innings, along with four strikeouts and a walk. Garcia has done an excellent job for the Yankees, who have suffered some injuries to their rotation, and you could make an argument that he has been the most consistent pitcher the Yankees have had all season. The 35-year-old has dropped both of his starts against the Brewers, posting a 3.38 ERA, and he is 4-4 in eight starts at home with a 3.68 ERA.
In what WWE fans would possibly label as a grudge match, look for the Yankees to be slight favorites at home on Tuesday as they would like to give Greinke a taste of what he has been missing in New York, although he has gotten some great support, both on and off the field, from his new teammates in Milwaukee. Greinke is also 2-2 in four road starts in 2011 with a 5.64 ERA, and he just hasn’t been steady away from Miller Park, where he is 5-0 despite an ERA of 4.26. If he doesn’t get the run support he needs on the road, Greinke has looked ordinary, while Garcia has been steady all season. Go with the Yankees at home in your betting picks.
