Sam Clayton
Rest of his Card
10 dime - Phillies
I think it's fair to say that the Phillies have surpassed the Rockies and can rightfully deem themselves the hottest team in baseball. Philly has won 15 of their last 17 games and they are showing absolutely no signs of slowing down. Their pitching has been incredible, they're getting timely hitting (both situational and power) and they are doing all the little things in between the lines. Tonight, the dreary and tired Cardinals come to town and something tells me they won't be 100 percent ready for the opener. Stuck in the middle of an extremely tough road trip, the Cards were laid up in Washington D.C. last night for a one game make-up against the Nats. Granted, they won the game, but that didn't come without two separate rain delays and then the subsequent bus and train ride to Philly well after 1 o'clock in the morning. It doesn't get any easier for St. Louis, as they face J.A. Happ, who let's be real is a flat-out winner. Happ (7-0, 2.68) hasn't allowed more than three runs since June 14, he's 3-0 at CBP this year and he hasn't lost a start since 2007. Best of luck to Albie and Company, but I'm rolling with the Phillies.
10 dime - Rangers
Great puppy value in Kansas City tonight as Vegas is still in love with Royals' ace Zack Greinke. I'm still baffled by this high of a line though, as Greinke (10-5, 2.08) hasn't won a game since June 28 and KC has dropped 10 of their last 11 games. The bleeding doesn't stop there, because honestly, the Royals have an atrocious offense and an even worse bullpen. Their biggest power hitter, Jose Guillen, was just placed on the disabled list and nobody outside of closer Joakim Soria is reliable in relief. That's the key to getting past Greinke: work your counts, get his pitch count high and get to the bullpen. The Rangers, fresh off a sweep of Boston, have so many great hitters. Young, Kinsler, Hamilton and Cruz all have the capability of changing the game with one swing of the bat while Kansas City counters with Billy Butler (chuckle) and Mark Teahen. Bottom line, the Rangers have offense and the Royals do not. I don't care how much of a stud Greinke is -- if he doesn't have run support, Kansas City is going to continue falling into a downward spiral.
Alfred Kelley's
Top Play
Philadelphia phillies vs St louis cardinals-6:05 p.m. cst
Take philadelphia phillies -135
Halfbets
Phillies –130 for 3 units
I rarely play back to back on teams but I believe we are getting the Phillies in a good spot today because of the travel schedule of the Cardinals and many other factors in this game. The Phillies are the hottest team in MLB winning 15 out of their last 17 games and 12-1 last 13 games as a home favorite. The Phillies are also 8-1 their last 9 games against right handed starters. They are also 6-2 in Happ last 8 games at home. The Cardinals have been struggling as of late and have really struggled against left handed starters. The Cardinals are 0-4 last 4 games as a road dog. They are 2-8 last 10 games vs. a lefty starter and being 1-5 last 6 starts on the road against a lefty starter. The Cardinals are 0-4 their last 4 meetings against the Phillies and are 0-2 against they losing both games at home by an average of 4 runs a game. Both starting pitchers have been pitching lights out. Pineiro (8-9 3.09 ERA) vs. Happ (7-0 2.68 ERA) is the pitching matchup. Pineiro last 3 games against Arizona, Brewers and Cincy he gave up 5 runs in 23 innings pitched. Happ last 3 games he has given up 4 runs in 21 innings pitched. The key factor for this game is going to be run support and with St. Louis only averaging .222 average against lefties this season and being 2-8 SU their last 10 games against lefties I believe we are getting the better team that can generate the offense to win today. The Cardinals are only 4-6 their last 10 games overall and 2-5 SU their last 7 road games. The Phillies are 13-5 against the NL Central this year so far while the Cards are only 11-8 against the NL East.
Halfbets
From the Green Section
$$$$$$$$$
ST. LOUIS
The Cardinals acquired Matt Holliday from the A's on Friday in exchange for Brett Wallace and two other Minor Leaguers, Triple-A right-hander Clayton Mortensen and Double-A outfielder Shane Peterson.
Oakland will send cash to St. Louis to help offset the remaining cost of Holliday's contract. Holliday, 29, can be a free agent at the end of the 2009 season. His current contract pays him $13.5 million, of which approximately $6 million is still due.
Batting Order Tonight
Cardinals
The lineup:
1. Lugo, 2B
2. DeRosa, 3B
3. Pujols, 1B
4. Holliday, LF
5. Ludwick, RF
6. Molina, C
7. Ankiel, CF
8. Ryan, SS
9. Pineiro, P
Been waiting on the Dodgers
offered Big Deal for Roy Halladay
Deadline July 31
Tim Trushel
20* Under 7 Dodgers
Donnie Black
FOR THE LARGEST SELECTION OF FREE SERVlCE PLAYS VlSlT THESPREAD.COM
Blue Jays Under 7.5
DESTROY THE BOOK SPORTS
10*seattle-117
10*pitt.+105
7*mets-130
7*boston-160
5*rangers+135
5*st.louis+121
When I was doing the Records
Last night
Covers had the Final
21 to 6
Have the Print out
Now they have
21 to 8
Don't know why the 2 Point Change
http://scores.covers.com/canadian-football-scores-matchups.aspx
Matt Fargo
Record the last 3 in CFL
2-1
Ben Burns
*9 Burns PERSONAL FAVORITE (100% this week)
Kansas City - 145
Burns' BLUE CHIP "Total" BLOWOUT (100% RUN)
Total Indians game over 8.5
Anyone seen Street rosenthal???
C-Stars Sports
5000 Units San Diego/Washington under the total top play
1000 Units Atlanta over Milwaukee
1000 Units LA Dodgers over Florida
50 units Seattle over Cleveland
Kelso
LA Angels -150 25 units
INDIANCOWBOY
4 Unit Play. Take Under 8.5 between Cleveland Indians @ Seattle Mariners
There are several "9's" on the board right now. Certainly, if you get the nine, roll with it as that 1/2 a run cushion is nice. Laffey faced the Mariners just recently and he picked up a no-decision but the Indians fell short 3-5 at home. The lefty pitched six strong innings and gave up three runs in that start. Laffey faces Seattle once again immediately in his next start and I expect to be even better this time around as he looks for an indirect revenge. Laffey missed the month of June due to a right oblique strain, but he has come back strong and I expect a solid outing from him today. Ryan Rowland-Smith, the Sydney, Australian native has been showing solid improvement and he gets the ball today. Rowland-Smith was showing solid progress in Triple A and there is a rotation spot available in Seattle if he is able to produce a quality start today. I look for him to have a clear incentive to be on point this evening. He didn't yield a run in the few innings he has pitched so far since being called up from the minors. The Under is 4-1-1 for the Indians of late when they face a lefty and the Under is 22-5 for the Mariners when they are favorites by this margin.
Speculating Sports
TOTAL OF THE MONTH
St. Louis at Philadelphia 7:05pm EST
Selection: UNDER 9 RUNS
Profile: This game features two starting pitchers that are in great current form. Philadelphia's star young lefty J.A. Happ has been outstanding since entering the rotation. He has only allowed eight earned runs in his last six starts, while posting a very good strikeout to walk ratio. What is even more remarkable is that his performances have been getting better and better this season. St. Louis is also only hitting .215 against lefties on the road. In addition, the Cardinals haven't faced Happ yet in his career, so they will be unfamiliar with his stuff. Meanwhile, Joel Piniero has quietly put together several dominating performances recently. He has allowed three earned runs or less in eight out of his last eleven starts. In addition, Piniero has only walked one batter in his last six starts. He has been even better over his last three starts, posting a 1.57 ERA while allowing only 0.70 base runners per inning. He is also a much better pitcher on the road than at home. Look for these red hot starting pitchers to dominate each opposing line-up and go deep into the game.
3 UNIT SELECTION
Atlanta at Milwaukee 8:05pm EST
Selection: UNDER 8.5 RUNS
Profile: Lefty Manny Parra had problems with his control earlier this season, but those problems appear to be well behind him. He has allowed only one earned run in thirteen innings since returning to the rotation, while posting a 13/4 strikeout to walk ratio. The key to containing Milwaukee is limiting the home run, which Javier Vasquez is excellent at. He has only given up four home runs in his last twelve starts, and he dominated Milwaukee earlier in the season. Atlanta's bats have been hitting well lately, but I expect them to cool off in this game since it's the first game of a road series, including facing a revamped Parra. Look for this game to fall under the total.
1.5 UNIT SELECTION
San Francisco at Colorado 9:10pm EST
Selection: SAN FRANCISCO +107
Profile: Savvy bettors have taken notice of Jason Hammel's struggles at home, despite his decent wins and losses record. Hammel is a bettor's dream because he still gets priced for pitching at home, even though he pitches much worse in Coors Field. He has been hit hard at home, even by weak hitting teams such as Pittsburgh, Washington, and San Diego. Today he has to go against opposing starter Matt Cain, who has been lights out this season. Cain has allowed one earned run or less in ten of his last twelve starts. In addition, he shutout Colorado at Coors Field earlier this season, even after getting hit hard by them in San Francisco just a few days previous to that start. Cain also goes deep into games as well, limiting the unpredictability with the bullpen. San Francisco is priced as this small of an underdog for a reason. Look for the Giants to get the win.
1.5 UNIT SELECTION