JACK JONES
20* No-Doubt Rout on Tampa Bay Rays -1.5
This is a game the Rays absolutely should win, and exactly the type of game they need to win to stay competitive in the AL Wildcard race. Sidney Ponson throws for the Royals tonight and this is a guy who is unreliable at best, particularly on the road. He's only thrown twice as the visitor this year, but in those games he has a 15.27 ERA and 2.87 WHIP. For the season, Ponson is 1-5 in 8 starts with a 5.68 ERA and 1.59 WHIP. On the other side of the diamond, the Rays throw David Price, who has been so-so for the most part, but who has thrown his best games at home this season. He is 3-1 on the year when throwing in Tampa with a 3.04 ERA and 1.42 WHIP. Price will be aided by a Tampa Bay offense that out performs Kansas City in almost every category. The Rays hit .274 as a team at home this season, while scoring 5.6 runs per game, a huge reason why they have an impressive 31-17 home record. Meanwhile, the Royals see their batting average dip to .241 on the road and their runs per game drop to 3.5, which is probably why they are just 17-29 on the road this season. The moneyline is much to high, but the runline here is well worth the risk as the Rays should win this one handily.
15* on Chicago Cubs -126
Rich Harden has pitched incredibly well for the Cubs on the road this season, earning a 4-1 record with a 2.03 ERA and 1.11 WHIP. He is finally starting to look like the pitcher that the Cubs hoped he would be when they brought him over. Over his last three games he is 2-0 with a 0.95 ERA and 0.53 WHIP, giving up just a total of 2 earned runs in 19 innings pitched. It's not just Harden that is stepping up his game for Chicago, the Cubs' offense is also picking up their pace. Over their last 7 games, the Cubs are hitting .310 as a team and scoring 7.6 runs per game, more than three runs per game more than they average on the season, and 2.6 more runs per game than the Marlins have scored over the past week. Harden and the Cubs stay hot with a win over Florida Friday night.
Tony Bruno Wins
10x Cubs
Ben Burns
FOR THE LARGEST SELECTION OF FREE SERVlCE PLAYS VlSlT THESPREAD.COM
CFL #1 Game of the Week (GOWs/GOMs are 5-1 YTD!)
FOR THE LARGEST SELECTION OF FREE SERVlCE PLAYS VlSlT THESPREAD.COM
British Columbia
KBHoops
FOR THE LARGEST SELECTION OF FREE SERVlCE PLAYS VlSlT THESPREAD.COM
7* Texas OVER 10.5 **POD**
Craig Davis
25 DIME - CARDINALS (with Boggs) -1 1/2 RUN LINE over ASTROS (with Moehler)
Today is one of those strange days in Major League Baseball because the trade deadline is here. It's the day teams jockey for certain players in an attempt to either make themselves stronger for a playoff run or prepare for the future by acquiring prospects. The Cardinals have already made a big splash when they acquired OF Matt Holliday last weekend while the Astros (at the time of this writing) have yet to make a big move. To be honest, I don't think it's really going to matter because St. Louis simply doesn't lose to Houston at home. They've won the last five meetings with the Astros at home and seven of the last eight, winning with better starting pitching and better offense.
Tonight's starter, Mitchell Boggs, is a virtual unknown outside of the fantasy baseball world, but his work hasn't gone unnoticed. Boggs has four starts for the Cardinals this year, and although he's only 1-0 the team has won all four of his starts. He was sent back down to Triple-A Memphis back in May when the rotation became full again, but with Todd Wellemeyer on the disabled list, Boggs was called back up to make a crucial division start. Boggs is 3-0 in his last three starts at Class AAA Memphis. In 21 innings, he's allowed one run on 15 hits, with eight walks and 19 strikeouts.
Houston counters with Brian Moehler and his 5.26 ERA. Moehler's last start was at home vs. the Mets in which he lasted 4.1 innings, allowing eight hits and five earned runs in an 8-3 loss. Though he's won two of his last three starts, his 7-6 record just reiterates how average he really is. Average pitchers don't beat St. Louis at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals realize the importance of beating division rivals at home, especially when they're chasing the Chicago Cubs for the division lead. This one could get ugly... Cardinals in a rout.
Kelso
15 units Rockies -155
Teddy Covers
Tigers/Indians Under
Prime Time Sports
FOR THE LARGEST SELECTION OF FREE SERVlCE PLAYS VlSlT THESPREAD.COM
Detroit Tigers - 134
FOR THE LARGEST SELECTION OF FREE SERVlCE PLAYS VlSlT THESPREAD.COM
Toronto Blue Jays - +122
Freddy Wills
Take Rockies -155 3-DIME Steam Chalk Play
FOR THE LARGEST SELECTION OF FREE SERVlCE PLAYS VlSlT THESPREAD.COM
Rockies ran into a hot Mets team that got solid pitching. They were able to break out of their 25 inning scoreless streak and I think they will carry that into Cincinatti where former major leaguer (2006) relief pitcher Justin Lehr will take the mound. The 31 year old has a 3.37ERA with a 13-3 record in AAA and the way the Reds pitching has been of late it really can't hurt. Unfortunately for the Reds they will have to face Aaron Cook who has been briliant on the road this year with a 3.41 ERA, but in his last 5 road starts he has a 1.29 ERA.
Cook has a career ERA of 3.13 against the Reds, but they are struggling pretty bad as of late and I feel confidently that Cook will throw another gem on the road. After all the Reds are hitting just .250 and scoring 3.95 runs per 9 innings at home against RHP. The Reds are 8-21 in their last 29 games as under dog and 1-8 in their last 9 vs. RH starter. Like I said they have struggled big time particularly against RHP.
Rockies are 14-3 in their last 17 vs. RH starter and I do not think they'll need much here off Lehr
Take Cubs -126 4-DIME POD
FOR THE LARGEST SELECTION OF FREE SERVlCE PLAYS VlSlT THESPREAD.COM
Harden vs. Volstad here a pair of pitchers moving in opposite directions. Volstad 2-1 with a 4.42ERA in his last three and Harden 2-0 with a .53Whip and .95 ERA. If you know anything about Harden it is that when he gets hot he is one of the best RH pitchers in the game. Right now he is hot and it's because he has found his control. Just 2BB over his last 3 starts. He pitched at home where he has struggled all year against the Marlins and went just 3.2 IP gave up 6H and 4BB and 5ER. By the way the Cubs still won that game despite walking 9 batters that day.
More on Harden here because I absolutely find value on him here today. He does have a 2.03ERA on the road and a 2.23 ERA at night this year. In his last 3 road starts he has a .90ERA over 20IP. I expect a dominant performance here on Friday as he had a 1.76ERA against the Marlins prior to his poor performance in May. The Marlins have not been killing the ball either vs. RHP they have a .255 avg over their last 5 games with a BP ERA of 5.51. I'm pretty sure they are going to need the bullpen against a Cubs offense that is just on fire averaging 8 runs a game over their last 5 games with their own BP of 3.18. Cubs are 4-0 in their last 4 as a road favorite and 14-3 overall the last 17 as a favorite -110 to -150. They are 6-1 in Hardens last 7 starts of Game 1's getting the Cubs off to a nice start.
Marlins Volstad has pitched decently but at home over his last 4 starts he has given up 17 ER in 20.2 now facing arguably one of the hottest hitting teams I'm taking my money and putting it on the Cubs with the better offense and better pitcher here tonight with some good value to boot. Marlins are 1-6 in their last 7 home starts vs. a team with a winning record and they are 4-13 in their last 17 as a home dog.
2-Dime Bonus play Take Cubs -1.5 +135
FOR THE LARGEST SELECTION OF FREE SERVlCE PLAYS VlSlT THESPREAD.COM
Again whenever you have a hot pitcher and a hot offense vs. a cold pitcher and a just okay offense right now it's wise to take the run line as a small backup. I like it mainly because the Cubs have won 76% of their road wins by more than 1 run while the Marlins have lost 80% of their home losses by more than 1 run. It is a recipe for success here today.
Billy Coleman Sports
4 Units METS
4 Units COLORADO R/L
4 Units DETROIT
Deano
*******************************
Method: -=A.P. SYSTEM=-
ML-(FAV) RL-(DOG)
Figure In Juice*
****************************
CHART:
[P1]-1 WINS
[P2]-0 WINS
[P3]-0 WINS
*************************
Today's Play: Boston Redsox [P1]
Today's Play: Chicago Cubs [P1]
****************************
Dave Malinsly
6* Florida/Cubs Under
4* Blue Jays
Doc's Sports
5 Unit Play. #577 Take New York Yankees -115 over Chicago White Sox
Savannah Sports
4* Boston -125
Blade
You are in Mountain Time
Or Pacific Time
You say where you Live is Hot ???
Minneapolis Minnesota
Got Up to 72 Degrees
Record Cold in July
Frost in Northern Minnesota
After 2 to 3 Inches of Hail.
They had to turn on the Heat
MetroDome for Baseball