Chris James
2* Cubs
Teddy Covers
Jaugars/Dolphins over
Brewers
Charlie
Jacksonville +3, Jacksonville @ Miami over 32 & Giants-3 (500* 3 team rd robin).
Milwaukee -130 (30*)
Cubs -120 (20*)
Texas -145 (20*)
Angels +105 (10*)
San Francisco -110 (10*) free play
Root
Chairman Jags
Millionaire Twins
Wunderdog
Game: Milwaukee at Pittsburgh (7:05 PM Eastern)
Pick: 4 units on Pittsburgh +110 (moneyline) (risk 4 to win 4.4)
Game: St. Louis at Los Angeles Dodgers (10:10 PM Eastern)
Pick: 4 units on St. Louis -160 (moneyline) (risk 4 to win 2.5)
Game: St. Louis at Los Ageles Dodgers (10:15 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on St. Louis -1.5 runs +100 (runline) (risk 3 to win 3)
Kelso
5 units Panthers +3
Billy Coleman
5* Texas
4* Angles
3* Mets
WILDCAT
5* Jacksonville
PPP
2% NY Giants
Ben Burns
Carolina under
Scott Rickenbach
Over Yanks
Sam Clayton
20 dime - Rangers
Absolutely love the value we're getting with the Rangers. And while the line has jumped 15 cents, I'm still shocked it's not even higher. Vegas is begging you to think that the Rangers are in for a letdown spot and they're throwing a juicy underdog right in your face, but I'm laying the chalk and backing the favorite. Texas was very impressive over the weekend against the Red Sox, winning 2 of 3 and claiming the top spot in the AL Wild Card standings. I'm extremely confident that they ride the momentum into tonight and pound Francisco Liriano, who let's face it, has been nothing more than name recognition the past two seasons.
After a very impressive 2006 season (when Liriano went 12-3 with a 2.16 ERA) the southpaw missed the backend of that season and sat out all of 2007 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. To say the least, he just hasn't been the same dominant pitcher he once was. After a mediocre 2008, Liriano has vastly struggled this season (5-11, 5.39), but it delves deeper than his putrid numbers. His fastball has lost velocity and life, and his once devastating slider is noticeably missing its bite and sharp break. The Twins have lost four of Liriano's last five starts and the former Rookie of the Year contender is 3-6 with a 6.01 ERA on the highway this season. Tommy Hunter (5-2, 2.26) gets the call for Texas, and he's been sensational all year long, posting a 1.13 WHIP and holding opposing hitters to a .222 batting average. Hunter is 4-1 with a 2.20 ERA since the All-Star break and he's 2-0 his last two starts with an amazing 1.23 ERA over that span. Opponents are 6-for-44 (.136) off him with runners in scoring position, including 1-for-21 when there are two outs.
I love backing the Rangers at home (39-22) where they boast one of the best records in all of baseball. Minnesota has had a tough year away from the Terrordome having dropped 34 of 57 road contests. Lately, these teams have been playing the complete opposite, with Texas having won 7 of 10 while the Twinkies have lost 7 of 10. Play the Rangers as your Monday top play winner.
Wunderdog
Game: Milwaukee at Pittsburgh (7:05 PM Eastern)
Pick: 4 units on Pittsburgh +110 (moneyline) (risk 4 to win 4.4)Game: St. Louis at Los Angeles Dodgers (10:10 PM Eastern)
Pick: 4 units on St. Louis -160 (moneyline) (risk 4 to win 2.5)Game: St. Louis at Los Ageles Dodgers (10:15 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on St. Louis -1.5 runs +100 (runline) (risk 3 to win 3)
Game: St. Louis at Los Angeles Dodgers (10:10 PM Eastern)
Pick: 4 units on St. Louis -160 (moneyline) (risk 4 to win 2.5)
Chris Carpenter has become something special since arriving in St. Louis, and his track record on the road has been brilliant with the Cards at 28-16 in his last 44 road starts. The Cards have been a scorching hot team, winners of eight of their last nine, and have not failed to score less than four runs in any of them. That certainly makes Chris Carpenter look good in this one, because if the Cards give him four runs, he is a pretty good bet to deliver a win. The Dodgers have struggled and are just 9-14 in their last 23 games and three of those losses were pinned on them in St. Louis. They will go with a rookie pitcher that is making his '09 debut, but has failed in a few attempts at the big league level. That’s not the option you want against a hot-hitting Cards team. The Dodgers have gone cold, scoring two or less in half of their last eight games. I'm going with St. Louis in this one.
Game: St. Louis at Los Ageles Dodgers (10:15 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on St. Louis -1.5 runs +100 (runline) (risk 3 to win 3)
Chris Carpenter is always worth a look on the runline, because he is a shutdown top of the rotation pitcher in peak form. So are his St. Louis teammates that have not scored less than four runs in any of their last nine games. The Dodgers meanwhile, have gone cold after a big first half of the season. A rookie pitcher with no track record of success in his brief major league career vs. an ace that has his team scoring in bunches, as the Cards lineup is hot, spells runline. I will go with the Cards on the runline as well.
Tom Freese
10* NO BRAINER
Cubs