Bob Balfe
Chile +110
The one thing that the entire world knows is that South America dominates the sport of soccer. Chile is almost as good as Brazil and could do some major damage in the later rounds. Look for Chile to win the battle of possession and get the big win to take control of their group.
Honduras +2
It doesn't matter what the matchup is in this tournament; two goals is a lot to lay with how hard scoring has been. Spain has yet to score a goal in the World Cup so let's take our chances today with Honduras getting the cover getting two points.
Washington Nationals -150
The Royals are not a good team on the road while the Nationals do play good home ball and should get a big win with Hernandez on the mound, who has been pitching very well this year. Look for Washington to get a big win.
BIG AL
World Cup total of Year
Spain / Honduras Over
Ben Burns
10* Oakland -120
Dave Cokin
Matchup: Cincinnati at Oakland
Time: 10:05 PM EDT (Mon)
Listed pitchers must go: (R) LEAKE, M vs. (L) GONZALEZ, G
Play: Oakland (ML -120)
The Reds head to Oakland following a lost weekend at Seattle. Not only was Cincinnati swept by the lowly Mariners, they were completely shut down, scoring just one run total in the three games. Now they have to face Gio Gonzalez, who hasn't been good on the road but is doing some good work at home. The A's have been mostly inhospitable hosts this season, and while they're off a losing series at St. Louis, they at least return to Oaktown off a win in the series finale. Mike Leake has not been sharp in his last pair of starts for the Reds, and might be hitting that proverbial rookie wall as the innings begin to pile up. I see this number being about a quarter more than it is, so I'm going ahead and playing the A's tonight.
Scott Rickenbach
6* Oakland / Cincinnati Over 7.5
Mike Leake has great numbers on the road this season. However, most all of that was achieved early in the season and Leake has not been nearly as effective of late. His most recent two starts saw him allow five earned runs in each outing. Overall, in his last five starts (dating back to late last month), Leake has given up 44 hits in his last 30.2 innings of work. He’s lucky his ERA is not higher than where it is on the season and we feel the five earned runs he’s allowed in each of his last two starts is absolutely a sign of things to come the Red right-hander. The 22 year old rookie is looking to get back on track at Oakland but the A’s, despite not scoring a lot of runs recently, have averaged 10 hits per game in their last 12 games! The Athletics pounded out 11 hits in their win over the Cardinals yesterday and they should pound Leake and a weak Reds bullpen.
Cincinnati’s bats were real quiet as the Reds got swept in their three game set at Seattle. However, look for the change of venue to do Cincy some good! The Reds are still the top hitting team in the National League on the season and we expect them to bounce back and enjoy success against Gio Gonzalez and a mediocre A’s bullpen. We are well aware of the fact that Gonzalez has produced exceptional numbers at home this season. However, the southpaw comes into this start having allowed at least three earned runs in 7 of his last 9 starts. The total on this game has dropped to a 7.5 as of early Monday morning and we just don’t see him shutting down a Reds lineup that was thrilled to get out of Seattle yesterday after their weekend of frustration at Safeco Field. They are happy to be in Oakland – just as the A’s lineup will be happy to be returning home – and we look for the bats to respond here. Note that Gonzalez has given up 18 earned runs on 33 hits in his last 28.2 innings of work. As you can see from those numbers that is far from being dominant. Simply put, we see exceptional value here with the low total and two pitchers who are not nearly as dominant as their current respective home/road numbers would lead you to believe. One final note, the Reds had averaged 10.4 hits per game in their last 8 games before struggling in Seattle. Cincinnati can hit, the A’s have been hitting, and this one flies over the low posted number. Play OVER the total in Oakland as a *6* Regular Play selection.
Power Plays Wins
Cin/Oak Over 7.5
Ben Burns
10* Oakland -120
The Reds just got swept at Seattle. In three games there, they managed only one run. I expect them to have some trouble putting up big offensive numbers again tonight.
Gio Gonzalez has been good to us this season. I've successfully played on his games to go 'under' the total and have successfully played on the A's in games that he starts. Last week, I successfully played against the A's, when Gonzalez was on the mound.
One of the reasons that I've been successful in Gonzalez's starts is that I noticed, early on, that he was pitching much better at home than he was on the road. That's continued to be the case. In eight road starts, he's gone 2-3 with a poor 5.44 ERA. However, in six home starts, he's gone 4-2 with a stellar 2.90 ERA and 1.017 WHIP. Opposing hitters are batting a mere .165 in those games. Gonzalez is averaging 6 2/3 innings per start here and has allowed only one home run here all season.
Leake has pitched well for the Reds this season. That said, the magic seems to be starting to wear off, as he's coming off back to back tough starts. Last time out, he allowed nine hits, three walks and five runs, in six innings. Two starts ago, he allowed 11 hits, four walks and five runs in just 4 1/3 innings.
Gonzalez has gone a minimum of seven complete innings in five straight home starts, allowing three earned runs or less in all five of them. The A's were 4-1 in those games, including 3-0 the last three.
While the Reds' relievers have had some trouble on the road, the A's relievers have a combined 2.83 ERA and 1.092 WHIP at home.
The road trip wasn't kind to the A's. They're back home now though, where they've gone a solid 21-13 (+7.8) on the season and where they've won 12 of their last 19. The A's are also 5-1 the last six times that they hosted the Reds aƒnd I look for them to start this series off with a much needed victory.
JR O'Donnell
Arizona +1.5
We are all over the pesky 27-43 D Backs + 1.5 runs + 100 late Monday as these D backs battle the vaunted 1st place Yankees as the Yankees are banged up tonight. R Lopez takes the hill for Zona at a 2-6 over all mark & 4.70 ERA . He needs to get back on track tonight vs. the Yankees A J Burnett who sports a 6-5 mark & a 4.33 ERA . Burnett was pasted by a Phillies ball club last time out. The D backs are East Coast Sharpie here boys as they sneak up on an banged up and' Over" rated Yankees team tonight and grab a + 1.5 run line winner.
Evan Altemus
3 Units Nationals -140
Washington has lost seven straight games, but I think this game is a good spot for them to turn things around and get a win. The Nationals are pounding left handed pitching at home, hitting .312 against them this season, and they are in fact hitting lefties even better during their recent rough stretch. Washington also has a much better bullpen at home than Kansas City has on the road, and I think they have the better starting pitcher going today in Livan Hernandez. He struggled in his last outing at Detroit, but the Tigers have one of the best offenses in baseball. Meanwhile Royals starter Bruce Chen is not a quality pitcher and should struggle against a Nationals team that pounds lefties. Look for Washington to get the win and turn their losing streak around.
Larry Ness
8* Oakland -120
Rookie Mike Leake didn't lose his first game this season until his 13th start. He allowed three ERs or less in 10 of his first 11 but then needed to get bailed out by his teammates in his 12th start, when he allowed 11 hits and five ERs in just 4.1 innings vs the Giants (Reds won 7-6, with a three-run 8th). In start No. 13, Leake was not as fortunate. He again allowed five ERs (nine hits in six innings) but got his first loss in the majors, as the Dodgers beat the Reds 6-2 last Wednesday. He takes the mound tonight in Oakland with his team struggling. The Red have lost SIX of their last seven, after getting swept in a three-game series this weekend in Seattle. Lee, Hernandez and Rowland-Smith (are you kidding me?) held the Reds to just one run and a measly 14 hits in the series. Cincinnati has now scored a total of just 13 runs over its last seven games (1.86 per game) while batting .204 as a team. The A's come in losers of SEVEN of their last nine games but all games in their current slide have come on the road, where they are just 13-24. The A's have been solid at home all season, going 21-13 while holding opponents to just 3.21 RPG. Tonight's starter, lefty Gio Gonzalez, has mirrored his team's performances this year, His road ERA is 5.44 bu€t he's 4-2 in six home starts, posting a 2.90 ERA. The A's are 13-7 as a home favorite this year and Gonzalez should be just fine against those struggling Cincinnati bats plus the A's should feast on Leake, who has allowed 20 hits and 10 ERs over just 10.1 innings of his last two starts.
Lenny Del Genio
Oakland -125
The Reds had been playing pretty good baseball, but they’ve hit the skids winning once in their last seven games. Cincinnati had been hitting the heck out of the ball, but their bats have gone silent of late. In those last seven games they’re hitting .204 as a team and scoring only 1.9 runs per game. Oakland is back home after a very long 9-game road trip that saw them win only twice. Tonight the pitching matchup has Leake for the Reds while the A’s counter with Gonzalez. The Red’s righty has been shaky in his last two outings allowing 20 hits and 10 earned runs in only 10 1/3 innings. Gonzalez hasn’t been that great either allowing 10 runs in his last 10 1/3 innings pitched. However, Gonzalez’s last two outings were on the road and he’s pitching back at home tonight. In his six home starts this season the A’s lefty has a 4-2 team start record with a 2.90 ERA. In his last two starts here he’s gone 15 innings and allowed only two earned runs. We think Leake is going to get into trouble tonight, and will have to turn things over to a beat up Reds bull pen that has a lofty 4.72 ERA. Meanwhile, the A’s bullpen has been tough at home with a 2.98 ERA and 89% save percentage. Look for Gonzalez to keep the Reds bats silent again tonight.
Fantasy Sports Gametime
100* Play NY Yankees (-160) over Arizona
Arizona has lost 5 of the last 6 games and they have also lost 11 of the last 15 games as an underdog of +150 or higher. Rodrigo Lopez has lost 3 consecutive games when pitching on a Monday and he is 0-3 over the last 3 starts with an ERA of 6.00.
50* Play Cincinnati (+110) over Oakland
Cincinnati has won 23 of the last 36 games when the line posted is between +125 to -125 and pitcher, Mike Leake is 2-0 in road games this season with an ERA of 1.67.
Frank Patron
New York / Arizona Over 10.5
Stan Lisowski
3* Oakland -120
Cincinnati has dropped 6 of 9 vs. the AL this year and are just 2-5 on the road against left-handed starters. Oakland is 16-9 as a favorite on the year with their pitchers having a 2.90 ERA at home. The Reds are having some issues scoring, as they have not totaled 4 runs scored in 6 of their past 7 games.
been away for a while due to end of football and i can't stand basketball. i notice 0 brandon lang so i went to his sight and he has been replaced by al demarco. wtf is he out of the business?
vinny