Paul Leiner
50* Marlins +120
25* Giants -110
KIKI SPORTS
3 Units Atlanta -125
1 Unit Colorado -160
1 Unit Boston +115
3 Units Germany -135
The Asian Executive
Arena 1-3
CFL 1-2
WNBA 3-0
MLB -1.40
World Cup 0-1
Over The Total Lock of the Month - Pirates Brewers Over
Vegas Line Error of the Year - Red Sox
Under The Total Lock of the First Half Season - A's Angels Under
CFL Lock Of Our Generation - British Columbia
Joe Wiz
Big Information (Internet Purchase) - Florida
Stephen Nover
35 Dime Astros
Jeff Benton
30 DIME CHICAGO WHITE SOX -1½
10 DIME OAKLAND A’S
White Sox -1½
The numbers suggest Brian Bannister (7-6 record) has had a better season than Gavin Floyd (4-7). In this case, the numbers are lying.
Since getting lit up in a 9-5 loss to Texas on June 2 (six runs allowed in 2 2/3 innings), Floyd has pitched as well as anyone in baseball. In six subsaquent starts, he has given up just six earned runs and 27 hits in 42 2/3 innings (1.27 ERA). That includes three dominating performances at home (two runs allowed in 20 innings), plus a 4-3 win at Kansas City on June 29 (two earned runs allowed in 6 2/3 innings as he outpitched Bannister). And after going 3-10 in Floyd’s first 13 starts of the season, Chicago is 4-0 in his last four trips to the mound, including Monday’s 9-2 home rout of the Angels.
Then again, the White Sox have been crushing opponents no matter who is on the mound. With Friday’s 8-2 rout of Kansas City, they’ve won 23 of their last 28 overall, including the last six in a row, and they’re also 12-1 in their last 13 home games. And 16 of Chicago’s last 23 wins have been by more than one run.
As for Bannister, his 7-6 record is a big aberration. He’s got a 5.44 ERA overall, a 6.99 ERA on the road and a 7.45 ERA in night games. Over his last four starts, Bannister has given up 24 runs (22 earned) in 24 innings – and that includes a 1-0 road win at Washington on June 23! The only time Bannister has had consistent success this season is when he pitches in day games (4-0, 2.37 ERA). Well, this contest starts at 7 p.m. Central time.
Also, with the 4-3 home loss to Floyd last week, Bannister is now 4-6 with a 7.97 ERA in 15 career starts against the White Sox, including 1-2 with a 9.55 ERA in six games at U.S. Cellular Field. The Royals’ record the last two-plus seaseons when Bannister faces Chicago: 3-7, including 1-3 in the Windy City.
What’s more, Kansas City has now dropped 43 of its last 60 games at U.S. Cellular Field, with the last five defeats being by margins of 9-2, 5-1, 13-3, 4-2 and 8-2. In fact, eight of Chicago’s last 11 wins over the Royals (home and road) have covered the run line.
Oakland A’s
More than anything, this is a play against the Angels’ Scott Kazmir. Yes, Kazmir has great career numbers against the A’s, including two wins in two strong starts (one run, eight hits in 11 1/3 innings) since joining the Angels last year. However, the veteran left-hander is in a serious funk right now, losing three straight starts while posting an ugly 10.43 ERA (17 runs allowed in 14 2/3 innings). And after Monday’s 9-2 loss at the White Sox – he gave up seven runs in 6 1/3 innings – Kazmir is now 5-4 with a 5.31 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP on the road and 4-8 with a 6.86 ERA and a 1.70 WHIP in night games.
As for Oakland’s Ben Sheets, he’s pitched much better than his 3-8 record. He’s held 12 of 18 opponents to three earned runs and has given up more than four earned runs just twice all season (in back-to-back road starts against the Rays and Blue Jays). And he’s been a big-time workhorse, going at least six innings in 15 of his 18 starts, including the last 12 in a row. Sheets has also been very good at the Oakland Coliseum (3-3, 3.25 ERA, 1.23 WHIP) as opposed to on the road (0-5, 6.66 ERA, 1.68 WHIP).
The A’s blew last night’s series opener to the Angels and have now dropped four straight games (all at home). However, they’ve lost five in a row just once all season (and all five of those defeats were on the road. Besides, it’s not like the Angels are playing much better, as they’re 3-7 in their last 10 overall and 1-5 in their last six on the road.
Dave Cokin
Houston Astros
Florida Marlins
BEN BURNS
10* Arizona Diamondbacks
10* Nationals/ Giants Under
5* Philadelphia Phillies
8* Toronto Blue Jays
9* BC Lions -3
Hot Shots
4'* San Fran
3* Angels Over
3* Seattle
Marc Lawrence
Detroit Tigers
Dave Cokin
Houston Astros
Florida Marlins
Dave Cokin
Matchup: St Louis at Houston
Time: 7:05 PM EDT (Sat)
Listed pitchers must go: (R) SUPPAN, J vs. (R) MYERS, B
Play: Houston (ML -110)
The Astros aren't much of a team, but this is one spot where Houston should send the fans home happy with a nice win. Brett Myers has been lights out for the 'Stros at home, compiling a 4-0 slate with a nifty 2.68 ERA. He rates a big edge over shopworn Jeff Suppan as the Redbirds continue to have a real problem at the very back of their rotation. Another factor here is that Suppan figures to go six innings tops even if he's on, and the Cardinals bullpen has been way off form lately. As shaky as Houston may be, they've actually been very good in divisional play with an 18-13 record and this is one they should win.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Matchup: Florida at Arizona
Time: 8:10 PM EDT (Sat)
Listed pitchers must go: (L) ROBERTSON, N vs. (R) KENNEDY, I
Play: Florida (ML +130)
There's not much of a case to be made for Nate Robertson, as the mediocre lefty is performing mostly at his usual level for the Marlins. But that might well be good enough to get Robertson a win tonight. He's facing Ian Kennedy, who has hit the wall in a big way recently and has still managed to record only one win all season at home for the Diamondbacks. But the real key to making this play is the team form charts. The Snakes are absolutely horrendous against lefties, winning just five times in 18 tries, clearly the worst winning percentage in all of baseball against southpaws. Also, they're a terrible team and the managerial change to Kirk Gibson hasn't changed a thing. Arizona has won just twice since Gibson took over. This is simply a case of a bad team with the slightly better hurler getting overadjusted to the point where there's now loads of value in the superior team as a dog. I'll grab the price and back the Marlins.
CRAIG DAVIS
100 DIME - TEXAS RANGERS -1.5
DEREK MANCINI
50 DIME - HOUSTON ASTROS
Marc Lawrence
Detroit Tigers
When the Tigers send Jeremy Bonderman to the mound against Nick Blackburn and the Twins in Detroit this afternoon they will do so knowing Bonderman in 4-0 in his last four team starts in this series. He's also 8-4 at home in his career team starts during the month of July, including 5-1 the last six. With Blackburn 1-6 with a 9.09 ERA in his last seven team starts, 6-14 in his last 20 road team starts - including 0-4 the last four - and 0-4 with an 8.78 ERA in his last four team starts during July, look for the Tigers to improve to 10-5 on Saturdays this season here today. We recommend a 3-unit play on Detroit.
Executive
400% Nationals