Dave Cokin
Colorado Rockies
(Sry for not providing write-up. Currently mobile and a pain.)
JASON JOHNSON
Dodgers at Giants
Pick: Dodgers
Matt Cain (8-8, 3.14) takes the mound looking for his first win versus the Dodgers. The right-hander is 0-8 with a 4.32 ERA in 14 starts against them, including six defeats in eight meetings at AT&T Park. Kershaw scattered seven hits Sunday over eight innings of a 1-0 win over New York, improving to 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA in five starts. He has no record but posts an impressive 1.71 ERA in four games - three starts - against San Francisco
The Duke's Sports
Atlanta Over (9) for 2.5 Units
This series sports a 26-12-1 O/U run. With both pitchers in precarious situations that leave them vulnerable, we'll look for a higher scoring game here. Hanson has struggled during daytime (6.00 ERA) and was lit up on May 20th vs Cincinnati to the tune of 8 ER in 1 2/3 IP. Hanson is 6-2 O/U on the road. On the other hand, Edison Volquez has been struggling with his command and shouldn't find it here. In his only daytime start, he gave up 6 ER in 2 1/3 IP. Volquez is 7-1 O/U on Sunday and 6-1-1 O/U when the 'total' is set between 9 to 10'. "Over" is the call.
Tony George
Kansas City -145
Chen takes the hill for KC at home and he is a solid left hander. The Os cannot hit decent southpaws and in their last 10 games, which they have lost 8 of, the have hit southpaws at .182 as a team. Baltimore is about the only team KC can sweep as they have been in a horrible slide, but taking the series at home is what the doctor ordered for KC who are scoring some runs right now in this series. Millwood for the Os has a 10.66 ERA his last 3 starts. Play 1 Unit on Kansas City.
Dwayne Bryant
LA. Dodgers
Lenny Del Genio
NY Yankees -130
The Yankees and Rays are battling for the top spot in the AL East. The Yankees snuck out a 5-4 win yesterday and are one game on top of Tampa. Today, the Yankees start Sabathia while the Rays go with Shields. We think the Yanks have a big pitching matchup today as C.C. will out pitch Shields. He’s pitched the Yankees to a 15-7 team start record and 3.15 ERA on the season. He comes off a tough loss last outing in Cleveland as the Yankees didn’t hit and made a bunch of errors in the 4-1 loss. It wasn’t C.C.’s fault as he allowed only two earned runs in seven innings of work. Shields hasn’t pitched that well here at home on the season with a 5.29 ERA and 4-6 team start record. Sabathia has pitched twice against these Rays this season and in 14 2/3 innings he’s allowed only three earned runs. Shields has always struggled against NY with a 2-10 team start record and lofty 5.45 ERA. Tampa isn’t hitting right now posting a 2.48 batting average and we don’t think they’ll get back on tract versus this super strong NY lefty. Add in the fact that the Yankees love day games scoring 6.5 runs per game and you have the makings of an easy NY win today.
Marc Lawrence
Chicago White Sox -150
The White Sox send Gavin Floyd to the mound against Gio Gonzalez and the A's in the finale of this three-game series at Comiskey Park this afternoon knowing Floyd is 6-2 with a super-sharp 0.98 ERA in his last eight team starts, including 4-0 with a 0.62 ERA at home. In addition, Floyd is 2-0 with a 1.28 ERA at home in his career team starts in this series. With Gonzalez 0-2 with a sky-high 12.07 ERA in his career team starts against the pale Hose, look for more of the same this evening. We recommend a 3-unit play on the White Sox.
Nick "BookieKiller" Parsons
10* Chicago White Sox -142
For a number of different reasons I believe the value in this contest is on the Chicago White Sox:
Gio Gonzalez heads to the hill for the visitors; Gonzalez is coming off a "no decision"; he pitched well in July, going 3-1 over five starts.
The biggest complaint against Gonzalez this season; he simply walks too many batters and I believe this will catch up with him today.
A matchup against the White Sox does not bode well for the left-hander; he's 0-2 against them lifetime with a 12.96 ERA.
Also, keep in mind that Oakland is just 3-8 (-3.7 units) as a road dog in the +125 to +150 range; also 21-29 (-5.7 units) on the road this year.
In the other dugout: Gavin Floyd gets the call for the home side; Floyd is coming off an 11-0 destruction of the Mariners on Tuesday and I expect him to build off that victory.
He threw seven shut out frames; allowed just five hits while throwing just 82 pitches; "I feel like I'm going out there and having conviction every pitch, not concerned about the results," Floyd said. "I just try to go out there and make a pitch and whatever happens, happens."
Floyd has continued to progress all season long and over his last ten starts its culminated into a 4-2 record with a minuscule 1.04 ERA; he's not given up more than two runs in any game since June 2nd.
The big right-hander has dominated the A's; he's 2-0 with a 1.33 ERA lifetime vs. Oakland.
Remember as well that despite yesterday's loss the White Sox are 5-1 their last six overall; 12-1 their last 13 in front of the home town crowd; also 12-5 (+5 units) as a home favorite in the -125 to -150 range; 20-12 (+8.8 units) in "day games" and 14-11 (+2.7 units) vs. left-handed starters.
Bottom line: Chicago had won five in a row before yesterdays loss averaging 7.6 runs over that span; since June 9th its won 11 of 14 total series, with one of the losses coming last weekend on the road in Oakland; the "revenge factor" comes into play here.
This is an extremely good price on the superior pitcher, who has the advantage of playing at home with a team anxious to atone for yesterday's loss as it looks to avoid another series loss at the hands of Oakland;
BOB BALFE
Toronto Blue Jays -158
The Indians are horrible on the road and are starting a pitcher with just 7 innings under his belt this year. Toronto is a good home squad and has the fire power to put the Indians away early. Take the Blue Jays.
PHIL MAXWELL
TORONTO -158
AL DEMARCO
10 Dime Colorado
5 Dime Yankees -1.5
ATS LOCK CLUB
4 Units Marlins
4 Units Dodgers
KELSO
15 Units Giants -120
10 Units Phillies -155
10 Units Yankees -135
10 Units Texas -130
5 Unit Parlay NY & Tex
NSA
20* Yanks -135
20* Red Sox -145
20* Twins -1.5
Wayne Root
No Limit - Red Sox