O.C. Dooley
2 Units Mets / Astros Over 7
The Mets won the opening game of this series last night in a very low scoring 3-1 final verdict even though New York was participating in their first game without closer Frankie Rodriguez (thumb) who has just been lost for the season. All of you reading this analysis are most likely aware that “K Rod” was arrested last Wednesday after assaulting his father-in-law following a game at Citi Field. Rodriguez ended up tearing up his thumb in that assault which has caused the Mets front office to make an attempt to “void” the contract of their now disgraced bullpen ace. I am fully aware that tonight’s starter Johan Santana has not allowed an earned run in each of his past pair of Mets mound assignments (1.88 ERA last nine appearances), but he to could be causing the club an “off the field” distraction. To make a long story short Santana is being accused by a Florida woman of rape in a case that previously seemed to be settled. Putting all mound distractions aside the woeful Mets offense came alive last night as the veteran tandem of David Wright and Carlos Beltran combined on FIVE hits. Beltran who used to play for the Astros is a positive .319 career hitter when playing in Houston. The following may come as a shock but the Houston offense since the All Star break (.292) has the “third best” combined average in baseball as new hitting coach Jeff Bagwell has made an enormous impact. In 44 games since getting called up from the minors Astros thirdbaseman Chris Johnson has batted a mind boggling .384 while driving in a grand total of 33 runners on base. Getting back to tonight’s New York starter Johan Santana is 17-6 OVER/ROAD when off a pair of gems where he allowed “one or less” earned runs. The Mets as a team are 23-8 OVER/ROAD versus terrible power offenses who average less than 0.75 homers per game. Tomorrow we have an excellent pitching matchup in Houston which will includes Brett Myers (6+ innings in ALL starts). That means odds are we will have a higher scoring affair this evening
Marc Lawrence
LA Angels +120
When the Angels send staff ace right-hander Jered Weaver to the mound in Boston Tuesday evening they will do so knowing Weaver owns a super-sharp 1.28 ERA in his last four starts against the Red Sox. he is also 3-0 with a 0.82 ERA in his last three starts entering tonight contest. With Boston's Clay Buchholz sporting a 5.48 ERA in his four home career starts against the Halos, we'll back Los Angeles and Weaver here tonight. We recommend a 3-unit play on the Angels.
Lenny Del Genio
Baltimore -125
Millwood gets the start tonight for Baltimore and he isn’t one of my favorite pitchers as he sports a 7-16 TSR this season. However he has a 6-5 home TSR and he’s facing French who’s even worse. The Seattle lefty will be making his fifth start of the season, and the first four haven’t been pretty. Overall he has a 4.87 ERA but on the road it’s a pitiful 7.20. In his last outing against the weak hitting A’s he allowed four runs in only six innings of work. That’s about the most runs Oakland has scored against a pitcher in a long time! Last night Seattle actually could have won the game but their bad bull pen blew another game. That sets up a very good situation for Baltimore tonight as Seattle is a perfect 0-13 this season after a game in which their bull pen blew a save. O’s sent the M’s to another road loss.
Nick "BookieKiller" Parsons
10* Philadelphia -149
For a number of different reasons I believe the value in this contest is on the home side:
Barry Zito heads to the hill for the visitors; Zito gave up four runs and ten hits over 6 1/3 frames in a no-decision on Wednesday to Chicago; he's 0-2 with a 2.60 ERA in his last four outings.
He's a disturbing 0-4 with a 5.73 ERA in eight road starts since May 5th.
It comes as no surprise to learn then that the Giants are 1-4 their last five on the road overall; 31-33 (-3.4 units) this season vs. teams with a winning record.
In the other dugout: Roy Oswalt gets the call for the home side; Oswalt had a great outing in his last start and I look for him to build off that victory.
He allowed five hits with five K's over seven frames in a 2-0 win over the Angles on Wednesday; he may be 0-3 vs. the Giants this year, but his ERA is a very respectable 3.15 over that span, and all three losses came while he was a member of the Astros.
Not only is Philadelphia 4-1 its last five overall, it's also 15-2 its last 17 in front of the home town crowd.
Bottom line: San Francisco has scored just nine runs and batted .175 in its last five road games, losing four; the Phillies are expecting the return of Chase Utley today which will be a big boost for this team.
Zito has struggled of late and so has his team at the plate; Oswalt has a huge opportunity here to continue to improve and has the advantage of throwing at home;
ERIN RYNNING
20* Minnesota Under
DAVID BANKS
Marlins -135
Phillies -143
Red Sox -130
Braves -172
Mets -159
Diamondbacks +103
O.C. Dooley
2 Units Mets / Astros Over 7
The Mets won the opening game of this series last night in a very low scoring 3-1 final verdict even though New York was participating in their first game without closer Frankie Rodriguez (thumb) who has just been lost for the season. All of you reading this analysis are most likely aware that “K Rod” was arrested last Wednesday after assaulting his father-in-law following a game at Citi Field. Rodriguez ended up tearing up his thumb in that assault which has caused the Mets front office to make an attempt to “void” the contract of their now disgraced bullpen ace. I am fully aware that tonight’s starter Johan Santana has not allowed an earned run in each of his past pair of Mets mound assignments (1.88 ERA last nine appearances), but he to could be causing the club an “off the field” distraction. To make a long story short Santana is being accused by a Florida woman of rape in a case that previously seemed to be settled. Putting all mound distractions aside the woeful Mets offense came alive last night as the veteran tandem of David Wright and Carlos Beltran combined on FIVE hits. Beltran who used to play for the Astros is a positive .319 career hitter when playing in Houston. The following may come as a shock but the Houston offense since the All Star break (.292) has the “third best” combined average in baseball as new hitting coach Jeff Bagwell has made an enormous impact. In 44 games since getting called up from the minors Astros thirdbaseman Chris Johnson has batted a mind boggling .384 while driving in a grand total of 33 runners on base. Getting back to tonight’s New York starter Johan Santana is 17-6 OVER/ROAD when off a pair of gems where he allowed “one or less” earned runs. The Mets as a team are 23-8 OVER/ROAD versus terrible power offenses who average less than 0.75 homers per game. Tomorrow we have an excellent pitching matchup in Houston which will includes Brett Myers (6+ innings in ALL starts). That means odds are we will have a higher scoring affair this evening
3 Units Florida Over 8