Lenny Del Genio
Washington -125
The Cubs finally showed some life in the debut of interim manager Mike Quade (Lou Piniella retired following Sunday's 16-5 home loss to Atlanta) last night, starting out a six-game road trip with a 15-hit performance en route to a 9-1 victory in the Nation's Capital. Not only that, but rookie starter Casey Coleman took a one-hitter into the 7th inning, facing only three batters more than the minimum, so it was an all-around stellar start to the post-Piniella era. However, as you know these kind of performances tend to be aberrations for the sorry, no-account Cubs, who rank as one of MLB's biggest season to date money burners. The team has failed to put together a single winning streak of better than four games ALL SEASON and has only notched consecutive victories six times since the start of June. Tonight, the pitching edge lies squarely with host Washington as the Nats send John Lannan to the bump. Lannan, the team ace before the arrival of phenom Stephen Strasburg has won each of his previous three starts while producing a 2.95 ERA. He'll be opposed by the erratic Carlos Zambrano, whose volitaile personality essentially embodies the 2010 Cubs' season. Zambrano has a 6.88 ERA in eight starts this year away from the freindly confines and Washington has been profitable all season long at home vs. righties. The Nats took two of three from the Cubs the first time these teams met this season, so we have little doubt as to their ability to come back and win here.
Nick "BookieKiller" Parsons
10* Yankees / Blue Jays Over 9.5
For a number of different reasons I believe the value in this contest is on the “over”:
Dustin Moseley gets the call for the visitors; Moseley won for the third time in five starts in his last outing, but certainly wasn’t spectacular; he allowed four runs and five hits in Wednesday's 9-5 win over Detroit.
He’s 3-2 with an unremarkable 4.76 ERA.
It’s important to note that the Yanks have in fact seen the total go “over” the number in 24 of 42 games vs. division opponents this season; also in 7 of 11 road contest with a money line in the -100 to -125 range.
In the other dugout: Marc Rzepczynski heads to the hill for the home side; Rzepcynski is coming off a listless outing in which he received a no-decision; he walked five over 4 1-3 innings and gave up three runs Wednesday vs. Oakland.
The Jays have seen the total go “over” the number in 44 of 73 “night games”; also in 11 of their last 20 overall.
Bottom line: Rzepcynski made two starts vs. the Yanks last season and got shelled; he was 0-1 with a brutal 7.71 ERA.
Derek Jeter returns to the line up tonight after sitting out yesterday’s contest; Jeter has already enjoyed success against Rzepcynski, going 3 for 5 with a homer.
Each team takes center stage tonight; when taking all of the above factors into consideration, the sharp money in this contest is indeed on the OVER!
Master Sports
4* White Sox Over
STREET ROSENTHAL-HANDICAPPING TRENDS
*300 Detroit Tigers -168
*200 Washington Nationals -128
*200 Colorado Rockies -114
STREET ROSENTHAL
*300 Detroit Tigers -168
*200 Washington Nationals -128
*200 Colorado Rockies -114