Bruce Marshall
Rangers at Mariners
Pick: Rangers -1.5
With Josh Hamilton expected back in the lineup tonight, look for the Rangers' offense to reawaken and do some serious damage this evening in Seattle. Starter Colby Lewis could use a bit of run support after getting very little in his last two starts, but note he has domianted the Mariners this season, posting a 2-0 mark and microscopic 0.78 ERA in three starts vs. Don Wakamatsu's club. As for Seattle, it enters on a 7-game losing streak, its season deteriorating even further as the season progresses. The Mariners have been outscored 45-14 in their current 7-game losing streak and have been outscored 62-22 while losing all eight this season vs. Texas, which recorded a sweep in its last visit to Safeco Field April 30-May 2. Play Rangers on Run Line
BIG MONEY
OAKLAND
BILL BAILEY
50* BRAVES
BOBBY CASH
15* TEXAS
15* UNDER TEXAS
COMPUTER KIDS
PHILLIES UNDER
DEREK SHARP
PERSONAL PERCEPTION - YANKEES
HOME STAND - ARIZONA
SECURE SPREAD - PHILLIES -1.5
DIAMOND STAR
CUBS
DOLPHIN
3* REDS
EXPERT
DODGERS
FINAL SCORE
BREWERS UNDER
GARDEN STATE SPORTS
3* RAYS
GATOR
3* WHITE SOX
GUARANTEED
4* ORIOLES
INSIDERS EDGE
PADRES
INSIDE STEAM
ROCKIES
LV INSIDERS
300* BREWERS
LV LOCKLINE
25* CUBS
LV SPORTS
10*PHILLIES -1.5
10* TWINS
NY SPORTS
7* YANKEES
7* METS UNDER
7* BRAVES
PANAMA CITY SYSTEMATIC
4* TIGERS (GAME 1)
4* WHITE SOX (GAME 2)
PLATINUM
PIRATES
POWER PLAYS
10* BREWERS
10* ANGELS
PRIMETIME
GIANTS
PROFITABLE SPORTS
3* INDIANS +1.5
RAIDER
10* NATIONALS OVER
REED HARRIS
2* BRAVES
RENO TOTALS
5* UNDER METS
SILVER STAR
ASTROS +1.5
SYCAMORE SPORTS
3* ORIOLES
SPORTS AUTHORITY
3* CUBS
SPORTS NETWORK
WHITE SOX (GAME 2)
GIANTS
METS
SUPER LOCK LINE
TEXAS
SUPER SYSTEMS
YANKEES
RED SOX
THE SPORTS GURU
30* PADRES
THE SPORTS COMMISSIONER
3* NATIONALS OVER
TIPPS
10* RED SOX
10* YANKEES
10* PHILLIES
10* OAKLAND
TJ FILLINGHAM
7* BREWERS
TOP DAWG
METS
TRU-LINE
PHILLIES
VEGAS CONNECTION
GIANTS
VEGAS PIPELINE
CUBS
WIZARD
ANGELS
JON STARZ SPORTS EXCHANGE
1* ROYALS +1.60
EZ WINNERS
10* PARLAY - RED SOX + CARDS
3* DODGERS
LARRY NESS
9* CLUB 80 - YANKEES
8* WEEKLY WIPEOUT - TEXAS
BEN BURNS
10* ARIZONA
AAA SPORTS
3* ROCKIES OVER
MATT FARGO
5* ANGELS
4* METS OVER
4* PADRES
Jeff Benton
20 DIME NEW YORK YANKEES
10 DIME NEW YORK METS
Yankees
The Blue Jays, who knocked off the Yankees last night 8-6, have yet to win consecutive games at new Yankee Stadium. Meanwhile, New York – which is 34-17 in the Bronx – has lost as many as two in a row at home just three times all season. On top of that, the Yankees, who have lost their last two games to Tampa Bay (Sunday) and Toronto, haven’t dropped three in a row since June 16-18 in interleague play (a stretch of 38 games). And they haven’t lost three in a row to American League opponents since May 18-20.
So that right there tells you the odds are heavily in New York’s favor tonight. What also favors the Yankees here is the pitching matchup. Toronto lefty Ricky Romero has had a very strong season when pitching in Canada, where he’s 5-2 with a 2.18 ERA, a 1.03 WHIP and 65 strikeouts in 66 innings. Take him south of the border and it’s a completely different story, as he’s 3-5 with a 4.62 ERA, a 1.57 WHIP and 59 strikeouts in 72 innings.
Romero’s worst and shortest road outing of the season? You guessed it: at Yankee Stadium on July 3, when he yielded eight runs on seven hits in 2 2/3 innings of an 11-3 loss. For his career, he’s 1-2 with a 6.91 ERA and a 1.72 WHIP (47 baserunners in 27 1/3 innings) in five starts against the Bronx Bombers. Going back to Sept. 3 of last season, he’s faced the Yankees three times and surrendered 17 runs (15 earned) in 15 innings.
Clearly the Yankees – who are batting .292 against southpaws at home this season and .324 against lefties over their last 10 games – have figured out Romero. And I don’t expect anything different tonight. As for New York’s Dustin Moseley, he was terrific in his first start of the season on Thursday at Cleveland, giving up just one run, four hits and two walks in six innings, earning an 11-4 victory. That came on the heels of a stellar 4 2/3-inning relief appearance against Kansas City on June 24 (he faced 16 batters and yielded just one hit and one walk).
Take away one pour outing against Tampa Bay (four runs in three innings), and the right-hander has allowed just two runs and six hits in 13 2/3 innings with New York. Also, he has three career appearances (one start) against Toronto, and he’s allowed just two runs in eight innings (2.25 ERA).
Despite last night’s result, New York is still on positive runs of 18-8 overall, 75-27 at home, 6-0 against left-handed starters and 56-26 against A.L. East foes. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays have dropped eight of 10 as an underdog in any venue, 13 of 17 as a road underdog, five of Romero’s last seven starts overall, six of his last eight road starts and five straight when he takes the mound as an underdog.
Mets
Obviously, the Mets aren’t playing very good baseball right now, having lost 16 of their last 22 games, including three of four to the Braves. But then again, Atlanta isn’t exactly red hot either, as it is just 5-7 in its last 12 contests and 8-9 since the All-Star break. Also, despite the Braves’ recent run of success in this rivalry, they’re still 4-5 against the Mets this season.
But more than anything what has me on the Mets today is the fact they have a big edge on the mound. The numbers don’t lie: Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey is 7-4 with a 2.32 ERA in 14 starts for the Mets, and that includes a 2.81 ERA on the road. Atlanta’s Derek Lowe is 10-9 with a 4.58 ERA overall, including a 4.15 ERA at home and a 5.27 ERA in night games.
When you look at recent form, Dickey outshines Lowe by a mile. He posted a 1.51 ERA in six July starts, giving up just seven earned runs, 33 hits and nine walks in 41 2/3 innings. In his last six starts dating to June 29, Lowe has a 5.03 ERA, yielding 19 runs, 40 hits and 12 walks in 34 innings. What’s more, the Braves have lost six of Lowe’s last seven starts, producing just 12 runs total in the six defeats. And Lowe is not only 0-2 against New York this season (3-2 home loss; 3-0 road loss), he’s gotten plastered in his last five starts against the Mets, allowing 18 runs in 23 innings.
Atlanta has not had consecutive victories on consecutive days since prior to the All-Star break, and in addition to going 1-6 in Lowe’s last seven outings, the Braves have lost his last five starts against N.L. East rivals. Meanwhile, the Mets, for whatever reason, have excelled on Tuesdays, going 12-3 dating back to mid April.
The Duke's Sports
Cincinnati Under (8) for 2 Units
Pitching should take precedence in this matchup tonight; after all, Mike Leake sports a solid 2.51 ERA in 2 starts vs Pitt. And although he has been vulnerable on the road and to the long-ball, the light hitting Pirates (.225 vs righties last 10) shouldn't take advantage of it; moreover, if the Bucs do manage a few runs, surely the strong Cincinnati bullpen (0.74 ERA last 10) is sure to shut them down late. On the other hand, struggling Paul Maholm has been brilliant vs Cincinnati with a 2.25 ERA vs them since 2007; furthermore, he controls a 1.32 ERA in 2 starts vs them this season. The Reds have struggled on the road vs lefties this season (.248 BA) and are batting just .237 over the last 10 times facing lefties. Cincinnati is 1-5 O/U on the road vs lefty starters. And they're 5-12 O/U on the road in this 'total' range. With the Pirates at 3-7 O/U in Maholm's last 10 as a home dog, we'll stay "under" here.
ATS Lock Club
4 Units Atlanta Braves
4 Units Philly/Florida UNDER 7.5
Kelso
25 Units Reds
15 Units SF Giants
10 Units Texas
Dwayne Bryant
NY Yankees
Marc Lawrence
Arizona -130
When Arizona hosts Washington in Game Two of this four-game series they will send newly acquired Joe Saunders to the hill against Scott Olsen knowing Olsen is 0-9 with a 6.11 ERA in his last nine road team starts. He is also 0-3 with a sky-high 11.51 ERA in this park. With Olsen just 4-14 in his last 18 road starts, and Saunders in commanding KW form with two walks and 16 strikeouts in his last four starts, look for Saunders to improve to 10-5 in his last 15 team starts during August here tonight. We recommend a 3-unit play on Arizona.
Lenny Del Genio
25* Tampa Bay -145
The Rays beat the Twins last night 4-2 and are now tied with the Yankees for first place in the AL East. The loss by the Twins snapped their eight game winning streak. Tonight, the Twins send Duensing to the hill who was taken out of the Twins pen to replace Blackburn. Duensing has made two starts for Minnesota and so far so good. In those two outings he’s pitched 11 innings and allowed only three earned runs. However, those two starts were against KC and Baltimore. It’s going to be much tougher tonight in Tampa facing a team that is on fire winning nine of their last ten games. The Rays counter with Niemann. He hasn’t been very sharp of late with a 5.79 ERA in his last three starts. However, he’s pitching at home tonight where’s he been very tough this season with a 2.75 ERA and 1.136 WHIP. Minnesota isn’t a very good power team hitting less than one long ball per game. Niemann is outstanding against these poor power teams posting a 15-1 team start record with the Rays winning those games by an average winning margin of 4.2 runs per game. The Rays are now 4-1 this season against Minny make it 5-1 tonight behind Niemann. Good Luck. Play on Tampa Bay.
Nick "BookieKiller" Parsons
10* Atlanta -136
For a number of different reasons I believe the value in this contest is on the home side:
RA Dickey gets the call for the visitors; Dickey has only faced the Braves in relief prior to July 9, when he gave up four runs and nine hits over 6 2-3 innings of a 4-2 loss; he fell to 0-1 with a miserable 7.45 ERA in three appearances against Atlanta.
And keep in mind, the Achilles heel of this team has been its play on the road; 19-33 (-12.2 units); also just 19-21 (-4.5 units) vs. division opponents.
In the other dugout: Derek Lowe heads to the hill for the home side; Lowe has struggled of late, and seems to have issues whenever he faces the Mets; but I’m expecting him to settle down tonight in front of the home town crowd; he is is 1-1 with a 6.19 ERA in three starts since the All-Star break.
Lowe is in luck today though as this is a position that the Braves excel in; 9-2 (+6 units) as a home favorite in the +125 to +150 range; a simply awesome 35-13 (+15.2 units) in front of the home town crowd; and 42-28 (+9.2 units) vs. right handed pitchers.
Bottom line: A loss drops the reeling mets to one game under .500, while the Braves will look to continue their league leading home record; I look for Lowe to have a big game here.
Tony George
Boston -1.5
Cheap line with Beckett on the hill for the hometown Red Sox who suffered a 6-5 loss to the hapless Tribe last night, and the Red Sox will not be in a good mood tonight. The Red Sox hit lefties very well, and tonight they face a weak southpaw in David Huff who is 2-9 on the year with a season long ERA of over 6, and the Red Sox have lit up southpaws in their last 10 games at .292 as a team. I expect a lot of runner in scoring position tonight, and for Beckett to have a good night after coming off a solid outing against the Angels in his last outing. Play the run line on Boston for 1 Unit.
Evan Altemus
3 Units Florida +185
Roy Halladay is a great pitcher, but his recent road outings have been worse than he is used to. His performance has dipped away from home, and Florida has extensive experience against him this season. The Marlins haven’t hit him well but they are improving against him. In addition, Philadelphia is banged up entering this game, as they will be without Ryan Howard, Shane Victorino, and Chase Utley. Also, Raul Ibanez is banged up as well. Left hander Sean West will get the start and has done fairly well in the minor leagues. Philadelphia faced him once last year, and West performed reasonably well. Florida’s line-up hit well on their recent road trip as well. I look for the Marlins to get enough runs off of Halladay to get the win, and I expect West to pitch well in his first start from the minor leagues. The Phillies also will be without their best hitters, and I expect the Marlins to get a low scoring win.
Executive
250% Reds