Scott Rickenbach
10* Toronto / Baltimore Over
We rode this play to victory yesterday and we have no qualms about coming right back with it today! The Blue Jays have gone 10-0 against the Orioles this season and they've averaged 5.7 runs per game in the process! Toronto should have no problem continuing that high-scoring trend here. However, we also expect Baltimore to match the Blue Jays run for run in this one! As we mentioned in yesterday's write-up, the Orioles lineup is as healthy as it's been in a long time. Also, they are facing a struggling Ricky Romero in this one. Note that Romero has made four starts in the month of July and he's gone 1-3 with a 7.58 ERA in those outings. Also, he's matched up with an Orioles team that has gone 6-4 to the over in their last 10 road games. Baltimore just recently faced Romero at home and that will be an edged to the Orioles hitters as they get a quick second look at the southpaw. As for the Blue Jays hitters, do not be surprised if they "tee off" against Kevin Millwood of the Orioles. The veteran Baltimore right-hander is 1-5 with a 5.82 ERA in his nine road starts this season. Though he's now considered healthy again - after dealing with a strained right forearm - he's still been far from dominant of late! Worse yet, he's facing a Blue Jays lineup that is far and away the top home run hitting team in the league. Jose Bautista, Aaron Hill, and Adam Lind led the way Monday. Also, though they were quiet yesterday, guys like Lyle Overbay and Edwin Encarnacion have been providing a lot of production from the bottom third of the Blue Jays lineup in recent weeks. That is the key here as the Orioles Millwood is facing a stacked Blue Jays lineup that has so many solid hitters all the way through. He's going to have his hands full and, should Millwood exit this game early due to poor performance, don't be surprised if the struggles of the Orioles bullpen arms continue. Baltimore has just 19 saves this season and, overall, the Orioles have been one of the most hittable bullpens in the league this season. The Blue Jays have averaged 6 runs per game in their last 7 home games and they continue their season-long assault on Baltimore pitching today. At the same time, look for the Jays Romero to continue to see his dip in productivity continue. Play OVER the total in Toronto on Tuesday as a *10* Top Play selection.
BIG AL
Athletics / Rangers Under
Evan Altemus
5 Units Minnesota -148
Minnesota is really hitting well right now, with a team average of .337 in their last 10 games. Their offense was on full display last night, as they scored 19 runs against the lowly Royals. What makes this selection even better is that they get to tee off against lefty Bruce Chen, who has not pitched well lately. In addition, the Royals bullpen has been horrible lately. Bottom line, Minnesota will not have a problem scoring runs tonight. Twins starter Carl Pavano is in great current form, posting a 1.75 ERA and a 0.78 WHIP in his last 3 starts. Pavano has also shut down the Royals in his last two starts against them this year, both at home and on the road. He is also a good road pitcher. Look for Minnesota to get a dominant road win for my MLB Game of the Month.
3 Units Cardinals / Mets Under 7
Adam Wainwright has been absolutely dominant over the last few weeks, allowing just 1 run over his last 5 starts. He also goes fairly deep into games, and he should have no problem shutting down a Mets offense that has been horrible lately. Meanwhile, lefty Jonathan Niese has pitched well lately too. He routinely goes deep into his outings and usually allows 3 runs or less. Also, St. Louis doesn’t have much experience at all against him. A big key to this selection though are the quality bullpens of each team. Both bullpens have been in great form lately and have really shut teams down over the last month. Look for this game to stay under the total.
Tony George
Minnesota -149
Two things. At my MAXIMUM Limit for moneyline but well worth the stretch here as Minny gets to light up Bruce Chen who has sucked for KC as of late, 0-3 his last 3 and over a 7 ERA. Minny whom I witnessed in person CLEARLY a far better team in this series, and they have Pavano on the hill who is red hot and 3-0 his last 3 with a 1.75 ERA. The Royals fall from grace is unreal after doing well late in the first half. They just a mess on offense, their starting rotation is way out of sync, and their bullpen is getting lit up like a Christmas Tree. Have NO doubts here, the domination continues. KC just 2-8 their last 10 as a dog, Minny is heating up and clearly focused on sweeping the series, they were relentless last night. Play 2 Units on Minnesota.
JR O'Donnell
Colorado -1.5
Let's bounce the Rockies today as they limp home from the Phillies trip and Vegas is showing huge respect for Our Rockies play tonight, the Pirates are just dreadful and the return of SS Troy Tulowitzki and the Rockies on a miserable 2-9 streak. Just a huge huge gut play as we note that Rockies are a smooth "77%" prop winner at Coors Field, where the Colo Rockies have won 15 of 19. The Pirates send out Zach Duke 4-9, 5.22 ERA and Pittsburgh just does not have the talent to keep pace tonight with the Rockies in a Nasty mood, The Pirates are 17-67 in their last 84 road games and the Rockies are 13-4 as a huge favorite at home.
Dave Cokin
Solid Gold - Washington Nationals
Platinum Plays
400,000K Play (Parlay)
Texas & WSox
Premium Play
Cards
Reg Plays
Wash
Det
Milw
TOTALS 4 U
Top Play ( Parlay)
TB OVER 8
LAD OVER 6.5
SF UNDER 6.5
Reg Plays
Wash UNDER 7
Balt OVER 8
Cubs UNDER 8
LAA OVER 8
Red Dog Sports
2* Chicago / Indiana Under 143.5
The last 3 meetings this year only reached 109, 134, 130 and the one before that went into overtime. The last 11 meetings have seen the under profit 8 times and Indiana at home has 11 unders in their last 14 games. Chicago has 3 overs and 8 unders on the road while Indiana has 3 overs and 8 unders at home. Chicago guard Jia Perkins has struggled against the Fever this year going 2-9 from the field for just 7 points in the last game at Indy. Look for a game in the high 130's that stays under.
David Banks
Phillies
Braves
Rays
Mets
Cubs
Padres
Billy Coleman
3* Washington Nationals -135
Dave Cokin
Solid Gold - Washington Nationals
Dave Cokin
Matchup: Atlanta at Washington
Time: 7:05 PM EDT (Tue)
Listed pitchers must go: (R) HANSON, T vs. (R) STRASBURG, S
Play: Washington (ML -132)
There's no line value in playing Stephen Strasburg. The next big thing is on everyone's hot list and the guys who make the numbers aren't stupid. They're shading the Nats every time he takes the mound. Value or not, however, Strasburg continue to pitch brilliantly and the Nats clearly play with their best focus when he pitches. I like the phenom tonight. Tommy Hanson has been puzzling with his inconsistency, the Braves are still a sub-.500 road team, and the Nationals are actually a pretty good baseball team when their rookie sensation gets the ball. Even at the tilted number, I like Washington to get the win tonight, so I'll spot the price.
DAVID MALINSKY
4* TORONTO -1.5 -105 over BALTIMORE
It was a sin of omission to not have backed the Blue Jays last night, particularly since we had been riding Brandon Morrow often. But that double-header in Detroit on Sunday created too many bullpen issues for us to pull the trigger. Now there is no such obstacle, so we are in play.
There isn’t much left in the Kevin Milwood tank, with his 2-9/5.84 showing a lot of validity because of the consistency of the Home/Away splits (1-4/5.86 and 1-5/5.82). He has been tagged for 21 HR’s in just 114 frames, which creates an awful matchup against a team that has bashed 21 more than any other in the Majors. The matchup problems have already shown – the Blue Jays have five HR’s against him in 13.2 IP over two appearances this season. And pitching to any kind of contact is a problem with a defense behind him that rates dead last in the A.L. on our best ratings, and is particularly vulnerable on the faster surface in the Rogers Centre, where the Orioles have been out-scored 25-8 in going 0-4 so far this season.
Ricky Romero ably takes care of the other part of this equation. He has held Baltimore to one earned run over 16 IP this season, including a complete-game, and a full-season 2.16 from this mound speaks well of his confidence level here. His overall numbers fell a bit before the break when he appeared tired in loss to the Yankees and Red Sox, but after a full week off has come back with a pair of solid starts, working a full seven IP each time, and getting 18 ground ball outs. This time the bullpen is also set up well, so the limited amount needed from that group should be solid.
Billy Coleman
3* Washington -135
Teedy Covers
Dodgers/Padres Over 6.5