Tim Trushel
Featured Play: Kansas City +170
KBHoops
5* Kansas City +1.5 -121 **POD**
5* Kansas City +181
5* Detroit +1.5 +100
5* Detroit +231
Tony George
Texas
Tony Weston
35 Dime Phillies
ADAM MEYER
Oakland Athletics vs. Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore rookie right-hander Jason Berken takes the mound for the birds today. Berken has struggled this season but is coming off a solid winning performance on Friday that certainly boosted his confidence. Baltimore should have no problem taking this one from Oakland rookie Mazzaro who has a 5.70 era. Look for Baltimore to win this one today and take the series win against Oakland.
PLAY: Baltimore Orioles -130 4 Units
Chicago White Sox vs. Seattle Mariners
Mark Buehrle has not pitched well since throwing the 18th perfect game in MLB history but that will change tonight as he takes the mound against the Mariners. Buehrle has pitched well against the Mariners, going 7-3 with a 4.11 ERA in 13 starts. The White Sox beat the Mariners on Tuesday and Buehrle will regain his all star form tonight as the White Sox (58-56) take two of three in this series with a win tonight.
PLAY: Chicago White Sox +130 3 Units
Washington Nationals vs. Atlanta Braves
Atlanta is playing very well as of late, winning 4 straight and 6 out of their last 7 games with their only loss courtesy of a walk-off homer. Lowe (11-7, 4.15 ERA) gets the start tonight for the Braves. He is 4-0 with a 2.97 ERA in his last six starts, five of them resulting in wins. Atlanta has outscored opponents 46-18 with a .300 batting average and eight homers over the last seven games. The Nationals send Craig Stammen to the mound tonight. The rookie Stammen, who is coming off his shortest start of the season, was pulled with 2 outs in the second after giving up 6 runs and six hits.
PLAY: Atlanta Braves -1.5 (-110) 5 Units
Seabass
Steam - 100* Bal/Oak over
200 Cle under
100 Tex
100 Det RL
DAVE MAlinsky
GAME: Kansas City Royals @ Minnesota Twins Aug 12, 2009 8:10PM
SPORT: Major League Baseball Picks
PICK: Kansas City Royals
Offered at: 177
REASON FOR PICK: 3* #977 KANSAS CITY over MINNESOTA
The Twins bring a losing record to the table, and after 21 starts and 118.1 innings, the 4-11/5.63 of Francisco Liriano is simply who he is. That is not exactly the kind of package that should be favored in this range, and with last night’s Kansas City blowout to open the series not only raising the confidence level of the Royals, but also creating fatigue ratings across a Minnesota bullpen that will be needed this evening, we have plenty to work with here.
At this point there simply is not a tangible reason to expect Liriano to regain that magical 12-3/2.16 form of 2006. That is a distant memory. His last win came in June, and his 0-2/6.61 since the All Star break actually shows a decline from previous outings, instead of stepping up. He has twice been given 10 days off between starts over the past month, but instead of making him stronger it has thrown him even further out of rhythm. In his last four outings he has only burned through 21.2 innings, and that becomes a real problem after a Monday fiasco in which Brian Duensing (1.2 innings and 59 pitches), Bobby Keppel (2.2 and 40), Jesse Crain (1.2 and 31) and Jose Mijaries (1.1 and 24) all created fatigue ratings. At 2-8 overall in their last 10 games, this Team + Pitcher combination does not merit anywhere near the price range being called for.
Brian Bannister has worked to a competitive 7-8/3.97 for the Royals, and note how well they have been swinging the bats of late, scoring in double figures in two of the last three games, and scoring six or more in five of seven over the last three series. This will be the fourth time in seven games they have gone up against a left-handed starter, which eases the adjustments, and with Monday off, plus that big working margin last night, the bullpen is also positioned much better than their Minnesota counterparts.
Wayne Root
millionaire cubs
chairman rangers
Street Rosenthal
*200 Milwaukee Brewers -135
*200 Florida Marlins -181
I am are going with the Marlins again tonight to take another win from the Astros. I have several trends that say the Marlins will be the winner. First we have the Astros as 13-38 SU since 2004 as a road dog after a loss in which they allowed 5+ walks. Next I have the Marlins as 40-7 SU since 2004 as a 140+ favorite after scoring 6+ runs win. Finally, I have the Marlins as 26-4 since 2004 as 1 140+ favorite when they are off a win in which they came back from a deficit and it is not the first game of a series. Take the Marlins to get the win.
JACK JONES
15* on Royals/Twins OVER 9
This is a great spot for the over with two hot-hitting teams and two pitchers that have struggled over their last 3 outings. KC starter, Brain Bannister, has a 5.29 ERA and 1.47 WHIP over his last 3 starts, while Twins starter, Francisco Liriano, has picked up a 6.61 ERA and 1.84 WHIP in his last 3 appearances. The Royals aren't well-known for their hitting, but over their last 7 games they are putting up an average of 7.6 runs per game and hitting an amazing .345 as a team. The Twins aren't far behind over the last 7 games offensively, batting .325 as a team and scoring 6.3 runs per game. Kansas City's bullpen is currently sporting a 5.19 ERA, while the Twin's pen has struggled at home, posting a 5.02 ERA. Like I said, this is a great spot for the over to hit.
Added
Jack Jones
20* No-Brainer on Texas Rangers -120
Rangers starting pitcher, Tommy Hunter, has been the real deal this season. He's now got 8 Major League starts under his belt, earning a 4-2 record, 2.63 ERA, and 1.89 WHIP. On the road he has been especially sharp, going 1-0 with a 1.38 ERA and 0.92 WHIP. Meanwhile, Indian's starter, Fausto Carmona, has struggled through 14 starts this season, going just 2-6 with a 6.66 ERA and 1.77 WHIP. Carmona is also 0-1 with a 6.92 ERA and 1.92 WHIP over his last 3 starts. The Rangers are 3-1 this season against the Indians, and while Cleveland took the first game of the series, I like the Rangers to bounce back in a big way Wednesday night.
15* on Nationals/Braves OVER 9
Take the over in tonight's game between the Nationals and the Braves. Both teams have been hitting extremely well lately, with the Nats hitting .315 as a team and scoring 6.4 runs per game over the past week. The Braves are scoring at an even better clip, averaging 6.6 runs per game, while batting .300 as a team in their last 7 games. National's starter, Craig Stammen, has been hit hard over his last 3 outings, giving up at least 5 earned runs per game, resulting in an ERA of 15.42 over that stretch. All three of those starts have resulted in the over cashing in. You also have to like the chances of the Braves being able to tack on extra runs once Stammen gets pulled from the game. The Nats have the worst bullpen in baseball with a 5.76 ERA on the road. The Nationals bats should stay hot and I think runs should come easily for the Braves tonight as well.
15* on Royals/Twins OVER 9
This is a great spot for the over with two hot-hitting teams and two pitchers that have struggled over their last 3 outings. KC starter, Brain Bannister, has a 5.29 ERA and 1.47 WHIP over his last 3 starts, while Twins starter, Francisco Liriano, has picked up a 6.61 ERA and 1.84 WHIP in his last 3 appearances. The Royals aren't well-known for their hitting, but over their last 7 games they are putting up an average of 7.6 runs per game and hitting an amazing .345 as a team. The Twins aren't far behind over the last 7 games offensively, batting .325 as a team and scoring 6.3 runs per game. Kansas City's bullpen is currently sporting a 5.19 ERA, while the Twin's pen has struggled at home, posting a 5.02 ERA. Like I said, this is a great spot for the over to hit.