Totals 4 U
Top Play
Minn OVER 8
Reg Plays
NYY OVER 9.5
Wash UNDER 7
NYM UNDER 9
SF OVER 7.5
Platinum Plays
Premier Play
Det
Top Play
Atl
Reg Plays
RSox
Milw
Flor
Wash
BIG AL
Mariners
Nationals
Cardinals
Dave Cokin
Solid Gold - Brewers
LA Angels
KIKI SPORTS
3 Units Milwaukee -135
1 Unit NY Mets +115
1 Unit Boston -115
Scott Rickenbach
10* Oakland / Boston Over
The Red Sox lost 5-4 in ten inning yesterday but they tallied 12 hits in the game. Boston has been dealing with injury issues but that hasn’t stopped them from hitting the ball quite well in recent road games. In their last six games away from home, the Red Sox have averaged 10.3 hits per game. As for the A’s, though they have been mostly an “under team” this season, we’ve seen a change in those trends recently. Oakland, with yesterday’s over, now has recorded just two unders in their last nine games! The Athletics have scored at least five runs in seven of their last eight games. Also, Boston is 10-6 to the over this season when they are on the road and the posted total is 8 or 8.5 runs. Though Gio Gonzalez of the A’s and Clay Buchholz of the Red Sox each have impressive numbers so far this season, there is more than meets the eye in the case of each of these hurlers!
Buchholz is 10-4 with a 2.45 ERA so far this season but let’s not lose sight of the fact that this will be his first MLB start since June 26th. He’s coming back from injury and his rehab start in the minors was not overly impressive. Also, this is still a hurler who went 9-13 the last two seasons and recorded a 4.21 ERA last season and a 6.75 ERA the year before that. In his only career start against Oakland, Buchholz held the A’s to just two earned runs in 5.2 innings of work. However, the A’s had nine hits and two walks in that game and easily could have done a lot more damage against the Boston right-hander. Also, in day games in his career Buchholz is 3-5 with a 5.46 ERA and he’s been hit at a .313 clip in those starts! Also, the Red Sox right-hander has been hit 38 points higher on the road than at home in his career and Buchholz has an ERA that is a full run higher when on the road compared to at home. Also, left-handed hitters have given Buchholz more trouble than righties in his career and the A’s have a number of dangerous left-handed sticks in their lineup. Oakland will load up on that side of the plate with their lineup today and we look for Buchholz to have a tough time coming back from his hamstring injury.
As for the A’s Gonzalez, we certainly realize that he’s produced some very impressive numbers this season. However, we also want to make note of the fact that this is still a hurler who has gone 15-17 with a 5.04 ERA in his MLB career. He’s coming off of a strong start at Kansas City in his most recent outing but in the last start he made at home he got pounded by the Yankees and it marked the third time in his last six games that Gonzalez had allowed at least four earned runs in a start! He’s winless with a 5.23 ERA and an ugly 1.94 WHIP in his two career starts against Boston. Also, Gonzalez has been hit 109 points higher by righties than lefties this season and he will see almost all right-handed bats in the Red Sox lineup this afternoon. Before shutting down the Royals in his most recent start, Gonzalez had walked at least four batters in three straight starts and command of pitches continues to be an issue for the southpaw. Oakland’s bullpen ERA only ranks in the middle of the pack this season while the Red Sox have an ERA that places them among the worst bullpens in baseball. Also, Boston has a .465 slugging percentage against left-handed pitchers this season and that ranks #1 in the majors. Play OVER the total in Oakland as a *10* Top Play selection.
8* Baltimore / Tampa Bay Over
Even if Carl Crawford is out for this game for Tampa Bay, let’s not forget that he left last night’s game in the first inning and yet the Rays still ended up scoring ten runs in the game! Yesterday’s game ended up going 13 innings and was an 11-10 thriller. The fact that the game went four extra frames certainly did not do any favors for either bullpen and, of course, that’s good news for an “over” player. As for the starting pitching match-up here, look for both hurlers to struggle. James Shields gets the start for the Rays and he’s been struggling. Tampa Bay has lost 9 of his last 11 starts and Shields ERA has gone from a 2.99 in late May to a 4.86 entering this start. The Rays right-hander has given up 12 homers in his last 11 starts and he’s been hit at a .285 clip on the road this season and a .318 clip in day games! In his career, Shields’ ERA is more than a full run higher on the road compared to at home. The Rays right-hander has enjoyed success against the Orioles in his career but we feel his current form (coupled with Baltimore riding the momentum of their 11-run outburst yesterday) will lead to Shields getting pounded today.
As for the Orioles starting pitching situation today, Brad Bergesen gets the start. The Baltimore right-hander is facing a Rays team that continues to pound the ball. Tampa Bay has averaged six runs per game in their last 14 games and they face a starting pitcher today who is 3-7 with a 6.37 ERA. Bergesen has been knocked around at a .324 clip this season and he’s also 0-2 (and has been rocked) in his two starts versus the Rays in his young career. In his career, Bergesen has an ERA that is more than a full run higher in day games compared to what he’s compiled in night games. The Orioles are 4-0 to the over in Bergesen’s day game starts this season. The Rays are 13-5 to the over this season when they are on the road and the total is 9 or 9.5 runs. Tampa Bay is 11-5 to the over this month. The Rays are also 23-13 to the over in divisional games this season. Tampa Bay is 11-3 to the over in Wednesday games this season. On a humid afternoon in Maryland, look for the ball to continue to carry well here (7 homers last night) and we look for another slugfest to erupt. Play OVER the total in Baltimore as an *8* Regular Play selection
Power Play Wins
Arizona Diamondbacks -122
Sports Investment Group
Tampa / Baltimore Under 9.5
Paul Leiner
50* DBacks -125
25* Milw/Pitt Over 8.5
BEAT YOUR BOOKIE
10* Play St. Louis (-150) over Philadelphia
Philadelphia is 3-8 in road games when the total posted is between 8 and 8.5 runs
Joe Blanton is 2-14 in road games when pitching on a Wednesday
Joe Blanton is 1-3 in road games this season with an ERA of 7.06
DAVID BANKS
Yankees -172
Royals -176
A's +104
Nationals -113
Marlins -116
Mariners -133
Rocketman
4* Brewers
3* Reds
Marc Lawrence
American League Game Of The Week
Seattle Mariners
Dave Cokin
Solid Gold - Brewers
LA Angels
Dave Cokin
Matchup: L.A. Angels at N.Y. Yankees
Time: 1:05 PM EDT (Wed)
Listed pitchers must go: (R) PINEIRO, J vs. (R) VAZQUEZ, J
Play: L.A. Angels (ML +170)
It's never easy to go against the Yankees when they're playing in the Bronx. But when there's this much value in the number, it's absolutely worthwhile. Joel Pineiro is on a big roll for the Halos. He's won seven in a row, and the team has won each of his last eight starts. And Pineiro hasn't been lucky, he's been rock solid, with quality starts in all of those wins. Javier Vazquez is also going well for the Yanks, but he's been shaky in his daytime starts and he's never been able to record even one win against this opponent. Bobby Abreu could be the key here, as he's crushed Vazquez, and I also think the return to active duty of underrated Maicer Izturis is a big plus for the visitors. The Angels aren't going to just pack it in as far as their divisional title hopes are concerned, and I like their outburst on Tuesday to provide some positive momentum today. I'll go for the substantial dog odds and give the Angels a play.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Matchup: Milwaukee at Pittsburgh
Time: 7:05 PM EDT (Wed)
Listed pitchers must go: (L) WOLF, R vs. (L) DUKE, Z
Play: Milwaukee (ML -125) SOLID GOLD
The Brewers ended up losing at Pittsburgh on Tuesday night, but they sure made it exciting after falling down 9-0. Look for the road team to get back on the winning track tonight. Randy Wolf has put together four straight quality starts on the road and he's owned the Pirates throughout his career. The Bucs counter with Zach Duke, who's having a brutal year and is getting clocked for a whopping .329 opposing batting average. Granted, the Pirates have been close to a .500 team against lefties but I thought they were lucky to hang on last night. Given the complete series domination by the Brewers, I'm compelled to play that side this evening.
Michael Cannon
10 Dime Florida