Jeff Benton
Blue Jays -1½
The Minnesota Twins can’t beat the Toronto Blue Jays, and more importantly, the Twins can’t deal with Roy Halladay. So to be getting a Halladay vs. Carl Pavano matchup north of the border is like stealing money.
Going back to July 2007, these teams have met 15 times, and Toronto has won 13 of those games. Of those 13 wins, 10 have come by multiple runs, including all four victories this year (by the combined score of 35-13, no less). And in the last nine clashes in Canada, the Blue Jays have gone 8-1, scoring 62 runs and giving up 23 in the last nine games.
As for Halladay, check out these career numbers versus the Twins: 8-0, 2.77 ERA, 0.97 WHIP in 12 games (10 starts). The Blue Jays are 9-1 in his 10 starts against Minnesota (seven of the nine being multiple-run wins), including 4-0 at home (all four multiple-run wins). Halladay has faced Minnesota once this season, back on April 16 in the Metrodome, and he cruised to a 9-2 victory, allowing just one run over seven innings with eight Ks and no BBs.
How have the Twins best hitters fared against Halladay over the years? Well, Justin Morneau is 3-for-12, Joe Mauer is 1-for-10, Jason Kubel is 1-for-12 and Michael Cuddyer is 2-for-9. Among those four sluggers, they have a total of four RBIs in 43 at-bats!
Most importantly as it pertains to Halladay, after three consecutive subpar starts (all losses) to end August, the All-Star right-hander returned to form in his first start of September. On Thursday, facing the hottest team and best offense in baseball, he twirled a brilliant complete-game one-hitter, beating the Yankees 6-0. It was Halladay’s fourth complete game in his last 10 starts and the sixth time this season he’s finished a game.
What about Pavano, you ask? Well, he’s definitely pitched OK lately (3.32 ERA last three starts), but he lost two of those games, falling 3-0 to Texas on Aug. 29 and 5-2 at Cleveland on Thursday. But here’s all you need to know about Pavano: The last two times he’s pitched in Canada – once with the Indians in July this year and once with the Yankees in September last season – Pavano gave up 12 runs in 8 1/3 innings, and the Blue Jays won by scores of 8-2 and 10-6.
Finally, even though this has been another lost season in Toronto after a red-hot start to 2009, when the Blue Jays do win, they tend to win big. Their last four wins: 18-10 at Texas, 6-0 over the Yankees (Halladay’s win on Thursday), 14-8 over the Yankees, 6-3 over Minnesota. In fact, 27 of the team’s last 34 victories dating to May 29 have come by more than one run. Meanwhile, the Twins’ last 10 defeats have been by more than one run.
Add it all up and we’re looking at another blowout Blue Jays win over Minnesota and another dominating outing by Halladay. Take the Blue Jays and lay the 1½ runs.
Seabass
50* ARIZ
50* TB
20* CINN/COL under
20* CHW
10* BALT
Mike LinebackFOR THE LARGEST SELECTION OF FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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NEW YORK YANKEES
Tony George FOR THE LARGEST SELECTION OF FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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FLORIDA MARLINS
Nick ParsonsFOR THE LARGEST SELECTION OF FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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CHICAGO WHITE SOX
Bob BalfeFOR THE LARGEST SELECTION OF FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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CHICAGO WHITE SOX
Opposite Action PlaysFOR THE LARGEST SELECTION OF FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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CINCINNATI REDS
Marc Lawrence FOR THE LARGEST SELECTION OF FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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HOUSTON ASTROS
Lenny Del Genio FOR THE LARGEST SELECTION OF FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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LOS ANGELES DODGERS
KBHoops
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5* Cincinnati +1.5 -129 **POD**
4* NY Mets +105
4* Tampa Bay +132
4* Chicago Whitesoxs -130
CHIP CHIRIMBES
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Braves at Astros
Pick: Astros -125
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Wandy Rodriguez is 13-9 with a 2.82 ERA for the Houston Astros this season and certainly has pitched like an All-Star. The Atlanta Braves will start Tommy Hanson who is making only his second start since his injury last August. Wandy is 2-1 lifetime against the Btraves and with Atlanta's Chipper Jones in a major slump over his last 40 games Houston at home gets the nod. Take ASTROS here!
SportsOddsAndPicks
Minnesota at Toronto OVER 7.5
OAKLAND +115 (with Cahill) over White Sox
BIG AL
BASEBALL DIVISION UNDERDOG OF THE YEAR
At 7:05pm our AL East Underdog of the Year is on the Tampa Bay Rays over the New York Yankees.
Charlie
Braves/Astros Under 7', Twins/Blue ays unUder 7' & Marlins/Mets Over 9 (500* triple play)
Astros -130 (30*)
Cubs -150 (20*)
Oakland +125 (20*)
Cleveland +130 (10*)
Arizona- 130 (10*) free play
Sid Paradise
Dodgers @ Diamondbacks -123
Jon Garland takes the hill tonight for the Dodgers and he has been great his last three trips to the mound. One of those trips was against his former team, the Diamondbacks, who he shut out. He'll get another chance tonight in Arizona. With such a hot pitcher on the mound it's hard to pass up on the underdog in this one.
Pick- Dodgers +113 (4* play)
Braves @ Astros -123
The braves took game one of this series yesterday and look to start a winning streak as they send Tommy Hanson to the mound for his first start vs Houston. Wandy Rodriguez takes the hill for the Astros, who has been dominate at home this season going 8-2 with a 1.60 ERA in 13 home starts. Because the Astros haven't faced the rookie yet I think they will have a tough time hitting him tonight, while the Braves are 28-18 this season vs lefties. At +113 we are getting good value for a small play here.
Pick- Braves +113 (2* play)
ALATEX
20* Boston Over 10.5
ASA
3* Astros
Billy Coleman
4* CHI/OAK UNDER
3* CINCY +155
Chris James Sports
3* Phillies -1.5
Adam Meyer
4 Units Toronto -1.5
4 Units Houston Astros
4 Units White Sox/Oakland Under 9.5
Young Guns
5* Oak
4* Cinn Under