John Ryan
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Pittsburgh Pirates G1 vs. Cincinnati Reds G1
Play: Pittsburgh Pirates G1
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Ai Simulator 3* graded play on the Pirates in game 1 of their double header with the Reds set to start at 1:05 EST. Supporting this graded play is a system that has gone 135-94 making 47.4 units since 1997. Play against NL home teams with a team on base percentage .310 or worse on the season + after a one run loss. How would you feel if you were 26 years old and had made the USA team roster scheduled to play in Europe in World Cup action and the phone rings and you are literally forced to miss that opportunity? Well, it would feel a whole lot better if a MLB team had just called you up to make your MLB debut and promised to start in the remainder of the season. That is the case for Game 1 today. McCutchen had been scheduled to join the American squad today at its training camp in Cary, N.C. The first round of the World Cup begins Sept. 10 in Regensburg, Germany. McCutchen went 13-6 with a 3.47 ERA in 24 starts for Indianapolis. Over his past 10 starts, he is 7-1 with a 2.29 ERA. Many times the jump to the MLB level is a vastly different and far more difficult experience, but he is very polished and will quite well. Also, the Reds have never faced him and that is an even bigger advantage of the left hander. Take the Pirates in game 1.
Rocketman Sports
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LAA Angels vs. Seattle Mariners
Play: LAA Angels
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LA Angels come in with a 77-52 overall record this year while Seattle is 68-63 on the season so far. LA Angels are scoring 5.7 runs per game overall this year and 5.8 runs per game on the road this season. Seattle is scoring only 3.9 runs per game at home and against left handed starters this year. LA Angels are 70-44 on grass this year and 28-14 against left handed starters this year. Sanders is 6-1 with a 3.60 ERA overall vs Seattle since 1997. We'll recommend a small play on LA Angels tonight
LARRY NESS
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Houston Astros @ Chicago Cubs
PICK: Chicago Cubs
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Chicago hosted a four-game series at Wrigley vs Houston back on July 27-30 and entered that series leading the NL Central by a half-game over the Cardinals and two over the Astros. Chicago won three of the four games and had to feel good about its prospects as the calendar was set to turn to August, as the Cubs had opened the season's second half going 11-3. Those "good feelings" have not lasted. Chicago stood at 54-46 as of July 30 but the Cubs are only 11-18 since that time (have lost 15 of 23 since August 5), while the Cards have caught 'fire.' As Chicago opens a three-game series with the Astros on this final day of August, the Cubs are 65-63, 10 full games behind the Cards in the Central division. As for the Astros, they were 50-48 prior to going to Wrigley back in late July and that series has sent them on a downward spiral, going only 12-20 since, to enter this series 62-68 and without any serious playoff hopes. The Cubs have little chance to catch the Cards and are 5 1/2 games behind Colorado and San Francisco for the wild card spot. Monday's matchup features Roy Oswalt and Rich Harden. It's been an odd year for Oswalt, who entered the year 129-64 (.668) since joing the Astros back in 2001. He was never quite 'right' for this year's first three months, winning just three times in his first 16 starts (four losses and NINE no decisions). He's pitched much better as of late, going 4-1 (team is 8-2) over his last 10 starts with a 3.20 ERA. However, let's note that he lasted just five outs while facing the Cubs at Wrigley back on July 28, leaving the game with a lower back strain. That kept him sidelined until Aug 11 and since his return (four starts), he's had three poor road outings with one good home start (7 IP / 3 hits / 0 ERs). In those three outings away from home, Oswalt has allowed 27 hits and 14 ERs over 17 innings, for a 7.41 ERA. Harden came to the Cubs during last season from the A's. He was nearly unhittable in 12 regular season starts for Chicago, allowing only 39 hits in 71 innings with 89 Ks. His ERA was 1.77 during that run but he was only able to go 5-1 (team was 9-3). He was nowhere near that sharp to open 2009 and enters this game 8-7 with a 3.99 ERA in 22 starts (team is 11-11). However, he's been outstanding since the break, allowing just 10 ERs in his eight starts, posting a 1.80 ERA. That being said, he's only picked up three wins in that span (just one loss) with the Cubs splitting the eight games (4-4). The Cubs may not get things turned around enough to make a run at the Rockies or Giants but the Astros are in even more dire straights. They were swept in a three-game series at Arizona this weekend and now visit Wrigley at the end of a nine-game road trip. They are 1-5 through the first six games and have lost 17 of their last 22 away from home since July 18. Take the Cubs.
Spartan
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Kansas City at Oakland
Play: Oakland
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I'm suggesting a wager on the Oakland A's as they open a series with the Royals. Kansas City got a beautiful performance from the best thing in their entire organization as Zack Greinke shut down Seattle. Now it is a step back into reality as Luke Hochevar makes the start for Trey Hillman's Royals. He has not been pitching well of late dropping his last 4 decisions and frankly has not prevailed in a start since back on July 25th. Hochevar has faced this Oakland ballclub twice this years and both met with very dismal results. Oakland counters tonight with 23 year old rookie southpaw Gio Gonzalez. I've seen this young man pitch and like his future, a lot. He has a nasty breaking ball and velocity on his number 1 in the 90's, that is potentially a lethal combination if his location is in sync. This Royals batting order should be just what the doctor ordered for him tonight. I'm playing Oakland.
Freddy Wills
Atlanta Braves vs. Florida Marlins
Play: Florida Marlins
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Take Marlins tonight against the Braves. The story line here was Tim Hudson making his season debut, but his start is pushed back to tomorrow due to the roster expansion that happens tomorrow which will allow them to make the transition much easier.
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Making the start for the Braves will be Kawakami who has been effective all year long, but against the Marlins he has struggled in two starts posting 10.2 IP giving up 12H 10 ER including 4 HR. Making a road start here against the Marlins who will be throwing their ace out there in Josh Johnson.
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Johnson has been Cy Young material all year long and at home he's 7-1 with a 2.26 ERA. He has one start this year against the Braves and it was a 6-3 win. He threw 6 innings gave up 8H and 3 ER. However, the Braves are 0-4 in their last 4 vs. RH starter and the Marlins are 18-6 in their last 24 vs. RH starters. Marlins are also 12-1 with Johnson on the hill vs. a team with a winning record and they are 5-1 in Johnson's last 6 starts vs. the Braves.
Randall the Handle
Washington +130 over SAN DIEGO
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This one is pretty much a no-brainer and it goes something like this. The Nats aren’t that bad, they’re just having a brutal year after a horrific start. The Padres are bad, as they can’t hit, nor can they do much of anything else. If they played in a different park, its pitching staff would be as gassed as anyone’s. Player for player, the Nats are superior and not many could make an argument otherwise. So, when the Padres are favored, and because their chances of losing is greater than its chances of winning, the dog is always the right play against them and this one is no exception. The Padres –1.40 or thereabouts is simply ludicrous.
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Play: Washington +1.30 (Risking 2 units)
VEGAS EXPERTS
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Chicago White Sox at Minnesota Twins
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The Texas Rangers and Minnesota Twins have split the first two games of their series. Rangers’ right-hander Kevin Millwood has a 0-7 record in his career against the Twins with an ERA of 6.18. Texas is just 4-14 when the total is set between 8 and 8.5. Minnesota’s Scott Baker has been great of late earning three straight victories while allowing five runs in the process. Baker has a 21-6 TSR when favored between -$1.25 and $1.75. Go with Minnesota
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Play on: Chicago
Jeff Saad
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Pirates at Reds GM2
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Difficult to back the Reds as chalk against anybody, and in this game they face lefty Paul Maholm, who has been hot, with a 3.43 ERA his last three starts, walking only 4 in 21 innings. He is 1-0 against the punchless Reds with a 1.29 ERA this season. Cincy starter Johnny Cueto (8-10, 4.61 ERA) has struggled all season, and his last three starts is 0-2 with an ERA over 10!
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Play the Pirates
Game Time Sports Advisors
Chicago White Sox vs. Minnesota Twins
Play: Chicago White Sox
Nick Blackburn has been brutal, going 0-5 over his last 8 starts. The last time he won was way back on July 10th, and the Twins are just 1-7 in those 8 starts. Gavin Floyd is 4-0 the last 5 times he has started against Minnesota.
Scott Rickenbach
Toronto Blue Jays @ Texas Rangers
PICK: Under 10
The Rangers have stayed under the total in four straight games now after again failing to come through in the clutch yesterday – they had bases loaded and nobody out in the top of the 9th and didn’t score. After blowing a big chance (down 5-3 yesterday) in the top of the ninth, look for some carry-over effect here for a Rangers team that is, once again, struggling to get the job done at the plate. They’ve been held to eight hits or less in eight of their last nine games! As for the Blue Jays, they’ve been held to just seven hits in six of their last eleven games! Note that when Toronto has lost at least three games in a row, they have stayed under the total to the tune of 13-7 (65%). Speaking of struggling at the plate when you’re team is down, the Rangers are 39-16 to the under when coming off of a loss. Also, Texas is 30-14 to the under this season when they’re playing a team with a losing record! Also, when facing a left-handed starter this season, the Rangers have stayed under the total in 32 of 45 games!
Monday, Texas will be dealing with a Blue Jays southpaw, Brett Cecil. Note that Cecil has not had a good August but the Rangers are getting their first-ever look at him and that’s big edge for a pitcher when he’s facing a team that’s been involved in plenty of low-scoring games against southpaws. This is very likely to be another tight, low-scoring battle for the Rangers as they face a guy who has allowed just four earned runs in 13 innings in his last two road starts. The Rangers send Derek Holland to the mound and he’s a southpaw who was rolling prior to running into the red-hot Yankees in his most recent start. Note that Holland had gone 3-0 with just 3 earned runs allowed in 21 innings before he struggled in the Bronx. Look for him to bounce right back here and note that the Blue Jays have seen very little of Holland. He’s made one relief appearance against them but never faced them in a start. That makes this a tough spot for the Blue Jays sticks as Holland resumes his strong run on the mound. Consider a small play on UNDER the total in Texas on Monday night.
Lenny Del Genio
Atlanta Braves at Florida Marlins
Prediction: Florida Marlins
There arent many guarantees in life, but taking Floridas Josh Johnson against division opponents is certainly one of them. Johnson has an 18-2 team start record in division play. His own personal record this year is 6-0 with a 3.09 ERA vs. the NL East. He is 7-1 with a 2.26 ERA at home this year. Since the start of last season, Florida is 16-3 at home when Johnson starts. This price is a real bargain all things considered. Take Florida.
Jeff Alexander
1 Unit on NY Yankees -164
Bottom Line: Pettitte is 20-6 in his career against Baltimore with an ERA of 3.69. The Yankees are 9-3 in his road starts this season and have won each of his last 5 starts. The Yankees have won 9 of 12 against the O's this season and Baltimore has dropped 8 straight Monday games. Take the Yanks.
Dave Price
1 Unit on Chicago Cubs -150
Yes, the Cubs have been struggling, but they are coming off a series win over the Mets and have taken 9 of 14 from Houston this season. Meanwhile, the Astros have dropped 3 in a row and 6 of their last 7. Oswalt has been solid, but not nearly as much so as he has been in the past and he has a losing career mark against the Cubs. Harden is pitching his best ball of the season (1.80 ERA and 0.750 WHIP over his last 3 starts) and I expect him to silence one of the weaker lineups in the N.L. tonight. Bet the Cubs at home where they are 38-25 this season.
Ron Raymond
OAK / KAN Under 8.5
When KANSAS CITY played as any home/road team - During Last 4 Years - With 1 Under - Won Last Game by 3 Runs or Less - With SU Record of 2 Win 3 Lost in L5G; The UNDER is 11-4-1 for the Royals in this spot the L4Y.
Michael Cannon
Chicago White Sox -105 at MINNESOTA
I delivered an outright winner on the Bears last night, making it three free winners out of the last four!
Take the White Sox tonight over the Twins.
I know the Pale Hose have been coming apart at the seams, but I feel like manager Ozzie Guillen’s latest tirade will light a fire under them tonight.
They certainly shouldn’t have a problem with run production tonight, as the Twins are starting Nick Blackburn.
Blackburn is 0-5 with an 8.22 ERA in eight starts since the All-Star break.
The White Sox will counter with Gavin Floyd, who is 10-8 with a 3.95 ERA on the year. The right-hander is 3-2 with a 2.93 ERA in eight starts since the All-Star break and three of his last four road outings have been quality starts.
Take the White Sox as they grab the road win.
3♦ CHICAGO WHITE SOX