Teddy Covers
Cleveland at Seattle
Play: Seattle
The single longest current winning streak in major league baseball belongs to the under-the-radar Seattle Mariners, a massive source of profits for their supporters. Seattle’s bats are hitting better right now than they have all season, by a fairly wide margin. They’ve scored 11, 8, 4, 7, 8, 6, 4, 10 4 and 12 runs in their last ten games. In fact, the Mariners have scored four runs or more in 16 of their last 17 and 20 of their last 23 ballgames while averaging well over five runs per game during that span!
Yet despite the Mariners’ offensive explosion, their 11-5 record in their last 16 ballgames and their winning record overall at home since losing their first two series back in April, we’re still seeing very little support in the betting markets for this squad. How else can we explain the pick ‘em price to support Seattle at home this evening against an Indians squad that spent the weekend getting shut down by the likes of Mike Pelfrey and Kevin Correia in Minnesota over the weekend?
Ubaldo Jiminez hasn’t recorded a single out in the seventh inning since June 1st, struggling with high pitch counts and consistent control issues. Meanwhile, Aaron Harang has pitched three 8+ inning gems in his last six tries on this field; including a pair of complete game shutouts. Bottom line? This Mariners team is an under-the-radar moneymaker right now; worthy of support once again tonight.
Dave Essler
NY Yankees +1.5 -115
Yes, I do know the Yankees played late last night. However, the Rangers are hitting .233 the last three games since the break, and that's at home. Darvish coming off a long rest cannot be a great thing, nor can the heat in Arlington. Nova looked decent in his last two starts, and kept the ball down. He hasn't given up more than three earned runs since April and pre-DL time, and has done very well against both Beltre and Cruz. Just way too much working in favor of this being a lower scoring game, in spite of the heat, and this is a Texas team that's really starting to miss Hamilton as a LHH in the middle of that order. Texas has lost four straight now, and seven of the last ten. Yes, they could explode anytime, but the Yankees at this price is just too much. I thought I'd lean the other way after the travel, but they;re big boys and actually COULD have some momentum, coming back from down 7-3 to Boston last night.
Bob Balfe
Cincinnati Reds +120
Tim Lincecum is coming off his best game ever as he threw a no hitter. I love watching this guy, but in reality I just don't see his body being able to hold up season after season. He really is no more than 160 pounds which just makes it even more amazing that he has the talented arm that he does. The Giants struggle to score runs and the Reds have owned them this year. Everyone loves taking the pitcher who just threw a no hitter the very next game so Vegas knows what they are doing by making the Giants small favorites. The money will be all over them tonight. Cincinnati has a better lineup and Arroyo has been great in his own right this year. Take the Reds.