Gabriel DuPont
Free play for tonight: Colorado at ST. LOUIS (-1', +130)
The SMART INTANGIBLE for my play today - This is a series the St. Louis Cardinals should be taking advantage of, given how bad Colorado is playing. The Cardinals survived a rough patch in July, and now must focus on maintaining their lead in the National League Central.
The X-FACTOR in making this choice on this game - My x-factor is how very bad the Rockies are right now. I mean, the Philadelphia Phillies have a worse record, but the Rox are in shambles. They've lost three straight, they've lost seven of 10 and they're a mere 19-31 on the road. They lost 7-0 last night to the Redbirds and might get shut out again.
In SUMMARY, why this is the SMART PLAY with this game - St. Louis as the No. 9 batting average in the league, as it's hitting .256. And while the Rockies rank No. 2 in the league, it's because of their home hitting. On the road, however, they're hitting .242. I don't see Colorado challenging the Cardinals here.
4* ST. LOUIS -1.5
Jeff Benton
Your Saturday freebie is the Over in the Rays-Red Sox matinee from Fenway Park.
Today you have the perfect storm for some serious runs, as both Matt Moore and Joe Kelly have been getting battered around when they take to the hill.
Moore is trying to find his form after being sidelined for a year, and so far his 1-2 mark with a 7.61 ERA through his 23-plus innings worked and his 2-0-3 Over mark in the games that he has worked shows little indication that he has found his form.
As for Kelly, his 2-6 mark with a 5.94 ERA for the year looks good compared to his last 3 starts which show an 0-2 mark with a 9.49 ERA. The Over has connected in 3 of Kelly's last 5 starts.
I hope the guys inside the Green Monster have plenty of crooked digits to hang on that manually operated scoreboard, because they are going to need them!
Rays and Red Sox Over the total for Saturday.
5* TAMPA BAY-BOSTON OVER
Brad Wilton
I know that Andrew Heaney is not yet in the same class as Clayton Kershaw, but I think that Heaney and Kershaw will be locked-in early in this Angels-Dodgers Saturday matinee from Chavez Ravine.
That being the case, I will look for the runs to be limited on Saturday and hold Under the total in the middle game of their three game set.
Heaney has not lost this year at 5-0, and his ERA of 1.79 is pretty darn stingy for his 40-plus innings worked thus far this season.
Not much I can tell you that you don't already know by now about Clayton Kersahw as he has worked his last 29 innings without allowing a run, and while he has been pushed back until today, Kershaw says that his sore hip is good to go in this spot. Each of his last 3 starts have played Under the total as well.
If you are looking for offense, best to look elsewhere on this Saturday schedule.
Angels-Dodgers Under the total for the 7th time in their last 9 series meetings.
3* L.A. ANGELS-L.A. DODGERS UNDER
Cajun Sports
San Francisco Giants (+) vs. Texas Rangers
The Philadelphia Phillies made a deal to send pitcher Cole Hamels to the Rangers and Hamels will be making his first start on Saturday night in his new home. Hamels and his new teammates face a tough challenge as the Giants send Chris Heston to the bump. Heston has won his last three outings and the Giants with Heston on the hill have won six of his last seven away from the Bay. The Giants are 4-0 in interleague games when facing a team with a losing record and 5-1 their last six versus a left-handed starter in an interleague game. The Giants are 6-1 in Hestons last seven road starts and a perfect 5-0 in Hestons last five starts as a road underdog. Texas has found their home field to be not much of an advantage going 3-12 their last fifteen in Arlington. The Rangers have won just one game in their last seven as a home favorite. With significant support for Heston and the Giants we will back them in Arlington on Saturday night. San Francisco Giants
Zack Cimini
Cubs at Brewers
Play: Brewers
The Cubs received some solid pitching yesterday and did enough at the plate to grab a win over the Brewers. They'll be looking for their third in a row but I don't think that happens today. Garza is coming off a nice underdog win over the Giants and the Brewers are a bit undervalued here with people looking for a third Cubs win in a row.
OC Dooley
Yankees / White Sox Under 9
I am aware that both of these offenses have been among baseball’s hottest since the All Star Break but as this analysis is typed (late afternoon eastern time) there has NOT been any offshore inflation even though the Yankees are giving rookie Brian Mitchell his first-ever start at the major league level. On the mound for the White Sox is the same John Danks who a year ago handcuffed the Bronx Bombers twice to the tune of an ERA almost exactly on the TWO mark. Spanning the past couple of seasons after a game where the bullpen was extended to 6+ innings of work the White Sox are a staggering 8-0 UNDER the total