Michael Alexander
Cincinnati Reds vs. San Francisco Giants
Play: Cincinnati Reds
CINCINNATI is 13-4 in their last 17 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game
CINCINNATI is 6-2 in Arroyos last 8 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance
SAN FRANCISCO is 2-6 in Vogelsongs last 8 starts vs. National League Central
7-1 in their last 8 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600
Larry Ness
Los Angeles Angels @ Toronto Blue Jays
PICK: Los Angeles Angels
The Los Angeles Angels won 9-7 in Toronto on Thursday. That made it wins in 25 of their last 33, including 14 of 15 on the road! However, the Jays won 7-5 on Friday and 11-2 on Saturday. LA pitching had posted a 2.43 ERA over its seven previous games before coming to Toronto but has now allowed 25 runs while dropping two of three, with the starters yielding 21 of those runs! The good news is, CJ Wilson (9-4, 2.36 ERA) gets the start and why shouldn’t he get this LA starting staff back on track? He's 5-0 with a 1.30 ERA over his last seven starts, all of which have been Angels victories (last loss was 6-1 to the Chicago White Sox on May 17). The Jays can only counter Wilson with Aaron Laffey. He opened the season in the minors (called up in June) and then made four appearances out of the bullpen. He made his first big-league start of the season Tuesday at Boston and made a strong case to stay in the rotation. He didn't get a decision but allowed only three hits in six scoreless innings. However, Laffey is a journeyman, with 50 starts among his 131 career appearances (22-23 with a 4.24 ERA and one save) plus is 1-3 with an 8.22 ERA in eight games (three starts) against the Angels. Take the visitors behind Wilson.
Richard Witt
Cleveland Indians -110
Brad Matusz remains in terrible form, and don't see him turning it around anytime soon. Both of these sides have been overachieving to a significant degree during the first half, but Tribe has made it through June without bumping into their all-too-typical Joon Swoon. A small road-fave lay, worth making, behind Justin Masterson .
CHUCK O'BRIEN
My 8-0 run with free picks came to an abrupt halt last night in Seattle, where the Red Sox lost in extra innings. Today I'm taking a huge longshot and hoping to get back on track with one of the bigger underdogs on the card, with the Oakland Athletics catching close to $2 from the Texas Rangers.
Yes, I like the A's to challenge for this one, as something tells me the Rangers are going to have their five-game streak ended here.
So I know that Texas is handing the ball to Yu Darvish, and he is in after tying the American League lead with his 10th win Tuesday, when he gave up four runs on four hits while striking out 10 in a 7-5 win over the Tigers, but he's facing the A's for the third time this season, and that lineup is getting used to him, believe me.
Darvish, who is 1-1 with a 4.85 ERA against the A's, was just pelted by Oakland's lineup on June 7, when the A's chased him after 5-1/3 innings. He allowed six hits and six earned runs while walking six.
So even though he's won three straight starts since then, I'm not scared at all to take the A's, who rank 5th in the league in pitching on Sundays. They're in a good spot to shock the Rangers here.
4♦ OAKLAND
CRAIG DAVIS
My free play run stands at 11-3 the past 2 weeks.
Today's free play is on the Texas Rangers on the run line over Oakland as they look for a four-game sweep.
You know, the last time Yu Darvish took a loss was at the hands of the Oakland A's. I have a feeling the A's are going to see a different Yu Darvish today.
Texas became the first team in the majors to hit the 50-win mark with Saturday's 7-2 win over Oakland... their third in a row in this series. Josh Hamilton is hitting again, smashing a solid home run and driving in four of the seven runs... he's 7 for his last 21 with nine runs driven in over his last six games. This comes after a slump that saw him bat just .211 over an 11-game period prior.
Darvish is looking for his eighth win in as many starts at home and also seeks revenge on the A's for giving him his last loss. Back on June 7 Darvish allowed six runs over 5 1/3 innings in a 7-1 loss to the A's. Since then he's been flat dominant, going 3-0 with a 3.13 ERA and 29 strikeouts. Yeah, he's been THAT good.
Oakland isn't hitting right now despite losing the first two games of this series by only one run each, and it could be the Texas heat. It's averaged well over 100 degrees all week in Arlington and it's not going to be any cooler today.
Take the Texas Rangers on the run line as your free play of the day.
3♦ TEXAS -1.5
DOM CHAMBERS
For my free selection, let’s take at look the Boston Red Sox to defeat the Seattle Mariners.
It’s a battle of left-handers as Felix Doubront starts for the Red Sox and Jason Vargas starts for the Mariners.
If there is one thing to always keep an eye on is when the Mariners face a left-hander. They nearly average one less run a game against left-handers.
These are not the greatest lefties. Doubront is 8-4, but the Red Sox are 10-5 in games he has started. He has an ERA of 4.54. For that fact, Vargas also has an ERA of 4.54.
However, in their last three games, Doubront has the edge. His ERA has gone up to 5.21, while Vargas’ ERA has ballooned to 7.58. Vargas is 0-2 in his last three starts.
Against lefties, the Mariners will have trouble scoring, so Doubront should have one of his better outings.
The Red Sox should get to Vargas. That’s not a good recipe for success for the Mariners.
Take the Red Sox.
3♦ RED SOX
CHRIS JORDAN
Won my third straight freebie yesterday with the Cincinnati Reds getting it done, also my 8th out of 11. Today I keep the streak alive with the Angels of Anaheim getting it done over the Toronto Blue Jays, as I think the Halos have a great chance to snap this skid and break things open big time.
This kid for Toronto, Aaron Laffey, is set to make his second start of the season after pitching six scoreless innings against the Red Sox last Tuesday, allowing just three hits and two walks to earn himself at least one more outing, that being today. I don't think it turns out as well, as the Angels will be out to end a skid that has seen them lose the past two night by a combined final of 18-7.
But make note this two-game slide is on the heels of a 9-2 run for the Angels, and it's only going to take one big game to spark the streak back into action. There is one more stop on this road trip - to Cleveland - and I don't think the Angels want to head in on a three-game slide, as much as it would rather swoopin on a 10-4 run.
C.J. Wilson is up for the Halos, and my money is the southpaw will keep things going and up his win total into double digits. He allowed just one run over seven innings against the Orioles his last time out to run his win streak to five, plus give him seven straight quality starts.
A win today would not only help his team out, but might also make a statement toward his cause for a roster spot in the All-Star Game. I'm listing both and will play the Angels in this one.
2♦ L.A. ANGELS
JEFF BENTON
Your Sunday freebie is the Mets over the anemic Dodgers.
Why the heck not?
Los Angeles is in a free-fall the likes I have not seen in some 30 years of handicapping baseball, as the Dodgers losing streak is now at six in a row, but that is not the whole story as Los Angeles has been shut out in five of thosesix losses!
It is very hard to have any confidence in LA these days, and the fact they are installed as the favorite - even with Clayton Kershaw on the hill is just silly. No Ethier, no Kemp, no runs, and loss #6 in a row for all to see on TV tonight is in store for these Dodgers.
New York has won their last four games, and they have also bested Los Angeles in eight of the last ten series meetings dating back to last season.
I know Dillon Gee has been yielding this year, but right now the Dodgers couldn't hit water if they fell out of a boat.
Have to take the Mets on principle alone.
3♦ N.Y. METS
SCOTT DELANEY
For my free winner, I'm taking the Los Angeles Dodgers one last time here, as they're laying a big number at Chavez Ravine, as I like the value I see with them over the New York Mets tonight on national TV.
It's time for this losing streak to come to an end. The Dodgers have no business losing this many - not like this - even if Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier are on the disabled list. They have no business being shut out for as many game as they have - cause Kemp has already been on the disabled list, and the Dodgers have been dominating baseball.
They should know how to act! They should know how to play!
They're in an offensive slump right now, and the best thing for them right now is to get some quality pitching, and durable pitching at that. Clayton Kershaw is a grizzled ace who should be able to spark the Dodgers tonight and get things going for them.
Take the home chalk here.
3♦ LA DODGERS
MATT RIVERS
Going right back to the well for today's comp play, as yesterday I made it a 9-1 free play run with the Over in the Padres-Rockies, and today I take the Padres-Rockies to go Over the total once again.
Nothing really to think about here, as Colorado has been mashing the ball on this home stand and they have been giving up the runs on this home stand as well....Six games played thus far at Coors Field this week, and five straight Overs in the books!
San Diego has now been Over the total in three straight, and four of their last six overall as they take to the field for this series finale.
Veteran Kip Wells makes his second start since George W was in the White House (lol), while Drew Pomeranz is making just his sixth start this season, with three of his previous four starts having landed Over the posted price.
Only a matter of time before the hitters settle in and chase Wells and Pomernz off the mound.
Have to go Over in San Diego-Colorado one more time.
4♦ OVER