Scott Rickenbach
Today’s Free Pick
Chicago Cubs @ Philadelphia Phillies Jul 21, 2009 7:05PM
PICK: under
REASON FOR PICK: Scott Rickenbach's Free Pick Opinion Play for MLB Tuesday: UNDER the total in Philadelphia vs Chicago Cubs @ 7:05 PM ET - Blanton vs Harden - The first reaction here was to play the Phillies and ride their hot streak. This is an especially appealing option because Joe Blanton has been pitching very well of late and the Cubs offense has been quiet so far in this series as the Phillies pitching staff has dominated them. However, the reason we're recommending a small play on the UNDER rather than the PHILS is because of two words: Rich Harden.
The Cubs right-hander has been fantastic on the road this season and we expect another strong effort from him here. That spells a pitchers duel in this one.
Consider a small play on UNDER the total in Philadelphia on Tuesday night. Thanks for checking in here and best of luck always! - Scott Rickenbach
LT Profits
FREE PLAY
Colorado Rockies -1.5 (135)
The Colorado Rockies are now 35-17 in their last 52 games overall including 15-5 in their last 20 home games, and we look for them to stay hot tonight behind Aaron Cook vs. the punchless Arizona Diamondbacks.
Cook has again been the ace of the Colorado staff, going 9-3 with a 3.85 ERA despite half of his starts coming in the altitude of Coors Field. He has now allowed three runs or less in seven of his last eight starts, with one of those outings coming against these Diamondbacks. He is facing an Arizona lineup that is struggling along at a .226 clip on the road over the entire season, and before scoring six runs here last night, had scored a total of seven runs the previous four games.
Now granted, Max Scherzer has pitched well for the D-Backs with a 3.64 ERA in 17 starts. However, young pitchers can be intimidated a bit pitching in Colorado, and Scherzer did allow five runs in six innings in his only other start here this season. That would simply not cut it when you look at the disparity of these two offenses, especially with the red-got Colorado lineup averaging 6.10 runs over the last 10 games.
We look for the Rockies to reach Scherzer again like they did the last time he pitched here, and for Cook to keep the Snakes in check, resulting in a nice Colorado Run Line victory at good odds.
MLB Free Pick: Rockies -1.5 (+135)
Triple Threat Sports!
Today's Free Play is to take Philadelphia over the Cubs in MLB.
Great pitching duel sets up here, and that makes the price lower than it really should be for the Phillies, who come into this winners of ten in a row, a winning streak that includes a 10-1 shellacking of the Cubs last night. Chicago is just 2-5 in its last seven games against teams other than the Nationals, and should fall again here tonite.
Nelly
FREE MLB PICK - July 21
San Francisco + over Atlanta
Derek Lowe has hit rough times of late, allowing three or more runs in seven of his last ten starts while picking up just two wins in that span. Lowe has very mediocre numbers at home with a 4.12 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP and his ERA over his last three starts is 7.98. Atlanta is not an imposing home team with just a 25-22 record and the Giants have been the more consistent team overall even the road numbers have not been great. Lowe has normally been an underrated pitcher on a big market team overshadowed by bigger stars but since moving to Atlanta there has been a value void on him as he valued like an elite pitcher when he never really has been. Ryan Sadowski has shown considerably promise for the Giants with three impressive starts, allowing two earned runs and only twelve hits in 18 innings of work. Sadowski has not allowed a home run and he has not allowed a run on the road. The Giants feature a great bullpen and the Braves has lost three of four in this series this season. The Braves have been playing well at home but it is very tough to justify this price on team that is barely above .500.
Brad Diamond Sports
Free MLB Selection
Play on: Detroit over Seattle
The Tigers return home after a tough series with the Yankees in the Bronx. However, Detroit is 27-13 at home this season and 12-5 versus Seattle (6-1 in Detroit). Plus, the Tigers are 13-3 versus left-handed pitching. The road club Seattle is 28-58 after scoring 5 or more runs in their last game.
Mikey Sports
Free MLB Play
Seattle Mariners vs. Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers -151
R&R Totals
Free MLB Over-Under
San Francisco Giants vs. Atlanta Braves
Total 8½ un-110
Frank Jordan
Minnesota Twins vs. Oakland Athletics
Play: Under 8
Minnesota and Oakland had an offensive explosion Monday night in Oakland. These two teams combined for 27 runs, 39 hits, 8 home runs and 9 relief pitchers. On Tuesday look for the pitchers to have an advantage as they hitters will be tired. Look for a low scoring affair in this one. Play the Under
Jimmy The Moose
Seattle Mariners at Detroit Tigers
Prediction: Seattle Mariners
The Mariners have won 3 straight and 5 of their last 6 overall. Seattle has won 6 of their last 8 road games. In their last 8 vs. a team with a winning record teh Mariners are 6-2. Seattle has won 4 of Olson's last 5 road starts. The Tigers have lost 4 of their last 5 games. The Tigers have lost their last 5 vs. a team with a winning record. In their last 16 games following an off day Detroit is 5-11. Play on the Seattle Mariners +.
MTi Sports
St Louis Cardinals at Houston Astros
Prediction: Houston Astros
The Astros are 27-0 as a 140+ home favorite when they are off a win by fewer than 8 runs in which thyey had fewer team left on base than their opponent -- for a net profit of $2700 when playing ON. Also, the league is 28-1 since May 02, 2009 as a 140+ favorite after a win in which they had 6 or fewer hits.Consider Houston
Jeff Alexander
1 Unit on Philadelphia Phillies -121
The Phillies crushed the Cubs 10-1 Monday for their ninth straight win and I don't see the streak coming to an end just yet. The Cubs are scoring just 3.9 runs per game on the road this season and that's just not going to cut it with Rich Harden on the hill who has an ERA of 7.62 and a WHIP of 1.769 over his last 3 starts. The Phillies counter with the red hot Joe Blanton who is 2-0 with an ERA of 1.83 and a WHIP of 1.170 over his last 3 starts. The Cubs are just 2-7 in the last 9 meetings in Philadelphia. Also, this is a huge game for the Phillies as they have played below .500 ball for so long at home this season and finally have a chance to get over the hump tonight. Take the Phillies.
Matt Fargo
San Francisco Giants at Atlanta Braves
Prediction: San Francisco Giants
The Giants have not gotten of to a good start on their current roadtrip as they are 1-3 but hope to get the offense going tonight. Derek Lowe has been up and down and remains an overpriced pitcher in my opinion. After a brilliant start to the season, it has been a struggle of late despite coming off two quality starts. Before that, he went 1-4 with an 8.61 ERA in his previous five starts. Currently, his ERA, WHIP and BAA are the highest they have been since 2004 which was his final season in Boston. He is doing nothing special at home with a 4.12 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in 10 starts with the Braves going 6-4 in those games. The Braves are 2-5 in Lowe?s last seven starts following a quality outing in his last game. San Francisco recalled Ryan Sadowski from the minors to make his fourth start of the season. He was not sent down because of ineffectiveness but he was sent down to avoid a long layoff because of the All-Star break. In his one outing, he allowed one run on five hits over six innings for Class A San Jose. In his three starts with the Giants, he has allowed only two runs covering 18 innings. This includes a quality outing in his only road start where he allowed no runs on four hits in six innings against the Brewers. The Giants are 14-6 in their last 20 games following a loss.3* San Francisco Giants
Free Selection from Arthur Ralph Sports
295 - 194 run 60 % 43-23 run here 😮
Tuesday Houston
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Undefeated's TRENDS SAY pick: Dodgers (-185 )
Undefeated's TRENDS SAY pick: Boston/Texas UNDER (+100)
TRENDS SAY record: 5 - 1 85% 😮
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EZWINNER'S FREE SELECTION
Game: Los Angeles Angels @ Kansas City Royals
(981) Los Angeles Angels -136
(Listing Santana and Ponson)
It looks like the Angels starting pitcher Ervin Santana might be starting to put it together after a solid eight inning performance in which he only allowed one earned run in his last start against Oakland. I look for Santana to pitch another solid game here. Play on the Angels.
2009 Free Selections Record 105-88 (54.4%)
8)
Michael Alexander
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G2 LAA Angels vs. G2 Kansas City Royals
Play: G2 LAA Angels
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In Game 2 of today's double header the red hot LAA Angels will be sending Rookie Sean O'Sullivan to the hill. O"Sullivan is 2-0 with an impressive 3.80 ERA. Both of O'Sullivan's victories have been on the road, where he has an even better 2.08 ERA.
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The Royals will counter with left hander, Bruce Chen, who comes in with an 0-4 mark and sky high 6.86 ERA. The leftie has lost all four of his starts this year and 11 straight decisions since his last win Oct. 2, 2005
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If Chen doesn't last long, the Royals' bullpen has been horrible lately, going 0-3 with a 9.50 ERA over the past five games.
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In addition the Angels have been effective versus left handed starters this season going 18-10 overall.
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Take the Angels in this one
Vernon Croy
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Chicago Cubs vs. Philadelphia Phillies
Play: Chicago Cubs
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This pick falls into one of my top MLB systems and I look for the Cubs to bounce back with Rich Harden (6-6, 5.06) on the mound. Harden's success has come away from Wrigley this season where he is 4-1 with an ERA of just 2.17 over 6 starts and he is 1-0 with an ERA of just 0.69 in 2 career starts last season against the Phillies. The Cubs are a perfect 5-0 in their last 5 games after allowing 5 or more runs in their previous game and they are 5-1 in Harden's last 6 starts against an NL East division opponent. Joe Blanton (6-4, 4.44 ERA) has pitched solid lately but the Phillies are just 0-4 in his last 4 starts against a team with a winning record. The Phillies are also just 2-7 in their last 9 home games against a team with a winning record and the Phillies opponents are hitting .270 against them at home this season. Grab the value with the Chicago Cubs for Tuesday night.