Alex Smart
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Chicago Sky -7
Oh how the mighty have fallen! The Sacramento Monarchs a perennial Western Conference power house have looked horrendous to this point in the season losing 7 of their first 8 games, including 5 straight , with the last three coming by a DD deficits. Meanwhile, the Chicago Sky (5-3), playing their fourth season in the league, are finally looking like a team that could reach the .500 or better plateau , which means they have come long way from their inaugural 5-29 2006 campaign.
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The Sky have won all 4 of their home games this season, while Sacramento has lost all 5 of their road tilts. Im betting nothing changes today , and more importantly that we cover the number laying the lumber with the Sky.
Final notes & Key Trends: Monarchs are 1-4 ATS in the last 5 meetings. Chicago and Sacramento split last season's two meetings, with each winning at home.
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Play on the Chicago Sky
Marc Lawrence
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Play On: L.A. Angels w/Saunders
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When the Angels send right hander Joe Saunders to the mound against the Rangers in Arlington tonight they will do so knowing he has cashed in 10 of his last 14 road team starts. He is also 8-4 in his last twelve team starts in June. With the Rangers mired in a hitting slump, we'll stay with the steady serves of Saunders and the Halos here this evening.
JIM FEIST
DETROIT TIGERS / OAKLAND ATHLETICS
Take UNDER
The first place Tigers have their bullpen in order, a huge problem a year ago. Fernando Rodney got his 17th save over the weekend in 17 tries. Starter Armanado Galarraga got off to a rocky start his last game, but managed to bounce back and pick up his fourth win of the season. He finished with four runs in six innings while striking out five and walking one. He faces a lousy offensive team in Oakland. The A's are on a 22-12 under the total run. Don't look for an offensive show! Play the Tigers/A's under the total.
DAVE COKIN
HOUSTON ASTROS / SAN DIEGO PADRES
Take HOUSTON ASTROS
Mike Hampton is back from his latest stint on the disabled list to make a start for the Astros. Hampton had been pitching pretty well before getting dinged up physically, and there's no reason he can't handle the feeble San Diego offense. Josh Banks makes the start here for the Padres, and he simply hits too many bats with fringy stuff. I can see the heart of the Houston order doing some damage here, and I'll look for the Astros to win this one.
Triple Threat Sports
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Take Atlanta (-) over Minnesota
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Like Atlanta here as they are a much improved team from last year's awful edition, and with just one more win they will eclipse last season's overall win total. Even when terrible last year Atlanta almost beat Minnesota on this court, and that was when the Lynx were at full strength, something that is not the case here wiht Simone Augustus out. Minnesota just 4-11 ATS as away dogs of this price, and should drop another one here today.
IndianCowboy
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Take Under 9 between the Minnesota Twins @ Kansas City Royals
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I've tracked Brian Bannister as I do all AL pitchers this year and he has a trend that has been profitable this season. He will have a bounce-back after he gives up a non-quality start usually. He comes off a loss at Houston where the Royals fell short 4-5 and he gave up 5 runs in 6 innings. I look for him to bounce-back today at home against the Twins. Yet, it is tough for me to take the Royals on the dog price as the Twins this decade for the most part love playing small ball and this year is no different. Plus, how can one go against Scott Baker (the Oklahoma State alum) as he comes off 5 straight quality starts and is 3-0 in the last 5 games. Rather, let's attempt to have both pitchers work for us as we look to cash on the Under. The Under is 6-1 when the Twins are road favorites of late and the Under is 4-0-1 for the Royals as Underdogs of late.
Jeff Alexander
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1 Unit on Chicago White Sox +175
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The Indians send the reigning AL Cy Young winner to the hill, but I'm backing the Sox at this price. They have been a better offensive team on the road this season and they come into this one winners of 5 of their last 6 overall and 9 of their last 12 on the road. The Indians are really struggling, going 2-11 in their last 13 overall and 0-5 in their last 5 games as a home favorite. Plus, they are just 5-12 in Lee's last 17 starts. Bet the White Sox.
Matt Rivers
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For Tuesday take Smoltz and the Red Sox on the road.
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Can I fully trust John Smoltz in this his second start of the season? No, probably not, but after getting his feet wet in that dismal first inning last time out in Washington the future Hall of Famer was actually pretty good in the next four innings. I also liked how positive Smoltz was in his post game presser where he flat out seemed to be excited about the way he threw the ball. Sure ESPN showed how he didn't get the ball down ad nauseum but adjustments were made after that initial inning and will continue to be made.
Rich Hill is a lefty that can be pretty good. I backed Hill a few times in the past when with the Cubs and this season as well with the Orioles. The guy has quality stuff and may be alright today but all in all, even in this spot, is at the very best even with his mound opponent and when push comes to shove we all know how much of a superior team right now Boston is when compared to Baltimore. Hill is not a bad guy to back when getting some serious coin back but this is not that start to plunk your cash down on the Southpaw.
Terry Francona's club very well may be the best team in baseball right now. These guys are very well balanced and really do not have an easy out in their lineup. Pedroia, Bay, Ortiz, Ellsbury and others form an ultra talented lineup and even with the potential of the Oriole hitters led by Markakis, Jones and Roberts it's fairly obvious which side is by far the more dangerous.
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I'm looking for Smoltz to build off of that first outing and go six or so innings fairly strong, allowing two of three runs. With Jonathan Papelbon lurking this thing has 6-3 written all over it and probably a comfortable save for the Sox closer.
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2♦ Red Sox
Tony Weston
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Today's Selection
It took extras, but the Dodgers take care of business against the Rockies and deliver for us.
We’re making it 2 in a row tonight as we’re taking the White Sox on the road at the Indians.
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Along with yesterday’s 6-3 win against the Indians, the White Sox have won 7 of their last 9 games, including 5 of their last 6. Against Cleveland, Chicago has taken 2 of their last 3 meetings.
The Indians, on the other hand, have had their share of struggles, having lost 11 of their last 13 games overall, including 5 of their last 6.
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At home, the Indians are just 1-6 their last 7 games and have lost each of their last 3 in front of the fans at Progressive Field.
Cleveland will drop another as the White Sox make it 2 in a row against their AL Central rival.
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3♦ WHITE SOX
Jr Tips
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ROCKIES vs. DODGERS
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Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Chad Billingsley and Colorado Rockies' Jason Marquis will each go for their NL-best 10th victory. Both pitchers are also trying to bounce back from disappointing outings. Billingsley is (9-3, 3.10 ERA) and Marquis is (9-5, 4.22). Billingsley has failed in his previous two attempts to win his 10th start despite being given at least a three-run lead in each outing. The right-hander blew a four-run advantage Thursday against the host Chicago White Sox and gave up a season-high five earned runs over six innings. Billingsley has won consecutive starts against the Rockies, including a 9-5 victory April 18 at home after going 0-2 with a 5.76 ERA in his first seven appearances. Marquis is 4-0 with a 2.17 ERA in seven starts against the Dodgers since 2004 including a 10-4 win April 26 in Denver. Marquis lost last Wednesday night 11-3 to the Los Angeles Angels giving up eight runs over 3 1/3 innings, his shortest outing this season. He is 0-5 when giving up four or more runs and when he's lost and has done so in miserable fashion with an 11.63 ERA in those five outings. Los Angeles will try to win nine of 10 against Colorado tonight while the Rockies only lost for their 4th time in 24 games last night. Both these teams have seen these pitcher more than twice already this season. Both pitchers have struggled in their last few outings and the batters will have a great advantage tonight having familiarity with the opposing pitchers.
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TAKE OVER 8
LT Profits
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Chicago Cubs @ Pittsburgh Pirates
Ted Lilly of the Chicago Cubs was roughed up by the Detroit Tigers in his last start, but we look for him to regain his form here vs. the lighter-hitting Pittsburgh Pirates, while Bucs starter Ross Ohlendorf has pitched well at home this season.
Even with that one rough outing. Lilly still has eight Quality Starts in his last 10 outings, and he is among the Major League leaders with his 11 Quality Starts this season out of 15 appearances. He also posted Quality Starts in his last two efforts vs. these Pirates last season, with the last one coming here in Pittsburgh where he was charged with three runs in seven innings of a 12-3 Cubs romp.
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As for Ohlendorf, he has managed to go 4-2 with a 3.88 ERA and a good 1.23 WHIP here at home despite not having much of an offense behind him. He is actually in good current form regardless of the venue, as he now has three Quality Starts in his last four starts overall after limiting the Cleveland Indians to two runs on only five hits in seven innings in his last appearance on Wednesday.
Finally, both bullpens are performing well, with the Pittsburgh pen posting an excellent 3.41 ERA over the last 10 games and the Chicago bullpen not far behind at 3.67 over this same span. This should limit late tack-on runs, making this Under even safer.
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Pick: Cubs/Pirates Under 8.5
VEGAS EXPERTS
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Minnesota Twins at Kansas City Royals
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AL Central foes go at it again tonight in Kansas City as the Royals play host to the Minnesota Twins. This season, three of the four games in the series have gone OVER the total. Minnesota starter Scott Baker has gone OVER all eight times over the past two seasons as a favorite of $1.00 to $1.50. Match that with the Royals going OVER in 17 of 26 games against right-handed starters at home. Go with the OVER
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Play on: OVER
Tom Freese
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Chicago at Pittsburgh
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Cubs starter Ted Lilly has a 18-1 strikeout to walk ratio in his last 3 starts. Lilly is 20-8 his last 28 starts. Chicago is 6-1 their last 7 games as favorites and they are 7-2 their last 9 games vs. NL Central games. Pittsburgh is 16-42 their last 58 games vs. NL Central teams and they are 2-7 their last 9 games as underdogs. Starting pitcher Ross Ohlendorf is 2-6 vs. NL Central teams. The Pirates are 1-5 off a loss. PLAY ON CHICAGO - (Lilly vs. Ohlendorf)
The Spread
Detroit Tigers at Oakland A’s, 10:05PM ET
Detroit is 0-4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Oakland
Detroit is 8-2-1 SU in its last 11 games
Oakland is 1-3-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Detroit
Oakland is 0-4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
Pick: Oakland
Los Angeles Angels at Texas Rangers, 8:05PM ET
LA Angels are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games
LA Angels are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Texas's last 6 games when playing at home against LA Angels
Texas is 5-2 SU in their last 7 games when playing LA Angels
Pick: Texas
Philadelphia Phillies at Atlanta Braves, 7:00PM ET
Philadelphia is 15-7 SU in its last 22 games when playing Atlanta
Philadelphia is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games when playing Atlanta
Atlanta is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Atlanta's last 12 games
Pick: Atlanta
Frank Jordan
Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Play: Chicago Cubs
Ted Lilly is pitching well of late as the Cubs had won 5 in a row when he started until last time out when they fell short and lost to Detroit 6-5. This time might be easier as they are taking on a less potent offense of Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh has played well at home as they are over .500 at 21-15, but since winning 4 in a row have dropped back-to-back games. In this one look for Lilly to make the Pirates walk the plank and send Pittsburgh to their 3rd straight loss. Play Chicago Cubs