Chuck O'Brien
My free pick run is at 96-60-2, and I'll get to tonight's in just a moment.
The free pick for Wednesday night is on the Washington Nationals against the Atlanta Braves, catching a supreme price with the best team in baseball right now,
and coming off a huge win, thanks to ace fireballer Stephen Strasburg.
Now they hand the ball to Ross Detwiler, he faces a viable opponent in Kris Medlen, and we're seeing the Braves lay the price here? Big mistake.
Sure, Medlen is 3-0 with a 1.05 ERA and has 22 strikeouts in 25 2/3 innings, but let's look at who he's faced in winning three straight decisions in his four games since becoming a starter: the Marlins, Astros, Mets and Padres. Combined, we're looking at two last place teams, a fourth-place team and a third-place team. Big deal. They're a cumulative 79 games below .500 and none of them have a winning record.
Now he takes on a surging Washington Nationals team that has opened a seven-game lead in the National League East - the franchise's largest in 18 years. On top of their three-game win streak, the Nats have won 14 of 17 and are now 10-4 against Atlanta this season.
And even though Medlen may look like the better starter, make note Detwiler is 3-0 with a 1.33 ERA in his last four starts at Nationals Park.
This one is a no-brainer guys, as we're getting one helluva price. Take the Nationals.
4♦ WASHINGTON
Matt Rivers
Wednesday night free play winner is the Cincinnati Reds to take the rubber game in Philadelphia against the Phillies tonight.
Cincy stopped a seven game series losing streak to the Phillies last night, and they fact remains they are just 2-15 overall (playoffs included) versus Philadelphia, but also keep in mind that the Reds are the first place team this year, while the Phillies are the team that is limping to the finish line.
Cincinnati stands at 75-49 for the year, and are pretty much a lock to make it to October baseball barring a collapse of epic proportions.
Philadelphia is just 57-66 for the year, and sport a home mark of 27-34 for the season.
Bronson Arroyo has been rolling of late, going 5-1 his last six starts, and he will look for his first win over Philly since his rookie season back in 2000 when he was a member of the Pirates.
Vance Worley counters, and Worley has allowed four runs to cross in each of his last three starts, a span of 13-plus innings pitched.
The Reds know how to chase a pitcher, and tonight they chase Worley as he allows at least four runs in a start once again.
Take Cincy to make it two of three off the Phils.
3♦ CINCINNATI
Jeff Benton
Your Wednesday freebie is the Over in the Yankees-White Sox game.
Both Monday and Tuesday's games made their way Over the total, and tonight the teams complete the three-game Over "hat trick" with Hughes and Sale on the hill.
True Chris Sale has been pretty stingy - 2.72 season ERA - this season, but his counterpart Phil Hughes has been serving them up, as his 6.46 ERA over his last three starts indicates.
Hughes is just 3-7 on the road this year with an ERA approaching 6. Hard to imagine him holding the White Sox down in this spot tonight.
The Yankees have been Over the total in four of their last six games, and six of their last ten overall, while the White Sox have played five of their last seven Over the posted price.
Have to stick with the trends that call for the runs to add up.
Yankees-White Sox Over the total this Wednesday night.
2♦ N.Y. YANKEES-CHICAGO OVER
Dom Chambers
The Padres came through for my free play winner on Tuesday. That put my current run at 29-13.
Let’s add to that win total.
Let’s take a look at the Dodgers to prevent the sweep by the San Francisco Giants.
Chris Capuano starts for the Dodgers. He had a rough stretch, but has turned things around. In his last three starts, he is 1-1 with a 2.02 ERA. In his last 22 innings, he has given up five runs.
Matt Cain starts for the Giants. Overall, he is 12-5 with a 2.90 ERA. But in his last three starts, he is 2-1 with a 3.43 ERA. He has won his last two starts, giving up only three runs in his last 15 innings. But he lost his previous three starts, including a 5-3 loss to the Dodgers on July 27.
The Giants have shut down the Dodgers the first two games and I am looking for the Dodgers to bounce back to avoid the sweep.
2♦ DODGERS
Craig Davis
Another free play winner last night with Seattle on the Run Line over Cleveland.
Now a 64-41 free play run coming into Wednesday.
Free play of the day on the San Francisco Giants over Los Angeles to complete the three-game sweep over their arch-rival. If (and when) they're able to accomplish that, it'll be the first time in five years they've swept a series in Los Angeles.
The Giants (68-55) started this series trailing the Dodgers (67-57) by a half-game, but after a 2-1 win in the opener, the Giants took the lead back and extended it by a game with a 4-1 win last night.
The Giants are seeking some revenge after the Dodgers swept three games in San Francisco at the end of July. It's not enough that this rivalry is one of the best in baseball... but we've had a competitive division most of the year and it's heating up with every series.
In order to get it done tonight, they just need 12-5 Matt Cain to do what he does best... win. His ERA is a miniature 2.90 and he's got one of three perfect games this year already. Cain has allowed just three runs over his last 15 1/3 innings to win his last two starts. During that span he allowed one run and four hits while striking out six and walking none in 8 innings of a 10-1 blowout at San Diego Friday.
The Giants have won four of six, but must get past another Dodgers starter who promises to give them everything they want. Chris Capuano (11-8, 3.14) has a 2.01 ERA in three starts this month, striking out 24 batters and walking just five in 22 1/3 innings. He's also been particularly good at Dodger Stadium, posting a 2.17 ERA in 12 starts. Problem is... he's not getting any run support.
The Dodgers have scored two or fewer runs in eight of those 12 starts. Sickening.
Capuano hasn't faced the Giants yet while a member of the Dodgers, but he did post a 2.92 ERA against them last year when he was with the Mets.
Still, I'm counting on Cain outlasting Capuano and the Giants sweeping the Dodgers tonight as your free play of the day.
1♦ SAN FRANCISCO
Scott Delaney
And what's going on with the Seattle Mariners all of a sudden?
They've won seven straight, they're giving local fans a reason to play hookey on Hump Day and I love the value with this team today, against a Cleveland Indians team that has lost seven in a row.
Seattle is in a good position to sweep this series and close this homestand out with an easy win over the struggling Indians, who came into this series after being swept by the A's, and look like they're going home on an eight-game skid.
We have a favorable pitching matchup, with Hisashi Iwakuma taking on Zach McAllister, even though I know Cleveland's right-hander has not allowed more than four earned runs in any of his 14 starts this season. Last Friday night in Oakland he blew an early four-run lead and the bullpen lost the game, as the 24-year-old gave up four runs in six innings. Now he takes on a red-hot Mariners team that is going to be aggressive in the box and will be looking to chase him early.
Iwakuma also pitched last Friday, when he won for the third time in his last four outings. The right-hander has allowed three earned runs or less in seven of his eight starts this year. He is 2-1 with a 2.84 ERA this in his last three starts, so he won't be short of confidence in this one.
The Mariners have won 14 of their last 15 games at Safeco Field, 17 of 20 as the installed chalk; meanwh%k3%le the Indians come in mired in losing streaks of 3-15 versus losing teams, 0-7 versus teams out the American League West and 17-37 overall.
Mariners are the easy free pick run today.
3♦ SEATTLE
Ross King
Los Angeles Angels vs. Boston Red Sox
Play: Los Angeles Angels
Boston is 15-4 the last 3 seasons versus the Angels including 8-4 at home.Bucholtz is 5-2 versus the Angels while Weaver is 3-6 versus Boston and sports his highest e.r.a amongst in park he has pitched in.However Weaver is 15-3 with a 2.79 e.r.a this year while Bucholtz is 11-3 with a 4.19 e.r.a.Take the Angels who are 108-83 versus teams with a losing record the last 3 seasons and in the second half of the season are 54-38 as your freeplay winner because losses are something the Angels can afford to give up.
Tony George
Chicago White Sox -126
Taking Chris Sale at home in this one who takes the hill for Chicago tonight. The Sox pounded NY last night 7-3 and have taken 2 straight. They are 17-5 at home their last 22 and have their ace on the hill who in 70 innings pitched at home this year has given up only 49 hits and struck out 61 batters. He has a 1.80 ERA at home and opponents batting average against him there is an amazing .232 and his WHIP at home is 0.86 I like the Sox here full of confidence and hitting the ball well to get over pn Phil Hughes 9last 3 games over a 6 ERA) and the Yanks tonight.
Jeff Alexander
Boston Red Sox +120
The Red Sox are showing value at this price at home against an LA club they have defeated 15 times in 19 meetings. Weaver is one of the best in the game, but he has had virtually no success against Boston. The Angels are 1-4 in Weaver's last 5 starts vs. the Red Sox and 1-5 in his last 6 road starts vs. the Sox. Boston, meanwhile, is 4-0 in Buchholz's last 4 starts vs. the Angels. The Red Sox are 9-2 in Buchholz's last 11 starts. Bet Bean Town.
Jack Jones
Washington Nationals +103
The Washington Nationals are putting the pedal to the metal to try and win the NL East division and give Stephen Strasburg a chance to rest before the postseason. After winning three straight, they are now 77-46 on the season and owners of the MLB's best record.
I look for the Nationals to cap off the series sweep over the Atlanta Braves tonight behind Ross Detwiler. The left-hander is 7-5 with a 3.25 ERA and 1.164 WHIP in 19 starts and six relief appearances this year.
Detwiler is 5-1 with a 2.88 ERA in 10 home starts. He has never suffered a loss against Atlanta, going 2-0 with a 3.62 ERA in six career starts. In his last start against the Braves on July 22nd, he allowed one earned run over seven innings of a 9-2 Washington home victory.
The Braves are 1-7 in their last 8 games after losing the first 2 games of a series. The Nationals are 8-1 in their last 9 during game 3 of a series. Washington is 14-2 in Detwiler's last 16 starts vs. National League East opponents, including a perfect 8-0 this season. The Nationals are 5-0 in Detwiler's last 5 starts vs. Braves. Bet the Nationals Wednesday.
Dave Price
Texas Rangers -188
The Rangers have won 9 of 11 versus Baltimore, and I expect their dominance in the matchup to continue with Holland on the hill. The Rangers are 18-8 in Holland's last 26 starts, 15-6 in his last 21 home starts, 25-10 in his last 35 starts as a home favorite and 14-3 in his last 17 starts as a favorite of -151 to -200. He has been lights out in winning his last 2 starts versus Baltimore, giving up no earned runs in 12 innings of work. The Orioles are 1-4 in Hunter's last 5 starts, 1-5 in his last 6 road starts and 0-4 in his last 4 starts vs. a team with a winning record. Bet Texas.
Dirty
Atlanta Braves vs. Washington Nationals
Play: Atlanta Braves
Righthander Kris Medlen will take the mound for the Braves to start this game. Medlen is 3-0 this season with a 1.05 ERA. Starting this game for the Nationals will be Ross Detwiler. The lefthander has a 3.48 ERA to go along with a 6-5 record this season. Medlin as been the Braves best starter since joining the Rotation and will pitch well again tonight... He is just on Fire... Braves will not get swept by the Nationals and expect them to win this one tonight
Angels vs. Red Sox
Play: Under 9
The Angels will pin their hopes on the pitching of righthander Jered Weaver in this game. Weaver has a 15-3 record and a 2.74 ERA this season. The Red Sox will counter Weaver with Clay Buchholz. Righthander Buchholz has a 4.19 ERA to go along with a 11-3 record this season. The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Boston's last 11 games
SPORTS WAGERS
Baltimore vs. TEXAS
Baltimore +183 over TEXAS
The Orioles are the Rodney Dangerfield of this year’s contenders. They’ve gone unnoticed for most of the year and daily prices on them reflect that sentiment. Yet, here we are deep into August and Baltimore is 11 games over .500, tied with the Rays for the Wild Card lead. They have managed this placing with a pedestrian pitching staff and that’s why they’re getting no respect.
We’ll look to take advantage of a sweet price on them here with Tommy Hunter facing his former team in Texas, a place where he enjoys a 14-4 record with a 3.58 ERA. Hunter has a 5.49 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP so he's not exactly an attractive late-season target. But he does own a nifty 45% groundball rate, a mark that has increased over the last month.
Derek Holland has suffered through shoulder fatigue this season, which explains why his fastball velocity has dropped so significantly. After featuring an electric 94.1 mph fastball in 2011, the same pitch has dipped to 90.9 mph this season. His skills have not tanked as much as his fastball velocity has but all the warning signs are there to tell us to stay away. Price influences choice in this type of game, one in which the O’s have had success with all season long.