Steve Janus
Oakland A's +124
The Oakland A's are putting together another magical run. With last night's 7-2 win over the Blue Jays, they have now won six straight and are an incredible 15-2 in the month of July! There is no reason this team should be listed as an underdog.
Even though the A's are set to go up against Blue Jays ace Ricky Romero, I give them the edge on the mound in this matchup. Oakland's A.J. Griffin has been one of the keys to the A's winning ways. The rookie has put together 5 straight quality starts to begin his big league career and has done it against some pretty strong lineups. The A's are 4-1 in those five starts, with impressive wins over the Yankees, Red Sox, and Rangers. Griffin has a 2.70 ERA and has yet to allow more than 3 earned runs in a single start.
As for Romero, the lefty hasn't been all that sharp of late. He allowed six runs in six innings of a 0-6 loss at New York in his last start, and has not pitched past the 6th inning since June 22.
While the Blue Jays were able to sweep the Red Sox in Boston without all-star slugger Jose Batista, the offense won't be able to survive long without him. Toronto is just 1-4 in their last 5 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15 and are 0-4 in Romero's last 4 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
MLB Predictions
Detroit Tigers -130
Cleveland took game 1 between these two teams last night 3-2 while out hitting the Tigers 10-9. The Tigers sit 1st in the AL Central with a 52-45 record (24-24 on the road), while the Indians are 3rd behind Detroit and Chicago with their 49-48 record (26-24 at home). Tonight Detroit will send Max Scherzer to the mound, who is 9-5 on the season with a 4.61 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, and .268 opponents batting average. After a rough start to the season in April Scherzer has improved on his numbers each month, posting a 3.86 ERA over 5 starts in June and a 2.84 ERA over 3 starts so far in July. Cleveland will have Derek Lowe on the rubber tonight, who is 8-8 on the season with a 5.04 ERA, 1.63 WHIP, and .313 opponents batting average. Lowe has done the exact opposite of Scherzer, with his numbers getting worse as the season goes on. Over 6 June starts Lowe went 1-3 with a 6.49 ERA, and over his 3 July starts he has a 1-2 record and 9.00 ERA (batters hitting .333 against him and a 2.00 WHIP in July). Take note that the Tigers are 13-3 in their last 16 games overall, 10-3 in their last 13 games as a favorite, and 6-2 in their last 8 vs a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30. The Tigers are also 43-19 in their last 62 divisional games, and 42-19 in their last 61 games following a loss. Detroit is 9-4 in Scherzer's last 13 starts overall, and 8-3 in his last 11 starts vs a divisional opponent. The Indians are just 2-6 in their last 8 games vs a team with a winning record, 1-5 in their last 6 games following a win, and 1-4 in Lowe's last 5 starts. The Tigers, who have been scoring plenty of runs lately like many had predicted them to at the start of the season, should have no problems getting to Lowe who has been struggling over his last 10 starts.
WUNDERDOG
Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh
Pick: Pittsburgh -120
Trade winds continue to circulate regarding today's starting pitcher Ryan Dempster. He has nixed a trade that would have sent him to Atlanta, and there is certainly a chance that something could happen before he takes the mound in this one. It may also be getting to him, as last time out he had his worst outing in nearly two months. Pittsburgh is a bona fide playoffs contender, but because of their 20-year negative history, they are not getting the respect they should from the oddsmakers. This is a team that is 32-16 at home on the season, and the Pirates are now 22-6 in their last 28 as a favorite. The Cubs enter a non-threatening 17-40 in their last 57 on the road. Play on Pittsburgh.
Matt Rivers
Wednesday's free play is to ride the red-hot Oakland Athletics to come through once again at the Rogers Centre.
Oakland busted open a close game last night when they plated five runs in the 7th inning to best the Blue Jays 7-2.
The A's have now won 6 in a row, and are on a 15-2 tear this month!
Starter A.J. Griffin has won his last pair of starts, and the Athletics are 4-1 this season when the rookie has taken the mound.
As for Toronto starter Ricky Romero, he may be 4-0 lifetime versus Oakland, but Romero is mired in a five start losing streak.
When you are hot you are hot, and right now no team is hotter than Oakland. This young team believes, and I believe too!
Take the A's to roll to their 7th win in a row.
3♦ OAKLAND
Jeff Benton
Your Wednesday freebie is the Colorado-Arizona game to hold Under the posted total.
The Diamondbacks have been able to post a pair of 6-run totals in winning the first two games of this three game set, but since the Rockies have been limited at the plate, we are looking at a 1-0-1 Under mark for the series thus far.
I say stick with the low here, as Jeff Francis and Trevor Cahill keep the bats silent.
Francis has allowed three runs or less in six of this last seven starts this season, with five of those seven starts having held Under the total.
Three of Cahill's last four starts have held Under the total, and he has allowed three runs or less in each of those last four efforts.
Series numbers show a 5-2-1 Under run the last eight times the teams have played.
No sense in going against those numbers, go Under in the Colorado-Arizona finale tonight at Chase Field.
1♦ UNDER
Dom Chambers
For today’s free play, let’s take the Tampa Bay Rays on the road to beat the Baltimore Orioles.
David Price starts for the Rays, and the Tampa Bay ace has been outstanding. Overall, he is 13-4 with a 2.64 ERA. But he has even been better lately, going 2-0 in his last three starts with an ERA of 1.27.
You have to like taking a team’s ace that has been pitching well.
The Orioles start Miguel Gonzalez, who has some nice numbers. In six starts, he is 2-1 with a 2.61 ERA. He has had one home start and he lost it and his ERA is 4.76 with a WHIP of 1.940.
His sample size is not very large. But he is decent, but is not putting up the numbers Price is putting up.
The Orioles have dropped their last two games after putting together a five-game win streak. But that came on the heels of a three-game losing streak. The Orioles have been a hot and cold team.
I think they are getting a little colder now.
The Rays have won three of their last five.
Price is hot right now and should give the Rays what they need for the win.
3♦ RAYS
Ross King
Kansas City Royals vs. Los Angeles Angels
Play: Los Angeles Angels -1.5
Weaver is 12-1 with a 2.20 e.r.a and whip of 0.950 this season and going back the last 2 seasons Weaver is 15-2 with a 1.46 e.r.a at home including 7-0 with a 0.67 e.r.a this year.Hochevar prior to pitching 6 scoreless innings in his last meeting with the Angels he was 0-3 with a 8.02 e.r.a against them.He has been pitching very well recently but he is no Weaver who has allowed only 1 run at home in his last 3 starts.The Angels are currently 2-0 and 5-0 the last 3 seasons as home favorites of -225 to -250.Kansas City is 89-125 versus teams with a winning record and in the second half of the season 35-55 the last 3 seasons.On the road the Royals are 84-128 the last 3 seasons and currently 6-14 in July and 12-21 in day games.Take the Angels -1.5 on the runline as your freeplay winner.
Jeff Alexander
St. Louis Cardinals -151
The Dodgers are just 9-24 in their last 33 road meetings versus the Cardinals, and I expect their struggles in St. Louis to continue as they go up against Lohse. The Cards' scheduled starter is 10-2 this season with an ERA of 2.71. He's 5-1 at home with an ERA of 2.61. The Cardinals are 13-3 in Lohse's last 16 starts as a home favorite of -151 to -200. I should also mention that LA's Harang is 0-5 on the money line in his last 5 starts versus the Cards. Take St. Louis.
Black Widow
Oakland A's +120
The Oakland A's have been the hottest team in baseball over the last few weeks, yet they aren't getting treated like it. Once again they're an underdog to the Toronto Blue Jays tonight, and I'll take full advantage. Oakland has won 15 of its last 17 games overall to get to 52-44 on the season and right in the thick of the Wildcard race. The A's have received excellent starting pitching from names that many bettors have not heard of before, and that's why they continue to go under the radar. A.J. Griffin gets the ball tonight, and he's 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA and 1.000 WHIP in five starts this year. He'll be up against Toronto's Ricky Romero, who is 8-6 with a 5.22 ERA and 1.504 WHIP in 20 starts this season. The left-hander is simply having a down year, yet he's getting treated like one of the better starters in the game. Take the red-hot A's on the Money Line.
Dave Price
Cincinnati Reds -141
Here we have a matchup of two teams headed in opposite directions, and I'm taking the one on the upswing. The Reds have won 6 in a row while the Astros have dropped 8 straight. The Reds have won each of Homer Bailey's last 4 starts while the Astros have lost each of Bud Norris' last 8. Cincy has also won each of Bailey's last 4 starts versus Houston while the Astros have lost 3 of Norris' 4 career starts versus Cincy. Bet the Reds.
Joe Gavazzi
Detroit Tigers vs. Cleveland Indians
Play: Detroit Tigers
This game barely missed out in making our Top 3. You won’t want to miss any of those available right now. They come out of situations that are 19-0, 65-16 and 15-2. Those numbers are good enough for me, how about you?! Lone factor preventing this from Top Play status is Scherzer’s history at site which finds hime 0-3 with a 7.48 ERA from this mound. Other than that, it’s All Systems Go for Detroit. Scherzer is in good current form going 3-0 with a 2.88 ERA L4 starts. And the Tigers, following their loss last night, are fully motivated as they are now tied with CWS for the Divisional lead. Their 13-3 runup continues. I am eager to once again fade Lowe. He is 2-6 with an 8.31 ERA L10 starts. He is off an outing in which he allowed 12 base runners and 9 runs in 3 IP. Run line players take note: 42/48 Cleveland losses have been by 2 or more runs and 16/17 Detroit victories including 9/9 recently have been by 2 or more runs. Detroit extends their 3 game lead on Cleveland tonight.
SPORTS WAGERS
Oakland +122 over TORONTO
The Athletics remain one of the hottest teams in baseball. After a four-game sweep against the Yankees this past weekend, there was no letdown in the opener of this series last night. Oakland has now won six straight and 15 of its past 17 games.
A.J. Griffin has been outstanding in five starts since his call-up and it’s no fluke. Griffin has 20 K’s and 6 BB in his first five starts. He has faced some strong competition in Texas, Boston, and the Yankees. In Texas, he allowed two hits and no runs in six full innings of work. Griffin is a four-pitch pitcher with pinpoint control. He locates and changes speeds with the best of them. The Blue Jays have never seen him and they have difficulty with these types of finesse pitchers.
Ricky Romero has walked 62 batters in 122 frames. Over the last month, he’s walked 17 while striking out 16 in 27 innings, leading to an 8.33 ERA. His ERA on the year is 5.22. Furthermore, Romero has been one of MLB’s worst second half pitchers for three years running now. That trend appears right on track, as he was shelled for 12 hits and six runs in six innings in his first game out after the all-star break. His 8-6 record is undeserving, as this is not the profile of a winning pitcher.