Andre Gomes
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ANA -1.5 (+120) vs CLE
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The Indians saw their winning streak coming to an end last night by losing 6-7 against the Angels and this a good spot to fade them as their short momentum ended last night. The Angels are one of the best teams lately in the league and today they send John Lackey to the mound and just like the team, he has been superb lately, with 5 of his 6 last outings being quality starts. Actually Lackey has struck out 52 hitters in his past 58 1/3 innings across eight starts while allowing just 16 walks. The Indians are batting well of late but Lackey has been splendid in day games with a 2.13 ERA.
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The Indians meanwhile send southpaw Aaron Laffey to the mound and this makes the second game in a row that the Angels faces a LHP. Although Laffey is coming off one of his career-best outings against the Mariners in his last start and I don't expect him to have back to back quality starts. The Angels have a vastly superior lineup and right now they are killing every pitcher. The Angels are 20-8 in day games averaging 5.7 runs per game and the Indians are 2-5 in Laffey's last 7 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance. The Angels have advantages in any department for this contest and I expect a huge letdown from Laffey, I remember that the Indians are 2-9 against the run line in road games with Laffey on the mound over the last 2 seasons. Take the Angels Run Line in here.
Michael Cannon
Detroit at TEXAS +105
The Royals deliver a nice free winner for us last night!
Take the Rangers for the home win over the Tigers.
Great pitching matchup in Arlington and I’m siding with the home team here to get it done.
Detroit will start its ace in Justin Verlander and I know he is a stud, but his teammates haven’t been holding up their end of the bargain recently.
The Tigers have lost three in a row, scoring just six runs in those games.
Texas will start a pretty fair pitcher tonight in Scott Feldman, who is 9-3 with a 3.59 ERA on the year. The right-hander has won four of his last five starts, posting a 2.48 ERA during that span.
Take the Rangers as they grab the win and series sweep tonight.
1♦ TEXAS
Scott Spreitzer
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Oakland at Boston
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There is an old wagering adage about taking the under the night after one team has over 20 hits. Oakland pounded out 21 hits last night in shocking the Red Sox, 9-8. Boston has the best bullpen in the league, yet was bludgeoned. That was more of a fluke than anything to be concerned about. For this game, I can see a defensive battle with two capable starters in Brett Anderson and Brad Penny. Both throw strikes and Anderson has a 1.93 ERA his last three starts and 1.13 ERA in 16 inni! ngs against Boston this season.
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Play Oakland/Boston Under the total.
ATS Consultants
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San Francisco Giants/Pittsburgh Pirates
Play: Under 7.5
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Great pitchers duel expected today between Zach Duke and Matt Cain as the Giants host the Pirates this afternoon. San Fran has taken the first two games of the series and look to remain close in the National League wild card race. Duke (9-9, 3.42) has been one of the lone bright spots in another lost season in Pittsburgh. He is finally fulfilling the promise he showed as a rookie a few years ago. He did allow 4 runs in a start against San Fran last week, so he’ll have to be at his best today in order to outpitch another Giants ace. Matt Cain (12-2, 2.27) isn’t the most recognizable pitcher in the Giants rotation, that belongs to reigning Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum, but Cain is actually outperforming Lincecum thus far in 2009 and may be the leading candidate to win this years Cy Young award. He’s really been on is game lately, as he’s 3-0 with a 1.23 ERA in his last 5 starts. He hasn’t allowed more than 1 run in a start in over a month. He’s simply been brilliant and hopefully for the Giants sake, this continues. Expect a very low scoring game today in San Francisco.
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Cleveland Indians/Los Angeles Angels
Play: Under 9.5
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John Lackey (6-4, 4.22) has certainly turned his season around lately, as his 2009 numbers don’t tell the story of how he’s pitching right now. He spent the early part of 2009 on the disabled list and really struggled when he first returned. It’s taken him and the Angels a while to get going, but right now both are on a roll. The Angels have built a nice lead in the AL West, and Lackey has led the way with a 4-1 record and 2.97 ERA in his last 5 starts. Lefty Aaron Laffey (4-2, 3.71) had done a nice job since his return to the big leagues last month. He’s been especially good recently, giving up only 6 runs in his last 20 innings of work. He’s looking to secure a spot in the 2010 rotation, as the Indians are pointing toward 2010 with their struggles in 2009. Should be an emotional start today for Laffey, as he was close friends with the late Nick Adenhart, the Angels pitcher who was tragically killed in a car accident earlier this season. Some of their pitchers duels in High School in Maryland were legendary. Should be a good ballgame today in Anaheim.
ATS Consultants
Mike Rose
Chicago White Sox +135
With Bartolo Colons elbow ailing, Jose Contreras has been moved back into his regularly scheduled starting slot for tonights game. He comes into his 15th start of the season 4-9 overall with a 4.80 ERA & 1.32 WHIP with a K/BB ratio of 64/27. He battled Justin Verlander valiantly his last time out, but he succumbed to the Tigers allowing nine hits and four ERs with an impressive K/BB ratio of 8/1. Since returning from his stint in Triple-A, Chicago is 4-4 in his eight overall starts. As a visitor, Contreras has been at his worst going 2-5 with a lofty 5.48 ERA allowing 44 hits and 26 ERs through 42.2 total innings of work. Hes 4-4 with a 4.35 ERA & 1.48 WHIP in 11 career starts against Detroit; he got shelled in his lone 09 appearance against them in April surrendering seven hits and four ERs through five innings.
Opposing the sinkerballer will be the Twins Francisco Liriano who continues to struggle after going under the knife a couple years ago. The southpaw enters his 21st start of the season 4-10 overall with a 5.56 ERA & 1.50 WHIP with a K/BB ratio of 102/51. Hes been chewed up and spit out his L/3 starts going 0-2 with a 5.94 ERA allowing 20 hits and 15 runs (11 earned) through 16.2 innings of work. Hes opposed Chicago twice this season and has lost both games giving up a combined 13 hits and 12 ERs overall.
Chicagos a pathetic 5-16 their L/21 trips to Minnesota and a poor 1-6 their L/7 against the AL Central. However, theyre 6-1 the L/7 times theyve faced a lefty on the road and 8-3 their L/11 games after dropping the first two games of a series. The Twins are 1-6 after three or more consecutive wins this season. Look for Chicago to be out for blood looking to not get swept in their second consecutive divisional road series. They blasted Det Sunday night in this same role, and I'm looking for more of the same tonight as they've made Liriano their Biatch in each of his two '09 appearances against them...