Randall the Handle
SERIES: Colorado +1.42 over PHILADELPHIA
If momentum means anything at all the Rockies most definitely have an edge, as they’ve been absolutely tearing it since early June. The Rockies lost Jorge De La Rosa to an injury but the return of Aaron Cook makes up for it. Cook went eight innings in the clinching game and looked strong indeed. So, the Rockies will send out Jiminez, Cook and Jason Hammel in the first three games while the Phillies will send out Lee, Hamels and it looks like Joe Blanton. Well, Hamels has been way off, Lee faded badly down the stretch (0-2 with a 6.32 ERA in his final three starts) and one also has to wonder who is going to pitch in the late innings for the Phillies because they really don’t have a reliable choice. Brad Lidge has blown 11 saves and his ERA of over 7.00 is not very endearing. Neither Madson nor Myers can be counted on either. The Phillies line-up is scary and it’s their strongest suit for sure. However, hitting usually doesn’t win a series or even get you to the playoffs. Just ask the Texas Rangers about that. The Phils pitching was solid early but after a long season last year and another playoff run this year, the staff might be a little burned out and considering how they’ve faired the past few weeks, it certainly appears that way. The Rocks are fresher, hungrier and playing as good or better than any playoff team including the Phillies. Jason Hammel is not very well known but he’s a good one and Jiminez is one of the best, as his 3.47 ERA (the best ever by a Rockies starter) will attest to. So give me the tag with the Rockies, as this team is playing too good to ignore right now and if they can win one of the first two games, they’re going to be awfully tough to take down. Give Jiminez and Cook a good chance to win both games in Philly. Play: Colorado +1.32 (Risking 2 units).
GAME ONE
Colorado +1.24 over PHILADELPHIA PINNACLE
For the same reasons above. Play: Colorado +1.24 (Risking 2 units).
Tom Freese
Minnesota Twins vs. New York Yankees
Play: Over 9
New York is 5-1-1 OVER following a day off and they are 3-1-1 OVER their last 5 Playoff games. The Yankees are 9-3-1 OVER with Sabathia when he has 4 days rest and they are 7-3 OVER in his last 10 starts overall. Minnesota is 18-5-4 OVER their last 27 road games vs. a team with a home winning percentage of over 60%. Minnesota is 18-6-2 OVER vs. AL East teams and they are 3-0-1 OVER in 4 road starts made by Brian Duensing. PLAY ON 'OVER'
Jeff Alexander
1 Unit on NY Yankees -1.5 -150
Bottom Line: This is an extremely tough spot for the Twins, playing again just hours after last night's 12-inning win to make the postseason, against a team that has dominated them. NY is 18-6 against the Twins over the last 3 seasons, including 10-1 at home during that span. It gets even worse this year as the Yankees are a perfect 7-0 against the Twins in 2009. Minnesota is just 1-9 vs. AL teams scoring 5.2 or more runs/game in the second half of the season this season, losing to these teams by an average score of 4.7 to 7.9. I'll take the Yankees at home on the run line for 1 Unit.
John Ryan
St Louis Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Play: Los Angeles Dodgers
Ai Simulator 3* graded play on the Dodgers as they host the Cardinals in Game 1 of the NLDS. If you like action then this supporting system is exactly what the doctor ordered as it has made a whopping 98 units sporting a 449-332 record since 2004. Play against road teams with a NL starting pitcher whose ERA is 3.70 or better on the season and is a poor base running team averaging 0.5 or less SB's/game on the season. Here is a 2nd system that has gone 42-28 making 32.2 units since 1997. Play on NL home dogs with a money line of +125 or more allowing 4.3 or less runs/game on the season after a win by 2 runs or less. Cardinals are just 15-23 (-14.0 Units) against the money line versus NL teams scoring 4.8 or more runs/game on the season this season; Dodgers are a strong 12-4 (+12.5 Units) against the money line as an underdog of +125 to +175 this season. Wolf is 25-9 (+14.2 Units) against the money line in home games over the last 2 seasons. Take the Dodgers.
Rocketman
St Louis @ LA Dodgers
Play: St Louis
Two very good teams squaring off here today with St Louis coming in with a 91-71 record and the LA Dodgers with a 95-67 record on the season. St Louis lost 6 of 7 down the stretch and the LA Dodgers lost 5 of their last 7 games overall. St Louis bullpen had a 3.36 ERA in the regular season on the road this season. Chris Carpenter has been amazing again this year. Carpenter is 17-4 with a 2.24 ERA overall this year, 9-2 with a 2.05 ERA on the road and 1-0 with a 0.45 ERA his last 3 starts. St Louis has won 5 of 7 against the LA Dodgers this season. Carpenter is 5-0 with a 2.20 ERA overall vs LA Dodgers since 1997. Wolf is 3-5 with a 3.64 ERA overall vs St Louis since 1997. We'll recommend a small play on St Louis tonight!
WUNDERDOG
St Louis at Los Angeles Dodgers
Pick: St Louis -130
The Cardinals open their NL Division series on the road in Los Angeles. The Dodgers were quick out of the gate this season, especially at home where they won their first 13 games, but finished the season just 37-31 at home thereafter. This exact matchup took place in St. Louis with the Cards' Chris Carpenter besting Randy Wolf 6-1. Carpenter has owned the Dodgers with a 0.96 ERA against them over the past five years. Also, St. Louis took five of seven this season from the NL West Champs. It's hard to pass on a pitcher with those credentials against the Dodgers. Add in the fact that the Cards are 92-38 in Carpenter's last 130 starts, and I'll back the Cards to win the opener.
Phoenix at Pittsburgh
Pick: Pittsburgh -190
The Pittsburgh Penguins have gotten off to a quick start in defense of their Stanley Cup winning season a year ago. They have opened 2-0, and are off a thrilling shootout victory on the road over the Islanders. The Phoenix Coyotes opened with a road win in LA, and must head east to take on the always tough Penguins. The Coyotes finished last season at just 12-22 in their final 34 and are not even close to the Penguins right now, who are suffering no hangover from winning the Cup last year. This is a Penguins team that has gone 52-20 in their last 72 home games, and 36-15 in their last 51 overall. The home team has won nine of the last 13 in this series, and I like Pittsburgh to win this one at home.