Stephen Nover
Chicago at Seattle
FOR THE LARGEST SELECTION OF FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
The White Sox have been a big under team this team, especially on the road where they've been below the total in 21 of their last 27 away matchups. Since the All-Star break, Chicago is averaging less than four runs per game in 28 road contests.
The White Sox no longer have Jim Thome. Alex Rios has been a bust with Chicago batting .140 in 93 at bats for the White Sox with three RBIs and 23 strikeouts. Jermaine Dye has been brutal, too, going eight-for-71 with one RBI and 19 strikeouts.
FOR THE LARGEST SELECTION OF FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
Seattle is pitching left-hander Ryan Rowland-Smith. He has allowed three or less earned runs in his last four starts with a 17-to-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio during this span. His ERA at home this season is 3.21. The White Sox have gone under the past six times they've faced a southpaw starter.
White Sox starter Gavin Floyd has been up-and-down, but he still has allowed two earned runs or fewer in six of his past 10 starts. His ERA is under 4.00 and he's throwing at pitcher-friendly Safeco Park.
The Mariners are 5-1-1 to the under in their last seven games and represent a step down in class for Floyd. In his last four starts, Floyd has faced the Angels, Red Sox twice and Twins.
FOR THE LARGEST SELECTION OF FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
The Mariners remain without Russell Branyan, their top home run hitter.
5♦ White Sox/Seattle UNDER
BIG AL
FOR THE LARGEST SELECTION OF FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
Pittsburgh at Los Angeles
FOR THE LARGEST SELECTION OF FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
It has been quite a season for Dodgers veteran righthander Hiroki Kuroda. First, the Japanese- born starter missed almost two months early in the season with what was thought to be a mild oblique muscle strain, but ended up sidelining him for most of the first half. Then, in mid-August, Kuroda got beaned by a come-backer in what was a scary looking incident. When he has been healthy, Kuroda has usually been a very positive contributor to the Dodgers winning season. In his second start back from the concussion, Kuroda stepped up with a masterpiece. He allowed three hits over eight innings, retiring 19 consecutive batters at one point and looked much like the prime-time starter he became down the stretch last season. It's taken these two teams all season to finally meet so Kuroda hasn't seen the Pirates hitters yet in 2009, but they are hardly the same offense that they were in 2008. In their last series in Houston against the Astros, Pittsburgh only managed a total of five runs in the three games, and if last season is any indication, then Kuroda should be licking his chops as he went 1-0 in two starts against them with a 2.08 ERA.
FOR THE LARGEST SELECTION OF FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
PLAY UNDER
Doc’s Sports
Take Los Angeles Angels +100 over Boston Red Sox
The Angels, losers of the first two games in this series, send out Joe Saunders who has won four consecutive starts. He has done some of his best work at Fenway where he is 3-0. The Angels need to set a tone for their more than likely AL division series meeting for the third straight year.
WUNDERDOG
Seattle at Los Angeles
Pick: Seattle +5.5
The Seattle Storm will open the WNBA Playoffs in Los Angeles. The Storm finished their second straight year with 20 wins or more. These teams are very close in terms of talent and on the season they definitely proved that. They met four times during the regular season with two of the games going into Overtime and a third ending in a two point win for the Sparks. I expect this one to be just like the regular season, a hard fought game between two teams that don't have a great deal in terms of separation in talent. My call is Seattle here.
Freddy Wills
Arizona D-Backs vs. San Diego Padres
Play: Under 8
Two struggling offense face off on Wednesday afternoon and I'm going with the under. Doug Davis is one of the most under rated pitchers in baseball he has a 3.99 ERA with a 7-13 record this year. More importantly is how he has dominated during the day with a 2.28 ERA in 9 starts compared to his 4.85 ERA at night. He has three starts vs. the Padres and he's 2-0 with a 1.83 ERA. He has had 2 starts in San Diego (friendliest pitcher park) from 08-09 and he has not given up a run in 13.2 innings while giving up only 5 hits and striking out 13. Padres at home vs. LHP are hitting just .198 scoring 3.04 runs per 9, but their bullpen has been magnificent with 2.90 ERA. While they may not score runs here today their bullpen will keep them in it with Mujica on the mound. Mujica mostly out of the bullpen this year will make his second start. He went 4 innings giving up 2 hits and 0 ER vs. the Rockies. Now he faced the Diamondbacks for the first time as a starter. Dbacks have a .200 avg in 25 at bats vs. Mujica. Mujica actually has 81 IP this year and at home he has a 2.85 ERA and 3.33 ERA overall on the season. His 36:11 K:BB ratio at home is very impressive and the Diamondbacks are not exactly lighting up the scoreboards either. Mujica will likely have a limit of 50-75 pitches, but the the bullpen will take over and as I mentioned they have a 2.90 ERA at home against a sub par hitting team I'll take my chances in a low scoring game. The Under is 12-2-2 for the Dbacks in Davis' L16 starts on grass and L16 overall. The Under is 9-1-1 L11 vs. RH starters for the Dbacks. The Under is 8-2-2 in Davis' L12 starts as an underdog. The Under is 10-1 in the Padres L11 following a loss. The Under is 6-1 in the Padres L7 overall The Under is 17-5 L22 home games vs. a team with a losing record. The Under is 4-0 L4 meetings.
LARRY NESS
Toronto Blue Jays @ New York Yankees
PICK: New York Yankees
The Yankees and Blue Jays meet for the 18th and final time in 2009 tonight in New York. Last night's 10-4 win by the Blue Jays was marred by a bench-clearing brawl in the eighth inning. The Yanks will be looking to put that incident behind them and move on, as the loss cut their AL East lead over the Red Sox to 6 1/2 games. The Yankees have scratched Wednesday’s scheduled starter, Andy Pettitte, due to a tired pitching shoulder. They want to be protect the 37-year-old, who has given them 13 wins in 2009 (13-6 with a 4.14 ERA). Chad Gaudin will make his fourth start this year with New York, since coming to the Yankees in early August from the Padres (he's also made four relief appearances). Gaudin's "loving life" as a Yankee. He hasn't picked up a win in any of his three starts but he's posted a solid 2.57 ERA (13 Ks in 14 innings) and the Yanks have won each time. The right-hander has a 5.87 ERA and no decisions in four career starts against the Blue Jays. Brian Tallet (7-9, 5.26 ERA) will get the call for Toronto. He opened the year in the bullpen but from April 18 through July 25 he made 18 consecutive starts. However, EIGHT of his next nine appearances came out of the pen, before the Blue Jays put him back in the rotation again to open September He's 2-1 (won his last two) in three September starts but a closer look reveals he's allowed 22 hits and 12 ERs over 16.1 innings for a 6.61 ERA. The lefty faces a New York lineup which is 33-16 vs left-handers in 2009. The Yankees leave for a six-game road trip after this game and after yesterday's loss should be very focused. The Jays are just 28-43 on the road while the Yanks are 51-23 at home. New York is just slightly behind the Angels for the best team BA (.284 to .285) in MLB and lead the majors in runs scored (5.74 RPG). Lay it with New York.
Ben Burns
Los Angeles Angels at Boston Red Sox
Prediction: Boston Red Sox
The finale of this series is expected to feature Ervin Santana for the Angels vs. Josh Beckett for Boston. That should give the Red Sox an advantage. While he's been better recently, for the season, Santana is still 7-8 with a poor 5.52 ERA. Conversely, Beckett is an excellent 15-6 with a solid 3.82 ERA. The Red Sox have seen Santana already this season while the Angels haven't faced Beckett. The Red Sox have been superb at home (again) all season. Consider Boston
Tom Freese
Colorado Rockies at San Francisco Giants
Prediction: Under
Colorado is 11-3-1 UNDER after scoring 2 or less runs in their last game and they are 7-0 UNDER on Wednesday. The Rockies are 6-2 UNDER on the road vs. righty starters and they are 7-3 UNDER with Jorge DE Lerosa as an underdog. The Rockies are 13-6-1 UNDER at San Francisco. The Giants are 11-5 UNDER the last 16 starts made by Matt Cain and they are 22-6-1 UNDER in Game 3 of a series. San Francisco is 5-0 UNDER on Wednesday and they are 4-1 UNDER their last 5 games vs. lefty starters. PLAY ON 'UNDER'
John Ryan
Florida Marlins vs. St Louis Cardinals
Play: Florida Marlins
Ai Simulator 3* graded play on Florida as they face the Cardinals set to start at 2:15 EST. Supporting this graded play is a system that has gone 112-93 making 55.3 units since 2003. Play on all dogs in the month of September with a money line of +100 or higher stranding 7.5 or more runners on base per game on the season. Marlins are a solid 15-7 (+16.0 Units) against the money line in road games versus teams outscoring opponents by 0.5 or more runs/game in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons. Marlins starter Johnson is 18-6 (+13.2 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons; 12-4 (+9.3 Units) against the money line versus teams outscoring opponents by 0.5 or more runs/game on the season over the last 2 seasons. Take Florida
HENTAI SPORTS
Florida Marlins at St Louis Cardinals
Prediction : Florida Marlins
Marlins are a solid 15-7 (+16.0 Units) against the money line in road games versus teams outscoring opponents by 0.5 or more runs/game in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons. Marlins starter Johnson is 18-6 (+13.2 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons; 12-4 (+9.3 Units) against the money line versus teams outscoring opponents by 0.5 or more runs/game on the season over the last 2 seasons.
JR TIPS
Angels at Red Sox
The Angels will face the Boston Red sox who have a chance to notch their longest home winning streak of the season with a 10th straight victory at Fenway Park tonight. The Los Angeles Angels have already won 12 of its last 15 games in the regular season against the Red Sox and they will face Byrd (1-1, 6.08 ERA) who was tagged for seven runs in 2 1/3 innings of a Sept. 4th loss at Chicago and he didn't get a decision last Wednesday after allowing two runs in five innings of Boston's 7-5 win over Baltimore.The Red Sox who are hot at home have won their last nine home games giving them the best home record in the majors at 51-21. They face the Angels left-hander Joe Saunders (13-7, 4.81) who has won his last four starts overall since being activated from the disabled list last month, with a 1.85 ERA in that stretch. Saunders only allowed a run and three hits in seven innings of a 7-1 win over the White Sox on Friday. The Angels should bounce back tonight against Byrd who has been struggling and with the hot saunders on the mound, they only need 4 runs to get the win.
TAKE LA ANGELS +1.5
LEE KOSTROSKI
Colorado Rockies @ San Francisco Giants
PICK: San Francisco Giants
The Giants are 12-3 in Matt Cain’s home starts as he owns an impressive 2.61 ERA for the year and has been one of the NL’s top pitchers. Cain did not have his best start the last time he faced Colorado but it was good enough for the Giants to win and San Francisco has won each of the last three starts that Cain has made against the Rockies. The San Francisco bullpen also owns an ERA nearly a run lower than Colorado for the season.
The home team has won the last eight games in this series including six straight home wins for the Giants. Last night Rockies ace Ubaldo Jimenez was knocked out early and the Colorado bullpen wasted a lot of innings in a lopsided loss. Jorge De La Rosa has had a fine season for Colorado but his last start against the Giants featured six runs allowed. De La Rosa has not pitched at AT&T Park this season and he is unlikely to get a lot of support tonight. He also typically features higher pitch counts and can not last deep into games even when he is pitching well.
The Rockies have lost four straight games and Colorado has failed to top five runs in any of the last nine games. The Rockies lineup has hit below .200 for each of the last five games and this has been a difficult road trip. A week ago the Rockies looked to have sealed up the wild card but things have changed dramatically and the pressure is mounting on a Rockies club that is not producing. Look for the Giants to keep the momentum tonight and move to within a game and half.