Mike Rose
Pittsburgh Pirates 125
Ian Snell will put his 2-0 mark on the line when he takes to the bump this afternoon to pitch against the Cubs for the first time this season. To date, he owns a solid 3.93 ERA allowing 20 hits and nine runs (8 earned) with a K/BB ratio of 15/4 in a little over 18 innings on the year. The Pirates are 3-0 in the games he’s started this season. He went 6 1/3rd innings in his last start against Cincinnati allowing nine hits and three earned runs in the Buccos 4-3 victory. In three starts against the Cubs last season, the Pirates went 1-2 but won his lone start at Wrigley.
Lefty Rich Hill is yet to garner a decision this season, and to say he’s gotten off to a rocky ’08 start would be putting it very mildly. In two starts this year, he’s only pitched a total of nine innings, which includes his last start against the Pirates back on April 10th where he was yanked after three innings. He’s only allowed a combined five earned runs and seven hits, but his control has been shaky at best and he’s been on a very short leash. He had a couple of bullpen sessions throughout his seven-day lay-off to try and work on his mechanics. The Cubs are 4-2 in Hill’s starts against Pittsburgh in his career.
The Cubs swept the Pirates last week at PNC, so Pittsburgh will most definitely look to be returning the favor starting this afternoon where they find themselves +125 underdogs.
The Cubs have won six straight against the Buccos dating back to last season, and have had their number at home winning four of the last five overall. However, Pittsburgh is a moneymaking 5-1 in Snell’s last six road starts and 5-0 in his last five starts in the opening game of a series.
Matt Fargo
Seattle Mariners vs. LAA Angels
Play: Seattle Mariners
Ride the streaks in baseball. I have been on Seattle the last two nights and this team is playing its best baseball right now. I mentioned the last two nights that it has been up and down for Seattle so far this season but it is clearly in that upward movement right now and this the time to keep striking. The Mariners had a run of 0-4 and then won four of five before losing two in row on Sunday and Monday. The Mariners have now won three straight and this price is simply too good to even think about dropping off.
The Angles have not played to their potential this season thus far and they should not be backed at a price this high. As a matter of fact, they have been priced at -150 or higher five times and are just 2-3 in those games so what many believe is a sure thing (teams at -150 or more) is hardly the case in California through the first two weeks. Los Angeles dropped two of three in Seattle before sweeping the two-game set in Texas. It came home and split with the Royals to move to a very average 7-6 in its last 13 games.
R.A. Dickey? Yes he is back and he is sporting a brand new look. Dickey was a disaster in Texas but to his credit, not many pitchers have found success with the Rangers especially in that launching pad of a ballpark they have. Dickey went to the minors and has been there for over two years working on a transition to the knuckleball. Any team is going to have trouble with that and he comes in with a great mindset knowing he has posted a solid 3.68 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in five starts against the Angels.
The Angels counter with Joe Saunders who has been a pleasant surprise thus far. He has a 1.27 ERA and 0.94 WHIP through his first three starts all of which ended up with wins for Los Angeles. Two of those games were quality outings and the third was not as sharp and it happened to be last time out in Seattle. A second straight start against Seattle is a big edge for the offense, especially when that offense is hitting .315 against left-handed pitching. Saunders has a 6.16 ERA and 1.84 WHIP in four career starts against Seattle. Play Seattle Mariners 1.5 Units
Jimmy The Moose
Game: Detroit Tigers at Toronto Blue Jays
Prediction: over
Reason: Both team's send struggling pitchers to the mound to open up this series. Rogers, 0-3 with a 6.75 ERA will pitch for the Tigers. The Tigers haven't scored a run for him this season but they will tonight as they face Burnett. After a solid start to open the season AJ has really struggled. He comes into this game with a season ERA of 7.27. The Tigers have played over the total in 5 straight games while Toronto has played the over in 2 of their last 3. Expect a lot of runs in this game, play the over.
Marc Lawrence
Game: Los Angeles Dodgers at Atlanta Braves
Prediction: Los Angeles Dodgers
Note:The Dodgers take on the Braves in Atlanta behind Derek Lowe Friday night knowing he is in commanding KW form with one walk and 16 strikeouts in his three starts this season. He's also 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA in this park the past three seasons. With the Braves back home off a two-week road trip, we'll back Lowe and the Dodgers here tonight.
VEGAS SPORTS PICS
Chicago Cubs - 130* over Pittsburgh (Snell)
Pittsburgh is 7-20 last 27 road games. Snell went 0-2 in three starts vs. Cubs last season, allowing 11 runs on 21 hits over 19 innings. Chicago has won the last six meetings, Hill starting two of the six. Cubs look to get back on track off getting routed by Cincinnati Thursday.
Philadelphia (Hamels) - 105** over NY Mets (Santana)
The Mets at home beat last place Washington 1-0 in 14 innings last night. Philadelphia is 4-2 on the current home stand off beating Houston 10-2 Thursday. The Phillies are 15-5 last 20 Hamel's home starts and 9-2 last 11 meetings.
L.A.Dodgers (Lowe) - 115* over Atlanta (Carlyle)
Carlyle makes his first start of the season in a fill in roll. Braves went 2-5 last seven Carlyle starts last season. Lowe has allowed four runs over 18 innings in three starts this season. The Dodgers won both Lowe starts vs. Atlanta last season by a combined 14-5.
Arizona (Haren) - 130** over San Diego (Young)
San Diego lost all four Young starts vs. Arizona last season. NL West leading Arizona is 10-2 last 12 games, 6-2 last eight home meetings, and 2-0 last two Haren starts.
Boston (Matsuzaka) - 1.5 (+105*) over Texas (Mendoza)
Mendoza makes his fifth career start in a tough spot. Boston is 5-1 last six games off winning at the Yankees 7-5 last night. Matsuzaka is 3-0 over four starts this season allowing seven runs over 23 innings. Red Sox are 6-2 last eight meetings.
Sportsbettingstats
New York Mets at Philadelphia Phillies
The Mets come into this big NL East match up after beating the Washington Nationals 3-2, while the Phillies beat the Houston Astros 10-2. This is a match up between the two teams that many picked to win the NL East. Both have had mediocre starts to the season as the Mets are in second place in the division at 8-6, while the Phillies are third at 8-8. Taking the mound for the Mets is their new Ace Johan Santana (1-2 3.05 ERA), who has not started the season like the Mets had hoped for, as he has not being the dominant pitcher he was while in Minnesota. In Santana's last outing he went 6 innings giving up 4 earned runs and received the loss. In their last game against the Nationals the Mets scored 3 runs on 9 hits leaving 14 men on base winning in 14 innings. Taking the mound for the Phillies is Cole Hamels (2-1 .082 ERA), who has been a pleasant surprise for the Phillies. In his last outing he went 7 innings giving up 0 earned runs in getting the victory. In the Phillies last game against the Astros they scored 10 runs on 16 hits and left 10 men on base. The game was a home run barrage as Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Pat Burrell, and Chris Coste, all went deep for the Philles.
Staff Pick: Both teams are hovering around .500 and the Mets have started to pick it up lately winning 3 in a row. Santana has pitched decent but not like the Mets envisioned paying him over $16 million a season. The Phillies Cole Hamels is leading the NL with a .082 ERA and has 15 strikeouts for the season. Both teams are hitting well and feature two guys who are 1 and 2 in the National League in RBI's in Philadelphia's Pat Burrell (17) and New York's David Wright (15). The key to this game will be the pitching match up. Santana has yet to show the stuff that netted him 2 Cy Young Awards, while Hamels has looked sensational this year. If both pitched like they have for the season then the favorite has to be the Phillies, but look for Santana to look like his old self and dominate the Phillies. This is a huge rivalry and both have the talent to take the NL East. The game will be in the City of Brotherly Love, but look for the Boys from the Big Apple to take the first game of this big series.
Mets 5 Phillies 4
Winners Edge
Chicago Cubs -135 , 3 Units ( Game Of Week )
Brewers/reds Under 8.5 , 2 Units
Oakland A's - 105 , 2 Units
GATOR REPORT
MLB Friday: Play Against MLB team with a starting pitcher whose WHIP is 1.600 to 1.700 on the season-AL, with a team batting average of .285 or better on the season (AL) 34-13 last 5 seasons (72.3%)
PLAY: Kansas City +130
Armvin Sports
MLB
Kansas City Royals -104
Lance's Lock
Todays play: The Rays -115
CAPPERS ACCESS
Cubs
Twins
Ethan Law
MLB UNDERDOG GAME OF THE MONTH!
Minnesota
John Fina
Selection: Arizona Diamondbacks -130
Today the San Diego Padres will be on the road as they take on the Arizona Diamondbacks. We will side with the Arizona Diamondbacks! One reason why we like the Arizona Diamondbacks in this spot is because they will be sending to the mound the much better starting pitcher. The San Diego Padres will send to the mound Chris Young. Chris Young has been struggling so far this season. In fact, Chris Young has a 5.17 ERA. On the other hand, the Arizona Diamondbacks will send to the mound Dan Haren. Dan Haren is already a Perfect 2-0 to start the season with a solid 2.50 ERA. In addition to having the better starting pitcher on the mound, the Arizona Diamondbacks have almost always been able to beat the San Diego Padres (when playing in Arizona). In fact, the Arizona Diamondbacks are 54-25 in their last 79 meetings against the San Diego Padres (when playing in Arizona). As you can see, there is much value with the Arizona Diamondbacks tonight! Take the Arizona Diamondbacks
TONY WESTON
We stick with some National League action and continue with a Reds game. However, were going opposite Cincinnati this time as we like the Milwaukee Brewers to take this one.
What we love about this one is the pitching matchup between Brewers ace Ben Sheets and Reds slug Bronson Arroyo.
Sheets comes into this game with a 2-0 record, with the Brew Crew having won each of the three games hes started, and with a 1.17 ERA. Arroyo, on the other hand, is 0-1 with the Reds having lost two of his three starts. He also has a 5.17 ERA this season.
Cincinnati comes into the game with a 1-5 record its last six games, while the Brewers are 3-2 their last five.
Sheets will shut down the Reds and remain perfect on the year.
Take Sheets and take the Brewers on the road
3* BREWERS (1* to 5* Scale)
Sports Gambling Hotline
Tonight we like a low-scoring game in the City of Brotherly Love as a pair of the tougher southpaws in baseball take to the mound at Citizens Bank Park.
We don't care about Johan Santana's 4 runs allowed in his last start, this is the first time the Phillies are seeing this guy live, and we expect Santana will put up about 5 goose eggs before the Phils even mount a scoring threat.
Philadelphia comes into this game having played UNDER the total in 5 of their last 7, while last night's UNDER for the Mets marked their third straight UNDER, and their 5th in their last 7 games.
Cole Hamels has been darn near unhitable this spring with an ERA of 0.82. These teams have already played 2 of their first 3 meetings UNDER the posted price, and we like this one to stay low as well.
Play on the UNDER.
2* UNDER