LEE KOSTROSKI
Colorado Rockies @ Houston Astros
PICK: Houston Astros
Colorado is simply in a nearly impossible situation tonight, facing significant travel following the epic 22 inning win in San Diego last night. The Rockies offense continues to struggle early this season and the Rockies were actually very fortunate to score their first run last night, catching an embarrassingly bad non-strike call in the 14th inning to open the scoring. The Rockies are hitting just .238 on the season while averaging just 3.8 runs per game and Colorado is just 4-9 in the last 13 games as an underdog while going 6-23 in the last 29 visits to Houston.
Houston has handled left-handed pitching well this season, featuring a .333 average at home against left-handers and Franklin Morales was hammered in his last start, allowing seven runs in just four innings. Houston won three of four meetings at home against Colorado last season and the Rockies are 0-2 behind Morales so far this season.
Houston starter Chris Sampson has solid numbers through two starts and when healthy he was an effective starter in 2007. The Astros have endured a slow start to the season but have won three of the last four games. Coming off an ugly loss yesterday in Philadelphia the Astros should be in position to bounce back against what will be an exhausted Rockies lineup.
Erin Rynning
Pirates +125
Giants +135
Royals -105
Doug Bartlett
5* Indians -110
Frank Patron
Atlanta Braves +115
MONEY LOCK OF THE DAY
JUNIOR'S PICK
BREWERS -130
HAWKER'S PICK
RAYS/WHITE SOX - OVER 9.5
Paul Leiner
10* Royals -110
5* Yankees -130
5* Yankees -130
Rocketman
Detroit @ Toronto
Play On: 3* Toronto -110
Detroit is 1-7 this year when the total is 9 to 9 1/2. Detroit is 3-10 this year against right handed starters. Toronto is 53-22 last 3 years at home when the total is 9 to 9 1/2. Toronto is 97-63 last 3 years after a loss. Detroit is scoring only 4 runs per game overall and on the road this year and only 3.2 runs per game against right handed starters this year. Detroit bullpen has a 5.79 ERA overall this year and a 6.91 ERA on the road this year. Toronto bullpen has a 3.23 ERA overall this year and a 3.38 ERA at home this season. Rogers is 0-3 with a 6.75 ERA overall this year including 0-2 with a 9.34 ERA on the road this season. We'll play Toronto for 3 units tonight!
MIKE ROSE
2* CWS/TBY UNDER 9' -120
3* PHI -102
5* CLV -111
ATS Hockey Lock Club
3 units Devils
Matty O'Shea
PHI -103 vs NYM
Analysis: I realize the betting public is in love with Mets ace Johan Santana, but the reality is that he coming off a rough start against a very similar offensive team as today's opponent. He made a rare relief appearance on Tuesday after giving up three homers to the Brewers on Saturday in a 5-3 loss, and the Phillies have similar power. They are hitting .309 against lefties at home so far and have won five straight vs. New York there as well. Philadelphia ace Cole Hamels has also dominated opponents in three starts this season, allowing just two earned runs in 22 innings. Hamels has a solid 2.77 ERA in four career starts against the Mets, and the Phillies have won 15 of his last 20 home starts, so look for them to get the victory here in the series opener.
Can anyone get Vegas Runner and King Maker? They usually play a lot of 7 oclocks, can someone please post before then?
R0OT
Chairman - Phillies
Millionaire - Astros
Money Maker - Indians
Perfect Play - DBacks
Paul Leiner
10* Royals -110
5* Yankees -130
5* Yankees -130
20* MLB Over 9.5 Det/Tor
Jake Timlin
MARINERS / ANGELS OVER
Freebie winner yesterday on the Over in Cleveland I look for even more run tonight in Anaheim as the Angels and Mariners both bring in solid offenses and weak pitching into tonight. You see in the first series meeting just a week ago in Seattle all three games flew Over the total as all three games ended in combined double digits. Reaching back to last year 7 of the last 9 meeting have gone Over the total as I now look for 8 of 10 tonight all due to explosive offenses that combined are averaging 10 plus run per games while both pitching staffs are resting with ERA’s in the low 4’s. Well mix all those numbers together and you get another high scoring game in Los Angeles tonight.
Larry Ness' Late-Breaking Play-MLB (1st of the '08 season!)
My Late-Breaking Play is on the Az D'backs
Ben Burns' 2-Game NHL Playoff POWER Report!
NEW JERSEY and ANAHEIM
Sports Lock
New York Mets vs. Philadelphia Phillies
The Mets head the Citizens Bank Park to take on the Phillies. Both teams are off to a rocky start. But the Mets have their ace on the mound in Johan Santana. Santana may be only 1-2 but his ERA is a respectable 3.05. Expect to see him pitch well as he continues to improve. More good news for the Mets is that they will be facing lefty Cole Hamels and the Mets are 5-1 against left handed pitchers. Don’t worry about New York’s scoring on the road they average 6 runs a game on the road which is tops in the league. Look for the Mets to come away with the road win.
LOCK = New York Mets -105