JEFFERSONSPORTS
EARLY RELEASE FOR FRI
ST. LOUIS-129
MINNESOTA-117
CFL
BC-9
Diamond Xchange Sports
7* - Braves Minus -1.5
5* - Seattle -140
5* - Pitt +105
Jim Feist
PIT Pirates and COL Rockies
Take COL Rockies
Ian Snell gets the start today for the Bucs and he will be looking towards a better second half after a rough first half. Snell was just 3-7 in the first half of the season with a 5.92 era. The Pirates have won just two of Snell's last seven starts. Glendon Rusch goes tonight for the Rockies. Rusch has pitched mainly out of the pen this season, but when inserted into the starting lineup his last game, he pitched excellent. Rusch held the Brewers to just one earned run in his six innings for a 8-3 win by the Rockies. Rusch appears to be enjoying his starting role and we look for another fine start here on Friday.
Nostradamus
Baltimore -115
Tampa Bay -140
Cubs -120
Boston +140
Milwaukee -130
TONY MATHEWS
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Colorado Rockies
Selection: Pittsburgh/Colorado Over 10.5
The Pittsburgh Pirates will use starting pitcher Ian Snell. Ian Snell has struggled this season. In fact, Ian Snell has a 5.92 ERA on the season. In addition, Ian Snell has a 6.39 ERA in his last 3 starts. We see Ian Snell giving up many runs once again today.
The Colorado Rockies will use starting pitcher Glendon Rusch. Glendon Rusch has also struggled this season. In fact, Glendon Rusch has a 6.25 ERA on the season. We also see Glendon Rusch giving up many runs once again today.
The bottom line, we should see many runs scored tonight!
Take the Pittsburgh Pirates/Colorado Rockies Over 10.5
BOB HARVEY
Washington Nationals vs. Atlanta Braves UNDER 8.5
Dont let the Braves fool you. This is a team that struggles to score runs. Despite boasting All-Stars Chipper Jones and Brian McCann, Atlanta scored a major league-worst 52 runs from June 23-July 12. The Braves went 6-11 over that stretch, but did win their final contest before the break 12-3, routing San Diego on Sunday behind a homer and three RBIs from McCann. The catcher, who walked and got hit by a pitch in addition to going 3-for-3, has reached base in eight straight plate appearances. Washington, meanwhile, has scored 350 runs, tied with San Diego for the fewest in the major leagues entering the break. However, the Nationals have managed to outplay the Braves in their meetings. Atlanta has lost five of its eight games versus Washington this season, and has scored a total of five runs en route to losing the last three meetings. The Braves are in danger of losing four straight in a single season to Washington for the first time since 1992, when the Nationals franchise was based in Montreal. Supporting my argument for an UNDER play tonight are the season stats for both teams in terms of totals. Atlanta is 31-61-3 to the low side this season, including 19-27-2 at home. Washington is 42-52-2 to the UNDER overall and 21-24-1 on the road. Jair Jurrjens, who is 3-1 with a 1.30 ERA in his last five starts, gets the ball for Atlanta. Washington counters with its winningest pitcher. Tim Redding has given up two runs or fewer in four of his last six outings. He had failed to record a decision in nine straight outings prior to last Friday, when he allowed seven hits in six innings in a 10-0 whitewash of Houston. Finally Washington, which has the majors' worst record, lost 5-0 to Houston on Sunday. The Nationals, who have been shut out a major league-high 12 times, have lost 10 of their last 13 games.
JOHN FINA
Selection: Philadelphia/Florida Under 9
Today we expect a low-scoring game as the Philadelphia Phillies do battle with the Florida Marlins. One reason why we expect a high-scoring game is because both these teams will be sending to the mound solid starting pitchers. This says it all... The Philadelphia Phillies Starting Pitcher (Jamie Moyer) has a 3.26 ERA in his last 3 starts, while Florida Marlins Starting Pitcher (Ricky Nolasco) has a 2.14 ERA in his last 3 starts. As you can see, both these teams will be sending to the mound solid starting pitchers. The Under is a Perfect 3-0 in the last 3 meetings between these teams, we expect to see another low-scoring game tonight!
Take the Philadelphia Phillies/Florida Marlins Under 9
BRIAN MARSHALL
Kansas City Royals vs. Chicago White Sox
Plays On: Chicago White Sox -145
The Kansas City Royals will be lead by starting pitcher Zack Greinke. Zack Greinke has been struggling as of late. In fact, Zack Greinke has a 4.00 ERA in his last 3 starts. We see Zack Greinke having another bad game today.
The Chicago White Sox will be lead by starting pitcher Mark Buehrle. Mark Buehrle has been pitching great as of late. In fact, Mark Buehrle has a 1.80 ERA in his last 3 starts. We see Mark Buehrle pitching another great game today.
The Chicago White Sox have proven they can beat the Kansas City Royals. In fact, the Chicago White Sox are 42-14 in their last 56 meetings against the Kansas City Royals (when playing in Chicago).
Take the Chicago White Sox
Scott Delaney
One thing I dont enjoy doing is going against the Professor, but Ill be damned if he isn't having what appears to be the swan song season of his career. According to every report Ive read, the veteran right-hander says he would rather lose while pitching as well as he is, rather than not pitching at all. Yet even with his well-pitched performances, his record doesn't show how well he has performed this season. Maddux has a 3-8 record in 20 starts and hasn't tasted victory in his last 12 outings. In seven of his last 10 starts, he's allowed two runs or less, but still to no avail.
Now he has to go into Busch, where the Cardinals are fighting to stay afloat with the Brewers and Cubs. And so Id rather take Braden Looper here, and bank on the fact he'll get some run support, but more importantly, he'll be in stride against a lethargic Padres lineup that is hitting just .246 on the season and came into this series mired in an 8-23 skid on the road.
2♦ CARDINALS
SPORTS KINGZ
YANKEES -170
CUBS -125
ANGELS -150
ST. LOUIS -135
MILWAUKEE -130
JEFF BENTON
I've definitely been signing the praises of Marlins right-hander Ricky Nolasco lately:Nolasco has won five straight decisions, and Florida is 7-0 in his last seven starts, and I backed him in the last two against the Padres (3-1 Marlins win) and Dodgers (5-3 Marlins win), both on the road. However, as impressive as Nolasco has been of late, I cannot ignore this incredible fact: Since being traded from Seattle to Philadelphia in the middle of the 2006 season, Jamie Moyer has faced Florida nine times and he's 9-0 with a 3.03 ERA!
That includes a pair of victories this year, the more dominant one coming in Florida on June 12 when the ancient lefty held the powerful Marlins lineup to two hits and a walk in eight innings, winning 3-0. Of course, such a dominating outing isn't all that surprising when you consider how poorly the Marlins hit against left-handed pitchers we're talking .226 overall and a paltry .190 at home.
The Phillies are one of the few teams in baseball with a winning road record, including a three-game sweep of Atlanta (another N.L. East rival) the last time they went on the highway. Throw in the fact that Philadelphia is 22-6 in Moyer's last 28 starts against division foes and 8-1 in its last nine as an underdog, and I'll side with the visitor.
3♦ PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
VEGAS EXPERTS
Texas Rangers at Minnesota Twins
Although Texas' starter Kevin Milwood was on the hill when the Rangers beat the Twins, 6-5, earlier this year, he was not credited with the win and in fact we find the veteran hurler at 0-5 all-time vs. Minnesota. This is a great price for a Twins team that went into the break as winners of 19 of their last 25 games, including a 13-1 mark here at the Metrdome. Take the better team tonight.
Play on: Minnesota
Alex Smart
San Diego Padres @ St. Louis Cardinals Under 8.5
This is a repeat of last nights successful under selection. Two different pitchers and a different day, but Im predicting we get the same positive results.
The light hitting San Diego Padres visit the St.Louis Cardinals in pitcher friendly Busch Stadium this Friday night in game two of this series. Last night both teams took part in a low scoring 4-3 tilt.
The San Diego Padres will send capable veteran Greg Maddux (3-8, 3.90 ERA) to the hill . The 42 year former Cy Young award winner, and other than a few blips on his chart, has consistently pitched well this year, and has allowed 2 ERs or less in 8 of his L/12 starts. His team, however, has given the hurler very little support in most of his starts, as is evident by backing him with an average of just 3.23 RPG this season, which is the fourth-worst mark in major league baseball.
Meanwhile , his pitching opponent Braden Looper (9-7, 4.25) has also seen his fair of hard luck , despite of pitching well this season. In his last two starts before the all star break, the right hander, allowed just six runs in 13 innings, but was backed with just one total run during that frustrating span.
With two capable pitchers on the hill, and two less than explosive offenses facing them tonight, another slow scoring contest looks to be on the agenda.
Final notes & Key Trends: Under is 11-1-1 in Padres last 13 games vs. a right-handed starter. Under is 10-2 in Padres last 11 games with the total set at 7-8.5 . Under is 11-4-1 in the last 15 meetings in this series, including four straight here in St.Louis. Under is 6-0 in Padres last 6 road games.
Play Under
JB's COMPUTER PICKS
Detroit Tigers -105
Chicago White Sox -160
St. Louis Cardinals -140
PlusLineSports Daily Baseball Pick
SD Padres vs. St Louis Cards
St Louis Cards -1.5 +170