Black Widow Sports
1* on Cleveland Indians -136
Cliff Lee has been superb all season with a 16-2 record and 2.45 ERA to show for it. Lee has yet to lose at home, going 6-0 with a 2.43 ERA when pitching in Cleveland. Lee has had great success against Anaheim, going 4-3 with a 3.56 ERA against the Angels in his career. Cleveland is playing much better baseball as of late by winning 5 of their last 7 ball games overall. Lee is 11-1 (+10.3 Units) against the money line when the total is 8 to 8.5 this season. Cleveland is 16-3 (+12.9 Units) against the money line after a game with a combined score of 17 runs or more over the last 2 seasons. Take the Indians on the Money Line.
Erin Rynning
Playmaker: KC Royals
Larry Ness
Oddsmaker's Error-MLB (11-5 in MLB since June 17)
How much have the Red Sox missed Manny? It seems the obvious answer is, not very much! Manny was sent to LA on July 31 but the Red Sox are 10-3 in August, averaging a robust 7.23 RPG (had averaged 4.94 RPG prior to that). The Red Sox enter this game 71-51 overall and with a 43-16 mark here in Fenway, where they've outscored the opposition by an average of 5.95-to-4.00 RPG. Despite typically high prices to overcome here at home, the team is plus-$1,882 vs moneyline, second in all of MLB to only the ever-surprising Tampa Bay Rays. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays come to Boston for a three-game set with a 28-34 record on the road, getting outscore 4.23-to-4.27 RPG. INCREDIBLY, Toronto opened the favorite in this game, although by late-morning on Friday, the Red Sox are now the small favorite (you think?). Now no one puts any more emphasis on starting pitchers than I do but the linemakers really gave too much credit to Roy Halladay and not nearly enough credit to Paul Byrd, while totally IGNORING Boston's home dominance. Halladay is a terrific pitcher but let's look at his '08 record. He's 13-9 with a 2.76 ERA, with the Blue Jays going a very mediocre 13-11 in his starts. Regulars know I love to compare how teams do with that game's starting pitcher on the mound against how they do when he's not on the mound. Doing the math finds the Blue Jays are hardly any better with Halladay on the hill, as they are 13-11 (.542) with him and 49-49 (.500) without him. That's clearly "no big deal!" He's never had much success vs Boston, posting a 10-11 (4.66 ERA) lifetime mark in 31 starts (Jays are 13-18) against the Red Sox. These last two years, he's made seven starts vs Boston (two TY and five in '07), going 2-4 with a 4.86 ERA (team is 2-5). As for Paul Byrd, he was coming off a superb 2007 season in which he went 15-8 but he a had a terrible first half for the Indians (3-10). However, how can one ignore his 4-0 mark since the break, where he's allowed just four ERs over 29 innings (1.24 ERA)? His most recent start for the Indians (before his fortunate trade to Boston) came against these Blue Jays in Toronto and he was matched up against Halladay. Pitching for a Cleveland team which is just 23-38 on the road as we speak, Byrd out-dueled Halladay in a 4-2 win. So here, pitching in front of a Boston team which is not only 43-16 at home but 32-12 in Fenway vs right-handed starters (averaging 5.9 RPG), why SHOULDN'T he best Toronto and Halladay again? And why SHOULDN'T the price on him be steeper? It should be and that's why my Oddsmaker's Error is on the Bos Red Sox.
Situational GOW: 180-93 run
Detroit Tigers
Las Vegas Insider (37-22 run)
LA Dodgers
SEABASS
Comp-Dodgers
100* Vegas Steam Play-Tigers
ATS Lock Canadian
3 units Toronto +3.5
ATS Lock Preseason
2 units Oakland +4
JB's Computer Picks
Tampa Bay Rays -110
Philadelphia Phillies -130
Chicago White Sox -135
Gina
Arizona Diamondbacks at Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are on a roll, winning their last eight games. But will have a big task tonight when they host the Diamondbacks and their ace Brandon Webb. Arizona has beaten Houston in six of the last seven meetings and have won Webb's last 4 starts versus the Astros. The right-hander is 4-1 with a 1.75 ERA in seven career starts against the Astros. Houston counters with Wandy Rodriguez. The left-hander is 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA in four career outings against the Diamondbacks. Houston has dropped five of Rodriguez's last 7 starts at home. Go with the Diamondbacks!
Arizona Diamondbacks -145
KELSO
5 units Tenn -4
Teddy Covers
6* LA Dodgers
Root
Chairman- Pirates
Millionaire- White Sox
Perfect Play- Phillies
Fairway Jay
4* Cubs/Marlins Over 8.5
NSA
20* Oakland +4
10* OVER 34.5 Oak/Tenn
10* Boston +105
10* White Sox -115
10* Phillies -125
10* Dodgers -145
Bob Balfe
NFL Preseason Football
Titans/Raiders Under 35
Both teams have great opening preseason weeks. Both teams really ran the football well. Oakland who was last in the league last year against the run will get a stiff test today against a good Titans run game. The Raiders usually have a good pass defense which will allow them to focus on stopping the run which is an area they need to improve in. When it comes to the Raiders offense well lets be honest it just stinks. Even when Oakland does put together a good drive someone gets a personal foul to take them out of it. Both teams will run the ball a lot tonight chewing up the clock. As a side not the Titans kicker will not play tonight. Nothing better than a 8 minute drive with a missed FG by a backup to help your total play. Let's take the Under.
Major League Baseball
Nationals +105 over Rockies
Plus10Club
Ethan Law
Pick: BOSTON RED SOX
Opposite Action Plays
Pick: DETROIT TIGERS
Sunday Selections
Pick: Titans / Raiders UNDER 35
LT Profits
Pick: Royals / Yankees UNDER 8.5
Mike Lineback
Pick: Phillies / Padres OVER 8
Mike Rose
Pick: SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
Alex Smart
Pick: L. A. DODGERS