Frank Jordan
Philadelphia Phillies vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Play: Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia is sending the ageless one in Jamie Moyer who has an up and down season thus far with a 4-5 record and an era North of 6. Jamie Moyer did win last time out breaking a four game losing streak going 6 innings allowing just one run. The Dodgers counter with Eric Milton who is 2-0 and pitching great. Philadelphia is 20-6 on the road while the LA Dodgers are 20-7 at home. Look for a tight game with the Phillies coming out on top 5-4 in the end. Play Philadelphia
LARRY NESS
Chicago Cubs @ Cincinnati Reds
PICK: Chicago Cubs
Carlos Zambrano was supposed to make his return to the mound last night in Atlanta but the game was rained out. He was suspended for six games by Major League Baseball on May 28, a day after his meltdown in a 5-2 win over Pittsburgh (you've all seen it). Zambrano is going for his 100th career win and he can't be unhappy about giving it a go in Cincinnati. Zambrano will take a scoreless streak of 22.1 innings at Great American Ballpark into tonight's game, where he has won his last three starts. He's 8-2 with a 2.61 ERA in 12 career starts at Cincinnati. That's good news for the Cubs who have struggled on the road as of late, just ending a seven-game road losing streak in Atlanta Wednesday night, winning 3-2 in 11 innings. The Reds have struggled at home this year, going only 13-12 while allowing 5.12 RPG. It's unlikely Micah Owings is capable of helping out much, as the pitcher who is better known as a hitter, is 3-6 with a 5.10 ERA in nine starts this season for the Reds (team is 4-5). His home ERA is 5.57 this year and over his last three outings (two of which came at home), he's allowed 20 hits and 13 ERs over 13.2 innings (8.56 ERA). Take Zambrano and the Cubs.
Scott Rickenbach
Pittsburgh Pirates @ Houston Astros
PICK: Under
Only two games went over the total in the National League yesterday and these two teams were involved in the two games. Both of the games were very uncharacteristic of what should be expected from these two offenses and that is helping to give us value with the under in tonight's match-up. Yesterday afternoon, in their first game since the Nate McLouth trade, the Pirates inexplicably exploded for eleven runs against the Mets. As for the Astros, they allowed ten runs to the Rockies as their game flew over the total.
The Astros only scored three runs yesterday and Karstens of the Pirates has been in solid form this season. As for the Pirates, their offense only managed one run in two of their three games against the Astros last weekend and we're looking for more of the same here. Mike Hampton of the Astros continues to "have their number" and, until that changes, one should not expect much from Pittsburgh when they are matched up with him. Consider a small play on UNDER the total in Houston on Friday night.
Stephen Nover
CHC (-125) vs CIN
Carlos Zambrano is back from suspension and raring to go as he looks to pick up his 100th career win. I see that happening in this matchup.Zambrano has a very strong history against the Reds, particularly at Great American Ballpark. Zambrano is 8-2 with a 2.61 ERA when pitching in Cincinnati. He's held the Reds scoreless for the last 22 1/3 innings at Great American Ballpark.The Reds' lineup is weak right now and vulnerable to a power right-hander like Zambrano minus Joey Votto and with Jay Bruce in an 0-for-17 slump.The flip side of this handicap is a fade on Reds starter Micah Owings. The guy is a good athlete and one of the best-hitting pitchers. But let's face facts, Owings isn't a very good pitcher. His career numbers are 17-23 with a 5.02 ERA.Owings isn't in good form either. He's 0-2 with an 8.56 ERA in his last three starts. Owings is particularly vulnerable at hitter-friendly Great American Ballpark being a high ball, flyball type pitcher.One of the keys to the Cubs' offense is Derek Lee. His bat has come alive. He's batting .392 in his last 14 games.The price isn't too high to back the better team with the much better starting pitcher.
Yankee Capper
Pittsburgh/Houston Over 9.5
New York Mets
Milwaukee Brewers
Texas/Boston Over 10
Lenny Del Genio
New York Mets at Washington Nationals
Prediction: New York Mets
No way Washington should be favored over anybody even if Mets starter Tim Redding is struggling as bad as he is. Washington is just 10-25 vs. righties this year and their starter Martis has posted a 10.80 ERA last two starts. Mets have won 12 of 18 in the Nation?s Capital and Redding has turned a nice profit as an underdog (+11.4 units L32 starts in that role). The Nats have just been dreadful in division play this season, losing 25 of 30. Take NY Mets.
Andre Gomes
PIT (+124) vs HOU
The Pirates certainly have some business to handle against Mike Hampton. The Pirates were completely dominated by Hampton twice this season and both games were at home, the stats don't lie and Hampton is 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA against them! This is quiet surprisingly because Hampton is struggling against everything else with a 1-4 record and a 6.43 ERA! This is the second consecutive start against the Pirates for Hampton and one of my handicapping trademarks is to identifying potential letdowns and this is certainly one potential spot for a letdown. Also it's important to say that Hampton never had back to back quality starts so far in the season.
The Pirates are coming from a tremendous series against the Mets in which they scored 22 runs in 3 games batting .361, .267 and .371 so we are dealing with a hot team that has revenge on their minds to finally pound Hampton. Tonight they send Jeff Karstens to the mound. Karstens is an underrated pitcher but he is doing his job: keep the Pirates fighting for the ballgames. He had one of his best starts of the season in his last game precisely the Astros, when he went seven innings and gave up just two runs. He is in a streak of 5 consecutive outings allowing 4 or less runs and he isn't showing the control problems that he had in the past. Remember that he has just four walks in his last five starts. The Astros are also in a good run lately having won 4 of their last 5 games. However we simply cannot trust them. Note that they are just 12-16 at home and 1-5 in their last 6 games as a favorite. The Pirates are a valuable underdog tonight and I'm taking the chance with a confident underdog that want badly to beat an overrated pitcher. Take the Pirates in here.