Memorial Day Baseball Betting -Speedy Version
By Doug Upstone
For many people today it is cookouts, time to spend with family and friends or watch a Criminal Minds marathon. While participating in these or other activities the baseball sports better still wants to get his fill of action, just with a little more urgency, with having other fun things to participate in.
Lets not waste any more time and get to it.
At 1:05 Eastern the two best teams in the NL East do battle, Philadelphia (28-21) at Atlanta (28-22). The Phillies have won 20 of last 26 Monday assignments and send Joe Blanton (1-5, 5.63 ERA) to the mound. Though everything counts, the Braves Tommy Hanson (4-3, 4.06) has 2.89 ERA this year if you subtract May 20 dud (eight runs in just 1 2/3 innings) against Cincinnati. Hanson and Atlanta are 7-2 at home facing teams with winning records; however the Phils have taken 15 of last 21 in Hotlanta.
At 1:35 Eastern on WGN the Chicago Cubs (24-27) begin a road trip in Pittsburgh (20-31). The Cubs begin their nine game excursion having a bad taste in the mouth courtesy of the Pirates, who have won five of six against Chicago in 2010 and are 7-1 dating back to last season. The Cubs have played down to or below their level of competition with 2-8 record against losing teams. Pittsburgh gladly returns home where they are 8-3 after road trip of a week or more. Seven of the previous 10 meetings have gone UNDER the total in the Steel City.
At 4:15 Eastern, the city with the Arch hosts the surprise team of the NL Central, Cincinnati (31-20). The Reds have played the fewest road games of any squad in the National League (21) and taken advantage of it with a sensational home record of 19-10. Cincy will be the first team to face St. Louis rookie Jaime Garcia (4-2, 1.14) a second time and is 8-3 against left-handed pitchers. The Reds are 7-1 when Bronson Arroyo (5-2, 4.30) pitches a series opener, yet are 2-6 if the right-hander faces a team above .500. The Cardinals (29-22) have relished playing the Reds at home, with 37-15 record and are perfect 12-0 on Mondays.
At 7:07 Eastern, Tampa Bay (34-17) returns to the road with not only the best record in baseball, but with remarkable 19-5 mark as the visiting team. Matt Garza (5-3, 2.97) lacked his usually excellent fastball control in his last start, a loss to Boston and amazingly he and the Rays are 2-12 on the road against clubs like Toronto (30-22) with a positive record. At a sluggish start (6-10), the Blue Jays have won eight of nine at the Rogers Centre and are 10-1 seeing right handed hurlers in home whites. Watch the total of this matchup with these AL East teams a combined 7-3 UNDER north of the border and Garza 7-1 UNDER vs. Toronto. Check Sportbet.com for the up to the minute numbers.
On last thing, take a moment from sports betting to remember the real reason for Memorial Day, to honor those that have died serving our country to protect our freedom.