SPORTS ADVISORS
INTERLEAGUE
Boston (44-28) at Philadelphia (41-30)
The Red Sox continue their interleague road trip when they invade Citizens Bank Park to battle the Phillies in the opener of a three-game series. Bartolo Colon (4-1, 3.41 ERA) is scheduled to start for Boston opposite Philadelphia ace Cole Hamels (6-4, 3.27).
After losing Friday’s series opener in Cincinnati, the Red Sox came back to win the next two, including Sunday’s 9-0 rout of the Reds. Boston is on a 12-4 run, going 5-2 on the highway during this stretch. Also, Terry Francona’s club continues to feast on National League foes, going 46-10 in the last 56 interleague contests, including 21-6 in its last 27 on the road and 24-4 in its last 28 against the N.L. East.
Philadelphia returns home after a nine-game road trip that ended with a pair of losses in St. Louis. The Phillies have followed a four-game winning streak by losing four of their last six, but Charlie Manuel’s squad is21-13 at home this year, including 8-2 in the last 10. On the downside, Philly is 5-12 in its last 17 against the A.L. East.
These teams did not meet last year, but from 2004-2006, Boston went 10-2 against the Phillies, including 5-1 at Citizens Bank.
Colon was solid in Wednesday’s 6-3 home win over the Orioles, allowing just a single run on five hits with seven strikeouts in six innings. The veteran right-hander, who missed the first two months of the season recovering from injury, is 2-0 with a 3.46 ERA in two road starts.
Colon’s four career starts against the Phillies came in 2002 when he was with the Montreal Expos, and he went 1-1 with a 4.00 ERA and two no-decisions.
Hamels followed up a complete-game three-hit 5-0 home win over Cincinnati with an outstanding start Wednesday at Florida, holding the Marlins to two runs (both solo home runs) on three hits while striking out 13 in eight innings. However, he ended up with a no-decision as Philadelphia lost 6-2. Since winning six straight Hamels starts from late April to mid May, the Phillies are 1-2 in the southpaw’s last three outings.
Hamels is just 4-3 at home despite a 2.75 ERA, and this marks his first career start against the Red Sox.
The under is 6-1 in Colon’s last seven starts dating to last season and 4-2 in Hamels’ past six outings.
Although the Phillies easily topped the total in yesterday’s 7-6 loss at St. Louis, the under is still 11-2 in their last 13 overall, including 4-0 in the last four at Citizens Bank Park. Meanwhile, the over-under had alternated in eight straight games for Boston before Sunday’s contest at Cincinnati pushed on the number. Finally, the over is 9-4 the last 13 series meetings between these teams.
ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE
N.Y. Mets (33-35) at L.A. Angels (42-28)
The disappointing Mets head across the country for a three-game series against the first-place Angels, with New York’s Mike Pelfrey (2-6, 4.24) set to oppose Jered Weaver (6-6, 4.45).
New York split a doubleheader with the Rangers on Sunday, losing the opener 8-7 and taking the nightcap 4-2. The Mets are just 3-7 in their last 10 overall, and they’ve alternated wins and losses in their last six contests. Additionally, the team has lost 11 of its last 14 on the highway, including getting swept in San Diego in its most recent road series last week, and the Mets are 13-28 in their last 41 interleague games as an underdog and 12-26 in their last 38 interleague road battles.
Los Angeles avoided getting swept at home by the Braves, posting a 2-0 victory on Sunday night. The Angels have followed up a seven-game winning streak by going just 3-4 in their last seven, including 3-3 on this current homestand. Still, Mike Scioscia’s squad is on positive streaks of 19-7 overall in interleague play and 13-4 when hosting N.L. teams.
These teams last met in 2005, with the Angels taking two of three at Shea Stadium in New York. In fact, the visitor is 4-2 in the last six clashes going back to 2003.
Weaver bounced back from two shaky starts against the Blue Jays and Mariners (10 total earned runs allowed in 10 innings) with a gem on Tuesday, yielding just a single run on four hits in eight innings en route to a 6-1 home victory over Tampa Bay. The Angels are 5-1 in the right-hander’s last six trips to the bump, including 3-1 at Angel Stadium.
Despite dominating the Rays six days ago, Weaver is just 3-3 at home with a 3.05 ERA in seven starts. He’s also 3-6 with a 4.93 ERA in 11 night games, as opposed to 3-0 with a 2.79 ERA during the day. Finally, he has yet to face New York in his young career.
Pelfrey is coming off the best three-start stretch of his brief career, though he has nothing to show for it, having allowed a total of four runs in 21 innings (1.71 ERA) but getting no-decisions against the Dodgers, Padres and Diamondbacks. New York did win two of those three contests after losing each of Pelfrey’s previous seven starts.
The Mets are winless in Pelfrey’s four road outings this year, with the right-hander going 0-2 with a 7.20 ERA. However, his most recent start as a visitor was his best of the season, as he limited San Diego to a run on eight hits in six innings, getting a no-decision in his team’s 2-1 loss. Like Weaver against the Mets, Pelfrey has never pitched against the Angels.
With Weaver on the hill, the under is on runs of 17-6-1 as a favorite, 10-4 at home and 15-6-2 against losing teams. Also, the under is 7-3-1 in Pelfrey’s last 11 outings overall.
For the Mets, the over is on streaks of 9-4 in interleague play, 16-5 in interleague road games, 5-2-1 as an underdog and 6-2 on Mondays. On the flip side, the Angels sport a bevy of under trends, including 37-15-3 overall, 22-8-1 at home, 16-5-1 against losing teams and 16-6 against right-handed starters
ATS ADVANTAGE: L.A. ANGELS
One play for Monday:
EZWINNERS MLB
1 STAR: (960) SAN FRANCISCO (-$108) over Detroit
(Listing Lincecum only)
(Risking $108 to win $100)
9:15PM Central Time
Hondo
Hondo's Cub curse - can't win going with 'em or against 'em - jumped up and bit him again yester day, as he was flushed in Toronto to slash the earn ings to 270 kuenns.
Tonight, he'll go Coastal with his ace - 10 units on Lincecum to outduel Zoolander, the Tigers' poseur.
Dave Cokin
Tigers @ 960 Giants
Play: Giants +100
The Tigers are finally hot and the Giants are definitely not. on the flip side, Justin Verlander has lost all five of his road starts, and even though he's been better lately, I'm still not seeing the velocity that was there last season for the Tigers ace. And of course, there's his opposite number here, Tim Lincecum, who has been spectacular all year for the Giants. No one on the Tigers has seen that deceptive pinwheel deliver of Lincecum's before, and that's another edge for the SF sensation. I hate bucking both team streaks, but I've got to side with Verlander to pitch the Giants to the win.
James Patrick Sports
Marlins vs. Mariners
With the Fish playing Over the Total in 10 of 11 Monday contests and 7 of 8 inter-league games and Starter Miller posting a 6 –0 Over the Total mark, we like Florida-Seattle OVER the TOTAL as our Monday Major League Baseball selection in Monday action.
Robert Ross
Boston Red Sox at Philadelphia Phillies
Prediction: Boston Red Sox
Compelled to take the big price here with the Red Sox. BOSTON is 57-31 against the money line vs. a good bullpen that converts on 75%+ of their save opportunities over the last 2 seasons and 16-1 against the money line vs. poor fielding teams - (turning 0.8 or less DP's/game) this season. Meanwhile starter COLON is 13-0 against the money line in road games vs. NL teams scoring 4.8 or more runs/game on the season since 1997. (Team's Record) Take Boston!
Jimmy The Moose
Atlanta Braves at Colorado Rockies
Prediction: Colorado Rockies
he Braves have been great at home but have really struggled on the road this season. Going into last night's game the Braves had a horrible 9-24 road record. Atlanta is 4-12 in their last 16 games as a road underdog. In their last 7 opening games of a series the Bravers are 2-5. Jurrjens is on the mound tonight and he's pitched well, but not on the road. The Braves are 1-5 in his last 6 road starts. The Rockies are finally getting healthy and you can expect them to string a few wins together now. Colorado has won 8 of their last 11 games. The Rockies have won 5 of their last 7 home games. The Rockies have won 5 of the last 7 meetings with Atlanta, including all 3 meetings this season. The Braves are 0-4 in their last 4 trips to Colorado. Play on the Colorado Rockies -.
PlusLineSports Daily Baseball Selection
Monday, June 16 Daily Selection :
NY Mets(Pelfrey) vs. LA Angels(Weaver)
LA Angels -1.5 245(+145)
Game time is June 16 at 9:05 pm Central Standard Time(U.S.)
Marc Lawrence
New York Mets at Los Angeles Angels
Prediction: Los Angeles Angels
The Halos host the Mets in the first of a three game Interleague series when they send Jered Weaver to the hill against Mike Pelfrey in a matchup of two pitchers with opposite home/road dichotomies. That's confirmed by the fact that Weaver's home ERA of 3.05 is nearly three runs per game better than his 5.98 road ERA this season. On the flip side Pelfrey's 7.20 ERA on the road is more than four runs per game worse than his 3.06 ERA. With Weaver 10-5 in his last 15 home team starts and 7-2 in his career team starts in June, we'll back the Angels here this evening.
Big Al Mcmordie
Florida Marlins at Seattle Mariners
Prediction: Florida Marlins
At 10:10pm our member selection is on the Florida Marlins over the Seattle Mariners. The Marlins travel to the great northwest, the longest roadtrip possible for any Major League game, to play the Mariners and try to keep their improbable run going. Florida is still well above .500 at 37-32 and they are only three games behind the first place Phillies in the National League East Division. These two teams haven't met since 2005 when they played a three game series in South Florida and none of the three Florida starters in that series (Brian Moehler, Dontrelle Willis, and Josh Beckett) are still with the team. Lefthander Andrew Miller came over from the Tigers in the deal that sent Willis and Miguel Cabrera to Detroit and although inconsistent, Miller is beginning to look like he might start paying some major dividends in the not-too-distant future. Miller's last start was a gem at home against the division-leading Phils in which he gave up only one run on four hits while striking out seven en route to a big 6-2 win. The same cannot be said of Seattle veteran righthanded starter Carlos Silva who, although still one of the best control pitchers in baseball, seems to have found TOO MUCH of the plate lately as many of his recent outings have unfortunately resembled batting practice. The Mariners have lost the last five Silva starts and seven of his last eight. Take the Marlins.
Scott Ferrall
There's only one game that isn't interleague on Monday and it's in Denver. The Rockies have suddenly found themselves and are winning. Atlanta has problems and just lost in Anaheim on Sunday.
COLORADO -113 over Atlanta--Jimenez had his best start in his last outing-allowing only four hits in seven innings and no runs vs the Giants. The Braves have dropped 7 of 9 and they are 9-24 on the road.
Bobby Maxwell
Boston +145 at PHILADELPHIA
Improved to 17-7 with our last 24 days of FREE selections as the Yankees destroyed the Astros in Houston like we said they would. Tonight we've got a complimentary play on the Red Sox as they visit Philadelphia to take on the Phillies.
Even without Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz in the lineup, the Red Sox are still one of the most dangerous teams in baseball. They scored 15 runs this weekend and beat the Reds in Cincinnati both Saturday and Sunday, including a 9-0 drubbing Sunday.
Tonight they'll get the job done in Philadelphia as this Boston team just doesn't lose interleague baseball games. They have a hex on the National League and will continue that dominance today.
On the mound for the Red Sox tonight is Bartolo Colon (4-1, 3.41 ERA) who is a perfect 2-0 on the road with a 3.46 ERA. He gave up one run on five hits in six innings against the Orioles on Wednesday and has held the opposition to three earned runs or less in four of his five starts with the Red Sox.
Colon hasn't faced the Phillies since 2002 and he beat them twice that season, including an eight-inning gem when the Indians beat Philadelphia 5-1.
Cole Hamels (6-4, 3.27) goes for Philadelphia. The Phillies have lost two of his last three starts.
Boston is 9-1 against the Phillies the last 10 times these teams have met and the Red Sox are 46-10 in their last 56 games against the National League. Boston is also on runs of 12-4 overall, 21-6 agaisnt left-handed starters and 24-4 against the N.L. East.
We're backing the Red Sox in this one as Colon will keep them in it and the offense will deliver.
4* BOSTON
Chris Jordan
Florida at SEATTLE -105
Although the Mariners were a Major League-worst 24-45 through Sunday, let’s not forget the Fish finished their series with the Devil Rays yesterday and traveled across the country to face Seattle in the extreme Northwest, where the Mariners just finished a series with the Nationals.
Look, it’s no secret Seattle is the only team in the American League West with a losing home record, but the fact is this is baseball, and anything can happen. And in facing Andrew Miller, we have a very good chance at building an early lead. The Marlins’ southpaw is 0-2 with a 3.86 ERA in the two times he’s faced Seattle in his career. Let’s bank on the home team taking advantage of the road team in this one.
4* MARINERS
Sports Gambling Hotline
Florida at SEATTLE
Things have gone from bad to worse in Seattle, as the Mariners were just swept at home by the last place Washington Nationals. Now the M's must take on another team from the NL East, as Florida comes to town very much alive in the East standings.
The Marlins avoided the weekend sweep at Tampa with a 9-3 win on Sunday, and we will back them tonight against a pitcher who is in the midst of a 5-game losing streak that has seen 15 runs score over his last 15-plus innings of work!
Carlos Silva hasn't been fooling many batters these days, and with guys like Ramirez, Cantu, Jacobs, and Uggla in the lineup, expect Silva to be hitting the showers early in this game.
Andrew Miller counters for Florida and he will look to build on 7 solid innings of 1-run ball that he just pitched against the hot-hitting Phillies. We expect Miller to have success against this Seattle attack.
Play on the Marlins.
5* FLORIDA
Dunkel Index: Baseball
Today's MLB Picks
Boston at Philadelphia
The Phillies look to snap a two-game losing streak and come into the contest with an 8-1 record when listed as a home favorite between -150 to -175. Philadelphia is the pick (-155) according to Dunkel, which has the Phillies favored by 2.
Dunkel Pick: Philadelphia (-155).
Here are all of today's games.
MONDAY, JUNE 16
Time Posted: 7:00 a.m. EST
Game 951-952: Atlanta at Colorado
Dunkel Ratings: Atlanta (Jurrjens) 16.219; Colorado (Jimenez) 14.694
Dunkel Line: Atlanta by 1 1/2; 10 1/2
Vegas Line: Atlanta (-105); 9 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Atlanta (-105); Over
Game 953-954: Boston at Philadelphia
Dunkel Ratings: Boston (Colon) 15.375; Philadelphia (Hamels) 17.023
Dunkel Line: Philadelphia by 2; 8
Vegas Line: Philadelphia (-155); 9
Dunkel Pick: Philadelphia (-155); Under
Game 955-956: NY Mets at LA Angels
Dunkel Ratings: NY Mets (Pelfrey) 13.973; LA Angels (Weaver) 15.571
Dunkel Line: LA Angels by 1 1/2; 9
Vegas Line: LA Angels (-145); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: LA Angels (-145); Over
Game 957-958: Florida at Seattle
Dunkel Ratings: Florida (Miller) 15.602; Seattle (Silva) 13.547
Dunkel Line: Florida by 2; 8
Vegas Line: Seattle (-110); 9
Dunkel Pick: Florida (+100); Under
Game 959-960: Detroit at San Francisco
Dunkel Ratings: Detroit (Verlander) 15.123; San Francisco (Lincecum) 15.464
Dunkel Line: San Francisco by 1/2; 6 1/2
Vegas Line: San Francisco (-110); 7
Dunkel Pick: San Francisco (-110); Under