Chris Jordan
Chicago -140 at SAN FRANCISCO
The Cubbies are your play on the West Coast, as they'll invade the Bay Area and chase Ted Lilly early, then coast late after last night's nationally televised loss to the South Siders.
Lilly is not my favorite pitched in the world, but when you’re facing Barry “Overpaid” Zito, you can feel safe in your investment. The hard-throwing southpaw comes in off a win over the Orioles in which he gave up four runs on five hits over seven innings. I know Lilly is struggling to keep the ball in the park – who doesn’t struggle when the wind is blowing out at Wrigley? Thus, AT&T Park might be an easier place for him to keep it within. He’s sporting a 2-1 lifetime mark against the Giants.
On the flipside, Zito comes in after posting a 1-3 mark in four June starts, and though he comes in off a somewhat stellar performance at Cleveland, let’s not forget he’s 0-7 with a 7.34 ERA in Frisco.
I know the Cubbies have lost eight of 12 overall, and they’ve suffered three-game sweeps in their last two road series, but they still own the best overall record in the National League, and it’s back to the senior circuit for Lou’s crew. And he won’t let them head into the Break on a losing skid. Lay the road chalk here.
4♦ CUBS
Jeff Alexander Sports
1 Unit on Blue Jays -149
The Blue Jays are 6-2 in the last 8 meetings with the Mariners and 5-2 in Halladay's last 7 starts against Seattle . Toronto has the edge in this one with one of the best aces in baseball hurling. The Mariners are 0-7 in their last 7 home games vs. a right-handed starter, 0-6 in their last 6 games as a home underdog of +110 to +150, and 1-9 in their last 10 home games. The Blue Jays are 8-1 in Halladay's last 9 Monday starts and 91-39 in Halladay's last 130 starts as a favorite. The Jays have won 5 of their last 7 and they'll continue their solid play tonight. Bet Toronto .
Dave Price
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Cincinnati Reds
1 Unit on Cincinnati Reds -147
Playing against the Pirates in the first game of a series have been money in the bank this season as Pittburgh is just 2-11 in its last 13 during game 1 of a series. The Pirates are also just 16-39 in their last 55 road games. The Reds have been rock solid in the home chalk role at 27-10 in their last 37 games as a home favorite of -110 to -150 and 5-1 in Harang's last 6 starts as a home favorite of -110 to -150. I like Cincy in this one at home.
MadduxSports
LA Angels -130
Jack Clayton
Blue Jays
JIM'S HOT PICKS
St. Louis
floridabookybusters
Pittsburgh
KBWINS
Oakland/LA Angels Under 8
Mighty Quinn
Mets
Royals
Cappers Access
Cardinals
White Sox
DONALD TRAN
Twins +110
SCOUT
NY Mets -110
#1 SPORTS
DIAMONDBACKS - 125
VEGAS STEAMLINE
CUBS +110
BIG TIME SPORTS
TIGERS/TWINS OVER 9
HUDDLE UP
Minnesota +105
DARK HORSE
San Francisco +135
RAZOR SHARP
CLEVELAND +135
TOTALS4U
MILWAUKEE/ARIZONA UNDER
PLATINUM PLAYS
ROCKIES - 120
MIKE WYNN
LA Angels -125
Jennifer Barry
DBacks -115
Chad Jordan
Royals -110
TRACE ADAMS
BREWERS
SHARP SPORTS ADVISORS
CARDINALS -105
ARMVIN SPORTS
ATHLETICS +119
Kyle Baugues
Athletics/Angels Under 8
SUPER SCOUT
White Sox -147
JR MILLER
Bluejays/Mariners Over
Glen Mcgrew
Astros
Bob Donahue
Royals
Templer's Sports Picks
Pittsburgh +1.5
Insider Sports Report
Detroit -130
Gamblers Data
Grand Rapids +1
Paul Leiner
10* Cardinals -105
Global Sports Picks
PIRATES/REDS UNDER 8.5
RED ZONE
Tigers/Twins over
NEVADA SHARPSHOOTER
RED SOX +125
C-Stars Guaranteed Plays
Toronto/Seattle Under 7.5
PowerPlayWins
Rockies -120
USA Sports Consulting
Colorado -121
Wunderdog
Toronto at Seattle
Pick: Seattle +143
Even bad teams get on a little roll. The Mariners come home feeling good about themselves as they have now won five of their last six. Bats that were sleeping for most of the year have now produced six runs per game in these last six. The road has been a struggle for the Jays where they have posted wins in just two of their last 11 and the offense continues to struggle as they have been shutout six times already this season. Roy Halladay hasn't been the cure either, as the Jays have dropped his last three starts and are just 9-8 on the season with him on the hill. Seattle shows signs of being much closer to the team everyone expected, and this is a good spot as a valued home dog.
Priceless Picks
1 Unit on Cincinnati Reds -147
Playing against the Pirates in the first game of a series have been money in the bank this season as Pittburgh is just 2-11 in its last 13 during game 1 of a series. The Pirates are also just 16-39 in their last 55 road games. The Reds have been rock solid in the home chalk role at 27-10 in their last 37 games as a home favorite of -110 to -150 and 5-1 in Harang's last 6 starts as a home favorite of -110 to -150. I like Cincy in this one at home.
Louie Mayo
MLB
(5*) Reds -135
(3*) Cubs -140
(1*) San Diego +100
AFL
(50*) Arizona -1
(50*) Cleveland -3½
Michael Cannon
20 Dime –
CARDINALS (With Lohse as listed pitcher)
Take the Cardinals as the small home chalk tonight over the Mets.
Kyle Lohse will get the start for St. Louis and he’s been a pleasant surprise to the rotation. The right-hander is 9-2 with a 3.94 ERA on the season after being signed in spring training. He’s won six of his last seven starts and is 6-0 with a 2.87 ERA since May 18. Lohse is also 4-1 with a 3.10 ERA at home this season.
The Mets are still a team under duress and I don’t trust them on the road against a quality opponent, especially one with a pitcher on the verge of his 10th win of the season.
Take the Cardinals as they grab the home win.
10 Dime –
DODGERS (With Stults as listed pitcher)
Take the Dodgers as the road dog tonight over the Astros.
I know the Dodgers haven’t been hitting lately, but I just can’t overlook the combination of young Eric Stults getting the start against a declining Roy Oswalt.
This isn’t a knock on Oswalt, but he is having trouble adjusting to life as a not-so-powerful pitcher anymore. The right-hander is just 6-8 with a 4.77 ERA on the season after years of dominating the NL.
If anything, his decline and difficulty adjusting to a different kind of pitcher can help awaken the slumbering Dodgers lineup.
If not, Stults certainly has the ability to shut the Astros down. The left-hander has been dominant in his first two starts this year, going 2-0 and allowing just one earned run through 15 innings. Stults is coming off a four-hit shutout over the White Sox on Wednesday, and that’s not exactly a lineup devoid of hitting talent.
The Dodgers pitching staff has made the difference lately, allowing just three runs total over the last five games, including three shutouts.
It wouldn’t surprise me to see it happen again tonight.
Take the Dodgers as the road dog for the win.
TWINS (With Perkins as listed pitcher)
Take the Twins as the tiny home dog tonight over the Tigers.
Detroit is on a roll, but so is Minnesota.
The Twins have won 11 of 12 and allowed just 30 total runs during that span. Glen Perkins will get the start and he’s allowed three runs apiece in his last four starts, winning his last two.
Detroit will send Armando Galarraga to the mound with his 7-2 record and 3.32 ERA. But the Twins are responsible for both of his losses this year and I like them to do it again tonight.
Take the Twins as they grab the home win.
Winners Inc. Guaranteed Selections
5000* BASEBALL WINNER
Tampa Bay w/Shields -148
Stephen Nover
Cleveland Indians @ Chicago White Sox
PICK: Cleveland Indians
Handicapping baseball is a lot different than handicapping football. Situation and motivation aren't nearly as strong of factors. However, they have to count for something. So does fading a lucky pitcher, who has been pitching way above his head.
All this leads up to taking the underdog Indians against the White Sox this evening. Chicago is in a huge letdown spot after sweeping the Cubs during the weekend. The White Sox may have trouble focusing and taking serious a team they lead by 9 1/2 games in the American League Central.
Cleveland's season is on the line as the Indians take to the road. If the Indians can't cut into the White Sox's division lead, they're going to deal Cy Young Award winner C.C. Sabathia and start planning for next year. This is a crucial series for them.
White Sox starter Gavin Floyd has been lucky this season. His numbers are better than they should be. Look for him to tumble back to earth. That's starting to happen. He hasn't been able to reach the sixth inning during his past two starts. The Indians aren't scoring runs, but this isn't a Dodgers situation. Cleveland is putting up a lot of base runners.
U.S. Cellular Field has become a real hitter's park in the summer with high temperatures. The Indians definitely are capable of putting up their share of runs in this park.
A key question is how will Indians southpaw starter Jeremy Sowers fare? Sowers doesn't have good numbers, but the White Sox are batting less than .250 versus southpaws.
Chicago is averaging 6.7 runs at home versus righties, but only 4.6 runs against left-handers.
Brandon Lang
15 Dime Astros
5 Dime Giants
5 Dime Mariners
FREE - Washington Nationals
rin Renning/ER Sports
MLB St. Louis Under 8.5
MLB Playmaker: San Francisco Under 8.5
Aj Apollo
MLB 3* Cleveland
MLB 3* Oakland
SMOOTH44
Kansas City -110
St. Louis -115
Pittsburgh +130
Washington +130 play Of The Day
Boston +130
Oakland +115
Ben Burns
MLB 5* Tampa Bay Rays
MLB 5* Padres/Rockies over 9.5