Big Al
St. Louis Cardinals / Florida Marlins Under
Teddy Covers
3* Nationals/Brewers Over 8
3* Packers/Bengals Under 36
Bob Akmens
4* Brewers/Nationals Over 8
Tony Karpinski
Boston Red Sox vs. Chicago White Sox
Play: Boston Red Sox
The White Sox are in for the long haul with a battle with the pesky Minnesota Twins who traded away their best pitcher and lost Torii Hunter to free agency and haven't missed a step. Boston is in their own battle with the Yankees of course but the surprising Rays, who's young talent have finally came together to play as one, that you really have to worry about as the wildcard isn't the easy fall back like it has in years past. In this Monday game of this wraparound 4 game set look for the Red Sox to win going away as Josh Beckett over matches the White Sox with his power fastball and devastating curve ball. Play Boston
Lenny Del Genio
St Louis Cardinals at Florida Marlins
Prediction: Florida Marlins
We've been monitoring this line move all morning long and it confirms our original belief that the host Marlins are indeed the play. Better jump on em quick considering how poorly Cardinals pitcher Joel Piniero has thrown recently (7.94 ERA L3 starts) and the fact that the team had to play last night on the road. We've noted in the past how poorly road teams perform the day after playing on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball telecast. Anibal Sanchez has been a tremendous pitcher at home throughout his career boasting a 10-1 TSR here. He also has seen Florida cash 9 of 11 times when favored if he's toeing the rubber. Take Florida.
LARRY NESS
New York Yankees @ Minnesota Twins
PICK: Minnesota Twins
The Yanks came out of the All Star break with eight straight wins but since losing that Sunday Night game 9-2 on ESPN at Fenway back on July 27, have gone only 5-10. During their 8-0 post-break start, the Yanks swept the Twins in a three-game series in The Bronx (July 21-23), outscoring them 25-7. However, the Twins have gone 10-6 since that debacle and remain just one-half game behind Chicago in the AL Central and 1 1/2 back of Boston in the wild card 'hunt.' The Twins have been excellent at home in '08, going 40-20, while outscoring opponents 5.15-to-3.77 RPG. The Yanks are just 27-29 on the road and will face lefty Glen Perkins in this one. Perkins, after just 23 relief appearances on his resume entering this year, has made 17 starts for the Twins since being called up in early May. He's 8-3 with a 4.38 ERA overall, with the team winning SEVEN of his last 10 starts. The Yanks hit him hard in The Bronx back in July (6 IP / 8 hits / 5 ERs) but they are a modest 17-18 vs lefties on the year, including 8-12 on the road. Sidney Ponson, who goes for the Yanks tonight, beat the Twins in that late-July series and that's really nothing new. Over his career, he's 11-2 with a 2.58 ERA vs Minnesota and that includes a 2-0 mark in three starts this year vs the Twins (two while still with Texas), posting a 2.25 ERA. However, I'm still not 'sold' on Ponson, who 3-1 with a 4.73 ERA in six starts (team is 4-2) since signing with New York after being released by Texas in June. As mentioned, the Twins are a tough home team and have averaged 5.5 RPG here at home vs right-handed starters in night games. Take the Twins over the slumping Yankees.
Scott Spreitzer
Game: Cincinnati Bengals at Green Bay Packers
Prediction: Under
I'm playing the Under between the Bengals and Packers on Monday night. There were seven NFL games on Saturday. Including this one, the Bengals/Packers total is the highest of them all, at the time of this writing, (early Monday morning). But there is no justification for the high total other than the fact that the public generally can't help themselves with MNF, normally betting the chalk and the Over. But the fact is, neither offense is in a good spot. The Green Bay/Brett Favre soap opera kept the attention off of Aaron Rodgers' struggles in camp. By all reports, Rodgers has had an incredibly rough time hooking up with his receivers. In fact, one thing that was highly reported around NFL circles was Rodgers weak performance in Green Bay's traditional "Family Night" scrimmage. Rodgers completed just 7 of 20 passes. And, it must be noted, that scrimmage had a "hands-off the QB, no-sack policy." Behind Favre's replacement is a pair of rookies...Brian Brohm and Matt Flynn. Even HC Mike McCarthy said this is going to be a struggle for his QBs during preseason play. I don't think much of Cinci's offense in this one either. They'll likely be fine in the early going, but once Carson Palmer takes off the pads (about a dozen plays) the Bengal offense will also be a shell of itself. QBs Ryan Fitzpatrick and Jeff Rowe took as many snaps for the Bengals as I did last season. Fitzpatrick has seen action in just five games in his career, (all with the Rams), since being drafted out of Harvard in 2005. Second-year QB Jeff Rowe did not see game action last season in his first year out of Nevada. What we should expect to see is an intense effort for a big chunk of the game from the Bengal defense, led by a new defensive coordinator. Meanwhile, the Packer defense has been well ahead of their offense in camp, and it's a defense that was quite stingy in 2007. Look for a struggling offensive performance, at least for the final two-plus quarters, leading to a low scoring tilt. I'm playing the Under between the Bengals and Packers on Monday.
ANTHONY CAPONE
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES vs LA DODGERS
Play: PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES +117
Players of America
St. Louis Cardinals vs. Florida Marlins
The Play: Florida Marlins -120.0
Star Value: 1* (10 Units)
Monday brings sort of a lousy card to the table, but there really are a few match ups worthy of a wager. Our first release comes to us from Dolphin Stadium in Florida where the Marlins are set to host the Cardinals at 7:10PM EST. The Cardinals are off the hot seat of their big, prime time show down on live TV with the Cubs and now snapping back to reality a bit. That plane ride from Chicago to Florida will have a lot of tired men on it with a late night game, and Florida should be well rested from their day time win yesterday in New York.
Florida strutted their stuff last night knocking out the Mets in convincing fashion at home. They played very well all around and finally looked like a team that can compete come early October. Tonight, however, the Marlins return home to host St. Louis and are putting the right hander Anibal Sanchez on the mound. Sanchez comes in at just 1-1 overall on the season pitching just ten short innings. His ERA is a bit inflated at 4.22 in those ten innings, but we'll give him another chance to prove himself right here. The Fish bullpen has been solid this season tallying up an ERA of just 3.09 in over 323 total innings pitched. In those innings, they also hold a WHIP of 1.29. Florida and St. Louis are both 5-5 in their last ten games, and both need to string together a late run this season to boost their positions in their respective divisions. Additionally, the Marlins are relatively healthy all the way around and Hanley Ramirez returns to the line up with his leadership and play.
Righty Joel Pineiro will start for the Cards and Joel comes in a game under even so far this year at 4-5 overall. His ERA is fairly high at 5.04. He has given up almost 140 hits in just 110 innings, too. St. Louis needs to come in to this event tonight with a clear mind. They need to put everything out of their mind including their showdown with the Cubs, the Pujols talk and everything. Quite frankly, we're not confident this team has the discipline to do that. The bullpen of the Cardinals have thrown 27.1 total innings in their last three games and they've earned an ERA of almost 5.00 even, along with a WHIP of 1.78. That's a bit scary. Some rather big names on the good ole disabled list may hinder the full capabilities of this team tonight too. Super star Rick Ankiel has been listed as Doubtful for Monday's game due to an abdominal strain. Chris Dunca, Brian Barton and Juan Encarnacion all join Ankiel on the list and will not be participating in Monday's thriller.
All in all, this one comes down to execution. There is no shorting either team because both are solid in many aspects of the game. However, the edge goes to Florida and it's a pretty good price to grab. There isn't a huge pitching mismatch or anything like that tonight, just the better team sporting home field advantage. We're turning Florida in for a 10 unit wager tonight.
TREND OF THE GAME:
- The Cardinals are 3-8 in their last 11 games in Florida
Florida 7, St. Louis 3
Toronto Blue Jays vs. Detroit Tigers
The Play: Toronto Blue Jays +155.0
Star Value: 1* (10 Units)
Next, we like the spot the Blue Jays are in again tonight in Detroit. We selected this team last night at home against Cleveland and it didn't pay off, but we'll be on them again tonight at the listed price. The Tigers play host to Toronto at 7:10PM EST at Comerica Park in downtown Detroit.
Its an interesting pitching match up in Detroit tonight. The Jays will put a very under-the-radar type pitcher on the mound in Shaun Marcum. Shaun is better than people think and he really goes out and performs almost every, single night. He's stated at just 6-5 overall this season, however, he has an impressive WHIP of 1.08 and a respectable ERA of 3.44. He is a very solid anchor in this Toronto rotation to back up Doc Halladay and AJ Burnett. He deserves more credit. When he gets done putting on a show, his team has a lot of faith in that bullpen, and this is why. In Toronto's last three games they've went to the bullpen for 18.1 innings. In those innings the pen has an ERA of just 1.95 and a WHIP of 1.25. Even more remarkable, the pen on the year has an ERA of 2.58 in over 225 innings. That is flat out incredible.
Verly will get the nod for Detroit on Monday night and Justin comes in at a sub par 8-12 overall. His ERA is rising by the game at 4.56 and he isn't really settling down like everyone thought he would. Everyone that follows the majors knows what he is capable, however, he hasn't shown us any of that so far this season. Until he does, it's always a good spot to bet against him because those guys in Las Vegas are giving him way too much credit. His last three starts have been an utter joke. He's 0-3 his last three starts with a WHIP of 1.56 and an astronomical ERA of 9.35. Read it again, 9.35. The bullpen for Detroit is streaky, you never really know what you're going to get with those guys. The Tigers have dropped seven of their last ten games and at this point in the year they really need to be going the other direction or thinking about making some moves for the future.
The Tigers have power, ability and talent, but they are way overpriced for the situation at hand tonight. Toronto is fully capable of winning this game, and dominating the entire way. Because of that, we'll put 10 units on the line with the Blue Jays at a very attractive number.
TRENDS OF THE GAME:
- The Tigers are 2-7 in their last 9 overall
- The Tigers are 2-6 in their last 8 Monday games
Toronto 6, Detroit 3
New York Yankees vs. Minnesota Twins
The Play: New York Yankees +120.0
Star Value: 1* (10 Units)
Last but not least we've spotted another delightful match up with some big time value. The Yankees leave California and catch a plane to dome city in Minnesota. The Twins are coming off an extra inning loss at Kansas City and the Yanks similarly in Anaheim. Action begins at 8:10PM from Minnesota.
Another sweet pitching dual here as Sidney Ponson starts for the Yankees. Sidney comes in 7-3 overall on the season with an ERA of 4.23. That's not a shabby ERA when you have sticks behind you like New York does. He's 1-1 his last three games too. We've harped on New York NEEDING to win and always making that late season push towards the playoffs, but throw all that out the window right now. New York is New York...their obviously human because they aren't shocking the world with their incredible come backs anymore or on some unheard of hot streak to improve their spot. Their still a team in this league, though. They still have value above their name when the lines come out and there is still good spots to bet on them. We feel this is one. They have arguably the most talent in the majors and will begin to mesh sooner than later.
Mr. Glen Perkins will start for the Twins. The lefty comes in 8-3 overall with an ERA of 4.38 and a WHIP of 1.49. Perkins can pitch...he does his job very well. Its another bullpen deal for Minnesota here though. They've looked like garbage the last three games with an ERA closing in on 6.00 and their WHIP a high 1.78. Pitchers can do an amazing job but it doesn't mean a thing if a bullpen can't close a game out. We saw that example with both of these teams last night as they both dropped games late in extra innings.
New York is hungry. They want this more and they'll get it. If...IF you want to chalk these heavers up at even...that's fine, we'll still take the Yankee line up and defense over this Twins one. Minnesota has played good ball all season, but the AL Central is a hell of a lot different than the AL East. The Yankees plus money here is a gift, so we'll grab it and lay 10 units on the pinstripes.
TREND OF THE GAME:
- The Yankees are 39-14 in their last 53 meetings with the Twins
New York 8, Minnesota 4
Ron Raymond
5* MLB BEST BET WINNER
Boston Red Sox -145
Jeff Scott Sports
3 UNIT PLAY
NY Yanks +105 over MINNESOTA
The Yankees are 5-1 in their last 6 vs. American League Central and 39-14 in the last 53 meetings with the Twins, while the Twins are 3-13 in their last 16 vs. American League East and 1-4 in Perkins' last 5 starts vs. American League East. As you all know I don't play dogs too offten and when I do it's usually just a 1 unit play, but this game looks just too good to me. The Yanks are off a tough series in LA, in which they were swept, but now they take on a team that they have dominated in the past, with a pitcher on the mound that has also dominated the Twins in his career. Sidney Ponson is 7-2 on the year, with a 4.28 ERA, including a 4-2 mark with a 4.10 ERA on the road. Ponson is also 11-2 with a 2.58 ERA in 15 career starts vs the Twins, including a 2-0 mark with a 2.25 ERA vs them this year. The Twins offense has been good this year, as they are averaging 5.1 rpg at home and 5.9 rpg in their last 7, but they have averaged just 3.4 rpg in their last 17 games with NY, including 4.4 rpg vs them this year. The Yankees offense has not been that great of late putting up just 4.4 rpg in their last 7 games, but the Yanks have feasted on Minnesota pitching this year, putting up 6.3 rpg in the 7 games played. Glen Perkins has had a nice year for the Twins. going 8-3 with a 4.38 ERA overall, including a 5-2 mark with a 4.22 ERA at home, but he comes in not pitching too well at the present as he is just 1-1 with a 6.87 ERA in his last 3 starts. Glen is also 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA in 2 career starts (both this year) vs the Yanks. The Yanks are slumping right now and they need to starts winning if they hope for a wildcard berth. I feel the winning starts tonight.
SportsKingz
HOUSTON -135
Charlies Sports
Bengals @ Packers Over 36 (500*)
Packers -3 (30*)
Mets +115 (20*)
Astros -135 (20*)
Dodgers -140 (10*)
Twins -125 (10*) free play
Erin Rynning
Playmaker: Chicago/Boston Under 8.5
ROOT
Chairman- Phillies
Millionaire- Packers
Money Maker- White Sox