Jim Feist
CHW White Sox and BAL Orioles
Take BAL Orioles
Baltimore is a good home team, with a winning record, and plays their 7th straight home game here. This Orioles offense is above average. In fact, Baltimore ranks 4th in the AL in runs scored. Over the last 10 games the O's have scored in double digits 4 times, including 16 at Detroit. The White Sox have never seen lefty starter Chris Waters (2-0). Meanwhile, Chicago is off an emotionally grueling series with Tampa Bay, getting beat back to back games at home. That means they slipped behind Minnesota in this wild pennant race. With their second straight loss to Tampa Bay, the Sox went from first place in the American League Central to a half-game behind Boston in the American League wild-card chase. "The difference in these two games between the Rays and White Sox was the bullpen," said manager Ozzie Guillen. "Their bullpen held on and we couldn't. Without Linebrink we're not the same ballclub, there's no doubt about that." The eighth-inning duties this year fell to Scott Linebrink, who had a 1.32 ERA on July 1 when his shoulder started hurting. Without him the Sox are 15-12. The combined bullpen ERA in the last 35 games is 5.51. White Sox's starter Clayton Richard is favored here, yet he's 1-2 with a 6.75. On the road the 24-year old has been even worse, at 0-2 with a 9.90 ERA. A great spot for the home dog and their strong offense. Play the Orioles.
Dave Cokin
CHW White Sox and BAL Orioles
Take White Sox
Rookie southpaws on the mound tonight as the White Sox visit the Orioles. Neither Clayton Richard nor Chris Waters inspires any confidence. But Richard is off his best start and he's got the better bullpen to clean up any mess he leaves. Plus, the White Sox can be pretty nasty against lefties and they obviously have more to play for than Baltimore at this point. I'll lay the small spot with the road team.
Bobby Maxwel
Arizona at SAN DIEGO +110
We tried this matchup five days ago and neither one of these pitchers delivered a good performance, but today, inside cavernous Petco Park in San Diego, you can count on a low-scoring affair between these two as the Padres' Jake Peavy (9-9, 2.84 ERA) goes up against the D'Backs' Dan Haren (14-6, 3.12).
Play San Diego tonight as Peavy will rebound from Wednesday's outing when he gave up six runs and walked four in an 8-6 loss in Arizona. Haren allowed five runs, including four in the first inning.
Peavy's ERA is under 3.00 for the fourth time in five seasons and he is about to win at least 10 games for the sixth straight season. So far this year he is 1-2 against Arizona with a 3.32 ERA.
Haren will pitch well but if he gives up two or three runs, he's going to be a loser. Peavy will rebound and deliver a dominating performance. Look for this one to go quick and play the Padres.
3♦ SAN DIEGO
Chris Jordan
Cleveland at DETROIT
Lay the run line here as Detroit will jump all over southpaw Zach Jackson, who has a 5.17 ERA and still hasn’t won since being called up from Triple-A Buffalo. The Tigers should be able to chase him early, while providing plenty of run support to right-hander Armando Galarraga, who is 12-4 this season with a 3.17 ERA.
And since he’s already beaten the downtrodden Tribe thrice this season, it’s hard to believe he’ll fail to make it four in a row. In those games he’s limited Cleveland to a .159 batting average in those three starts, in which he has worked 17-2/3 frames.
Galarraga is a perfect 4-0 in his last five starts and will shut down this team once again to score the easy win. When Galarraga is toeing the slab, Detroit is on winning runs of 4-1 against the AL Central, 5-1 when he starts at home and a perfect 4-0 when the takes the hill against losing teams. Easy blowout win tonight, so take the home team here.
3♦ TIGERS RUN LINE
Steve Janus
Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Play: Chicago Cubs -1½
The Cubs are doing everything that a pennant winner needs to do. They are cleaning up on their most recent road trips, going 10-1 in their last 11 road games overall. The Cubbies have also won 20 of their last 26 games, keeping pace with the Milwaukee Brewers, who have been playing very well as of late, but staying in 2nd place in the NL Central. Monday the Cubs face the Pittsburgh Pirates who are nearing the end of yet another losing season. Pittsburgh is just 1-4 in their last 5 home games, they've lost 4 in a row and they are also just 1-4 in their last 5 games against left-handed starters. Cubs' starter, Ted Lilly, has been one of the toughest lefties in the majors to beat this year, the Cubs always seem to rally behind him, a big reason for his 12 wins, despite an ERA over 4.00. With Milwaukee still coming hard at the Cubs, I think they pour it on the Pirates Monday and don't leave anything to chance.
John Fina
Pittsburgh Pirates +1.5
Reason: Put us down on the Pittsburgh Pirates +1.5 Runs (+105) for our Free MLB Selection on Monday. Today the Chicago Cubs will be on the road as they take on the Pittsburgh Pirates. We will side with the Pittsburgh Pirates +1.5 Runs! One reason why we will side with the Pittsburgh Pirates is because they will be sending to the mound the starting pitcher who has been pitching better. This says it all... The Chicago Cubs Starting Pitcher (Ted Lilly) has a 4.25 ERA on the season, while Pittsburgh Pirates Starting Pitcher (Jeff Karstens) has a 2.25 ERA on the season. As you can see, the Pittsburgh Pirates will have the better starting pitcher on the mound. In this case, the value is with the Pittsburgh Pirates +1.5 Runs. Take the Pittsburgh Pirates +1.5 Runs!
Tony Mathews
Minnesota Twins vs. Seattle Mariners
Selection: Minnesota Twins -1.5
The Minnesota Twins will use starting pitcher Francisco Liriano. Francisco Liriano has been pitching great as of late. In fact, Francisco Liriano has a 1.53 ERA in his last 3 starts. We see Francisco Liriano pitching another great game today.
The Seattle Mariners will use starting pitcher Miguel Batista. Miguel Batista has struggled this entire season. In fact, Miguel Batista has a 6.55 ERA on the season. We see Miguel Batista pitching another bad game today.
The Minnesota Twins are a Perfect 4-0 in their last 4 meetings against the Seattle Mariners, and should be able to get another blowout win today!
Take the Minnesota Twins -1.5
Brian Marshall
Chicago White Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles
Play On: Chicago/Baltimore Over 11.5
The Chicago White Sox will be lead by starting pitcher Clayton Richard. Clayton Richard has struggled this entire season. In fact, Clayton Richard has a 6.75 ERA on the season. We see Clayton Richard giving up many runs once again today.
The Baltimore Orioles will be lead by starting pitcher Chris Waters. Chris Waters has been struggling as of late. In fact, Chris Waters has a 7.90 ERA in his last 3 starts. We see Chris Waters also giving up many runs once again today.
The bottom line, we should see many runs scored today!
Take the Chicago White Sox/Baltimore Orioles Over 11.5
Scott Delaney
Ted Lilly comes into this one after having his no-hitter broken up in the sixth inning of his last start. He certainly pitched well enough to win, yet even though he gave up a mere two hits in seven innings and struck out seven, he wound up losing a 2-1 decision to the Reds.
The outing lowered his ERA to 4.25, and since the lefty dominated the Pirates on Aug. 2 - holding them to one run and six hits in 6-1/3 innings for the win – I am looking for a huge performance in this one. Chicago is on winning runs of 5-2 with Lilly on the road, 5-1 overall in his last six starts and 13-4 against the NL Central. Let’s lay the run line in this one as Chicago goes into Steeltown and steamrolls the Bucs with ease.
1 DIME CUBS RUN LINE
Tony Weston
So close, yet so far away. The Blue Jays play their asses off, but can’t pull through when we need it most.
Well, we’re moving past that and heading to Missouri where the Royals host the Rangers in a tilt that Texas will be victorious in.
Both teams have been atrocious lately with the Royals going 3-14 their last 17 games and going 1-7 their last eight games. Also, at home things haven’t been much better for Kansas City, who is 2-6 its last eight in front of the home crowd.
But the Rangers hold the edge against the Royals in what they’ve done to them this year. In six games against each other this season the Rangers are 4-2 and going back to last year Texas is 8-4 against Kansas City
The Rangers took two of three in a series in Kansas City back in June. Texas will make it three of four in K.C. with a strong win tonight.
Go with the Rangers on the road.
3♦ RANGERS
Matt Fargo
Chicago White Sox at Baltimore Orioles
Prediction: Chicago White Sox
This is a very solid price for a White Sox team that is battling for the playoffs. After Sunday?s win coupled with Minnesota?s loss in Anaheim, the White Sox are back in first place by a half-game over Minnesota. With a series at Boston on deck next weekend, this three-game set with the Orioles becomes even more important. Chicago has won six of its last eight games and it has been winning with a combination of solid pitching and hitting. It has averaged 7.6 rpg on offense while allowing just 3.6 rpg from the mound.
The Orioles were swept at home over the weekend by the Yankees and it is now just 1-5 on its current homestand. Pitching continues to letdown the Orioles as they have a 6.07 ERA over their last 10 games including a 7.69 ERA coming from the starters. They have allowed an average of 7.0 rpg over their last 14 games including an average of 8.0 rpg in the seven games played at home. The 4.91 season ERA is 2nd worst in the American League and 3rd worst in all of baseball.
Chris Richard was given a second chance in the rotation and it looks as though he may want to hold onto it. After posting a 10.38 ERA through his first three starts this season, he came back with a solid performance last time out. He held the Mariners to just five hits and a walk while not giving up a run through six innings in earning his first career Major League win. He now faces an Orioles team that is 6-18 in its last 24 home games against a left-handed starter.
Baltimore sends Chris Waters to the hill and it has been a struggle of late. Waters started his Major League career in spectacular fashion as he held the Angles to just one hit in eight innings as he picked up the victory. Since then however, he has not even been close to that same form as he has posted a 7.90 over his last three starts, none of which were even close to a quality outing. He will see the opposite of Richard as the White Sox are 12-4 in their last 16 games against a left-handed starter.
Chicago White Sox 1.5 Units
Sports Rumble Crew
Gina
Los Angeles Dodgers at Philadelphia Phillies
The Dodgers have struggle away from home, dropping their last five road games, six of their last eight. Also, they have lost six of Billingsley's last 8 road starts. Go with the Phillies at home for a four-game sweep of the Dodgers. Philadelphia is 7-1 in their last 8 games at Citizens Bank Park and have won seven of Brett Myers last 8 starts versus the Dodgers.
Philadelphia Phillies -120
Mr. A
Minnesota Twins (74-56) at Seattle Mariners (48-82)
Minnesota has won eight of their last 11 games and has beaten Seattle in four of the last five meetings. Meanwhile, the struggling Mariners have lost eight of their last 10 games, five of its last 7 at home.
Minnesota's Francisco Liriano (4-3, 4.24 ERA), is 3-0 with a 1.53 ERA in his last three starts. The lefthander is 2-1 with a 1.50 ERA in three career starts against Seattle.
Seattle's Miguel Batista (4-12, 6.55), is 0-0 with a 6.28 ERA in his last three starts. The right-hander is 2-1 with a 5.86 ERA in nine career outings, including five starts against Minnesota.
Minnesota has won seven of the last 10 games in Seattle and southpaw Francisco Liriano is currently pitching great, while Seattle’s Miguel Batista struggles. Take the Twins to grab their fifth straight victory over the Mariners.
Minnesota Twins -210
JB'S Computer Plays
Chicago Cubs -200
Arizona Diamondbacks -120
Los Angeles Angels -230
Sports Gambling Hotline
Colorado at SAN FRANCISCO
Tonight we play the UNDER in the Colorado-San Francisco contest, as Jeff Francis, and Matt Cain have been throwing the ball well of late.
Francis comes into this one off a 6 inning, 1 run, no decision at Los Angeles. Francis has been tough on the Giants, going 3-0 the last 3 times he has faced them, allowing just 5 runs his last 23 innings of work against them.
Matt Cain counters, and all the righty has done is allow 3 runs over his last 15 innings ot work for a 1-0 mark. Cain also worked 5 scoreless innings against Colorado in April for the win.
These teams have met 3 times this year in the City by the Bay, and ALL 3 meetings have stayed LOW.
We are playing the UNDER in this Rockies-Giants meeting.
Play the LOW.
5♦ UNDER
Karl Garrett
Cleveland at DETROIT
The Indians have been playing some of their best baseball of the season, as they come to Detroit having won 7 in a row.
Still, the G-Man is going to go with the Tigers who just wrapped up a winning weekend at Kansas City, and are actually 33-28 at home this season. The Tigers have also won 4 of the 6 games played against the Tribe at Comerica Park.
Armando Galarraga has been an Indian-killer this year, as Galarraga has won all 3 of his starts this year against the Indians, working 18 innings while allowing 7 runs to score. Galarraga is up to 12-4 on the year, and has won his last 3 starts, with the Tigers going 16-6 when he is on the mound.
Zach Johnson will counter for the Indians, and thus far he hasn't fooled many batters in his brief call up with the big club, as he has worked 12 innings, allowing 15 hits, and 7 earned runs.
Have to believe the Tigers are going to take care of business with their "ace" on the hill.
Take Detroit on the RUN LINE, as Galarraga takes care of business.
1♦ DETROIT RUN LINE
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Colorado Rockies vs. San Francisco Giants over 3 in 1st 5 INN
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Minnesota Twins vs. Seattle Mariners over 4 in 1st 5INN
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Kansas City Royals