Larry Ness
Colorado Rockies @ San Francisco Giants
PICK: San Francisco Giants
Don't look now but the Giants have won seven of their last eight games, including five in a row. Meanwhile, the Rockies have won seven of nine, averaging just under six runs per game. The pitching matchup is Jeff Francis vs Matt Cain. Last year, these two pitchers were on opposite ends of the 'food chain.' Francis went 17-9 in the regular season, as the Rockies went 22-12 (plus-$1,094) in his starts, making him MLB's second-biggest "money-maker" among starters. As for Cain, he pitched well in '08, allowing 173 hits in 200 innings, while posting a solid 3.64 ERA (Francis' ERA was 4.22). However, the Giants lost 23 of his 32 starts and at minus-$1,803 vs the moneyline, was MLB's biggest "money-burner." Cain has again pitched well in '08 (153 hits allowed in 176.2 IP / 3.52 ERA) but he's still just 8-9 and the Giants are 12-15 (minus-$219) in his starts. However, Cain has begun to "see a light at the end of the tunnel." He's 3-1 with a sparkling 1.83 ERA over his last six starts, with the Giants going 5-1. Meanwhile, Francis has had a miserable season, entering this game 3-8 with a 5.52 ERA in 20 starts (team is 7-13 and minus-$663). He's made 10 road starts in '08, going 1-3 with a 5.59 ERA (team is 3-7). It also won't build his confidence that the Rockies are 25-41 on the road this year (outscored by an average of 3.95 RPG-to-5.03) or that Colorado is 18-33 vs righties on the road, averaging 3.8 RPG. Take the Giants.
Gavazzi
2% SF Giants
2% Minny Twins
Wizard of Odds Guaranteed Selections
TOP RATED LATE STEAM BASEBALL WINNER
Chicago Cubs w/Lilly -185
WILD BILL
Pirates +180 (5 units)
Phillies -110 (5 units)
Mets -200 (5 units)
Padres-AZ Under 6½ (5 units)
Arizona -105 (5 units)
Giants-Rockies Under 7 (5 units)
Rockies +110 (5 units)
White Sox-Orioles Under 11½ (5 units)
Detroit -210 (5 units)
Twins-Mariners Over 8½ (5 units)
Twins -210 (5 units)
Seattle-Chargers Over 39½ (5 units)
Chargers -3 (5 units)
WUNDERDOG
Los Angeles Dodgers at Philadelphia
Pick: Philadelphia -111
Well you know what they say about payback. The Dodgers swept the Phillies just two short weeks ago in LA, and the Phillies are ready to return the favor. They have taken the first three games in this series and will start Brett Myers tonight. The Phillies have won six of seven with a staff ERA of 1.80 over those seven games. Myers appeared lost early in the year and even accepted a demotion to get his mechanics ironed out. Since his return he has been the Myers of old as he has made six starts pitching to a 1.94 ERA. The Dodgers’ offense is struggling right now scoring just 14 times in their last six games. This is a great spot for a rejuvenated pitcher and a team hungry to return a favor, and even lay claim to the lead in the NL East. We like the Phillies for the sweep.
Locksmith Sports
1 Unit on D-backs/Padres UNDER 6.5
I like the UNDER in this NL West pitcher's duel scheduled for Monday night. Peavy's ERA is a brilliant 2.84 and the Padres never bring run support behind him. The Under is 7-1-1 in Peavy's last 9 starts overall, 5-0 in Peavy's last 5 home starts vs. a team with a winning record, and 7-2 in the Padres last 9 home games. The 14-6 Haren has been a great addition to the D-backs and his 3.12 ERA is among the best in the league as well. Oddsmakers are begging for us to take the over with this line, but we won't take the bait.
CASH & PROFIT EXPERTS
TEXAS RANGERS vs KC ROYALS
Play: Kansas City Royals -132
SportsKingz
SAN DIEGO -5.5
Vegas Sports Experts
The VSE NFL Power Play for Monday is
10* Take Seattle (+6) over San Diego (NFL Power Play)
Seattle
· 12-3 ATS when playing in their 3rd pre-season game of the year
· 3-0 SU & ATS in pre-season coming off an OVER the total
· 3-1 SU & ATS in pre-season vs. AFC West Division Opponents
· Averaging 31 points a game and 425 yards in offense this pre-season
EZWINNERS
1 STAR: (904) PHILADELPHIA (-$105) over LA Dodgers
(Listing Myers only)
(Risking $105 to win $100)
1 STAR: (909) COLORADO (+$110) over San Francisco
(Listing Francis only)
(Risking $100 to win $110)
Matt Foust
Arizona Diamondbacks -105
The Diamondbacks are set to take on the Padres tonight in San Diego. Arizona has a three game lead in the NL West over the Dodgers and they will send Dan Haren to the mound tonight in hopes that he can give them a little more breathing room. The Padres have turned the NL West cellar into home and it doesn’t look like there will be a for sale sign up any time soon. Nevertheless, Jake Peavy will be trimming the bushes today to at least make things look esthetically pleasing.
We are going with the division leading Diamondbacks in this rivalry game and we are getting a good -105 price due to Peavy’s pitching ability.
Arizona starter Dan Haren has had some rough outing recently, including a five earned runs allowed tilt against the Padres in his last start. However, the D-backs are still 4-1 in those contests. Also, Arizona is 4-1 in Haren’s last five road starts where he has pitched much better. In Haren’s last five road outings he has allowed just eight earned runs and opponents have averaged just 3.2 runs per game.
Peavy has returned to his Cy Young form recently, except for being bombed by the Diamondbacks for five runs in five innings in his last start. But it does not seem to matter how well or bad he pitches because the Padres cannot score any runs. Consider that Peavy has given up just six earned runs in his last five home starts (1.2 per game) and that the Padres could only pull out a win in two of those games. And if San Diego does get a lead with Peavy or anybody else pitching, their fire starting bullpen will quickly give it away. This team is in last place for a reason.
This will probably be a fairly close game but look for the better Diamondbacks team to take the victory.
Things to consider: Jake Peavy has a career 4.88 ERA against Arizona and that San Diego is just 5-10 in night games that Peavy has started in 2008. Arizona has won five of the last seven games between these two in San Diego and seven of the last 10 at any location. San Diego is 5-10 in home games when the game total is six to seven runs. Arizona is 10-0 when the game total is seven runs or less.
Take the Diamondbacks -105
Jeff Scott Sports
3 UNIT PLAY
DETROIT RL (-115) over Cleveland
Armando Gallaraga has faced the Tribe 3 times this year and he is 3-0 with a 3.57 ERA in those starts, with the Cats outscoring Cleveland by 5.7 rpg in the 3 starts. Armando has had a nice year for the Tigers overall, going 12-4 with a 3.17 ERA, including a 4-2 mark with a 3.67 ERA at home. Detroit is 7-2 in his home starts and have outscored opponents by 2 rpg in the process. Tonight Armando has to face a Cleveland squad that has been hitting well of late as they are averaging 7.1 rpg in thier last 7 games, but a closers look of those numbers show 3 games in Texas and 3 home games vs the Royals in that stretch. Certainly not the kind of pitching or conditions they will be facing tonight. The Tribe has been outscored by 2 runs or more in 10 of their last 12 road losses and they have been outscored by 2 runs or more in all 4 losses in Detroit on the year. Zach Jackson has made just 2 starts on the yera and he is 0-0 with a 5.25 ERA in those starts, while he has a 2-1 record with a 6.15 ERA in his career on the road. Zach will be taking on a team that hits .298 and scores 5.6 rpg at home. Detroit also scores 5.2 rpg vs lefty starters and 5.6 rpg at night. Detroit is clearly the better team here, with the better starting pitcher and they should eaily win this one by 2+ runs.
2 UNIT PLAYS
ChiSox/ Baltimore Over 11.5
The Over is 5-1 in White Sox last 6 road games vs. a left-handed starter and 19-7-1 in White Sox last 27 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30, while the Over is 16-5-3 in Orioles last 24 home games vs. a left-handed starter and 23-9-3 in Orioles last 35 vs. a team with a winning record. Camden Yards is one of the best hitting parks in the league as it's ranked 3rd in OPS and Scoring (10.6 rpg) and over the last 18 games there an average of 12 rpg have been scored. Tonight's pitching matchup is indicative of a game that will put at least 15 runs on the board. Clayton Richard for the Sox has not pitched, as he has a 6.75 ERA in his 4 starts on the yeay, including a 9.90 ERA in his 2 road starts. Clayton's starts have averaged 12.8 rpg overall and 14 rpg on the road. Chris Waters has also had a rough go (ERA wise) in his 3 starts for the O's this year as he owns a 4.98 ERA overall and a 10.00 ERA at home. His starts overall have averaged 13.8 rpg, while his two home starts have put up 19.5 rpg. I know there is bad pitching on the mound, but you also need two offenses that can take advantage of it to get an Over with a line this high.The Sox have really been killing the ball lately as they have averaged 8.4 rpg and hit .311 in their last 7 games, with those 7 games averaging 12.4 rpg. The Orioles have been knocking the cover off the ball as well lately, as they come in hitting .315 and scoring 7.1 rpg in their last 10 games, with those 10 games averaging 13.3 rpg. Camden Yards is starting to resemble Ranger Stadium and with some horrible pitching and hot hitting I can't see how this game doesn't put 15+ runs on the board.
Oakland/ LA ANGELS Under 8
The Under is 24-10-3 in Angels last 37 games vs. a left-handed starter and 18-8-2 in Weavers last 28 starts vs. a team with a losing record, while the Under is 20-8-1 in Athletics last 29 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game and 25-7 in Athletics last 32 during game 1 of a series. Neither offense has been hitting very well of late as the A's come in hitting just .214 and scoring just 3 rpg in their last 10 games, while the Halos come in hitting just .246 and scoring 3.3 rpg in their last 10 games. The A's score just 4.2 rpg vs righty starters on the year, while the Angles put up just 4.4 rpg vs lefty starters. Dallas Braden does have a 4.53 ERA overall and a 4.66 ERA ERA on the road, but his starts have been low scoring as his overall starts have put up just 7 rpg, while his road starts have averaged just 6.5 rpg. Jered Weaver has pitched decently for the Halos on the year, with a 4.43 ERA overall and a 4.03 ERA at home. Jered also has a 2.75 ERA in 5 starts vs the A's, with his last 3 starts vs them averaging 5.7 rpg. The last 9 in this series has averaged just 7.8 rpg and with two struggling offense, I see another low scoring game here.
1 UNIT PLAYS
Arizona/ SAN DIEGO Under 6.5
The Under is 5-1 in Diamondbacks last 6 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game, while the Under is 13-4-2 in Padres last 19 during game 1 of a series and 14-5-2 in Padres last 21 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game. Last week these Danny Haren and Jake Peavey squared off in Arizona and both were hit hard, while the game put up 14 total runs. You can bet that both starters are angry and want some redemption here. Jake Peavey has pitched very well at home with a 1.42 ERA, while his home starts have averaged 5.1 rpg. Jale also owns a 1.29 ERA in his last 3 home starts vs the Pads, with those games averaging 6 rpg. The Padres don't hit well at home, as they have a .233 BA and score 3.4 rpg at Petco on the year. They also come in hitting just .235 and scoring 3 rpg in their last 7 games overall, plus they have scored just 2.8 rpg in Jake's home starts on the year. Danny Haren has pitched very well this year, with a 3.12 ERA overall and a 2.96 ERA on the road. Danny also has a 3.00 ERA in 6 starts vs the Padres. Arizona's offense struggles on the road scoring just 4.2 rpg and they should have problems getting going tonight vs Jake. Have ya ever seen a game where negative runs were scored. Not sure how that would happen, but you get the point. I'm expecting avery low scoring game in this one.
I ALSO LIKE
Texas +125 over KANSAS CITY
NFL
2 UNIT PLAY
San Diego/ Seattle Over 37
The Chargers have gone over in 6 orf their last 8 preseaon games, while Seattle has gone over in 8 of their last 9 tuneup games.These two teams have met here in the preseason the last 2 year and both games have gone over, with an average of 45.5 ppg being scored. Seattle's 2 games this year have averaged 53 ppg, while San Diego's lone home game put up 48 points. Last week the Chargers offense was held in check, but that was on the road and in San Diego's last 7 home preaseason games they have put up 25 ppg. Seattle's defense has allowed 21.5 ppg so far and in their last 5 road preseason games they have allowed 25.8 ppg. Seattle's offense has put points on the board this year as they have averaged 31.5 ppg in the two games, plus they have averaged 25.4 ppg in their last 7 road games in the preseason. This is the third game of the preseason and both teams will be playing their starters much longer and I see the offenses putting up some points in this one. Turner was not happy about last weeks offensive performance and you can bet they will be ready to explode tonight, while Seattle's offense should get points of their own vs a banged up Chargers defense. I so wanted to make a case for a play on my Chargers in this one, but I will go the safer route and that's the Over.
PlusLineSports
Minnesota vs Seattle
Minnesota -1.5
Bob Balfe
NFL Preseason Football
Seahawks +5.5 over Chargers
This game is very similar to last nights Bills winner. Charlie Frye will play most of the game for the Seahawks. I will take any QB who was once a starter in this league during the preseason. Frye will have time to get in a groove. The Chargers have their own problems with Shawne Merriman possibly being out for the season or maybe his career. When a team gets news of a big injury in the preseason they tend to put the rest of their preseason games on auto pilot. The Chargers are a deep team and probably already know who their starters and backups are. Last week San Diego couldn't even score a TD against the Rams. Look for the Seahawks to get the cover.
Major League Baseball
Giants -120 over Rockies
Cain/Francis
Winners Edge
Arizona D-Backs - 110 , 2 units
Rangers/Royals under 9.5 -110 , 2 units