SPORTS ADVISORS
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Tampa Bay (29-29) at N.Y. Yankees (33-23)
The Rays wrap up a three-game set in Yankee Stadium with Andy Sonnanstine (4-5, 7.07 ERA) taking the ball against Yankees’ veteran southpaw Andy Pettitte (5-2, 4.33).
New York scored three runs in the bottom the eighth inning Sunday and beat Tampa Bay 4-3 on after losing Saturday’s opener 9-7. With yesterday’s win, the Yankees snapped a three-game home losing streak to the Rays.
Tampa Bay is just 1-6 in its last seven road games and 2-11 in its last 13 series Game 3s. The Rays are also in a 70-147 funk on the road against teams with a winning record. Conversely, New York is on positive runs of 18-6 overall, 11-4 at home, 46-31 in Game 3 of a series, 8-2 against right-handed starters and 6-1 against the A.L. East, but it is just 6-13 in its last 19 Monday outings.
Tampa Bay is still 5-3 against the Bronx Bombers this season, including 4-1 in the last five. However, the Yankees are still 54-24 in the last 78 meetings in New York, and they are 15-6 in Pettitte’s last 21 starts against the Rays.
Tampa Bay is 5-2 in Sonnanstine’s last seven outings, including Tuesday’s 6-2 victory at home against the Royals when he yielded the two runs on six hits in 6 2/3 innings. The last time Sonnanstine pitched on the highway was May 27 when he got rocked in Cleveland for eight runs on nine hits in three innings of a 12-7 loss, falling to 1-5 with a 9.00 ERA in seven road starts this season.
Sonnanstine has already split two games with the Yankees this season, giving up a combined four runs on 10 hits in 12 1/3 innings (2.92 ERA). On May 6 he went to New York and allowed two runs on six hits in 7 1/3 innings, getting a no-decision in the Rays’ 4-3 victory. Tampa is just 2-6 in Sonnanstine’s last eight road starts dating to last season.
Pettitte lost to the Rangers on Wednesday, allowing four runs on seven hits in five innings of a 4-2 loss, snapping a four-game New York winning streak with the veteran on the hill. New York is 15-5 in Pettitte’s last 20 Monday starts and 72-34 in his last 106 home outings, where the lefty is 2-1 with a 5.79 ERA in six contests this season.
Pettitte pitched against the Rays on May 7 and gave up five runs on nine hits in six innings of an 8-6 Yankees’ loss. He’s allowed three runs or more in eight of his last nine appearances against the Rays dating back to 2007.
The Rays have gone over the total in four of Sonnanstine’s last five starts overall but they’ve stayed under the total in seven of his last nine against teams with a winning record. It’s been all “unders” for the Yankees with Pettitte pitching, including 20-17-1 in his last 58 overall, 19-9-1 in his last 29 at home and 17-7-1 when he’s faced the A.L. East. The under is also on streaks of 6-1 when Pettitte has faced the Rays and 8-3 when he’s seen them in New York.
For Tampa Bay as a team, the under is 7-1-1 in its last nine overall, but the “over” is 8-3 in its last 11 on the highway and 4-1 in its last five on Monday. The Yankees have topped the total in nine of their last 14 Monday games and 10 of their last 16 at home against a right-handed starter. Finally, in this rivalry, the over is 9-4 in the last 13 clashes overall and 4-2 in the last six in the Big Apple.
ATS ADVANTAGE: N.Y. YANKEES
Toronto (32-27) at Texas (33-23)
The Blue Jays open a brief four-game road trip in Texas with Casey Janssen (1-2, 5.82 ERA) taking the mound against the Rangers’ Scott Feldman (5-0, 3.79) at Rangers Ballpark..
Toronto completed a nine-game homestand with Sunday’s 4-0 win over the Royals behind another complete-game effort from ace Roy Halladay. The Blue Jays went 5-4 on the homestand but enter this contest having lost nine straight on the highway. Meanwhile, Texas took two of three in Boston over the weekend, including Sunday’s 6-3 upset victory.
Toronto is just 3-13 in its last 16 roadies (including the ongoing nine-game losing skid) and 3-8 in its last 11 against teams with a winning record. Conversely, the Rangers are 12-3 in their last 15 at home, 11-4 in their last 15 series openers and 7-2 in their last nine at home against right-handed pitching.
Texas has dominated the series in the Lone Star State, winning 24 of the last 33 meetings.
Janssen is making just his fourth start of the season and he’s allowed three runs or more in each of the first three, including Wednesday when he got tagged for five runs on seven hits in four innings of an 8-1 loss to the Angels. The right-hander hasn’t faced the Rangers since 2006 when he lost to them twice, allowing a combined 10 runs (nine earned) on 13 hits in 10 innings of work. Toronto is 1-6 in Janssen’s last seven starts overall, 0-5 in his last five against A.L. West teams and 0-4 in his last four roadies (0-1 on the highway this year)..
The Rangers are 7-1 in Feldman’s eight outings this season, including winning the last six in a row. He’s held the opposition to three runs or less in all eight of his starts this season and gave up two runs on five hits in 6 1/3 innings in New York on Wednesday as the Rangers beat the Yankees 4-2. The right-hander is 1-0 with a 4.03 ERA in six appearances (four starts) at home.
Feldman faced the Blue Jays twice at home last season and lost both contests while allowing seven runs on 13 hits in 11 1/3 innings (5.56 ERA). Texas is 3-0 in Feldman’s last three home starts after going 1-10 in his previous 11 at Rangers Ballpark.
The Blue Jays have stayed under the total in four of Janssen’s last six starts overall and five straight when he faces teams with a winning record. With Feldman on the hill, the Rangers are on a plethora of “under” runs as well, including 20-6 overall, 5-0 at home, 8-1 against the A.L. East and 4-0 when he gets four days of rest.
As a team, Toronto is on “under” streaks of 14-6 on Mondays, 5-2 on the road and 4-1 on the highway against right-handed pitching. Texas has topped the total in 19 of its last 29 Monday games, but otherwise is on “under” runs of 20-7-1 overall, 4-1-1 at home, 10-3-1 against teams with winning records and 12-4-1 against right-handed starters.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
DUNKEL
Detroit at Chicago White Sox (Game 2)
Detroit's Jeremy Bonderman makes his first start of the season, but faces a Chicago team that is 5-1 in its last 6 games as an underdog. The White Sox are the pick (+120) according to Dunkel, which has Chicago favored by 1. Dunkel Pick: Chicago White Sox (+120).
Game 951-952: Colorado at St. Louis
Dunkel Ratings: Colorado (Marquis) 15.100; St. Louis (Thompson) 15.237
Dunkel Line: St. Louis by 1/2; 9 1/2
Vegas Line: St. Louis (-125); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: St. Louis (-125); Over
Game 953-954: San Francisco at Florida
Dunkel Ratings: San Francisco (Johnson) 16.845; Florida (West) 15.669
Dunkel Line: San Francisco by 1; 8
Vegas Line: Florida (-125); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: San Francisco (+115); Under
Game 955-956: Pittsburgh at Atlanta
Dunkel Ratings: Pittsburgh (Duke) 14.413; Atlanta (Kawakami) 15.658
Dunkel Line: Atlanta by 1; 9 1/2
Vegas Line: Atlanta (-145); 8
Dunkel Pick: Atlanta (-145); Over
Game 957-958: Arizona at San Diego
Dunkel Ratings: Arizona (Garland) 14.718; San Diego (Peavy) 13.970
Dunkel Line: Arizona by 1/2; 8
Vegas Line: San Diego (-185); 7
Dunkel Pick: Arizona (+175); Over
Game 959-960: Tampa Bay at NY Yankees
Dunkel Ratings: Tampa Bay (Sonnanstine) 16.281; NY Yankees (Pettitte) 17.807
Dunkel Line: NY Yankees by 1 1/2; 11 1/2
Vegas Line: NY Yankees (-155); 11
Dunkel Pick: NY Yankees (-155); Over
Game 961-962: Toronto at Texas
Dunkel Ratings: Toronto (Janssen) 14.962; Texas (Feldman) 15.780
Dunkel Line: Texas by 1; 10
Vegas Line: Texas (-155); 10 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Texas (-155); Under
Game 963-964: Detroit at Chicago White Sox
Dunkel Ratings: Detroit (Bonderman) 14.421; White Sox (Contreras) 15.375
Dunkel Line: Chicago White Sox by 1; 9
Vegas Line: Detroit (-130); 10
Dunkel Pick: Chicago White Sox (+120); Under
Game 965-966: Minnesota at Oakland
Dunkel Ratings: Minnesota (Swarzak) 15.466; Oakland (Outman) 16.666
Dunkel Line: Oakland by 1; 7
Vegas Line: Oakland (-130); 8
Dunkel Pick: Oakland (-130); Under
Game 967-968: Detroit at Chicago White Sox
Dunkel Ratings: Detroit (Galarraga) 15.229; White Sox (Richard) 14.274
Dunkel Line: Detroit by 1; 9
Vegas Line: Chicago White Sox (-140); 10
Dunkel Pick: Detroit (+130); Under
Scott Spreitzer
San Francisco Giants at Florida Marlins
I'm laying the price with the Marlins on Monday. This looks like a classic throw-away game for the Giants. They didn’t even know who was going to pitch for them as of late Sunday! The team has to travel after the game for a road divisional series against Arizona that begins Tuesday. I’ve seen this time and time again over the years. Whenever a West Coast team is about to leave the East Coast for a divisional game, they will often go through the motions. This may be one of the lowest priority game for the Giants this season! Florida stays at home to play St. Louis Tuesday, and will bring their usual intensity. Young Sean West has pitched well so far (3.31 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in three starts). He’s looking for his first career win. I think he’ll get it tonight against a visiting team that’s been poor on the road anyway, and has every reason to "get out of Dodge" quickly this evening to get ready for a divisional series. Big motivational edges for an affordable home favorite. The Marlins minus the price is the play.
Play on: Florida
Jimmy The Moose
Toronto Blue Jays at Texas Rangers
Play: Under
The under is 4-1 in the Jays last 5 road games vs. a right-handed starter. In their last 8 games as a road dog the under is 6-2. Toronto has played the under in 5 of their last 7 road games. The under is 0-2 in Janssen's starts this season. The under is 4-1-1 in the Rangers last 6 home games. In their last 14 games vs. a team with a winning record the under is 10-3-1. The under is 20-7-1 in their last 28 overall. The under is 5-0 in Feldman's last 5 home starts. All 8 of his starts this season have played under the total. Play the under.
Rob Vinciletti
Minnesota Twins vs. Oakland Athletics
Play: Under 8
On Monday the free play is on the Under in the Oakland-Minnesota game.Rotation numbers 965/66 at 10:05 eastern.Oakland has gone under in 5 of 6 games as a home favorite in this range,while the Twins have gone under in 16 of their 22 road games,including 5 of 7 as a road dog in this range.Both teams have excellent home to road bullpens.In this series 11 of the last 17 have gone under the total.The A/S send J.Outman to the hill on Monday and he has been solid in his home starts and even better in his last 3.Outman is pitching to a 2.57 era over his last few starts, all of them staying under the total.He will be aided by a Twins offense that has been anemic in the past 7 games averaging just 3.2 runs per game.The Twins will send A.Swarzak to the mound and he will look to get back to the form he had in his first 2 starts.
Red Dog Sports
Arizona vs. San Diego
Play Over 7
There have been 8 overs, 3 unders and a push in the Padres last 12 games. Jon Garland has an ERA of 7.36 in his last 3 starts while Jake Peavy's ERA over that span is 5.40. Look for the over to cash on Monday night!
Bobby Maxwell
Toronto at TEXAS -140
Improved to 7-2 with our last nine FREE selections on Sunday when the Phillies got the job done in Los Angeles against the Dodgers. Tonight we'll improve on that record as we go with the Rangers at home against the Blue Jays.
Texas returns home off a winning weekend at Fenway Park in Boston where they took two of three from the Red Sox and they get to face a team that has lost nine straight on the road. Easy call here, don't worry about the chalk and play the Rangers.
Toronto scored a 4-0 win on Sunday but they are tough as long as Roy Halladay is pitching. Anybody else on the hill and they are suspect. Tonight it's Casey Janssen (1-2, 5.82 ERA) going for the Blue Jays and he's making just his fourth start of the season. he's allowed three runs or more in each of the first three, including Wednesday when the Angels got him for five runs on seven hits in four innings of an 8-1 loss.
Toronto is just 1-6 in Janssen's last seven starts overall and 0-5 in his last five against A.L. West opposition.
On the other side it's Scott Feldman (5-0, 3.79) getting the start for the Rangers and they have won all but one of his outings this year, including six straight. He's held the opponents to three runs or less in all eight of his starts and on Wednesday he held the Yankees to two runs on five hits in 6.1 innings of a 4-2 victory.
This is really a no-brainer tonight. We're going to play the Rangers at home and it should be a laugher when all is said and done.
2♦ TEXAS
Chris Jordan
Detroit at CHICAGO, Game 2
Nice little start to this series between AL Central rivals, as they play doubleheader. We’re going to play the second game of the doubleheader Over the posted number, as they should be nice and warmed up for the nightcap.
Chicago will be teeing off on Detroit’s Jeremy Bonderman, who makes his first start since June 1 of last year, as spent the down time on the disabled list following surgery to correct a blood clot. He’s made four rehab starts, and according to reports out of Motown, the right-hander’s velocity hasn't returned to where it was prior to the injury, as his fastball is topping out at 90; it once hit 95. That being said, a White Sox team that will have had nine innings of pitches to look at will have Bonderman scouted perfectly, and should expect plenty changeup, something he’s not used to dominating his repertoire. When you’re expecting to see a lot of changes, it helps out a lot.
On the other hand, Detroit should be able to keep pace against right-hander Jose Contreras, who is 05 with an 8.19 ERA on the year. He makes his return to the White Sox rotation after being optioned to Triple-A Charlotte last month after he declined to come out of the bullpen. Though the demotion was considered a success, this is an entirely different ball game, and I see him struggling to keep the pill in the ball park in his first start back. Play this one high.
1♦ OVER
DAVE COKIN
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS / SAN DIEGO PADRES
Take ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
Jake Peavy is apparently over his upper respiratory infection and gets the start tonight for the Padres. But I just cannot see Peavy as this much chalk. Jon Garland has actually been just fine on the road for the D-Backs, and it's not like Peavy has been an automatic win at Petco this season. Both bullpens are pretty much toast after yesterday's marathon and if Peavy is less than 100% after being sick, that could be a factor for the Padres. I think this is pretty much a toss-up, so at the price Arizona is worth backing.
JIM FEIST
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS / FLORIDA MARLINS
Take SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
Southpaw veteran Randy Johnson brings his 300 career wins to the mound with him on Monday as he faces Florida's Sean West who has zero wins so far in his career. Johnson still has some sizzle left in his arm, evidenced by his 56 KO's this year versus just 21 walks. Johnson is 5-4 with a 5.12 ERA so batters are catching up with him more and more as the years go by. Johnson has had little trouble in his career against the fish with a lifetime 8-1 record and 1.78 ERA. Sean West has just three games under his young belt and he's 0-1 with a 3.31ERA. Old against new, veteran against rookie... should be a interesting matchup. We still think the veteran has something left in that arm so we'll take the Giants here on Monday as a small dog.
Jr Tips
MINNESOTA vs. OAKLAND
Excellent starting pitching has helped pace the Oakland Athletics during their longest winning streak of the season and rookie Josh Outman hopes to continue that success tonight as the A's look for a seventh straight victory at home against the Minnesota Twins. Oakland (25-30) faces Minnesota (28-30) for the first time this season after the teams split 10 games in 2008, with the A's going 4-3 at home.The Twins look to avoid a third straight loss after falling 4-2 at Seattle on Sunday. Minnesota, which is 7-18 away from home, allowed seven runs in their last series, but only scored five. The Twins went 2 for 24 with runners in scoring position and are not hitting with men on base. Anthony Swarzak (1-2, 4.76) makes his fourth career start for the Twins after not allowing a run in his first 11 major league innings, but the right-hander has given up nine over his last six. Swarzak was tagged for six runs and nine hits in four innings of a 10-1 loss to Cleveland on Wednesday. The A's are the hot team right now in the AL and their stellar stating pitcher should continue tonight against this Twins struggling offense.
TAKE OAKLAND-130
Scott Rickenbach
Chicago White Sox vs Detroit (GAME ONE)
Play Under
The Tigers Armando Galarraga appears as if he might be back on track. He's last seven innings and allowed just three earned runs in each of his last two starts. His 5.11 ERA in his career outings against the White Sox is a little deceiving as he's held them to a .217 BAA. Also, the White Sox just aren't hitting at all right now. Chicago is hitting just .189 so far on this homestand and they've been outscored 35 to 17 in losing five of their last seven. The White Sox lineup is heavy on right-handed lumber and that is significant here as Galarraga has held right-handed hitters to a .198 BAA in his career. Also, the Tigers right-hander has a .215 BAA in his career appearances on the road. In day games he's a sparkling 9-2 with a 2.76 ERA and he's been hit at a miniscule .217 clip under the sun.
Combining these solid factors favoring Galarraga as well as the current struggles of the White Sox at the plate, you can see why we're not expecting much from the Chicago offense here in Game One. However, the Tigers aren't likely to score much either and that's why our recommended opinion here is the under. Yes, Detroit's bats finally woke up yesterday but the Tigers had previously scored just 2.67 runs per game in their last 9 games! This afternoon they'll be facing Clayton Richard of the White Sox. The Chicago southpaw is coming off of a rough start versus Oakland but look at his three prior starts. During his hot stretch, Richard allowed just three earned runs and only 12 hits in 20 innings of dazzling work! He'll be right back on form today after being hurt by the long ball against the A's in his last start. The Tigers have only seen Richard once and it was for just a third of an innings so, in their first real look at the talented southpaw it should be a struggle for the Detroit sticks. Consider a small play on UNDER the total in Game One of the DET/CWS double-header on Monday.
Sports Gambling Hotline
Minnesota at OAKLAND -130
Tonight we back the streaking A's to open with a win over the Twins.
Oakland's winning streak is now at 6 in a row, and they have moved over .500 at home at 14-13 for the season.
Josh Outman is a perfect 3-0 for the year, and his ERA is a respectable 3.14.
His counterpart Anthony Swarzak has been drilled his last 2 starts, allowing 9 runs over his last 10 innings of work for an 0-2 mark.
Minnesota dropped their last pair of games at Safeco Field, and they are now just 7-18 away from home. The Twins are also 4-6 the last 2 seasons at Oakland.
Play on the A's to make it 7 in a row.
3♦ OAKLAND
Jimmy Boyd
1 Unit on NY Yankees -156
I'll back the Yankees at home tonight to pick up the series win against the Rays. This play is a fade on the Rays' Andy Sonnanstine, who is 1-5 on the road with an ERA of 9.00 this season. Pettitte has shown that he still has some life in his arm as the Yankees are 8-3 in his starts this season. Tampa Bay has one of the best offensive lineups in baseball, but it has struggled against southpaw starters this season at just 8-13 against them. In fact, the Rays are 9-21 in their last 30 road games vs. a left-handed starter. It also works against the Rays that Sonnanstine had a good outing last time out as they are 0-6 in his last 6 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance. Bet the Yankees.
Karl Garrett
Toronto at TEXAS -145
American League tonight, and I will lay the home wood with the Rangers who are back home after playing in both New York, and Boston last week.
The Rangers sure look like they are for real, and now they get to take on another contender from the AL East, as the Blue Jays and their 11-17 road record come to Arlington.
Texas has gone 18-9 at home this year, and starter Scott Feldman sports a perfect 5-0 mark coming into this start with a sparkling 2.63 season ERA!
Casey Janssen counters with just a 1-2 ledger, and an ERA close to 6.
G-Man gets the feeling the Texas lumber will do some damage tonight to Janssen, and escalate his ERA a little more.
Take Texas.
2♦ TEXAS