Matt Rivers
For Monday take the coin back with the Diamondbacks.
This is far from a great slate making this comp play far from a great play but the way Jon Garland has all of a sudden started pitching why not take back this price on the visitors!?!?!
If Jake Peavy is on then that certainly could spell trouble for what has been an underachieving Arizona club but the Padres truly do not hit a lick besides Adrian Gonzalez and after getting blasted by the Phillies last time out I can see Peavy lose another game today. They did say that the San Diego righthander was sick in that start so who knows if he has suffered from the sickness some more throwing him out of a rhythm? It's certainly worth it here to find out.
Garland looked great in that last start matching Chad Billingsley goosegg for goosegg in the 1-0 loss. When this guy is on he also can be very very good and in this vast ballpark known as PETCO and up against this terrible Padres offense I have to believe that the quality Garland will show up once again.
Runs should be at a premium making this game fairly even and in the end I'll take my chances with this underdog.
Tony Weston
The Mets cruise to an easy win to give us Comp Play winner No. 6 in a row yesterday. We’re making it 7 straight tonight as we’re taking the Pirates on the road at the Braves.
The Pirates come into tonight’s game having played solid ball lately, having won 4 of their last 6 games overall and having gone 6-1 their last 7 games against the National League East.
The Braves, on the other hand, have had their share of struggles lately, having lost 8 of their last 12 games overall, including 3 of their last 4.
Against Pittsburgh the Braves have lost 2 of 3 this season and going back to last year are just 3-7 against the Pirates. In Atlanta, the Pirates have won 2 of their last 3 and will win another tonight.
Take the Pirates on the road in this one.
3♦ PIRATES
VEGAS EXPERTS
Pittsburgh Pirates at Atlanta Braves
Pittsburgh starter Zach Duke has six career starts against the Braves in his career and five of those have gone UNDER the total. The left-hander has been pitching very well this season despite his win/loss record. His ERA on the year is just 2.62 in 79 innings of work. Atlanta rookie Kenshin Kawakami has pitched nearly as good in his last three starts allowing just six earned runs in 20 and 2/3 innings. The Braves are averaging just 3.9 runs per game at home this season. Go with the UNDER here.
Play on: UNDER
Vernon Croy
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Atlanta Braves
Play: Atlanta Braves
This pick falls into one of my top MLB systems and Braves starter Kenshin Kawakami (3-6, 4.63) has not given up more than 3 earned runs in 6 straight starts. Kawakami has pitched solid over his last 3 starts with an ERA of just 2.61 while lasting an average of 6.9 innings per start and the Pirates have never faced him before so I look for an impressive start from Kawakami tonight. The Pirates are just 4-17 in Zach Duke's (6-4, 2.62 ERA) last 21 road starts as a dog of +110 to +150 and the Pirates are just 3-11 in their last 14 road games against a right hand starter. The Pirates are just 9-26 in their last 35 trips to Atlanta and the Braves are 23-11 in their last 34 home games against a team that has a losing record on the road below .400. Take the Atlanta Braves
LT Profits
Chicago White Sox -105 (Game #2)
This selection is for Game 2 of the day/night doubleheader between the Detroit Tigers and the Chicago White Sox, which marks the return of Jeremy Bonderman for the Tigers.
We feel Bonderman is a bad risk here, as he has not pitched in the Major Leagues since June 1 of last year, when it was determined that he needed major shoulder surgery. That is the worst injury imaginable for a power pitcher, and Bonderman already admitted last week that he will have to rely on more off-speed pitches, as it is conceivable that his arm strength will never be what it once was. Thus, he basically needs to learn how to pitch instead of blowing batters away.
Now Jose Contreras is not exactly overwhelming anyone either, and in fact, he is winless at 0-5 with an 8.19 ERA. He was demoted to the minors last month, and is getting recalled to take this start. That said, Contreras did have success in the majors in the past, and he should he motivated by the fact that he knows he needs a very good effort here to ensure that this is not a one-shot deal.
Even if Contreras struggles again and this becomes a battle of the bullpens, the White Sox he been much stronger in that area this season, and Chicago has also been the better offensive team over the last 10 games. Thus, if we consider the starting pitchers a wash, the Sox still get the call at home at this cheap price.
Pick: White Sox -105 (Game #2)
MTi Sports
Minnesota Twins at Oakland Athletics
Prediction: Oakland Athletics
The Athletics are on a roll and they are very tough to slow down in this spot. Oakland is 7-0 at home when they are off a win in which they never trailed. Minnesota is not much for breaking a team?s winning streak, as they are 0-5 on the road vs a team that has won at least their last three games. In addition, the Twins are 4-25 on the road vs a team that has won at least their last four games, including 0-10 their last ten and 0-4 this season.
GINA
San Francisco Giants at Florida Marlins
Go with San Francisco with veteran Randy Johnson on the hill. The lefty is 2-0 with a 1.04 ERA with 14 strikeouts in his last three starts and has pitched very successful against the Marlins, 8-1 with a 1.78 ERA in 13 career starts. The Giants have won four of the last 5 meetings versus the Marlins and eight of the last 11 in Florida.
San Francisco Giants +105
Mr A
San Francisco Giants +105
Texas Rangers 155
MLB Computer Picks
New York Yankees -160
Texas Rangers -155
Oakland Athletics -135
John Ryan
Colorado Rockies vs. St Louis Cardinals
Play: Colorado Rockies
Ai Simulator 3* graded play on Colorado as they face St. louis slated to start at 2:05 EST. Supporting this graded play is a strong system that has posted a 62-28 mark making 69% winners and 33.2 units in profits since 1997. Play against home teams when the money line is +125 to -125 after 2 straight games where they stranded 5 or less runners on base and after a game where the bullpen was hit hard for 4 or more earned runs. Colorado on a very nice winning run noting they are 8-1 (+8.7 Units) against the money line when playing against a good team sporting a win percentage of 54% to 62% this season. Take Colorado.
Craig Trapp
Tampa Bay Rays vs. New York Yankees
Play: New York Yankees
Records
Tampa Bay Rays 29-29, 13-18 away (Sonnanstine 4-5, 7.07 ERA)
New York Yankees 33-23, 17-11 home (Pettitte 5-2, 4.33 ERA)
Betting Trends
-Rays are 2-6 in Sonnanstines last 8 road starts.
-Rays are 1-6 in their last 7 road games.
-Yankees are 8-2 in their last 10 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
-Rays are 24-54 in the last 78 meetings in New York.
-Yankees are 15-6 in Pettittes last 21 starts vs. Rays.
Pettitte historically has dominated TB, but this year he was not sharp in an early season no decision. Pettitte is 15-4 with a 3.85 ERA in 26 career starts against the Rays but is 2-3 with a 4.95 ERA in the last seven matchups. Opposing him for TB will be Sonnansine who has been very up and down all year. His last five starts he has given up 23 runs over 25 innings and not got out of the sixth inning one time. This one could be a very high scoring game and when it comes to hitting NYY definately have the advantage. This one might not be a pretty pithcing matchup but will be a NYY win no matter. SCORE: NYY 9 - TB 6
Tom Freese
Arizona at San Diego
Arizona is 4-1 UNDER their last 5 road games and they are 4-0-1 UNDER in the last 5 road starts made by Jon Garland. The Diamondbacks are 4-1 UNDER after allowing 5 or more runs in their last game. San Diego is 39-18 UNDER their last 57 games as home favorites and they are 19-7 UNDER in the last 26 home starts made by Jake Peavy. The Padres are 6-2 UNDER their last 8 games as favorites. PLAY ON 'UNDER' (Peavy vs. Garland)
Drew Gordon
Minnesota at OAKLAND -135
I'n now on a 9-3 roll with my L12 Free Plays, and for Monday, let's take a look at the Minnesota/Oakland match up...
A's continued to roll, shutting out the Orioles 3-0 Sunday... Look for more of the same tonight, as the steady Josh Outman gets the nod in this one. A's Outman has been rock-solid thus far, going 3-0 with an excellent 3.02 ERA and has pitched 5 straight quality efforts (Oakland is 4-1 over that span)! He's 2-0 with an even better 2.57 ERA over his last 3 starts, and that's doesn't bode well for a road-weary Twins team.
He'll have the benefit of facing a Minnesota club that has not only struggled mightily on the road (7-18 away), but is aslo having some issues at the plate, scoring a total of just 5 runs in their previous series at Seattle. The root of their problem comes from their inability to convert, for example, going 2 of 24 with runners in scoring position at Seattle... That won't get any easier against Outman, you can count on that!
Another issue for the Twins is their own starter, Anthony Sawarzak, who got thoroughly exposed in his last start, allowing 6 runs on 9 hits over 4 innings against the Indians. He was great in his first two starts, but as we sometimes see with these young guns, they have a habit of being up-and-down, and right now, he's down. This will also be Swarzak's first Major League road start, and with the Athletics finally starting to put up some runs (38 runs over 5-game win streak), his chances for the bouce back are not looking good.
Bottom line, Athletics just broke out the brooms on the Orioles, and I say they continue their red-hot play behind a strong pitching edge here tonight. Outman has been rock-solid, and he'll get more than enough run support as his offense adds to Swarzak's misery tonight. Twins have been awful on the road, and I just don't see that trend ending tonight. A's roll!
Take Oakland behind Outman over Minnesota and Swarzak in this MLB match up.
2♦ OAKLAND
Frank Jordan
Arizona D-Backs vs. San Diego Padres
Play: San Diego Padres
Arizona is 25-32 and started the season with so many home games, but couldn't capitalize. Now they continue to play a ton of road games which may not be the worse thing as they are playing decent on the road with a .500 record at 13-13. San Diego is 26-30 overall, but at home playing good ball with an 18-11 record. The Padres are sending Jake Peavy to the hill who has had his struggles with a 5-6 record and an era just over 4. Arizona counters with 4-5 Jon Garland who has an era over 5 and getting no run support. Look for Jake Peavy to pitch well and get his 4th win in his last 5 starts. Play San Diego
Free Selection from Arthur Ralph Sports
274 - 178 run 60 % 19-7 run here
Monday pick: San Deigo Padres
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Mike Wynn
Free Play:
MLB Oakland w/Outman -135 Over Minnesota
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EZWINNER'S FREE SELECTION
Game: Pittsburgh Pirates @ Atlanta Braves
(955) Pittsburgh Pirates +$132
(Listing Duke and Kawakami)
The Pirates starting pitcher Zach Duke is fresh off
of a win over the Mets and Johan Santana. While not
a strikeout artist, Duke is finally starting to live up to
the potential and hype he had in the minors and his
rookie season. In six out of his last seven starts Duke
has pitched into the 7th inning or later. For the Braves,
starting pitcher Kenshin Kawakami has been very
inconsistent. Kawakami is only 3-6 this season with
a ERA approaching 5 and a WHIP near 1.5. He also
ranks among the leaders in least run support and I
don't look for that bad luck to change in this game. I
like Pittsburgh to pick up the win here.
2009 Free Selections Record 83-71 (53.9%)
Rocketman
San Francisco Giants vs. Florida Marlins
Play: San Francisco Giants
San Francisco is 29-26 on the season while Florida comes in with a 27-31 record this year. San Francisco is 128-75 since 1997 when playing on Monday. San Francisco has won 4 of their last 5 games overall. Florida bullpen has a 5.49 ERA at home this year. Randy Johnson is 2-0 with a 1.04 ERA in his last 3 starts. Sean West is 0-1 overall this year. San Francisco is 7-3 at Florida the past 3 years. Johnson is 8-1 with a 1.78 ERA overall vs Florida since 1997. We'll recommend a small play on San Francisco tonight!