Alex Smart
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Prediction: Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona DBacks will send starter Dan Haren (6-4, 3.40 ERA) to the hill to face the Pittsburgh Pirates in PNC Park tonight. The right hander has only gone less than 7 innings in only one start this season , and continues to be stable force in his teams rotation. The Pittsburgh Pirates will return fire with a hurler (Gorzelanny ) that is at the opposite end of the performance spectrum, as is evident by a 4-5 record and a bloated 7.22 ERA on the season, which includes, a ugly looking ,9.25 ERA in his L3 starts. Bottom line: The DBacks , picked up a win here last night by a 3-1 count, bucking a negative run that had seen them lose 8 of their previous 10 games. Look for DBacks to use the momentum of last night wins as a spring board to another positive effort this evening. Final notes & Key Trends: Arizona has won 11 of the L15 meetings in this series. Play on Arizona
DUNKEL
MLB
St. Louis at Houston
The Cardinals look to bounce back from last night's loss in Houston and come into the contest with a 5-1 record on the road when the line is between -100 and -125. St. Louis is the pick (-105) according to Dunkel, which has the Cardinals favored by 1. Dunkel Pick: St. Louis (-105). Here are all of today's games.
SATURDAY, JUNE 7
Game 901-902: Chicago Cubs at LA Dodgers
Dunkel Ratings: Cubs (Zambrano) 14.612; LA Dodgers (Lowe) 15.590
Dunkel Line: LA Dodgers by 1; 7
Vegas Line: Chicago Cubs (-125); 7 1/2
Dunkel Pick: LA Dodgers (+115); Under
Game 903-904: Arizona at Pittsburgh
Dunkel Ratings: Arizona (Haren) 15.214; Pittsburgh (Gorzelanny) 14.126
Dunkel Line: Arizona by 1; 7 1/2
Vegas Line: Arizona (-140); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Arizona (-140); Under
Game 905-906: St. Louis at Houston
Dunkel Ratings: St. Louis (Wainwright) 15.334; Houston (Chacon) 14.408
Dunkel Line: St. Louis by 1; 9
Vegas Line: St. Louis (-105); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: St. Louis (-105); Over
Game 907-908: San Francisco at Washington
Dunkel Ratings: San Francisco (Sanchez) 14.195; Washington (Hill) 15.180
Dunkel Line: Washington by 1; 9
Vegas Line: Washington (-130); 8
Dunkel Pick: Washington (-130); Over
Game 909-910: Philadelphia at Atlanta
Dunkel Ratings: Philadelphia (Kendrick) 15.493; Atlanta (Reyes) 16.199
Dunkel Line: Atlanta by 1; 9
Vegas Line: Atlanta (-115); 10
Dunkel Pick: Atlanta (-115); Under
Game 911-912: Cincinnati at Florida
Dunkel Ratings: Cincinnati (Arroyo) 14.755; Florida (Olsen) 15.558
Dunkel Line: Florida by 1; 9 1/2
Vegas Line: Florida (-115); 9
Dunkel Pick: Florida (-115); Over
Game 913-914: Milwaukee at Colorado
Dunkel Ratings: Milwaukee (Bush) 14.980; Colorado (Reynolds) 15.752
Dunkel Line: Colorado by 1; 9 1/2
Vegas Line: Colorado (-105); 10
Dunkel Pick: Colorado (-105); Under
Game 915-916: NY Mets at San Diego
Dunkel Ratings: NY Mets (Perez) 16.237; San Diego (Baek) 14.533
Dunkel Line: NY Mets by 1 1/2; 7
Vegas Line: NY Mets (-115); 8
Dunkel Pick: NY Mets (-115); Under
Game 917-918: Baltimore at Toronto
Dunkel Ratings: Baltimore (Guthrie) 15.844; Toronto (Burnett) 15.162
Dunkel Line: Baltimore by 1; 8 1/2
Vegas Line: Toronto (-145); 8
Dunkel Pick: Baltimore (+135); Over
Game 919-920: Kansas City at NY Yankees
Dunkel Ratings: Kansas City (Bannister) 14.133; NY Yankees (Pettitte) 15.712
Dunkel Line: NY Yankees by 1 1/2; 9
Vegas Line: NY Yankees (-180); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: NY Yankees (-180); Over
Game 921-922: Seattle at Boston
Dunkel Ratings: Seattle (Batista) 14.347; Boston (Wakefield) 15.946
Dunkel Line: Boston by 1 1/2; 10 1/2
Vegas Line: Boston (-175); 10
Dunkel Pick: Boston (-175); Over
Game 923-924: Cleveland at Detroit
Dunkel Ratings: Cleveland (Laffey) 14.271; Detroit (Rogers) 14.723
Dunkel Line: Detroit by 1/2; 10 1/2
Vegas Line: Detroit (-105); 9 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Detroit (-105); Over
Game 925-926: Minnesota at Chicago White Sox
Dunkel Ratings: Minnesota (Hernandez) 15.680; White Sox (Buehrle) 15.386
Dunkel Line: Minnesota by 1/2; 10 1/2
Vegas Line: Chicago White Sox (-155); 9
Dunkel Pick: Minnesota (+145); Over
Game 927-928: Tampa Bay at Texas
Dunkel Ratings: Tampa Bay (Sonnastine) 14.249; Texas (Feldman) 14.995
Dunkel Line: Texas by 1; 12
Vegas Line: Tampa Bay (-110); 10
Dunkel Pick: Texas (+100); Over
Game 929-930: LA Angels at Oakland
Dunkel Ratings: LA Angels (Santana) 15.465; Oakland (Smith) 16.433
Dunkel Line: Oakland by 1; 7
Vegas Line: Oakland (-105); 7 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Oakland (-105); Under
TONY MATHEWS
Chicago Cubs vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Selection: Chicago/Los Angeles Under 7.5
Explanation: We expect a low-scoring game when the Chicago Cubs face-off against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Saturday's MLB contest.
The Chicago Cubs will use starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano. Carlos Zambrano has pitched well this season. In fact, Carlos Zambrano has a 2.51 ERA on the season. We see Carlos Zambrano pitching another great game today.
The Los Angeles Dodgers will use starting pitcher Derek Lowe. Derek Lowe has been pitching well as of late. In fact, Derek Lowe has a 1.23 ERA in his last 3 starts. We see Derek Lowe pitching another great game today.
The Under has been a smart investment in Los Angeles Dodgers home games. In fact, the Under is 8-2 in the Los Angeles Dodgers last 10 home games.
The Under is 5-1 in the last six meetings between these teams, and we expect to see another low-scoring game today!
Take the Chicago Cubs/Los Angeles Dodgers Under 7.5
KARL GARRETT
Tonight, the G-Man likes the Cardinals stop a 2-game slide with the win at Houston.
Adam Wainwright has already bested the Astros twice this season in his 2 starts against them, pitching a dominating 17 innings while allowing 4 runs to score.
Shawn Chacon has been a decent fill-in starter for Houston, but he did not make it past the 1st inning in his last start, and I can see him getting rocked again tonight.
St. Louis hasn't seen too many 3 game losing streaks this season, and with Wainwright a nice 4-0 since last year in 5 starts versus the Astros, the G-Man will go with the visitor in this one tonight.
Take St. Louis.
1* ST. LOUIS
JEFF BENTON
I know that San Diego has been pretty bad this year. Still, I?m astonished that New York lefty Oliver Perez is favored in this game. Over his last three starts, he?s given up 15 runs (all earned) on 15 hits (six home runs) and 14 walks in just 11 1/3 innings of work.
And in his most recent start at San Francisco on Monday, Perez was yanked after getting just one out, as he was torched for six runs in an eventual 10-2 loss. Including that defeat, the Mets are 1-4 in Perezs last five road games, with Perezs ERA during that stretch being 8.03!
Again, folks, hes favored today Crazy. Yeah, the Padres aren?t exactly handing the ball to Jake Peavy tonight, as recently acquired Cha Seung Baek is making just his third start of the season and hes been terrible in his first two (four runs allowed in 4 1/3 innings in both). But he is at least pitching at home, and the Padres have been playing better ball of late, including winning the first two games of this four-game series by identical 2-1 scores.
In the end, this is obviously a play against Perez, who simply has no business laying chalk right now. Take the home dog.
5* SAN DIEGO PADRES
JIMMY THE MOOSE
Cleveland Indians at Detroit Tigers
Prediction: Detroit Tigers
Reason: Both team's have been major disappointment's so far this season. The Indians are 4-11 in their last 15 road games. Cleveland is 6-14 in their last 20 games played on grass. In their last 12 games vs. a team with a losing record the Indians are 2-10. The Tigers are 6-2 in their last 8 games as a favorite. The Tigers are 6-2 in their last 8 games vs. a left-handed starter. Detroit is 22-7 in Rogers last 29 home starts. In his last 10 home starts vs. a team with a losing record the Tigers are 7-3. Look for the Tigers bats to wake up tonight and win this. Play on the Detroit Tigers
MATT RIVERS
For Saturday take the price back with the Mariners.
Of course the Red Sox at Fenway Park are the definite superior team but with David Ortiz out, Manny Ramirez banged up and possibly out as well and Jason Varitek not starting because he never catches the knuckleballer in Tim Wakefield why not take a price back here!
Miguel Batista could get hit hard but he is also a professional hurler who has stuck around the bigs for awhile and could be at least serviceable here.
Seattle has been a huge disappointment this season but there is still a decent amount of talent on the M's. Ichiro, Sexson, Beltre, Lopez and the others can win this game as the atritioned Red Sox are far from being at 100%. Plus Boston has been unreal at home this season and will lose a game or two there as we saw on Friday night.
As long as Batista holds his own, with the Putz hanging around in the pen, I'll take my chances at this price for sure with a Seattle team that is extremely due to win a few games as they are just too good to have the record they have
JAKE TIMLIN
Saturday selection is the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Despite last night?s losing freebie I have still won 5 of my last 6 complimentary winners to completely have you covered on the diamond as I look for the Diamondbacks to get us back into the win column. Why the love for an Arizona team who is struggling right now? Well thanks to the Diamondbacks going with their number 2 man in Haren I look for the righty to follow up Webb?s dominating performance last night with a strong outing tonight against a Pittsburgh team that has lost 11 of the last 15 games against Arizona. Also helping out is the fact that the Pirates are in big trouble tonight with Gorzelanny starting as the lefty has ERA?s of 7.22 for the year and 9.26 over his last three starts. Flat out even thought the Diamondbacks offense has been struggling of late they wont tonight as I look for Arizona to pound the Pirates pitching for what will be an easy road victory.
All Arizona tonight!
TONY WESTON
Well, Im coming at it again and I dont plan on losing. Were sticking with some American League baseball, but going out East and across the border as the Orioles will get over on the Blue Jays in Toronto.
So far this season the Orioles are 2-1 in three meetings against the Jays, including a 6-5 victory last night.
That win also put Baltimore 4-1 its last five, including a 3-1 mark on the road in that stretch. The Jays, on the other hand, are 1-5 their last six games.
Now Toronto gets a shot at under-rated Orioles pitcher Jeremy Guthrie, who is only 2-6, but has a 3.58 ERA. Over his last five starts Guthrie hasnt allowed more than three earned runs in a single game. And against American League East beasts Boston, New York and Tampa in each of his last three starts he?s only given up six total earned runs in 20 innings of work. He?s also struck out 14, while walking only four.
Today, hell shut down the Jays, too. Pencil in Guthrie as your starting pitcher and take Baltimore on the road.
3* ORIOLES
SPORTS GAMBLING HOTLINE
Tonight we think the price is very cheap on Arizona with Haren as the Diamondbacks continue their weekend series in Steel Town
Arizona held on for a 3-1 win last night, and we see no reason they can't win tonight by a similar score.
Dan Haren has yet to win on the road at 0-3, but he is coming off a strong effort at home in his last start, as he shut down the Nationals tossing 7 scoreless frames for the win
Tom Gorzelanny may be 3-1 at home this year, but his home ERA is over 5, and his ERA for the season is over 7
We like the Diamondbacks to make it 2 in a row over the Pirates.
Play on 'Zona.
4* ARIZONA
DREW GORDON
Good value here with the Rockies at home and starting to play well, winners of 3 straight, including yesterday's 6-4 victory over the Brewers. Colorado has their pitching staff to thank over their modest 3-game win streak, and I say they'll get another strong effort tonight, as Greg Reynolds gets the start in this one.
While its true Reynolds remains winless on the season, that in and of itself is a strong motivator for the young righty, who'll be looking to bounce back hard tonight at home after a couple tough games on the road. The numbers back my claim, as Reynolds has posted a solid 3.00 ERA at Coors, as opposed to his 7.71 ERA away! Note, his best game of the season was at Coor, tossing 6 scoreless against the Twins back on May 17th.
I know its tempting to look over Dave Bush's last two starts and instantly declare him the winner here, but that would be a mistake. For anyone who's followed Bush this season, you know damn well he's a liability on the road, going 0-4 with a 7.67 ERA. He got rocked in Pittsburgh in his last one away, getting tagged for 6 runs on 9 hits over 5 innings! Although the Rockies aren't swinging the bats particularly well, they have hit righties well at Coors, batting .270 and averaging 4.5 runs per game in that spot.
Bottom line, look for the Rockies to build off yesterday's win and extend their modest winning streak with another strong effort tonight. I expect Reynolds to respond well to coming back home, while trusting Bush on the road is an excercise in futility! Rockies roll in this one!
Take Colorado behind Reynolds over Milwaukee and Bush in this MLB match up.
3* COLORADO
JOHN MARTIN
1 Unit on Texas Rangers +100
The Texas Rangers are 11-2 against the money line vs. a starting pitcher whose gives up 7 or more hits/start this season. Andy Sonnanstine is in line for his worst start of the season against a very hot Rangers? lineup Saturday. Sonnanstine is 0-2 with a 6.48 ERA over his last 3 starts. This bodes well for the Rangers who are scoring 8.3 runs per game over their last 7 ball games. Scott Feldman has been brilliant at home, going 1-0 with a 2.52 ERA through 4 home starts in 2008. Sonnanstine is 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA in 2 lifetime starts against Texas, including a 12-6 setback to the Rangers already this season. Texas is 31-10 against the money line in home games after batting .315 or better over a 15 game span since 1997. The Rangers are one of the most dangerous teams in the big leagues when they get their bats going for an extended period of time. Cash in with the Rangers Saturday.
JOHN FINA
Selection: Tampa Bay/Texas Over 10.5
Today we see many runs being scored as the Tampa Bay Rays do battle with the Texas Rangers. One reason why we see many runs being scored is because both these teams will be sending to the mound starting pitchers who have been struggling as of late. This says it all... The Tampa Bay Rays Starting Pitcher (Andy Sonnanstine) has a 6.48 ERA in his last 3 starts, while Texas Rangers Starting Pitcher (Scott Feldman) has a 6.50 ERA in his last 3 starts. In addition, these teams have a history of scoring many runs when they meet. In fact, the Over is 9-3-1 in the last 13 meetings between these teams (when playing in Texas). We expect to see another high-scoring game today! Take the Tampa Bay Rays/Texas Rangers Over 10.5!
MATT FARGO
San Francisco Giants vs. Washington Nationals
Play: San Francisco Giants
The Giants took Game One last night in Washington behind a strong pitching performance from Tim Lincecum as well as a big night with the bats. San Francisco is hitting the ball a lot better and it continued last night with 10 runs. The Giants are 9-6 over their last 15 games as the pitching has allowed three runs or fewer in eight of those games while the offense has scored six or more runs in eight as well. San Francisco has won seven of its last nine road games.
Washington went down in a big way again as the struggles continue. The Nationals are 5-11 over their last 16 games and their 14-18 record at home is certainly nothing to be proud of. The offense exploded for 10 runs in Game Two of a doubleheader against the Cardinals Thursday but that effort is surrounded by five games where a total of three runs were scored. Washington is hitting .233 on the season including .234 at home, both of which are dead last in all of baseball.
Lincecum got a fair price last night and Jonathan Sanchez is getting an extraordinary price here. Sanchez has allowed two or less runs in his last four starts, posting a 2.77 ERA over that span. Pitching on the road was erratic early on in the season but his last two road starts were solid efforts in Colorado and Arizona, two hitters ballparks. Washington is hitting just .235 on the season against left-handed pitching and is 2-8 in its last 10 games against a southpaw starter.
The Nationals counter with Shawn Hill who has been inconsistent this season. Only two of his eight starts have been quality outings and he is coming off his worst start of the season at Arizona where he allowed five runs in just four innings. Those two quality efforts came in his last two home starts but this is just his second home start since April and his offense has been slow to back him, averaging just 2.8 rpg over his last six starts. The Nationals are 0-5 in Hills last five starts. Play San Francisco Giants 1.5 Units
Priceless Picks
1 Unit on San Francisco Giants +113
The Giants dominated 10-1 yesterday and I like them again today behind Sanchez. The Giants are 4-0 in their last 4 road games and 6-1 in their last 7 games as a road underdog. The Giants are 9-2 in Sanchez's last 11 starts, 8-2 in Sanchez's last 10 starts as an underdog, and 5-0 in Sanchez's last 5 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance. The Nationals are 0-5 in Hill's last 5 starts, 0-7 in Hill's last 7 starts vs. the National League West, and 1-6 in Hill's last 7 starts following a team loss in their previous game. The Nats have not been getting the job done behind Hill. Take the Giants.