Kelso
Arizona 15 Units
Angels 5 Units
Toronto 5 Units
Dave Malinsky 4*
Chicago Cubs @ Los Angeles Dodgers
PICK: Under
We have the right timing to get behind both starters here, and two outstanding bullpens. So in a game in which we could see either side held to two runs or less by the quality of pitching that they are up against, we have an easy Under on the way.
Carlos Zambrano will bring a chip on his shoulder here, after a sub-par outing at San Diego in which he needed 95 pitches to go five innings, his highest PPI (Pitches Per Inning) count of the season. We can count on him to regain his groove against a lineup that he dominated in Wrigley two starts back (one run over eight innings), and he has worked to a 2.57 tune in seven career starts against the Dodgers. The Los Angeles offense continues to be on a long slide since losing Rafael Furcal, and it does not get any better here against either Zambrano, or a Chicago bullpen that benefits from Carlos Marmol and Kerry Wood both getting Friday night off.
The Cubs will need all of that pitching to have a chance to win here, because runs will not come easily against Derek Lowe. The pitching forms will only show a 3-5/4.17, but Lowe had to fight through minor injury issues that kept him from finding rhythm. He has it back now, and in style. He has worked to a 1.23 over his last three starts, allowing only 14 hits in 22 innings, and included in that span were seven shutout innings at Wrigley. He did not win that night because of a lack of support, and may not win here for the same reasons. But with his ability to handle right-handers (they are hitting 56 points lower than left-handers against him this season, and 43 points over the last four campaigns), and the lack of Cub production from the other side of the batters box, we will call for him to induce a lot of easy ground balls this afternoon, before turning it over to a bullpen that has everyone rested off of Hiroki Kuroda's masterpiece on Friday.
Ben Burns
MLB 4* Toronto Blue Jays
MLB 4* Washington Nationals
WUNDERDOG
Game: Baltimore at Toronto
Pick: Baltimore +141
If there was ever a pitcher that deserves a different fate it is Jeremy Guthrie. Guthrie has allowed a total of seven runs in his last four starts and has zero wins to show for it. He has pitched like that all season as he has not allowed any team more than eight hits since his first start of the season. The 2-6 record doesn't say much, but he could be an All-Star statistically speaking. AJ Burnett was supposed to be a second ace the Jays could wheel out every fifth day after Halladay, but injuries and under-achievement have been the norm. The Jays have a losing record in his starts this year and he has also lacked consistency. Burnett was also disappointing last year as well, as the Jays had a losing record with him on the hill. Like the value here on the O's and will ride this road dog.
BIG AL's NL TOTALS WINNER (7-2 L9; 14-6 L20)
Cardinals / Astros Under
Mike Rose
MLB 5* Royals/Yankees Over 8.5
MLB 3* Mariners/Red Sox Under 10.5
STU FEINER
DETROIT TIGERS
Two of baseball’s most disappointing team’s hook up again this afternoon at Comerica Park and I expect the Detroit Tigers to bounce back after losing the series’ opener last night to the Tribe. Yes Cleveland won last night, but they’re still just 6-14 in their last 20 games and haven’t won back-to-back games since May 15-16. That’s more than three weeks folks as this team just doesn’t have it. Not that the Tigers do, but Detroit does play better at home and they do hit lefty starters well. They’re batting .298 and averaging 5.6 runs per game against southpaw starters and they’ll rock the Indians’ Aaron Laffey, who was blasted for eight runs and 11 hits in five innings at Texas on Monday. Meanwhile, the Tigers’ Kenny Rogers appears he’s figured out his problems as he has allowed just two runs over the course of 14 innings in his last two starts. He’s 2-0 with a 2.39 ERA in his last four starts against the Tribe and he’ll pitch the Tigers to victory this afternoon.
Stu Feiner's Picks of the Day
10,000 Dime MLB Game of the Day: OVER Brewers-Rockies
I’m not crazy about either of these starting pitchers tonight at Coors and I expect this Brewers-Rockies game to sail over the posted number with ease. The Rocks will go with rookie Greg Reynolds, who after a decent start, has really slumped of late and stands at 0-3 with a 5.72 ERA in five starts. His ERA is a balloon-like 7.56 in his last three starts and he has walked 18 and served up eight homers in just 28 1/3 innings this season. And he’ll be followed by a Colorado relief corp that has a fat 5.25 home ERA. The Brewers will counter with Dave Bush, who has been horrible on the highway this year in going 0-4 with a 7.94 ERA in five road starts. Only three of his 10 starts overall this year have stayed under and this one won’t either. He’s served up 13 dingers in 60 innings this year and the ball will be flying out of the park tonight. Brad Hawpe is back in the Colorado lineup, while the Brewers Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder and Russell Branyan are all swinging hot bats. This total is set too low and this game is sailing over tonight.
BELMONT TRIFECTA: BIG BROWN, DENIS OF CORK, ICHABOD CRANE
Big Brown is by far and away the class of this field this afternoon in New York and will the Triple Crown. But his victory won’t be as convincing as they were in Louisville and Baltimore. With Casino Drive now scratched, I expect Denis of Cork to put forth a very game effort in giving Big Brown a run for his money. Denis of Cork rallied strong late at the Kentucky Derby, passing 17 horse to get the show spot. He’s had five weeks of rest after skipping the Preakness, and we’ve seen in recent years that’s a winning recipe at the Belmont. This horse will show up Saturday. I had Casino Drive as my show horse today, but having been scratched with a bruised left hind hoof, look for Ichabod Crane, who ran well in the Preakness, to sneak up to finish third and complete this trifecta.
The Experts Guaranteed Selections
ULTIMATE EXPERTS BASEBALL CRUSHER
St Louis w/Wainwright -107
The Silver Fox
2* Arizona DBacks
Wise Owl
Atlanta
The Hitman Guaranteed Selections
5000 LARGE BASEBALL WINNER
Cleveland w/Laffey -105
Winners Inc. Guaranteed Selections
5000* BASEBALL WINNER
Arizona w/Haren -130
LT Profits
MLB 2* KC Royals
MLB 2* Tampa Bay Rays
MLB 3* Oakland A's
Chris James Sports
4* Braves
2* Cardinals
1* Tigers
WAYNE ROOT
Chairman- Rockies
Millionaire- Tigers
Perfect Play- Angels
WILD BILL
Over 8 1/2 AZ-Pitt (1 unit)
St Louis -105 (2 units)
SF +120 (1 unit)
Over 10 Phils-Braves (1 unit)
Phils +110 (2 units)
Florida -130 (1 unit)
Over 8 1/2 Mets-Padres (1 unit)
Mets -110 (4 units)
Jays -140 (3 units)
Boston -180 (4 units)
Minn +150 (3 units)
Over 9 Twins-Sox (1 unit)
Under 10 1/2 Rays-Rangers (1 unit)
Rays +100 (2 units)
Parlay: Yankees -190, Jays -140, Mets -110 (1 unit)