JOHN FINA
Selection: Cincinnati Reds -135
Today the Boston Red Sox will be on the road as they take on the Cincinnati Reds (the Cincinnati Reds are 14-3 in their last 17 home games. We will side with the Cincinnati Reds! One reason why we will side with the Cincinnati Reds is because they will be sending to the mound the much better starting pitcher. This says it all... The Boston Red Sox Starting Pitcher (Tim Wakefield) has a 4.33 ERA in his last 3 starts, while Cincinnati Reds Starting Pitcher (Edinson Volquez) has a 1.56 ERA in his last 3 starts. As you can see, the Cincinnati Reds will have the much better starting pitcher on the mound. In addition, the Cincinnati Reds have played great baseball when playing the role of the favorite. In fact, the Cincinnati Reds are 14-5 in their last 19 games as a favorite. We see the Cincinnati Reds getting another win today! Take the Cincinnati Reds!
MATT RIVERS
For Saturday take the Tigers at home.
At some point Brad Penny probably will regain his old All-Star form but until he does I will gladly go against him today!
Penny has lasted more than six innings just once since April and has not been right. His last two starts were not dreadful but the guy has lacked a ton of confidence and for the six starts in May had an ERA of literally 9.
I am not exactly thrilled backing a guy making his major league debut which Eddie Bonnie is but the guy did go 9-2 in AAA Toledo and with the clear stronger offense is the way I am going to go.
The Tigers had a dismal start to the season and finally over the past week or so have shown signs of life. It has never been a lack of talent as Granderson, Cabrera, Ordonez and others can bash with the best of them but Jim Leyland's squad was lacking something. If that "something" has finally been found then we are getting a steal here as the Tigers at home should beat the fairly punch and judy Dodgers.
I do admit that Detroit's bullpen is a horror shopw right now and clearly inferior to Saito, Broxton and the blue but LA does not scare me at all with the bats and without knowing much about Bonnie I can see this kid do just fine leading Detroit to another win!
JEFF BENTON
Play the Mariners on the run-line (-1½ runs) against the Nationals.
I know it may seem crazy to play the worst team in the baseball to win by at least two runs. However, its not like the Nationals are world-beaters they have the second-worst record in the game. More importantly, the Nationals dont have nearly the caliber of starting pitcher going tonight (rookie Tyler Clippard) as Seattle does (Erik Bedard).
Granted, Bedard has hardly lived up to lofty expectations this year hes just 4-4 with a 4.26 ERA in 11 starts, with the M?s going 5-6 in those contests. But he has shown signs of life lately, posting a 2.93 ERA over his last three starts, including giving up a single earned run on four hits in 12 innings in two starts (one home, one road) against the mighty Red Sox.
Also, at home, Bedard has taken to Safeco Field like a fish to water, posting a 2.19 ERA in six home starts, four of them Seattle wins. Three of those four wins ? over the Rangers, As and Padres were by multiple runs, while the other was a 1-0 victory over Boston.
As for Clippard, he made his first big-league start in 51 weeks on Monday against lowly San Francisco, and he gave up three runs on five hits and four walks, lasting just 4 1/3 innings in a 3-2 home loss. Meanwhile, take a look at what Bedard did in his only career start against Washington, which came last year when the lefty was with the Orioles: 7 innings pitched, one run, three hits, three walks and 12 strikeouts!
Bottom line: Bedard and the Mariners are due for an easy win, and they get it here.
5* MARINERS -1½
JAKE TIMLIN
Saturday selection is the Chicago Cubs.
After going with the South Siders last night time to go back with the Cubs today North of the border plus a great return of money. Yep in a battle that looks lopsided due to the pitching of Halladay I look for the Cubs to rough up the righty for a huge underdog win. After all the Cubs still with the best MLB record you can?t count out Chicago as they will be getting strong pitching today with Marquis who is 3-0 with an ERA of 3.54 over his last 5 starts with the Cubbies winning 4 of 5 games the lefty has started. Meanwhile for Toronto with them having lost 8 of their last 12 games with Halladay showing weakness in his record of 8-5 overall the Bluejays should not be this big of an underdog today. Flat out I see the Cubs having a shot of still winning this series and if they do it will be at a great return.
Take the Cubs today!
TONY WESTON
Despite losing 7-1 in Game 1 of this series, the Rangers will come back tonight and get an easy win. Lately the Rangers have been fairly decent on the road, going 10-7 their last 17 away from home.
The Mets, on the other hand, are only 2-6 their last eight games overall and will look to Pedro Martinez, who has been getting drilled this season. In his three starts this year Martinez has given up 11 earned runs in 14 1/3 innings of work as the Mets have gone 1-2 in those three starts.
Scheduled to start for the Rangers is Kason Gabbard, who has had no luck with racking up wins this season. Hes started nine times this year and only has three decisions, as hes 1-2. However, in those nine starts the Rangers are 6-3, including a 4-2 mark in his six starts on the road. In those six games hes allowed 12 earned runs in 25 2/3 innings of work.
Gabbard will shut down the Mets and lead the Rangers to a strong win.
Take the Rangers on the road tonight.
3* RANGERS
Vegas Experts
Pittsbugh Pirates at Baltimore Orioles
Play on Baltimore
As this line move indicates, the Pirates are such a bad road team. Specifically, Zach Duke gets the most 'homesick' of all considering his abysmal 5-24 team start record away from home. Baltimore counters with rookie Radhames Liz (1-0, 3.48 ERA), who has been solid in his two starts since being recalled from Class AAA Norfolk on June 2. The 25-year-old righthander has given up two runs and four hits in both of his outings, earning a win against Minnesota.
Play on: Baltimore
Sammy Jankus, The Reverse Barometer! ;D
Always play the OTHER SIDE of my game writeup.
Los Angeles at Detroit
4* LA DODGERS +106
Do you think if the Dodgers and Yankees were to trade managers, they could both start scoring runs again? I know one thing: after being SHUT OUT in consecutive games, Los Angeles doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell of stopping the streaking Tigers here! Once considered the Dodgers' ace, Brad Penny has gone straight into the crapper and won't be able to slow a Detroit lineup that looks more and more like a Hispanic All-Star team. Throw in the ultra-cheap price on the hosts today (currently -116) and the DEAL IS SEALED. I look for the Tigers to make ROAD KILL out of the hapless Dodgers again – so your play (and I feel lower than dirt for doing this to you) is on the LA DODGERS.
Brian Hansen
Colorado Rockies at Chicago White Sox
Prediction: Chicago White Sox
The White Sox are a little pricey Saturday but that is why I am using them as the Member Pick rather than a Guaranteed Pick. I do see some value with laying the big price on the ChiSox here. They snuck by the Rockies 5-4 yesterday and this continued the long-term road struggles for Colorado. The Rockies are now a deplorable 10-25 on the road while the White Sox are a solid 21-9 at home. The home/road disparity here is simply too strong to ignore and the White Sox also have a huge pitching edge tonight. It?s John Danks over Jorge De La Rosa and it has mismatch written all over it! Danks has produced a solid 3.13 ERA in his 13 starts this season while De La Rosa has an 8.13 ERA with the Rockies so far this season. It hasn?t just been because of pitching home games at Coors Field either! De La Rosa has a 9.26 ERA in his road outings this season. This one will get ugly as the White Sox win it in a rout!
Sportsbettingstats
Philadelphia Phillies at St. Louis Cardinals
In yesterdays match up between these two teams it was a tad of a blowout, as the Phillies beat the Cardinals 20-2. The Cardinals were thoroughly embarrassed yesterday at home giving up 20 runs to the Phillies. The Phillies are hot right now, how can you not be after tagging a good team for 20 runs, and have gone 7-3 in their last 10 games, have won 2 in a row and now lead the NL East by 4 games. The Cardinals are 6-4 in their last 10 games, have lost 2 in a row, and are now 3.5 games back of the division leading Cubs in the NL Central. Taking the mound for the Phillies is Adam Eaton (2-3 4.62), who in his last outing went 6 innings giving up 3 earned runs in a no decision. In yesterdays romp the Phillies scored 20 runs on 21 hits and left 10 men on base. In the game the Phillies went deep 4 times and Ryan Howard hit a couple of dingers. Taking the mound for the Cardinals is Kyle Lohse (7-2 3.92 ERA), who has been a solid starter for the Red Birds this season and in his last outing went 6 innings giving up 3 earned runs in a win. In yesterdays huge loss the Cardinals scored 2 runs on 10 hits and left 11 men on base.
Staff Pick: The Cardinals look to exact some revenge on the Phillies for crushing them in front of their home crowd. The Cardinals hope the game does not become another scoring fest, as they used 6 pitchers in yesterday's game. The Phillies killed the Cardinals with the long ball yesterday and now have 99 home runs as a team, which ranks 2nd in the Majors. Pat Burrell (17 HR), Ryan Howard 2 (16 HR), and Chase Utley (22 HR) all went yard in the game. The Phillies rank 2nd in runs scored in the NL (353), while the Cardinals rank 6th (322). The pitching match up in this game has to go to the Cardinals, as Lohse has put up better numbers and has also received more run support, but Eaton is 2-0 with a 2.41 ERA in his last 3 starts. This match up has not been a kind one for the Red Birds as the Phillies are averaging 9.4 runs in their last 7 games against them. 1st baseman Albert Pujols will miss the game and may be out a few weeks, which will hurt the Cardinals' offense. Look for the Cardinals to get back a little respect in this game, as Lohse should have a strong outing and get the win.
Cardinals 6 Phillies 5
Boston Red Sox at Cincinnati Reds
The Reds come into the first game if this inter-league series after beating the St. Louis Cardinals 6-2, while the Red Sox beat the Baltimore Orioles 9-2. The Red Sox have the best record in baseball, are in 1st place in the AL East, and are 7-3 in their last 10 games, while the Reds are in last place in the NL Central and are 4-6 in their last 10 games. Taking the mound for the Reds is their Ace Aaron Harang (2-9 4.31 ERA), who has struggled all year and has not won a start since May 12. In his last outing Harang went 5 innings giving up 7 earned runs in a loss. In yesterdays win over the Cardinals the Reds scored 6 runs on 6 hits and left 6 men on base. On defense the Reds gave up 2 runs to the Cardinals on 4 hits. Taking the mound for the Red Sox is rookie Justin Masterson (3-0 2.59 ERA), who has started his career in a stellar fashion and in his last start went 6 innings and only gave up 1 earned run in a win. In yesterdays victory over the Orioles the Red Sox scored 9 runs on 9 hits and left 7 men on base. On defense the Red Sox gave up 2 runs to the Orioles on 7 hits.
Staff Pick: OK, so the Reds do have a good record at home (20-12), but their pitcher for tonight's game is struggling and the Red Sox starter is pitching great and the Red Sox have one of the most dynamic offenses in the Majors and the Reds are favored (-115). What gives? The Reds rank 13th in the Majors in runs scored (301) and the Red Sox rank 4th (346). With how J.D. Drew is swinging the bat recently they barely miss David Ortiz. In the 11 games Ortiz has missed because of an injury, Drew is 18-36 with 6 homers and 15 RBI's. The pitching match up has to go to the Red Sox, as Masterson has 18 strikeouts in 24 1/3 innings, and opponents are batting only .169 off him, while Harang is looking for his first win in almost a month. Even though the Reds are tough at home they have not played many, if any, clubs of the caliber of the Red Sox. Look for Masterson to have another great start and for Harang to continue to struggle, as the Red Sox will win game 1 of this series. If I were a betting man, well actually I am, I would take advantage of the odds against the Red Sox +115 and bet on them.
Red Sox 8 Reds 3
JB's Computer Picks
Cleveland Indians - 180
Tampa Bay Rays -160
Arizona Diamondbacks -180 * * *
Oakland Athletics -135
Best Bet * * *
Tony Karpinski
Minnesota Twins vs. Milwaukee Brewers
Play: Milwaukee Brewers
This series is one that doesn’t get much hype right? There are good reasons for the average fans not to like this series. These are two teams that are just average baseball teams in two subpar divisions. That doesn’t mean we can’t make cash in on this game though. Milwaukee is a team that has a lot of pride. Ryan Braun is a real throw back player. Make no mistake about things folks; this is the leader of the baseball team. I know that everyone loves Prince Fielder. I know everyone loves when he hits his four hundred feet home-runs, but that hasn’t happened enough this year and he is part of the problem. The Brewers will be able to knock around Twins starter Glenn Perkins tonight. They will bounce back from an ugly showing.
SPORTS KINGZ
OAKLAND -135
CLEVELAND R/L -110
YANKEES -125
CINCY -145
ANGELS -170
ATS Arena Football Lock Club
4 units on Georgia (-2 1/2) over Chicago
3 units on San Jose (-6) over Tampa Bay
WINNERS EDGE
Colorado Rockies RL (+1.5) -115 , 2 units
Cleveland Indians RL (-1.5) + 105 , 1 unit
Cubs/B-Jays under 8 -115 , 1 unit
GINA
Oakland Athletics at San Francisco Giants
San Francisco has lost 10 of its last 12 at home and seven of the last eight versus Oakland, 5-0 in the last 5 meetings in San Francisco.
Oakland will send Rich Harden (3-0, 2.85 ERA) to the hill. The Athletics are 16-5 in Hardens last 21 road starts and 4-0 in the right-hander's last 4 interleague starts. Harden is1-0 with a 1.17 ERA in three starts versus the A's, but hasn't them since 2005. San Francisco counters with Matt Cain, who is 0-1 with a 5.76 ERA in his last four appearances and is 0-3 with a 4.82 ERA in his last three starts against Oakland. The Giants are 0-6 in the right-hander's last 6 interleague starts.
Go with the A's to win their sixth straight against the Giants tonight at AT&T Park.
Oakland Athletics - 130