Chris Jordan
Toronto at PITTSBURGH
Play the Pirates on Saturday, as they'll get it done behind the pitching of southpaw Paul Maholm, who is 2-0 with a 3.57 ERA in his last five starts.
The Bucs are 9-2 in Maholm's last 11 home starts, while they've won five of their last six home games. And with the Jays in an uproar with the coaching change, I don't know how much they'll be prepared for this one.
Toronto comes in mired in a 0-6 skid, and have also lost 10 of 12 road games against teams sporting losing records.
Making matters worse - but better for us - is the fact Toronto starter Jesse Litsch is 0-2 with a 5.60 ERA in three June starts and he comes in after giving up a season high-tying five runs and eight hits over 6-1/3 innings in a 7-4 home loss to the Cubs.
That loss dropped the right-hander to 0-2 in three career interleague outings, along with a 7.43 ERA.
Take the Jays in this one.
2* BLUE JAYS
Sports Gambling Hotline
Seattle at ATLANTA
Tonight we like another high-scoring affair at Turner Field, as last night the M's responded to the firing of John McClaren by hanging a 10-spot on the scorebaord for their 3rd straight OVER.
More runs tonight, as even though starters Washburn, and Jurrjens are coming off quality starts, their numbers over the long haul are still shaky. Washburn's season ERA is at 5.91, while in Jurrjens 2 previous starts prior to his last outing, he was rocked for 11 runs in just 10 innings of work.
Atlanta had trouble getting their offense untracked last night, as they were held to just 2 runs total, but after a 10 game road swing, you had to figure the Bravos might be a little tired in their first game back in their ball park.
That will change tonight, as we see plenty of crooked digits on the Turner Field scoreboard tonight.
Play on the OVER.
5* OVER
Jeffersonsports
Early Release
Twins
DUNKEL
Houston at Tampa Bay
The Astros will look to keep their perfect record against the Rays (4-0) intact today and take advantage of Tampa starter Edwin Jackson's recent troubles (2-6 in last 12 starts). Houston is the underdog pick (+160) according to Dunkel, which has the Astros favored straight up by 1. Dunkel Pick: Houston (+160). Here are all of today's games.
SATURDAY, JUNE 21
Game 901-902: NY Mets at Colorado
Dunkel Ratings: NY Mets (Martinez) 14.784; Colorado (Jimenez) 15.911
Dunkel Line: Colorado by 1; 9
Vegas Line: Colorado (-125); 9 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Colorado (-125); Under
Game 903-904: Cincinnati at NY Yankees
Dunkel Ratings: Cincinnati (Thompson) 15.632; NY Yankees (Giese) 14.781
Dunkel Line: Cincinnati by 1; 10
Vegas Line: NY Yankees (-180); 10 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Cincinnati (+170); Under
Game 905-906: Chicago White Sox at Chicago Cubs
Dunkel Ratings: White Sox (Contreras) 14.567; Cubs (Marquis) 16.066
Dunkel Line: Chicago Cubs by 1 1/2; 7 1/2
Vegas Line: Chicago Cubs (-110); No Run Line
Dunkel Pick: Chicago Cubs (-110); N/A
Game 907-908: Cleveland at LA Dodgers
Dunkel Ratings: Cleveland (Sabathia) 15.526; LA Dodgers (Park) 14.522
Dunkel Line: Cleveland by 1; 8 1/2
Vegas Line: Cleveland (-135); 8
Dunkel Pick: Cleveland (-135); Over
Game 909-910: St. Louis at Boston
Dunkel Ratings: St. Louis (Boggs) 14.604; Boston (Mastsuzaka) 17.230
Dunkel Line: Boston by 2 1/2; 10
Vegas Line: Boston (-240); 9 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Boston (-240); Over
Game 911-912: Houston at Tampa Bay
Dunkel Ratings: Houston (Rodriguez) 15.132; Tampa Bay (Jackson) 14.297
Dunkel Line: Houston by 1; 8
Vegas Line: Tampa Bay (-170); 9
Dunkel Pick: Houston (+160); Under
Game 913-914: Toronto at Pittsburgh
Dunkel Ratings: Toronto (Litsch) 12.924; Pittsburgh (Maholm) 14.780
Dunkel Line: Pittsburgh by 2; 7 1/2
Vegas Line: Toronto (-110); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Pittsburgh (+100); Under
Game 915-916: LA Angels at Philadelphia
Dunkel Ratings: LA Angels (Saunders) 14.787; Philadelphia (Myers) 15.767
Dunkel Line: Philadelphia by 1; 8 1/2
Vegas Line: Philadelphia (-135); 9 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Philadelphia (-135); Under
Game 917-918: Baltimore at Milwaukee
Dunkel Ratings: Baltimore (Cabrera) 14.598; Milwaukee (McClung) 15.704
Dunkel Line: Milwaukee by 1; 11
Vegas Line: Milwaukee (-145); 9
Dunkel Pick: Milwaukee (-145); Over
Game 919-920: Arizona at Minnesota
Dunkel Ratings: Arizona (Owings) 15.305; Minnesota (Blackburn) 15.190
Dunkel Line: Arizona by 1/2; 9 1/2
Vegas Line: Minnesota (-110); 9
Dunkel Pick: Arizona (+100); Over
Game 921-922: Seattle at Atlanta
Dunkel Ratings: Seattle (Washburn) 13.584; Atlanta (Jurrjens) 15.398
Dunkel Line: Atlanta by 2; 8
Vegas Line: Atlanta (-190); 9
Dunkel Pick: Atlanta (-190); Under
Game 923-924: Texas at Washington
Dunkel Ratings: Texas (Gabbard) 13.652; Washington (Mock) 15.072
Dunkel Line: Washington by 1 1/2; 8 1/2
Vegas Line: Texas (-125); 9 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Washington (+115); Under
Game 925-926: San Francisco at Kansas City
Dunkel Ratings: San Francisco (Correia) 14.384; Kansas City (Meche) 15.977
Dunkel Line: Kansas City by 1 1/2; 11
Vegas Line: Kansas City (-150); 9
Dunkel Pick: Kansas City (-150); Over
Game 927-928: Florida at Oakland
Dunkel Ratings: Florida (Nolasco) 14.579; Oakland (Eveland) 16.450
Dunkel Line: Oakland by 2; 9
Vegas Line: Oakland (-155); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Oakland (-155); Over
Game 929-930: Detroit at San Diego
Dunkel Ratings: Detroit (Robertson) 14.639; San Diego (Baek) 16.361
Dunkel Line: San Diego by 1 1/2; 8
Vegas Line: Detroit (-120); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: San Diego (+110); Under
Jim Feist
CLE Indians and LA Dodgers
Take Under
Dodgers stadium is a huge park, great for pitchers. In this Interleague battle a pair of hard throwing starters who don't walk anyone take the hill. Cleveland ace C.C. Sabathia struggled in April, but is on a roll, with a 2.74 ERA his last 3 starts. He fanned 23 with just 4 walks in those games. LA starter Chan Ho Park has a 2.95 ERA for the season. Neither offense has ever faced these pitchers, so don't look for much offense. Play the Indians/Dodgers under the total!
PlusLineSports Daily Baseball Selection
NY Yankees Runline -1.5
MIKE ANTHONY
Arizona D-Backs vs. Minnesota Twins
Play: Minnesota Twins
I do not trust the Diamondbacks. I have told all of you to stay away from them as well. This is a team that is five games under .500 since the first two weeks of the season.
The Diamondbacks are really a product of their two aces. When Brandon Webb and Danny Haren dont pitch fantastic, the Diamondbacks do not win ball games. They are in the middle of the pact in both hitting and fielding and now without Eric Byrnes. Their main problem is their defense. This is a team that has committed 50 errors on the season all ready. The Twins are a solid baseball team. They have almost the identical records, but you wouldnt know it by this line. The Twins at home PLUS the DH equals a win.
JEFF BENTON
After sweeping a three-game home series from the first-place Cubs, Tampa Bay struggled against the Astros Roy Oswalt last night, losing for just the 12th time at home all season and dropping to 25-5 in its last 30 home games. The last time the Rays lost consecutive contests at The Trop You have to go back to April 14-15 when they lost a two-game series to the Yankees!
Meanwhile, prior to last nights win, the Astros had dropped eight straight games overall and 17 of their last 20, going 1-10 on the road during the slump. Houston hasnt won two in a row since May 23-24 at home, and it hasnt won two in a row on the same road trip since May 14-15. Whats more, during the Astros 3-17 slump, 11 of the 17 losses were by multiple runs.
As for this pitching matchup of Edwin Jackson vs. Wandy Rodriguez, youd think that the Astros would have a slight advantage, in that Wandy has a 2.76 ERA overall (2.55 in the last three starts) while Jackson has a 4.46 ERA overall (7.41 in the last three). However, Ive seen Rodriguezs road act enough the last few years to know he just cant be trusted on foreign turf especially against a Rays offense that has been crushing lefty pitchers of late to the tune of a .318 team overage in the last 10 games. (Conversely, in their last 10 games prior to last night, the Astros had a .221 average against right-handers.)
Fourteen of Tampas last 20 home wins have come by at least two runs, and the Rays will get another such blowout win here
3* TAMPA BAY RAYS - 1 1/2 runs
JAKE TIMLIN
Saturday selection is the Atlanta Braves -1 1/2 Runs.
Even with a bad home coming for the Braves last night I look for Atlanta to bounce back with a blowout today. After all thanks to still being 25-12 at home and playing the worst team in the majors it?s not a tough call to back the Braves tonight. Especially given the fact that Atlanta will have a huge edge on the mound with Jerrjens who 7-3 for the year the righty has been lights out over his last 5 stats going 3-0. Meanwhile for Seattle they turn to Washburn and his 2-7 record and 6.31 ERA that might increase thanks to pitching at the launching pad. Flat out while the Braves played a bit flat last night I dont expect another disappointing game out of Atlanta tonight. In a bounce back win take the Braves on the run line as they bury the Mariners tonight!
All Atlanta -1 1/2
TONY WESTON
Im continuing this hot streak with anther winner today as Im going with the over on the Cardinals-Red Sox game at Fenway this afternoon.
The total for this game is set at about 9 1/2. That might or might not change before the first pitch, but Im telling you, this total will breeze right past that.
Consider that over the Red Sox last 12 games theyve combined to average just a hair over nine runs a game. And over their last 16 games at home they?ve totaled, on average, just a little more than 10 runs per game.
And over their last 10 road games the Cardinals have totaled, on average, 9 1/2 runs per game.
These teams will have another high scoring affair and the over will come in easily.
Go big on the over today.
3* CARDINALS-RED SOX OVER
KARL GARRETT
Brett Myers is lost this season, and his 5.58 ERA is just asking for trouble against the LA attack that plated 7 runs last night, and rapped out double digits in hits.
Expect the Halos to get the bats cranking once again against Philly tonight!
Joe Saunders will go for the Angels, and while the lefty does own a 10-3 record with a 3.06 season ERA, the G-Man has seen him take his lumps on occasion recently.
Philly has lost their last 3, while being held to 5 runs along the way. Have to believe their bats will make some noise in this one tonight.
Look for the runs to add up in the City of Brotherly Love tonight between the Angels and Phillies, as we head OVER the posted total.
2* OVER
DREW GORDON
Phillies bats have gone cold, and there's little reason to believe they'll be warming up against the likes of Joe Saunders. Angels southpaw has been downright dominant on the road this season, going 5-1 with a lockdown 1.77 ERA away! In his last road start, he allowed just 1 earned over 7 innings in Seattle. But if that's not enough (because its sorry-ass Seattle) he was even better in the road start prior, going 8 1/3 innings at US Cellular, allowing 1 run on just 3 hits along the way!
Besides the fact the Phillies have to contend with one of the better road pitchers in the Majors, they also have their own pitching problems, namely Brett Myers. The Phillies righty has been up and down this season, and right now he's clearly down, having allowed 11 runs over his last 11 1/3 innings. In fact, Myers is just 1-7 with a 6.18 ERA over his last 11 starts, and with his offense suddenly struggling, it goes from bad to worse for Myers.
Speaking of offense, the Angels are swinging the bats much better of late, batting a solid .316 against righties over their last 10 games! We saw what they did to Adam Eaton last night, tagging him for 6 runs on 12 hits... You really believe Brett Myers is the answer? C'mon guys, you know as well as I do that Myers is going to get hit hard in this one!
Bottom line, look for the hot-hitting Angels to take advantage of the struggling Myers tonight. While on the flip side, I see little hope for the sputtering Phillies offense against Saunders, who seems to relish pitching in hostile territory. In the end, let's grab the plus money behind the "road-warrior" Saunders and the halos in this one!
Take the LA Angels behind Saunders over Philadelphia and Myers in this MLB match up.
3* LA ANGELS
Priceless Picks
1 Unit on Cleveland Indians -129
The Indians came through with a win over the Dodgers yesterday to snap a 3-game losing streak and I like their chances again today behind their ace Sabathia. LA is just 1-6 in interleague play and only 9-15 in day games. The Dodgers are just 11-25 against the money line in an interleague game over the last 3 seasons and 1-8 against the money line vs teams who strand 6.9 or less runners on base per game this season. The Indians are 5-0 in Sabathia's last 5 starts vs. the National League West and 12-4 in Sabathia's last 16 interleague starts. Bet the Tribe today.
SPORTS KINGZ
MINNESOTA -110
ANGELS +105
TORONTO -120
DETROIT -130
ARMVIN SPORTS
BLUE JAYS/PIRATES Over 8
DETROIT TIGERS -121