Nick Parsons
Arizona Diamondbacks at Florida Marlins
Prediction: Over
With Brandon Webb on the mound for the Diamondbacks many may be encouraged to take a look at the under in this match-up. However, Webb is just 2-4 with a 4.22 ERA in his last seven starts and he’s likely to struggle again this afternoon. The right-hander has always struggled more with left-handed bats and the Marlins have a number of solid left-handed sticks as well as switch-hitters. Andrew Miller, a Marlins southpaw, gets the start tonight and he has struggled against right-handed hitters in his career. This is a key issue for him tonight as Arizona is loaded with right-handed bats and can take advantage of Miller’s weakness tonight. Also, like Webb, Miller has had his share of rough starts recently and more of the same is likely on tap tonight as the Diamondbacks bounce back after scoring just one run last night. Even though neither one of these teams has been particularly hot at the plate recently it is amazing what facing a struggling pitcher does for a lineup. Look for both the Marlins and Diamondbacks to get back on track tonight at the plate. Both Webb and Miller are in unfavorable match-ups here and the over is the perfect way to take advantage of the value in this match-up!
Ben Burns
Game: Cincinnati Reds at Cleveland Indians
Prediction: Cleveland Indians
Cueto is 1-5 (Reds are 1-6) with an awful 6.49 ERA and 1.615 WHIP in seven road starts. The Reds are 0-3 the last three times that he took the mound, losing by a combined score of 17-2. While he's also had some trouble on the road, Byrd is 2-1 with a 2.97 ERA and 1.101 WHIP at home.Consider backing the Tribe.
Brian Hansen
Game: Colorado Rockies at Detroit Tigers
Prediction: Detroit Tigers
The Tigers have won 15 of their last 19 overall games. Detroit has won 11 of their last 13 home games. The Tigers send Justin Verlander to the mound and he’s a perfect 8-0 in inter-league action in his career. The Rockies send Jeff Francis to the mound and he’s 1-3 on the road this season. He’s also facing a Tigers lineup that simply pounds left-handed pitching. As for the Rockies, their line-up hasn’t pounded much of anything in recent weeks! Colorado is also just 12-29 on the road this season and when a team is struggling like the Rockies are right now, and a team is hot like the Tigers currently are, there are opportunities like this where laying the money line price is worth it!
Steam On-Line Guaranteed Selections
5000* BASEBALL LATE STEAMER WINNER
Boston w/Lester -144
William Kidd Guaranteed Selections
QUADRUPLE DIME BASEBALL HOME RUN WINNER
Detroit w/Verlander -168
The Experts Guaranteed Selections
ULTIMATE EXPERTS BASEBALL WINNER
Cleveland w/Byrd -115
Wunderdog
WNBA
Indiana at Houston
Pick: Under 141
Indiana played their last game in New York where both teams played into the 100s. It was a game that by the raw score looked like a high-scoring affair and may have added a few points to this total. The Fever has played five other road games, and has held the opponents to 68.8 points per game. They obviously don't get themselves into a full-court game. Houston opened the season with five straight losses, but has patched things up on the defensive end, and the last five home games have seen the opponent average less than 70 ppg. This game has the makings of a game played in the 60s, and we will back the UNDER in this one.
MLB
Los Angeles Angels at Los Angeles Dodgers
Pick: Los Angeles Angels +114
Chad Billingsley has followed his rookie success into this season, and has established himself as a quality starter. The problem he faces, as do many of the Dodgers' pitchers, is the lack of run support. The Dodgers' offense has sputtered all season, and has already produced 24 games scoring one run or less! That means even a good pitcher like Billingsley has managed to lead the Dodgers to only a 6-9 mark in his 15 starts. The Angels have played well over the last month or so posting a 22-13 mark in their last 35 games. Jered Weaver pitched poorly to start the season as the Angels posted wins in just two of those eight starts. They have reversed that fortune as Weaver has been more like the pitcher that carries a 31-16 career mark into this game. The Angels have now posted wins in six of his last eight starts. The Angels are the better team, and the Dodgers can't be trusted offensively, so we back the Angels to even the series tonight.
PRICELESS PICKS
1 Unit on Kansas City Royals -125
The Royals are rolling in interleague play and they are having their way with their in-state rivals. The Cardinals are a pathetic 2-10 in their last 12 interleague games as an underdog of +110 to +150 and 1-7 in their last 8 vs. a team with a losing record. The Royals are 11-1 in their last 12 overall, 6-0 in their last 6 home games, 14-3 in their last 17 interleague games, and 6-0 in their last 6 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game. The Cards have now lost 4 straight to the Royals. Take KC here.
GINA
San Francisco Giants at Oakland Athletics
Oakland has won four of their last 5 home games and has taken the last five meetings against San Francisco. Meanwhile, the Giants have dropped 9 of their last 13 games, 2-4 in its last 6 on the road. San Francisco will send Tim Lincecum (8-1, 2.54) to the hill. The right-hander is 0-0 with a 4.26 ERA in his last three starts, but has been successful away from home, 6-0 with a 2.10 ERA in his last eight on the road. Oakland counters with right-hander Justin Duchscherer (8-4, 1.99 ERA), who is 3-0 with a 1.19 ERA in his last three starts. The A's are 6-0 in Duchscherers last 6 home starts.
Go with Oakland at home to continue their dominance over San Francisco. The Giants have lost nine of the last 10 meetings against the A's and seven of the last 10 meetings in Oakland.
Oakland Athletics -135
Chris James Sports (14-3 L7 Days, Won 9 of 10 Days)
3* Minnesota
2* Boston
2* Phillies
Jeffmoney
A's -140 (pod)
Indians -115
Nats Ev
ROBERT FERRINGO
GAME OF MONTH
7-Unit Play. Take Chicago White Sox (-135) over Chicago Cubs
Note: This is our Game of the Month.
After taking the first game of the series last night I think the White Sox keep it rolling over their Crosstown Rivals in a big way today. Javy Vazquez got knocked around a little bit against the Cubs on Sunday, but he was also the victim of a weak home run and the fact that the Sox hit into three DP's in the first three innings. Vazquez is 13-3 in his last 16 home starts and is 22-10 in Chicago in his career. Further, the Sox have won six straight Vazquez starts when he gets an extra day of rest and 16-5 backing him as a favorite. Finally, Vazquez has a sparkling 1.26 ERA in day games this year (2-0) and has been a solid day starter in his career.
Sean Gallagher has dumped four straight road starts and in his career he is 0-3 with a 5.23 ERA. He has never faced the White Sox, so he's never performed in this type of environment, and he is 0-2 with a 6.23 ERA in day games over the past two years. He hasn't started in over a week, and that lack of a normal routine means that he could go either way either he's on his (very average) game today or he doesn't have the feel and could be bounced by the third inning against an ornery Sox lineup.
We have some other solid recent indicators here at work as well. The Cubs have been pretty average on the road lately, dropping four straight away from home and have gone 2-8 on the road as a dog of +110 to +150. They have also lost four straight games in A.L. parks. The White Sox, on the other hand, are 35-17 at home, 10-1 at home against an N.L. team with a winning record, and 17-7 against a right handed starters (20-6 at home). Finally, the Sox have been a great favorite. They are 17-4 as a home chalk and they still have the revenge factor on their side after losing three straight to the Cubs last week. The A.L., as a whole, has dominated the N.L. this year, particularly at home, and I think we get a W today with our Game of the Month.
3-Unit Play. Take Philadelphia (-125) over Texas
If Texas' offense has a weakness, it's been against left-handed pitching. Cole Hamels, the Philly ace, is being called on here to help the Phils get back on track and I think he's going to answer with an ace performance. The Phillies are in danger of losing first place today. I think they understand this and I think they pounce all over their former mate, Vince Padilla. This will be a lower-scoring game (I have a lean on the 'under') and I think the difference will be the Philly bullpen late in this one.
2-Unit Play. Take Los Angeles Angels (+115) over Los Angeles Dodgers
I'm still into fading Chad Billingsley. Neither the Angels nor the Dodgers have shown an ability to come back from an early deficit this year and I expect the Angels to get out front early. This one will be a grinder, but we're getting a great price on the more talented team. The Dodgers are working a patchwork lineup right now (especially in the infield) and I just don't believe that they have enough to sweep the Halos in this series. Therefore we'll be on L.A. or A until they get one.
2-Unit Play. Take Detroit (-165) over Colorado
The Rockies are now 2-10 in their last 12 road games against the American League. Jeff Francis has been shaky, at best, this year and won't be getting any help from the ump behind the dish. He's facing a red-hot Detroit lineup that's been feasting on lefties for two years now (40-18 in their L58). Justin Verlander isn't all the way back, but he's looked good enough that I feel comfortable backing him.
1.5-Unit Play. Take Tampa Bay (-130) over Pittsburgh
Ty Taubenheim was 4-9 with a 4.90 ERA in Triple-A and now is being called on to stop one of the hottest lineups in the Majors. I think we have to expect similar results to last night's Pitt spot starter - not good.
1.5-Unit Play. Take Oakland (-135) over San Francisco
The weather is heating up, which means that the A's are getting hot as well. Justin Duchscherer has been one of the best bets in the business. And while I do hate going against Tim Lincecum, the San Fran ace has been touched up a little in his last three starts. But the red flag is that his velocity was down in his last start. Oakland is 18-6 in the last 24 meetings and 7-3 in their last 10 at home against the Giants.
Today's Totals
Remember Wednesday when we went 5-2 with our totals? Well, we have a similarly strong crop of umps today so I'm hoping for a 5-1 or 4-2 performance out of this group:
3-Unit Play. Take ‘Over’ 8.0 Arizona at Florida
3-Unit Play. Take ‘Over’ 9.5 Tampa Bay at Pittsburgh
2.5-Unit Play. Take ‘Over’ 9.5 St. Louis at Kansas City
2.5-Unit Play. Take ‘Over’ 9.0 Boston at Houston
2-Unit Play. Take ‘Under’ 8.5 Baltimore at Washington
1.5-Unit Play. Take ‘Over’ 9.5 Milwaukee at Minnesota
Jimmy Price Saturday
All plays for 2 units each.
San Francisco
Philly
Minny
LA Angels
Arizona
SAPKOWSKI 6-0 premium picks run
Premium
BOS Red Sox
DET Tigers
Free picks
ATL Braves
KC Royals
Tips:For Euro 2008 spain to win
Computer Crushers
Chicago White Sox