BEN BURNS
Tampa Bay Rays @ Cleveland Indians
PICK: Tampa Bay Rays
I won with Cleveland in the first two games of this series. The Rays figure to have the advantage in this evening's "battle of Matt's" though.
Matt Garza goes for the Rays and he's gone 2-0 with an outstanding 1.59 ERA and 0.794 WHIP his last three starts, averaging nearly eight innings per outing. His most recent road start resulted in a 6-1 win at Florida. Garza tossed a complete game, allowing only a single hit. He also had 10 K's to just one walk. Garza will be opposed by Matt Ginter.
You may recall Ginter from a few seasons ago. Then again, you might not, as he was just 1-4 with a 4.90 ERA in his 15 career major league starts, the most recent of which occurred back in September of 2005. Ginter's been in the minors this season, where he's managed a 4.14 ERA in 18 appearances (17 starts) at Buffalo. Nothing too impressive about that!
He'll face a desperate Rays lineup which is looking to snap its skid and to earn a rare victory here at Cleveland. Note that the Rays have gone a profitable 40-25 (+11.9) against right-handed starters on the season. Additionally, note that the Indians have gone a money-burning 38-46 (-19) the past decade, after coming off a shutout in their previous game. Consider a play on TAMPA
STEPHEN NOVER
Chicago White Sox @ Texas Rangers
PICK: Under
The oddsmaker isn't giving White Sox lefty John Danks enough respect with this high of a total. Danks ranks No. 3 in the American League in ERA and is in top form.
Danks is 2-0 with a 1.11 ERA during his last five starts. Opponents are batting .195 against him during this span. Danks' road ERA is 1.48. The 'under' has cashed in 14 of Danks' 18 starts this season.
The Rangers are a great hitting club, aided by playing in a tremendous hitting ballpark.
However, the Rangers aren't as strong versus southpaws. They average six runs against right-handers, but 4.5 runs versus lefties. The White Sox are without closer Bobby Jenks, but their bullpen has the lowest ERA in the American League.
Texas is going with veteran right-hander Kevin Millwood. He's going on five days rest instead of his normal four. Millwood has a 3.39 ERA pitching on five days rest. The White Sox don't hit right-handers nearly as well on the road as they do at home. Chicago is averaging 6.2 runs versus righties at U.S. Cellular Field compared to scoring an average of 4.2 runs off them away from home.
Not helping matters for Chicago is Paul Konerko is just two-for-15 since coming off the DL.
Home plate umpire Adrian Johnson has proven to be an 'under' umpire during his three-year big league career, with the 'under' cashing more during each of his three seasons, including at a 13-9 rate this year. The average run total in games Johnson has been behind the plate this season is 8.1.
Given these factors and Danks' dominance, 'under' is the way to look at this double-digit total.
Tony Karpinski
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Cleveland Indians
Play: Cleveland Indians
How about those Indians last night? You have to just face facts. Tampa is almost two totally different teams. The Rays are 36-14 at home. They fly at home they just go and beat up on teams. It doesn’t matter if it is the Royals or if it is the Red Sox Tampa just gets the job done at home. On the road is a different story. You don’t have to look much further than last night’s game to get a sense of the Rays road struggles. They went in to Cleveland and played a team that lost ten straight ball games. Ten games in a row and what happened? Tampa got blitzed the past 2 night and have now lost 5 in a row. We will fade Matt Garza and look for the Indians to make it 3 wins in a row on Saturday. Play on CLEVELAND
Locksmith Sports
1 Unit on Angels/A’s OVER 7.5
We’ll favor the OVER tonight in Oakland as the red-hot Angels take on the A’s. The Angels are scoring 5.7 runs and giving up 5.9 runs in their last 7 games overall. The A’s are scoring 4.7 runs per game against righty starters and 4.6 runs per game in division games this season. This all sets up for what will be a slug fest in Oakland. Ervin Santana is 7-0 OVER in road games in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons. This is about the time where Santana cools off and the A’s have their way with him. Take the OVER.
John Martin
1 Unit on White Sox/Rangers OVER 10
Two of the hotter teams in the league square off Saturday in what will be a high-scoring affair in the American League. Texas is 32-18 OVER vs. an AL team with a team batting average of .265 or worse this season. Texas is 27-12 OVER vs. an AL team with an on base percentage .330 or worse this season. The White Sox don’t put a ton of base runners on, but when they do they knock them home via the long ball. The main trend that stands out here is that Texas is 19-4 OVER against AL Central opponents this season. Cash in with the OVER 10 runs tonight.
Info Plays
3* on Marlins/Dodgers O 7.5
This run total has been set far too low tonight and we’re going to capitalize on the OVER. Florida is 38-14 OVER when playing against a team with a losing record this season. Florida is 20-3 OVER vs. terrible power teams - averaging 0.75 or less HR's/game this season. The Dodgers are 46-19 OVER when playing against a marginal winning team (Win Pct. 51% to 54%) over the last 3 seasons. The Dodgers are in home games vs. NL teams scoring 4.8 or more runs/game on the season over the last 3 seasons. Bet the OVER 7.5 runs tonight.
Alex Smart
WNBA
2* Shock/Liberty Under 154
2* Sparks/Storm Under 145.5
Frank Rosenthal
953 ROCKIES+125
OVER 8
955 DBACKS+110
960 BREWERS-105
963 BRAVES+105
963 BRAVES OVER 8
967 YANKS OVER 9
976 RANGERS EVEN
978 KC-130
980 A'S UNDER 7.5
Bob Akmens
AFL
3* San Jose Sabercats -5.5
CFL
3* Roughriders/Tiger-Cats Over 43
WNBA
3* Sacramento Monarchs -2
The Experts Guaranteed Selections
ULTIMATE EXPERTS BASEBALL DIAMOND WINNER
Milwaukee w/Mc Clung -110
Kelso
High Rollers Baseball Club
15 units - White Sox
NSA Early Selection
10* Toronto +
WILD BILL
Giants +235 vs Harden (5 units)
Arizona +125 vs Eaton (5 units)
Reds +105 vs McClung (5 units)
Florida +125 vs Kuroda (5 units)
Yankees +100 w/Rasner (5 units)
Tampa -135 (5 units)
White Sox -110 (5 units)
Seattle +130 vs Meche (5 units)
Angels -110 w/Santana (5 units)
Keith Martin Computer Plays
Medium plays
Chicago White Sox (M: -110.0) 3
Los Angeles Dodgers (M: -126.0) 3
Chicago White Sox Under 10.5 3
Seattle Mariners Over 8.5 3
Regular plays
Chicago Cubs (M: -250.0)
Kansas City Royals (M: -130.0)
Oakland Athletics (M: 102.0)
New York Yankees Under 9.0
St Louis Cardinals Under 9.0
Laa Angels Under 7.5
Florida Marlins Under 8.0
BIG AL
Chicago White Sox over the Texas Rangers.
Tampa Bay Rays over the Cleveland Indians.