WILD BILL
St Louis -155 (5 units)
Florida +100 (5 units)
Yankees -155 (5 units)
Under 7 1/2 Jays-Rays (5 units)
BRIAN MARSHALL
Texas Rangers vs. Minnesota Twins
Play On: Over 10
The Texas Rangers will be lead by starting pitcher Matt Harrison. Matt Harrison has had only two starts so far this season, however, has a 6.52 ERA. We see Matt Harrison giving up many runs once again today.
The Minnesota Twins will be lead by starting pitcher Livan Hernandez. Livan Hernandez has struggled this season. In fact, Livan Hernandez has a 5.44 ERA on the season. In addition, Livan Hernandez has a 6.75 ERA in his last 3 starts. We also see Livan Hernandez giving up many runs once again today.
These teams have a history of playing high-scoring games when they meet. In fact, the Over is 7-1 in the last 8 meetings between these teams.
Take the Texas Rangers/Minnesota Twins Over 10
CHRIS CHIRIMBES
The New York Yankees had baseball's best record after the All-Star break last year, turning a mediocre start into their 13th straight postseason appearance. They're hoping their comfortable win Friday is the start of another second-half surge. New York will look to win its sixth straight home game on Saturday when it continues its series with the Oakland Athletics, who have lost three straight for the first time since May. The Yankees' 51-25 record after the break last year earned them the AL wild card despite a 43-43 start. Their offense awakened in the second half, averaging 6.6 runs as five of their regulars batted above .300 over that span.
NEW YORK YANKEES
VEGAS EXPERTS
Kansas City Royals at Chicago White Sox
Considering where these two teams are in the standings and how White Sox pitcher Gavin Floyd has pitched at home this year, this is a still a great value on Chicago. This head-to-head series has been all Pale Hose, as they've taken six of seven overall from the Royals, including all four meetings here at US Cellular Field. Floyd has a 9-1 team start record in home starts this season.
Play on: Chicago White Sox
Terron Chapman
Toronto Blue Jays vs. Tampa Bay Rays
Play: Tampa Bay Rays
All it took for the Tampa Bay Rays to get back in the win column was a return home to see the Toronto Blue Jays on the schedule. The two will continue their weekend set this evening in what should be a good pitching matchup.
Roy "Doc" Halladay will take the hill for the Blue Jays and he will be opposed by Matt Garza of the Rays. The Blue Jays hope their ace can pitch them to just their second win in eight meetings this season against the Rays. The Rays won last night's game 2-1 bringing their home record to 37-14 on the season. They are 8-1 against the Jays in the last nine meetings including a win over Halladay in Tampa back in April. The Blue Jays are 1-8 in their last 9 road games against a team with a winning record.
Matt Garza has been impressive at home. He's 5-1 with a 2.38 ERA at Tropicana field with his team going 6-3 in his nine home starts. Garza pitched well in his only appearance against the Jays earlier this year in Toronto. He allowed six hits and just one earned run in 6 2/3 innings in the 6-2 loss on May 7th. Expect another solid performance from him this evening. The Rays as mentioned earlier are a tough out at home. They are 6-0 in their last 6 games as a home pup. With Doc coming off such an impressive performance against the Yanks at home in his last outing, it will be hard for him to maintaint that level today on the road. Although certainly capable, expect the Rays to get just enough offense off of him for the win.Play on the Tampa Bay Rays for 1 unit.
GINA
Kansas City Royals at Chicago White Sox
The White Sox are 12-2 in their last 14 games at home and have won the last six versus Kansas City in Chicago, including Friday's 9-5 victory. The Royals have dropped six of its last 8 road games.
Kansas City's Gil Meche (6-9, 4.71 ERA) is 0-1 with a 5.00 ERA in his last three starts and 6-3 with a 4.38 ERA in 13 career starts versus the White Sox. The Royals have won five of the right-hander's last 6 starts.
Chicago's Gavin Floyd (10-5, 3.63) is 2-1 with a 5.06 ERA in his last three starts and 1-1 with a 3.46 ERA in three career appearances against Kansas City. The White Sox have won seven of Floyd's last 9 starts.
Let's go with the White Sox again tonight at U.S. Cellular Field. Chicago has beaten Kansas City in eight of the last nine battles and has dominated them in the Windy City, winning 43 of the last 57. Making matters worse for the Royals will be right-hander Gavin Floyd. Chicago has won ten of Floyd's last 11 starts at home.
Chicago White Sox -160
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TOR Blue Jays
MIL Brewers
only if early plays win
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Chris Jordan
Boston at ANAHEIM +110
I am well aware of Beckett’s domination of this team, but this is 2008, and he basically struggled throughout the first half, as he’s yet to throw a complete game, has allowed four runs or more in six of his 17 outings, and his record is due largely to a 6.43 run support average. He’s received an average of 9.49 runs in his nine wins, so you see why he’s nabbing victories along the way – and it’s certainly not because of his arm.
So while he banks on the Boston bats to come alive, he better worry about the sticks that came to life last night in a 11-3 rout at the Big A. The win pushed the Angels to their major league-leading 58th of the season, their third straight win overall, and it increased their AL West lead to a season-high seven games over Oakland.
And oh yes, while everyone might be worried about Beckett, let’s not forget about Saunders, who has had his own share of success in this clash, going 3-0 with a 2.92 ERA in four starts against the Sox - all of which were wins for Anaheim. With a chance to become the AL’s first 13-game winner, I’ll side with the Halos and Saunders.
2♦ ANGELS
Michael Cannon
Pittsburgh at COLORADO
Take the over tonight when the Pirates take on the Rockies at Coors Field.
I know all about the humidor and how Coors isn't what it used to be, but this game could be played in Petco Park tonight and still hurdle the posted total.
The Bucs will send Yoslan Herrera out for his second major league start, and since he's basically up with the big club because of all the injuries to the Pirates staff, I don't expect him to shut the Rockies lineup down.
The Pirates have one of the worst team ERA's in the majors, and if Herrera is only up because of injuries and not merit then you can't like his chances here.
The Rockies will counter with a Cy Young candidate of their own in Jorge De La Rosa.
I never really understood De La Rosa's roll in having a spot on a major league staff. He has poor command and yields a high number of hits allowed. I guess it goes to show you that if you're a left-handed pitcher, you'll always be able to find work in the big leagues.
Look for the baseballs to be flying out of Coors tonight.
Take the over.
4♦ OVER
Jack Clayton
Red Sox/Angels Over
Maddux Sports
Arizona -129
Bankroll Sports
2* Mariners -135
Paul Leiner
10* Blue Jays -110
Rocco Spacamuro
500* Brewers -140
Vegas Steam
Colorado -150
Texas +105
Mighty Quinn
Yankees
Armvin Sports
Marlins
Red Sox
CHRIS JORDAN
2♦ ANGELS
DONALD TRAN
Chicago Cubs -120
Brandon Banks
Giants +131
Insider Sports Report
Dodgers/Arizona UNDER 7.5
TRACE ADAMS
Phillies
JAKE TIMLIN
Mariners
SOUTHSIDE SPORTS
MARINERS
PLATINUM PLAYS
PHILLIES + 105
DARK HORSE
Tampa Bay +110
MIKE WYNN
Milwaukee -140
RAZOR SHARP
METS/CINCINNATI OVER 10
NEVADA SHARPSHOOTER
DODGERS +120
BIG TIME SPORTS
TEXAS / MINNESOTA OVER 10
DR. VEGAS
Baltimore -115
TOTALS 4 U
DODGERS/DIAMONDBACKS UNDER
Prime Sports Picks
White Sox -145
CAPPERS ACCESS
Brewers
Blue Jays
ARTHUR RALPH
Tampa Bay
Jennifer Barry
Orioles -120
Mike Wynn
Brewers
Glen Mcgrew
Tor/TB Under
Joe Wiz
Rays
Bob Donahue
Cards
Nationals
Frank Patron
Cubs -120
Bob Harvey
Anaheim Angels –110 over Boston Red Sox.
Josh Beckett has been good this season but not overpowering. He’s not the same dominant force he’s been in past years. The fire-balling right-hander has yet to throw a complete game, has allowed four runs or more in six of his 17 outings, and his record is due largely to a 6.43 run support average: second-highest in the AL. He also has yet to win three straight starts, but can do so with a win today over the Angels. The Angels’ scheduled starter for this game had been Jon Garland, but his turn got pushed back to Sunday after he woke up Thursday with a stiff neck. Joe Saunders who pitched a scoreless inning in the All-Star game will go instead. Saunders at 12-5 gets his shot at become the American League’s first 13-game winner. Saunders has had success against Boston, going 3-0 with a 2.92 ERA in four starts - all wins for Los Angeles. He defeated the Red Sox at Fenway Park on April 24, when he gave up three runs in six innings of a 7-5 victory. I’m siding with the Angels at home. Saunders has been nearly unbeatable at the Big A and the Angel offense is showing signs of life as evidenced by Friday night’s 11-3 win over the Red Sox.
Jeff Scott Sports
2 UNIT PLAY
SEATTLE -124 over Cleveland
The Indians are 2-12 in their last 14 games as a road underdog of +110 to +150 and 1-10 in Sowers' last 11 starts as a road underdog, while the Mariners are 13-3 in their last 16 games with Foster behind home plate. The Indians have really been playing bad on the road lately, as they have now lost 10 in a roaw away from Jacobs Field and it has been the pitching that has killed them over this stretch as the have given up an average of 7.2 rpg. The pitching for the Tribe won't get any better today as they send Jeremy Sowers to the mound. Jeremy comes in with an 0-5 record and a 7.51 ERA overall, including an 0-4 mark with a 9.51 ERA on the road. Jeremy's last 3 starts have been trully horrendous as he is 0-2 with a 11.37 ERA, allowing teams a .418 OBP, while posting a 2.21 WHIP in the 3 games. Cleveland struggles to hit lefty starters this year as they have a .232 BA and are scoring just 4.4 rpg vs them, plus they really struggle in day games, going 9-18, with a .235 BA and scoring just 3.3 rpg. The Mariners offense hasn't been great this year, but like yesterday they have the ability to hit people around and if they where able to get 9 hits and 8 runs in just 3.2 innings of work off a much tougher pitcher in Aaron Laffey, then I see no reason why they can't tag Jeremy Sowers for a bunch of runs early and then get into that bullpen that has a 6.09 ERA on the road. Miguel Batista is now the listed pitcher in this one and even though he has struggled on the year, I still see Seattle walking away with this one.
ATS Lock Canadian
4 units Saskatch -5.5
VERNON CROY 25 Unit MLB AL Smash of the Year
Toronto Blue Jays vs. Tampa Bay Rays
Pick: Toronto Blue Jays
25 Units, Take Toronto ML, This pick falls into one of my elite MLB systems and the Rays are just 18-38 when playing a team that has a losing record in the second half of the season. The Jays have the superior pitcher on the mound tonight and Roy Halladay (11-6, 2.71 ERA) has pitched solid over his last 3 starts with an ERA of just 0.72 over 25 innings while allowing just 12 hits. Halladay has also pitched extremely solid on the road this season with an ERA of just 2.51 over 82.3 innings while lasting an average of 7.5 innings per start and giving up just 3 homeruns. The Rays opponents were hitting .313 against them over their last 7 games while averaging 6.4 rpg before last nights game and I look for the Jays bats to come alive tonight against Matt Garza (7-5, 3.96 ERA) who has allowed 25 hits over his last 3 starts with an ERA of 4.82.
Larry Ness
New York Mets @ Cincinnati Reds
PICK: New York Mets -120
The Mets' 10-game winning streak (longest for the team since July 1991), moved them into a first-place tie with the Phillies in the NL East entering Friday's play. However, the Mets lost 5-2 last night in Cincinnati, while the Phillies beat the Marlins 4-2 in Miami. Still, the Mets have been rejuvenated under manager Jerry Manuel, outscoring opponents 64-27 during their winning streak, while batting .323 as a team. The Mets managed only four hits in Friday's loss but expect them to do much better here vs Josh Fogg. Fogg, who started Game 3 of last year's World Series for the Rockies, opened this year looking "completely helpless." In three April starts, he allowed 16 ERs over 11 innings (13.09 ERA) and was then banished to the bullpen. He was back in the rotation for a May 31 start but lasted just 3.1 innings, allowing six ERs (that gave him a 13.81 ERA in four starts). He was then placed on the DL on June 1, getting recalled from the minors after a rehab, on July 5. He's been much better in his last two starts, going six innings (one ER) in the team's 5-2 win on July 5 and 5.1 innings (three ERs) in the team's 6-5 win on July 11. However, I'm not buying those recent successes and will go against him here. Starting for the Mets will be Oliver Perez. He was unwanted by Pittsburgh during a horrible 2006 season and the Mets salvaged his career. He surprised everyone with a couple of strong postseason starts for the Mets in '06 and then went 15-10 (3.56 ERA) in '07. He's been up-and-down this year (6-5 with a 4.44 ERA in 19 starts / team is 10-9) but enters this game on quite a roll. Over his last three starts, he's allowed just eight hits and two ERs over 20 innings (20 Ks), for a 0.90 ERA. Take the Mets.