Yankee Capper
Atlanta Braves -125
San Diego Padres +115
Tampa Bay Rays -160
Red Dog Sports
Oakland at Detroit
Play: Under 9
The Athletics are 7-1 in Braden's last 8 starts. Oakland is not very good offensively and Detroit has gone under 7-2-1 in their last 10 overall. Braden's ERA is 2.79 and he has 1 over and 6 unders this year. Porcello for the Tigers has an ERA of 4.28 with 2 overs and 4 unders. Look for the under to profit on Saturday night!
Wunderdog
Game: Chicago White Sox at Toronto
Pick: Toronto -120
Bartolo Colon may have his best days behind him, and not in front of him. He had a four-year stretch where he was 73-41, but over the last four years he has won just 13 games, for three different teams. His ERA over this four-year period has been 5.41, so he is pitching on reputation, not results. After not signing AJ Burnett the Blue Jays have shocked everyone. Many thought this team would tumble, but they have been great, leading the American League East with a 24-14 mark. It's the offense that has been delivering as the Jays lead all of MLB at 5.8 runs a game, while the White Sox bats have struggled for 4.1 a game, second-worst in the AL. With a declining Colon on the mound, and Jays’ bats really hot, I look for them to continue their winning ways and get the win in this one. The Blue Jays get the call.
Brian Joseph
Houston Astros (-103) over Chicago Cubs
I bet against the Cubs yesterday and the rain out didn’t chance their starting pitcher so I’ll stick with yesterday’s rained out selection, especially since the Astros now have Roy Oswalt hurling. The Cubs are not only without Aramis Ramirez, Milton Bradley will be serving his one-game suspension and Derrek Lee is playing with a bulging disc in his neck. Plus, the Astros bats seem to finally be heating up, although playing a series in Colorado doesn’t hurt.
Cincinnati Reds (-126) over San Diego Padres
The Padres haven’t won consecutive games since April 16-18 when they won three in a row and are 5-19 in their last 24 games. Edinson Volquez seems to be back on track if you look past his last outing against the Cardinals and Josh Geer is, well, Josh Geer. If you can find somewhere to place a prop bet on Adrian Gonzalez hitting a home run to extend his home run streak to six straight games, it may be worth it. But the Padres aren’t a lock to win if Gonzalez goes deep — they are 4-8 when he does — so don’t let that deter you from betting on the Reds.
Dave Malinsky
TORONTO BLUE JAYS (Ray)-125 over Chicago White Sox (Colon)
We believe that the Blue Jays are being sold at less than what the home field advantage is worth in this one, creating a serious value situation for a team that the markets simply refuse to accept, and an ideal opponent for us to buck in this setting. The offensive and defensive gaps here are monsters. Toronto has out-scored Chicago by 82 runs, with major edges in batting average (#1 in the A.L. at .289 vs. #13 at .250), doubles (89, which is tied for #1, vs. 48, which is dead last), home runs (47 vs. 35) and walks (147 vs. 105). Defensively the Blue Jays are #1 in the A.L., and #2 in the Major Leagues, on our best set of ratings, while the White Sox are #13 in the league and #29 overall. And we believe that is magnified here on the faster playing surface of the Rogers Centre. So why the short price? Part of that is the lack of respect for Toronto despite that 24-14 opening to the season, and more comes from the fact that Bartolo Colon has a name and Robert Ray does not. But Colon?s 2-3/4.88 might be all that there is at this stage of his career, and his two wins came vs. a Minnesota team playing without Joe Mauer, and punchless Seattle. His three road outings have been an ugly 0-2/7.90, and a hot Blue Jay offense will get some good swings. Meanwhile Ray is a young guy with talent that needs some time on the mound, but we do not need anything all that special from him here ? just a couple of good passes through the lineup before turning it over to a deep bullpen that does not carry any significant fatigue ratings.
Dave Price
1 Unit on Arizona D-backs +113
The D-backs are due and I like their chances tonight with Max Scherzer on the hill as he brings a 1.59 road ERA into this one. The D-backs' bats should have a good opportunity to score some runs against the struggling Kenshin Kawakami, who comes in with a 5.79 ERA, and an even higher 6.89 ERA over his last 3 starts. The number are definitely in Arizona 's favor here as plays on any team ( ARIZONA ) - terrible offensive team (=5.70) (NL), after a loss by 2 runs or less, are 41-18 since 1997. Bet the D-backs.
Stephen Nover
Arizona Diamondbacks @ Atlanta Braves
PICK: Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona is not playing well. But look for that to change with shortstop Stephen Drew back in the lineup playing in his third game since recovering from a hamstring injury.The Diamondbacks are facing struggling 31-year-old major-league rookie Kenshin Kawakami, who has yet to duplicate his success in Japan.Kawakami is 2-4 with a 5.79 ERA. He has given up 18 walks in 32 2/3 innings. Kawakami has been bothered by a sore shoulder and hasn't had much time to work with catcher Brian McCann, who had been on the DL with eye problems.The Braves are just 6-9 at home.Arizona's Max Scherzer is an intriguing pitcher. He's due to get his first win. I say he gets it here.
Ben Burns
Cleveland Indians at Tampa Bay Rays
Prediction: Tampa Bay Rays
At first glance, this price seems rather high. However, when we consider that the Rays are an extremely profitable 32-5 (+23.8) the last 37 times that they were listed as home favorites in the -150 to -175 range, the price begins to look much more attractive. That's particularly true given the advantage they should enjoy on the mound.
Pavano has admittedly been getting better and he did earn a victory last time out. However, he didn't pitch particularly well. In 6 1/3 innings, he gave up 10 hits and four runs. That's not terrible - but it's not very good either. For the season, Pavano does still have a "terrible" 6.50 ERA with a 1.54 WHIP.
Unlike Pavano, Garza brings terrific stats to the table. He's got a solid 3.56 ERA and 1.041 WHIP overall. His numbers here at home have been even better, going 2-1 with a 3.49 ERA and 0.917 WHIP. Garza has been particularly dominant lately, as he's gone 2-0 with an outstanding 1.99 ERA and 0.75 WHIP his last three starts. Consider Tampa
Gina
Boston Red Sox at Seattle Mariners
Go with Boston to outscore the lowest scoring team in the league. The Red Sox have won five of their last 6 games versus the Mariners and have won six of its last 9 in Seattle. The Red Sox will send their ace Josh Beckett to the hill. The right-hander pitched well in his last two starts and is 3-1 with a 3.29 ERA in four career starts against Seattle. The Mariners counters with Garrett Olson. The lefty has been unsuccessful against the Red Sox, 0-4 with a 7.76 ERA in six starts against the Red Sox.
Boston Red Sox -150
Randall the Handle
PITTSBURGH +1.06 over Colorado (1st 5 innings)
Aaron Cook has thrown an impressive 27 innings over his last four starts and has some strong numbers to go along with it. He’s allowed just two runs against in his last two starts and has allowed three or less in four straight. As a result of that his stock is higher then it should be and that’s the best time to go against someone. Fact is, he faced the Padres twice during that stretch and although he allowed just three earned runs to the Dodgers, he wasn’t sharp at all and was flirting with trouble all night. His numbers against the Bucs and at PNC Park leave plenty to be desired. Ian Snell is 1-1 at home with a BAA of .200. He’s been hit and miss this season but he’s faced some very tough opposition. Consider that Snell has faced the Reds In Cinci, the Cards in St. Louis, the Mets, Milwaukee twice Atlanta and San Diego. That’s one soft opponent in seven starts and it’s worth noting he shut out the Braves, he was stellar in Cincinnati and threw a gem against the Brewers. Snell has very decent stuff and will take a step down in class against the Rockies. The Pirates bullpen has been brutal and thus, I’ll play this one in five. Play: Pittsburgh +1.06 in the first five innings +1.06 (Risking 2 units).
Ted Sevranksy
Minnesota Twins @ New York Yankees
PICK: Over 10
It’s not hard to make a case for any game at the new Yankees Stadium to get up and over the total. We’ve seen the Bronx Bombers go 9-3-2 to the Over in their first 14 games in this venue, with 11 of those 14 games producing at least ten runs. The park set a major league record with 36 home runs through the first ten games, most ever for any new stadium. Routine pop-ups to right field carry all the way to the warning track and beyond, as the wind pattern strongly favors all the potent left handed bats that the Yanks have in their lineup.Frankly, I wouldn’t argue against betting the Over in any game in the Bronx right now, but I’ve isolated Minnesota ’s Nick Blackburn as a definitive ‘bet-against’ hurler here. Blackburn faced the Yankees twice last year, and it wasn’t pretty in any of them, lasting just 10.2 innings while allowing 18 hits, six walks and eleven runs. Blackburn pitches to contact, with opposing batters hitting over .300 against him once again this year. That is a recipe for disaster in this ballpark against this lineup. Rather than lay the big price with the Yanks as a favorite against Blackburn, the Over is the preferred play. 2* Take the Over.
GREG SHAKER
Colorado Rockies at Pittsburgh Pirates
Play: Rockies -114
After a slow start Colorado's Cook is back to being who he is, one of the best throwers in the league. His 2.14 ERA over the last 3 games is very spiffy and we have to remember that 2 of those starts were at Coors Field, the best hitting venue in the Major League's. Actually he has pitched well over the last 4 games and specifically his last 2 have been dominent. There is absolutely no comparison to these Pens for today's action with the Rockies second liners at 3.54 to Pitt's 7.66 over the last 10. Pirates won a couple games verses the Cardinals but this team has serious problems in a lot of areas. They have won just 3 times over the last 17. I have to back Cook here as he is in much better form right now. Much better. This is sort of the "No Brainer" Category.
RJ Robbins
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Florida Marlins
Play: Over 10
The Dodgers trout out Eric Milton for his first start of the season after under going elbow surgery back in 2007. A. Miller will be making his 1st home start after getting lit up in 3 RS. He pitched 11 innings giving up 15 runs and to top that off was hammered twice by LA last year in 4 2/3 innings he gave up 13 runs. Look for a lot of runs to be score today. OVER 10
Rob Homyak
5 Units on Atlanta Braves
Play AGAINST ARIZONA using the money line in Road games when playing against a team with a winning record
The record is 11 Wins and 29 Losses for the last two seasons (-19.20 units)ARIZONA is 64-75 (-26.1 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
Head to Head.
Diamondbacks are 1-5 in the last 6 meetings.
Umpire Trends - Randy Marsh
Home team is 4-0 in Marshs last 4 Saturday games behind home plate vs. Atlanta.
Home team is 8-2 in Marshs last 10 games behind home plate vs. Atlanta.