Karl Garrett
Seattle at COLORADO -115
For Saturday night, how can you argue what is going on with the Rockies right now?
Last night's win over Seattle pushed the Colorado winning streak to 9 in a row!
Tonight Jason Marquis and his 8-4 mark will toe the rubber at Coor's Field. True, Seattle hurler Erik Bedard has been rolling along, but you just get the feeling that the way the Rocks are playing right now, they will find a way to win this contest.
Colorado is closing in on the .500 mark for the season, while Seattle is still just 14-17 away from Safeco this year.
Can't buck this horse tonight, as the Rockies definitely have something brewing.
Take Colorado to extend the winning streak to 10 straight.
3♦ COLORADO
Chris Jordan
Oakland at SAN FRANCISCO -110
He won his 300th, threw less than 80 pitches and then came out on three days’ rest and was defeated by the Marlins. Let’s come back with Randy Johnson, who will work on his normal four days' rest for this Bay City rivalry. Hey, fact is, Johnson pitched respectably at Florida, tossing shutout ball in four of his five innings; problem was his lone lapse made a difference as he left one hanging for Brett Carroll, who drilled a three-run homer in a 4-0 Giants defeat.
Not to worry, as he’s 4-2 at home with a 4.24 ERA, and should be pumped to face the organization’s crosstown rival. I admit, I’m a big fan of Josh Outman – I think he’s Oakland’s best rookie in that young staff – but The Big Unit is my choice tonight, as he avenges his loss to the Fish.
1♦ GIANTS
Matt Rivers
For Saturday take the underdog Mets once again.
Sure the Yankees with Arod and Teixeira and Cano and Jeter and others will get some hits and plate some runs against Fernando Nieve but with that said Joe Girardi's team is once again laying a bit much today. The Mets deserved to win on Friday but lost in fairly ridiculous fashion in the bottom of the 9th and more times than not the team that suffers a bad beat like that is able to rebound the next day.
The Mets are not close to being healthy and are the inferior squad today, I admit that, but with David Wright, Carlos Beltran and a few other capable hitters in Sheffield and Church how can you not take back this sweet number with the still capable enough Mets!?!?!?! This isn't 1998 where Andy Pettitte was an elite pitcher. No doubt in a clutch money situation when the chips are down the Yankee Southpaw can be tough as he guts it out with the best of them but more times than not this guy right now is extremely mediocre.
Nieve may even be the better pitcher at this point when compared to his mound combatant in Pettitte. I'm not saying that Triple A compares to the Bigs at all but the Mets' starter was 3-0 there and has been pretty solid. Plus he has had some experience the past few years with the Astros so it's not like this is his Major League debut at all.
Sure the Bronx Bombers in this new Hitters' paradise of Yankee Stadium is a bit tougher than facing the Toledo Mudhens but the bottom line is that Nieve is okay and the Mets are still a very good team overall, no matter how banged up and average they have been, and are too good to be getting such a handsome price. They stayed toe to toe in the first game of this series as a similar dog and will compete once again here.
The Yankees should win the game but yet again they may not and that is enough for me at this price.
Jake Timlin
Surviving last night for the home win I look for the Rays to have a bit of an easier time today.
Tough game for the Rays last night as they only won by one run, but despite the narrow victory given how bad Washington is it’s easy to back Tampa Bay today. You see for the Nationals with last night’s loss they continue to play like a triple A team having lost 24 of their last 30 games. Even worst numbers the Nationals only have 6 road wins and only 16 total wins over all on the season.
Meanwhile, for the Rays with last night’s win they climbed above the five hundred mark on the season and improved 19-12 at home.
Well thanks to playing at home and against the worst team in the league look for the Rays to fatten up on the Nationals here today.
Go with Tampa Bay at home.
1♦ Tampa Bay Rays
Tony Weston
Today's Selection
Tough loss last night as the Dodgers get blanked. That’s fine as we’re getting back on the winning track tonight and taking the Astros on the road at the Diamondbacks.
Despite last night’s loss in Game 1 of this series Houston has won 2 of its last 3 and is 8-4 its last 12 games overall.
The Diamondbacks, on the other hand, have only 2 wins their last 5 games overall. At home, Arizona is 14-21 overall this season and the team only has 6 wins its last 17 games at Chase Field.
Taking the mound for Arizona will be Jon Garland, who has struggled mightily for the Diamondbacks lately. Arizona has lost each of Garland’s last 4 starts as he’s allowed 18 earned runs in 21 1/3 innings of work.
Garland will struggle again tonight as the Astros get over on the Diamondbacks. Take Houston on the road in this one tonight.
3♦ ASTROS
Craig Davis
Tonight's free play is on Boston with Dice K on the hill. His road success is documented over his career, and there's no reason to think he won't continue his domination tonight in Philly. Many average bettors will look at last night's extra innings win over Philly as motivation for the home team to come out on fire tonight. I don't think so. I actually think this works in Boston's favor. A 13 inning game that you win on the road can go a long way for your confidence the rest of the series. As a Yankees fan this pains me to write because I absolutely hate the Red Sox, but money is money and I can't let my biases get in the way of winners. Everyone is going to look at Bastardo's numbers and then compare them to Dice K and assume the Phils will win this one easily. Not so fast. Looking back and Dice K's last two road starts, he's 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA and has pitched through the fifth inning in both of them. Tonight, he goes longer and the Red Sox bats will awaken from their slumber from last night, pounding the Phils en route to another easy road win.
2♦ BOSTON
Nick "BookieKiller" Parsons
ANA (-130) vs SDP
The San Diego Padres had originally scheduled Jake Peavy to take the mound in the second game of an interleague series against the Los Angeles Angels. Instead, he likely won?t make another start until after the All-Star break. The Angels Joe Saunders(notes) (6-4, 3.94) went 3-1 with a 2.03 ERA in four starts against the NL in 2008 and is set to make his first career start against San Diego and I expect him to be sharp; LA is 4-2 (+1.2 units) as a home favorite of -125 to -150! Play on the ANGELS!
Jr Tips
SEATLLE vs. COLORADO
The Colorado Rockies are looking for a 10th straight victory tonight. Colorado (29-32) rallied from an early three-run deficit to win 6-4 in last night's opener. The Rockies catch a break by not having to face Seattle's ace Erik Bedard so former closer Brandon Morrow (0-3, 6.38) will make his first start since Sept. 26 after appearing in 16 games out of the bullpen this season for the Mariners (30-31). The right-hander, who is 2-2 with a 5.79 ERA in five career starts, could be limited to around 60 pitches and he has never faced Colorado. The Rockies are batting .286 while outscoring opponents 61-24 during their nine-game streak. Colorado's starter Jason Marquis (8-4, 3.98) looks to build off another strong start for after giving up two runs and six hits in 6 2/3 innings of a 5-2 win over St. Louis on Monday.The right-hander is tied for the NL lead in wins as he is 4-1 with a 2.23 ERA in his last five starts. The Rockies are too hot for bullpen pitcher Marrow to have a chance plus they are only going to let him throw 60 pitchers before they turn to their bullpen which will be trouble against this potent Colorado offense.
TAKE COLORADO-110
LT Profits
Kansas City Royals -1.5
The Kansas City Royals took the series opener here 4-1 last night as the Cincinnati Reds offense continues to hibernate, and we see value in playing against the Reds on the Run Line until they start to hit.
The Reds are batting a pathetic .193 as a team over their last 10 games including .188 vs. right-handers, averaging just 3.00 runs during this span. That is good news for Royals starter Kyle Davies, who has been very inconsistent nut can be dominant on one of his good days. Given the current state of the Cincinnati offense, today could easily be one of those good days.
Bronson Arroyo has also been inconsistent for the Reds, although it appears he has turns things around with three Quality Starts in his last four outings. However, all three of those quality efforts came at home, and the lone non-quality outing came on the road at St. Louis, where he was touched up for five earned runs on seven hits with two walks in 5.1 innings. He is facing a Kansas City offense that is coming around scoring 16 runs the last three games.
We are not usually fans of playing home favorite on the Run Line, but as long as the Reds offense will remain non-existent, we see the Royals building at least a two-run lead over the first eight innings. We then trust closer Joakim Soria, who has allowed just one hit in his last three games, not to allow a meaningless run in the ninth.
Pick: Royals -1.5
Jimmy The Moose
Florida Marlins at Toronto Blue Jays
The Marlins won last night in Toronto but are 4-7 in their last 11 road games. Florida is 6-17 in their last 23 games an underdog. The Marlins are 2-6 in their last 8 interleague games. The Jays are 11-5 in their last 16 interleague home games vs. a team with a losing record. In their last 24 home games the Jays are 16-8. In their last 65 home games vs. a left-handed starter the Jays are 44-21. Toronto has been solid at home this season and will take another one today
Play on: Toronto
VEGAS EXPERTS
Houston Astros at Arizona Diamondbacks
We find the D'backs off back-to-back wins, a real rarity considering the club's 7-19 mark this season when off a victory. Don't like their chances at three straight against Houston's Roy Oswalt, who has owned Arizona in his career with an 8-1 team start record and a 2.25 ERA. He'll be opposed by Jon Garland, who has been miserable over his last three starts with an 0-3 TSR and 8.80 ERA. Houston is due to beat Arizona.
Play on: Houston
GINA
San Diego Padres at Los Angeles Angels
San Diego's right-hander Josh Geer (1-1, 5.60 ERA) is 1-0 with a 4.91 ERA in his last three starts. The Padres went 3-7 in Geer's last 10 starts and have lost the rookie last 6 road starts. Meanwhile, Los Angeles' Joe Saunders (6-4, 3.94) is 0-2 with a 6.50 ERA in his last three stars, but the Angels have won four of Saunders' last 5 interleague starts. Both pitchers will make their first career start this evening against their opponent.
The Padres have dropped seven of their last 10 games and have not been successful away from home and in interleague play. San Diego is just 4-16 in their last 20 road games and 7-24 in its last 31 interleague games. Go with Los Angeles tonight at Angel Stadium. The Angels are 4-2 in their last 6 games at home against San Diego and 4-1 in their last 5 interleague games.
Los Angeles Angels -130
Tom Freese
Cincinnati Reds at Kansas City Royals
Prediction: Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati is 6-2 their last 8 games vs. losing teams and they are 8-3 vs. AL Central teams. The Reds are are 6-1 with Bronson Arroyo vs. a team with a losing record and they are 5-2 their last 7 games with the Royals. Kansas City is 8-23 their last 31 games and they are 4-10 vs. righty starters. The Royals are 1-9 vs. an opponent that scored 2 or less runs in their last game and they are 0-6 in the last 6 starts made by Kyle Davies. PLAY ON CINCINNATI+ (Arroyo vs. Davies)
Big Al
At 4:10 pm, our member selection is on the New York Yankees over their cross-town rivals, the Mets. Last night, the Bronx Bombers had, perhaps, the luckiest win in franchise history. With two outs in the bottom of the 9th inning, the Yanks' Alex Rodriguez hit a pop fly to Luis Castillo. At the time, the Yankees were down 8-7, and had runners on 1st and 2nd. Thus, both runners were off at the crack of the bat. And, when Rodriguez made contact with the ball, it was such an obvious out that A-Rod slammed his bat to the ground, and broke it, before he half-heartedly jogged to 1st base. The 3-time Gold Glover Castillo moved into shallow right field and got under the high pop-up, but inexplicably dropped it, and allowed the Yankees who were stationed on 1st and 2nd to trot around with the game-tying and winning runs. When a team wins a game like that, it's definitely a "high," and when a team loses a game like that, it haunts them. That's not good news for the Mets this afternoon. Neither is the fact that righty Fernando Nieve will be making his first start since 2006. He will match up against southpaw Andy Pettitte, who is 8-4 lifetime vs. the Mets. Take the Yankees.
Free Selection from Arthur Ralph Sports
278 - 180 run 60 % 22-9 run here
Sat Pitt Pirates
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