Tony Karpinski
Texas Rangers vs. Baltimore Orioles
Play: Over
The Orioles do not get enough credit. We have told you time and time before that the Orioles are a good play and especially at home. The Orioles are 25-15 at home. That is not a good record that is a great record. Remember that the Orioles play one of the toughest schedules in all of baseball and play in the AL East Division. After all they play the: Yankees, Rays, Blue Jays and Red Sox 18 times each. The Rangers have a big offense but the Orioles put runs on the board as well. Just look at the last 2 nights games where they combined to get over 20 hits in each game. The Orioles will score runs again today and the Rangers can surely hit. Play the OVER
Ben Burns
Florida Marlins at Colorado Rockies
Prediction: Colorado Rockies
The defending NL Champs are rolling, having won five in a row. They've scored 36 runs through the first three games of this series (44 their last four games) and they should put up decent numbers again this afternoon. That's because Marlins starter Mark Hendrickson is 0-5 with a 9.79 ERA in seven starts, dating back to his most recent win, vs. San Francisco on May 25.
While Hendrickson is capable of pitching better than he has been recently (he was the team's Opening Day starter and was solid to start the season) he's unlikely to be able to match what Rockies' starter Aaron Cook will be bringing to the table. Indeed, Cook is near the top of the league with 11 wins already. In fact, only Saunders and Webb have more; they both have 12. Cook, a pitcher who induces a lot of ground balls, has been at his best at home, too. In eight starts at Coors Field, he's 5-2 (Rockies are 6-2) with an outstanding 2.77 ERA and 1.005 WHIP. In his most recent start, Cook delivered a complete game shutout. Behind another quality effort from Cook, the Rockies should be able to complete the sweep. Consider laying the price with the home team.
Frank Rosenthal
952 REDS-205
958 BREWERS-150
959 FISH OVER 10.5
962 CARDS-120
964 GIANTS-120
965 PADRES+145
971 A'S EVEN
973 TRIBE-115
980 YANKS-155
UNDER 9
Larry Ness
Pittsburgh Pirates @ Milwaukee Brewers
PICK: Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee won last night 2-1 on Prince Fielder's game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning. It was Milwaukee’s 14th win in their last 17 home games. That isn’t exactly something new, as over the previous two seasons, while the Brewers were only 59-103 on the road, they were an impressive 99-63 at home. Milwaukee is now 27-13 at home in ‘08 (21-26 on the road) and will go for a three-game sweep over a Pittsburgh team which is struggling on the road (again!) The Pirates have not had a winning season since 1992 and the team’s lack of success on the road has been a major reason. The Pirates are 15-27 (.357) on the road this year, a mark that is slightly worse than their road record of the previous four seasons (121-203 .373). Zach Duke (4-5 with a 3.88 ERA) gets the start for Pittsburgh and while the lefty has pitched much better as of late, he's still searching for his first road win of '08. He's tried eight previous times, going 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA. The Pirates are 4-4 in his road starts this year but in his career ('05 was his first season), the Pirates are a woeful 12-30 in his 42 road starts. What's more, the Brewers are an impressive 18-9 vs left-handed starters in '08 (10-4 at home), which includes an 8-1 mark in day games, where the Brewers have averaged 6.9 RPG. Jeff Suppan starts for the Brewers and once again he's pitching well in home games (Brewers went 12-5 in his home starts last year). While Suppan's road ERA is 6.04 in 10 starts in '08, his home ERA (seven starts) is 2.22. More good news comes Milwaukee's way in that Suppan is 10-3 with a 3.95 ERA in 18 career starts vs the Pirates (teams are 13-5). Take the Brewers.
Stephen Nover
Florida Marlins @ Colorado Rockies
PICK: Over
There's only one way to go on the total in this series finale between the Marlins and Rockies - and it's sure not 'under.'
There have been 64 runs scored in the first three games of this series. That's a combined average of 21.3 runs per game! The result is two battered and depleted bullpens.
Maybe the Rockies can get a good performance from their starter, Aaron Cook. He does, however, have a 4.73 ERA in three lifetime appearances versus the Marlins. The Marlins may have slugging second baseman Dan Uggla available for pinch-hitting duties.
Certainly, though, you can't count on Mark Hendrickson to perform well for Florida. The Rockies' bats finally have come to life. Colorado is averaging 8.6 runs in its last six games. The Rockies should rock Hendrickson, who has a 9.79 ERA in his last seven starts.
Hendrickson has given up nine home runs in his last five starts, spanning 24 1/3 innings.
Stevie Y
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Milwaukee Brewers
Play: Over
We're fading the Dukster who is 4-5 on the year with only a 3.88 ERA, & a poor batting average against is .300. looking @ his 3 outings he has allowed 19 hits and 5 walks in 17 innings. On the road this year he is 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA and a .314 batting average against. Vs the Brew crew he owns a 4-5 mark & a over 4 ERA .
a poor prop play @ Miller Park he is 0-3 with a 6.66 ERA and a .343 batting average against , Recently ice cold Jeff Suppan has been getting shelled in the last 4 outings he has allowed 34 hits and 5 walks in 15.2 innings pitched, for an ERA of 9.00 and a WHIP of over 2.500. In the last 3 years he is 5-2 against the Pirates but with an ERA of 4.87 and a batting average against of .308 The Pirates are an 31-11 OVER LAST 42 ON THE ROAD...32 -11 AFTER TODAY PLAY THE OVER
LUCKY LEPRECHAUN SPORTS
PHILADELPHIA -115 over NY Mets
The Mets are 1-6 in their last 7 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game and 0-4 in their last 4 games following a win, while the Phillies are 12-2 in their last 14 vs. a team with a losing record and 13-3 in Kendricks last 16 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game. Kyle Kendrick has been solid for the phils this year, going 8-3 with a 4.58 ERA overall, including a 3-2 mark with a 5.05 ERA at home. Kyle also has a 3.00 ERA in 2 starts vs the Mets. The Phis really play for this kid as they are 13-4 in his starts, scoring 6.5 rpg for him in the process. The Phils score 5 rpg at home, 5.8 rpg vs lefties and they come in having scored 5.2 rpg in their last 8 overall. Oliver Perez is 6-5 with a 4.98 ERA overall, including a 3-3 mark with a 5.10 ERA on the road, including an 0-1 mark with an 8.09 ERA in his last 4 starts away from home. The Mets do score 4.9 rpg on the road, but they only average 4.3 rpg in division games and have put just 3.3 rpg on the board in Oliver's last 4 road starts starts. The Phils really do well with Kendrick on the mound and they also do good vs lefties, while the Mets can't seem to win 2 games in a row. The Phils win their 14th game with Kendrick on the mound here.
Mr A
Oakland Athletics at Chicago White Sox
The White Sox have won eight of their last ten games overall and ten of its last 12 at home, but have not been successful against the Athletics. Chicago has lost seven of the last 9 meetings versus Oakland and four of the last six at U.S. Cellular Field.
Oakland's Rich Harden (5-0, 2.25 ERA) has won five straight decisions and is 3-2 with a 2.92 ERA in six career starts versus the White Sox. The Athletics are 8-2 in the southpaws' last 10 road starts.
Chicago's John Danks (5-4, 2.50) is 0-1 with a 0.90 ERA in his last three starts The right-hander is 2-0 with a 0.66 ERA in two career starts against Athletics.
Take the A's this afternoon in the Windy City with Rich Harden on the mound. Oakland has won Harden's last five starts versus the White Sox.
Oakland Athletics - 110
Locksmith Sports Picks
1 Unit on Phillies -118
The Phillies will be in full on bounce back mode here after blowing yesterday's game in the 8th. We'll take them to the bank with the dominant Kendrick hurling. The Phillies are 12-2 in their last 14 vs. a team with a losing record and 5-1 in their last 6 vs. the National League East. The Phillies are 13-3 in Kendrick's last 16 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game, 5-1 in Kendrick's last 6 starts vs. the National League East, and 19-7 in Kendrick's last 26 starts overall. The Mets are just 3-7 in the last 10 meetings in Philadelphia . Bet the Phillies.
Wunderdog
Cleveland at Minnesota
Pick: Game Total OVER 8
Minnesota is red hot while Cleveland is ice cold. The Twins have won 17 of their last 20 while the Indians have lost 13 of 17. What's interesting is that Minnesota has been winning with offense (not defense) and Cleveland has been losing thanks to weak defense. Over their last ten games, the Twins have scored 5.7 runs per game. Over their last seven, the Indians have given up 7.2 per game. Yes, Cliff Lee goes tonight for Cleveland. He's been incredible this season. But, when he leaves the game, the Twins offense gets to tee off on an Indians pen that has a 5.83 ERA. Let's not forget this team scores 5.1 runs per game at home and they are 19-8 OVER this season vs. starting pitchers with an ERA of 4.00 or better. Cleveland should be able to score against Glen Perkins who has a good, but not great 4.65 home ERA. We like the OVER here.
PRICELESS PICKS
1 Unit on Detroit Tigers -115
I like the Tigers to bounce back and get a win after 2 straight defeats to the Mariners. The Tigers are 5-0 in their last 5 Sunday games, 21-5 in their last 26 games as a favorite, and 5-0 in Robertson's last 5 starts as a favorite. The Mariners are just 1-5 in their last 6 Sunday games and 4-10 in their last 14 vs. the American League Central. After back-to-back sub par games by the Tigers at the plate, I like the sticks to come alive for Motown this afternoon. Bet the Tigers.
Steve Janus
Oakland Athletics vs. Chicago White Sox
Play: Oakland Athletics
The A's are 5-0 in their last 5 against the AL central and Rich Harden is 8-2 in his last 10 starts on the road. The White Sox are 3-9 their last 12 as an underdog and they are 2-6 their last 8 when John Danks starts against a team with a winning record.
Oddswiz
Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees
Play: New York Yankees
I'd never advise laying -155 on a baseball game. You won't win long term doing so. Simple as that. So this free play really isn't a recommendation to consider this game as much as it's a lesson for the future when it comes to a knuckleball pitcher.
A knuckleball pitcher can be virtually impossible to hit if you've never faced him before. But the Yankee lineup is very familiar with Wakefield and it shows. Wakefield has lost his last 4 starts against the Yanks and was pounded, with an ERA of 10.02. He's 1-8 with a 6.82 his last 10 starts against them. It seems that Giambi is the only Yankee who can't hit him.
Again, not advising a play here. Just wanted to give you something to watch for the future. Normally, I'd advise a play on the dog regardless of who is on the mound when these two square off and your getting such a huge price. But we'll watch this one from the sidelines today.
Jeff Scott
3 Units Cardinals
2 Units Wash/ Cincy Under
2 Units Tex/ Balt Over
1 Unit Tbay- 1.5
1 Unit Phillies
Jeffmoney
Indians -120 (pod)
Astros +120
Padres +140
Jays +115
Dodgers +110