JOHN FINA
Selection: Washington Nationals
Today the Houston Astros will be on the road as they take on the Washington Nationals. We will side with the Washington Nationals! One reason why we will side with the Washington Nationals is because they will be sending to the mound the much better starting pitcher. This says it all... The Houston Astros Starting Pitcher (Brandon Backe) has a 6.60 ERA in his last 3 starts, while Washington Nationals Starting Pitcher (Odalis Perez) has a 1.35 ERA in his last 3 starts. As you can see, the Washington Nationals will be sending to the mound the much better starting pitcher. The Washington Nationals are 10-5 in their last 15 meetings against the Houston Astros, and should be able to get another win today! Take the Washington Nationals!
STEPHEN NOVER
GAME: Florida Marlins @ Los Angeles Dodgers
PICK: Florida Marlins
Two promising pitchers go in this matchup - Andrew Miller for Florida and Chad Billingsley for Los Angeles.
Billingsley is the strong favorite on the betting line. He's certainly capable of coming in with a big performance. But at this price, the underdog Marlins have too much going for them to be faded or ignored.
Florida is the hotter club, having won five of its past six. This includes taking the first three games of this series.
The Marlins are the much better hitting team, ranking first in homers and sixth in runs compared to the Dodgers rating 29th in homers and 26th in runs. Florida is averaging 5.9 runs in its past 12 games, while the Dodgers are averaging 2.8 runs during their last seven contests.
Marlins all-star shortstop Hanley Ramirez said he expects to play today after going out early during Saturday night's game because of a sore right shoulder. Look for the line to climb right near post if Ramirez isn't able to start.
Miller has allowed three or fewer runs in seven of his last 10 starts as he begins to show signs of fulfilling his great talent. He has yet to yield more than four earned runs during any of his last 10 starts.
Billingsley is very talented, too, but has struggled somewhat at home. He had a horrible outing on Tuesday at home versus the Braves, giving up five earned runs on six hits and four walks in 5 1/3 innings while throwing 103 pitches. Billingsley's ERA at Dodger Stadium is 4.18 compared to 2.65 on the road.
The Dodgers aren't expected to have star closer Takashi Saito. He left last night's game because of pain in his pitching elbow.
SCOTT SPREITZER 's MLB Sunday KNOCKOUT BLOWOUT! *19-8, 70%!
I'm laying the price with the Tigers on Sunday. Detroit is in a must-win spot at home against Minnesota today with the ace of their staff on the mound. Justin Verlander has been pitching lights out in recent weeks. In fact, over his last 11 starts, Verlander has an ERA of 2.75. It's gone largely unreported because of some poor early outings. Verlander has been one of the best pitchers in all of baseball for about two months. Nick Blackburn of Minnesota has struggled on the road this season. His ERA is 4.78 outside the Metrodome. In one start at Comerica, Blackburn allowed four earned runs in 5 2/3 IP. The Twins are just 3-6 in his road starts. Detroit has its back to the wall after a shaky start to this series. Today is literally the most important game of their season if they want to stay in the AL Central race with Chicago and Minnesota. Verlander is just the man who should be on the mound with so much at stake. I believe Jim Leyland's squad will head into the all-star break on a positive note with a much needed divisional win. The Tigers minus the price is the play.
SCOTT SPREITZER 's 25* MLB SUNDAY SLAMMER! *9-2, 82% Run!
I'm laying the price with the Mets on Sunday. I normally don't like to play favorites in this range. But there are some situations during a MLB season where a high favorite carries strong value because the number isn't nearly big enough. This is one such case. Mike Pelfrey has caught fire in recent outings. Over his last seven starts, Pelfrey's ERA is 2.62. He's finally living up to expectations, and may have been helped by the managerial change. Some players respond well to changes in leadership. The Mets, as a whole have certainly responded well to Jerry Manuel. The team owns an eight game winning streak after Saturday's win (KO play for my clients), which included three wins on the road against first place Philadelphia. Colorado is a woeful 14-35 on the road and they've dropped three straight. Tonight they start Mark Redman, who has an unbelievably bad ERA of 9.00 on the road this year. I'm getting a New York team that's finally playing like a champion, with a hot pitcher, against a very bad road team that's likely to go in the tank so they can get back to Colorado to start their three-day vacation. This game has blowout written all over it. The Mets minus the price is the play.
DAVE COKIN
ARI D'backs @ PHI Phillies
Take PHI Phillies
The Diamondbacks finally got the offense untracked Saturday, which was good for me as they were my NL Game of the Month play. But look for the hitters to go back into hibernation here as they now have to face a really tough lefty in Philly's Cole Hamels. Brandon Webb is seemingly back on track for the Snakes, but he's got a much tougher lineup to beat than does Hamels. I'll tab the Phils to head into the break with a win
JIM FEIST
CHW White Sox @ TEX Rangers
Take TEX Rangers
Rangers lead the Majors in runs scored this season (519). Problem has been they also allow the most runs in the league (539). Matt Harrison might be a bright spot in regards to those runs allowed. Harrison allowed just two earned runs in a solid seven inning pitched in his debut this year for the Rangers. We'll give him a second shot here on Sunday with the big hitting bats behind him.
Nelly
Baltimore at Boston
This game could feature a lot of extra base runners as today?s starters walk more batters than any other pitchers. Daniel Cabrera has allowed 51 walks this season and Dasuike Matsuzaka has allowed 52 walks. Matsuzaka actually owns a far higher ERA in home games and he has been very inconsistent this season despite his great record. Cabrera has allowed 29 runs in his last seven stars and after a solid start to the season his numbers have started to fade lately and some of his control problems have resurfaced. The ?over? is 24-8-1 in the last 33 Baltimore games and Boston has displayed great offense of late with 64 runs scored in the last ten games. The Red Sox are hitting .295 in home games this season and the Orioles are hitting .306 in the last ten games. Look for big numbers from two strong offenses and both pitchers are unlikely to go deep into this game given their typical pitch counts. Both teams have also had recent issues in the bullpen so this game could see some added runs in the late innings as well.
ROSS BENJAMIN
Houston @ Washington
Play On: Washington -110
The Washington starter Odalis Perez has been excellent in 8 starts at home posting a 2.11 ERA. In 2 starts during the day in 2008 Perez has posted a stellar 1.42 ERA. The Houston starter Brandon Backe has struggled throughout his young career on the road. This season is no different as Backe is 2-9 in his team starts in that role with a 5.15 ERA, a 1.61 WHIP, and has allowed 13 home runs in just 53.2 innings. The Nationals are 6-2 in their last 8 at home versus the Astros. Play on the Washington Nationals
TONY MATHEWS
St. Louis Cardinals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Selection: St. Louis/Pittsburgh Over 9.5
The St. Louis Cardinals will use starting pitcher Joel Pineiro. Joel Pineiro has struggled as of late. In fact, Joel Pineiro has a 5.21 ERA in his last 3 starts. We see Joel Pineiro giving up many runs once again today.
The Pittsburgh Pirates will use starting pitcher Ian Snell. Ian Snell has also struggled as of late. In fact, Ian Snell has a 9.26 ERA in his last 3 starts. We see Ian Snell also 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 14-6-1 in the last 21 meetings between these teams.
Take the St. Louis Cardinals/Pittsburgh Pirates Over 9.5!
CHRIS JORDAN
Folks at Wrigley Field are in for a treat today, as theyll get a glimpse at two of the hottest pitchers of the first half Ryan Dempster and Tim Lincecum. Unfortunately for the Giants and their one star player this season, Dempster has been unbeatable in every start hes made in front of the ivy. The fiery right-hander is 10-0 in as many starts in Wrigley Field, with a 2.58 ERA, and comes into this one off a solid showing against Cincinnati.
Dempster held the Reds to one earned run in seven innings, and catches a Giants team that has been hit or miss all season. And after what the Frisco lineup pulled yesterday, then was eventually deflated by the Cubs extra-inning win, I doubt the Giants will have enough emotion to hit Dempster and put any runs on the board. Lay the value money with the Cubs and Dempster today.
2♦ CUBS
BOBBY MAXWELL
Hit a nice plus-money FREE play on Saturday when the Marlins got the extra-inning win over the Dodgers. We've now hit three straight comp plays and have gone 25-19 over the last 44 days with freebies. Today we are in Oakland for a comp play on the Angels as they take on the A's.
Pretty good pitching matchup in this one as two hurlers with double-digit wins go at it in the final game before the All-Star break. We're playing the Angels and their lefty Joe Saunders (12-5, 3.07 ERA).
Saunders is 6-3 on the road with a 2.23 ERA and this guy has been unstoppable in day games this season, going 5-0 this season. He was good in his last outing on Tuesday when he gave up three runs on six hits in eight innings but lost 3-2 to the Rangers.
He's dominated the A's in two starts this season, giving up two earned runs in 14.1 innings as the Angels have won 2-0 and 7-4. The Angels are 5-2 in Saunders' seven starts against the A's dating back to 2006.
Oakland is going with Justin Duchscherer (10-5, 1.78) and he is coming off a complete-game two-hitter as he blanked the Mariners 2-0. He faced the Angels in a slugfest back on May 1 when he gave up six runs on six hits in five innings but his offense pulled out a 15-8 victory.
The Angels have won their last four Sunday games and they are 5-1 with Saunders as a road 'dog and 5-1 when he pitches on Sundays. They've also won 13 of his last 18 starts and gone 13-6 when he pitches on the road.
We like the effort Saunders gives and we're backing him tonight as the Angels get a win heading into the break. Play Los Angeles.
4♦ L.A. ANGELS
JEFF BENTON
Well lay some chalk with the As in their series finale against the Angels.
This ones all about Justin Duchscherer, who has to be the biggest surprise pitcher in baseball this year. The right-hander leads the major leagues with a 1.78 ERA the only starter in the game with an ERA below 2.30. And he comes into this one having given up two runs or fewer in nine straight starts. During this stretch, hes 7-2 with a 1.53 ERA. And if thats not enough, Duchscherer is 7-1 with a sick 1.23 ERA at home, giving up just eight earned runs, 27 hits and 13 walks in 58 1/3 innings in his home park.
In short, the guy has just been spectacular. So why wouldnt I use Oakland as a premium selection today Just two reasons: First, Duchscherers worst start of the season came at the Angels back on May 1 (he gave up six runs, but only one earned, in five innings, though he did get a 15-8 win). Secondly, Duchscherers counterpart today Angels lefty Joe Saunders ? has been tremendous all season, including a pair of victories over the As.
Still, to get the best pitcher in the American League at a pretty cheap price is a helluva bargain. And with the Angels just 4-4 in Saunders? last eight starts (2-2 on the road), and with Oakland 21-8 in its last 29 as a home chalk and an astounding 94-41 in its last 135 home contests against lefty starters, well back the As with confidence here.
5♦ OAKLAND A'S
Vegas Experts
Colorado Rockies at New York Mets
Colorado looks to be in a lot of trouble here. Starter Mark Redman has lost four of his last five starts, with one no-decision, and his ERA on the road is all the way up to 9.00. Meanwhile, the Mets' Mike Pelfrey has won each of his five previous outings, including tossing seven-innings of shutout ball vs. the Giants his last time out. As a team, New York has shutout three of its previous five opponents.
Play on: NY Mets
Alex Smart
Los Angeles Dodgers -149
Reason: The LA Dodgers will be very motivated to avoid being swept at home, by the Florida Marlins as they wrap up the finale of a 4 game series, this Sunday afternoon in Chez Ravine. The Marlins have won 6 of their L/7 , but will have their hands full trying to get the victory today, against a pitcher Chad Billingsley (8-8, 3.38 ERA) that has dominated them in the recent past, as is evident by a 3-0 record along with a minuscule 1.73 ERA in his career in this series. It must be noted that Billingsley did lose, in his last outing, but previous to that , he garnered a stingy 1.37 ERA in four straight winning efforts. If Billingsley falters for any reason he is backed by one of MLBs top bullpens (2.40 ERA). Meanwhile, the slumping LA Dodger bats will get an opportunity to get back on track, against the Marlins inconsistent lefty Andrew Miller (5-8,5.09 ERA). The 23 year old hurler, is 0-3 in his L/4 starts, with a bloated 5.91 ERA. In his last outing , he was blasted by the light hitting Padres and ended up on the wrong end of a 10-1 beat down. On April 29 at Dolphin Stadium vs the Marlins, he barely made it through three innings, allowing six runs on nine hits. I will not at all be surprised by a repeat performance against a desperate opponent. The Dodgers really need this win badly, if they have any hope of escaping a negative local media blitz against them ,during the all star break. This mind set Im projecting will translate into a solid all around team effort and a win. Play on the Dodgers
Tony Karpinski
Arizona D-Backs vs. Philadelphia Phillies
Play: Philadelphia Phillies
The Diamondbacks finally got the offense untracked Saturday, but look for the hitters to go back into hibernation here as they now have to face a really tough lefty in Philly's Cole Hamels. Brandon Webb is seemingly back on track for the Snakes, but he's got a much tougher lineup to beat than does Hamels and the Phillies at home in Citizens Bank Park will end the 1st half with a victory. I'll grab the Phils to head into the break with a win.
Big Al Mcmordie
Arizona Diamondbacks at Philadelphia Phillies
Prediction: Philadelphia Phillies
At 1:35 pm, on Sunday, our member selection is on the Philadelphia Phillies with Cole Hamels over Arizona and Brandon Webb. This SHOULD HAVE BEEN a match-up of All-Star pitchers, but inexplicably, Hamels was left off the National League roster. Certainly, Brandon Webb deserved to make the team, as he won the Cy Young last year, and has a super 3.27 ERA this season. But Hamels' ERA is EVEN BETTER at 3.18, and he's picked up 9 wins for a very good Philly team. In his last start (vs. St. Louis), Hamels lost, but pitched great, giving up just three hits and no walks in seven innings, while striking out eight! His career ERA vs. the Diamondbacks is a sparkling 1.59. Take the Phillies.