Players of America
New York Mets vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
The Play: Over 8.0
Star Value: 1* (10 Units)
Welcome back. We had all intentions of respectively passing all selections until tomorrow (Monday), but we're going to have to lay one wager down for this afternoon. At 1:35PM EST, the Pirates are set to host the Mets in downtown Steel City. New York comes into this match up eleven games over the .500 mark, while the Pirates are virtually out of any type of contention at 55-68 this season. The side of this event is difficult to predict, but the listed total can be exploited.
Two very solid starters will be squaring off in Pittsburgh tonight. First, the Mets elect to put the highly touted Johan Santana on the rubber. The lefty is has a very solid ERA of almost 3.00, and he is 10-7 record-wise. Final scores have flown over the quoted total 13 times already this season when Johan starts for his team. After Santana does his work, he hands things over to that streaky bullpen. The pen for the Mets have thrown 16 innings in the last three games and racked up an ERA approaching 6.00. In the other dugout, the Pirates are putting right hander Jeff Karstens on the mound. Jeff has only pitched 22 innings for the Bucos and comes in 2-1 overall. The bullpen of Pitt is a similar story. The estimated available pitchers in the pen combine for an ERA of 4.10 this afternoon.
This is a perfect spot to capitalize. Odds makers in Vegas think their being sly by setting this total at just 8 and even juice, but no chance. These teams, with many of the same players, met six times last season...all of which SOARED over the total. This year they've met five times already, and four have gone over the total number. There are many, many trends and attractive statistics for this play. Don't let the ERA of these two pitchers steer you away. It's a great spot. Both of these teams can knock the seams off the ball, and tend to do so quite often. Pittsburgh has gone over the total 67 times already this year, and New York 63. Combined, that's almost 30 more OVER's than UNDER's between these two. Neither of these two teams have significant injuries that will inhibit the offensive explosion within the line up, so let's get this one.
We'll lay ten units down for a 1* wager on the OVER with this fish line. The Mets and the Pirates slug it out starting at 1:35PM EST.
TRENDS OF THE GAME:
- The OVER is 6-2 in the Mets last 8 games overall
- The OVER is 6-2 in the Mets last 8 games on grass
- The OVER is 10-1 in the Mets and Pirates last 11 meetings
- The OVER is 4-1 in the Mets and the Pirates 5 meetings this season
- The OVER was 6-0 in the Mets and Pirates 6 meetings last season
New York 6, Pittsburgh 4
GREG SHAKER
OAK / CWS Under
I should have stuck with my initial thoughts on yesterday's game between these two teams and played the UNDER. I will today as the A's will once again throw at the weakest point of attack for the WhiteSox, hitting lefties. The WhiteSox thrower has been up and down this year and he is prone to long streaks either way. His last effort was as solid as they come and following that up with another one is very likely for this guy. Oakland's Pen work is one of the best in the league. They do remain one of the weakest hitting squads though and that is certainly the biggest reason why they have played a lot of UNDERS this year. They are 72-43-7 doing just that including yesterday's outcome.
Matty O'Shea
SFG (-145) vs ATL
Analysis: I honestly believe San Francisco's Tim Lincecum is the best pitcher in baseball, so I have no problem risking this price against a team he has never lost to during his career. Lincecum is a perfect 3-0 in three lifetime starts vs. Atlanta with a 3.32 ERA, and I think we're getting some value here because he left his last start at Houston with a bruised knee. The Braves will counter with Charlie Morton, who is 0-5 in six home starts with a 9.00 ERA. I'll take my chances with Lincecum and will back the Giants here as my Single Dime NL Pitching Mismatch Play O' the Day.
ANA (-145) vs CLE
The Angels have not lost a series since the end of May, and I certainly don't expect things to change here. They have won all five starts for Joe Saunders since the All-Star break, as he has gone 2-0 during that stretch with a 3.06 ERA. Saunders has also never lost to the Indians, going 2-0 in three career starts with a stellar 1.25 ERA. Meanwhile, Cleveland's Jeremy Sowers has not earned a win at home in almost two years, going 0-4 with a 5.11 ERA in his last 12 starts there. I'll fade Sowers again and back the Angels as my Single Dime AL Pitching Mismatch O' the Day.
Philadelphia Phillies at San Diego Padres
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES -1.5 -110
San Diego’s Cha Seung Baek has yet to earn a win at home, going 0-7 with a 6.46 ERA at Petco Park. That’s quite an accomplishment considering the home field favors pitchers. I’d rather take my chances on a far superior pitcher in Philadelphia’s Cole Hamels, who has gotten very little run support and is still looking for his first win since before the All-Star break. Look for Hamels to get all the offense he needs here to not only win but win big.
Erin Rynning
Playmaker: Baltimore Orioles
Kansas City Royals
Strike Point Sports
2 units each
Angels
Rockies
White Sox
Plus10Club
Ethan Law
Pick: SEATTLE MARINERS
Opposite Action Plays
Pick: HOUSTON ASTROS
JB Sports
Pick: TAMPA BAY BUCS -2
Sunday Selections
Pick: PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
LT Profits
Pick: FLORIDA MARLINS
Mike Lineback
Pick: Parlay: Red Sox / Yankees
Pacific Star
Pick: DETROIT LIONS +3.5
Rocketman Sports
Pick: TAMPA BAY D'RAYS
Alex Smart
Pick: ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
Teddy Covers
3* Toronto Blue Jays
3* Arizona Diamondbacks
3* TB Buccaneers
Matt Fargo
80% Pitching Mismatch of the Week
SF Giants
80.2% No Doubt Absolute Road Blowout
Chicago Whitesox
Yankee Capper
3 Units - Mets/Pirates Over 8
WUNDERDOG
Baltimore at Detroit
Pick: Detroit -161
Detroit is just 3-16 since the All-Star break, but today they send Zach Miner to the mound. Miner has gone 3-1 during their losing streak, posting a 2.15 ERA. He's facing a Baltimore team that is just 28-39 on the road this season. They are just 2-17 in Sunday games this season and 10-27 overall in day games. We'll back the Tigers to get the win behind Miner.
Bob Balfe
NFL Preseason Football
Bucs -2 over Patriots
The Patriots will be without Tom Brady tonight and I just do not think their backups are capable of playing in this league. Tampa will see their starters playing a little bit more tonight and should have no problem with the Patriots second and third teams. The Bucs have been a great preseason team over the last five years and should get the home win and cover.
Major League Baseball
Phillies -140 over Padres
Hamels/Baek
Savannah Sports
2 units on Cincinnati under 9
2 units on Boston Under 8.5
JEFFERSONSPORTS
PHILLIES -170
Adding
Chicago Cubs-130
Kevin Francis Guaranteed Selections
5000* DIAMOND DOMINATOR BASEBALL WINNER
LA Dodgers w/Kershaw -155
Hitman Guaranteed Selections
5000 LARGE DIAMOND DOMINATOR
Philadelphia w/Hamels -180
Frank Rosenthal
MLB
901 CUBS-140 SB
904 REDS-110 SB
907 GIANTS-115 SB
911 DBACKS UNDER 8 SB
916 DODGERS-150 SB
UNDER 8.5 SB+
919 ANGELS-150 SB
927 CWS-115 SB+
NFL PRESEASON - WEEK 2
429 PATS+2.5
OVER 33 SB