FERRRINGO
2-Unit Play. Take #954 St. Louis (-115) over Milwaukee
Kyle Lohse is 13-3 against divisional opponents over the past two seasons and has looked sharp early in the year. The Brewers are just 33-67 on the road when the line is between -125 and +125 over the past three years. The Cardinals have been very sharp lately and are 9-2 in the last 11 meetings.
3-Unit Play. Take Atlanta (-150) over Florida
1-Unit Play. Take Los Angeles Angels (-155) over Kansas City
1-Unit Play. Take #970 Toronto (-1.5, +110) over Texas
1-Unit Play. Take #964 Baltimore (-110) over Chicago White Sox
1-Unit Play. Take #955 Cincinnati (+125) over Chicago Cubs
Cal Sports
5* GOM Under Twins
4* St Louis
3* Kc
Wunderdog
Washington at Philadelphia
Pick: Philadelphia -135
What can you say about those Flyers? Wow they are really putting on a show. They have shutdown Ovechkin. Ovechkin seems frustrated and ineffective in his first three games against the Flyers. Let's not discount the Flyers though. They have scored 12 times in three games including six goals in game 3. Another bright spot for the Flyers in great penalty killing. The flyers stopped seven-of-eight power plays in game 3 - no doubt helping them win the game. Tough defense, shutting down Ovechkin and team scoring will help the Flyers pull off another win at home. Take Philadelphia at home.
LEE KOSTROSKI
Seattle Mariners @ Oakland Athletics
PICK: Seattle Mariners
The Mariners are quite adept at handling left-handed pitching with a .303 team average against southpaws so far this season. The Seattle win last night was the seventh consecutive win in Oakland and the Mariners dominated this series last season, going 14-5 against the A's including 8-1 in Oakland. The Mariners offense is starting to come together with 7.4 runs per game scored in the last five games and Seattle has received solid performances from free agent acquisition Carlos Silva.
Silva allows a lot of hits but he gets a lot of ground balls and double play opportunities and rarely walks hitters. Silva is 2-0 in his three starts this season and he has pitched at least seven innings in all three games. In home games this season Oakland is hitting just .221 and the A's are a bit overrated right now with a strong early record based on winning close games. The A's have dropped three of the last four games and in the last four games the offense has produced a total of just six runs.
Lenny DiNardo is a reserve option for the A's as two starters have hit the DL already this season and he has allowed four runs and ten hits in his last five innings pitched. The Mariners hung seven runs in three innings when they faced DiNardo last season and the Athletics pitching staff is a bit short-handed right now with injuries. Seattle should continue to have success in this match-up and Oakland has struggled at home and as a favorite, going 2-7 in the last nine games when favored and just 4-11 in the last 15 at home.
DAVE MALINSKY 4*
Detroit Tigers @ Cleveland Indians
PICK: Over
We did not have to wait long a all to get what was needed cash a 4* Over ticket between these two on this field last night, with the Total being reached before the midway point in the game. Things don’t change on Thursday, despite the fact that the reputation of the starting pitchers brings us an even shorter price to deal with - Under 9 at even money has been made available in the marketplace.
Justin Verlander has been an ugly 0-2/6.52 out of the gate this season, which does not bring a lot of confidence from his end against a lineup, and in a ballpark, where a personal house of horrors has taken place. He is an awful 1-4/9.19 in his last six starts against the Indians, including an 0-3/12.91 from this mound, and it is easy to see the problem - tonight’s projected Cleveland starting lineup has hit nine home runs in 140 career at-bats against him. His current form does not call for that to change, and behind him the Tigers do not bring anyone from the bullpen (5.09) that slows down the flow.
Fausto Carmona also brings more respect than form to the mound tonight. His 2.20 ERA disguises a 1.65 WHIP, and he leads the Major’s in walks with 17, which contrasts in a most negative way to a count of only 10 strikeouts. The veterans in the Detroit lineup create one of the worst possible matchups for a pitcher that is struggling with the strike zone (they drew nine walks last night), and the options behind Carmona for the latter stages have to be keeping Eric Wedge up at night - the Cleveland bullpen has an ERA of 5.63 for the season, and three different relievers gave up runs in last night’s blowout.
On a warm evening in Cleveland there is the potential for a big inning at any time in this one.
Info Plays
3* on Astros/Phillies UNDER 9.5
(Listing Backe and Myers)
Brandon Backe and Brett Myers are the No. 2 men in the starting rotations for their respective teams. Both are pitching like aces to start the season. Backe has just a 2.25 ERA in 3 starts while not allowing more than 2 earned runs in any start. Brett Myers has been tremendous at home, allowing just 10 hits and 2 walks in 13 innings of work. This game will go well UNDER the posted 9.5 runs today. Jimmy Rollins has an ankle injury that has kept him out of the lineup for nearly two weeks now. Without this speedster on the field for the Phillies, it will make a bigger impact than the odds makers are anticipating. The UNDER is 5-1 in the Phillies last 6 games overall. The UNDER is 7-2 in the Astros last 9 games overall. Neither team can get their bats going and it’s not about to change with Backe and Myers on the hill tonight. Bet the UNDER 9.5 Runs.
PRICELESS PICKS
1 Unit on Red Sox/Yankees UNDER 10 Runs
(listing Beckett and Mussina)
After putting a lot of runs on the board yesterday, I look for the bats to cool off a little bit as a couple high quality starters head to the hill. The Under is 9-2 in Beckett's last 11 road starts with the total set at 9.0-10.5, 7-3 in Beckett's last 10 starts vs. American League East, and 9-4-1 in Beckett's last 14 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game. The Under is 6-0 in Yankees last 6 during game 2 of a series, 6-1 in Yankees last 7 vs. a team with a winning record, and 12-4 in Yankees last 16 overall. The Under is 9-4 in Mussina's last 13 starts during game 2 of a series. Bet the UNDER here.
Sebastian-OVER Phillies
Winner Line-Angels
OTM-Seattle
Computer Boys-Atlanta
All Amercian-Oakland
Kevin Kenedy-Oakland
kbhoopsfanatics Chicago Cubs -127
seeyouinthewinnerscircle St Louis Cardinals -114
CM Million Dollar Picks St Louis Cardinals -116
Winning Points Online
BOSTON (Beckett) -125 over NY YANKEES (Mussina)
Although the Yankee's bats took care of business last night against Clay Buchholz as predicted, they will be facing a much tougher righty tonight. The off outing by Chien-Ming Wang and a very suspect Yankee bullpen made last night's game alot closer than it shoud have been. If Mike Mussina's 85mph fastballs aren't blowing batters away, then the New York bullpen who dearly misses Joba Chamberlain and has been extremely overworked might not be able to keep the Bosox hitters at bay. Boston's 20 game winner from last season should be able to tame the Yanks offense.
PAUL LEINER
20* Over 9.5 Phi/Hou
10* Rays +110
5* Cubs -135
Mike Neri Sports
San Diego -160
National Sports Advisors
Mets Over 9 Mets
SportsAction 365
Padres Und 7
Todays Picks
W Sox Over 9
2-Minute Warning
CLEVELAND
Winners Inc. Guaranteed Selections
$500,000 HOME RUN BASEBALL CRUSHER
Chicago Cubs w/Lilly -125
Sports Lock
Cincinnati Reds vs. Chicago Cubs -125
The Chicago Cubs are on a roll right now and they will be looking for the sweep this afternoon at Wrigley. Ted Lilly started off the season losing his first two games and we expect a big rebound in this game for him. His opponent Edison Volquez pitched great in his first appearance getting the win and posting a 0.87 ERA. The Cubs bats are starting to come alive putting up 9 runs on Tuesday and 12 runs yesterday. Look for the Cubs to keep things rolling this afternoon in Wrigley.
LOCK = Chicago Cubs -125
TOUTHOUSE
San Diego Padres -155
Jake Peavy (3-0 , 1.64 ERA), the NL's reigning Cy Young Award winner, looks to continue his top tier performances as he goes for his fourth straight win to start his 2008 campaign this Thursday when the Padres close out a three-game series with the visiting Rockies. After getting buried 10-2 yesterday ,the Padres will be very motivated to get some redemption, and have the edge with their ace on the hill. Note: The Rockies will send Jeff Francis (0-2, 9.53) to the mound in return . Francis is fast becoming notorious for early season struggles, and has continued down that path this season, as was the case in both of his starts. Final notes & Key Trends: Francis went (1-3, 6.61 ERA in five starts) vs the Padres last year. Play on San Diego