Tony Mathews
New York Mets vs. Atlanta Braves
Selection: New York/Atlanta Under 8
Explanation: We expect a low-scoring game as the New York Mets face-off against the Atlanta Braves in Thursday's MLB contest.
The New York Mets will use starting pitcher Johan Santana. Johan Santana has pitched well this season. In fact, Johan Santana has a 3.25 ERA on the season. We see Johan Santana giving up very few hits and runs.
The Atlanta Braves will use starting pitcher Tim Hudson. Tim Hudson has also pitched well this season. This is shown by Tim Hudson's 3.06 ERA on the season. We see Tim Hudson giving up very few hits and runs.
The Under is 10-2 in the last 12 meetings between these teams (when playing in Atlanta), and we expect to see another low-scoring game tonight!
Take the New York Mets/Atlanta Braves Under 8
MATT RIVERS
For Thursday take the Angels up North.
This is a fairly even game and therefore far from the lock of my life but I'll back the visitors in this game and look for them to continue the roll.
Joe Saunders has been great this season and being a lefty is never a terrible thing. No doubt AJ Burnett is overall the more talented hurler with better "stuff" but all in all Mike Sciscia's Angels are the better and more complete team.
I expect both hurlers to put up their share of gooseggs but with Vernon Wells still out I will take my chances with Vlad, Anderson, Hunter and Matthews. Certainly Anaheim is never a top lineup but there is enough here with Saunders on the bump to continue their winning ways.
BJ Ryan is still a pretty solid closer but with K-Rod, Shields and the superior bullpen the play here is on the Halos for sure.
TONY WESTON
With Astros ace Roy Oswalt going tonight, this will be an easy win for Houston.
The Astros come into this game having gone 3-1 their last four games and having gone 14-5 their last 19 games. Houston is also 7-2 its last nine home games and is 5-2 its last seven games when Oswalt is the starter.
The Phillies come into this game 2-3 their last five games and are 4-5 their last nine games on the road.
Oswalt will shut down the Philadelphia bats and lead Houston to an easy win.
Take Oswalt as your starter and go with Houston at home.
3* ASTROS
Mr. A's
Seattle Mariners at Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers bats have come alive. Go with the Tigers for three-game home sweep of Seattle. Detroit's right-hander Jeremy Bonderman (2-4, 4.76), has been struggling, 0-3 with a 6.26 ERA in five starts at home, but should get the support this afternoon when he faces the Mariners, who own the American League worst record and have dropped nine of their last ten road games. Bonderman is 4-3 with a 5.01 ERA in eight career starts against Seattle. The Mariners are 1-5 in the last 6 meetings in Motown and Seattle's veteran right-hander Miguel Batista (3-5, 6.11 ERA) is 1-3 with a 4.54 ERA in nine career appearances, including five starts versus the Tigers, 0-2 with a 6.28 ERA at Comerica Park.
Detroit Tigers - 165
NBA
Boston Celtics - 4
Yankee Capper
3 Units - Cincinnati Reds
Tom Freese
Philadelphia at Houston
Houston starter Roy Oswalt is in excellent KW form with a better than 5 to 1 strikeout to walk ratio in his last 3 starts. The Astros have been on the winning side in the last 6 starts made by Oswalt vs. the Phillies. Philadelphia is just 6-13 their last 19 games at Houston and they are 3-9 after scoring 5 or more runs in their last game. The Phils are 1-4 their last 5 as road dogs and they are 1-4 as dogs with Kyle Kendrick)
Houston Astros
Scott Rickenbach
New York Yankees vs Baltimore
Play: Over
Brian Burres is coming off of a win over Washington in his most recent outing. However, he had previously lost three straight outings and he now must deal with a Yankees lineup that got a big boost of confidence with their 8-run outburst yesterday. Even though that game stayed under the total, thanks to a fine pitching performance from Darrel Rasner, note that the Yankees three prior games all reached double digits in runs scored. We definitely expect more of the same tonight. The Yankees lineup will build on yesterday's success as they take advantage of Burres not being on top of his game right now. The Orioles southpaw had allowed 23 hits in his last 17.1 innings of work before coming up with the solid outing against the Nationals. Of course, Washington is not familiar with Burres as that was an interleague match-up. Now, the Orioles lefty must take on a Yankees lineup that has seen plenty of him in his young career.
While the Yankees continue their offensive surge from last night, the Orioles will be able to answer run for run even if they are without Melvin Mora. Look for the Orioles to take advantage of a struggling Yankees hurler tonight. The 23 year old Ian Kennedy has proven that he's just not quite ready to pitch at this level. He?s made seven appearances so far this season and he's 0-3 with an 8.48 ERA. Kennedy is also struggling with his command as he's issued more walks than strikeouts. He had an awful start at Baltimore about five weeks ago and he continues to be victimized by his own mistake pitches that are resulting in some big hits for the opposition! Kennedy has only averaged about 4.1 innings per start this season and he?s being supported by a Yankees bullpen that had certainly played a role in the Yanks allowing 30 runs in their last 3 games before last night's shutout! It will be the offenses on display tonight in the Bronx as neither hurler is likely to enjoy much success and the bullpens can only do so much here.
Play OVER
Drew Gordon
Milwaukee at PITTSBURGH
Looking for the Pirates to avoid the sweep here, as the Brewers may have won 2 straight at PNC Park, but completing the sweep is another story all together. Milwaukee has never completed a 3-game sweep at PNC Park, and with the pitching match up they've got tonight, its the Brewers who find themselves in trouble.
First things first, Dave Bush has been garbage this season, but he's been especially terrible on the road, going 0-3 with a laughable 7.03 ERA. It should come as no surprise that he's also struggled in Pittsburgh, going 0-1 with 5.06 ERA in 3 career starts there! Look guys, if any pitcher is going to get bombed tonight, it'll be Bush, who's been extremely vulnerable on the highway, and will continue to be in this one.
Second, while the Pirates southpaw, Tom Gorzelanny, hasn't been nearly as good as he was last season, his numbers are a bit deceiving. Yes, he's gotten crushed by the Cubs in 3 of his 8 starts this season, but otherwise, he's been rock-solid. Not only that, but he's an impressive 2-0 with a 3.13 ERA in 5 starts against the Brew Crew, including allowing just 2 runs over 6 2/3 innings back on September 12th of last season!
Bottom line, the Brewers may have answered Ryan Braun's calls to win a road series after struggling so badly on the highway this season, but not even Braun can stop the garbage coming from Dave Bush. Sorry Milwaukee-backers, but if you've seen Bush pitch on the road this season, then there's no question why the play here is on the Pirates. Bucs roll!
Take Pittsburgh behind Gorzelanny over Milwaukee and Bush in this MLB match up.
3* PITTSBURGH
LT Profits
Minnesota Twins -110
Livan Hernandez of the Minnesota Twins and Vicente Padilla of the Texas Rangers are each a surprising 6-2 while pitching for non-winning teams, but with home field and a superior bullpen behind him, we will side with Hernandez at this cheap price.
Hernandez has a very respectable 3.88 ERA overall this season, but he has done his best pitching here at home where he is 4-0 with a 3.55 ERA, and he is also in fine current form with a sizzling 2.82 ERA in is last three starts. Hernandez did get bombed for seven runs and nine hits while lasting just 2.2 innings in Arlington in April, but this looks like a nice shot at redemption at home. He has the support of a Minnesota bullpen that ranks fifth in the American League with a 3.43 ERA.
Now Padilla actually has slightly better numbers than Hernandez, with a 3.16 ERA overall, a 3.28 ERA on the road and a 2.37 ERA in his last three starts. Assuming that the starters have a standoff however, the key to this contest will be the bullpens, and the Rangers rank did last in all of baseball with a 5.04 pen ERA. Since the Twins are actually ties for 10th in the Major Leagues, they qualify as one of our Bullpen System plays here.
Throw in the fact that Minnesota is 12-5 in the last 17 home games and the Twins become a rather easy choice here.
Pick: Twins -110
Baltimore Orioles +145
The New Yankees evened the series with the Baltimore Orioles with an 8-0 pummeling last night, but we look for the Orioles to take the rubber match at a very nice price.
The bottom line here is that Yankee starter Ian Kennedy does not deserve to be a prohibitive favorite like this over anybody at this time. Kennedy is winless at 0-3 with the Yankees going 1-5 as a team whenever he starts, and his key numbers are simply atrocious, as he owns an 8.48 ERA and 1.88 WHIP while lasting just a total of 28.2 innings, an average of less than five innings per start. He has already had one poor outing vs. the Orioles this year, allowing four earned runs on five hits and five walks in only 2.2 innings at Camden Yards in April.
Beside, Baltimore starter Brian Burress has performed quite admirably despite his 4-4 record, with a very good 3.47 ERA and a respectable 1.34 WHIP in 49.1 innings. He also tossed a gem vs. the Bronx Bombers in Camden earlier this year, hurling 5.2 scoreless innings. He is backed by an Orioles bullpen that ranks third in the American League with a 3.32 ERA, making Baltimore a Bullpen System play.
We do not feel that Kenney will be in the Yankees starting rotation much longer (Joba Chamberlain anyone?), and tonight may be his last straw.
Pick: Orioles +145
Marco D´Angelo
Today's Pick: PITTSBURGH PIRATES
Look for the Pirates to avoid the Sweep behind the pitching of Gorzelanny. Milwaukee starter Bush is 0-3 on the road with a 7.33 ERA. TAKE PITTSBURGH.
Ferrall
AL FREE B's FOR THURS
BLUE JAYS -130 on ML over Angels--Saunders got scratched and Ervin Santana will oppose AJ Burnett at the Rogers Center. The Angels have won four straight. They aren't scoring runs but Vlad Guerrero hit two HR's Wednesdya night to beat the Jays. Santana started the yr 6-0 but has gone 0-1 in his last two starts. Burnett beat Philly on Saturday in his last outing. He's got 25 K's in his last 3 starts.The Jays haven't been swept at home by the Angels since 04.
CLEVELAND -105 on ML over White Sox--The Sox have won a season high 7 straight games but they send Buehrle to the hill tonight. He's 7-11 lifetime vs the Tribe and he got lit up by them in the season opener. The Tribe will counter with Aaron Laffey, who's won his last three starts and he'll try to snap Cleveland's season worst 5 gm losing skid. They've scored just 12 runs during their slump. Laffey's ERA is a solid 1.35. Buehrle hasn't beaten the Tribe in Chicago since 05. He's only won 1 of his last 6 starts, but he did beat SF last Saturday to end his own personal nightmare.
NL FREE B's FOR THURS
ASTROS -130 on ML over Phillies--Oswalt returns to the mound after a hip problem and his first loss Saturday in five starts. He lost at Texas. He was 4-0 in his previous starts before losing to the Rangers. Kyle Kendrick has been tough and the Phils had won five straight in games he pitched. He's 3-2 overall. Houston is 6 gms over .500 and just took two of three form the fist place Cubs.
San Diego -105 on ML over Cincy--The Reds just got swept by the Dodgers and have dropped 10 of their last 11 road games. Cincy has the second worst road record in baseball at 7-17. Only Atlanta is worse on the road. The Padres have lost 4 of 5 and have the worst record in baseball. They rank last in the majors in runs scored and third to last in runs allowed. They suck, but they'll pull one out tonight against the crappy road weary Reds.Wolf is 6-2 in 12 career starts vs Cincy.
Charlies Sports
Texas @ Minnesota -115
The Texas Rangers? starting rotation hasn?t been fooling many opponents lately - except when Vicente Padilla takes the mound.Padilla looks to win his fifth straight decision for the first time in his career today when the Rangers close out a four-game series at the Metrodome against the Minnesota Twins,
Twins -115
Brian Marshall
Los Angeles Angels vs. Toronto Blue Jays
Plays On: Los Angeles Angels
Game Analyses: The Los Angeles Angels should be able to beat the Toronto Blue Jays in Thursday's MLB game.
The Los Angeles Angels will be lead by starting pitcher Joe Saunders. Joe Saunders is having a good season. In fact, Joe Saunders has a 2.48 ERA on the season. It's clear Joe Saunders will hold the Toronto Blue Jays to very few hits and runs.
The Toronto Blue Jays will be lead by starting pitcher A.J. Burnett. A.J. Burnett has struggled this season. In fact, A.J. Burnett has a 4.71 ERA on the season. To say the least, A.J. Burnett will give up many hits and runs.
The Los Angeles Angels are a Perfect 3-0 in their last 3 meetings against the Toronto Blue Jays, and we see the Los Angeles Angels getting another win tonight!
Take the Los Angeles Angels
Larry Ness' Oddsmaker's Error-MLB
PIRATES
any TOM SCOTT'S FIVE STAR SUPER SYSTEM PLAY • 28-4!?
TED SEVRANSKY
Philadelphia Phillies @ Houston Astros
PICK: Over
REASON FOR PICK: Both starting pitchers in this ballgame are in iffy spots today. Houstons Roy Oswalt suffered a hip injury on his last trip to the mound, hammered for six runs by the Rangers. He'll be taking his usual turn in the rotation today, but we can't expect vintage Oswalt here I think it's more of a tendon I think it's just inflamed more than anything.
Meanwhile, Phillies starter Kyle Kendrick won't have his usual rhythm here either. Kendrick was pulled after only one inning in his last start thanks to an extended rain delay. Tonight, the youngster will be pitching on only three days rest. Pitching coach Rich Dubee: We didn't want Kyle to sit around for five more days.
To make matters even worse for both pitchers, they'll be facing a pair of potent lineups that are starting to click. The Phillies pounded out a season high 12 runs last night; the Astros are hitting .309 at home against righties and have scored more than 5.3 runs per game at Minute Maid Park so far this season. Expect a high scoring game in Houston tonight no surprise here if at least one of these two teams comes close to exceeding this total by themselves. Take the Over.