Stephen Nover
Toronto Blue Jays @ Oakland Athletics
PICK: Under
The marketplace has been very active on this total. They should be because the oddsmaker has mispriced the 'over/under.' You'll probably have to pay a little extra juice, but getting the Blue Jays-A's 'under' eight is a bargain.
Starting pitchers Jesse Litsch and Dana Eveland don't have big-name reputations. But they've been pitching well, especially Eveland at home. He has a 0.94 home ERA in four starts, holding foes to a .160 batting average. He blanked Toronto last month in 6 1/3 innings. He also is 3-1 in day contests with a 2.05 ERA. The Jays aren't expected to have injured Frank Thomas. The 'under' is 8-1-1 during Eveland's past 10 starts in Oakland.
Litsch has a 2.31 ERA in his last four starts. He's 4-0 in day games with a 1.59 ERA. He's yielded just two runs in 13 innings versus the A's this season.
Both teams are having trouble putting up runs. They've failed to score more than three runs during three of their last four games.
Oakland is a very tough hitter's park. Both teams play excellent defense. Jerry Layne is scheduled to be the home plate umpire. The 'under' has cashed during nine of the 11 times Layne has been behind the plate this season. He has been an 'under' ump for the past three seasons.
Maybe these teams do what they haven't done during the first two games of the series - score lots of runs. But the evidence sure doesn't lead us to that conclusion.
Priceless Picks
1 Unit on Giants/D-Backs OVER 9
The Over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Arizona in this matchup and 6-2 in the last 8 meetings overall. The Giants have been Overs machines. The Over is 5-0 in the Giants last 5 overall, 17-5 in the Giants last 22 road games vs. a left-handed starter, 20-7-1 in the Giants last 28 vs. a team with a winning record, and 8-3 in Zitos last 11 starts vs. a team with a winning record. The Over is 4-0 in the Diamondbacks last 4 overall, 6-0-1 in the Diamondbacks last 7 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game, and 5-1-1 in Johnson's last 7 starts as a favorite. I think we've covered all the bases. Smart money goes on the Over here.
Black Widow Sports
1* on San Francisco Giants +180
You really can’t beat this price we are getting on the Giants with a rejuvenated Barry Zito on the mound. Zito is 1-1 with a 3.12 ERA over his last 3 starts. He has allowed just 6 earned runs through his last 18 innings of work. Plus, the Giants are playing solid baseball right now in winning 5 of their last 7 games overall. San Francisco is 9-2 (+8.8 Units) against the money line after 3 straight games without giving up a stolen base this season. The Giants beat up on Arizona 11-3 last night. At nearly a 2-1 underdog here, the Giants are a great underdog play over the Diamondbacks tonight. Take San Francisco on the money line.
Steven Budin-CEO
25 DIME PLAY
CINCINNATI REDS - 1½ RUNS
BIG AL McMORDIE
NATIONAL LEAGUE B-L-O-W-O-U-T WINNER!!
New York Mets
Robert Ferringo
Jorge Campillo could be a name to remember. The youngster has been exceptional for the Braves and, after two straight tough-luck losses, I think they're ready to break out against the shaky Brew Crew. The Braves have been a train wreck on the road but I think they get to scrubby Seth McClung today.
ATLANTA BRAVES -105
Strike Point Sports
The Royals spoiled a 3-0 day for us on Wednesday by allowing five, 2-out runs in the ninth inning. That was as pathetic a loss as I have seen all year, so more or less they owe us a victory. And considering I am not about to get burned by them again in similiar fashion, I'll stick with them as a free play and allow them to slowly earn back my trust.
KANSAS CITY ROYALS -110
Nelly Sports
The Atlanta offense is just not the same on the road and the Brewers have not put together the offensive proficiency that kept them in the playoff chase last season. Milwaukee is hitting just .250 on the season and the numbers are just slightly better in home games while the Braves see a big drop off on the road with a team average of only .246. The first two games of this series have been low-scoring affairs and both bullpens are in great shape after long outings from starters the last two games. The under has hit in five of the last six meetings between these two teams and although tonight's starters are not well-known proven commodities they are capable of solid outings. Jorge Campillo has posted great numbers this season out of the bullpen and he is yet to allow a run in his two starts, allowing only five hits and no walks in ten innings. Hard-throwing Seth McClung has revitalized his career with the Brewers and his first start was a solid outing last week after good results in the bullpen. Look for another tight low scoring game as the balls are not flying out of Miller Park like they did last season.
BRAVES / BREWERS UNDER
Tom Freese
Houston at St. Louis
St. Louis is 33-16 their last 49 games as favorites and they are 15-6 their last 21 games vs. winning teams. The Cardinals are 14-6 in Game 3 of a series. Starter Kyle Lohse has a 14 to 1 strikeout to walk ratio in his last 3 starts. Houston is 2-6 in the last 8 road starts made by Roy Oswalt and they are 2-5 their last 7 games at St. Louis. Oswalt has allowed 25 baserunners in his last 12 innings of work.
PLAY ON ST. LOUIS
Scott Rickenbach
MLB 1* OVER the total in New York Mets vs Los Angeles
The ball was carrying very well at Shea Stadium last night and we see no reason for that to stop tonight. It?s going to be a very pleasant evening in New York and the Mets have some momentum from rallying twice in last night's game! First they rallied to tie the Marlins up in the 9th inning. Then, after giving up a run in the top of the 12th, New York rallied for two runs in the bottom of the frame to get the extra inning win. For a Mets team that had been struggling, things do indeed seem to be turning around. The Dodgers are coming off of a tough, extra-inning game of their own yesterday. After losing at Chicago yesterday the Dodgers will be happy to be facing someone other than the Cubs Carlos Zambrano! In fact, Los Angeles needed to get away from the Cubs pitching staff entirely as they were held to one run in each of the three games in Chicago.
The key in baseball is match-ups and that's why the Dodgers offense should absolutely get back on track tonight against Claudio Vargas of the Mets. The New York righthander is coming off of his first win in three starts since being called up to the big club. However, Vargas is known for giving up homers and he's also struggled against lefthanded bats and this has become more pronounced in the last two seasons. Neither of these items is a good sign for tonight because Vargas will be dealing with a Dodgers lineup with some solid lefthanded sticks (and switch hitters) and the ball should also continue to carry well here, just like it did last night.
The good news for Mets fans tonight is that they certainly should enjoy seeing their team put up their own fair share of crooked numbers on the scoreboard in this one. Indeed, there should be plenty of big innings! The Mets are loaded with lefthanded sticks and it's the lefties that have given Brad Penny a ton of trouble. Lefthanded batters are hitting Penny at a .361 clip this season and he's also struggled against the Mets throughout his career. Penny's struggles against the Mets have included some horrific outings at Shea Stadium. Penny is 1-9 with a 6.54 ERA in 11 outings in New York! With yesterday's win, the Mets have now averaged over 5 runs per game in their last twenty games and this is a very low number to get over tonight. Especially with winning back-to-back games, the Mets surge at the plate will continue as Shea Stadium continues to be a nightmare for Penny. The Dodgers, even if Jeff Kent is out again, will answer the Mets run for run in this one as Vargas gets rocked. Play OVER the total in the New York Mets game as a regular selection.
Michael Cannon
Chicago White Sox +115 at TAMPA BAY
Take the White Sox for the road win tonight over the Rays.
Both teams come into this series on hot streaks, but I like Chicago to take the first game tonight.
The White Sox are 11-3 in their last 14, including 7-1 on the road. They?re 6-1 in their last seven as an underdog and 4-0 in their last four on Thursday.
In addition to the overall streaks the White Sox are on, they have also enjoyed great success against the Rays, going 7-1 against in the last eight against them and 6-1 in Tampa during that stretch.
ChiSox pitcher John Danks has been tough on the road, posting a 1.76 ERA in five starts away from Chicago.
Take the White Sox as they grab the road win.
3* CHICAGO WHITE SOX
Drew Gordon
Houston at ST. LOUIS -105
Talk about two pitchers headed in opposite directions, as the Astros Roy Oswalt has been anything but an ace over his last 2 starts, allowing 11 runs on 22 hits over his last 12 innings! He got rocked in his last road start, at Texas, surrendering 6 runs in 6 innings, and although the has good numbers against St. Louis in the past, right now, the talented righty is struggling.
Can't say the same about the Cards Kyle Lohse, who not only is coming off two excellent back-to-back starts, but also has proven his worth against the Astros already once this season. He's allowed just 2 runs over his last 12 innings (2 starts), and looked particularly good against the Dodgers on the road in his last one, tossing 6 scoreless innings! Couple that with the fact he allowed only 1 run on 4 hits over 6 innings in his win over Houston April 27th and you've got all the makings of another solid effort here tonight.
Also, you cannot stress home field enough in this match up, as both teams have been pretty average on the road, but rock-solid at home. Redbirds are 18-11 at Busch, batting .286 against righties there this season. While Astros 15-15 away, and bat just .244 on the road against righties. As a final note, its clear Lohse has a preference for the home cookin', because he's 2-1 with a 3.48 ERA at Busch on the year! Redbirds roll in this one!
Take St. Louis behind Lohse over Houston and Oswalt in this MLB match up.
2* ST. LOUIS
Chuck Franklin
Toronto at OAKLAND -120
Today I will go with the Oakland A's again.Their pitching has been superb recently, allowing just 10 runs in the last six games.They are tops in the majors with a team ERA of 3.20 and a .233 opponent batting average.Jesse Litsch faces Dana Eveland this afternoon. Eveland will get the win.
Litsch has been dominating, winning each of his last four decisions. But he does have an 0-1 record against Oakland.Eveland shut out the Blue Jays in 6 1/3 innings last month, but got a no decision in that Oakland win. He is 3-1 with a 2.05 ERA in day games this season and is pitching with plenty of rest since the A's recently rearranged their rotation.
Toronto is only 2-5 the last seven road games when facing a southpaw starter.Oakland has won five of the last six games, all at home and they are 4-0 in Evelands last four home starts.
List the pitchers as specified and go with the home team in this game.
3* OAKLAND
Indian Cowboy
(POD) LA Lakers UNDER 194
(Reg) Minn/Chicago OVER 157 (WNBA)
The Hammer Guaranteed Selections
PRIVATE INVESTORS CLUB PARLAY WINNER
Cincinnati w/Harang -175
Arizona w/Johnson -200