Bobby Maxwell
L.A. Angels -145 at TEXAS
The Angels are coming into this one a little bitter after losing Wednesday night on a walk-off homer from the Rangers' Josh Hamilton with two outs in the bottom of the ninth.
Los Angeles is still 12-6 in its last 18 on the road and they've got John Lackey (6-2, 1.93 ERA) on the hill in this one and really nobody has been better over the last couple months. Lackey is 4-1 on the road with a 1.40 ERA and the Angels had won six straight starts of his until Saturday when he got bombed by the Blue Jays, giving up six runs in six innings of a 7-5 loss.
The Angels are 7-3 in his last 10 starts against Texas. They are on other runs of 10-4 as a road favorite, 8-2 against teams with a winning record and 36-16 in Lackey's last 52 starts overall, including 16-5 when Lackey starts on the highway.
Scott Feldman (3-3, 4.39) starts for the Rangers, his first career outing against the Angels.
Don't fear the chalk, play the Angels and Lackey to score an easy win tonight.
4♦ L.A. ANGELS
Sports Gambling Hotline
NY Yankees at PITTSBURGH
Tonight we like the Yankees and Pirates to play a LOW scoring make-up game, and stay UNDER the posted total.
The Yankees are fresh off 4 straight wins over the Red Sox and Rays, but the runs have still been hard to come by, as 3 of their last 4 games, and 8 of their last 11 overall have played UNDER the total.
Pittsburgh has played OVER the posted total in 3 of their last 4, but starter Paul Maholm has been on fire, throwing 22 innings of 6 run ball over his last 3 starts, and sports a home ERA just over 3.
Mike Mussina counters, and the Moose has worked 12 innings of 2 run ball over his last pair of starts.
We like the pitchers to contain the hitters in this one, and this interleague matchup to hold UNDER the posted total.
2♦ UNDER
JEFF BENTON
Diamondbacks-Nationals game UNDER the total
The first two games of this series have easily gone under the total with final scores of 5-0 and 2-0. In fact, the last four meetings between these teams have stayed low, with the losing team getting shutout each time. Then again, these are two of the weakest hitting teams in baseball, so it's hardly a surprise Arizona is batting .246 on the season (including .215 on the road), while Washington has a .239 season average (.231 at home).
Then there's the two starting pitchers going in this one: Arizona's Dan Haren (8-5, 2.83 ERA) and the Nats Jason Bergmann (1-6, 4.15). Haren has the better numbers, obviously, and he's been tremendous in his last seven starts, going seven innings in six of them in six innings in the other, posting a 1.50 ERA during this stretch. But Bergmann has been damn good himself recently, giving up just five earned runs in his last four starts covering 26 innings, good for a 1.73 ERA. Bergmann's problem is his team never gives him any run support the Nats are averaging just 2.3 runs per game with Bergmann on the mound, including 2.2 in six home starts and 1.7 in the last three outings.
At the same time, Arizona has averaged less than three runs per game in Haren's eight road starts, and they've scored a total of six runs in his last three outings.
Finally, get a load of these trends: The under 15-6 in the last 21 meetings between these teams, 14-3-2 in Arizona's last 19 overall (including 5-0 in the last five), 8-0-2 in Arizona's last 10 on the road, 10-1-1 in Arizona's last 12 against right-handed starters, 10-3 in Haren's last 13 starts overall, 6-1 in Washington's last six overall, 36-17 in Washington's last 53 against a right-handed starter and 7-3 in Bergmann's last 10 overall (4-1 at home). You get the picture. Play this one UNDER.
5♦ DBacks-Nationals UNDER the total
SCOTT DELANEY
Off an easy winner with the Dodgers, we're on a solid winning streak and will play the Brewers on the Run Line against the Rockies. And we're listing both hurlers in this one, banking on Dave Bush to outduel Jorge De La Rosa.
Bush comes in off one his best starts of the 2008 campaign, as he tossed eight solid innings and allowed just one run on four hits while fanning a season-high seven batters.
Nonetheless, he ended up with a no-decision, and there's no doubt he'll be looking to get the win here ... especially since his future role in this rotation is up in the air.
With southpaw CC Sabathia teaming with Ben Sheets to form the 1-2 punch for Milwaukee, the team also has six legit starters in the rotation, and needs only five.
Someone has to go. There's no doubt Manny Parra has a slot locked up, so that leaves two spots for three others.
Thus, Bush is ultimately playing for his spot. And he is 3-2 with a 2.87 ERA in eight starts at home, so let's play the Crew in this matinee affair, as it will support him with plenty of runs against De La Rosa who has a 4.90 ERA since returning to the starting rotation on June 14.
3♦ BREWERS RUN LINE
Carlo Campanella
Milwaukee is a solid favorite as they host Colorado in this Thursday afternoon affair. This is one of the Brewer's STRONGEST situations, as we find them at 35-11 in the Favorite role of -150 or higher. Lay the lumber again as Milwaukee has won 4 of their last 5 games and are 6-2 at home during the last 8 played in this series.
7* Play On Milwaukee
TONY MATHEWS
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Washington Nationals
Selection: Arizona/Washington Over 7.5
The Arizona Diamondbacks will use starting pitcher Dan Haren. Dan Haren has been pitching very well this season. In fact, Dan Haren has a 2.83 ERA on the season. In addition, Dan Haren has a 0.86 ERA in his last 3 starts. We see Dan Haren giving up very few hits and runs today.
The Washington Nationals will use starting pitcher Jason Bergmann. Jason Bergmann has been pitching very good as of late. In fact, Jason Bergmann has a 1.80 ERA in his last 3 starts. We see Jason Bergmann also giving up very few hits and runs today.
The Under is 15-6 in the last 21 meetings between these teams, and we expect to see another low-scoring game today.
Take the Arizona Diamondbacks/Washington Nationals Over 7.5
STEVE JANUS
FLORIDA MARLINS
There is definately a risk here, but the reward is well worth it. Florida's starter is coming of a long stint on the DL to recover from surgery, but be for the injury he showed promise winning 5 of 7 starts when the Marlins were an underdog. The Marlins are still just 1.5 games behind the Phillies in the NL East, a division that the Dodgers have struggled against, particularly Chan Ho Park, who is just 1-4 in his last 5 meetings against that division.
JOHN FINA
Selection: Minnesota Twins
Today the Minnesota Twins will be on the road as they take on the Detroit Tigers. We will side with the Minnesota Twins! One reason why we will side with the Minnesota Twins is because they will be sending to the mound the starting pitcher who has been pitching a lot better as of late. This says it all... The Minnesota Twins Starting Pitcher (Kevin Slowey) has a 2.14 ERA in his last 3 starts, while Detroit Tigers Starting Pitcher (Kenny Rogers) has a 5.68 ERA in his last 3 starts. As you can see, the Minnesota Twins will be sending to the mound the much better starting pitcher. In addition, the Minnesota Twins have proven they can beat the Detroit Tigers. In fact, the Minnesota Twins are 7-2 in their last 9 meetings against the Detroit Tigers. We see the Minnesota Twins getting another win tonight! Take the Minnesota Twins
EZWINNERS
MLB
5 STAR: (973) CHICAGO (-$106) over Kansas City
(Listing Buehrle only)(Risking $530 to win $500)
3 STAR: (964) DETROIT (-$115) over Minnesota
(Listing Rogers only) (Risking $345 to win $300)
2 STAR: (951) ST. LOUIS (+$128) over Philadelphia
(Listing Looper only) (Risking $200 to win $256)
1 STAR: (969) TAMPA BAY (+$103) over Cleveland
(Listing Sonnanstine only) (Risking $100 to win $103)
CFL
1 STAR: (401) CALGARY (+4) over Montreal
(Risking $110 to win $100)
PlusLineSports Daily Baseball Selection
Cincinnati Reds vs. Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs -1.5 (+110)
Nostradamus
Milwaukee -155
Cinn/Cubs OVER
Arizona -155
Calg/Mont UNDER 55
Toronto +2.5
Oddswiz
Chicago White Sox vs. Kansas City Royals
Play: Chicago White Sox
Those of you that have been following alone here on these pages know by now that I'm not too high on the Royals a fully expect them to end up right where they are now....in the basement. So here we get a team in the White Sox, in first place, having won 4 in a row, 8 of 10, 11 of 13, and 5 straight against the Royals, at a very fair price of as low as -106 at one book.
The Royals on the other hand have lost 2 in a row, 7 of 10, 9 of 12 and 4 straight at home. The pitching matchup favors us as well. While Greinke has played very well for the Royals this year, especially at home, the Chisox seem to have his number. He is 2-7 with a 4.81 in 14 games against the Chisox. Buehrle goes for the Chisox and he's 16-6 against the Royals and the Chisox have won 12 of the last 14 games he has started against them.
It's a game of numbers folks. At -106 or so, you don't have to do much better than 50/50 in this particular game to show a profit over the long haul. If this exact game were played 1000 times, do you think each team would win 500? Past history would indicate otherwise. Sox please.
Scott Spreitzer
Tampa Bay Rays at Cleveland Indians
I'm playing the visiting Tampa Bay Rays to get back into the win column at Cleveland's expense. Last night's collapse will be another tough situation for the disappointing Tribe to overcome. The pen got absolutely abused after a decent start by Byrd. Now, on a 10-game losing streak, Cleveland will face a team that's in an in-season, perfect situation. The Rays are 6-0 this season when Sonnanstine starts a night game away from home. He's sporting a strong 3.32 ERA along the way. Yet, with all of that to take in, the Indians were still installed as the favorite! I'll take the value with the Tampa Bay Rays even if they move to the fave by first-pitch.
Play on: Tampa Bay
Vegas Experts
Florida Marlins at Los Angeles Dodgers
Chan Ho Park has looked good all season, whether it be as as starter or coming out of the bullpen. However, it's the starter's role that he's truly excelled in, posting an ERA of 1.29 in his first four outings. At home, his ERA is even lower (0.82) as he's allowed just 1 ER in 11 innings of work. He blanked the Angels, MLB's best road team, 6-0 here, so he should have little trouble with a Marlins team that swept earlier this year in Miami.
Play on: LA Dodgers
Tom Freese
Chicago White Sox at Kansas City Royals
Prediction: Kansas City Royals
Kansas City is 6-1 in the last 7 home starts made by Zach Greinke at home and they are 5-0 their last 5 games vs. lefty starters. Greinke is 6-2 if he had a quality start in his last outing and he is in Awesome KW form with a 11-1 strikeout to walk in his last 3 starts. Chicago starter Mark Buehrle is just 4-13 in his last 17 July starts and the White Sox are just 5-13 the last 18 starts made by Buehrle on the road if the Total was 7.0 to 8.5. The Pale Hose are 2-6 the last 8 road starts made by Buehrle. PLAY ON KANSAS CITY