SPORTS ADVISORS
Florida (32-35) at Boston (40-25)
The streaking Red Sox send left-hander Jon Lester (5-5, 4.76 ERA) to the hill at Fenway Park to wrap up a three-game interleague series with the Marlins, who are scheduled to counter with right-hander Ricky Nolasco (2-6, 7.62).
Boston has taken the first two games of this series by scores of 8-2 and 6-1 and has now won seven of its last eight overall and five straight at home to surge into first place in the American League East. The Red Sox, who now have the best record in the A.L., are on additional runs of 12-3 overall, 57-19 in interleague play, 40-12 in interleague home contests, 41-14 on Thursday and a lengthy 88-37 at Fenway.
The Marlins, who had won three in a row entering this series, are now just 8-19 in their last 27 games as an underdog. They have fared well against southpaws, with current streaks of 6-1 overall and 14-5 on the road.
The Red Sox have now won five of the last six in this interleague rivalry and five of the last six in Boston.
With Lester on the hill, Boston has won three in a row and eight of 11, including a 5-2 victory at Philadelphia on Friday night in which the lefty allowed just two hits, two walks and one run while striking out 11 in seven innings. That effort followed a complete-game, 8-1 home win over Texas. Lester, who has given up exactly one run in three straight starts and four of his last five, is 3-2 with 4.06 ERA in six home starts this season.
The Sox are on further runs behind Lester of 6-0 against the National League East, 8-1 in interleague play and 24-5 at home. In Lester’s lone career start against Florida in 2006, he surrendered two runs on seven hits in five innings, getting a no-decision in Boston’s 4-3 victory in South Beach.
Florida is 2-4 in Nolasco’s last six starts, with the righty going 1-4 and getting pounded for 28 earned runs in 31 2/3 innings (7.95 ERA). However, since returning from a brief demotion to Triple-A, Nolasco has been much more effective, allowing just four earned runs in 13 innings in two starts. On Friday at Toronto, he gave up two runs on five hits and a walk, striking out nine over six innings in a 7-3 victory.
Despite the strong outing in Toronto, Nolasco is still only 1-3 with a 7.12 ERA in seven road starts this year, and this is his first career meeting with Boston. With Nolasco throwing, the Marlins are on slides of 1-5 overall against winning teams and 1-4 on the road against winning teams.
The under for Boston is on tears of 21-7-3 overall, 6-0-2 at home, 4-1 with Lester starting, 6-0-1 with Lester going on five days’ rest and 5-1 behind the lefty in interleague action. On the flip side, the over for Miami is on rolls of 5-1-1 overall, 21-6-5 in interleague action, 7-1-2 in interleague roadies, 9-2 behind Nolasco this season and 6-0 with the righty throwing on the road.
Finally, in this rivalry, the over is on upticks of 5-3-1 overall and 4-1-1 in Boston.
ATS ADVANTAGE: BOSTON
Detroit (34-31) at St. Louis (36-30)
The Tigers wrap up an 11-game road trip by trotting out upstart rookie right-hander Rick Porcello (7-4, 3.71 ERA) as they try to avoid getting swept by the Cardinals, who will hand the ball to fellow righty Joel Pineiro (5-7, 3.99).
Detroit got pounded 11-2 Tuesday in the series opener, then came back Wednesday and fell 4-3. The Tigers have dropped four in a row and are now 4-6 on their current road trip, scoring a total of 19 runs in their last seven games. Despite the recent struggles, Detroit remains on hot streaks of 45-21 in interleague play, 13-8 in interleague road games and 23-13 against the N.L. Central.
Prior to taking the first two games of this series, the Redbirds had lost seven of nine overall and four straight at home. They’re now 11-3 in their last 14 games against teams with a winning record, and they’ve won 11 consecutive Thursday contests.
Going back to the start of the 2006 season, the home team has won 14 of the last 16 head-to-head clashes in this rivalry, including the World Series.
Detroit has won seven of Porcello’s last eight starts, including a 3-1 victory Friday at Pittsburgh in which the 20-year-old allowed one run on six hits and a walk in seven innings. Porcello has gone 6-1 with a 2.52 ERA in those eight games, throwing 46 1/3 innings. He is 4-2 with a 3.25 ERA in six road starts this season, and the Tigers have won four of his last five on the highway.
The Cardinals have lost four in a row behind Pineiro, mostly due to poor run support, with St. Louis scoring just nine total runs in that span. On Friday at Cleveland, the 30-year-old yielded three runs on seven hits and two walks in 6 1/3 innings of a 7-3 loss. Pineiro is 3-2 with a 2.52 ERA in five home starts this year, and he’s a solid 6-1 with a 2.82 ERA in 10 career appearances (eight starts) against the Tigers.
St. Louis is 5-2 in Pineiro’s last seven outings at Busch, but it has also come up empty in the rigthy’s last five interleague starts.
The Tigers are on a bundle of “under” streaks, including 21-8 overall, 5-2 on the road, 12-4-1 in interleague road games and 22-7 against right-handed starters. Also, St. Louis is on “under” tears of 11-5 at home, 15-7-1 against right-handed starters, 6-1-1 against the American League and 7-1 in interleague home games. Finally, the under is 5-2 in the last seven Tigers-Cardinals meetings at Busch Stadium.
ATS ADVANTAGE: DETROIT and UNDER
DUNKEL
Chicago White Sox at Chicago Cubs
The Cubs look to bounce back from yesterday's loss to their crosstown rival and take advantage of the Chisox 0-4 record in Gavin Floyd's last 4 road starts. The Cubs are the pick (-170) according to Dunkel, which has the Cubs favored by 1. Dunkel Pick: Chicago Cubs (-170).
Game 951-952: Atlanta at Cincinnati
Dunkel Ratings: Atlanta (Hanson) 14.054; Cincinnati (Maloney) 13.059
Dunkel Line: Atlanta by 1; 10 1/2
Vegas Line: Cincinnati (-110); 9
Dunkel Pick: Atlanta (+100); Over
Game 953-954: Washington at NY Yankees
Dunkel Ratings: Washington (Stammen) 14.444; NY Yankees (Chamberlain) 15.424
Dunkel Line: NY Yankees by 1; 9
Vegas Line: NY Yankees (-325); 10 1/2
Dunkel Pick: NY Yankees (-325); Under
Game 955-956: Toronto at Philadelphia
Dunkel Ratings: Toronto (Mills) 16.209; Philadelphia (Blanton) 14.541
Dunkel Line: Toronto by 1 1/2; 9 1/2
Vegas Line: Philadelphia (-170); 10 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Toronto (+160); Under
Game 957-958: Pittsburgh at Minnesota
Dunkel Ratings: Pittsburgh (Duke) 14.971; Minnesota (Blackburn) 16.712
Dunkel Line: Minnesota by 1 1/2; 9
Vegas Line: Minnesota (-145); 8
Dunkel Pick: Minnesota (-145); Over
Game 959-960: Chicago White Sox at Chicago Cubs
Dunkel Ratings: White Sox (Floyd) 14.717; Cubs (Zambrano) 15.936
Dunkel Line: Chicago Cubs by 1; 7 1/2
Vegas Line: Chicago Cubs (-170); No Run Line
Dunkel Pick: Chicago Cubs (-170); N/A
Game 961-962: Tampa Bay at Colorado
Dunkel Ratings: Tampa Bay (Garza) 17.898; Colorado (Jimenez) 16.660
Dunkel Line: Tampa Bay by 1; 9 1/2
Vegas Line: Tampa Bay (-115); 9
Dunkel Pick: Tampa Bay (-115); Over
Game 963-964: Seattle at San Diego
Dunkel Ratings: Seattle (Morrow) 14.405; San Diego (Geer) 14.196
Dunkel Line: Seattle by 1/2; 8
Vegas Line: San Diego (-110); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Seattle (+100); Under
Game 965-966: NY Mets at Baltimore
Dunkel Ratings: NY Mets (Hernandez) 14.736; Baltimore (Berken) 15.818
Dunkel Line: Baltimore by 1; 11 1/2
Vegas Line: NY Mets (-130); 10 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Baltimore (+120); Over
Game 967-968: Florida at Boston
Dunkel Ratings: Florida (Nolasco) 16.368; Boston (Lester) 15.180
Dunkel Line: Florida by 1/2; 9
Vegas Line: Boston (-240); 10
Dunkel Pick: Florida (+220); Under
Game 969-970: Houston at Texas
Dunkel Ratings: Houston (Backe) 14.258; Texas (Padilla) 15.276
Dunkel Line: Texas by 1; 9
Vegas Line: Texas (-180); 10 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Texas (-180); Under
Game 971-972: Arizona at Kansas City
Dunkel Ratings: Arizona (Haren) 14.321; Kansas City (Hochevar) 15.679
Dunkel Line: Kansas City by 1 1/2; 8 1/2
Vegas Line: Arizona (-145); 7 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Kansas City (+135); Over
Game 973-974: Detroit at St. Louis
Dunkel Ratings: Detroit (Porcello) 13.747; St. Louis (Pineiro) 15.146
Dunkel Line: St. Louis by 1 1/2; 9
Vegas Line: Detroit (-115); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: St. Louis (+105); Over
Game 975-976: Oakland at LA Dodgers
Dunkel Ratings: Oakland (Mazzaro) 14.969; LA Dodgers (Wolf) 16.206
Dunkel Line: LA Dodgers by 1; 7
Vegas Line: LA Dodgers (-140); 7 1/2
Dunkel Pick: LA Dodges (-140); Under
Cajun Sports
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Minnesota Twins
Play: Minnesota Twins
Wednesday’s Interleague Matinee will decide this three-game set as each team has won a game by the score of 8 to 2 wonder the odds on game three with the same final score…? The Pirates will send Zack Duke to the bump with his 2-2 W/L road record and ERA of 3.51 but in his six starts on the highway this season his team has only managed a record of 2-4 W/L when he takes bump. Over his last three outings he has posted a record of 2-1 W/L with an ERA of 4.29 with the two wins coming at home and the one loss coming on the road. The Pirates are 14-22 W/L on the highway this season and 18-37 W/L as a road underdog. Their record is much the same when facing teams from the American League during interleague play going 18-41 W/L their last 59 games. When Duke takes the hill on the road and is installed as an underdog of 150 or less the Pirates have only won three times out of their last twenty-one in this situation and Duke is only 3-11 W/L his last 14 when pitching on four days rest. We expect the Twins to bounce back against the Pirates and Duke on Thursday afternoon at the Metrodome and take game three as well as the series. The Twins have been a formidable opponent during interleague play posting a record of 45-13 W/L their last 58 interleague games. Much of that winning record was built facing foes from the National League Central with the Twins going 24-7 W/L their last 31 against those teams. Minnesota will hang their hopes on right-hander Nick Blackburn who is 2-0 W/L at home this season with an ERA of 3.06 the Twins are 4-1 in his five home starts this year. In Blackburn’s last three trips to the bump he is 1-0 W/L with an ERA of 2.57 and the Twins are only 1-2 W/L in those three starts but all three came on the road. The Twins are 49-16 W/L installed as home favorite and a perfect 5-0 W/L the last five with Blackburn on the hill. Minnesota has also found success when facing lefthanders during interleague play posting a record of 12-4 W/L their last 16 in this situation. The Twins are 8-1 W/L (+8.5) versus an NL starting pitcher whose ERA is 3.50 or better over the last 2 seasons while Pittsburgh is 7-28 W/L (-18.8) versus an AL starting pitcher whose ERA is 3.50 or better since 1997. Our TPR (Team Performance Ratings) Index projects a Twins win over the Pirates in today’s matchup by 1.8 runs and we also find support with our Pitcher Efficiency Ratings Index that has the Twins starter and bullpen 0.9 runs better than the Pirates starter and bullpen. Finally we have a MLB System that is active for today’s contest and it tells us to Play On MLB AL home teams with a batting average of .265 to .279 against a NL starting pitcher whose ERA is 3.70 or better during the month of June, 34-12 W/L +22.0 Units for 73.9 percent winners over the last five seasons and 4-2 W/L (+1.9 units) already this season. With significant fundamental, situational and technical support we will lay the chalk with the host here as the Twins take game three and the series from the Pirates on Thursday afternoon at the Metrodome.
Graded Selection: 2* Minnesota Twins 3 Pittsburgh Pirates 1
Bob Harvey
Tampa Bay Rays @ Colorado Rockies Over 9
Two of baseball’s hottest teams square off in the Mile High city as the the Rockies host the Devil Rays in the series finale at Coors Field.
Colorado has won 12 of 13 games while Tampa Bay has taken six of it’s last seven and are 12-5 over their past 17 outings. BOTH teams are getting it down offensively The Rays lead the majors with 382 runs and boast a lineup of bashers from Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria to Ben Zobrist and B.J. Upton. Carl Crawford has been the table setter all season long hitting .314.
The Rockies improvement at the plate and on the mound has moved them to within sniffing distance of the wild card race in the National League.
Since Jim Tracy replaced Clint Hurdle as manager on May 29th, the Rockies are averaging over six runs per game and are hitting just under .300 as a team (.298). Familiar names and faces like Todd Helton, Brad Hawpe and Ian Stewart have led the charge. Hawpe is having an all-star season. He’s hitting .347 with 47 rbi’s.
Matt Garza gets the start today for the Rays and while he’s 4-4 with a respectable 3.63 ERA, he’s struggled in his last two starts failing to make it out of the sixth inning. Opposing Garza will be Ubaldo Jiminez who is a big reason why the Colorado pitching staff has done an about face. The Rockies have been outstanding during their streak posting a 3.31ERA.
Jimenez has been a big part of that success. While Garza has been off in HIS last two starts, Jiminez has won two straight games including his second career complete game. Overall Jiminez is 5-6 with a 3.92 ERA. MLB scouts will tell you he’s got what it takes to become a top-tier pitcher but only time will tell if he can live up to expectations.
The right-hander, who has battled problems with control and efficiency in the past, has thrown 17 innings while winning his last two starts, pitching his second career complete game in Friday's 6-4 win over Seattle.
In what is virtually a “pick ‘em” game, betters have a couple of ways to go here. Ride the home team that’s streaking to a tune of 12-1 or favor the AL squad that scored 12 runs on Tuesday night. Keep in mind Colorado is 17-9-1 to the OVER at home this season but both the Rocks’ and the Rays are just 2-3 to the high side in there last five games.
This is one of the toughest games on the board to cap. I still think though despite Colorado’s 12-1 streak, Tampa Bay is the better team and should take the rubber match of this three game series.
One final note: Jiminez is just 1-3 in day games with an ERA of 5.34. He’s allowed 29 hits in 28.2 innings. If he’s not spot on with his control today, The Devil Rays and they’re power packed lineup will make him pay. This figures to be one of those days where runs not pitching will be at a premium. Take the balls out of the humidor and lets get ready to go.
Marc Lawrence
Play On: NY Mets w/Hernandez vs. Berken
The Mets wrap up their three-game visit to Baltimore tonight when Livan Hernandez takes on Jason Berken at Camden Yards. Hernandez enters tonight's contest with more wins in Interleague play (19) than any active pticher in the majors. Meanwhile, Berken checks in at 0-3 with an 8.63 ERA in his last three outings. With that, look for the Birds to drop to 3-13 at home on Thursdays in June here tonight.
Scott Spreitzer
Seattle Mariners at San Diego Padres
Prediction: Seattle Mariners
I'm taking the Mariners over the Padres who have lost five in a row and an unbelievable 13 interleague games in a row. Josh Geer has been terrible this season with a 6.14 ERA overall including 5.34 when pitching in spacious Petco Park. In his last 10 starts, Geer has allowed 39 runs on 58 hits in only 52 innings. In his last outing, he gave up four home runs against the Angels and he's allowed 14 homers on the season. Brandon Morrow will be making his second start of the season and figures to throw about 80 pitches. With the game being rated about even the value lies with the visiting Mariners against a San Diego team that can't seem to beat an American League club.
Robbie Gainous
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Minnesota Twins
Play Minnesota Twins
Wednesday’s Interleague Matinee will decide this three-game set as each team has won a game by the score of 8 to 2 wonder the odds on game three with the same final score…? The Pirates will send Zack Duke to the bump with his 2-2 W/L road record and ERA of 3.51 but in his six starts on the highway this season his team has only managed a record of 2-4 W/L when he takes bump. Over his last three outings he has posted a record of 2-1 W/L with an ERA of 4.29 with the two wins coming at home and the one loss coming on the road. The Pirates are 14-22 W/L on the highway this season and 18-37 W/L as a road underdog. Their record is much the same when facing teams from the American League during interleague play going 18-41 W/L their last 59 games. When Duke takes the hill on the road and is installed as an underdog of 150 or less the Pirates have only won three times out of their last twenty-one in this situation and Duke is only 3-11 W/L his last 14 when pitching on four days rest. We expect the Twins to bounce back against the Pirates and Duke on Thursday afternoon at the Metrodome and take game three as well as the series. The Twins have been a formidable opponent during interleague play posting a record of 45-13 W/L their last 58 interleague games. Much of that winning record was built facing foes from the National League Central with the Twins going 24-7 W/L their last 31 against those teams. Minnesota will hang their hopes on right-hander Nick Blackburn who is 2-0 W/L at home this season with an ERA of 3.06 the Twins are 4-1 in his five home starts this year. In Blackburn’s last three trips to the bump he is 1-0 W/L with an ERA of 2.57 and the Twins are only 1-2 W/L in those three starts but all three came on the road. The Twins are 49-16 W/L installed as home favorite and a perfect 5-0 W/L the last five with Blackburn on the hill. Minnesota has also found success when facing lefthanders during interleague play posting a record of 12-4 W/L their last 16 in this situation. The Twins are 8-1 W/L (+8.5) versus an NL starting pitcher whose ERA is 3.50 or better over the last 2 seasons while Pittsburgh is 7-28 W/L (-18.8) versus an AL starting pitcher whose ERA is 3.50 or better since 1997. Our TPR (Team Performance Ratings) Index projects a Twins win over the Pirates in today’s matchup by 1.8 runs and we also find support with our Pitcher Efficiency Ratings Index that has the Twins starter and bullpen 0.9 runs better than the Pirates starter and bullpen. Finally we have a MLB System that is active for today’s contest and it tells us to Play On MLB AL home teams with a batting average of .265 to .279 against a NL starting pitcher whose ERA is 3.70 or better during the month of June, 34-12 W/L +22.0 Units for 73.9 percent winners over the last five seasons and 4-2 W/L (+1.9 units) already this season. With significant fundamental, situational and technical support we will lay the chalk with the host here as the Twins take game three and the series from the Pirates on Thursday afternoon at the Metrodome.
Graded Selection: 2* Minnesota Twins 3 Pittsburgh Pirates 1
Jeff Benton
Chi. White Sox +145 over CHI. CUBS
For Thursday, we’ll head to Wrigley Field for a little daytime baseball and take the White Sox over the Cubs in the Windy City rivalry.
The Cubbies are starting Carlos Zambrano two days later than they had originally planned (he was slated to go in Monday’s game, which got rained out). Does the extra time off help a head case like Zambrano or hurt him? Tough to predict, but given the way he’s been pitching lately (very, very good), I’d imagine Big Z isn’t exactly hip to the disruption in his routine. That said, I know Zambrano’s got the kind of filthy stuff that can shut down any opponent on any day … but he’s also very volatile and it only takes one bad break from him to completely unravel, as the White Sox are well aware (more on that in a second).
But this play really doesn’t have much at all to do with Zambrano. It has to do with the fact that the Cubs simply cannot hit the baseball. Lou Pineilla’s club is batting under .220 over its last 11 games and has tallied a total of 10 runs in the last six games, losing five of those. Going a step further, they’ve scored three runs or fewer in eight of their last 11 games and managed two runs or less in 14 of the last 25 contests.
I can’t envision those ice-cold bats heating up tonight, as they’re facing Gavin Floyd, who has completely turned his season around over the past month. He’s delivered five straight quality starts, giving up a total of seven earned runs in 37 2/3 innings (that’s a 1.67 ERA). The Sox have won Floyd’s last three outings and four of the last five.
Quickly back to Zambrano. He’s given up 19 runs on 20 hits (including seven home runs) in his last four starts against the White Sox (6.18 ERA), including allowing seven runs in each of his last two starts against the Pale Hose in Wrigley Field.
The White Sox have won three in a row and are now on runs of 9-2 in interleague play and 6-1 on the road, while the Cubs have lost seven of eight against the American League and five of six as a favorite. Lot of value in the ‘dog here, so we’ll back the South Siders.
3♦ WHITE SOX
Sports Gambling Hotline
White Sox at CUBS -160
We gave you another free play winner on Wednesday, as Milwaukee came through in extra-innings.
Now 11-3 the last 2 weeks with our comp plays!
Daytime action today, and we expect to see Gavin Floyd and Carlos Zambrano matching pitches all afternoon long at Wrigley Field.
Both starters have been in the zone of late, as Floyd has allowed just 4 earned runs over his last 22 innings of mound work, while Zambrano has only allowed 2 runs in his last 21 innings of work!
We see a definite UNDER brewing in this one, as the Pale Hose have played UNDER in 6 of their last 9 games with a push thrown in the mix, while the Cubbies have held LOW in 8 of their last 10 overall, including their last 3.
Not much offense in this one, as the White Sox and Cubs play another UNDER at Wrigley this afternoon.
Play the LOW.
3♦ UNDER
Michael Cannon
Tampa Bay at COLORADO -105
Take the Rockies for the home win this afternoon over the Rays.
Colorado has been playing great since Jim Tracy took over as manager and I expect them to close the deal today.
Ubaldo Jimenez gets the nod for the Rockies and he’s 5-6 on the year with a 3.92 ERA. But the right-hander has been impressive recently, going 2-0 with a 2.74 ERA in his last three starts.
Tampa will counter with Matt Garza, who is having an inconsistent season so far. The right-hander is winless in his last five starts and now has to go into the thin air of Coors.
Colorado is playing too good right now to pass them up at this price.
Take the Rockies as they grab the home win.
3♦ COLORADO
Bobby Maxwell
N.Y. Mets -105 at BALTIMORE
Today's FREE winner on the diamond comes to us from Baltimore where we are going to play the visiting Mets taking on the Orioles.
It seems like Livan Hernandez has been around forever and every couple years he starts out like a superstar and revives his career. He's done just that this year with the Mets, posting a 5-1 mark with a 4.33 ERA. We're going to back him tonight as the Mets will get the best of the Orioles in this one.
Hernandez got beat up in his last start, allowing six runs on seven hits in 5.1 innings of a 9-8 loss to the Yankees, but he was a stud in his previous four, allowing one run or less in three of the four, including a complete game win over the Nationals on May 26. He is 3-1 on the road this season and it doesn't bother this guy where he pitches.
For his career, Hernandez is 3-1 in five starts against Baltimore with a 3.94 ERA in 32 innings and he's 2-0 at Camden Yards in his only two starts there.
New York lost 6-4 on Wednesday but they will rebound tonight and get the offense going, giving Hernandez some good run support.
Young Jason Berken (1-3, 7.32 ERA) goes for the Orioles and this guy has been terrible lately. He gave up four runs on eight hits in 4.1 innings against the Braves on Friday in a 7-2 loss and on June 6 at Oakland he gave up nine runs on seven hits in 3.1 innings of a 9-4 defeat.
The Mets have won eight of the last 13 against the Orioles and they are 16-6 in their last 22 as a favorite. New York is also on runs of 9-4 in interleague road games and 5-1 in Hernandez's last six starts against teams with a losing record and 4-1 when he starts as a favorite. Meanwhile the Orioles are in a serious funk, including 3-9 in their last 12 overall, 18-45 in the third game of a series and 1-5 at home against teams with a losing road record.
We're playing the Mets today.
3♦ N.Y. METS
Chris Jordan
Detroit -105 at ST. LOUIS
Play the Tigers with upstart rookie right-hander Rick Porcello, who is 7-4 with a 3.71 ERA on the season, and who we’ll bank on to help the Tigers avoid getting swept in this Interleague series the Cardinals.
I know the Tigers have dropped four straight and are now 4-6 on this current road trip, but I like this kid Porcello, and think he has a good shot at keeping the Redbirds off-balance with the arsenal he’s shown plenty of promise well ahead of his originally planned schedule. He wasn’t supposed to be in the bigs until 2010, but the way the rotation faltered early on, upper management moved him into the rotation and he’s responded well.
Although Detroit has scored a total of 19 runs in its last seven games, I’m thinking it will come to life against Joel Pineiro, who has lost both his June starts, four straight and seven of his last eight. Some may say he’s pitching well, but other than a complete-game shutout of the Cubs on May 19, he’s flat-out not getting it done. Fact is, neither are the Cardinals. Prior to winning the first two games of this series, they had lost seven of nine overall and four straight at home.
On the other hand, Detroit is still on hot streaks of 45-21 in Interleague play, 13-8 in Interleague road games and 23-13 against the N.L. Central.
Take a shot here, as the Tigers should get this series finale with ease.
1♦ TIGERS
Karl Garrett
Detroit -110 at ST. LOUIS
Tonight I am going with the Tigers to avoid the sweep in St. Louis, and also put a halt to their untimely 4-game losing streak.
Detroit owns the pitching edge in a big way tonight, as Cards starter Joel Pineiro has been battered his last 4 trips to the hill - ALL losses!
Pineiro has allowed 31 hits, and 13 runs his last 22-plus innings of work, and worse still is the fact his team has lost 7 of his last 8 starts.
Compare that to Detroit's 7-1 record the last 8 times Rick Porcello has started for the Tigers, and Porcello's 3-1 mark the last 4 times he has started, and you get the feeling the Tigers are in the driver's seat in this game tonight.
Take Detroit to snap their skid, and avoid the broom out of the Gateway City tonight.
4♦ DETROIT
Scott Delaney
Now on a 18-8-1 run with the complimentary releases after scoring with the Over in the Pirates/Twins game last night.
Nothing fancy here guys, as we're just looking to keep this stellar winning streak alive with complimentary releases, as we take the Mets over the Orioles, and will list both pitchers – New York’s Livan Hernandez and Baltimore’s Jason Berken.
Though he didn’t become completely unraveled until reliever Jon Switzer allowed both of his inherited runners to score, Hernandez put in a hard day’s work by tossing 5-1/3 innings last Friday against the crosstown-rival Yankees. He scattered seven hits and six runs in all, including three home runs – but, that was one more than he had served up in his previous seven outings combined.
Now, I realize Camden Yards is long-ball friendly, but Hernandez is 2-0 with a 3.95 ERA in his career there. Thus, confidence accompanies with him when he toes the rubber tonight.
As for Berken, he labored through his second straight rough outing in his last start. The rather bleak right-hander lasted a mere 4-1/3 innings against Atlanta, allowing four earned runs on eight hits. He got into trouble early by allowing a two-run home run in the first inning and has seen his ERA jump from 2.25 at the end of May to 7.32 in two starts in June.
Play the cheap price with the Mets and be sure to list both pitchers in this one.
NEW YORK METS
Matt Rivers
For Thursday on the diamond take the Mariners at PETCO.
Josh Geer is not bad and more than likely will last longer than former closer Brandon Morrow in this game but like I've said on numerous occasions and will repeat here, the Padres stink!
This San Diego team has had two very solid runs this season, the first two weeks of the season where they were something like 8-3 and then that 9 or so game winning streak about a month ago. I have no idea how that weak as heck offense had those streaks but that was probably just the result of how in a 162 game schedule every squad no matter how bad will have a few good runs.
The Padres have no offense at all outside of Adrian Gonzalez and in their vast and spacious ballpark once again should not be able to muster much of anything. Morrow is probably not conditioned to last many innings and that is never great as it is asking a bunch of mediocre relievers to fill in but even with that said the Friars couldn't hit you or me consistently and probably won't do any damager here either.
Seattle has had a better than expected season and with Ichiro, Beltre, Branyan, Lopez and a few others they do form the overall better squad today. No I can't fully trust Seattle as they are still not very good but all in all today I will definitely take a shot with the visitors from Safeco.
1♦ Mariners