TUESDAY PREMIUM SERVICE PLAYS

Chris Jordan

300* Astros

David Banks

NY Mets
SF Giants
Col. Rockies
Tor. Bluejays
Minn. Twins

RatedPicks

Texas Rangers +180
White Sox RL -1.5 +150
Indians/Twins OVER 9.5

Anthony Redd

5 Dime Nationals

5 Dime Astros

5 Dime Dodgers

BEN BURNS

Personal Favorite

I'm laying the price with DETROIT. Those who haven't followed baseball closely this season might be surprised to see the Tigers listed as favorites over the Red Sox, particularly with "Dice-K" on the mound for Boston up against rookie Rick Porcello for the home team. However, in my opinion, Detroit is favored for good reason and given the matchup, the price is actually very reasonable. For starters, the Tigers are a profitable 15-7 (+6.1) at home. The Red Sox are just 12-16 (-6.7) away from Fenway. The Tigers are hitting .275 and scoring six runs per game at home. The Red Sox are hitting .252 and scoring just 4.4 runs per game on the road. As for Dice K, (Daisuke Matsuzaka) while he did pitch very well against Detroit last year, he's really struggled this season. In fact, that's putting it kindly. Last time out, he lasted only five innings and allowed a whopping 12 baserunners, nine hits and three walks. He also threw four wild pitches. He has yet to pitch past the sixth inning all season. Overall, he's 0-3 (Boston is 0-4, -5) with an awful 8.82 ERA and 2.327 WHIP in four starts. In two road starts, he's got a 12.00 ERA and 3.167 WHIP. While Boston's starter has struggled, Detroit sends red hot Rick Porcello to the mound. Porcello is 5-0 with an outstanding 1.50 ERA his last five starts, averaging six complete innings in those starts. The Tigers won those five games by a combined score of 35-10. For the season, he's 3-1 with a 3.18 ERA in four home starts, giving up just one home run in those games. He'll have the advantage of facing Boston for the first time. The Tigers are 11-3 (+8.4) against teams with a winning record this season. With this game being played at Detroit and with Porcello in MUCH better current form than Matsuzaka, I expect them to improve on those numbers here. *Personal Favorite

Robert Ferringo

Take Boston (+125) over Detroit

Take Minnesota (-165) over Cleveland

Take Minnesota (-1.5, +125) over Cleveland

Take San Francisco (-145) over Washington

Take St. Louis (-115) over Cincinnati

Take L.A. Dodgers (-115) over Arizona

Take Tampa Bay (-160) over Kansas City

Take Chicago White Sox (-145) over Oakland

Today's Totals

Take ‘Under’ 9.5 Kansas City at Tampa Bay

Take ‘Under’ 9.5 Boston at Detroit

Take ‘Under’ 9.5 Oakland at Chicago White Sox

Take ‘Under’ 9.5 Colorado at Houston

Take ‘Under’ 8.0 L.A. Angels at Toronto

Take 'Under' 9.5 Cleveland at Minnesota

Jimmy Boyd

Cubs at Braves
Pick: Cubs +110

Chicago outscored Atlanta 49-18 in sweeping six meetings last season and I expect the Cubs to continue their dominance against the Braves tonight. Atlanta is 0-6 at home with a money line of -100 to -125 this season, losing in these spots by an average score of 2.2 to 6.3. The Cubs have won 4 of their last 6 while the Braves have dropped 5 of their last 7. I expect the Cubs to have the edge on the hill as well as the Braves are 0-5 in Kawakami's last 5 starts as a favorite. Bet the Cubs.

Charlie

500* Angels @ Toronto Under 8 & Arizona @ Dodgers Under 7' 2 Team Parlay.
30* Colorado -140
20* Cubs @ Atlanta Over 9
20* Seattle -150
10* Angels +150
Detroit -145 Free Play

Maddux
MLB picks
#956 - MLB - 3 units on Atlanta -118
#958 - MLB - 3 units on Florida +100
#960 - MLB - 3 units on Houston +126
#964 - MLB - 3 units on San Diego -158
#965 - MLB - 3 units on Arizona +106
#980 - MLB - 3 units on Seattle -136

Scott Rickenbach

Top Play OVER 5.5 goals in Pittsburgh vs Detroit

After going over the total in six out of seven games, the Penguins have now seen their games stay under three straight times! Note that Pittsburgh, after three or more consecutive unders has seen the over go 9-2 (82%) in their next game. Additionally, note that Pittsburgh has now played four straight road games. They have not been home since Game Two in the Carolina series on May 21st and this is significant to note because, after playing 3 or more consecutive road games, the Penguins have the seen the over go 8-3 (73%) in their next game. We’re putting these trends of a combined 17-5 (77%) to work for us here because of two key reasons. First off, these trends absolutely are logical – more on that below. Secondly, the way this match-up changes with Pittsburgh now going home also supports the over. Let’s get to work! The reason such a high percentage of Penguins games go over after three or more consecutive unders is because, by nature, Pittsburgh is a high-scoring team. You’re not going to hold down Pittsburgh for ever. Now, being at home and therefore getting the final line change, the Red Wings will not be able to match-up as well against Penguins stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Also, it’s not as if the Pens weren’t getting some scoring chances in Detroit. The Penguins actually outshot the Red Wings in each game. As for the trend above about Pittsburgh going over at a high clip when they return home after a lengthy road trip, this also makes perfect sense. Coming home after being away for so long means a wild, home crowd and it also means a concerted effort from the home team to jump on their opponent and get the crowd into it. Of course the fact that, in this instance, we’re talking about playoff hockey and it’s the Red Wings in town in the Stanley Cup Finals means that there is no doubt about the intensity the Pens and the crowd are going to bring to this one. This is especially true with former Pen, Marian Hossa, leaving Pittsburgh to join Detroit before this season! This game will be played out more in “Penguins style” and, under coach Dan Bylsma, that means a very aggressive offensive approach. The Pens can, and should, get their fair share of goals tonight. However, the Red Wings have scored at least three goals in 15 of their 18 post-season games and Pens goalie Marc-Andre Fleury hasn’t been overly sharp in this series thus far. This is why we fully expect this game to be a very high-scoring affair as the Pens, who had scored at least three goals in 18 of their last 20 games, get their scoring back on track on home ice with the benefit of the final line change allowing for more favorable match-ups. Play OVER the total in Pittsburgh as a Top Play selection.

Regular Play: Chicago Cubs Money Line (+) @ Atlanta

Randy Wells is arguably the best pitcher in baseball who has made at least four starts and yet doesn’t have a win to show for it! Wells is 0-2 so far this season but he’s compiled a miniscule 1.80 ERA and, in fact, adding in his stats from his four appearances last season makes Wells numbers even more impressive. He’s compiled a 1.48 ERA in his MLB career and he’s held hitters to a .208 BAA! Look for him to be able to keep the Braves bats “in check” here as Atlanta’s struggles at the plate continue. Note that Atlanta’s bats finally made some noise in scoring big in two of their three games with Arizona over the weekend. However, the Braves have still been held to four runs or less in 11 of their last 16 games! In 8 of those 11 low-scoring efforts the Braves were held to two runs or less! That is simply amazing offensive futility and, even though they erupted for big runs on Sunday, Atlanta hasn’t produced back to back strong efforts at the plate in nearly two full weeks! The Braves will most certainly struggle with the offerings of Wells here! Wells and Chicago should also benefit from plenty of run support here as the Cubs should have no trouble with the offerings of Kenshin Kawakami. The Braves right-hander was solid in his most recent home start as he pitched extremely aggressively against the Blue Jays and it paid off. However, in his next start the “memo” had been released on Kawakami’s “new approach” to hitters and he got tattooed by a Giants club that is not known for it’s hitting prowess! The Braves hurler allowed four runs (three earned) on nine hits and four walks in less than six innings of work. Yes, that’s too many baserunners and, yes, that is likely to be repeated tonight. The Cubs will attack his offerings from the first pitch in this one and Kawakami’s fastball is really just mediocre and sometimes it’s even just plain flat! Also, just as happened against the Giants, Kawakami really can’t rely on his fastball and when he lacks command he struggles mightily like he did against San Francisco. We look for more of the same here! Play the Chicago Cubs on the money line as a regular selection.

Regular Play: OVER the total in Houston vs Colorado

Yesterday’s game ended 4 to 1 but the teams combined for 18 hits, including two homers, and there certainly could have been a lot more runs put up on the scoreboard. For the Rockies, this was their 2nd straight frustrating day at the plate. However, right after their coaching change they won their first two games by a combined score of 11 to 7 and, with Jim Tracy now at the helm and a renewed atmosphere in the clubhouse, we’re confident the Rockies bats will return tonight. They will certainly be helped by facing Felipe Paulino of the Astros. The Houston right-hander has had an awful season thusfar and is very likely on his way out of the rotation. Thankfully, before he departs the rotation, we get one more chance to “fade” him by taking the over in this match-up. In the month of May, Paulino got roughed up at a .373 clip and compiled a 10.80 ERA. Keep in mind, the Rockies just tattooed him in Colorado about three weeks ago. A quick second look for the Rocks is bad news for Mr. Paulino. The Astros hurler has allowed seven homers in his last 16 innings on the mound and this included two at Colorado on May 12th. He struggles again here and note that the Astros bullpen has certainly not been a strength this season! The good news for Houston fans is that, even though their pitching is expected to struggle here, the Astros bats should give the fans plenty to cheer about! The Rockies bullpen has also been a concern this season and, like the Astros pen, they may be called upon early in this one too! That’s because Ubaldo Jimenez faces a tough match-up here. Even though Jimenez had a solid May to rebound from a tough April, he does not match up all that well with Houston. Yes, Jimenez has decent career numbers against the Astros but he’s struggled against left-handed sticks this season. The Rockies right-hander has a 1.75 WHIP and a .300 BAA when facing left-handed lumber. The reason that is such a key here is because the Astros bats that need to perk up our mostly left-handed sticks and switch-hitters (like Lance Berkman). The Astros right-handed lumber includes a number of big sticks who have performed well this season. So, look for those guys to stay hot but also look for some of the Astros slumbering lumber to wake up against Jimenez. He’ll provide the perfect anecdote to what’s been ailing them! Yesterday the Astros lineup of position players showed six of the eight hitting at least .282 on the season. Three of those six are hitting at least .341 on the year. Also, of the two guys below .282, note that Ivan Rodriguez is 2 for 5 in his career against Jimenez and Berkman should enjoy success as the Rockies right-hander continues to struggle against left-handed bats. Berkman did drive in two yesterday as did Carlos Lee and his 3 for 3 performance showed his bat is alive and well again. Look for plenty of offense here as we like the Astros lineup and we also like the fact that the Rockies should again have no trouble with the offerings of Paulino. Play OVER the total in Houston as a regular selection.

Jack Jones
06-02-09
MLB | Jun 02 '09 (7:05p)
Boston Red Sox vs Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers -125 at sia
15* on Detroit Tigers -125

The Tigers are the play at home tonight against the Boston Red Sox. The starting pitching match up here makes this a solid bet. Rick Porcello has been excellent for the Tigers, going 6-3 so far this season with a 3.48 ERA. In his last 3 starts, Porcello is 3-0 with a 2.00 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. Meanwhile, the Red Sox will have Daisuke Matsuzaka on the mound. Dice-K has been terrible since being activated from the DL, the Red Sox losing in his last 3 starts while he has posted a 9.82 ERA and a 2.36 WHIP. Boston is now just 12-16 on the road and the Tigers are 15-7 at home. Jump all over Detroit. -=

TOP PLAY =- MLB | Jun 02 '09 (10:10p)
Arizona D-Backs vs Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers -114 at 5dimes20*
No-Brainer on LA Dodgers -114

I'll take the Dodgers over the D-Backs with a couple of very good pitchers on the mound. Both Dan Haren for Arizona and Randy Wolf for LA have been solid all season, the biggest difference being that the D-Backs are just 5-5 in Haren's 10 starts this year, while the Dodgers have notched 7 wins in Randy Wolf's 11 starts. The reason for this is pretty simple, the Dodgers have scored 5.5 runs per game this season, while the Diamondbacks are scoring only 4.2. What makes this the best bet of the day is that, as bad as the Arizona offense is, it is even worse against left-handed starters where they are hitting just .213 as a team and scoring only 3.1 runs per game. The D-Back's record against lefties so far this season is 5-10. Add another loss to that column tonight.

Dave Malinsky

4* Mets/Pirates Under 7.5

3* Phily RL +1.5

Erin Rynning

Phillies/Padres Under

Iceman

5* Penguins