Maddux Sports
3 units on Milwaukee -135
3 units on Texas -135
3 units on Detroit -115
Free Pick Seattle -148
Khaliagent
Tampa Bay Rays +112 (2 units)
Florida Marlins ML +158 (1 unit)
Minnesota Lynx/Sacramento Monarchs over 161 (1 unit)
Connecticut Sun +3.5 (1 unit)
Hoops Edge
Chicago Sky -3 1.00 UNIT
Minnesota Lynx +2.5 1.00 UNIT
Ron Raymond
5* Brewers / Indians Under 8.5
DailyPowerRatings
4* Boston -165 2 Unit Play
Michael Cannon
15 Dime – ASTROS
Houston is playing great right now. They have won five consecutive series and it’s no coincidence it’s happening because their pitching and hitting are finally in sync.
Wandy Rodriguez will get the start for the Astros and he’s coming off a strong start against the Cubs on Wednesday. The left-hander didn’t figure in the decision but allowed just one run in seven innings. That came on the heels of two bad outings, so look for Rodriguez to get back to the way he was through his first 10 starts, when he didn’t allow more than three earned runs in any of them.
Rodriguez is also 3-0 with a 3.26 ERA in three career starts against the Rangers.
Texas is struggling right now and it’s why I’m going against them. They really miss Josh Hamilton in their lineup and their two best hitters, Ian Kinsler and Michael Young, are a combined 6-for-68 right now. That’s led to the Rangers only scoring 14 runs while dropping four of their last six.
I know Kevin Millwood has pitched brilliant for the Rangers this year and he alone can make the difference here. But as long as Texas is slumping offensively and Houston is rolling, I’ll gladly side with the hotter team at the plus return.
5 Dime – RED SOX -1 ½
Boston is a major league-best 21-8 at home this year and they’re going to tee off on Florida’s Chris Volstad tonight.
Volstad has lost three straight starts and is coming off a start in which he gave up a career high in runs and hits against St. Louis. Now he comes into Fenway where he faces a Red Sox lineup much more dangerous than the Cardinals.
Boston will start Tim Wakefield and the veteran knuckleballer is coming off back-to-back quality starts, beating the Tigers and Yankees. Wakefield will keep the Marlins in check enough for Boston to pull away here.
Robert Ferringo
Take #978 L.A. Dodgers (-145) over Oakland
Take #968 Kansas City (-140) over Arizona
Take #980 San Francisco (-125) over L.A. Angels
Take #959 Milwaukee (-135) over Cleveland
Take #970 Minnesota (-130) over Pittsburgh
Take #973 Tampa Bay (+110) over Colorado
Take #965 Chicago White Sox (+145) over Chicago Cubs
Take #956 Baltimore (-125) over N.Y. Mets
Take #962 Boston (-165) over Florida
Today's Totals
Take ‘Under’ 9.0 Pittsburgh at Minnesota
Take ‘Under’ 9.0 Houston at Texas
Anthony Redd
5 Dime Indians
5 Dime Red Sox (Wakefield) - 1 1/2 Runs over Marlins (Volstad)
5 Dime Diamondbacks
Scott Rickenbach
Marlins at Red Sox
Pick: Over 9.5
The Marlins bring a lot of confidence with them for this trip to Boston. That’s what happens when you earn a three-game road sweep and average eight runs per game in your prior series. Yes, Florida has won three straight games entering this match-up and they all came against the Blue Jays at Toronto. The Marlins are a power hitting team and they’ve been hitting the long ball well recently. Florida has homered in eight straight games. Three of the games were multi-homer games and another game featured a huge grand slam! This has helped the Marlins sustain a solid 13-8 run since late May. Florida’s last five games have all tallied at least ten runs and the 12.6 average total for those five games has been a direct result of some hot hitting but also some questionable Marlins pitching. We absolutely look for more of the same here.
Even though the Red Sox Tim Wakefield has only allowed six homers this season, they’ve all come in his last eight starts. This includes one each in each of his last three home outings. In his last four home outings, Wakefield has 13 walks against just 11 strikeouts. Also, in his last six starts Wakefield has fired one gem (against the Blue Jays – a team he always dominates). Look at his other five starts that have spanned this stretch since mid-May and you’ll see why we’re expecting continued success for a hot Marlins lineup! In those five outings, Wakefield has allowed 24 earned runs on 43 hits in 28 innings of work! So, although Wakefield may give the overall appearance of a pitcher whose been “on” he really hasn’t been at his best of late. Wakefield is 8-2 in his last ten decisions but the Red Sox have averaged nearly 8.5 runs of offense per game in his eight wins! Look for him to get plenty of run support again tonight.
The Red Sox are on a 10-3 run and they’ve averaged over six runs per game during this hot streak. They’re coming off of back to back games with the Phillies that totaled 17 runs apiece and a similar result could be on tap tonight. The Red Sox will be “teeing off” against Chris Volstad of the Marlins. The 22 year-old right-hander will quickly find out how unfriendly Fenway Park can be to a visiting pitcher. Volstad is currently mired in a 2-6 slump and he’s been hit hard in many of those eight starts. He’s allowed eight homers in his last eight starts and Volstad has given up 56 hits in his last 49.1 innings. Even though Volstad is in his second MLB season, this will be his first venture into inter-league waters and there’s probably no ballpark – other than the new Yankee Stadium – that would have been a worse spot for Volstad to make his first ever start against an American League club. The Red Sox .505 slugging percentage at home is tops in the majors! With the hot Marlins lineup matching the Red Sox run for run tonight, it’s a slugfest at Fenway Park. Play OVER the total in Boston as a regular selection.
WeCoverSpreads
Mariners-137
Felix Hernandez is about as hot as they come right now. He has a 0.87 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP in his last three starts on the hill with 18-6 strike out to walk ratio. We expect him to cruise today in Petco Field which is an extremely pitcher friendly park. Hernandez has given up one or less runs an amazing seven times this season when starting. The righty is facing a Padres team who bats just .226 at home vs. right handed hurlers. Seattle is 8-0 in their last eight games in San Diego and have won five straight overall
Kevin Correia has a 4.80 ERA this season. He has been hittable in Petco Field allowing 42 hits in 38 innings with a 1.53 WHIP. The Padres don't play the underdog role well vs. AL teams losing 12 or their last 14 interleague games as pups. The Mariners pen has a 0.83 ERA in their last 10 games and we expect them to have an easy time tonight vs. the weak Padres bats after Felix is done pitching. San Diego has scored three runs or less in three of their last five games. Nice value laying the chalk with the Mariners tonight.
Jack Jones
Houston Astros vs Texas Rangers
Take: 20* UNDER 9
I don't see many runs being scored here today. Houston is putting up just 3.7 runs per game over their last seven on .225 hitting and the Rangers are scoring 2.9 runs on .217 hitting over their last seven. Kevin Millwood has been on lockdown lately, not allowing an ER in his last 14.7 innings and he has a 2.19 ERA at home in seven starts. Wandy Rodriguez has been roughed up lately but he's coming off a seven inning one run performance. I'll take the UNDER here.
Florida Marlins vs Boston Red Sox
Take: 15* Florida Marlins +156
Too much value here to pass up with Wakefield having given up 25 hits and 12 runs in his lat 17.3 innings. Chris Volstad has pitched great on the road with a 3.32 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in six starts. Florida also comes into this game as winners of three straight and they have scored 5.9 runs per game over their last seven. Pretty nice return on a game that is more evenly matched than the odds makers are given credit for.
Tampa Bay Rays vs Colorado Rockies
Take: 15* Tampa Bay Rays +111
The Rays have put up 6.1 runs per game over their last seven, which is a big reason why they have won five in a row. Colorado hasn't lost since June 3rd, mostly do to shutting other teams down. Is that going to be the case today with a hot hitting Rays team facing off against Jorge De La Rosa? I doubt it when you see De La Rosa has given up 20 runs in 27 innings at home this year, good for a 6.67 ERA and 1.33 WHIP which is no wonder why he's 0-4 in five home starts. Take the Rays here for a decent value
Houston Astros vs Texas Rangers
15* Texas Rangers -133
Millwood has been dominant lately with him not allowing an ER in his last 14.7 innings. Wandy Rodriguez has a 3.74 ERA on the road this year with a 1.57 WHIP. Both teams have struggled with the bats recently, but the Rangers have scored 5.5 runs per game at home and 5.4 runs per game against left-handed starters so I see them as the ones who bounce back here.
Primetime Sports Advisors
Dodgers -142
Erin Rynning
Playmaker: Seattle/San Diego Under
IndianCowboy
4 Units Connecticut Sun @ Chicago Sky Under 144
The Hammer Guaranteed Selections
PRIVATE INVESTORS CLUB BASEBALL WINNER
LA Dodgers w/Kershaw -142