Al DeMarco
5 Dime - Philadelphia (Hamels) - 1 1/2 Runs over Toronto (Romero)
Philadelphia is 7-1 in Cole Hamels' last eight trips to the mound, but there have been a few bumps in the road. Three starts ago, the lefthander was roughed up by Washington at home, allowing six earned runs and eight hits in six innings, but still got the win. However, the 2008 World Series MVP rebounded in his next outing at Los Angeles, needing just 97 pitches in a five-hit shutout of the Dodgers. His next start versus the Mets in New York resulted in a no-decision -- although the Phils did rally for the victory -- after Hamels allowed 11 hits and four earned runs in five brief innings.
Tonight Hamels faces a Toronto team that is 1-4 on the road in night games facing southpaws. Plus, the Blue Jays, after a sizzling 27-14 start, have fizzled, losing 17 of their last 24 overall, including 10 of 12 on the road. And Toronto fell to 0-6 in Interleague play after getting swept by Florida, over the weekend, getting outscored 24-11 in the three-game series. The Jays previously lost a three-game Interleague series at Atlanta, another N.L. East club, in mid-May.
During Toronto's 7-17 skid, its pitching staff has a 5.10 ERA thanks in part to allowing 31 home runs in that 24-game stretch. Awaiting the Jays tonight is hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park and a Philadelphia offense that's banged out a National League-leading 90 homers this season.
Getting the call for Toronto is rookie lefthander Ricky Romero. The Phillies are 15-7 versus southpaws this season, including 8-3 at home.
Considering Philadelphia's offensive prowess at home, its pitching advantage with Hamels versus a rookie, and Toronto's recent struggles, especially on the road, this is an ideal spot to lay the 1 1 /2 runs and reduce the overwhelming home favorite to a slight underdog or pick-em.
Insiders Sports Network Guaranteed Selections
INSDERS NETWORK BASEBALL MAJOR MOVE
Atlanta w/Jurrjens -128
Brandon Lang
15 Dimes - Tigers
5 Dimes - Pirates
5 Dimes - Oakland
The Rock
10* Dodgers
Alex Smart
Detroit / St Louis Under 7
This is his comp play that someone is passing off as a paid play 🙁
That place is a zoo today 😀
The word I used was "Anarchy" for that zoo.... :rolleyes:
Complete meltdown today 😀
JEFFERSON-SPORTS
MLB
PITT+118
ST. LOUIS+110
HOUSTON +125
Ben Burns | MLB Money Line Tue, 06/16/09 - 10:05 PM O}
triple-dime bet 975 SEA (-145) Bodog vs 976 SDP
Analysis: I'm laying the price with SEATTLE. The Padres currently have an amazing streak going. However, it's one that nobody wants to have. San Diego has lost 11 straight interleague games. To show just how unlikely it is for a team to go through such an anemic stretch, the Padres have now tied an all-time record with their 11 straight interleague losses. Tonight's pitching matchup won't likely help their quest to change things and I expect them to "set the record."
San Diego sends Kevin Correia to the mound while the Mariners will have Felix Hernandez toeing the rubber. Correia managed a surprisingly low ERA in 2007 but things have returned to "normal" for him in both 2008 and 2009. Last season Correia was 3-8 with a 6.05 ERA and a .310 BAA. This season, he's got a 4.80 ERA and a .280 BAA. Born in San Diego, one would think that the Padres right-hander would have produced solid numbers in his hometown park throughout his career. However, Correia actually is just 2-2 in 18 games - nine starts - with a 4.98 ERA (1.527 WHIP) at Petco Park. Known as a pitchers park, Petco certainly hasn't played out that way for Correia. It won't get any easier for him Tuesday, as Correia is dealing with a Mariners team which has won eight straight games here in San Diego.
The Padres haven't just been losing in interleague action; they've actually been getting crushed. Indeed, the 11-game losing streak has come by a combined margin of 72-28. With Hernandez on the mound for Seattle, this one has the potential to be another "mismatch."
Seattle is 5-2 in his road starts this season. Away from Safeco Field, Hernandez is 3-1 with a 2.36 ERA (1.16 WHIP) this season and opponents have hit just .232 against him. In eight of his 13 starts this season, Hernandez has allowed one earned run or less. That's how dominant he can be and Hernandez is facing one of the weakest lineups in the league Tuesday. Also, Hernandez has averaged 7 1/3 innings in those eight stellar outings. "King Felix" is his nickname and Hernandez has certainly been living up to that moniker recently, as he has a sparkling 0.94 ERA in his last four starts and a 0.87 ERA his last three. After his last start, a 4-1 win at Baltimore, Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu noted: "Felix was outstanding. He's been that way for a couple of weeks now. He came out and competed." It's also worth noting that Hernandez has a 3-0 mark and 1.85 ERA in his last five interleague starts. I expect him to outpitch Correia and look for the Padres to "set the record." *Personal Favorite
Thanks teasertue