Yankee Capper
3 Units - Giants/Pirates Over 8
Passing on the NBA tonight
Doc's Sports
Phillies (RL) @ Diamondbacks (RL)
PICK: Phillies (RL)
REASON FOR PICK: The Snakes have one of the best pitching rotations in the league, but unfortunately Randy Johnson is a setback more then a strength. Johnson continues to believe that he can blow it right by hitters and thus usually gives up a ton of homers. He has allowed 11 earned runs in his last three starts and with a strong Philly line-up awaiting, you can bet that the ball will be leaving the yard a lot. This will be a high scoring contest and we will side with the pointspread giving us yet another free play victory.
LARRY NESS
St. Louis @ Colorado Rockies
PICK: St. Louis
REASON FOR PICK: The Cards are off to a solid 21-12 start while last year's NL champs (the Rockies) are in a big funk. They are just 12-20 and hitting .252, down from an NL-leading .280 in 2007. The Rockies averaged 5.28 RPG last year but this year are averaging just 4.34 per game, almost a full run lower. Colorado will face the right-handed Braden Looper in this game and after 'killing' righties in '07 with a 70-49 record (including 39-19 at Coors), the Rockies are just 9-16 vs righties in '08. That includes a 3-8 mark at home and a 1-6 mark in home night games. Looper started with the Cards in 1998 but spent the next seven years with the Marlins (five) and Mets (two). His timing and pitching were great in '06, as he went 9-3 with a 3.56 ERA in 69 relief appearances for St Louis, as the Cards won the World Series. He was converted to a starter last year but after an outstanding start (6-2 with a 2.29 ERA in his first eight starts), finished 12-12 with a 4.94 ERA. Looper's pitching very well again in the early going of this year, except for one poor start. He allowed seven runs in three innings in a loss to San Francisco on April 20 but is 4-0 with a 2.12 ERA in his other five outings (team is 4-1). Going for the Rockies tonight is Mark Redman. He started his career with the Twins in 1999 but was sent to Detroit in 2001. From 2002 through 2007, he pitched for seven teams in six seasons. He's made six appearances (five starts) for the Rockies in 2008 and his last start was at LA on April 26, where he allowed seven hits and 10 ERs in six innings. He enters this game with a 6.99 ERA and could be on his way out of the Colorado's starting rotation or even MLB altogether. The Cards were great vs left-handed starters on the road in night games last year, going 12-4 while averaging 6.1 RPG. They are 4-1 vs lefties in all night games this year and Redman is the caliber of lefty they should have little trouble against in this one. Take the Cards.
Terron Chapman
Minnesota Twins vs. Chicago White Sox
Play: Minnesota Twins
The Chicago White Sox return home from a six game road trip which saw them drop all six, two of which came at the hands of tonight's opponents the Minnesota Twins.
The Twins on the other hand are in the midst of a five game winning streak and are in a good spot to make it six. The Twins come into tonight's game off an off day yesterday and recently in this position have come through for their backers, going 6-0 their last 6 off an off day.
They will send Nick Blackburn to the mound who is coming off a home victory against the pale hose and will look to duplicate a similar performance tonight. Just a week ago Blackburn held the Sox to eight hits and three earned runs while striking out four in seven innings pitched of a 4-3 Twins win. He pitched well in his only appearance at US Cellular field allowing seven hits and two earned runs in five innings pitched and did not factor in the decision.
The same cannot be said for Gavin Floyd who will toe the rubber for the struggling White Sox. Floyd has yet to earn a win against the Twins and has struggled agaisnt them in his career. In three starts against the Twins, Floyd is 0-3 with a 6.75 ERA. The Twins have an .997 OPS against the young right hander and ran him off the mound in his only start at home against the Twins. In that game last July he was tagged for eight hits and six earned runs, surrendering four hr's in five and two thirds innings of a 12-0 Twins win.
The White Sox are just 5-12 in night games this season, while Gavin Floyd is just 4-9 in his career under the lights with a 6.99 ERA. From the folks over at statfox we are presented with this super situation, Play on road underdogs with a money line of +100 to +150 where teams hitters draw 3 walks or less/gm on the season after a one run win are 79-58 over the last five seasons, 57.7% (+40.7 units).
Play 1 unit on the Minnesota Twins.
Tony Karpinski
Milwaukee Brewers vs. Florida Marlins
Play: Florida Marlins
Milwaukee at Florida (Baseball) 7:10PM ET There are a number of variables pointing toward Florida in this game. First, they have the edge in overall pitching. The Marlins have a better starter going for them and a vastly better bullpen. Scott Olsen has proved to be the Marlins ace this season. The Dodgers hit him fairly well in his last outing, but they were crushing everyone when he faced them during the LA winning streak. They also are the best hitting team against left handed piching in the National League. Before that outing, he had allowed Washington, Milwaukee, and Atlanta to only 1 run TOTAL in 21 innings of work. He will have no problem against Milwaukee, as they have really struggled to hit recently. They have one of the worst batting averages in the National League, and they really struggle to generate runs. The Brewers also have only hit .244 against lefties on the road. I look for Florida's pitching to completely dominate the Brewers and get the win in Miami. Play the Florida Marlins
John Ryan
Baltimore Orioles vs. Oakland Athletics
Play: Oakland Athletics
Ai Simulator 3* graded play on Oakland – Don’t expect too much hitting and scoring in this game as two of the worst offensive teams meet tonight. Oakland has significant advantages across a array of game categories based on the AiS. Supporting this graded play is a system that has produced a record of 83-29 and has made 47.9 units since 1997. Play against any team that is a very bad AL offensive team scoring <=4.2 runs/game and is now facing a team with a good bullpen sporting an ERA<=3.75 and with a starting pitcher whose gives up 5.5 or less hits/start. Here is a second system that has gone 66-15 for 82% and has made 41.6 units since 1997. Play against all dogs with a money line of +100 or higher and is a very bad AL offensive team scoring <=4.2 runs/game and is now facing a team with a good bullpen sporting an ERA<=3.75 and with a starting pitcher whose gives up 5.5 or less hits/start. Oakland is 8-1 (+8.6 Units) against the money line versus a good bullpen whose ERA is 3.75 or better this season. Take Oakland.
BETTORSWORLD
PHILLIES + 135 (EATON)
BOSOX +114 (WAKEFIELD)
TWINS +115 (BLACKBURN
Wunderdog
Tampa Bay at Toronto
Pick: Toronto -1.5 runs +155
Suddenly things are starting to change in the AL East. The Rays have now lost three straight and are looking more like the team we have seen over the years, getting outscored 26-10 in the three losses. Andy Sonnanstine pitched to nearly a 6 ERA last season, and he is a bad outing away from that happening again. The Jays pitching has been better than anyone's over the past week and a half. They have allowed just 12 runs in their last nine games. A.J. Barnett has electric stuff, and when he is healthy, and pitching every five days, he seems to get stronger and better with every start. The Jays are tough at home and have won five straight. We look for them to breeze by the Rays in this one.
Locksmith Sports
1 Unit on Cards/Rockies UNDER 11.5 Runs
I know we have the flighty Coors Field in play here, but I think we'll see good performances from both Redman and Loopers to hold the total down under 10 runs. The Under is 5-1 in the Cardinals last 6 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game, 5-1-1 in the Cardinals last 7 games as a favorite, and 7-3-1 in the Cardinals last 11 overall. Plays on the Under on all teams where the total is 11 or higher (COLORADO) - on a good fielding streak, 10 straight games with one or less errors, in May games are 44-12 UNDER the last 5 seasons. Take the system play to the bank.
Top Sports Bets
Angels +120 over Kansas City
Kansas City does not deserve this spot here. No doubt the first outing by the highly touted Nick Adenhart was rough. At home in front of a sell-out crowd, on three days rest for his first MLB start. Not much else to say there. We expect a much better performance today, and anytime you can get the Angels, who normally dominate KC at +120, you have to take them. Their offense showed up late last night, and we expect them to keep rolling today. Take the Angels here
San Diego / Atlanta under 9
Obviously, the San Diego offense has been bad lately. Tonight, Chris Young will do a good job holding down the Braves offense. Jurrjens has also pitched well lately (under 3 era in last three starts), and tonight will have no trouble with the Padres. Take the under here
Oscarxena Sports
Boston -10 +1.02 (3 Unit Play)
I am making this play on the Celtics here tonight because quite honestly the line appears to be high after the way that the Celtics played against Atlanta last series. I think Boston learned there lesson by taking teams lightly and are now facing the team that represented the Eastern Conference last year in the NBA Finals. The Celtics big three were well rested last game as they completely demolished Atlanta on Sunday so fatigue should not be a factor for this game. During the regular season the underdog covered every game in this series but this is the playoffs and Boston should be rocking this evening. I'm not sure James has the supporting cast necessary to win this series and Boston will want to take full advantage this evening. Boston was 57-31 ATS this year and are used to covering large spreads and I think they will get the job done this evening. Take the Celtics tonight.
Florida -1.03 (3 Unit Play)
This game dropped almost 20 cents since yesterday and I will gladly make a play on the Marlins here tonight. Olsen for the Marlins had his problems last year but he has been pitching extremely well thus far this year as he has posted a 2.70 ERA in 40 innings pitched and has a 1.12 WHIP in those outings. He has had some problem with the walk so far this year but he has shown some maturity that he has not shown in the past this year. Meanwhile the Brewers own one of the worst bullpens and have Suppan on the mound today and all he has done in his road starts this year is post a 7.84 ERA in 20 2/3 innings and has a very high WHIP of 1.69. The pitching discrepancy between these two pitchers has me making a play on the Marlins here tonight.
Cincinnati +1.02 (3 Unit Play)
The Reds were able to win yesterday and break their losing streak and now have their best starter on the mound tonight in Aaron Harang. He has been outstanding so far this year at home as he has posted a 2.14 ERA in 21 innings pitched allowing only 13 hits and he has struck out 20 batters while walking only 5 compiling a 0.86 WHIP. For the Cubs they also have their best starter on the hill tonight in Zambrano but Big Z is not as good so far this year on the road compared to what he has done in Wrigley Field. Zambrano has a 3.46 ERA on the road in 13 innings of work and has a 1.46 WHIP on the road so far this year. The Cubs are struggling a little bit right now scoring runs as Ramirez has been out of the lineup for three games straight and Harang will make it tough on them tonight. Harang has went 2-0 in two starts with Chuck Meriweather behind home plate umpiring while Zambrano has went 0-2 in his two career starts with Meriweather. The home team has went 4-2 so far this year with Meriweather behind the plate and I will take the Reds again at home here.
Nick Parsons
Blowout Of The Month
Houston Astros -129
Bob Balfe
NBA Basketball
Cleveland/Boston Under 182.5
Boston played a longer than expected series against the Hawks, but one thing you cant pin negatively on the Celtics was there home defense. Boston plays great defense at home and game one should be a feeling out game from both sides. Both games in Boston this year have gone under the total. This line opened at 184 and now is dropping. Vegas knows better than to drop a total in the NBA Playoffs when everyone is betting the overs anyway. Look for a tight defensive game. Take the Under.
Major League Baseball
Pirates -120 over Giants
Savannah Sports
2 Units on NY Yankees Under 9
Paul Leiner
40* Cavaliers +9.5
10* Tigers -110
5* Yankees -130
Keith Martin Sports
Boston Red Sox +103
LA Angels +120