Mr. A's
Seattle Mariners at Toronto Blue Jays
The Seattle Mariners are coming off a10-inning, 3-2 win in last night's opener against the Blue Jays, their second win in their last 8 games and just the third in its last 18 on the road. Toronto Blue Jays have tumble, dropping five of their last six, but has won six of their last nine games at home and will send Dustin McGowan (4-4, 4.26 ERA) to the hill tonight. The right-hander has won his last two decisions and is 3-1 with a 1.93 ERA at home. McGowan is 1-1 with a 4.15 ERA in two career starts against the Mariners. Seattle will start right-hander Carlos Silva (3-6, 5.96 ERA), who is 0-6 with a 7.88 ERA, in his last nine starts. Silva is 2-3 with a 6.25 ERA in five career outings against Toronto.
Take the Blue Jays at home in a low scoring contest. The Mariners are 1-5 in the last 6 at Rodgers Center and Carlos Silva has lost his two career stats in Toronto. The total has gone 'under' in 17 of McGowan’s last 22 starts at home and 6 of last 8 meetings in Toronto.
Toronto Blue Jays -180 & Under - 9
Larry Ness
NY Yankees / Oakland
The Yanks lost yesterday 3-2 to KC when closer Mariano Rivera gave up a ninth-inning home run. They'll begin a six-game road trip with a three-game series opening tonight in Oakland. The Yankees are just 14-17 on the road this year, averaging just 4.03 RPG. That spells bad news, as they'll face a young lefty in Dana Eveland, who has been a nice surprise for the A's. Eveland was one of a number of players the A's picked up from Arizona in the Dan Haren trade and while he's been somewhat average on the road, he's 3-1 with a 3.14 ERA in six starts here at home, with the A's winning FIVE of the six games. The Yanks were terrible against lefties on the road last year (went 5-14) and are struggling again this year, going 4-6 while averaging only 3.8 RPG. The Yanks may very well need to score tonight if they want to win, as Chien-Ming Wang has had all sorts of trouble as of late. He looked like the "Wang of old" to begin the season, going 6-0 in his first seven starts (Yanks went 7-0), allowing two ERs or less in FIVE of those seven games. However, he's 0-2 in his last six starts and while the Yanks have won his last three no-decisions, it's not because of anything Wang has done. Rather, it's been in spite of what he's done. Wang has allowed 21 hits and 16 ERs over his last three starts (16 innings) for a 9.00 ERA. I'll back the home team A's in this one.
LT Profits
Philadelphia Phillies -120
The Philadelphia Phillies are rolling, as they are now 12-2 in their last 14 games after sweeping the Braves in Atlanta this past weekend, and we look for them to keep things going when they visit the Florida Marlins tonight.
Now is the best time to play Brett Myers of the Phillies, while he is still available at reasonable prices like he is tonight. Myers is undervalued right now because a lot of people are putting heavy emphasis on his year-to-date numbers, which currently stand at an ugly 3-7 with a 5.13 ERA and 1.52 WHIP. However, remember that the Phillies converted him back to a starter after he served as their closer last season, and frankly, it took much longer than expected for his arm to become re-accustomed to the starting role.
He now appears to be back at the level of his fine rookie season though, and he should only get stronger as the year goes on. Myers is coming off of his two best starts of the season, first striking out 11 batters while allowing only six hits in eight innings of a 12-3 win over these Florida Marlins, and then going pitch for pitch with the world’s ERA leader Edison Volquez, allowing one run on one measly seventh-inning hit in 7.1 innings of a very unlucky 2-0 loss. Myers is now ready to pile up some wins, and it helps that he has the support of a Philadelphia bullpen that leads the majors with a 2.59 ERA.
The Marlins counter with Ricky Nolasco, and although he has surprised some folks with some nice outings this season, his overall 5.05 ERA and 1.48 WHIP are probably a fairly accurate indication of his true ability. In fact, that WHIP may actually be giving him too much credit, but he is “correcting” this lately by posting a hideous 1.85 WHIP in his last three starts.
If we are correct that Myers has turned the corner, then the bottom line here is that we are getting a scorching-hot team with a much better starter and the best bullpen in baseball at a relative bargain price.
Pick: Phillies -120
Oakland Athletics +110
It is no secret that Chein-Ming Wang of the New York Yankees is in the worst slump of his career, but since the Yankees are always overvalued, he is still priced as a road favorite here vs. a decent Oakland Athletics team with a promising young starter.
Wang has a staggering 8.75 ERA and 1.73 WHIP over his last four starts while allowing at least five earned runs on each occasion, yet the Yankees scored enough runs to win his last three outings. Wang simply cannot continue to get that lucky, and he is really showing no signs of improvement after allowing seven runs and nine baserunners while lasting only 4.1 innings vs. the Toronto Blue Jays last time out, only to bailed out by Jason Giambi’s walk-off homer in a 9-8 Yankees win.
The Athletics are a somewhat surprising 34-29 including 21-15 at home, thanks to some fine young starting pitchers and a very good bullpen. Tonight’s starter Dana Eveland has allowed three earned runs or less in five of his last six starts, and he has enjoyed pitching in Oakland thus far as he is 3-1 with a nice 3.13 ERA and 1.29 WHIP at home. The southpaw should be doubly tough on a Yankee lineup that has never faced him, and he has the support of an Oakland bullpen that ranks second in the American League with an excellent 3.02 ERA.
The A’s are also 8-2 in the last 10 head-to-head meetings with the Bronx Bombers, and we look for that success to continue tonight.
Pick: Athletics +110
Erin Renning
20* Playmaker LA Angles Under 8 -110
Oakland +110
ROCKETMAN
NY Yankees @ Oakland
Play On: 3* Oakland +115
NY Yankees are 5-16 last 3 years when the total is 8 to 8 1/2. Yankees are 2-10 on the road last 3 years when the total is 8 to 8 1/2. Yankees are scoring only 4.6 runs per game overall, 4.0 runs per game on the road and 4.3 runs per game against left handed starters this season. Oakland bullpen has a 3.03 ERA overall this year and a 2.38 ERA at home this season. Wang has a 9.01 ERA his last 3 starts. Eveland has a 3.82 ERA overall this year and is 3-1 with a 3.13 ERA at home this season. Oakland is 10-5 overall vs NY Yankees last 3 years. We'll play Oakland for 3 units tonight!
WUNDERDOG
Game: Texas at Kansas City
Pick: Kansas City -113
The Rangers have been a better team on the road this season than past editions, but Kevin Milwood has been dreadful when he takes the ball for the Rangers on the road. The Rangers have dropped 13 straight when Milwood tows the rubber on the road. Gil Meche was given a big contract by the Royals to anchor a youthful pitching staff and so far this season he hasn't lived up to that billing. He is however a solid starter that is not just due for a good outing, but more than capeable of supplying one. The Royals are off a feel-good win over the Yankees and will look to build at home. The Royals are the choice here.
Yankee Capper MLB Premium Plays
5 Units - Chicago Cubs -155
5 Units - Boston Red Sox -210
4 Units - New York Mets -145
4 Units - Cleveland Indians -180
4 Units - Pittsburgh Pirates -150
3 Units - Houston Astros -155
3 Units - Oakland Athletics +110
2 Units - Philadelphia Phillies -120
2 Units - Chicago White Sox -120
The Sports Firm
Phillies/Marlins Over 10
Marlins +110
Rangers +110
Angels -110
STU FEINER GUARANTEED
500,000 DIME NBA Finals Guarnatee Game of My Life
L.A. LAKERS
Stu Feiner's Picks of the Day
100 Dime MLB Winner: HOUSTON ASTROS
MICHAEL JAMES PICKS OF THE DAY
LAKERS -9.5
UNDER 195.5
Marco D'Angelo
STL +123 vs CIN
Tonight St. Louis travels into Cincinnati to battle the Reds. St. Louis sends a first time starter to the mound in Mitchell Boggs. The Cardinals called up Boggs from Triple A memphis where he was a stellar 5-1 with an 3.28 ERA. Rookies making their first start as an Underdog are long term money making situations. Also note St. Louis is 5 games over 500 vs right handers this year scoring nearly 5 runs per game. Take the Dog here! TAKE ST. LOUIS as MARCO'S BASEBALL UPSET SHOCKER and make them a DOUBLE DIME PLAY.
LAL / BOS Over 195.5
Expect the Lakers to keep the fast paced tempo of the 4th quarter of Game 2 going tonight. Look for this game to go over the total once again. TAKE LAKERS/CELTICS OVER as MARCO'S NBA FINALS GAME 3 SELECTION and make them a SINGLE DIME PLAY.
Mike Rose
Chicago Cubs -1.5 +135
Left-hander Tom Glavine comes into tonight’s start 2-2 with a 4.47 ERA this season, and has allowed two runs or less in eight of his 11 starts. He’s returning to Wrigley Field for the first time since he won his 300th game on Aug. 5, 2007, as a member of the Mets. Even with the soon to be first ballot Hall of Famer’s efforts, the Braves have won just three of his 11 overall starts. He’s been pretty darn good as a visitor as well going 1-1 with a 3.48 ERA and 1.26 WHIP allowing 26 hits and 12 runs with a K/BB ratio of 17/13 in 31 total innings of work. He’s 4-7 with a 4.79 ERA and 1.37 WHIP in 15 career starts against the Chicago Cubs.
Looking to keep the Cubs good times rolling will be left-hander Ted Lilly who comes into tonight’s start 5-5 with a 5.23 ERA and 1.38 WHIP. It looked to be another one of those short outings for Lilly his last time out against the Padres, but he settled down after allowing a run and a couple hits in the first inning. When the dust cleared, Lilly managed to go 7 1/3rd innings and allow just seven hits and two runs, but the Cubs offense was nowhere to be seen and he was saddled with his fifth loss of the season. Lilly’s 3-2 at home and has allowed 32 hits and 22 runs (19 earned) with a K/BB ratio of 38/10 in 32+ innings of work. He’s 1-2 with a 6.17 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in five career starts against the Atlanta Braves.
From a betting perspective, the Braves and the over have dominated this series of late. Atlanta is 19-7 the L/26 times they’ve squared off against the Cubs, and the over has cashed in nine of the L/13 overall meetings. However, The Braves have been woeful on the road (7-21) and they’re 11-13 against lefties on the year, while the Cubs have dominated at home (26-8) and won 14 of 21 against left-handers.
John Ryan
San Francisco Giants vs. Colorado Rockies
Play: Rockies
Ai Simulator 3* graded play on Colorado – Supporting this graded play is a system that has gone 106-49 and has made 45.8 units since 2002. Play on home teams after 3 straight games where they committed no errors and after 3 straight games where the bullpen gave up no runs. SF starter Misch has not been good at all sporting a 5.79 season ERA and has posted a 7.88 ERA and a 1.751 WHIP, with 4 HR and 9 BB in his last 3 starts spanning just 16 IP. He is worse in his 3 road starts posting a 9.22 ERA and a 1.830 WHIP allowing 6 HR in 13.7 IP. Rockies starter Aaron Cook has been strong sporting a 3.16 season ERA and a 2.33 ERA in 5 home starts. SF is in a weak role noting that they are 34-50 (-23.4 Units) against the money line versus teams outscored by opposition by 0.5 or more runs/game on the season over the last 3 seasons. Rockies are also 7-2 +5.1 units revenging 2 straight losses versus opponent as a home favorite over the past 3 seasons. Take the Rockies.
Nelly
Florida + over Philadelphia
The Marlins have won 12 of the last 17 home games and Florida will be dogged again tonight against a hot Philadelphia squad. The Phillies have won seven of the last eight games but the offensive numbers have really not been that impressive, with Philadelphia hitting just .241 in the last ten games. Philadelphia has lost seven of the last eight games that Brett Myers has started and walks have been a serious concern for Myers this season. On the road this season Myers is 0-5 with a 7.15 ERA and a 2.00 WHIP and he should struggle against an excellent Florida offense. The Marlins do pile up strikeout but in the last ten games the team is hitting .284 against right-handed pitching and Florida has won six of the last eight meetings between these NL East rivals at home. Ricky Nolasco struggled in his last start but had put together five straight solid outings prior to that game. Nolasco can deliver another strong outing and Florida can take advantage of solid underdog status tonight.
LUCKY LEPRECHAUN SPORTS
PITTSBURGH -146 over Washington
The Nationals are 2-10 in their last 12 games vs. a left-handed starter and 6-23 in their last 29 road games with the total set at 7.0-8.5, while the Pirates are 16-5 in their last 21 games as a home favorite and 9-1 in Maholms last 10 home starts. The Nationals are have all sorts of problems scoring these days as they come into the game averaging just 2 rpg in their last 9 games, scoring 1 or less runs in 6 of those 9 games. That's futile. For the Year this team hits just .231 and scores only 3.8 rpg on the road. The Nats will be facing Paul Malholm, who doesn't have great numbers overall, but he is 3-1 with a 3.14 ERA in his home starts. Maholm is also 2-0 with a 3.18 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP in his last 3 starts. Tim Redding gets the ball for the Nats and he has been struggling lately. Tim's record may be 0-0 in his last 3 starts, but his ERA is a high 7.46. He will be facing a Pittsbugh offense that isn't spectacular, but one that has scored 5.3 rpg in their last 11 games. That'll be more than enough runs as I don't expect the Nats to get more than 3 here. Take Pitt in this one.