Ben Burns
MLB 4* A's/Rays Over 9
MLB 4* Colorado Rockies
MLB 4* Nationals/Giants Under 8.5
TEDDY JUNE
My 5* MLB Game of the Day is the Arizona Diamondbacks over the Chicago Cubs.
2nd game of a 3 game set here with Jason Marquis taking the hill for the Cubs and Yusmerio Petit for the Diamondbacks. Petit normally a reliever will be spot starting here to replace Owings. Petit has been a very solid reliever for the Diamondbacks and when given the chance has pitched well in the starting role. First week of July he pitched 6 strong innings against a dangerous Brewers ball club only allowing 2 hits and 1 run. He has limited experience against the Cubs but solid numbers posting a 3.27 ERA and 0.91 WHIP in 11 innings of experience against Chicago. He should be helped by a Cubs ball club that has been dismal hitting the ball on the road and terrible on the road in general this season. Both of these squads have astounding home/away dichotomies as the Cubs are 21-29 away from home and only hit .254 away from Wrigley. They are only scoring 4.02 runs per game away both numbers significantly less than at home. Take away the 9 run game at Houston and this is a ball club that has only scored 3 runs total in 3 of their last 4 ball games since the all star break. On the other side the Diamondbacks are at home where they have been much more comfortable this season. They have the worst home/road dichotomy of any team in major league baseball and at home they hit a solid .274 as a team including scoring 5.26 runs per game. Cubs send Marquis to the hill and while he has been serviceable this season he is only 6-5 overall on the year with a 4.44 ERA and a high WHIP of 1.43. Diamondbacks overall on the year are 8 games above .500 at home and with all of their struggles this season still have been very solid club at their home ball park. Cubbies meanwhile have had all kinds of road troubles and I expect that to continue tonight. It is noteworthy that the Cubs are 1-8 their last 9 ball games priced as an underdog. I currently have this line at -110. My 5* MLB Game of the Day is the Arizona Diamondbacks. As always, Good Luck, Let’s make some money.
Teddy June’s MLB Total of the Day
My 5* MLB Total of the Day is the Cleveland Indians/L.A. Angels Over the posted total. 2nd game of a 3 game set here with Matt Ginter making the start for the Indians and Jered Weaver for the Angels. Ginter is a journeyman starter/reliever who was last seen in the big leagues in 2005 with the Tigers. He has made one start this year a solid effort against the recently quiet bats of the Tampa Rays but I don’t expect his success to last very long. Ginter owns a career 5.33 ERA including a 1.47 WHIP and has particularly struggled against the Angels. In 21.2 innings of work he has allowed 36 hits, 21 ER, 9 BB and an 8.72 ERA with a 2.08 WHIP. That also includes Angels hitters batting an outstanding .371 against him. Angels bats began to come alive before the All Star break and have shown glimpses of breaking out since then. Angels in their last 10 ball games against right-handed pitching are hitting a strong .280 and scoring 5.82 runs per game. On the other side the Indians have suddenly woken up from their spiraling losing season and have reeled off 7 of 8 wins. They have done it with their bats particularly against right-handers where they are hitting .288 their last 10 ball games and scoring a strong 7.08 runs per game against. Weaver is taking the hill for the Angels and while he is a solid young talent he has been inconsistent this season. His biggest problems have come in night games where he is 4-8 on the season and posting a 4.43 ERA, that ERA is a little less than 2 points higher than his day starts. In his 91.1 innings of work in night games he has allowed 91 hits and has been far from good. Combine that with his woeful career numbers against the Indians and I don’t expect a good outing from him tonight. In 4 career starts he has pitched 23 innings and allowed 25 hits, 13 ER, 8 BB, 5.09 ERA and 1.43 WHIP. Both teams have shown previous success against each starter and both teams have been red hot swinging with the bat versus right-handers lately. I expect some early runs in this one giving us a nice over pace allowing for it to cash in the mid innings. I currently have this line at 9 with plus juice. My 5* MLB Total of the Day is the Cleveland Indians/L.A. Angels Over the posted total.
Erin Rynning
MLB Playmaker: Colorado Under 10.5
Mike Rose
MLB 3* Pirates/Nationals Under 9.5
MLB 5* Rangers/White Sox Over 9.5
KBHoops
5 units St. Louis Cardinals -143 **POD**
5 units Minnesota Twins +118
5 units Cincinnati Reds +109
5 units Atlanta/Florida OVER 10
Bob Akmens
MLB 7* Boston Red Sox
The Fat Jack
Cincinnati +110
Houston -110