Vegas Experts
Cincinnati Reds at Houston Astros
Our hearts really go out to the Astros, whose incredible second-half rally came to an end with the onset of Hurricane Ike and the team's subsequent displacement. However, look for them to get a win tonight against an opponent they've dominated all season long. Only reason this line is where it it is because the Reds send Edinson Volquez to the hill, but Cincy has packed it in for the year, and he won't be enough to overcome the Reds 2-10 mark vs. Houston this year. Astros starter Wandy Rodriguez has actually been sharper than Volquez recently, posting a 0.66 ERA in his L3 starts.
Play on: Houston
Brandon Lang
10 Dime Marlins
Jeff Alexander Sports
1 Unit on A's/Rangers UNDER 11
These teams only put seven runs on the board yesterday and I like them to come in well under this 11 run number here. Plays under on all teams where the total is 10 or higher ( OAKLAND ) - below average AL hitting team (AVG =5.00), in the second half of the season are 52-23 the last 5 seasons. The A's are 22-9 UNDER when the total is 10 or higher over the last 3 seasons and 21-9 UNDER on the road when the total is 10 or higher over the last 3 seasons. Bet the UNDER.
Wild Bill
G1 Baltimore Orioles +155 (5 units)
Marlins -125 (5 units)
Pirates+170 (5 units)
G2 Baltimore Orioles +120 (5 units)
White Sox +120 (5 units)
San Diego Padres +215 (5 units)
Nationals - Florida Marlins Under 9 (5 units)
Dodgers - Padres Over 7 1/2 (5 units)
Tom Freese
Los Angeles at Seattle
Los Angeles is an amazing 104-43 vs. teams with a winning percentage of under 40% and they are 37-16 with a WHIP of over 1.30. Starting pitcher Jered Weaver has allowed just 11 runs total in his last 6 starts. Seattle is 19-41 their last 60 games and they are 9-19 their last 28 home games vs. righty starters. PLAY ON LA ANGELS -
Ben Burns
Game: Cincinnati Reds at Houston Astros
Prediction: Houston Astros
Volquez got the better of Rodriguez a couple of months ago. However, Rodriguez is the pitcher in current better form for this evening's rematch. Volquez has a 4.82 ERA and 1.50 WHIP his last three starts. He issued 15 walks during that stretch, including six in each of his last two starts. On the other hand, Rodriguez hasn't issued a walk in either of his last two starts and has 17 K's to just one walk over his last three starts overall. During that stretch, he has a 0.66 ERA and 0.878 WHIP his last three. Overall, the Astros are 10-2 (+8.9) against the Reds on the season. Consider Houston.
Marc Lawrence
Colorado Rockies @ San Francisco
PICK: San Francisco Giants
The Giants send ace right hander Tim Lincecum to the mound in San Francisco this evening against the light-hitting Rockies, a team that has managed to plate more than 4 runs in just one of its last 10 games.
With Lincecum in commanding KW form with 5 walks and 26 strikeouts in his last three starts, look for him to pick up his 8th win in his last 10 home team starts here tonight.
We recommend a 1-unit play on the Giants with Lincecum.
JB's Computer Picks
Tampa Bay Rays -170
Philadelphia Phillies -280 * *
New York Mets - 230
Best Bet **
Mr A
Los Angeles Angels at Seattle Mariners
Los Angeles' Jered Weaver (11-10, 4.16 ERA) is 1-0 with a 2.12 ERA in his last three starts. The right-hander is 6-2 with a 4.65 ERA in 10 career starts against the Mariners
Seattle's Ryan Feierabend (1-4, 7.25) is 1-2 with a 8.22 ERA in his last three starts. The lefthander is 0-3 with a 7.98 ERA in three career starts against the Angels.
The tumbling Mariners have lost 12 straight and nine of its last 10 games against Los Angeles whereas the hot Angels have won ten of their last 12 games and its last five on the road.
Take Los Angeles to take their sixth straight victory over the Mariners at Safeco Field. Seattle's Ryan Feierabend is struggling. The left-hander has pitched horribly in his last two starts. He allowed eight runs over 3 1/3 innings in his last start, a 12-0 loss at Kansas City on Thursday. The Angels have been successful versus the Mariners, going 33-12 in the last 45 meetings.
Los Angeles Angels -135
Drew Gordon
NY Yankees at TORONTO
Its no secret the Yankees playoff hopes are slim-to-none, requiring a total collapse by Boston and 6 straight wins for the Bombers. Therefore, its about that time to consider fading this underachieving Yankees club, and tonight is a perfect example.
Toronto is no pushover, winning 9 of their last 12 games at the Rogers Centre, and starting one of their hottest arms tonight in Jesse Litsch. Litsch has been money since being recalled from the minors, going 4-1 with a lockdown 1.91 ERA over his last 7 starts! Although he's had issues with the Yankees in the past, he's got two things going in his favor: A. he'll likely be seeing a retooled Yankees batting order, as Girardi gets some of the younger guys some action. And B. He's a fantastic 7-2 with a 2.79 ERA at the Rogers Centre this season!
Opposing Litsch is the Yankees veteran Mike Mussina, who's been up-and-down over the past 2 weeks, losing two straight in ugly fashion (9 runs allowed in 11 innings), then bouncing back in his last one against the White Sox. The Blue Jays is hitting righties particularly well over their last 10 games, batting a solid .277 against them. Not to mention, although he's got good numbers against the Jays in two starts this season, both came at Yankee Stadium, and there's no question the Blue Jays (and Litsch) are much better at home.
Bottom line, a lack of motivation on one end, plus a slight pitching edge on the other, leaves only one play possible here - Toronto. Litsch has been great since middle of August, and I just don't see an emotionally tired Yankees club being able to beat him. Mussina has been good, but the Jays get wise to his ways the third time around this season! Jays roll!
Take Toronto behind Litsch over the NY Yankees and Mussina in this MLB match up.
2♦ TORONTO
Karl Garrett
Pittsburgh at MILWAUKEE -185
Despite 5 wins in their last 20 games, Milwaukee is most definitely alive for the wild card thanks to another New York gag job.
G-Man likes the Brewers on the RUN LINE tonight, as Jeff Karstens is having a rough go to close the season out. Karstens has allowed 10 runs over his last 14 innings, and he did take a loss to Milwaukee at the end of August.
Milwaukee has pounded Pittsburgh this season, winning 11 of the 12 season series meetings. Overall, the Brewers are 18-3 at home against the Pirates since the '06 season.
David Bush is 2-0 over his last 3 starts against the Bucs, working 22 innings of 5 run ball.
Milwaukee to take this one easily.
4♦ MILWAUKEE RUN LINE
Michael Cannon
Cincinnati at HOUSTON -110
A loss on the Marlins yesterday afternoon as they blow a late lead. I am still 10-6-1 with my last 17 overall free plays.
Take the Astros tonight at home over the Reds.
Wandy Rodriguez will get the start in his first action since Sept. 7. He departed after one inning in that game due to an oblique strain. The left-hander is 1-0 with a 0.66 ERA in his last three outings.
The Reds will counter with Edinson Volquez, who’s had a fantastic season but appears to be tiring down the stretch. The right-hander has gone four starts without a win, and he’s 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA in the month of September.
Take the Astros as they grab the home win.
3♦ HOUSTON
Sports Gambling Hotline
NY Yankees -115 at TORONTO
New York comes into the Rogers Centre having won 5 straight, and 8 of their last 9. Toronto counters with losses in 5 of their last 8, and Toronto starter Jesse Litsch has dropped both of his starts this season against the Yankees, allowing 7 runs in just 8 innings of work.
The Yanks will go with Mike Mussina who is still in line for his first 20 win season if he can win tonight, and on Sunday at Boston. Mussina notched win #18 with 6 innings of 1 run ball against the first-place White Sox his last time out, and he has split a pair of decisions against Toronto this year.
New York is still not mathematically eliminated from the postseason discussion, so look for them to continue their uptick.
Play on the Yankees.
3♦ NY YANKEES
Matt Rivers
For Tuesday take the Reds in Houston.
This Cincinnati lineup right now may be the least talented in all of baseball but ya know what, they have been winning and with the far superior pitcher today and a star like Edinson Volquez why not back the surging Reds at this near pick-em price!?!?!?
Volquez has had a total breakthrough season and is borderline great if not fully great. The righty has been a baller pretty much all season long save about a three week stretch and should be just fine here against a Houston team which pretty much have stunk ever since those games against the Cubs were moved to Milwaukee because of Hurricane Ike.
Wandy Rodriguez is alright overall. The southpaw can be good and he can implode and be in the shower by the third inning. I do not have the utmost confidence in this Cincinnati lineup so more than likely Rodriguez will be alright but with the way the Reds have been on-fire of late after the pathetic previous six weeks after the Griffey and Dunn trades I am just fine to back them at a pick, even on the road here against Lance Berkman and the 'Stros.
Volquez is awesome and the right side today!
Locksmith Sports
1 Unit on Indians/Red Sox UNDER 9
First off, the Under is 5-1-1 in Wakefield 's last 7 starts vs. the Indians so it is apparent that Wake's knuckler has given the fastball hungry tribe some promblems. The Under is 5-0 in Lee's last 5 starts vs. the American League East and 5-0 in Lee's last 5 road starts vs. a team with a winning record. With the low totals he's been facing this season, these stats show us that Lee has been at his best against the best. The Under is 10-3 in the Indians last 13 vs. a team with a winning record and 7-2 in the Red Sox last 9 games following a loss. Bet the under here tonight.