James Patrick
Braves vs. Rangers
Bravos and the Rangers have played OVER the TOTAL in five of seven match-ups and we look for that trend to continue tonight in Arlington. Our selection is Atlanta – Texas OVER the TOTAL.
BRAD DIAMOND
Play on: Philadelphia
Like the way young RHP Masterson of Boston has developed this season, but he throws into a difficult venue on Wednesday afternoon at the Bank in Philadelphia. Philly with Kendrick starting are 10-1, while the Sox are a horrid 4-11 on the road versus RHP.
Marc Lawrence
Play On: Milwaukee
When the Brewers send big Ben Sheets to the hill in Milwaukee this evening against Shawn Marcum and the Blue Jays they'll do so knowing Sheets is in great KW form with 6 walks and 46 strikeouts in his last eight starts. He's also 5-0 in his last five home starts in June and 5-1 in Wednesdays the last three years. With Marcum winless in his last four June starts, look for Sheets and the Brewers to trounce Toronto here tonight.
Jimmy The Moose
Toronto Blue Jays at Milwaukee Brewers
Prediction: Milwaukee Brewers
The Blue Jays have lost 9 of their last 12 games. Toronto is 1-5 in their last 6 road games. In their last 55 games as an interleague road underdog the Jays are 18-37. Toronto has lost 4 of Marcum's last 5 starts. The Jays are having trouble putting up runs and that will continue tonight vs. Ben Sheets. His ERA over his last 3 starts is 2.08. The Brewers have won 9 of his last 13 home starts. Milwaukee is 23-9 in his last 32 starts. The Brewers have won 8 of their last 10 home games. Play on the Milwaukee Brewers -.
SPORTS ADVISORS
INTERLEAGUE
Chicago Cubs (45-26) at Tampa Bay (41-29)
Right-handed ace Carlos Zambrano (8-2, 2.98 ERA) will toe the slab for the Cubs in the middle game of a three-game interleague set at Tropicana Field against the Rays and right-hander Andy Sonnanstine (7-3, 4.89).
Tampa Bay held on for a 3-2 victory in Tuesday’s opener, improving to 23-4 in their last 27 home games, including 6-1 in the last seven. They’re also 20-7 in their last 27 against right-handed starters. However, the Rays are still a middling 6-7 in their last overall, and they’re on slides of 7-21 against the N.L. Central and 11-29 as an interleague underdog.
Despite last night’s setback, Chicago is still on a 26-11 roll, going 6-2 in the last eight. However, Lou Piniella’s club is just 16-18 on the road this year and 4-12 in its last 16 interleague road games against winning teams.
Prior to this series, these two teams hadn’t met since 2003, when Chicago won two of three at Wrigley Field.
Zambrano has lost only once since April 11, going 7-1 with four no-decisions, and the Cubs are 9-3 in those 12 contests. On Thursday against Atlanta, he yielded just two runs on eight hits in seven innings, getting a no-decision in a 3-2 Chicago win at home.
Zambrano is 4-2 with a 3.86 ERA in six road starts this season, averaging just under seven innings per start, and the Cubbies are 9-2 behind Zambrano in his last 11 road starts against winning teams. This will mark the 27-year-old’s first career start against Tampa Bay.
The Rays have won their last three games behind Sonnanstine, with the 24-year-old going 1-0 with a pair of no-decisions. On Friday against Florida, he allowed three runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings, getting the win in a 7-3 home victory. However, Sonnanstine hasn’t pitched six full innings in any of his last four starts.
Sonnanstine, who will face Chicago for the first time in his career, is 3-2 with an elevated 5.32 ERA in eight home starts this year. The Rays are 9-2 in Sonnanstine’s last 11 outings overall, but 2-8 in his last 10 starts as a home underdog.
The over is 5-2 in Zambrano’s last seven starts overall and 6-1 in his last seven interleague starts, but the under is 14-4-1 in his last 19 road outings and 23-10-1 in his last 34 road starts against winning teams. The under is also 4-1 in Sonnanstine’s last five starts in the second game of a series.
For Chicago, the under is on streaks of 37-17-5 on the highway, 7-0-1 against winning teams and 9-2-1 in interleague play. Likewise, for Tampa Bay, the under is on runs of 13-4-1 overall, 21-7-1 at Tropicana Field, 17-6-1 in interleague home games and 7-1 on Wednesdays.
ATS ADVANTAGE: CHICAGO CUBS and UNDER
Oakland (39-31) at Arizona (37-34)
The Athletics will send right-hander Joe Blanton (3-9, 4.23 ERA) to the hill at Chase Field for the second game of a three-game interleague series against the freefalling Diamondbacks, who will counter with former Oakland pitcher Dan Haren (6-4, 3.41).
Oakland destroyed Arizona ace Brandon Webb en route to Tuesday’s 15-1 series-opening victory, the team’s fourth straight win overall, all on the road. The A’s are 10-4 in their last 14 overall, including 5-0 on the road. They’re also on a 7-0 streak against the N.L. West.
The DBacks have dropped three in row, all at home, and they’re 9-18 in their last 27 overall, including 3-7 at Chase Field. They’re also in slumps of 7-20 against winning teams and 5-12 against right-handed starters.
These two teams last met in the 2006 season, with Arizona sweeping three games at Oakland. The A’s are 6-1 in their last seven trips to Arizona, but they haven’t played there since 2001, with the road team winning each of the last eight games.
Blanton’s ERA hardly matches up with his poor record, as the 27-year-old has consistently gotten little offensive support. The A’s have mustered two runs or less in six of his nine losses, including just one run in each of his last two starts. On Thursday against the Yankees, he gave up four runs on six hits in 6 2/3 innings in a 4-1 home loss.
Blanton, who will face the D-Backs for the first time in his career, is 2-2 with a 4.88 ERA in four road starts this season.
Haren has helped the Diamondbacks to wins in his last three outings, going 1-0 and coming off two straight no-decisions. On Thursday against the Mets, he allowed two runs on five hits in six innings – with no walks and five strikeouts – in Arizona’s 5-4 road victory. The right-hander has allowed five runs over 20 innings in his last three starts, for a 2.25 ERA.
Haren, pitching against his former team for the first time, is a solid 6-1 with a 2.56 ERA in eight home starts this year.
The “under” has been the play for both these pitchers, going 9-2 in Blanton’s last 11 interleague starts, 5-1 in his last six as an underdog, 9-4-1 in his last 14 when starting the second game of a series, 7-2 in Haren’s last nine overall, 5-1 with Haren a favorite and 4-1 with Haren pitching at home.
Although last night’s game hurdled the total, the under for Oakland is on streaks of 8-4-1 on the road, 5-1 as an underdog, 4-2-1 in interleague road games and 45-22-3 against the N.L. West. The under is also 7-3-1 in Arizona’s last 10 as a favorite, but the over is 5-1-1 in the DBacks’ last seven overall, 9-3 in its last 12 against the A.L. West, 11-4-1 in its last 16 in interleague play and 22-10-2 in its last 34 interleague home games.
Finally, the under is 6-2 in the past eight clashes between these two teams and 5-2 in the last seven at Chase Field.
ATS ADVANTAGE: ARIZONA and UNDER
Robert Ross
Toronto Blue Jays at Milwaukee Brewers
Prediction: Toronto Blue Jays
Jays look to bounce back off last night's seven run loss. Starter Marcum is 9-3 against the money line as a road underdog of +100 or higher over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record) Take Toronto!
Big Al Mcmordie
Detroit Tigers at San Francisco Giants
Prediction: Detroit Tigers
At 3:45 pm, our member selection is on the Detroit Tigers over San Francisco. Last night, we won our strongest play of the season-to-date (our Interleague Game of the Year) on these same Detroit Tigers, and many of the same reasons for that release are present this afternoon. As I mentioned yesterday, the Tigers murder lefties, and have won 40 of their last 60 games vs. southpaw starters. Moreover, Detroit is an incredible 34-10 its last 44 vs. the National League in Interleague play. It just doesn't get any better than that! And going into last night's game, Detroit was hitting 28 points higher vs. lefties than righties (.289 vs. .261) and is now 12-5 vs. lefties this season (compared to 21-33 vs. righties)! Today, they even catch a break, as one of the WORST lefties is Barry Zito, a complete bust for the Giants since leaving their crosstown rivals, the A's, after the 2006 season. Zito is a miserable 2-10 this year, and he'll be matched up against a terrific looking rookie for Detroit (Armando Galarraga), whose ERA is 3.31, to go with a 6-2 record. Galarraga is coming off his best performance of the year, a 7-inning, 3-hit, 0-run outing vs. the Dodgers, and has won his last three starts. He's also been his best away from home, compiling a 4-1 record with a 2.33 ERA in five starts. Take Detroit.
Stephen Nover
Detroit Tigers @ San Francisco Giants
PICK: Detroit Tigers
REASON FOR PICK: Maybe Barry Zito can win a home game for the Giants. Yeah, and maybe the price of gas will start going down.
Wishing is one thing, reality is another. The Giants' reality is they have dropped six of their last seven home games, have failed to score more than three runs in five of their last seven games and aren't good enough to beat any quality club unless Tim Lincecum is pitching.
Zito is not Lincecum. He's the free agent bust poster child. Zito is 0-6 at AT&T Park this season with a 6.60 ERA. The southpaw is 0-4 in day games with an ERA of close to 8.00.
The Tigers are 11-5 versus lefties. They are hitting close to .300 against them. Detroit is coming on, winning nine of its last 11 games.
There's a big differrence between these teams. The Tigers are much better. The pitching matchup favors Detroit, too.
Rookie Armando Galarraga has been more than solid, especially on the road and in day contests. He's 4-1 away from Detroit with a 2.23 ERA. He's also 3-0 during the day with an ERA under 2.00.
The Tigers have won eight of Galarraga's 10 starts. The Giants are 1-7 in interleague action this season.
Scott Ferrall
Minnesota -135 over Washington--I'm sticking with the Twins in this series because the Nats suck overall and are pretty pathetic on the road. Slowey's the take here as they win the series
ST.LOUIS -135 over Kansas City--Looper isn't going to let the Royals win two straight at Busch.
Cleveland +105 over Colorado-I'm on Laffey to cool off the Rockies at Coors. Francis hasn't been good this year for Colorado.
ARIZONA -145 over Oakland--Haren will top Blanton, who can't beat anybody this year. I'm on the UNDER 8 RUNS too, after they scored a bunch Tuesday night.
ANGELS -130 over Mets--Welcome to the gig Jerry Manuel ! Lackey looked good Tuesday and Garland will beat Oliver Perez tonight and LA ends up winning the series and sending the Mets off to Colorado. Jose Reyes left the game with a left leg injury Tuesday night.
Florida -105 over Seattle--I just don't think the Mariners can win two in a row. TAKE THE OVER 9.5 RUNS--two young pitchers that will give up hit and runs all night. Plus, I think the Marlins are better anyway !
Chris Jordan
Toronto at MILWAUKEE -135
Ben Sheets continues to have one of his best seasons ever, and comes into this one off a solid performance against the Astros. Anyone who watched his outing saw he seemingly got better as the game progressed, as the right-hander turned in a seven-inning, three-run quality start to notch his third straight win. Sheets was stifling in striking out seven of the final 14 batters he faced en route to a season-high nine K’s, while improving to 7-1 with a 2.72 ERA on the season.
Toronto came into this series mired in a 4-10 slump, and now has to hope to thwart the efforts of one of the better performing hurlers in the National League? I doubt it’ll happen since the Crew rolled into this series on a 13-6 run, and a 23-9 tear when Sheets toes the rubber. The Jays, meanwhile, come in on a 1-4 skid in Shaun Marcum’s last five starts and came into this series on a 1-4 skid against the N.L. Central. Lay the value with Sheets here.
4* BREWERS
Bobby Maxwell
Oakland at ARIZONA -140
We're 17-9 with our last 26 FREE selections and tonight we're going with the Diamondbacks to take care of business at home against the A's.
Arizona is sending former Oakland ace Dan Haren (6-4, 3.41 ERA) to the mound in this one to take on his former mates and the D'Backs need him to deliver big after geting blown out Tuesday 15-1 in the series opener.
The D'Backs have won Haren's last three starts and on Thursday he gave up two runs on five hits in six innings in New York as Arizona beat the Mets 5-4. He's got a 2.25 ERA in his last three starts and 20 innings of work.
In the Arizona desert, Haren is 6-1 with a 2.56 ERA in eight outings in front of the home fans.
Joe Blanton (3-9, 4.23) goes for Oakland and he's hoping for any offensive support from his mates after they've managed just twor runs or less in six of his nine losses, including just one run in each of his last two. On Thursday, the Yankees got four runs in 6 2/3 innings off Blanton as they beat the A's 4-1 in Oakland. On the highway, Blanton is 2-2 this season with a 4.88 ERA.
We're going to side with the home team in this one as Haren shuts down his former teammates. Play the D'Backs.
3* ARIZONA
JEFFERSONSPORTS
EARLY RELEASE MLB FOR WED
DETROIT-140
Rocco Spacamuro
100* Sweden
Jim Feist.
ATL Braves and TEX Rangers
Take TEX Rangers
A tough spot for the Braves, who will be playing their 9th straight road game. They have traveled to Chicago, LA, Colorado and now Texas. They are also banged up with injuries, losing 13 of 20. Texas has the best offense in baseball, scoring more runs than anyone. Atlanta is 10-25 on the road where they average just 3.8 runs. Play the Rangers!
Dave Cokin
FLA Marlins and SEA Mariners
Take FLA Marlins
R.A. Dickey is on the mound for the Mariners on Wednesday night as they close out their series with the Marlins. Dickey has been tremendous out of the pen for Seattle, but the knuckleballer's two starts were both pretty ugly. The Mariners could have another tough offensive night here against the serves of Marlins rookie Ryan Tucker. He's one of the best prospects in the Florida system, featuring a big fastball that regularly checks in at 95+. Tucker's command is still not there and he's going to have some rough spots for sure. But against a soft Seattle offense that doesn't always show much patience, Tucker has a good shot to nail down a win tonight. I'll go with the Marlins to score the road win over the inept Mariners.