JB's Computer Picks
Kansas City Royals +105
St. Louis Cardinals -130
Los Angeles Dodgers -230
Gina
Tampa Bay Rays at Baltimore Orioles
Tampa Bay Rays have won six of their 8 road games and the last 11 meetings versus Baltimore, last five at Oriole Park. Go with the Rays to continue their supremacy over the comatose Orioles. Baltimore is 1-5 in its last 6 games at home, just 31-50 this season.
Tampa Bay Rays -150
SPORTSKINGZ
FLORIDA -145
ST. LOUIS -135
ANGELS +125
PHILLY -270
ChicagoSportsConnection
CHICAGO WHITE SOX +105
I know the Sox have a bad history in the Dome, but this game features the Sox' sharpest pitcher at the moment vs the Twins' coolest.Blackburn's been lit up in his last two starts, while Buerhle's been throwing great in his last 4 or 5.
Last night's starter for the Sox was the spineless Javy Vasquez, who a day earlier stated that it doesn't matter much to him whether he goes to the playoffs because he will be a wealthy man whether his team wins or loses.
And he pitched like it didn't matter as he only lasted 4 innings.
But back to this game...It's a big one for both teams, but veteran Mark Buehrle has come up big in playoff and World Series games and we're looking for him to come up big in this "playoff-type" game.
Tom Freese
Chicago White Sox at Minnesota Twins
Prediction: Chicago White Sox
Chicago is 5-1 their last 6 games when playing off a loss in their last game and they are 9-2 their last 11 Wednesday games. The White Sox are 7-2 in the last 9 starts made by Mark Buehrle and they are 8-3 in the last 11 starts made by Buehrle vs. the Twins. Minnesota is 3-7 their last 10 games vs. winning teams and they are 3-8 off a win in their last game. The Twins are 1-7 in the last 8 starts made by Nick Blackburn and they are 0-6 in his last 6 starts vs. winning teams. PLAY ON CHICAGO
Larry Ness
STL (-115) vs ARI
Arizona's 7-4 loss at St Louis on Tuesday may have been just the team's second loss in nine games but it dropped them three games behind NL West-leading Los Angeles (with only five games remaining!), as the Dodgers beat the Padres 10-1 on Tuesday. It also marked Arizona's 12th loss in its last 15 road games, a stretch that has likely 'killed' the team's postseason chances. Future Hall-of-Famer Randy Johnson allowed seven hits and five ERs over six innings last night and I wouldn't want to be counting on rookie Max Scherzer (0-3, 3.00 ERA), as he makes only his seventh career start tonight. Scherzer is a St Louis native and while he hasn't pitched poorly in any of his six starts this year, the D'backs have lost all six (three in May and now three straight in September). Opposing him is the Cards' Adam Wainwright. Wainwright was moved into the starting rotation last year and finished 14-12 with a 3.70 ERA. He'll take a 10-3 (3.21 ERA) mark into tonight's game, in a season in which he went without a start from June 7 through August 22 due to sprained right middle finger (must have been more serious than it sounds). Since returning from the DL, Wainwright is 4-0 in six starts (team is 5-1), as the Cards have gone an impressive 14-5 (plus-$810) in his 19 starts this year. Take St Louis.
John Ryan
Atlanta Braves at Philadelphia Phillies
Prediction: Over
Ai Simulator 3* graded play OVER Philadelphia/Atlanta ? AiS shows an 85% probability that 10 or more runs will be scored in this game. Jo Jo Reyes, starting for Atlanta, has been struggling to say the least. He sports a 7.94 ERA and a 1.853 WHIP over his last 3 starts and has allowed more home runs than recorded strikeouts (5 to 4). Phillies are at home playing in front of juiced up crowd looking to win the NL East. In his last 2 starts, both home and away against the Mets, he allowed 9 ER in just 5.3 IP. After pitching a 2 hitter in his second to last start, Brett Myers was hammered in his last allowing 10 ER in 4 IP at Florida. Myers is in an OVER role for this game noting his team has a 21-9 OVER (+12.0 Units) in home games versus poor baserunning teams averaging 0.5 or less SB's/game since 1997.
New York Yankees at Toronto Blue Jays
Prediction: Toronto Blue Jays
Ai Simulator 3* graded play on Toronto ? Yes, this is correct TWO 3* graded plays today and I am releasing them to you free. Both bullpens are performing well right now, but all too late for playoff consideration. Still, with Burnett on the hill the bullpen will not be needed all that much except for key personnel. Toronto has posted a 1.08 ERA and a0.96 WHIP allowing just 1 home run in 25 IP. Supporting this graded play is a system that has gone 75-18 making 42 units since 1997. Play on AL home favorites with a money line of -150 or more with a team batting average of .265 or worse on the season and after allowing 3 runs or less 3 straight games. Of note is that Burnett can get his 19th win tonight and may still have a start Sunday to get his 20th ? if he is moved up for that goal. He has posted a 1.35 ERA and a 0.900 WHIP, allowed ZERO home runs while recording 19K?s over his last 3 starts spanning 20 IP. He is 6-3 when starting against NY YANKEES with an ERA of 2.58 and a WHIP of 1.019. Take Toronto.
Ted Sevransky
Tampa Bay Rays @ Baltimore Orioles
PICK: Tampa Bay Rays
For the first half of the season, the Baltimore Orioles played some pretty good baseball. A few days after the All Star break, they were sitting just one game under .500, at 49-50, including a 28-18 mark at Camden Yards. Baltimore backers earned a nice profit supporting the Orioles, who were consistently coming through as big underdogs. But reality set in down the stretch. The Orioles have gone 18-40 in their last 58 games; just 8-22 at home during that span. They’ve lost eight straight (scoring three runs or less in six of their last seven losses); a truly woeful 5-25 in their last 30 ballgames. If ever there was a team ‘just playing out the string’ in the final week of the season, Baltimore is that team.
Tampa Bay is on the other end of the spectrum. The Rays have never looked back after their surprising start, handling the pressure, proving good enough to be the single most profitable team in baseball for the 2008 campaign. They’ve shown no signs of slowing down. With a magic number of two to clinch their first ever AL East title, and trailing the Angels by only two games in the race for homefield advantage throughout the playoffs, the Rays still have the pedal to the metal. This is a team playing with purpose and passion; their opponent is not.
I have no hesitation fading Baltimore starter Radhames Liz, who has notched only three quality starts in 16 tries this season. Behind Liz sits one of the truly horrific bullpens in baseball; worn down after yesterday’s doubleheader sweep. Meanwhile, Edwin Jackson has six quality starts in his last eight outings, with the strength of the Rays stellar pen behind him. Purpose, passion and pitching all project in favor of the Rays tonight.. Take Tampa Bay.
Lenny Del Genio
MIN -110 vs CWS
This series offers a great opportunity for the Twins to pull even in the race for the AL Central Division title, the only playoff spot still up for grabs in the league. Things got off on the right foot last night with a 9-3 win in the series opener. That was Minny's sixth win in seven games over the White Sox here at the Metrodome this season. Tonight's game is a great matchup for the Twins. They are 17-4 at home vs. lefties and have knocked around Mark Buehrle twice this season by a combined score of 20-1. Over the last three seasons, the Twins are 42-15 when coming off a win by four or more runs. Take Minnesota.
Wild Bill
Phils-Braves Over 9 1/2 (5 units)
Florida -140 (5 units)
Arizona +125 (5 units)
Padres +210 (5 units)
Rockies +135 (5 units)
A's-Rangers Under 10 1/2 (5 units)
Boston -185 (5 units)
Jays -160 (5 units)
Orioles +140 (5 units)
White Sox +110 (5 units)
Angels +125 (5 units)
Braves +240 (5 units)
Cubs +140 (5 units)
LT Profits
New York Yankees @ Toronto Blue Jays Under 8.5
The New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays have gone Under in five of their seven meetings here in Toronto this season, including a 3-1 Yankees victory here last night, and we look for a similar result this evening.
A.J. Burnett has finally pitched up to his potential for the Jays this season, as he is 18-10 with Toronto going 20-13 in all of his starts, and the Under also going 20-13. Best of all, he has maintained his raging form, as he has reeled off five consecutive Quality Starts.
Those five outings include two appearances where Burnett did not allow an earned run, and he has 35 strikeouts in 34.2 innings in these starts, hardly signs of a pitcher getting fatigued late in the year. Perhaps most importantly, Burnett has allowed two runs or less in each of his last six starts against the Yankees.
Now Philip Hughes was supposed to be one of the young saviors in the Yankees rotation this year, but things have obviously not turned out that way. Still, Hughes has pitched well vs. Toronto during his brief career. He allowed two runs and only four hits in six innings against the Blue Jays in his only start against them this season, and he allowed a total of four earned runs and 10 hits in 11 innings in his last two starts against them last year.
Anything close to those efforts by Hughes should ensure this Under here.
Pick: Yankees, Blue Jays Under 8.5
Colorado Rockies @ San Francisco Giants Under 9.0
Livan Hernandez has been a pleasant surprise since being picked up by the Colorado Rockies while Jonathan Sanchez has done his best pitching at home for the San Francisco Giants, so we do not expect many fireworks here tonight.
Hernandez may be coming off of his best start of the entire year, which he has split between the Rockies and the Minnesota Twins, as he allowed just three hits in five scoreless innings of a 1-0 win over the San Diego Padres. He has also had success vs. the Giants, allowing three runs or less in eight of his last nine starts against them and just four runs in the other start.
Sanchez has become a reliable second starts for the Giants behind Tim Lincecum despite his 9-11 record, as the Giants are 15-13 as a team whenever he takes the mound. He has already faced the Rockies four times this season, allowing three runs or less in three of those outings. It certainly helps that the Rockies are batting just .249 on the road this year.
We look for each starter to duplicate his recent performances vs. their respective opponent tonight.
Pick: Rockies, Giants Under 9
Michael Cannon
Cincinnati at HOUSTON -120
Let's jump right back with the Astros over the Reds tonight.
I know Houston failed us last night, but they should be able to rebound tonight behind Randy Wolf.
The left-hander is 7-2 with a 3.39 ERA in 14 career games against the Reds and he's also done well since beind acquired from San Diego. Wolf has posted a 5-2 record with a 3.94 ERA in 11 starts with Houston.
The Reds will counter with rookie Ramon Ramirez, who is 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA in 22 innings.
Now that the Astros have a book to go on with Ramirez, I like them to get Wolf some decent run support.
Take the Astros as they grab the home win.
3♦ HOUSTON
Karl Garrett
Yankees +145 at TORONTO
Why not take the Yankees plus the take-back tonight?
All New York has done is win their last 6 games, and 8 of their last 9. They also handed Yankee-killer AJ Burnett a loss the last time he faced them at the end of August.
Toronto appears to have given up the ship, as they Jays have dropped 3 of 4, and 6 of their last 9.
Burnett's home ERA this season is well over 4, and the way New York has been showing some pride down the stretch, the G-Man feels they are worth a shot at this price.
Take the Yankees.
2♦ NY YANKEES
Sports Gambling Hotline
White Sox +105 at MINNESOTA
Yes, the Twins are 6-1 at home this year versus the White Sox with last night's 9-3 win, but the pitching matchup tonight is all Chicago.
Mark Buehrle has gone 3-0 his last 4 trips to the hill, and the White Sox are a nice 7-2 the last 9 times he has started.
His counterpart Nick Blackburn appears to have hit a wall, as the rookie has allowed 12 runs over his last 2 starts which have lasted a grand total of 5-plus innings, for a pair of losses!
The Twins have lost 7 of Blackburn's last 9 starts, and we see them losing tonight's crucial game as well.
Pale Hose even this big three game set up with the win tonight.
Play on the ChiSox.
3♦ WHITE SOX
Drew Gordon
Arizona at ST. LOUIS -125
Got to like the Redbirds in this one, as despite the fact they'll be watching the postseason from their couches, they've still got the nescessary edges to win this contest with ease.
First and foremost, Adam Wainwright has been solid since returning from the DL, going 4-0 in his last 6 starts, allowing just 2 runs or fewer in 5 of those 6 starts! He's also 2-1 with a 2.45 ERA in 3 starts against the Diamondbacks this season, including his win at Arizona September 2nd, allowing 1 run over 5 1/3 innings. Look for him to deliver another solid effort against Arizona tonight, as he's been money at Busch, going 6-1 with a lockdown 2.60 ERA!
Second, while he's posted a 3.71 ERA over his last 3 starts, Max Scherzer is 0-3 on the season, and more importantly, the D-Backs are 0-6 when he starts! Lack of run support has hurt him, but so has some shaky efforts on the road, like his loss at Dodger Stadium September 7th, allowing 3 runs in 5 innings... Good, but not good enough.
What's more is he'll be facing a top-tier Cardinals offense that happens to hit righties very well at home, batting .287 against them at Busch on the season. While its true the motivational edge lies with Arizona, the Cardinals are still a very proud team, especially at home, and I don't expect a letdown just yet. In the end, Wainwright has been downright nasty against Arizona this season, and when you consider the Cardinals are 14-5 when he pitches (as compared to Arizona's 0-6 record when Scherzer pitches), the play here rests squarely on the Redbirds!
Take St. Louis behind Wainwright over Arizona and Scherzer in this MLB match up.
2♦ ST. LOUIS