JrTips
OAKLAND A'S vs. CHI-SOX
The Chicago White Sox (25-26) will face 24-year-old left-hander Josh Outman, who takes the mound for the Athletics on Wednesday night. Oakland (20-30) The White Sox are batting .190 and are 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position. They were shut out for the seventh time this season in a 5-0 loss Tuesday, snapping a season-high four-game winning streak. Chicago will try to bounce back against Oakland's Outman (2-0, 3.06 ERA), who is in his second year in the majors.Though he has only two wins in eight starts this season, the left-hander has been one of the more consistent starters for the A's. He hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in any of his starts while pitching at least six innings in each of his last four appearances.Outman pitched 6 2/3 innings against Texas on Friday, allowing three runs and three hits while striking out a career-high nine in a 6-2 loss. Clayton Richard (2-0, 3.38) will start for the White Sox in his fifth start of the season. He pitched seven innings against Kansas City on Friday, yielding two runs and six hits while striking out seven in an 11-2 victory. Richard will face an Oakland lineup that was 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position Tuesday and is batting .215 over the past eight games. The A's have the lowest batting average in the majors at .239. Both of these teams are having trouble with runners in scoring position and the A's have had trouble scoring all season and both today's starting pitchers are giving up less than 3 runs per game. Tonight will be as pitchers dual and and another low scoring game.
TAKE UNDER 9
Karl Garrett
NY Mets -130 at PITTSBURGH
The G-Man banged home another comp play winner last night, as Colorado-Houston held UNDER the posted total to make it 11-4 the last 15 days for FREE!
Baseball tonight, and expect the Mets to get on-board in this 4-game series with the Pirates with the win on Wednesday.
New York may be depleted offensively, but I have a feeling that Mike Pelfrey may only need 2 runs tonight to pitch the Metropolitans to the victory.
Pelfrey has allowed just 5 runs over his last 21 innings, but is 0-1 to show for his solid work. For the year, the right-hander is 4-1 with a decent 3.88 ERA. His lone start last year against the Bucs was 7 scoreless frames in a win, and I can see him doing it again tonight.
Russ Ohlendorf looks like he has hit a bump in the road, as he is 0-2 his last 2 trips to the hill, allowing 7 runs over his last 13 innings of work.
The Mets were 5-2 the previous 2 seasons at PNC Park before this surprising Pirates uprising, look for New York to right the ship tonight with the win.
2♦ NY METS
Jimmy Boyd
1 Unit on Seattle Mariners -120
The O's are only 8-16 on the road this season and I'll fade them tonight as they face a red hot Jason Vargas. The M's are 3-0 in his last 3 starts, in which he has posted an ERA of 1.93. The O's send their talented rookie to the hill, but the road has not been kind to him. The O's have lost all three of Bergesen's road starts this season, in which he has an ERA of 5.50. The Orioles are 17-42 in their last 59 during game 3 of a series, 16-37 in their last 53 games as a road underdog, and 25-56 in their last 81 road games vs. a left-handed starter. Bet the M's
Vernon Croy
Boston Red Sox vs. Detroit Tigers
Play: Detroit Tigers
We are getting solid value here Wednesday night with the Tigers who are 7-1 in their last 8 home games against a team with a winning record. The Tigers are a perfect 4-0 in Armando Galarraga's (3-5, 5.50) last 4 home starts against a team with a winning record and the Tigers are 4-1 in their last 5 games after allowing 5 or more runs in their previous game. The Tigers are 4-1 in their last 5 home games as a dog and the Red Sox are just 2-6 in their last 8 road games against a right hand starter. The Red Sox are just 4-10 in their last 14 games when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game and the Tigers opponents are hitting just .231 against them at home this season. Josh Beckett (5-2, 4.60 ERA) has struggled on the road this season with an ERA of 4.99 and although he has pitched great over his last 3 starts he is just 1-1 with an ERA of 4.15 in 2 career starts against the Tigers. Armando Galarraga (3-5, 5.50) has struggled for the Tigers but I look for him to bounce back tonight at home to the way he started the season. Grab the value with the Detroit Tigers.
Marc Lawrence
Chicago Cubs @ Atlanta Braves
PICK: Atlanta Braves
The Braves and Cubs battle in Game Two of this three games series when Derek Lowe takes on Ted Lilly in Atlanta this evening. Lowe enters tonight's fray with wins in five of his last seven team starts overall and eight of his last twelve home efforts. He's also 6-3 with a crisp 3.22 ERA in his career team starts against Chicago. Lilly checks in with losses in three of his last four road starts with a 5.55 ERA in those efforts. He's also 3-8 in his last eleven road stats in June. With Atlanta snapping a six-game series losing skid against Chicago last night, look for the Braves to make it two straight against the Cubs here tonight.
Tom Freese
Texas Rangers at New York Yankees
Prediction: Texas Rangers
New York starter Andy Pettitte is off a phony win in his last start when he allowed twice as many baserunners as innings pitched and still game away with a win. The Yankees are 1-4 with Pettitte at home vs. winning teams and they are 2-7 with Pettitte when their opponent allowed 5 or more runs in their last game. Texas is 20-9 their last 29 games and they are 12-2 when the Total is 9.0 to 10.5. The Rangers are 6-2 their last 8 games vs. lefty starters. PLAY ON TEXAS vs. Pettitte
LT Profits
Boston Red Sox @ Detroit Tigers
The Under is now 11-4-2 in the last 17 head-to-head meetings between the Boston Red Sox and the Detroit Tigers after a 5-1 Boston win last night, and even though Josh Beckett and Armando Galarraga have both been shaky, they are both better than they have shown.
Sure, Beckett has a 4.60 ERA and 1.47 WHIP, but you would not know that from his recent performances, as he is finally starting to resemble the Beckett of old. He has now reeled off five consecutive Quality Starts, posting a 2.38 ERA with as many strikeouts as hits allowed (28) in 34 innings over those five outings. He also pitched extremely well the only time he faced the Tigers last season, allowing one run and six hits with eight strikeouts in seven innings here in Detroit.
Now Galarraga has been more of a mystery, as he followed up his fine season last year with a great April, only to totally fall apart in the month of May. However, his best May start was his last one on Thursday, when he allowed just three runs in seven innings. It could be that he has finally figured things out, and he should be able to take advantage of a Boston lineup that is hitting a surprisingly low .246 vs. right-handed pitching on the road this year.
Much of that has to do with the dreadful season David Ortiz is having, but he keeps getting penciled into the lineup, so we will looking for the strong Under tendency of this series to continue for at least one more game.
MLB Free Pick: Red Sox/Tigers Under 9.5
EZWINNER'S FREE SELECTION
Game: Kansas City Royals @ Tampa Bay Rays
(924) Tampa Bay Rays -$144
(Listing Neimann and Bannister)
Rays starting pitcher Jeff Niemann has been
pitching well. Over his last three starts Niemann
is 1-1 with an ERA of 2.65 and a strikeout to
walk ratio of six to one. The same cannot be
said for the Royals starting pitcher Brian
Bannister. Bannister is 1-1 in this last three
starts but his ERA is 6.88 in those games.
The Rays have also had his number as Bannister
was 0-2 with a 6.97 ERA in two starts against
Tampa Bay last season. I look for the Rays
success to continue in this game.
Lay the juice with Tampa Bay.
2009 Free Selections Record 82-68 (54.7%)
=====================================
Free Selection from Totals4U
Wednesday's free selection:
Oakland Athletics/Chicago White Sox over 9
=====================================
Free Selection from Arthur Ralph Sports
271 - 177 run 60 % long term -
short term 17 - 6 run (almost 75%)
WED. pick Boston RED SOX
8)
MTi Sports
Chicago Cubs at Atlanta Braves
Prediction: Chicago Cubs
In Ted Lillys last start, he went seven innings and allowed only four hits. The Cubs won 2-1 at home over the Dodgers. Lilly has been a huge money-maker in this spot. The Cubs are 13-1 with Lilly when he went six-plus innings and allowed six or fewer hits in his last start. In the only loss in this situation, the Cubs were shut out. Lilly went seven innings and did not allow an earned run. It certainly looks as if we can count on a solid performance from Lilly.Yesterday, the Braves beat the Cubs 6-5 in extra innings for their second straight win. Chicago loves the challenge of a team on a winning streak, as they are 50-25 vs a team that has won at least their last two games and it is not the first game of a series.
Dave Price
1 Unit on St. Louis Cardinals -122
I'll back the Cards at home tonight where they are an impressive 18-10 this season against a Reds club that has lost 7 of its last 8 on the road. While Cueto has been solid for the Reds this season, he has lost his last 2 decisions. I expect a strong outing from Lohse tonight. He was brilliant his last time out in a 5-0 win over the Royals. He hasn't pitched since May 23rd because of a forearm injury, but I expect him to come out fresh and hungry in front of the home crowd tonight. The Cards are 13-4 at home against the Reds over the last 3 seasons and an exceptional 23-8 in their last 31 games as a home favorite. Back the Cards here.
Jack Jones
Seattle Mariners -120
Jason Vargas has been dangerous this year with a 1.90 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in his four starts. Bradley Bergesen on the other hand has a 5.50 ERA and 1.33 WHIP on the road. Seattle has also been able to score here lately, putting up 4.9 runs over their last seven games and Baltimore has struggled against lefties with a .252 average and only 3.9 runs per game
Rich Green
TAMPA BAY -140 Over Kansas City
The American League Champion Rays under their Manager Joe Maddon are 26-28 on the year out of the East Division. They are 3-1 on their current Home stand, and have won eight of the last 11 games at Home. Jeff Niemann (4-4, 4.44 ERA) gets the nod for the Rays this evening. The 6' 9", 280 lb Right-hander has helped his team win six out of his last eight starts. Third-baseman Longoria left last night's game with a hamstring ailment. Positive trends for the Rays include 32-20 as Home Favorites in this Odds range, 49-32 at Home when the Total is in this runs range, and 6-3 at Home in this match up lately.
The Royals of the American League Central Division under their Manager Trey Hillman are 23-28 on the season. They have lost five games in a row, and 10 out of their last 12 events. Brian Bannister (4-2, 3.64) takes the mound for the Royals tonight. The Right-hander allowed six earned runs and nine hits in five innings of an 11-2 loss to the White Sox on Friday. He is 1-2 with a 4.42 ERA against the Rays lifetime. Negative trends for the Royals here include 58-106 when the Total is in this runs range, 79-104 on the Road, and 9-16 versus losing teams.
GINA
Kansas City Royals at Tampa Bay Rays
Kansas City's Brian Bannister is 1-1 with a 6.88 ERA in his last three starts. The right-hander is 1-2 with a 4.42 ERA in three career starts against Tampa Bay.Tampa Bay's Jeff Niemann (4-4, 4.44 ERA) is 1-1 with a 2.65 ERA in his last three starts. The right-hander has never face the Royals.
The struggling Royals have dropped five straight and have been dreadful away from home, just 1-8 in their last 9 road games. Look for the Rays to grab a win tonight at Tropicana Field. They have won four of their last five home games and six of the last 7 against Kansas City in Tampa Bay.
Tampa Bay Rays -140
Mr A
New York Yankees -175
San Francisco Giants +110
MLB Computer Picks
Boston Red Sox -150
Pittsburgh Pirates -105
Tampa Bay Rays -145
Jeff Benton
Texas at N.Y. YANKEES
New York is scalding hot right now. With last night’s 12-3 beatdown of the Rangers, the Bronx Bombers are on a 17-5 roll, including winning three of four against the Rangers and nine of 11 at home. Each of the team’s last six wins have come in multiple-run fashion and 19 of its last 25 triumphs have been by at least two runs.
Tonight, the Yanks send Andy Pettitte to the mound, and while the veteran southpaw hasn’t exactly been dominating to this point, he has been consistent and New York is 8-2 in his 10 starts, including 4-0 in the last four. The Yanks are also 4-1 when Pettitte starts at home, giving him 6.6 runs of support.
Meanwhile, since a 13-2 surge that pushed them to the top of the A.L. West standings, the Rangers have been mediocre over the past couple of weeks, going 7-7 in their last 14, and five of those seven defeats have been by at least two runs. Furthermore, Texas continues to struggle against the Yankees, not only losing three of the first four clashes this season, but 24 of the last 32 meetings overall, including 11 of the last 16 in the Bronx. And New York has covered the run line in each of its last nine victories against the Rangers.
With Josh Hamilton on the DL, Texas – which is batting just .228 against left-handers over the past 10 games – has a big hole in its lineup, while the Yankees (.326 team average overall last 10 games) continue to just mash the ball. Lay the 1½ runs with the red-hot host.
4♦ N.Y. YANKEES -1½