Who2Beton
St. Louis @ NY Mets
The St. Louis Cardinals shut out the New York Mets 3-0 here last night, and we look for the offensive struggles for the Mets to continue tonight.
The Mets lineup is basically comprised of David Wright and a bunch of nobodies right now, as Carlos Beltran joined Carlos Delgado and Jose Reyes on the Disabled List yesterday. Thus, the fact that the Mets are batting an ordinary .259 vs. right-handed pitching the last 10 games is not much of a surprise, and it is goof news for Cardinals starter Brad Thompson, who has a nice 3.89 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in four starts this year.
Now Fernando Nieve has seemed like a godsend in his first two starts for the Mets, but it is not as if he is a highly regarded prospect, and he would not have been bounced around several organizations already if he was as good as he has looked so far. Besides, even if you respect what he has done with the Mets, he still does not figure to get much support from this current New York lineup.
One area where the Mets do own a decided edge though is in the bullpen, meaning that their chances of winning this game should increase as the game goes on as long as they stay close. Thus, we will make this selection a five-inning play.
Pick: Cardinals -110 (5 innings)
Jack Jones
Philadelphia Phillies +157
Take the Phillies as a monster underdog at the Rays tonight. On of the main reasons this is a solid play is that Philadelphia has been so incredible on the road this season. They are currently 24-9 when playing outside of their home town. Just to put that into perspective, the Rays are 21-13 at home this year which amounts to around a .620 winning percentage. That's very good, but it's nothing like the Phillies and their .721 winning percentage on the road this season. A major reason for their success has been their hitting. The Phillies are currently scoring 6.1 runs per game and hitting .272 as a team on the road. The Rays appear to have the starting pitching edge here, but looking over the last 3 starts for both pitchers, Matt Garza actually has worse numbers than Phillies' starter, Joe Blanton. As good as Philadelphia has played on the road this year, you have to like them at this price over Tampa Bay Wednesday night.
GINA
Chicago Cubs at Detroit Tigers
The roaring Tigers go for their sixth straight victory tonight and it’s sixth against the Cubs. Detroit will send rookie Rick Porcello (8-4, 3.54 ERA) to the hill. The Tigers have won eighth of Porcello last 10 starts. Meanwhile, the Cubs have struggle away from home, just 4-12 in their last 16 road games and will counter with Rich Harden (4-3, 5.27). The right-hander is 3-1 with a 3.48 ERA in five career starts against Detroit and Chicago has won six of his last 8 starts, but Harden struggle in his last start, allowing seven runs over five innings against Cleveland on Friday. Go with the Tigers in Motor City. The Cubs are 0-7 in their last seven interleague road games.
Detroit Tigers -115
GREG SHAKER
Cleveland Indians at Pittsburgh Pirates
Play: Pirates -127
This play is on the upper end of a betting line that I will play without instituting the runline as part of the action. But I will play it as is and I do think we have a great shot at winning it. The Veteran Pavano had been on a tear earlier this year but his last 2 efforts have been as bad as bad can be, with an amazing 15 runs allowed over 9.2 innings. His velocity is down and there is not much doubt in my mind that he is having more than just a sore shoulder problem as is being reported. He did get a rotation off and has not thrown competitively since June 15th. But is he ready now? I don't think so and when he leaves this contest, which he will even if he throws well, the Cleveland Bullpen takes over. EGADS!!!!! That's all I am going to say about that. Zack Duke has been very solid this year and really only has one bad outing in his last 8 trips to the Hill. That game was at Atlanta. This one is here in Pittsburgh and here he has shown his best stuff of the year with an ERA well below 3 runs, a whip of just over 1.00, a 5-2 record with his last 4 efforts being a win. His Bullpen is not great but certainly better than Cleveland's Second Line Throwers. Those Cleveland Guys tried very hard to let another one slip out of their hands last night. Tonight I think they will be working from behind and it could get really ugly before the Fat lady Bites the Hotdog. Let's lay this number.
Jake Timlin
Go with the Twins on the road tonight.
Perfect spot for the Twins to seal a road win tonight. A 7-3 winner last night in Milwaukee I look for the Twins to make it two straight wins at Millar Park thanks to the pitching of Blackburn who is fresh of a complete victory over the Pirates. Over his last three starts Blackburn with his 1.88 ERA has given the Twins a great chance at winning.
Looper will counter struggling as of late going 0-1 with a 7.47 ERA in his last three starts. Milwaukee as a team is just as bad having lost their last 4 games and 6 of their last 9.
So staying with the trends I look for the Twins to steal tonight’s game on the road as the Brewers struggles continue.
2♦ Minnesota Twins