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Missouri (3-0, 1-1 ATS) at Nevada (0-2 SU and ATS)
Missouri will try to wrap up a perfect non-conference season for the fourth straight year when it travels to Mackay Stadium in Reno, Nev., for a matchup with the winless Wolf Pack.
The Tigers crushed Furman 52-12 on Saturday in a non-lined home game. QB Blaine Gabbert did the damage on offense, throwing for 256 yards and three TDs, finding WR Jared Perry seven times for 161 yards and two scores. The defense limited Furman to 93 rushing yards on 34 carries, but it did allow 305 passing yards.
Gabbert has been extremely efficient for Gary Pinkel’s squad, completing 68 percent of his throws with eight TDs and no INTs. He leads an offense that’s putting up 38.7 points and 440 yards per contest, while the defense has been just as strong (13.7 ppg, 347.7 ypg).
Nevada has opened the season with two tough road losses, falling at Notre Dame 35-0 in the season opener as a 14½-point pup and then dropping a 35-20 loss at Colorado State on Saturday as a 3½-point chalk. Dating to last season, the Wolf Pack have lost four of five overall (0-5 ATS).
Chris Ault’s team has committed eight turnovers this season without forcing one and the offense has not gotten on track, despite returning WAC offensive player of the year Colin Kaepernick at QB and the conference’s leading rusher in Vai Taua. Defensively, the Wolf Pack have allowed six touchdowns of 25 yards or more already this season and opponents are completing 68.3 percent of their passes against Nevada, with seven TD strikes.
These teams met in Missouri last year with the Tigers clobbering Nevada 69-17, easily covering the 26-point spread.
Missouri comes into this one just 1-5 ATS in its last six as a favorite and 0-6 ATS in its last six after a spread-cover, but the Tigers are on ATS runs of 6-1 as a road favorite, 7-2 in September, 10-3 on the road, 11-4 in non-conference action, 6-1 in non-conference roadies and 11-0 as a favorite of 3½ to 10 points. Nevada is in pointspread slumps of 1-5 as a ‘dog, 1-4 in September and 1-6 in non-conference games, but the Pack are 19-8 ATS in their last 27 games in Reno.
The Tigers have topped the total in 10 of their last 13 roadies and six of seven as a road favorite, but they are on “under” streaks of 6-1 after an ATS win and 4-0 in non-conference action. Meanwhile, Nevada is on “over” stretches of 4-2 overall, 3-1 at home and 4-1 against teams with a winning record. Finally, last year’s meeting in Columbia easily soared over the total.
ATS ADVANTAGE: MISSOURI and OVER
NATIONAL LEAGUE
St. Louis (89-64) at Colorado (86-66)
The Cardinals look to wrap up the N.L. Central title when they send ace Chris Carpenter (16-4, 2.34 ERA) to the mound at Coors Field, while the Rockies counter with Aaron Cook (10-6, 4.47).
St. Louis can claim its fourth division crown in the last six years with a victory tonight or a Cubs loss in San Francisco. The Redbirds failed to sweep the Astros in Houston on Wednesday, losing 3-0, but they’re still 4-2 in their last six games and are on additional runs of 36-16 overall, 16-5 on the road, 12-3 versus the N.L. West, 10-2 on Friday, 9-1 after an off day, 42-16 as a favorite and 19-8 against right-handed starters.
The Rockies finished off a three-game home series with the Padres on Thursday, losing 5-4, and dropping the final two games of that three-game set. Colorado now leads the Braves by 3 ½ games and the Giants by four in the race for the National League’s final playoff spot. The Rockies have dropped seven of 11 overall, 10 of 14 as an underdog, five of seven on Friday and seven of eight to teams with a winning record. On the plus side, Jim Tracy’s squad is on runs of 37-14 at home, 8-2 at home versus right-handed starters and 37-15 against the N.L. Central.
Colorado has won six straight games against the Cardinals, including a four-game sweep in St. Louis in early June.
Carpenter is coming off Saturday’s 2-1 home victory over the Cubs, tossing eight shutout innings while scattering eight hits and two walks. The veteran right-hander has allowed two runs or fewer in six of his last eight starts, including each of his last three on the road. For the season, Carpenter has given up two runs or fewer in 18 of 26 outings, yielding more than three runs just three times. He’s 8-2 with a 2.21 ERA in 14 road efforts.
With Carpenter on the hill, St. Louis is on impressive runs of 91-37 overall, 43-21 on the highway, 68-27 as a favorite, 21-5 against the N.L. West, 24-3 when he pitches on five days’ rest, 17-5 on Friday and 35-9 in series openers. Additionally, Carpenter is 3-0 with a 0.62 ERA in four career starts (all St. Louis wins) against the Rockies, surrendering two earned runs in 29 innings.
Cook has been sidelined with a shoulder injury since Aug. 21, when he suffered a 6-3 home loss to the Giants (four runs allowed in three innings). The right-hander went 0-3 with a 12.19 ERA in his last three starts before going on the disabled list. At home this year, Cook is 4-2 with a 4.71 ERA in 11 starts, with the Rookies going just 5-6.
Colorado is 7-2 in Cook’s last nine starts against the N.L. Central and 4-1 in the last five when Cook opens a series, but they’ve come up empty in six of Cook’s seven career starts against St. Louis, going 0-4 in his last four at home against the Cards. Cook has a 5.64 ERA in eight lifetime outings against the Redbirds.
For St. Louis, the under is on runs of 33-16-3 when they’re favored, 4-1 on Friday, 4-1 against the N.L. West, 9-4 behind Carpenter and 4-0 when Carpenter faces the Rockies. Likewise, Colorado carries “under” trends of 4-1-1 overall, 6-1 at home, 4-0 against the N.L. Central, 5-0 as a home pup and 3-1-1 in Cook’s last four starts. However, the over is 4-1 in the last five meetings between these teams overall, 5-2 in the last seven clashes at Coors Field and 5-1-1 the last six times Cook has faced the Cardinals.
ATS ADVANTAGE: ST. LOUIS
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Boston (91-61) at N.Y. Yankees (97-56)
The Red Sox make one final charge at the division-leading Yankees when they open a three-game series in the Bronx, with the red-hot Jon Lester (14-7, 3.33) scheduled to pitch against Joba Chamberlain (8-6, 4.72).
New York, which has already clinched a playoff spot, comes into this series with a six-game lead over Boston in the A.L. East. The Red Sox do have a healthy 7½-game edge on the Rangers in the wild-card race.
Boston ended a four-game series at Kansas City on Thursday with a 10-3 victory. The Red Sox are 5-2 on their current 10-game road trip and they’re on further upticks of 29-8 overall, 44-19 versus the A.L. East, 9-2 as a road favorite, 43-20 in series openers and 6-1 against winning clubs.
The Yankees took Thursday off after capping a six-game West Coast road trip with a pair of one-run wins over the Angels on Tuesday (6-5) and Wednesday (3-2). Although they’ve only managed to split their last eight games, the Yanks are still on incredible runs of 59-24 overall, 46-16 at home, 11-3 as an underdog, 39-17 versus southpaw starters and 37-14 against divisional foes.
The Red Sox won the first seven meetings in this rivalry this season, but the Yankees have come back to take six of the last seven, including a four-game home sweep in August when New York outscored Boston 25-8.
Lester has come up with nine consecutive quality starts since the beginning of August, going 5-0 with a 2.08 ERA during this stretch, and the Red Sox are 7-0 in his last seven starts (5-0 on the road), all of them multiple-run victories. Most recently, Lester is 3-0 with a 1.29 ERA in his last three trips to the mound (three runs allowed in 21 innings), as Boston pounded the White Sox (6-1 on the road), Rays (4-0 at home) and Orioles (11-5 on the road).
Not only have the Sox won seven straight behind Lester, but with the southpaw on the hill they’re on additional runs of 39-16 overall, 46-14 as a favorite and 4-0 against the A.L. East. Lester is 8-4 with a 3.53 ERA on the highway in 2009, and he’s faced the Yankees six times since the start of last season, and all six were quality starts, with the Washington native going 3-0 with a 1.90 ERA.
Chamberlain has been on a pitch count the entire second half of the season and hasn’t lasted more than four innings in any of his last six outings. Furthermore, he’s 0-4 in his last seven trips to the mound, including Saturday’s ugly 7-1 loss at Seattle in which he gave up all seven runs in just three innings. Chamberlain is 3-3 with a 5.24 ERA in 17 starts at Yankee Stadium, with his team winning all 11 of his no-decisions to make them 14-3 when Chamberlain pitches in the Bronx in 2009.
Chamberlain is 1-1 with a 5.06 ERA in three starts this season against Boston, against whom he’s 3-1 with a 4.05 ERA in nine lifetime appearances (five starts).
For Boston, the over is on runs of 5-1 overall (all on the road), 5-0 as a favorite, 12-5-1 in A.L. East play and 4-1 when Lester pitches on the road. However, the under is 12-5-3 in Boston’s last 20 Friday contests, 4-1-1 in Lester’s last six on Friday, 10-3-3 in Lester’s last 16 when opening a series and 3-0-1 when Lester faces New York.
New York is on “under” runs of 5-2 overall, 4-0-1 against southpaw starters, 5-2 on Friday and 7-2 versus winning teams. Yet the over is 3-1-1 both in its last five divisional contests and its last five as a home underdog. Finally, the over was the play in all three Red Sox-Yankees clashes at Fenway Park a month ago.
ATS ADVANTAGE: BOSTON
DUNKEL
NY Mets at Florida
The Mets look to take advantage of a Florida team that is 1-4 in its last 5 games as a favorite. New York is the pick (+175) according to Dunkel, which has the Mets favored by 1/2 a run. Dunkel Pick: NY Mets (+175)
Game 951-952: Atlanta at Washington
Dunkel Ratings: Atlanta (Vazquez) 16.020; Washington (Lannan) 13.927
Dunkel Line: Atlanta by 2; 9
Vegas Line: Atlanta (-180); 8
Dunkel Pick: Atlanta (-180); Over
Game 953-954: LA Dodgers at Pittsburgh
Dunkel Ratings: LA Dodgers (Garland) 15.852; Pittsburgh (Karstens) 13.162
Dunkel Line: LA Dodgers by 2 1/2; 8 1/2
Vegas Line: LA Dodgers (-200); 9
Dunkel Pick: LA Dodgers (-200); Under
Game 955-956: NY Mets at Florida
Dunkel Ratings: NY Mets (Redding) 14.623; Florida (Nolasco) 14.157
Dunkel Line: NY Mets by 1/2; 9 1/2
Vegas Line: Florida (-185); 9
Dunkel Pick: NY Mets (+175); Over
Game 957-958: Cincinnati at Houston
Dunkel Ratings: Cincinnati (Maloney) 16.221; Houston (Moehler) 13.659
Dunkel Line: Cincinnati by 2 1/2; 10
Vegas Line: Houston (-135); 9
Dunkel Pick: Cincinnati (+125); Over
Game 959-960: Philadelphia at Milwaukee
Dunkel Ratings: Philadelphia (Lee) 16.123; Milwaukee (Parra) 14.841
Dunkel Line: Philadelphia by 1 1/2; 9 1/2
Vegas Line: Philadelphia (-180); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Philadelphia (-180); Over
Game 961-962: St. Louis at Colorado
Dunkel Ratings: St. Louis (Carpenter) 14.630; Colorado (Cook) 15.280
Dunkel Line: Colorado by 1/2; 8
Vegas Line: St. Louis (-160); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Colorado (+150); Under
Game 963-964: San Diego at Arizona
Dunkel Ratings: San Diego (Correia) 14.751; Arizona (Scherzer) 15.191
Dunkel Line: Arizona by 1/2; 8
Vegas Line: Arizona (-140); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Arizona (-140); Under
Game 965-966: Chicago Cubs at San Francisco
Dunkel Ratings: Cubs (Zambrano) 15.049; San Francisco (Lincecum) 16.108
Dunkel Line: San Francisco by 1; 7 1/2
Vegas Line: San Francisco (-170); 7
Dunkel Pick: San Francisco (-170); Over
Game 967-968: Seattle at Toronto
Dunkel Ratings: Seattle (Fister) 15.716; Toronto (Halladay) 15.055
Dunkel Line: Seattle by 1/2; 7 1/2
Vegas Line: Toronto (-210); 8
Dunkel Pick: Seattle (+190); Under
Game 969-970: Boston at NY Yankees
Dunkel Ratings: Boston (Lester) 16.469; NY Yankees (Chamberlain) 16.818
Dunkel Line: NY Yankees by 1/2; 9
Vegas Line: Boston (-130); 9 1/2
Dunkel Pick: NY Yankees (+120); Under
Game 971-972: Baltimore at Cleveland
Dunkel Ratings: Baltimore (Hernandez) 14.425; Cleveland (Carmona) 13.377
Dunkel Line: Baltimore by 1; 11 1/2
Vegas Line: Cleveland (-115); 10
Dunkel Pick: Baltimore (+105); Over
Game 973-974: Tampa Bay at Texas
Dunkel Ratings: Tampa Bay (Shields) 14.887; Texas (Holland) 15.592
Dunkel Line: Texas by 1/2; 9 1/2
Vegas Line: Tampa Bay (-120); 9
Dunkel Pick: Texas (+110); Over
Game 975-976: Minnesota at Kansas City
Dunkel Ratings: Minnesota (Pavano) 16.183; Kansas City (Tejeda) 15.542
Dunkel Line: Minnesota by 1/2; 10
Vegas Line: Minnesota (-110); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Minnesota (-110); Over
Game 977-978: Detroit at Chicago White Sox
Dunkel Ratings: Detroit (Bonine) 15.283; White Sox (Peavy) 14.717
Dunkel Line: Detroit by 1/2; 9 1/2
Vegas Line: Chicago White Sox (-160); 9
Dunkel Pick: Detroit (+150); Over
Game 979-980: Oakland at LA Angels
Dunkel Ratings: Oakland (Gonzalez) 16.492; LA Angels (Weaver) 15.691
Dunkel Line: Oakland by 1; 9 1/2
Vegas Line: LA Angels (-230); 9
Dunkel Pick: Oakland (+210); Over
NCAA Football
Missouri at Nevada
The Tigers look to build on their 6-0 ATS record in their last 6 games as a road favorite between 3 1/2 and 10 points. Missouri is the pick (-7) according to Dunkel, which has the Tigers favored by 12 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Missouri (-7)
Game 303-304: Missouri at Nevada
Dunkel Ratings: Missouri 101.533; Nevada 88.832
Dunkel Line: Missouri by 12 1/2; 52 1/2
Vegas Line: Missouri by 7; 59 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Missouri (-7); Under
WNBA
Los Angeles at Phoenix
The Mercury look to take advantage of an LA team that is 1-5 ATS in the last 6 meetings. Phoenix is the pick (-3 1/2) according to Dunkel, which has the Mercury favored by 6. Dunkel Pick: Phoenix (-3 1/2)
Game 605-606: Detroit at Indiana
Dunkel Ratings: Detroit 112.461; Indiana 113.308
Dunkel Line & Total: Indiana by 1; 140
Vegas Line & Total: Indiana by 5; 144
Dunkel Pick: Detroit (+5); Under
Game 607-608: Los Angeles at Phoenix
Dunkel Ratings: Los Angeles 115.061; Phoenix 120.806
Dunkel Line & Total: Phoenix by 6; 179 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Phoenix by 3 1/2; 181 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Phoenix (-3 1/2); Under
CFL
Montreal at Hamilton
The Alouettes look to build on their 6-2 ATS record in their last 8 meetings in Hamilton. Montreal is the pick (-4) according to Dunkel, which has the Alouettes favored by 7 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Montreal (-4)
Game 471-472: Montreal at Hamilton
Dunkel Ratings: Montreal 118.649; Hamilton 111.292
Dunkel Line: Montreal by 7 1/2; 47 1/2
Vegas Line: Montreal by 4; 49
Dunkel Pick: Montreal (-4); Under
Game 473-474: BC at Calgary
Dunkel Ratings: BC 109.608; Calgary 113.360
Dunkel Line: Calgary by 3 1/2; 56
Vegas Line: Calgary by 8; 54 1/2
Dunkel Pick: BC (+8); Over
Rob Vinciletti
Missouri vs. Nevada
Play: Missouri -7
Missouri is a solid team despite all the losses on offense this year. Tonight they travel into Nevada to take on a Wolfpack team they destroyed last year 69-17. The Tigers are 8-0 ats as a favorite from -3.5 to 10 and have covered 5 of the last 6 as a road favorite. They are a remarkable 37-3 ats when they win on the road. Nevada hasn't played very many games vs the Big 12 conference. However, when they have they are 0-3 straight up and against the spread. Lets lay the seven points tonight with the Missouri Tigers.
Marc Lawrence
Tampa Bay Rays at Texas Rangers
Prediction: Tampa Bay Rays
When the Rays send James Shields to the mound in Texas against Derek Holland tonight they will do so knowing he has cashed in three of his last four road starts. Shields is also 3-0 in his career team starts versus the Rangers. With Holland in rocky current form with five straight team starts losses and a 12.39 ERA to show for his efforts, we'll back the better team and the better arm here tonight.
Brian Hansen
Missouri at Nevada
Prediction: Over
The Tigers got 69 points themselves in last year's game. This one will very likely prove high-scoring too. Go OVER!
John Ryan
Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees
Play: Boston Red Sox
Ai Simulator 3* graded play on Boston s they face the NY Yankees set to start at 7:05 EST. Boston is a very strong 15-3 (+11.5 Units) against the money line in road games versus an AL starting pitcher whose WHIP is 1.500 to 1.600 over the last 3 seasons. Lester is 22-6 (+13.1 Units) against the money line as a favorite of -125 to -175 over the last 2 seasons. NYY are just 5-10 (-11.9 Units) against the money line in home games when playing with a day off over the last 2 seasons. Lester is pitching extremely well right now sporting a 1.29 ERA and a 1.000 WHIP over his last 3 starts. Yankee starter Chamberlain is getting hammered as the scouting report have caught him. Teams know how to approach him successfully and most evident in his last start against Seattle where the Mariners hammered him for 7 ER in 3 innings pitched. He has pitched 3,4,3 innings in his last 3 consecutive starts. Boston is coming together as a solid team with good team chemistry right at the most important time of the year. Take Boston.
Pure Lock Free
CINCINNATI @ HOUSTON
PLAY ON: CINCINNATI
R&R Totals
Missouri @ Nevada
Play On: OVER
Mikey Sports
Chicago Cubs @ San Francisco
Play on: Chicago Cubs
Tony Mathews
Baltimore Orioles vs. Cleveland Indians
Selection: Baltimore/Cleveland Over 10
The Baltimore Orioles will use starting pitcher David Hernandez. David Hernandez has struggled this season. In fact, David Hernandez has a 5.34 ERA on the season. In addition, David Hernandez has a 10.80 ERA in his last 3 starts. We see David Hernandez giving up many runs once again today.
The Cleveland Indians will use starting pitcher Fausto Carmona. Fausto Carmona has also struggled this season. In fact, Fausto Carmona has a 6.89 ERA on the season. In addition, Fausto Carmona has a 13.89 ERA in his last 3 starts. We see Fausto Carmona also giving up many runs once again today.
The Baltimore Orioles have been playing high-scoring games when on the road as of late. In fact, the Over is 7-0-1 in Baltimore Orioles last 8 road games.
Take the Baltimore Orioles/Cleveland Indians Over 10
JIM FEIST
CHICAGO CUBS / SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
TAKE: UNDER
The Achille's heal for these teams all season has been offense. The pitching has been great, but the Cubs rank 21st in baseball in runs scored, the Giants 26. For this game a pair of aces take the hill. Carlos Zambrano of the Cubs has 23 strikeouts in his last 17 innings and is 4-1 all time against the light-hitting Giants. San Francisco welcomes back ace Tim Lincecum (14-6, 2.47 ERA), who is also a dynamite strikeout hurler with 247 on the season. No sense trying to coax a high scoring game out of this one. Play the Cubs/Giants Under the total.
Indian Cowboy
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Take 'Over' 59.5 Missouri at Nevada
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I like the over for a couple of simple reasons. For starters, I love to take the over when I believe an Underdog will be "active". I believe with 75% of the public hovering over Missouri, I like Nevada to step up on a primetime weeknight game. Nevada is 0-2 and obviously they are hosting this game on national television on Friday night. They need to step up. They struggled against Notre Dame and Colorado State which were both road games. This is their season home opener. I believe they will give Missouri a good fight here at home and although I don't trust them to necessarily to cover the 7.5, I do like them to exceed expectations and play ‘over’ the total. Nevada also remembers being torched by this team last year 17-69 in Missouri and has revenge based on that token. The ‘over’ is 10-3 for the Tigers on the road of late and the ‘over’ is 4-1 when the Wolfpack host winning teams at home.
LT Profits
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins have catapulted themselves into the playoff hunt by winning nine of their last 10 games, leaving them three games behind the Detroit Tigers in the American League Central, and we look for Minnesota to stay hot when they visit the Kansas City Royals tonight.
Carl Pavano has proven to be a great acquisition by the Twins, as he now has seven Quality Starts in nine starts as a Twin, including his last six outings in a row. One of those efforts came vs. these Royals right here in this stadium on August 23, when he allowed two runs in seven innings of a 10-3 Twins win.
He is facing a Kansas City offense that has scored three runs or less in four of the last six games, and that went scoreless after putting up five runs in the first inning of a 5-1 win over the Boston Red Sox in another.
Now Robinson Tejeda has been amazing in his four September starts for Kansas City, allowing only two runs in 22.1 innings while not yet allowing more than one run in a start. However, Tejeda is no spring chicken as he has bounced around several organizations, and he has never displayed this kind of form before. He is a candidate to come back to earth tonight vs. a Twins lineup that batting a remarkable .309 while averaging 6.00 runs the last 10 games.
We would be very impressed if Tejeda maintained his nearly perfect form tonight, but we feel the Twins will get to him enough to squeeze out another victory.
Pick: Twins -110
BIG AL
San Diego at Arizona
San Diego righthander Kevin Correia's overall numbers don't tell the real story for the seven-year journeyman reliever-turned-starter. Correia's totals of 11-10 with a 4.08 ERA may make him look like an average pitcher, but since the All-Star break, he is 5-3 with a 3.53 ERA. And for the month of September, his numbers are among the best of any starter in the National League as he is 2-0 with a 1.67 ERA in four starts this month with 22 strikeouts and five walks in 27 innings. It is a strong finish to a season in which he has set career highs for wins, innings (183) and strikeouts (131). San Diego is 3-0 in Corriea's last three starts, two of which have been on the road. Arizona's Max Scherzer will be making his final start of 2009 as the organization wants to limit his innings to between 170 and 175, and he is at 165 1/3 heading into this start. His last time out was not one of his better outings. The right-hander allowed four runs (three earned) over 5 1/3 innings and while he only allowed three hits, he walked five and pitched from behind in the count. This will be Scherzer's fourth consecutive home start, and the D-Backs are 0-3 in his last three which were against Colorado, Milwaukee, and Los Angeles.
PLAY SAN DIEGO
Karl Garrett
Cincinnati +120 at HOUSTON
G-Man gave you another winner on Thursday with the Cubs, now 8-5-1 the last 2 weeks for free.
Friday night, and I am sticking with the red-hot Red-legs as they take on Houston.
Cincinnati just pulled off the 3-game sweep of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, and now they head back to the juice-box where they have taken 3 of the 4 series meetings against Houston this year.
Overall, the Reds are 10-3 in the season series versus the Astros, and starter Matt Maloney is fresh off his first win of the season his last time out, going the qualifying 5 frames while allowing 2 runs to score in a over Florida.
Brain Moehler hasn't got much to show for his last 3 starts, as he sports 3 no decisions while going 18 innings, and allowing 6 runs to score.
Moehler should be decent once again, but with Houston just stopping their rather lengthy losing skid on Wednesday, I don't see them running their winning streak to 2 in a row.
Cincy is just too hot right now, take 'em!
4♦ CINCINNATI
Dominic Fazzini
Philadelphia at MILWAUKEE
An otherwise meaningless run in the eighth inning by Toronto cost me a run-line victory for the Mariners on my complimentary selection Thursday.
But that's not stopping me from going with a run-line play on the Phillies and Cliff Lee today!
Lee (7-2, 2.65 ERA) has cooled off a little bit since first coming to Philadelphia at the trade deadline, but he is 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA over his last three outings. A rain delay limited the left-hander to four innings at Atlanta on Sunday, when he gave up one run and five hits.
Lee never has faced Milwaukee, but he is 4-1 with a 3.08 ERA in six road starts with the Phillies.
Brewers starter Manny Parra (10-10, 6.42) has had a disappointing season, with the highest ERA in the NL for any pitcher with at least 80 innings. The lefty hasn't pitched since leaving his start against St. Louis on Sept. 8 with a stiff neck.
Parra is 0-3 with a 17.05 ERA in three career games (two starts) vs. Milwaukee.
Even if Parra is perfectly healthy, I think Philadelphia's offense should tee off on him today. And if Lee is on top of his game, this one is going to get real ugly in a hurry. Take the Phillies on the run line.
4♦ PHILADELPHIA -1.5
Bobby Maxwell
St. Louis at COLORADO +140
Improved to 4-1 with my last five FREE selections after the Phillies rolled to a win in Milwaukee on Thursday. Tonigh I've got a nice plus-money comp selection on the Rockies as they host the Cardinals.
I know the Cardinals' Chris Carpenter (16-4, 2.34) has been virtually untouchable this season, but this is a great spot to take our shot with the plus-money Rockies at home.
Colorado just dropped two straight to the lowly Padres, so they are pissed. Plus those losses have narrowed their lead in the N.L. Wildcard to 3 1/2 over the Braves and four over the Giants. So they know they need to win and you'll see them get a close one tonight behind the pitching of Aaron Cook (10-6, 4.47 ERA).
Colorado swept four games in St. Louis back in June, absolutely dominating the Cardinals, outscoring them 33-9 in the four-game set. The Rockies have taken six straight from St. Louis coming into tonight.
Cook is making his first start since August 21. In that June series he dominated St. Louis in his start, going eight innings and allowing one run on four hits in a 10-1 Colorado win. It was that key series that really turned around the Rockies season and catapulted them to this run toward the wildcard.
Colorado is on runs of 37-16 at home, 8-1 at home against right-handed starters and 37-15 against N.L. Central teams.
It will be tough to beat Carpenter, who has been magnificent this season. He didn't face the Rockies back in June and hasn't seen them since 2006.
The Rockies need a win while the Cardinals are just one win away from clinching their playoff spot. I'm grabbing the plus money on the Rockies in this one.
2♦ COLORADO