Craig Davis
Your free play of the day is the Chicago White Sox over the Cleveland Indians in an AL Central clash of two teams headed in opposite directions.
The Indians are fighting mightily for the second wild card spot in the American League while the White Sox are simply assuming the role of spoiler.
Well, they couldn't have a better pitcher on the mound in order to play spoiler than Chris Sale. Sale ended a five-game winless streak against Detroit Saturday when he struck out 13 Tigers en route to a 5-3 win. He allowed three runs on six hits over seven innings. The last time Sale faced the Indians was back on May 27... a rain-shortened game in which he struck out four and allowed no hits over three innings.
I think he'll continue his dominance over the Indians as they win and get the money. Take Chicago as your free play of the day.
2♦ WHITE SOX
Jeff Benton
Your Friday freebie is the Under in the Braves-Marlins game.
Stop the presses, Atlanta actually scored 7 runs on Wednesday afternoon against Philadelphia as that game ended up in the rare-of-late Over column for the Bravos who are still 5-2-2 Under the posted price their last 9 games.
Included in that span is a 2-0-1 Under series just last week at home against Miami. It will be Harang and Cosart who started against one another on August 30th, the Marlins taking that one 4-0.
The Under in this rivalry is 5-1-2 the last 8 series meetings this year, and the Braves also happen to be on a 5-1-2 Under run their past 8 away from Turner Field.
Jarred Cosart is 3-1 in his starts this season with a 1.64 ERA, as the former Astros hurler sure looks like he has found a home in Miami.
Let's back the Under to open the weekend between Atlanta and Miami.
3♦ ATLANTA-MIAMI UNDER
Gabriel Dupont
I will play the Cincinnati Reds over the New York Mets, and in this one I want you listing the scheduled starters: Simon and Colon.
The SMART INTANGIBLE with the Reds - Alfredo Simon. Cincinnati's starting right-hander is in after a painful start against division-rival Pittsburgh last Saturday, when he gave up a first-inning, three-run homer in a 3-2 loss.
The SMART INTANGIBLE working against the Mets - Bartolo Colon. The veteran right-hander has struggled on the highway this season, and now he travels to a place he hasn't fared well in two career starts.
In conclusion, why CINCINNATI is my SMART PLAY in this game - Though Simon took the loss last weekend, I like the way he stayed composed. After allowing a double that followed the homer, he gave up a second-inning hit and retired 19 of his last 21 batters while completing seven innings. He'll be looking to dominate in this one.
Colon has been a pleasant surprise here and there for the Mets, but his struggles inside Great American Ball Park have me thinking we're seeing a cheap price to lay with a team still vying for a postseason berth.
4♦ CINCINNATI
Brad Wilton
My comp play for Friday is to fly-high with the Orioles in their series opener at Tampa Bay.
Baltimore has run away with the A.L. East, and I see no reason at this price not to back them tonight against the Rays.
The O's just took 3 of 4 off the Rays last week at Camden Yards, and that includes a 4-2 win in the game Chen started against Cobb.
Same pitching matchup tonight, and same result.
Baltimore has not only won 11 of the last 16 meetings against their division-rival, but they come into this game having won 7 of their last 8 games overall, while Tampa Bay comes into this one just playing out the month, losers of 13 of their last 19 games, and they were just shutout last night in 10 innings by Toronto.
That makes 17 shutouts pitched against the Rays this season, and if you ask me, Joe Maddon cannot wait for this nightmare season to end.
Back Baltimore to keep on winning.
3♦ BALTIMORE
BONES BEST BETS
ANGELS -1 -130
Shoemaker is the hottest thing going right now in MLB, posting three consecutive shutouts spanning 21.2 innings. We simply do not see him faltering against this Twins lineup here tonight especially with the Angels needing this win to further solidify the AL West. The opposite results have been happening for the Twins Ricky Nolasco. Nolasco is in need of a rebound following 12-8 defeat at Baltimore where he allowed eight runs in five innings. Lets take the much better team in what should be a cake walk so we lay the 1 run.
BLUE JAYS ML + BLUE JAYS/RED SOX – OVER 9.5 +253
Hard to trust either pitcher as Drew Hutchison has had one decent road start in his last 7 and Allen Webster has been downright awful all season (6.69 ERA, 1.63 WHIP). At Fenway he is 1-2 with a 7.58 ERA and even worse 1.84 WHIP. The Jays are hot winning 5 straight games and should get another W here tonight.
CARDINALS ML + CARDINALS/BREWERS – UNDER 8.5 +264
We like the under because Fiers has been dominate with an ERA under 2.00 and a 0.76 WHIP this year. Lackey has been solid and the Brewers have only scored more than 2 runs once in their last 9 games. The wrong team is favoured in this game. The Cards have won 3 straight vs the Brewers and 6 of their last 8. The Cards have won 6 straight overall and the Brewers have lost 9 in a row.
Bob Balfe
Brewers -125
I usually never go with a team that is on such a bad losing streak, but last night these Brewers were so close to winning the game and showed heart. They actually just got very unlucky and scoring with men on in later innings. Fiers has been great this year and he is the fresher of the two arms tonight. This is a spot where Milwaukee gets back in the W column.
Harry Bondi
BOSTON COLLEGE (+5) over Pittsburgh
Boston College cashed in for us last Saturday as a 4-Star "Lock" when it trounced UMass, 30-7, and as Harry pointed out in his weekly Quick Slant Column the Eagles should have won that game even more decisively than they did. Tonight, we have two very similar teams and don't see any reason why Pitt should be laying more than a field goal on the road, especially since BC was 5-1 ATS and straight-up last year on this field and is a profitable 10-6 as a home dog the last 10 years.
This will be a throwback, Big East-type of game with both teams leaning heavily on the running game. We think that will favor the Eagles for two reasons. First, Pitt's biggest question mark is its defensive line that returns just one starter and has to replace its best pass rusher. Secondly, BC has the edge at QB. Last week, Tyler Murphy, a transfer from Florida, became the first quarterback in school history to run for 100 yards in a game and that gives the Eagles an added dimension they didn't have last year. BC is 13-4 the last 17 years in home openers and gets it done again tonight under the lights. Home dog!
OC Dooley
Phillies +220
With both teams on the opposite sides of the current National League East divisional standings it should come as no shock that the money-line for this contest is off the charts. But it should be pointed out that less than two weeks ago the lowly Phillies actually SWEPT a series from the Nationals. In addition Philadelphia comes into tonight’s contest having WON 10 of the past 15 games and with a red-hot starting pitcher with an UNDEFEATED record (3-0, 2.03 ERA) with the team. That pitcher is the same Jerome Williams who earlier in the season toiled with two other organizations which earned him a pair of outright releases. Most reading this analysis should remember Washington’s most recent outing a few days ago in what was a draining 14 inning marathon where they virtually outlasted Los Angeles in Dodger Stadium. Even though ace Stephen Strasburg is on the mound one can argue that the Nationals are in an emotional letdown spot after just facing a pair of playoff bound opponent (Dodgers and Mariners) out on the west coast