Jim Feist
New York Mets at Tampa Bay Rays
Pick: New York Mets
The New York Mets continue to be one of the hottest teams in baseball, though they lost Saturday's game against the Rays, 5-4. The Mets jumped out to a big early lead but couldn't hold on. Still, the Mets have now won eight of their last 11 games. The offense has been hitting very good, averaging over five runs a game during that streak. Bartolo Colon has been inconsistent of late, but still a solid overall pitcher for the Mets this season. Colon went just 2 1/3 innings back on July 29th, allowing six runs to the Padres. But he rebounded nicely against the Marlins, pitching a strong eight innings and allowing just one run. Colon has also not walked a batter in his last 18 1/3 innings. The Rays snapped a two game losing streak with Saturday's win over the Mets. It was only their fourth win in their last nine games. Chris Archer is their Ace and goes today. He's been very good of late, allowing just five runs over his last four starts. However, he did give up nine runs to the Royals back on July 8. The Mets are a nice dog here and worth a play. They have been hot and if we get the "good" Colon here today, the Mets will be a great valued dog play.
Don Best Consensus
Toronto Blue Jays at New York Yankees
Pick: Toronto Blue Jays
TOR are 9-3 in Estradas last 12 starts. TOR are 10-1 in their last 11 overall and have won 7 straight. After making quality moves at the deadline the team has responded with a big winning streak. They have closed the Yankees divisional lead to 2.5 games and it will be 1.5 after Sunday's sweep!
Mr Vegas
St Louis vs Milwaukee
Play: St Louis
Arguably the Cardinals are the best team in the NL, though the Mets might have something to say about that lately. Still today's Central matchup pits the first place Cards against the last place Milwaukee Brewers. The Cardinals have taken the first two games of this series with the Brewers by a combined 9-0 score. That isn't so odd considering the anemic Brewers offense is barely scoring more than two runs a game over the last 10 games. The Cardinals have now won three straight and six of their last eight. John Lackey starts today. Lackey has been very good, allowing a total of six runs over his last five starts (34 2/3 innings). The Brewers Jimmy Nelson has been the one bright spot for the club this year. Nelson has not allowed a run over his last 20 2/3 innings. However, the Cardinals have taken seven of 10 from the Brewers this season. Nelson will keep them close, but unless he can provide some of his own run support, it will be another wasted effort.
Jimmy Moore
Pittsburgh Pirates +100
Big home field advantage for the Pirates here especially with the Dodgers being way away from home. Morton is very good at home as well this season. This is the last game of the east coast trip for Los Angeles, look for them to be ready to get home and for the Pirates to get this win.
Alan Harris
Reds/DBacks Under 8.5
Two teams that have been trending to the under will meet this afternoon when the Cincinnati Reds take on the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix. Anthony DeSclafani (7-7, 3.71 ERA, 1.33 WHIP) will get the start for the Reds and he will be opposed by Patrick Corbin (2-3, 3.99 ERA, 1.24 WHIP), who gets the call on the hill for the Diamondbacks. The Reds have posted a 9-1-1 record to the under in their last 11 road games where they were listed as an underdog and they have gone a perfect 9-0 to the under in their last nine games with a total set at 7.0 to 8.5. The DBacks have been an under team as well recently as they are 5-2-1 to the under in their last eight against a team with a losing record and they have gone 7-0 to the under in their last seven games at home where they were listed as the favorite. Throw in the fact that these two teams have played to a 23-9- 1 record to the under in their last 33 games in Arizona.
Brad Wilton
My comp play for Sunday comes in the NFL, as I side with the Vikings as the favorite over the Steelers.
Pittsburgh has many questions surrounding their retooled defense, and the very first game of the exhibition season is not the time those questions will be answered.
We know that Ben Roethlisberger and Le'Veon Bell are doubtful to play tonight, and while the Vikings starters are not expected to see too much playing time, at least coach Mike Zimmer will get a look at Teddy Bridgewater and of course Adrian Peterson who will work his way back into game shape throughout this month of practice games.
Minny won all 4 of their preseason games last year under first year coach Mike Zimmer, so the tone has been set in Minnesota that even though these are not "real" games, Zimmer and his staff expect to win them nonetheless.
I will lay the chalk here and back the Vikings as the favorite to get the cover.
1* MINNESOTA
World Wide Sports
Miami Marlins vs. Atlanta Braves
Play: Atlanta Braves -136
We are backing a few trends in this selection. The Marlins are 1-4 in Hand's last 5 road starts vs a team with a losing record. The Marlins are also 4-17 in Hand's last 21 starts vs NL East. The Marlins are 0-5 in Hand's last 5 starts overall. The Braves are 7-1 in their last 8 home games vs a team with a road winning percentage less than .400 and they are also 6-1 in their last 7 home games listed as the favorite.
Alex Smart
San Francisco Giants vs. Chicago Cubs
Play: San Francisco Giants +157
Veteran Jake Peavy the Giants hurler today goes against a hot Cubs side that Im betting he can cool off.Though he carries a 4.37 ERA in his away starts, compared to a 3.18 ERA at home, many of Peavy's stats are more positive away from home. Of Peavy's 33 strikeouts, 21 came on the road, where opponents are batting just .241 against him as opposed to .264 at AT&T Park. In his L/6 starts he has allowed just 11 runs and his team has won 4 straight when he goes to the hill. His pitching opponent Arrieta is a fine pitcher in top form, but he is only human, and has proven this at home in Wrigley Field this season where he is a sub par 4-5 along with a 3.07 ERA. Value resides with the wily old veteran Peavy.
John Ryan
Toronto Blue Jays vs. New York Yankees
Play: Toronto Blue Jays +118
This play is a continuation of my 'arbitrage' wager where I am selling the Yankees and Buying the Blue Jays. The strategy is based on the premise that Toronto will catch and pass the NY Yankees in the next 2 to 4 weeks if not sooner. This is day five of that strategy and the first four days have made $405 for the $100 wagerer. With the two teams playing each other, there will be only one wager and obviously that is on the Blue Jays. So, wager a 10* play ($100 for the 10* per unit player) on the Blue Jays to complete the sweep.
For those reviewing this strategy for the first time, an arbitrage in Wall Street terms is the simultaneous buying and selling of homogenous securities. So, in the software space, Apple Computer and Microsoft would be considered homogenous securities as woulds the 10-year Treasury Note and the 2-year Treasury Note. If an investor believes that Apple will out perform Microsoft then they would engage in buying Apple and shorting (selling) Microsoft. There is a weighting calculation that needs to be applied as well to equate the securities equally since Apple trades at $115 per share and Microsoft at $47 per share.
The same strategy can be applied with great success in the MLB. So, if you share in my strong belief that Toronto will close the gap on the Yankees and eventually overtake them for the AL East then make sure you get the daily update each morning. Keep in mind too, that these tow teams will face each other 13 times over the remainder of the season.
Now, the Yankees lead that once seemed wide enough to take control of the Division is down to just 2 1/2 games. The Yankees also have to play this 'murderers row' offense 11 more times this season and I just don't see much chance for the Yankees to prevent the Blue Jays from taking the Divisional crown.
Estrada gets the ball for the Blue Jays and he is pitching extremely well. He has allowed 2 or fewer earned runs in seven of his past eight starts and is coming off back-to-back wins. Tanaka has given up more HR in 2015 then in all of the 2014 season. Certainly not a trait to have when facing the Blue Jays gauntlet today.
Bones Best Bet
CARDINALS -135
71-39 vs 47-65 in what has been a total mismatch this series. The Cardinals have outscored the Brewers 9-0 in the first 2 games of the series. The Cardinals have gone 3 straight games without allowing a run and have won 7 of their last 9. The Brewers have dropped 7 of their last 10 games as well. Lackey for the Cards owns a 1.19 WHIP and a 2.85 ERA on the season, while Nelson for the Brewers sits at 1.23 WHIP and 3.57 ERA.
RED SOX @ TIGERS OVER 8
Verlander's number at home have been awful this season (0-3, 7.76 ERA, 1.65 WHIP) and we see the Red Sox being able to get to him here today. His counterpart, Henry Owens only has 1 career start which came last week in a 13-3 loss to the Yankees. Both teams have been playing to a fair share of overs as of late and this aft should be no different.
BLUE JAYS +118
Might not be our most confident Blue Jays play in the last little while but no way we're getting off this heater they're on right now. Believe it or not, Estrada's numbers are as good if not better than Tanaka's on the season (3.40 ERA vs 3.84 ERA) and in Tanaka's lone start against the Jays this season, he lost 6-1 going just 4 innings.
CUBS -1 -117
Giants have lost 5 of 7 and the Cubs are winners in 7 of their last 8. Cubs are hitting the ball at a great pace scoring 20 runs in their last 3 games and should keep that going Sunday. Jake Arrieta has been awesome this year with a 12-6 record and a 2.50 ERA. Easy play here for us with the better team and much better pitcher on the hill in Arrieta vs Peavy.
Chip Chirimbes
Astros at A's
Play: A's
The Oakland A's a playoff team last season have been a major disappointment this year as their defense has betrayed them putting them at the top of MLB in one-run losses going 12-26. Houston who still leads the AL West has had problems of their own when playing on the road with only two wins in the last 15 games. Newly acquired Mike Fiers (5-9, 4.17 ERA) will make his first start for the Astros since coming over from Milwaukee but was shelled in his first appearance in relief on Monday against Texas. Chris Bassitt (1-4, 2.64) starts for Oakland after posting his first career victory last time out. Houston just struggles away from Minute Maid Park and falls once again.
Bob Balfe
Pirates +105
The Dodgers have not been a great road team this year which in the playoffs will make a big difference. Pittsburgh has been lights out at home and the bullpen is on point. This team has been so close for years and this year now has all the right pieces to take it to the next level. Take the Pirates.
Wunderdog
Toronto @ New York
Pick: New York -130
The Toronto Blue Jays have shut down the Yankees attack in this series, but they will have to face Masahiro Tanaka in the finale. The Yankees own a 25-10 record when he is on the mound in his short MLB career, and they are 14-4 at the Stadium when he takes the mound in his last 18 starts here for a 19% ROI. He has been a true stopper as the Yanks are 4-0 when he takes the mound if the team is off two losses. The Yanks have a much broader situation at hand here, one that is 84-34 with a 28.1% ROI the last 12 years, and the Yanks fit into a tidy subset based on the line that is 16-1. The Yankees are hard to sweep at home as they are 28-7 in the last 12 years in Game 3, as a favorite, if they lost Games 1 and 2. Make the play on the New York Yankees.
Chris Jordan
The Cubbies have won three in a row, while the Giants have dropped three straight. More importantly, the streaking Cubs have won nine of 10, and are creeping up in the Wild Card race, keeping pace with the Pittsburgh Pirates, who are 3.5 games in front of Chicago in the National League Central.
The Giants had every opportunity to make a move in the N.L. West, since the Dodgers are struggling in Pittsburgh. Instead, Frisco has lost six of 10 and can't seem to do anything right at this point.
Chicago will take full advantage of the momentum and will roll to the big win.
2* CHICAGO -1.5