10.05pm ET
Houston (42 - 41) at San Diego (46 - 37)
Roy Oswalt (R) vs. Jacob Peavy (R)
The San Diego Padres are an excellent value play tonight as a small home underdog versus the Houston Astros.
The Padres have now won eight straight at home following a 5-3 win against the Astros last night.
"Playing well at home, it's a huge key to a winning season," San Diego manager Bruce Bochy said. "We're starting to swing the bats better and pitch better. And the fans are behind us and you can feel it down on the field."
"We know how important it is to win at home if we want to win the division," Brian Giles added.
Tonight they send Jake Peavy to the mound for his second start since a 41 day stint on the DL. He pitched 5 1/3 strong innings in his return Friday, allowing just one earned run and consistently throwing 93-94 mph.
"He looked like himself," Bochy said. "He had good velocity, he had good command, a good changeup. I thought he had great stuff and it was nice to see. He wasn't hesitant to let the ball go and he pitched very well."
Peavy has been remarkably consistent this season, never allowing more than two earned runs in any of his ten starts.
Meantime the Astros have dropped three straight to fall a season-low nine games behind first-place St. Louis in the NL Central.
They give the ball to Roy Oswalt tonight and while he has a big reputation, his road numbers this season are only mediocre. He has a 4.24 ERA and 1.35 WHIP on the highway this season with the Astros winning just three of his eight starts. That compares with Peavy's 2.06 ERA and 1.37 WHIP, albeit in a pitcher's park, but more importantly the Padres are 4-2 in his home starts.
In a likely pitcher's duel we'll take the hot home dog.
Recommended Play: San Diego +102
Good luck
Mike Thomas
Champion Plays
Houston (42 - 41) at San Diego (46 - 37)
Roy Oswalt (R) vs. Jacob Peavy (R)
The San Diego Padres are an excellent value play tonight as a small home underdog versus the Houston Astros.
The Padres have now won eight straight at home following a 5-3 win against the Astros last night.
"Playing well at home, it's a huge key to a winning season," San Diego manager Bruce Bochy said. "We're starting to swing the bats better and pitch better. And the fans are behind us and you can feel it down on the field."
"We know how important it is to win at home if we want to win the division," Brian Giles added.
Tonight they send Jake Peavy to the mound for his second start since a 41 day stint on the DL. He pitched 5 1/3 strong innings in his return Friday, allowing just one earned run and consistently throwing 93-94 mph.
"He looked like himself," Bochy said. "He had good velocity, he had good command, a good changeup. I thought he had great stuff and it was nice to see. He wasn't hesitant to let the ball go and he pitched very well."
Peavy has been remarkably consistent this season, never allowing more than two earned runs in any of his ten starts.
Meantime the Astros have dropped three straight to fall a season-low nine games behind first-place St. Louis in the NL Central.
They give the ball to Roy Oswalt tonight and while he has a big reputation, his road numbers this season are only mediocre. He has a 4.24 ERA and 1.35 WHIP on the highway this season with the Astros winning just three of his eight starts. That compares with Peavy's 2.06 ERA and 1.37 WHIP, albeit in a pitcher's park, but more importantly the Padres are 4-2 in his home starts.
In a likely pitcher's duel we'll take the hot home dog.
Recommended Play: San Diego +102
Good luck
Mike Thomas
Champion Plays
