<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 width=500 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=left width="50%">Yesterday</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">1</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">1</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">0</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="20%">+0.45 Units</TD></TR><TR><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=left width="50%">Last 30 Days</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">10</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">15</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">0</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="20%">-4.61 Units</TD></TR><TR><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=left width="50%">Season To Date (Since April 2005)</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">10</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">15</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">0</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="20%">-4.61 Units</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
All games are listed pitchers unless stated otherwise. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
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Chicago +1.08 over CLEVELAND (7:05 PM)<o></o>
The White Sox are hot and the Tribe is not and although it’s early in the season there’s nothing convincing enough to believe that’s about to change here. Cliff Lee will throw for the Indians and he’s coming off a year in which he won 14 and lost 8. Looks good on paper but as we’ve said many times before, a pitcher’s won/loss record is one of the most misleading stats in all of sports. Fact is, Lee had an ERA of 5.43 last season and was absolutely rocked to the tune of eight hits and five runs by this same White Sox team just a few days ago in Chicago in just 3.1 innings. Lee received huge run support last season but had he not, with the way he pitched, should have gone something like 5-17. The South Side will counter with Jose Contreras and he was brilliant in his season debut against Cleveland. He’s had nothing but success against the Indians pitching a total of 20 innings against them and allowing just 15 hits and three runs for a miniscule 1.31 ERA. Lastly, the Indians are last in the majors with a 2.16 team batting average and when you’re slumping and losing games each day becomes more difficult. No edge whatsoever for the home team here. Play: Chicago +1.08 (Risking 1.5 units). <o></o>
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Toronto +1.18 over OAKLAND (10:05 PM)<o></o>
It doesn’t take rocket science to pencil this one in. The beat goes on for the Blue Jays and all they do is keep on winning ball games. The A’s are struggling big time offensively and have no bounce whatsoever in their step. Oakland will send out rookie Joe Blanton, who made his season debut against the Devil Rays last week and pitched pretty well. However, he’s now at home and he’s facing one of the hottest teams in the league and besides all that, Blanton hasn’t shown much at all. He was a September call-up last season and appeared in three games, all in relief. He allowed five runs in eight innings for a 5.63 ERA. Blanton was the 24th pick in the team's widely publicized "Moneyball" draft of 2002 and was mired in a major funk last season while at Triple-A Sacramento. From mid-May through July he was 4-6 with a 5.84 ERA. We’ve seen him pitch a couple of times and he looks like a disaster waiting to happen. He keeps the ball up and has trouble with his command, a horrible combination at this level. Anyway, Blanton favored over the Blue Jays is utterly ludicrous and the only way we lay off this game is if it was final. It does not matter who’s pitching for the Blue Jays, they’re getting a tag here and that’s all we need to know. Play: Toronto +1.18 (Risking 1.5 units). <o></o>
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Detroit +1.15 over MINNESOTA (8:10 PM)
Kyle Lohse is a fourth or fifth starter on any team and that’s all he’ll ever be. He’s extremely hittable and it just makes sense to take back a price against him when offered. Lohse was hit hard in his first start of the season against the White Sox and he has been hit hard in numerous starts throughout his career. He had a 5.34 ERA last season and allowed 240 hits in 194 innings. He’ll face a tough Tigers line-up tonight that’s ranked fifth in the majors with a .287 batting average. Jason Johnson will pitch for the Tigers and he’s a pitcher that has great stuff but often battles health. Johnson is a diabetic, however, this year he’s allowed to wear an insulin pack when he pitches and that really seemed to help him in his first start. He didn’t allow a run against the Royals going a solid 6.2 innings and surrendering just five hits and one walk. Of course, this Twins line-up is tougher than the Royals, however, when we get the superior pitcher and the superior offense, plus a price, we’re certainly willing to gamble. Play: Detroit +1.15 (Risking 1.5 units).
All games are listed pitchers unless stated otherwise. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
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></o>Chicago +1.08 over CLEVELAND (7:05 PM)<o
></o>The White Sox are hot and the Tribe is not and although it’s early in the season there’s nothing convincing enough to believe that’s about to change here. Cliff Lee will throw for the Indians and he’s coming off a year in which he won 14 and lost 8. Looks good on paper but as we’ve said many times before, a pitcher’s won/loss record is one of the most misleading stats in all of sports. Fact is, Lee had an ERA of 5.43 last season and was absolutely rocked to the tune of eight hits and five runs by this same White Sox team just a few days ago in Chicago in just 3.1 innings. Lee received huge run support last season but had he not, with the way he pitched, should have gone something like 5-17. The South Side will counter with Jose Contreras and he was brilliant in his season debut against Cleveland. He’s had nothing but success against the Indians pitching a total of 20 innings against them and allowing just 15 hits and three runs for a miniscule 1.31 ERA. Lastly, the Indians are last in the majors with a 2.16 team batting average and when you’re slumping and losing games each day becomes more difficult. No edge whatsoever for the home team here. Play: Chicago +1.08 (Risking 1.5 units). <o
></o><o
></o>Toronto +1.18 over OAKLAND (10:05 PM)<o
></o>It doesn’t take rocket science to pencil this one in. The beat goes on for the Blue Jays and all they do is keep on winning ball games. The A’s are struggling big time offensively and have no bounce whatsoever in their step. Oakland will send out rookie Joe Blanton, who made his season debut against the Devil Rays last week and pitched pretty well. However, he’s now at home and he’s facing one of the hottest teams in the league and besides all that, Blanton hasn’t shown much at all. He was a September call-up last season and appeared in three games, all in relief. He allowed five runs in eight innings for a 5.63 ERA. Blanton was the 24th pick in the team's widely publicized "Moneyball" draft of 2002 and was mired in a major funk last season while at Triple-A Sacramento. From mid-May through July he was 4-6 with a 5.84 ERA. We’ve seen him pitch a couple of times and he looks like a disaster waiting to happen. He keeps the ball up and has trouble with his command, a horrible combination at this level. Anyway, Blanton favored over the Blue Jays is utterly ludicrous and the only way we lay off this game is if it was final. It does not matter who’s pitching for the Blue Jays, they’re getting a tag here and that’s all we need to know. Play: Toronto +1.18 (Risking 1.5 units). <o
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></o>Detroit +1.15 over MINNESOTA (8:10 PM)
Kyle Lohse is a fourth or fifth starter on any team and that’s all he’ll ever be. He’s extremely hittable and it just makes sense to take back a price against him when offered. Lohse was hit hard in his first start of the season against the White Sox and he has been hit hard in numerous starts throughout his career. He had a 5.34 ERA last season and allowed 240 hits in 194 innings. He’ll face a tough Tigers line-up tonight that’s ranked fifth in the majors with a .287 batting average. Jason Johnson will pitch for the Tigers and he’s a pitcher that has great stuff but often battles health. Johnson is a diabetic, however, this year he’s allowed to wear an insulin pack when he pitches and that really seemed to help him in his first start. He didn’t allow a run against the Royals going a solid 6.2 innings and surrendering just five hits and one walk. Of course, this Twins line-up is tougher than the Royals, however, when we get the superior pitcher and the superior offense, plus a price, we’re certainly willing to gamble. Play: Detroit +1.15 (Risking 1.5 units).
