<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%">0.00 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%">12</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">18</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">0</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="20%">-5.99 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%">12</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">18</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">0</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="20%">-5.99 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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> Minnesota +1.35 over CLEVELAND (1:05 PM)<o
></o>The injury to the Twins Carlos Silva has opened the door for rookie Dave Gassner and being from Toronto, we know a little bit about this guy. He was traded to Minnesota along with Shannon Stewart in the deal that saw the Blue Jays get Bobby Kielty. Gassner was razor sharp in the spring posting a 2.28 ERA in seven appearances. He was 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA at Triple-A Rochester before being recalled. Last year, Gassner went 16-8 at Rochester, leading the league in wins and finishing second in innings. He’s also a lefthander and the Tribe has one win in three tries this year against southpaws. The Twins will also face a southpaw in Kevin Millwood. Minnesota is 4-1 against lefties and they’ve also won five straight to run their record to 7-3. Millwood went six strong innings against the White Sox in his AL debut but don’t be fooled by that. He’s a very mediocre pitcher that’s going to see plenty of early exits this year and this could surely be one of them. He’s facing a hot team that’s on an early season roll and that alone makes the Twins worthy of a bet here. Nice overlay. Play: Minnesota +1.35 (Risking 1.5 units).
Los Angeles +1.05 over OAKLAND (4:05 PM)<o
></o>Have no idea how or when Anaheim changed to Los Angeles but that’s another story. All we know is that we’re getting a take-back with the Angels against the A’s and that’s pretty much all the info we need. Oakland is 4-6 and has one win in its past four games while the Angels are 6-4 and has three wins in their past four games. The A’s are hitting .237 as a team and it doesn’t appear that things are going to change anytime soon. Jarrod Washburn has had one brilliant outing and one not so brilliant outing this year, both against the Rangers. Washburn, being a fly ball pitcher, has always liked this venue and is well suited to pitch against this line-up at this park. The A’s will counter with Rich Harden went 5.1 solid innings against the Blue Jays to win his season debut. That’s a bit odd that he went just over five innings when he was pitching so well. He only threw 87 pitches up to that point. Chances are Harden was yanked early because he’s battling a nagging blister problem that caused him to miss his first start. Bottom line here is that we’re getting a tag with the Angels over the A’s in a game where Oakland is simply not worthy of being the chalk. Play: Los Angeles +1.05 (Risking 1.5 units).
Toronto +1.30 over TEXAS (8:05 PM)<o
></o>Here’s a little trivia for ya: Who’s older: Kenny Rogers the singer/chicken king or Kenny Rogers the pitcher/grandfather? Actually, we shouldn’t poke fun at Kenny Rogers, he’s 2-0 this year and he’s boasting a rock solid 2.77 ERA. However, he’s still 41 years old and has pitched close to 3000 major league innings. He was less than dominating in his first two starts allowing 13 hits in 13 innings and striking out just two batters. The opposition just failed to cash in the runners, however, it’s not like the hitters were missing the ball. They just were hit at people and Rogers was lucky, end of story. The Blue Jays will counter with sensational looking rookie Gustavo Chacin. All Chacin has done is gone 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA. He’s issued just two walks while striking out seven in 11 plus innings and the opposition is hitting just .256 against him. Again, we find some decent value here playing against a worn down, old arm that’s simply hasn’t got a lot left in it. We’ll take back a tag against Kenny Rogers every time he’s favored and expect to profit from it all year long. Play: Toronto +1.30 (Risking 1.5 units).
Atlanta +1.00 over PHILADELPHIA (4:05 PM)<o
></o>John Smoltz was roughed up in his first start, however, he bounced back very nicely in his last start against the Mets, going 7.1 innings and allowing just two runs and striking out 15 batters. The Braves bats came to life big time last night as they pounded out 11 runs and beat this host 11-4. We expect similar results here. The Braves will face Jon Lieber and while he’s opened the year 2-0 Lieber is average at best and is about to get rocked any start now. Lieber is just a big inning waiting to happen. He’s pitched just 14 innings in his two starts and the opposition has gone yard on him four times already. Watching him pitch is like watching batting practice, you wonder how the hitter misses. Anyway, the Braves will send out the far superior pitcher this afternoon and anytime we can get the Braves over the Phillies without having to lay anything you can pencil us in almost every time. No exception here. Play: Atlanta +1.00 (Risking 1.5 units).
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