MLB Hot Lines: Four for Friday 7-22-05

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And if the Road Warrior says it, it must be true..
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MLB Fri, Jul 22, 2005
MLB Hot Lines: Four for Friday
Brian Covert

Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets to play under 8 runs

A couple of years ago, I saw Jeff Weaver pitch for the Yanks and I`ll be honest, I didn`t think much of him. But recently I`ve changed my tune. The righthander has not given up more than three runs in his last eight starts and his strong play has other teams inquiring about his availability. It’s anticipated there will be more than a couple scouts on hand tonight at Shea Stadium.

“It doesn`t faze me, I`ve been through it before," said Weaver. "I`m going to show up and pitch. None of that talk means anything to me."

Unfortunately for Weaver, he has received terrible run support. The Dodgers have not scored more than four runs in any of his last eight starts. Maybe that`s why the under has cashed in nine of Weaver`s last ten starts.

I don`t anticipate any changes when the Dodgers face the Mets. Victor Zambrano has a 2.34 ERA in his last nine starts and he allowed fewer than three runs for the 16th time in 17 starts against the Atlanta Braves last Saturday.

``He`s pitched well, but you`ve got to score runs. That`s the bottom line,`` Mets manager Willie Randolph said.

Zambrano has also been the victim of sad run support. The Mets have scored more than four runs only twice in his nine starts.

Marlins and Giants to play over 8 1/2 runs

The Florida Marlins pitching staff is having its troubles – nobody more than Dontrelle Willis. D-Train has given up eight runs in each of his last two games after going 13-3 with a 1.89 ERA in his first 17 starts.

"I was just missing a lot in the strike zone," Willis told reporters after losing to the Philadelphia Philles on Sunday. "I have to go back to the drawing board and figure out how to get ahead in the count again."

The 9 ½ over cashed in an 8-4 Phillies win.

Willis, an Oakland native, returns home looking to get back on track. Unfortunately, it hasn’t helped in the past. In front of 150 family and friends last year, Willis lasted one inning, giving up six earned runs in a 12-9 Marlins loss.

“Give me seven runs, and I`m not going to give up (that lead) in front of all my friends,`` manager Jack McKeon said after the loss. ``Maybe he got too hyped up.``

The offense has tried to pick up the slack while the pitching has struggled. The Marlins are hitting .298 over their last 10 games and averaging over 5.5 runs per outing. The over has cashed in 13 straight games involving the Marlins.

Astros (-154) to beat the Nationals

The Washington Nationals must be getting tired of hearing about their inability to score. But until they prove otherwise, I`ll just keep harping on it. The Nationals have lost eight of 10 overall and are averaging less than three runs over the stretch. They are now in second in the NL East.

"We know the reasons why we`re doing it," manager Frank Robinson told the Associated Press. "We`re not getting big base hits. We`re making a few mental mistakes, and it`s costing us. It`s putting a lot of pressure on the pitching staff to be perfect, and they can`t be perfect."

Injuries haven’t helped the Nationals plight and now it looks like their most productive hitter, Jose Guillen, may miss some time. Guillen is thinking about sitting out with a sore shoulder that received a cortisone shot before Thursday’s game.

"[Sitting out] is something I`m going to discuss with the doctor right now because I`m not really helping myself and I don`t think I`m really helping the team either by the way I`m swinging the bat,” said Guillen after last night’s game.

Add his name to that of injured Vinny Castilla, Junior Spivey and Nick Johnson and you get a whole list of reasons why these guys aren’t scoring runs.

Now they have to face Roger Clemens and the Houston Astros. The seven time Cy Young award winner has a 1.29 ERA in his last three and the Astros look like they might finally provide him with some run support. Houston has won five straight, averaging over seven runs in those games.

A’s (+100) to beat the Rangers

The A’s won 5-4 as –137 favorites in a 14-inning classic the last time these two pitchers took the mound.

``The intensity on both sides was terrific,`` A`s manager Ken Macha told reporters after the game. ``It was two teams realizing they`ll be battling for a playoff spot.``

The A’s have won 19 of their last 23 games, including 12 of 17 on the road and are 1 ½ games up on Texas.

The A’s put Danny Haren on the mound to keep the hot streak going. Haren is unbeaten in seven straight starts and hasn’t lost in two months.

Texas has lost six of eight overall and four of their last five against Oakland
 

And if the Road Warrior says it, it must be true..
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Recap

Another winning night as he goes 3-1 +2.00

Since Wednesday:
YTD: YTD: 11-4 +8.05:toast:
 

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