Recap:
Last Night: 4-0 +4.00
Since Wednesday:
YTD: 20-6 +14.77
MLB Wed, Jul 27, 2005
MLB Hot Lines: Wednesday`s best odds
Julian Dickinson
Yankees +125 to beat the Twins
Call me a sucker, but for me, this game comes down to a simple equation: Yankees + home dogs = value. I don’t care that the Yankees have lost more cash than any other team in baseball. I’m more interested in their 14-6 record in their last seven home series. And I don’t care that Johan Santana has a 2.88 career ERA versus the Yankees because it’s only earned Minnesota a .500 winning percentage in those games. Al Leiter is making his Bronx debut in pinstripes, which could be a question mark, but guess what? I don’t care. I’m thinking about New York’s .309 batting average against lefties at Yankee Stadium. I was never a math wiz, but for me, it all adds up.
Brewers –140 to beat the Diamondbacks
Something strange is brewing in Milwaukee – they’re actually winning baseball games. They’ve already taken two straight games against Arizona, split a series in St. Louis and actually won a couple of series versus Washington and Atlanta. Now they’re on the verge of reaching a .500 record for the first time this season and the idea of being something other than a losing club has given the Brewers another powerful weapon against Arizona: confidence.
"(Today) is a big game for us to get back to .500," Geoff Jenkins said of the series finale against Arizona. "It would be huge. It`s a big step for us."
Of course, if they want to break out of Loserland, they’ll need a decent performance from Tomo Ohka, who’s been shaky since coming to the Brewers last month. But the good news is, he’s pitched his best games in Milwaukee, where he has a 3-1 record.
White Sox and Royals to play under 8 ½ runs
Jon Garland is bordering on untouchable, but that’s not why I like the under in this matchup. Kansas City’s Runelvys Hernandez is the guy that gets my attention here. He’s allowed only three runs over his last three starts (all playing under) for a 1.59 ERA and he’s beginning to look like a new pitcher since reconstructive surgery put him on the shelf last season. He worked extremely hard to get back to form and now the 27-year-old is trying to keep moving ahead.
"I`m not the same kid. I`m growing up," the Royals right-hander said. "I`m showing everybody I can be a leader on this team."
These are two heavy hitting teams, but an improved performance from both bullpens could also help keep this one under control. Chicago’s pen has pulled up its socks for a 2.73 ERA over their last 10 games, while Kansas City’s relievers have improved to 3.86.
Red Sox and Devil Rays to play under 10 ½ runs
Tim Wakefield`s numbers don’t look as good as his pitches have in his recent starts. The Boston knuckleballer got lit up for seven earned runs in a loss to the Chicago White Sox, but don’t get fooled; he hasn’t lost his stuff. Wakefield gave up two three-run homers in the sixth inning of that game, but even Chicago’s batters had to admit that it wasn’t easy.
“Wakefield is a guy you can`t explain until you stand in there and try and hit it. It`s amazing," A.J. Pierzynski said. "The ball moves one way or the other every time. And you just hope he makes a mistake and you can somehow hit it.”
Wakefield has won seven of 10 career starts against the Devil Rays with a 3.34 ERA. His opponent, Seth McClung, has never faced Boston in his young career, but he seems to have gotten his 7.07 ERA under control in his most recent outings.
Last Night: 4-0 +4.00
Since Wednesday:
YTD: 20-6 +14.77
MLB Wed, Jul 27, 2005
MLB Hot Lines: Wednesday`s best odds
Julian Dickinson
Yankees +125 to beat the Twins
Call me a sucker, but for me, this game comes down to a simple equation: Yankees + home dogs = value. I don’t care that the Yankees have lost more cash than any other team in baseball. I’m more interested in their 14-6 record in their last seven home series. And I don’t care that Johan Santana has a 2.88 career ERA versus the Yankees because it’s only earned Minnesota a .500 winning percentage in those games. Al Leiter is making his Bronx debut in pinstripes, which could be a question mark, but guess what? I don’t care. I’m thinking about New York’s .309 batting average against lefties at Yankee Stadium. I was never a math wiz, but for me, it all adds up.
Brewers –140 to beat the Diamondbacks
Something strange is brewing in Milwaukee – they’re actually winning baseball games. They’ve already taken two straight games against Arizona, split a series in St. Louis and actually won a couple of series versus Washington and Atlanta. Now they’re on the verge of reaching a .500 record for the first time this season and the idea of being something other than a losing club has given the Brewers another powerful weapon against Arizona: confidence.
"(Today) is a big game for us to get back to .500," Geoff Jenkins said of the series finale against Arizona. "It would be huge. It`s a big step for us."
Of course, if they want to break out of Loserland, they’ll need a decent performance from Tomo Ohka, who’s been shaky since coming to the Brewers last month. But the good news is, he’s pitched his best games in Milwaukee, where he has a 3-1 record.
White Sox and Royals to play under 8 ½ runs
Jon Garland is bordering on untouchable, but that’s not why I like the under in this matchup. Kansas City’s Runelvys Hernandez is the guy that gets my attention here. He’s allowed only three runs over his last three starts (all playing under) for a 1.59 ERA and he’s beginning to look like a new pitcher since reconstructive surgery put him on the shelf last season. He worked extremely hard to get back to form and now the 27-year-old is trying to keep moving ahead.
"I`m not the same kid. I`m growing up," the Royals right-hander said. "I`m showing everybody I can be a leader on this team."
These are two heavy hitting teams, but an improved performance from both bullpens could also help keep this one under control. Chicago’s pen has pulled up its socks for a 2.73 ERA over their last 10 games, while Kansas City’s relievers have improved to 3.86.
Red Sox and Devil Rays to play under 10 ½ runs
Tim Wakefield`s numbers don’t look as good as his pitches have in his recent starts. The Boston knuckleballer got lit up for seven earned runs in a loss to the Chicago White Sox, but don’t get fooled; he hasn’t lost his stuff. Wakefield gave up two three-run homers in the sixth inning of that game, but even Chicago’s batters had to admit that it wasn’t easy.
“Wakefield is a guy you can`t explain until you stand in there and try and hit it. It`s amazing," A.J. Pierzynski said. "The ball moves one way or the other every time. And you just hope he makes a mistake and you can somehow hit it.”
Wakefield has won seven of 10 career starts against the Devil Rays with a 3.34 ERA. His opponent, Seth McClung, has never faced Boston in his young career, but he seems to have gotten his 7.07 ERA under control in his most recent outings.
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