Yesterday: 2-2
YTD: 34-17 +21.44
MLB Hot lines: Top plays for Friday
Jon Campbell
Tampa Bay vs. L.A. Angels - Devil Rays +190
When one of the hottest team in baseball is getting +190 odds, you pretty much have to take them. Even if it’s against the AL West-leading Angels.
The Rays are 14-5 since the All-Star break following a 2-1 series win over the Texas Rangers in a set that ended Thursday. Only the A’s and Astros have been hotter lately, though those two squads don’t see nearly as much value as Tampa Bay.
The Angels have been burned by steamy squads lately, too, after going 1-5 in a pair of series this past week against the Blue Jays and Yankees. They rebounded to beat up on struggling Baltimore in a 2-1 set win Thursday, but L.A. allowed the O’s to earn their first victory in nine outings in Game 3.
The Angels now face a Tampa Bay team that’s hitting .335 over its last 10 games.
Baltimore vs. Texas - over 11 ½
The Rangers have seen an average of 13.6 runs per game combined with their opponents over their last 10 home tilts. But if you think that number’s high, you should check out the temperatures in Arlington these days.
Weather forecasters are predicting the mercury to jump into the high 90s this week, which should keep balls flying far and totals perched on the upper shelf for their three-game series against the O’s.
The over cashed easily in all three games Texas played against Tampa Bay over the last three days, capped by a 13-5 Rangers win on Thursday. That game featured a combined 27 hits and three home runs.
Atlanta vs. St. Louis - Braves +100
This series should be a battle. These two squads own the best records in the NL and they could wind up butting heads in October.
For today, though, I’ll stick with Atlanta righty John Smoltz as long as he’s getting this kind of value. The last time he was an underdog was late May, and there’s a good reason for it.
The Braves have won Smoltz’s last 10 starts, a stretch during which the paradoxical aging ace has gone 8-0 with two no decisions. The 38-year-old has tossed 31 innings over his last four starts and he gave up just seven earned runs in those efforts.
You might also want to look at the under for the eight-run total. Cards southpaw Mark Mulder, who faces the Braves tonight, is posting similar numbers to Smoltz’s lately and the under is 7-3 in his last 10 starts.
Chicago Cubs vs. New York Mets - Mets -125
Nomar`s back for the Cubs today, which could be a reason why New York`s Tom Glavine is only seeing a price tag of -125 against rookie Rich Hill. Hill tossed it pretty well in his first two big league starts, allowing just four earned runs in 11 innings combined. Only a lack of run support kept him from earning a pair of wins instead of a pair of NDs.
But those two games were at the Friendly Confines and now Hill finds out what it`s like to pitch on the road as a major leaguer. The Mets are hitting .285 against lefties at home this season and likely won`t go easy on the rook.
Glavine is also far better at home than on the road this year. The Mets are 2-8 in Glavine`s starts on the road this season and 7-5 in his home outings.
YTD: 34-17 +21.44
MLB Hot lines: Top plays for Friday
Jon Campbell
Tampa Bay vs. L.A. Angels - Devil Rays +190
When one of the hottest team in baseball is getting +190 odds, you pretty much have to take them. Even if it’s against the AL West-leading Angels.
The Rays are 14-5 since the All-Star break following a 2-1 series win over the Texas Rangers in a set that ended Thursday. Only the A’s and Astros have been hotter lately, though those two squads don’t see nearly as much value as Tampa Bay.
The Angels have been burned by steamy squads lately, too, after going 1-5 in a pair of series this past week against the Blue Jays and Yankees. They rebounded to beat up on struggling Baltimore in a 2-1 set win Thursday, but L.A. allowed the O’s to earn their first victory in nine outings in Game 3.
The Angels now face a Tampa Bay team that’s hitting .335 over its last 10 games.
Baltimore vs. Texas - over 11 ½
The Rangers have seen an average of 13.6 runs per game combined with their opponents over their last 10 home tilts. But if you think that number’s high, you should check out the temperatures in Arlington these days.
Weather forecasters are predicting the mercury to jump into the high 90s this week, which should keep balls flying far and totals perched on the upper shelf for their three-game series against the O’s.
The over cashed easily in all three games Texas played against Tampa Bay over the last three days, capped by a 13-5 Rangers win on Thursday. That game featured a combined 27 hits and three home runs.
Atlanta vs. St. Louis - Braves +100
This series should be a battle. These two squads own the best records in the NL and they could wind up butting heads in October.
For today, though, I’ll stick with Atlanta righty John Smoltz as long as he’s getting this kind of value. The last time he was an underdog was late May, and there’s a good reason for it.
The Braves have won Smoltz’s last 10 starts, a stretch during which the paradoxical aging ace has gone 8-0 with two no decisions. The 38-year-old has tossed 31 innings over his last four starts and he gave up just seven earned runs in those efforts.
You might also want to look at the under for the eight-run total. Cards southpaw Mark Mulder, who faces the Braves tonight, is posting similar numbers to Smoltz’s lately and the under is 7-3 in his last 10 starts.
Chicago Cubs vs. New York Mets - Mets -125
Nomar`s back for the Cubs today, which could be a reason why New York`s Tom Glavine is only seeing a price tag of -125 against rookie Rich Hill. Hill tossed it pretty well in his first two big league starts, allowing just four earned runs in 11 innings combined. Only a lack of run support kept him from earning a pair of wins instead of a pair of NDs.
But those two games were at the Friendly Confines and now Hill finds out what it`s like to pitch on the road as a major leaguer. The Mets are hitting .285 against lefties at home this season and likely won`t go easy on the rook.
Glavine is also far better at home than on the road this year. The Mets are 2-8 in Glavine`s starts on the road this season and 7-5 in his home outings.
