Recap:
Last Night: 4-0 +4.71
Consensus Pick 5-3 +1.79----*gonna start tracking
YTD: 56-29 +32.95**new YTD high
MLB Thu, Aug 18, 2005
MLB Hot Lines: Thursday`s best bets
Seattle takes down Minny as +125 dogs
This is the first time Joe Mays has ever been a favorite against the Seattle Mariners. What are oddsmakers thinking?
Minnesota’s starter has been simply awful lately, posting a 7.31 ERA in his last three starts, including a 1.81 WHIP. It’s bad enough that he hasn’t posted a ‘W’ since July 3 – a span of seven starts – but his Minnesota teammates haven’t given Mays anything to work with, especially against American League West opponents.
Aside from a slugfest with the high-powered Texas Rangers, Minnesota hasn’t crossed the plate more than twice when Mays is throwing against teams from the west coast.
Mays is 1-6 with a 7.17 ERA lifetime versus Seattle.
BoSox and Angels play under 9 runs
At first glance this total screams over, especially with the way the Sox are swinging the lumber lately. But then again, they are facing Anaheim’s Bartolo Colon. The Halos’ ace has gone four straight starts without allowing more than two earned runs, recording three wins in that span behind some potent Angels bats.
That’s where it stops. In the absence of cleanup hitter Garret Anderson, Anaheim’s offense has dipped below freezing. They managed just nine runs in their three-game set with the Toronto Blue Jays, helping the under cash in twice with one push along the way. Anderson missed all three games.
"It`s tough on Vlad, because they don`t pitch to him without Garrett hitting behind him," Angels starter pitcher Jarrod Washburn said. "It puts pressure on the other guys in the lineup, but all of them are capable. We have a good offensive team. I`m sure some guys are not happy with they way their season`s going, but they`re all capable."
Guerrero went 4-for-11 in the series but did not record a single RBI.
Brewers and Astros to play under 7 ½ runs
If this total were half a run lower, it would still be worth looking at. Not only is Roger Clemens pitching against a Milwaukee team that’s hitting just .171 off right-handers in its last 10, but Houston’s inability to produce runs with the Rocket on the hill has given under backers some nice change this season.
Houston has been shutout six times with Clemens on the mound, four of which ending in 1-0 loses. Half of those games have come at Minute Maid Park, where Houston is giving today’s hurler just under three runs per start.
"There`s no secret this team goes the way of our pitching," outfielder Lance Berkman said. "Our guys just have to hold them to two runs or less, and it`s not fair to ask that of them."
Clemens is dealing with an ailing back, which prevented the Rocket from pitching the ninth inning Saturday. He allowed two hits over eight shutout innings, lowering his league-leading ERA to 1.32.
Mets sink Pirates as -125 favorites
It took a head-on collision with teammate Mike Cameron, but Carlos Beltran is back on the good side of Mets’ fans. Beltran opted not to undergo surgery to repair a fractured bone in his face, instead, New York’s first half disappointment decided his team was more important.
And boy did it ever pay off. Beltran was greeted with a standing ovation from New York’s finest in his return, where he scored twice in New York’s 5-1 win. Beltran likely won’t hear anymore from jeers like he had during a struggling first half of the season, those will be directed to Pittsburgh’s outstanding rookie Zach Duke.
Undefeated in eight starts, Duke has been magical as a 22-year-old rookie but has been plagued by control problems. He’s walked five total batters in his last two starts, allowing four earned runs in each. Duke had allowed just four total runs beforehand and now takes the hill against one of the league’s toughest home teams.
"It`s the biggest stage," Duke said. "It`s one of those environments I`m not used to, but it`s going to be fun."
Last Night: 4-0 +4.71
Consensus Pick 5-3 +1.79----*gonna start tracking
YTD: 56-29 +32.95**new YTD high
MLB Thu, Aug 18, 2005
MLB Hot Lines: Thursday`s best bets
Seattle takes down Minny as +125 dogs
This is the first time Joe Mays has ever been a favorite against the Seattle Mariners. What are oddsmakers thinking?
Minnesota’s starter has been simply awful lately, posting a 7.31 ERA in his last three starts, including a 1.81 WHIP. It’s bad enough that he hasn’t posted a ‘W’ since July 3 – a span of seven starts – but his Minnesota teammates haven’t given Mays anything to work with, especially against American League West opponents.
Aside from a slugfest with the high-powered Texas Rangers, Minnesota hasn’t crossed the plate more than twice when Mays is throwing against teams from the west coast.
Mays is 1-6 with a 7.17 ERA lifetime versus Seattle.
BoSox and Angels play under 9 runs
At first glance this total screams over, especially with the way the Sox are swinging the lumber lately. But then again, they are facing Anaheim’s Bartolo Colon. The Halos’ ace has gone four straight starts without allowing more than two earned runs, recording three wins in that span behind some potent Angels bats.
That’s where it stops. In the absence of cleanup hitter Garret Anderson, Anaheim’s offense has dipped below freezing. They managed just nine runs in their three-game set with the Toronto Blue Jays, helping the under cash in twice with one push along the way. Anderson missed all three games.
"It`s tough on Vlad, because they don`t pitch to him without Garrett hitting behind him," Angels starter pitcher Jarrod Washburn said. "It puts pressure on the other guys in the lineup, but all of them are capable. We have a good offensive team. I`m sure some guys are not happy with they way their season`s going, but they`re all capable."
Guerrero went 4-for-11 in the series but did not record a single RBI.
Brewers and Astros to play under 7 ½ runs
If this total were half a run lower, it would still be worth looking at. Not only is Roger Clemens pitching against a Milwaukee team that’s hitting just .171 off right-handers in its last 10, but Houston’s inability to produce runs with the Rocket on the hill has given under backers some nice change this season.
Houston has been shutout six times with Clemens on the mound, four of which ending in 1-0 loses. Half of those games have come at Minute Maid Park, where Houston is giving today’s hurler just under three runs per start.
"There`s no secret this team goes the way of our pitching," outfielder Lance Berkman said. "Our guys just have to hold them to two runs or less, and it`s not fair to ask that of them."
Clemens is dealing with an ailing back, which prevented the Rocket from pitching the ninth inning Saturday. He allowed two hits over eight shutout innings, lowering his league-leading ERA to 1.32.
Mets sink Pirates as -125 favorites
It took a head-on collision with teammate Mike Cameron, but Carlos Beltran is back on the good side of Mets’ fans. Beltran opted not to undergo surgery to repair a fractured bone in his face, instead, New York’s first half disappointment decided his team was more important.
And boy did it ever pay off. Beltran was greeted with a standing ovation from New York’s finest in his return, where he scored twice in New York’s 5-1 win. Beltran likely won’t hear anymore from jeers like he had during a struggling first half of the season, those will be directed to Pittsburgh’s outstanding rookie Zach Duke.
Undefeated in eight starts, Duke has been magical as a 22-year-old rookie but has been plagued by control problems. He’s walked five total batters in his last two starts, allowing four earned runs in each. Duke had allowed just four total runs beforehand and now takes the hill against one of the league’s toughest home teams.
"It`s the biggest stage," Duke said. "It`s one of those environments I`m not used to, but it`s going to be fun."
