Pittsburgh +1.02 over WASHINGTON
Almost getting swept by the Marlins is really all we need to know about this underachieving Nationals team and when Colorado castoff Zach Day, in a Washington uniform, is favored over Oliver Perez of the Pirates, just take the money and don’t ask any questions. Day has walked 13 and struck out seven to go along with the 28 hits he’s allowed in 18 innings of work. Washington is hitting just .215 over their last 10 games and overall they’re just 1-5 against southpaws. Oliver Perez has not pitched well this season but we all know the man can pitch. Perez has struck out 596 batters in 544 career innings and over his career the opposition is hitting just .240 off him. Perez is off to a shaky start but let’s face it, there’s 29 other teams in the league that would love to have this guy and there’s one other, (Kansas City) that would love to have Zach Day. Play: Pittsburgh +1.02 (Risking 1.5 units).
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Houston –1 +1.15 over COLORADO
Rookie Taylor Buchholz will start for the Astros and there’s not a single pitcher in the big leagues that has looked as good as this youngster. The best part about this is that the Rockies have never seen him and that’s a huge advantage for the visitors. Buchholz has not allowed more than two earned runs in any of his five outings, including three starts. He had a 15 1-3-inning scoreless streak snapped in the sixth inning Sunday and he’s remarkably allowed just 12 hits in 26 innings of work. In addition the Astros are 19-9 and just finished sweeping the Cardinals. Does it matter who’s pitching for the Rockies? We think not. Play: Houston –1 +1.15 (Risking 1.5 units). <o></o>
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Milwaukee –1.03 over LOS ANGELES
Lefthander Chris Capuano will start for the Brewers and he’s carried over his 18-win season from a year ago to this year. The man is the best pitcher in the majors that nobody’s heard of. Capuano has allowed just 27 hits in 42 innings and he’s also struck out 40 batters and walked just nine. He’s 3-0 with a 1.14 ERA over his last three starts and will face a struggling Dodgers team that has dropped five in a row and that is 0-2 at Chavez Ravine against southpaws. Derek Lowe is pitching decent but this isn’t about that. This is about playing on a warm Brewers team that has won four of six with their ace going against a laboring Dodgers team whose bullpen can’t record an out when needed. Play: Milwaukee –1.03 (Risking 1.55 units to win 1.5).
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Tampa Bay +1.27 over OAKLAND
They said that Scott Kazmir was the straight goods and they were right. With each start, with each month, with each week, Kazmir is getting better. He’s coming off a seven inning, 10-strikeout performance over the Red Sox to run his record to 3-2. Kazmir has allowed two or fewer runs in four of his six starts this season and has always loved this pitchers park. Meanwhile Joe Blanton is also 3-2. however, his ERA is 6.14 and in his last start, against the Royals, he got the win but gave up five runs in five frames. Blanton has surrendered 20 runs over his last four starts covering 21 innings. In addition, the A’s are 0-2 at home against lefties and the Devil Rays will activate Aubrey Huff and Julio Lugo off the DL for the start of this series. Nice tag on Kazmir here and we’re on it. Play: Tampa Bay +1.27 (Risking 1.5 units).
Almost getting swept by the Marlins is really all we need to know about this underachieving Nationals team and when Colorado castoff Zach Day, in a Washington uniform, is favored over Oliver Perez of the Pirates, just take the money and don’t ask any questions. Day has walked 13 and struck out seven to go along with the 28 hits he’s allowed in 18 innings of work. Washington is hitting just .215 over their last 10 games and overall they’re just 1-5 against southpaws. Oliver Perez has not pitched well this season but we all know the man can pitch. Perez has struck out 596 batters in 544 career innings and over his career the opposition is hitting just .240 off him. Perez is off to a shaky start but let’s face it, there’s 29 other teams in the league that would love to have this guy and there’s one other, (Kansas City) that would love to have Zach Day. Play: Pittsburgh +1.02 (Risking 1.5 units).
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
fficeffice" /><o></o>Houston –1 +1.15 over COLORADO
Rookie Taylor Buchholz will start for the Astros and there’s not a single pitcher in the big leagues that has looked as good as this youngster. The best part about this is that the Rockies have never seen him and that’s a huge advantage for the visitors. Buchholz has not allowed more than two earned runs in any of his five outings, including three starts. He had a 15 1-3-inning scoreless streak snapped in the sixth inning Sunday and he’s remarkably allowed just 12 hits in 26 innings of work. In addition the Astros are 19-9 and just finished sweeping the Cardinals. Does it matter who’s pitching for the Rockies? We think not. Play: Houston –1 +1.15 (Risking 1.5 units). <o
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></o>Milwaukee –1.03 over LOS ANGELES
Lefthander Chris Capuano will start for the Brewers and he’s carried over his 18-win season from a year ago to this year. The man is the best pitcher in the majors that nobody’s heard of. Capuano has allowed just 27 hits in 42 innings and he’s also struck out 40 batters and walked just nine. He’s 3-0 with a 1.14 ERA over his last three starts and will face a struggling Dodgers team that has dropped five in a row and that is 0-2 at Chavez Ravine against southpaws. Derek Lowe is pitching decent but this isn’t about that. This is about playing on a warm Brewers team that has won four of six with their ace going against a laboring Dodgers team whose bullpen can’t record an out when needed. Play: Milwaukee –1.03 (Risking 1.55 units to win 1.5).
<o
></o>Tampa Bay +1.27 over OAKLAND
They said that Scott Kazmir was the straight goods and they were right. With each start, with each month, with each week, Kazmir is getting better. He’s coming off a seven inning, 10-strikeout performance over the Red Sox to run his record to 3-2. Kazmir has allowed two or fewer runs in four of his six starts this season and has always loved this pitchers park. Meanwhile Joe Blanton is also 3-2. however, his ERA is 6.14 and in his last start, against the Royals, he got the win but gave up five runs in five frames. Blanton has surrendered 20 runs over his last four starts covering 21 innings. In addition, the A’s are 0-2 at home against lefties and the Devil Rays will activate Aubrey Huff and Julio Lugo off the DL for the start of this series. Nice tag on Kazmir here and we’re on it. Play: Tampa Bay +1.27 (Risking 1.5 units).
