<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 width=500 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=left width="50%">Yesterday</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">0</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">3</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">0</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="20%">-4.60 Units</TD></TR><TR><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=left width="50%">Last 30 Days</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">36</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">41</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">1</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="20%">+2.16 Units</TD></TR><TR><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=left width="50%">Season To Date (Since April 2006)</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">46</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">66</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">1</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="20%">-18.26 Units</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Washington +1.18 over CHICAGO (Pinnacle)
The equation here is a rather simple one and goes something like this; when the Cubbies are favored and anyone not named Zambrano is pitching, take the pooch. The Cubs have dropped 12 of their last 14 games and in both wins Carlos Zambrano was the starting pitcher. Chicago has been shut out five times over that stretch and scoring runs without Derek Lee in the line-up has proven to be extremely difficult. When the Cubs are down one it seems like they’re down five. Anyway, Zach Day has been very decent since arriving from Colorado. Pay no attention to Day’s numbers since he compiled a 1-2 record and 10.80 ERA with the Rockies. The right-hander is 1-1 with a 2.37 ERA in three starts with the Nationals and has allowed just one run in 14 innings over his last two outings. The Nationals are also a much better club against lefties and will face one here in rookie Sean Marshall. Play: Washington +1.18 (Risking 1.5 units).
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
fficeffice" /><o
></o>ARIZONA –1 +1.02 over San Diego (Pinnacle)
The D-Backs are playing excellent ball these days and started making a move about three weeks ago. They’re now in first in the NL West after beating the Padres for the fifth straight time this season. Juan Cruz has been a rock in the D-Backs line-up with a 1-1 record and a 3.33 ERA in four starts. He’s allowed just 18 hits in 27 innings and has struck out 27 over that span. However, this is more about playing on the D-Backs against a team that can’t beat them and that has a guy by the name of Mike Thompson going for them. Thompson was a fifth round draft choice in 1999 and has been in the Padres system ever since. He’s been a minor league starter for the past six years and his numbers at that level are mediocre at best. This year at Triple-A Portland he’s 5-0 this year with a 3.79 ERA, however, the scouting reports on him are not very good and this is an extremely difficult venue to make your major league debut. Lay the run. Play: Arizona –1 +1.02 (Risking 1.5 units).
<o
></o>Boston –1 +1.04 over BALTIMORE (Pinnacle)
The Red Sox are the Orioles daddy and we can’t imagine that changing here. First, in five career starts against this intruder Eric Bedard has been torched with a 1-3 record and a 7.57 ERA. In is last four starts Bedard’s ERA is a hefty 7.34. The Orioles have been beating up on weak teams this season but against teams with a record above .500 they’re a miserable 4-16 and they’ve lost to the Red Sox 13 straight times. Ouch. We know what we’re going to get from Tim Wakefield; knuckleball low, knuckleball high, knuckleball anywhere and it’s been damn effective for years and this season it’s dancing better than ever. Looks like another Red Sox victory to us. Play: Boston –1 +1.04 (Risking 1.5 units).
<o
></o>Philadelphia +1.19 over MILWAUKEE (Pinnacle)
The Phillies, despite losing last night, have won 13 of their past 15 games and that’s significant. So is the fact that Gavin Floyd is 3-0 with a 2.04 ERA over his last three outings. On the road this year Floyd is 2-0 with a 2.84 ERA. For Dave Bush of the Brewers it’s been hit and miss his whole career, covering 49 starts including eight this season. However, lately it’s been miss much more than hit. The offensively challenged Cubs lit him up for 10 hits on April 28 and in his last two starts against the Dodgers and Mets he was torched to the tune of 15 hits and seven earned runs in 12 innings. We know the Phillies can bash and they’re hot and we also know that Floyd is hot too. This one just makes sense. Play: Philadelphia +1.19 (Risking 1.5 units).
