MILWAUKEE –1 +1.09 over San Diego (2:05 PM) (Pinnacle)
Mike Thompson hasn’t been impressive at all and it’s only a matter of time until he’s back in the minors where he belongs. He was called up on May 17 and on the road in two starts his ERA is 8.00. He was effective in two home starts but don’t be fooled by that; Petco Park can make anyone look good. On the road Thompson had his lunch handed to him by both Pittsburgh and Arizona. Furthermore, the Padres have won just four of their past 12 road games. It’ll be Doug Davis for the Brewers and all Davis does is quietly give the Brewers quality starts and quality innings game after game and year after year. In his last start against the Nats, he went eight innings and struck out 11 while allowing just two earned runs. Davis has a respectable 3.67 ERA at home and he will almost always pitch well into the sixth inning. Asking the Brewers to win here seems like a very reasonable request and we’re on it. Play: Milwaukee –1 +1.09 (Risking 1.5 units).
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NY Mets +1.01 over ARIZONA (SIA)
The D-Backs were cruising along in first place and everything was fine until yesterday morning when Jason Grimsley went Jose Canseco on the team. Federal agents searched Grimsley's home as part of an investigation into steroid use by athletes on Tuesday. Grimsley admitted to using human growth hormone, steroids and amphetamines, and also implicated other major league ballplayers. Grimsley was subsequently released and his agent, Joe Bick, told The Associated Press he thought this would mark the end of the 38-year-old right-hander's career. Did anyone ever tell Joe Bick that he might be a genius? Barry Bonds has a better chance of winning the “Man of The Year” award than Grimsley does of pitching in the majors again. Anyway, the D-Backs have been shook up badly and that’s not conducive to winning ball games. A strong team like the Mets should be able to take advantage just like the Phillies did yesterday. Does it matter who’s pitching here? We think not? Play: NY Mets +1.01 (Risking 1.5 units). <o></o>
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CLEVELAND –1 –1.03 over Oakland (12:05 PM) (Pinnacle)
Esteban Loaiza will make his first start in six weeks after spending that time on the DL with a strained muscle on his left side. In his four starts before the injury, Loaiza allowed 30 hits and 17 runs in 18.1 innings. He issued nine walks in those outings and opponents hit .385 against him. In two rehab starts he gave up five earned runs and 11 hits over 7.2 innings and those numbers in the minors do not suggest he’s ready to return. However, the A’s are paying him six million this year and that’s the only reason he’s pitching. Man, six million sure doesn’t buy you what it used to. Loaiza is a 34-year-old that’s pitched for five different teams in the last five years and is definitely on the way out. The Indians are on the verge of a major run. This group exploded for 11 runs last night and they’re too good to be hovering around the .500 mark. We prefer someone other than Jason Johnson but that’s not going to deter us from playing against Loaiza. Play: Cleveland –1 –1.03 (Risking 1.55 units to win 1.5).
Mike Thompson hasn’t been impressive at all and it’s only a matter of time until he’s back in the minors where he belongs. He was called up on May 17 and on the road in two starts his ERA is 8.00. He was effective in two home starts but don’t be fooled by that; Petco Park can make anyone look good. On the road Thompson had his lunch handed to him by both Pittsburgh and Arizona. Furthermore, the Padres have won just four of their past 12 road games. It’ll be Doug Davis for the Brewers and all Davis does is quietly give the Brewers quality starts and quality innings game after game and year after year. In his last start against the Nats, he went eight innings and struck out 11 while allowing just two earned runs. Davis has a respectable 3.67 ERA at home and he will almost always pitch well into the sixth inning. Asking the Brewers to win here seems like a very reasonable request and we’re on it. Play: Milwaukee –1 +1.09 (Risking 1.5 units).
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
fficeffice" /><o></o>NY Mets +1.01 over ARIZONA (SIA)
The D-Backs were cruising along in first place and everything was fine until yesterday morning when Jason Grimsley went Jose Canseco on the team. Federal agents searched Grimsley's home as part of an investigation into steroid use by athletes on Tuesday. Grimsley admitted to using human growth hormone, steroids and amphetamines, and also implicated other major league ballplayers. Grimsley was subsequently released and his agent, Joe Bick, told The Associated Press he thought this would mark the end of the 38-year-old right-hander's career. Did anyone ever tell Joe Bick that he might be a genius? Barry Bonds has a better chance of winning the “Man of The Year” award than Grimsley does of pitching in the majors again. Anyway, the D-Backs have been shook up badly and that’s not conducive to winning ball games. A strong team like the Mets should be able to take advantage just like the Phillies did yesterday. Does it matter who’s pitching here? We think not? Play: NY Mets +1.01 (Risking 1.5 units). <o
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></o>CLEVELAND –1 –1.03 over Oakland (12:05 PM) (Pinnacle)
Esteban Loaiza will make his first start in six weeks after spending that time on the DL with a strained muscle on his left side. In his four starts before the injury, Loaiza allowed 30 hits and 17 runs in 18.1 innings. He issued nine walks in those outings and opponents hit .385 against him. In two rehab starts he gave up five earned runs and 11 hits over 7.2 innings and those numbers in the minors do not suggest he’s ready to return. However, the A’s are paying him six million this year and that’s the only reason he’s pitching. Man, six million sure doesn’t buy you what it used to. Loaiza is a 34-year-old that’s pitched for five different teams in the last five years and is definitely on the way out. The Indians are on the verge of a major run. This group exploded for 11 runs last night and they’re too good to be hovering around the .500 mark. We prefer someone other than Jason Johnson but that’s not going to deter us from playing against Loaiza. Play: Cleveland –1 –1.03 (Risking 1.55 units to win 1.5).
