TEXAS –1.03 over Arizona
The D-Backs are in about as bad a funk as we’ve ever seen and hitting the road isn’t likely going to change much. Ever since Jason Grimsley started singing this group of Snakes are one out-of–focus bunch and it’s totally understandable. After all, a knock on the door can come at any time from guys wearing badges and windbreakers and the Diamondback players won’t have much choice but to provide some answers. You see, co-operating is better than Alcatraz and that makes people focus on other stuff besides baseball. It’s no coincidence that the Snakes went 1-9 since the incident and were outscored by an embarrassing 78-24. On Thursday, left fielder Luis Gonzalez called a press conference two hours before the game to clear his name after some allegations were starting to spread. Anyway, the point is the D-Backs are a team in serious turmoil and a team that is playing horrible because of it. They’re committing errors, they’re not hitting the ball, they’re losing easily and we’d be shocked to see them get right-sided against this offensive juggernaut. Play: Texas –1.03 (Risking 1.55 units to win 1.5).
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WASHINGTON +1.18 over NY Yankees
Yankees always bring some excitement to town and you can be sure that RFK will be rocking tonight and rocking all weekend long. Most of these fans have never seen the Yanks, thus, the atmosphere will be playoff like for the Nats while it will be just another three-game set for the Yankees. For the Yanks, it’ll be Jaret Wright, a guy that seldom goes more than five innings and a guy that’s been absolutely torched in his last three starts, although the numbers don’t reveal that. Against KC, Boston and Baltimore, Wright surrendered 26 hits in 16 innings and escaped jam after jam because balls were hit right at people. Wright has pitched for five different teams in the past five years and only once in nine years has he had a winning record. In five of his nine years of MLB service his ERA was over six. The opposition is hitting .302 against Wright and once again we find the Yankees overpriced. They’ve dropped five of seven and will face Shawn Hill here. Despite only making three starts Hill has not looked a bit out of place. His ERA is 1.80 and at RFK his ERA is 0.64. Hill has surrendered just 14 hits in 20 innings and has allowed just one bomb. Everyone on the home side from the players to the pitchers will be extra jacked-up for this series and the tag works for us. Play: Washington +1.18 (Risking 1.5 units).
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FLORIDA/Toronto under 9 +1.18
Scott Olsen comes in with a 5-3 record and a 5.10 ERA but those numbers are rather misleading. Olsen has been much better than that. Throw out two starts against St. Louis and Atlanta in which he was torched and the rookie lefty would have an ERA under three. Only once in his other eight starts did he allow more than three earned runs in a game. He’s durable, he’s gaining confidence and he’s been brilliant recently with three straight wins and an ERA of 2.18 over that stretch. He’s also struck out 50 in 60 innings. Ty Taubenheim is looking for is first win after starting the season 0-3. He’s struck out 15 in 19 innings and has allowed just one jack. Like Olsen, Taubenheim is gaining confidence too and the best part about this scenario is that both teams have never seen the opposing pitcher before and that can only help our chances. Both pitchers are much better than their ERA’s suggest and in a National League Park with National League rules we’re suggesting this one doesn’t come close to 10 runs. Play: Under 9 +1.18 (Risking 1.5 units).
The D-Backs are in about as bad a funk as we’ve ever seen and hitting the road isn’t likely going to change much. Ever since Jason Grimsley started singing this group of Snakes are one out-of–focus bunch and it’s totally understandable. After all, a knock on the door can come at any time from guys wearing badges and windbreakers and the Diamondback players won’t have much choice but to provide some answers. You see, co-operating is better than Alcatraz and that makes people focus on other stuff besides baseball. It’s no coincidence that the Snakes went 1-9 since the incident and were outscored by an embarrassing 78-24. On Thursday, left fielder Luis Gonzalez called a press conference two hours before the game to clear his name after some allegations were starting to spread. Anyway, the point is the D-Backs are a team in serious turmoil and a team that is playing horrible because of it. They’re committing errors, they’re not hitting the ball, they’re losing easily and we’d be shocked to see them get right-sided against this offensive juggernaut. Play: Texas –1.03 (Risking 1.55 units to win 1.5).
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fficeffice" /><o></o>WASHINGTON +1.18 over NY Yankees
Yankees always bring some excitement to town and you can be sure that RFK will be rocking tonight and rocking all weekend long. Most of these fans have never seen the Yanks, thus, the atmosphere will be playoff like for the Nats while it will be just another three-game set for the Yankees. For the Yanks, it’ll be Jaret Wright, a guy that seldom goes more than five innings and a guy that’s been absolutely torched in his last three starts, although the numbers don’t reveal that. Against KC, Boston and Baltimore, Wright surrendered 26 hits in 16 innings and escaped jam after jam because balls were hit right at people. Wright has pitched for five different teams in the past five years and only once in nine years has he had a winning record. In five of his nine years of MLB service his ERA was over six. The opposition is hitting .302 against Wright and once again we find the Yankees overpriced. They’ve dropped five of seven and will face Shawn Hill here. Despite only making three starts Hill has not looked a bit out of place. His ERA is 1.80 and at RFK his ERA is 0.64. Hill has surrendered just 14 hits in 20 innings and has allowed just one bomb. Everyone on the home side from the players to the pitchers will be extra jacked-up for this series and the tag works for us. Play: Washington +1.18 (Risking 1.5 units).
<o
></o>FLORIDA/Toronto under 9 +1.18
Scott Olsen comes in with a 5-3 record and a 5.10 ERA but those numbers are rather misleading. Olsen has been much better than that. Throw out two starts against St. Louis and Atlanta in which he was torched and the rookie lefty would have an ERA under three. Only once in his other eight starts did he allow more than three earned runs in a game. He’s durable, he’s gaining confidence and he’s been brilliant recently with three straight wins and an ERA of 2.18 over that stretch. He’s also struck out 50 in 60 innings. Ty Taubenheim is looking for is first win after starting the season 0-3. He’s struck out 15 in 19 innings and has allowed just one jack. Like Olsen, Taubenheim is gaining confidence too and the best part about this scenario is that both teams have never seen the opposing pitcher before and that can only help our chances. Both pitchers are much better than their ERA’s suggest and in a National League Park with National League rules we’re suggesting this one doesn’t come close to 10 runs. Play: Under 9 +1.18 (Risking 1.5 units).
