1-1, +2.0
5* Detroit Tigers -1, -121
Nice, stress-free winner with the ChiSox yesterday. Today I like the Tigers vs. the Cubs in interleague. Tigers have been playing good baseball lately, and they love beating up on inferior teams. Cubs are cold, even at home losing 8 of their past 10, and 12 of their past 16 at home. They start up a 3-game series vs. this Tigers pitching staff that is built and resembles an NL staff. Former Marlin General Manager Dave Dombrowski is one of the best in baseball, and he has rebuilt this club and brought his National League mentality of building up arm after arm, and even brought in ex-Marlin skipper Leyland to manage them. Cubs are still smarting from the loss of Derek Lee and they miss that big consistent bat in the middle of that lineup to drive in all of these scrappy players.
Obviously, a big pitching mismatch in this game as you have left-hander Nate Robertson going up against LHP Glendon Rusch. Rusch has been poor this year with that glaring 7.29 ERA. Rusch has just been dog crap at Wrigley field. He's not fooling anybody here, he's got 13 IP and he's given up 10 HRs!!! Almost every inning he gives up a homer. Wow. He's 0-3 at home and opponents are batting .387 against him. Finally, a 12.83 ERA at Wrigley. But more importantly, the Cubs have lost 10 of the past 11 games in which he makes an appearance. To the Cubs players, it just seems everytime this guy is pitching, they are losing. How will they respond coming out to the yard today knowing that Rusch is going for them?
Meanwhile, Robertson can pitch in streaks. Throughout this year, he typically wins and loses in streaks. 2 starts ago, he lost, and he won his last start, and I think he's ready to win another one to make it 2 in a row. And I love betting in this manner as it has been successful for me. Wait for a guy, who typically wins 2 or 3 games in a row and gets on a roll, to lose a game, let him get a win under his belt, and then play him to go for 2 in a row, especially vs. a mediocre team with a poor pitcher on the mound. Did it last night with Buerhle, and I will do it tonight with Robertson.
Finally, you have to be careful for teams who lay eggs on the road, or vs. bad teams. But I don't see that happening here as the Cubs aren't terrible, and the Tigers are playing at the famous Wrigley field for a day game, and I don't see this club going through the motions today. They lost two games ago, they bounced back yesterday, they got on a plane, and I think they'll be ready to get another win streak going.
5* Detroit Tigers -1, -121
Nice, stress-free winner with the ChiSox yesterday. Today I like the Tigers vs. the Cubs in interleague. Tigers have been playing good baseball lately, and they love beating up on inferior teams. Cubs are cold, even at home losing 8 of their past 10, and 12 of their past 16 at home. They start up a 3-game series vs. this Tigers pitching staff that is built and resembles an NL staff. Former Marlin General Manager Dave Dombrowski is one of the best in baseball, and he has rebuilt this club and brought his National League mentality of building up arm after arm, and even brought in ex-Marlin skipper Leyland to manage them. Cubs are still smarting from the loss of Derek Lee and they miss that big consistent bat in the middle of that lineup to drive in all of these scrappy players.
Obviously, a big pitching mismatch in this game as you have left-hander Nate Robertson going up against LHP Glendon Rusch. Rusch has been poor this year with that glaring 7.29 ERA. Rusch has just been dog crap at Wrigley field. He's not fooling anybody here, he's got 13 IP and he's given up 10 HRs!!! Almost every inning he gives up a homer. Wow. He's 0-3 at home and opponents are batting .387 against him. Finally, a 12.83 ERA at Wrigley. But more importantly, the Cubs have lost 10 of the past 11 games in which he makes an appearance. To the Cubs players, it just seems everytime this guy is pitching, they are losing. How will they respond coming out to the yard today knowing that Rusch is going for them?
Meanwhile, Robertson can pitch in streaks. Throughout this year, he typically wins and loses in streaks. 2 starts ago, he lost, and he won his last start, and I think he's ready to win another one to make it 2 in a row. And I love betting in this manner as it has been successful for me. Wait for a guy, who typically wins 2 or 3 games in a row and gets on a roll, to lose a game, let him get a win under his belt, and then play him to go for 2 in a row, especially vs. a mediocre team with a poor pitcher on the mound. Did it last night with Buerhle, and I will do it tonight with Robertson.
Finally, you have to be careful for teams who lay eggs on the road, or vs. bad teams. But I don't see that happening here as the Cubs aren't terrible, and the Tigers are playing at the famous Wrigley field for a day game, and I don't see this club going through the motions today. They lost two games ago, they bounced back yesterday, they got on a plane, and I think they'll be ready to get another win streak going.