St. Louis/CHICAGO under 10 -1.02
The South Side is on a major league roll right now and in terms of wagering, you can be sure, with a short card tonight, that this one sticks out more than others. The White Sox scored 33 times in the last two games and every bettor is aware of that but so are the oddsmakers. So, what we have here is a somewhat inflated total or an over-compensation, if you will. The Cardinals will send highly touted rookie Anthony Reyes to the mound. Reyes has made two starts this year and both were of the quality variety. He’s walked just one batter over 12 innings while striking out eight and comes in with an ERA of 2.25. He pitched into the seventh inning of his last start against Houston and in his only road start he did not allow a run at Kansas City. In addition, the White Sox have never seen him before and that definitely helps us. Freddy Garcia usually starts to turn things around this time of year. He was very impressive in his last start in Cinci, allowing just seven hits and four earned runs in eight innings. The Cardinals have never seen Garcia either and frankly, this over just reeks of a trap. Play: Under 10 -1.02 (Risking 1.53 units to win 1.5).
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Minnesota –1.10 over HOUSTON
That freak of nature, Roger Clemens, may help the Astros overtake Cinci and St. Louis in the NL Central but we’ll need to see it before we’ll believe it. We’ll also need to see it before we’ll believe it, a 43-yr-old pitcher, that’s been off for eight months, come right in a blow people away. It’s one thing to start the year in training camp, get out the kinks, and continue to dominate at this level but it’s quite another to start 10 steps behind everyone else at the age of 43 and expect to come in and dominate; it’s just not going to happen. The Twins are a fine hitting ball club and while the media eats up the Roger Clemens story, pitching in the shadows is Francisco Liriano, a guy that has an ERA of 2.16 in 18 games, 12 out of the pen and the last six as a starter. Liriano has whiffed 67 batters in 56 frames and was walked just 17. Perhaps the most telling stat of all that confirms just how difficult Liriano is to hit is the two homers he’s allowed in 58 innings of work this year. So, while Clemens and his huge ego (that’s the main reason he can’t stay away) command all the attention we’ll play on the AL team with their impressive ace going against an egomaniac who missed spring training, hasn’t pitched in the majors for eight months and in his final rehab start in the minors allowed three earned runs in five innings. Play: Minnesota (Risking 2.2 units to win 2).
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Seattle +1.25 over LOS ANGELES
Dodgers are in a bit of a scramble at the moment and will start Derek Lowe tonight instead of the scheduled starter, Brett Tomko. In addition, Cesar Izturis makes his season debut after undergoing Tommy John surgery and will move to play third base for the first time in his career, which is an error or two or three waiting to happen. Izturis, after taking ground balls at third for the second day and bouncing many throws, said he's not yet comfortable at a position he hasn't played. That’s nice and so is the fact that the Dodgers have lost five straight while the Mariners continue to get better and beat up on the NL. In fact, Seattle is 8-0 versus the National League and they’ve won five in a row. Felix Hernandez has been inconsistent, however, he’s very capable of throwing a gem and playing on hot teams with a pitcher that throws strikes is never a bad idea. Fernandez has struck out 82 and walked 14 in 84 innings of service. The Mariners bats are very healthy at the moment, having scored 17 runs and collecting 27 hits in winning the first two games of this series and lastly, the Dodgers bullpen is stinking up the joint of late and that, too, doesn’t hurt our chances. Play: Seattle +1.25 (Risking 1.5 units).
The South Side is on a major league roll right now and in terms of wagering, you can be sure, with a short card tonight, that this one sticks out more than others. The White Sox scored 33 times in the last two games and every bettor is aware of that but so are the oddsmakers. So, what we have here is a somewhat inflated total or an over-compensation, if you will. The Cardinals will send highly touted rookie Anthony Reyes to the mound. Reyes has made two starts this year and both were of the quality variety. He’s walked just one batter over 12 innings while striking out eight and comes in with an ERA of 2.25. He pitched into the seventh inning of his last start against Houston and in his only road start he did not allow a run at Kansas City. In addition, the White Sox have never seen him before and that definitely helps us. Freddy Garcia usually starts to turn things around this time of year. He was very impressive in his last start in Cinci, allowing just seven hits and four earned runs in eight innings. The Cardinals have never seen Garcia either and frankly, this over just reeks of a trap. Play: Under 10 -1.02 (Risking 1.53 units to win 1.5).
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
fficeffice" /><o></o>Minnesota –1.10 over HOUSTON
That freak of nature, Roger Clemens, may help the Astros overtake Cinci and St. Louis in the NL Central but we’ll need to see it before we’ll believe it. We’ll also need to see it before we’ll believe it, a 43-yr-old pitcher, that’s been off for eight months, come right in a blow people away. It’s one thing to start the year in training camp, get out the kinks, and continue to dominate at this level but it’s quite another to start 10 steps behind everyone else at the age of 43 and expect to come in and dominate; it’s just not going to happen. The Twins are a fine hitting ball club and while the media eats up the Roger Clemens story, pitching in the shadows is Francisco Liriano, a guy that has an ERA of 2.16 in 18 games, 12 out of the pen and the last six as a starter. Liriano has whiffed 67 batters in 56 frames and was walked just 17. Perhaps the most telling stat of all that confirms just how difficult Liriano is to hit is the two homers he’s allowed in 58 innings of work this year. So, while Clemens and his huge ego (that’s the main reason he can’t stay away) command all the attention we’ll play on the AL team with their impressive ace going against an egomaniac who missed spring training, hasn’t pitched in the majors for eight months and in his final rehab start in the minors allowed three earned runs in five innings. Play: Minnesota (Risking 2.2 units to win 2).
<o
></o>Seattle +1.25 over LOS ANGELES
Dodgers are in a bit of a scramble at the moment and will start Derek Lowe tonight instead of the scheduled starter, Brett Tomko. In addition, Cesar Izturis makes his season debut after undergoing Tommy John surgery and will move to play third base for the first time in his career, which is an error or two or three waiting to happen. Izturis, after taking ground balls at third for the second day and bouncing many throws, said he's not yet comfortable at a position he hasn't played. That’s nice and so is the fact that the Dodgers have lost five straight while the Mariners continue to get better and beat up on the NL. In fact, Seattle is 8-0 versus the National League and they’ve won five in a row. Felix Hernandez has been inconsistent, however, he’s very capable of throwing a gem and playing on hot teams with a pitcher that throws strikes is never a bad idea. Fernandez has struck out 82 and walked 14 in 84 innings of service. The Mariners bats are very healthy at the moment, having scored 17 runs and collecting 27 hits in winning the first two games of this series and lastly, the Dodgers bullpen is stinking up the joint of late and that, too, doesn’t hurt our chances. Play: Seattle +1.25 (Risking 1.5 units).
