Kansas City +2.12 over CINCINNATI<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
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Price here most definitely has influence on this choice and so does the fact that the Royals are winning some ball games. They beat the Reds last night after falling behind 5-1 and have now won three in a row and eight of 10. The Royals have also won the past two games that Scott Elarton has started. Elarton is not that easy to hit and never has been. The opposition is hitting just .259 off him this year and he hasn’t allowed more than four runs in any of his last four starts. The problem with Elarton is that he walks too many but if he throws strikes he’s difficult to beat and with this tag that’s a gamble worth taking. Besides, what has Aaron Harang or the Reds accomplished to warrant being –2.20 chalk? Harang is 2-3 at home, the opposition is hitting .316 off him and his ERA is 6.00. The Reds aren’t playing well anymore and in case anyone didn’t notice, the AL beat up on the NL again last night just like they do almost every night. Line here is sick. Play: Kansas City +2.12 (Risking 1.5 units).
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CHICAGO +1.22 over Milwaukee (2:20 PM)<o></o>
Man, this one has trouble written all over it for the visiting team. You see, the Bad News Bears were supposed to win last night with Carlos Zambrano going as a –1.80 favorite. However, in typical Cubs fashion they found a way to lose after tying it up late in the game. So, the next question is what is there to like about the North Side today? Well, for starters, the Brew Crew has never faced Carlos Marmol and that bodes well here for us because Marmol is a strikeout pitcher and Milwaukee has a line-up with a bunch of guys that just love to swing at anything. The Brewers have struck out a collective 590 times, which is the worst mark in the league. Marmol has struck out 20 batters in 21.2 innings and has allowed just 18 hits. Than we have Dave Bush and his 1-4 road record to go along with his 6.42 road ERA starting for the Brewers. Bush has gotten progressively worse with each passing month and frankly, he’s just another one of those very average starters that can easily be hit hard. The Cubs smoked him on April 28 in Milwaukee and a day game at Wrigley in the middle of the week, in front of a packed house, is exactly what the Cubs need to get off the mattress. Yeah, the Cubbies are playing awful and Dusty Faker should be coaching canoeing, however, Dave Bush favored on the road against a strikeout pitcher is incorrect. Play: Chicago +1.22 (Risking 1.5 units).
fficeffice" /><o></o>Price here most definitely has influence on this choice and so does the fact that the Royals are winning some ball games. They beat the Reds last night after falling behind 5-1 and have now won three in a row and eight of 10. The Royals have also won the past two games that Scott Elarton has started. Elarton is not that easy to hit and never has been. The opposition is hitting just .259 off him this year and he hasn’t allowed more than four runs in any of his last four starts. The problem with Elarton is that he walks too many but if he throws strikes he’s difficult to beat and with this tag that’s a gamble worth taking. Besides, what has Aaron Harang or the Reds accomplished to warrant being –2.20 chalk? Harang is 2-3 at home, the opposition is hitting .316 off him and his ERA is 6.00. The Reds aren’t playing well anymore and in case anyone didn’t notice, the AL beat up on the NL again last night just like they do almost every night. Line here is sick. Play: Kansas City +2.12 (Risking 1.5 units).
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></o>CHICAGO +1.22 over Milwaukee (2:20 PM)<o
></o>Man, this one has trouble written all over it for the visiting team. You see, the Bad News Bears were supposed to win last night with Carlos Zambrano going as a –1.80 favorite. However, in typical Cubs fashion they found a way to lose after tying it up late in the game. So, the next question is what is there to like about the North Side today? Well, for starters, the Brew Crew has never faced Carlos Marmol and that bodes well here for us because Marmol is a strikeout pitcher and Milwaukee has a line-up with a bunch of guys that just love to swing at anything. The Brewers have struck out a collective 590 times, which is the worst mark in the league. Marmol has struck out 20 batters in 21.2 innings and has allowed just 18 hits. Than we have Dave Bush and his 1-4 road record to go along with his 6.42 road ERA starting for the Brewers. Bush has gotten progressively worse with each passing month and frankly, he’s just another one of those very average starters that can easily be hit hard. The Cubs smoked him on April 28 in Milwaukee and a day game at Wrigley in the middle of the week, in front of a packed house, is exactly what the Cubs need to get off the mattress. Yeah, the Cubbies are playing awful and Dusty Faker should be coaching canoeing, however, Dave Bush favored on the road against a strikeout pitcher is incorrect. Play: Chicago +1.22 (Risking 1.5 units).
