PITTSBURGH +1.84 over Detroit<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
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First thing to note here is that the Pirates play much better at home, as they are just four games under .500 in their own barn. Pittsburgh is having a miserable year, make no mistake about that, however, this host is really not that bad and a late rally last night that just fell short will hopefully give them a little spark coming into this one. The next thing to note is the price, which absolutely has influence on this choice and with a young left-handed rookie going that has been dazzling in the minors, the payoff is worth the risk. Tom Gorzelanny was the Pirates' second-round draft-pick in 2003 and this season he’s posted a 6-5 record with a 2.35 ERA in 16 starts at Triple-A Indianapolis. He’s allowed just one earned run in his last 20 innings and he also struck out 94 batters and walked just 27 in 99 innings of work and only four times did the opposition go yard on him. Those are pretty sweet numbers, albeit in the minor’s, however, the Tigers surely can get caught off guard here against a guy they’ve never seen that will be ready to go and so will is teammates. Jeremy Bonderman is definitely tough but this has nothing to do with playing against him and everything to do with taking back a big price on Gorzelanny and the Bucco’s in their own barn in a game they surely have a good chance of winning, Play: Pittsburgh +1.84 (Risking 1.5 units). <o></o>
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TAMPA BAY +1.05 over Washington<o></o>
The Devil Rays are feeling pretty good at RFK after an 11-run, 17-hit explosion last night in the opener and most of those hits and runs came against a pitcher that’s been much tougher than the one they’ll see here. Not to many teams can say they scored 11 runs at this venue and with the American League continuing to beat on the NL and with the Nationals sinking faster than Starr Jones’ career, this play just makes sense. Washington just completed a 1-8 road trip and most of those were as lopsided as the 11-1 thrashing they took last night. It’s a rare day when the Nats score more than three runs in a ball game and they’ll face James Shields here. Sheilds has started six games for the Devil Rays and prior to his last start against the Marlins he pitched four beauties in a row, allowing 23 hits and just five earned runs in 25 frames. Oh, did we mention that Sheilds has yet to give up a single jack all year? For the Nationals, well, they call him Livan and they call him a good man but we call him hittable. He has a 5.91 ERA at that pitcher’s haven in Washington and he’s also been tagged for 127 hits in 105 innings. The D-Rays went 14-13 in June while it seems like the Nationals win once every 20 days. Of course the Devil Rays can win here. Play: Tampa Bay +1.05 (Risking 1.5 units).
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ATLANTA –1½ +1.05 over Baltimore<o></o>
There’s a good reason why Russ Ortiz can’t get anybody out and hasn’t been able to since 2004 when he was a member of the Braves. The reason is he can’t pitch and he can’t throw strikes; it’s not rocket science. Ortiz comes over from Arizona with a 0-5 record and a 7.54 ERA. He’s walked 22 batters in 22 innings and he’s also allowed 27 hits and 21 earned runs. Ortiz is always behind in the count, always and when you’re working with 2-0 and 3-1 counts it’s pretty much impossible to have any success whatsoever. It gets even worse. Last year at Triple AAA Tucson and A-ball, Lancaster, Ortiz allowed 26 hits and 25 earned runs in 11 innings of service. Yeah, we’re serious, that’s a fact and you could go into the stands and pick a hot-dog vendor and he’d do better than that. Anyway, Ortiz is making close to eight million a year and that’s the only reason he’s wearing a uniform. The D-Backs are paying the bulk of his salary so the Orioles are pretty much taking a free shot with him. Now, if he were pitching for the women’s softball league we’d be a little more hesitant to go against him here but he’s not, he’s facing a formidable offense that knows him well and it might also be worth mentioning that Tim Hudson is going for the Braves. No tomahawk chop needed in this one. Play: Atlanta –1½ +1.05 (Risking 1.5 units).
fficeffice" /><o></o>First thing to note here is that the Pirates play much better at home, as they are just four games under .500 in their own barn. Pittsburgh is having a miserable year, make no mistake about that, however, this host is really not that bad and a late rally last night that just fell short will hopefully give them a little spark coming into this one. The next thing to note is the price, which absolutely has influence on this choice and with a young left-handed rookie going that has been dazzling in the minors, the payoff is worth the risk. Tom Gorzelanny was the Pirates' second-round draft-pick in 2003 and this season he’s posted a 6-5 record with a 2.35 ERA in 16 starts at Triple-A Indianapolis. He’s allowed just one earned run in his last 20 innings and he also struck out 94 batters and walked just 27 in 99 innings of work and only four times did the opposition go yard on him. Those are pretty sweet numbers, albeit in the minor’s, however, the Tigers surely can get caught off guard here against a guy they’ve never seen that will be ready to go and so will is teammates. Jeremy Bonderman is definitely tough but this has nothing to do with playing against him and everything to do with taking back a big price on Gorzelanny and the Bucco’s in their own barn in a game they surely have a good chance of winning, Play: Pittsburgh +1.84 (Risking 1.5 units). <o
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></o>TAMPA BAY +1.05 over Washington<o
></o>The Devil Rays are feeling pretty good at RFK after an 11-run, 17-hit explosion last night in the opener and most of those hits and runs came against a pitcher that’s been much tougher than the one they’ll see here. Not to many teams can say they scored 11 runs at this venue and with the American League continuing to beat on the NL and with the Nationals sinking faster than Starr Jones’ career, this play just makes sense. Washington just completed a 1-8 road trip and most of those were as lopsided as the 11-1 thrashing they took last night. It’s a rare day when the Nats score more than three runs in a ball game and they’ll face James Shields here. Sheilds has started six games for the Devil Rays and prior to his last start against the Marlins he pitched four beauties in a row, allowing 23 hits and just five earned runs in 25 frames. Oh, did we mention that Sheilds has yet to give up a single jack all year? For the Nationals, well, they call him Livan and they call him a good man but we call him hittable. He has a 5.91 ERA at that pitcher’s haven in Washington and he’s also been tagged for 127 hits in 105 innings. The D-Rays went 14-13 in June while it seems like the Nationals win once every 20 days. Of course the Devil Rays can win here. Play: Tampa Bay +1.05 (Risking 1.5 units).
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></o>ATLANTA –1½ +1.05 over Baltimore<o
></o>There’s a good reason why Russ Ortiz can’t get anybody out and hasn’t been able to since 2004 when he was a member of the Braves. The reason is he can’t pitch and he can’t throw strikes; it’s not rocket science. Ortiz comes over from Arizona with a 0-5 record and a 7.54 ERA. He’s walked 22 batters in 22 innings and he’s also allowed 27 hits and 21 earned runs. Ortiz is always behind in the count, always and when you’re working with 2-0 and 3-1 counts it’s pretty much impossible to have any success whatsoever. It gets even worse. Last year at Triple AAA Tucson and A-ball, Lancaster, Ortiz allowed 26 hits and 25 earned runs in 11 innings of service. Yeah, we’re serious, that’s a fact and you could go into the stands and pick a hot-dog vendor and he’d do better than that. Anyway, Ortiz is making close to eight million a year and that’s the only reason he’s wearing a uniform. The D-Backs are paying the bulk of his salary so the Orioles are pretty much taking a free shot with him. Now, if he were pitching for the women’s softball league we’d be a little more hesitant to go against him here but he’s not, he’s facing a formidable offense that knows him well and it might also be worth mentioning that Tim Hudson is going for the Braves. No tomahawk chop needed in this one. Play: Atlanta –1½ +1.05 (Risking 1.5 units).
