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> Arizona +1.26 over OAKLAND
The D-Backs probably felt like June lasted 60 days but that’s in the past now and they’ve finally gotten off the mattress with back-to-back wins against the A’s and there’s no reason they can’t complete the sweep. Brandon Webb is as consistent and reliable as they come, as his 8-3 record and 2.85 ERA would attest to. Webb has pinpoint control, usually pitches deep into games and is always worth a look at a price. Webb is also 4-2 on the road with a 2.59 ERA and you can count on him to be tough today against this struggling host. Oakland has dropped four of five and has scored just 13 runs over that stretch. Oakland is 8-9 in inter-league play and they’re also batting an AL-worst .249. The A’s do not have a single player hitting above .300 or anywhere near it. Most of the regulars are batting around .250 and they made Miguel Batista look like Sandy Koufax yesterday. A’s in big trouble and any take-back here has to be considered a gift regardless of Barry Zito being on the hill. Play: Arizona +1.26 (Risking 1.5 units). <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
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Boston –1.10 over FLORIDA
Josh Johnson of the Marlins has some very pretty numbers, which include a 1.64 ERA at home, a 7-4 overall record and three wins in a row with a 2.45 ERA over that span. That’s nice, it really is, but we’ve seen this guy pitch the last three games and he’s on the verge of getting smacked around. He was shaky at best in all three games against the Braves, Blue Jays and Devil Rays and he escaped jam after jam after jam in all three games and that has a way of catching up to you. Despite the numbers, he still allowed 23 hits in 18 innings over his last three and also walked nine over that same stretch. Oh yeah, in case nobody noticed, this isn’t the Braves. The Red Sox have won 13 of 14 and they, too, have a rookie going that’s been simply dazzling recently by the name of Jon Lester. Lester has given up just four runs in his last three games, striking out 20 during that span. Just in case that isn’t enough, Boston is now 15-2 against the NL and if you need a little more incentive, how about the fact that Lester is a lefty and Florida is 6-12 against southpaws. Boston rolls here against this inferior NL enemy. Play: Boston –1.08 (Risking 2.2 units to win 2). <o></o>
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Tampa Bay +1.06 over WASHINGTON
In a park like RFK, where runs are not easy to come by, the team with the better offense and that resides in the American League, with a tag no less, is probably a pretty fair bet. Besides, it’s not like the Nationals have some standout pitcher going here because they don’t. Ramon Ortiz owns a 5.48 ERA in this pitcher’s park and in his last four starts his ERA is 6.62 after allowing 23 hits and four jacks in 17 innings. Jae Seo makes his first start for the Devil Rays since being acquired from the Dodgers but he did pitch two innings of relief in is new digs against Florida and allowed just one hit. The Devil Rays scored 11 runs in the opener on Friday and yesterday had numerous chances to score plenty more than the three they put up by getting 11 hits and five walks but luck was just not on their side. Devil Rays are swinging some good bats right now and surely they have a great chance to take this series with a win this afternoon. Nationals are a horrible favorite and very risky favorite. Play: Tampa Bay +1.06 (Risking 1.5 units).
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> Arizona +1.26 over OAKLAND The D-Backs probably felt like June lasted 60 days but that’s in the past now and they’ve finally gotten off the mattress with back-to-back wins against the A’s and there’s no reason they can’t complete the sweep. Brandon Webb is as consistent and reliable as they come, as his 8-3 record and 2.85 ERA would attest to. Webb has pinpoint control, usually pitches deep into games and is always worth a look at a price. Webb is also 4-2 on the road with a 2.59 ERA and you can count on him to be tough today against this struggling host. Oakland has dropped four of five and has scored just 13 runs over that stretch. Oakland is 8-9 in inter-league play and they’re also batting an AL-worst .249. The A’s do not have a single player hitting above .300 or anywhere near it. Most of the regulars are batting around .250 and they made Miguel Batista look like Sandy Koufax yesterday. A’s in big trouble and any take-back here has to be considered a gift regardless of Barry Zito being on the hill. Play: Arizona +1.26 (Risking 1.5 units). <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
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></o>Boston –1.10 over FLORIDA
Josh Johnson of the Marlins has some very pretty numbers, which include a 1.64 ERA at home, a 7-4 overall record and three wins in a row with a 2.45 ERA over that span. That’s nice, it really is, but we’ve seen this guy pitch the last three games and he’s on the verge of getting smacked around. He was shaky at best in all three games against the Braves, Blue Jays and Devil Rays and he escaped jam after jam after jam in all three games and that has a way of catching up to you. Despite the numbers, he still allowed 23 hits in 18 innings over his last three and also walked nine over that same stretch. Oh yeah, in case nobody noticed, this isn’t the Braves. The Red Sox have won 13 of 14 and they, too, have a rookie going that’s been simply dazzling recently by the name of Jon Lester. Lester has given up just four runs in his last three games, striking out 20 during that span. Just in case that isn’t enough, Boston is now 15-2 against the NL and if you need a little more incentive, how about the fact that Lester is a lefty and Florida is 6-12 against southpaws. Boston rolls here against this inferior NL enemy. Play: Boston –1.08 (Risking 2.2 units to win 2). <o
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></o>Tampa Bay +1.06 over WASHINGTON
In a park like RFK, where runs are not easy to come by, the team with the better offense and that resides in the American League, with a tag no less, is probably a pretty fair bet. Besides, it’s not like the Nationals have some standout pitcher going here because they don’t. Ramon Ortiz owns a 5.48 ERA in this pitcher’s park and in his last four starts his ERA is 6.62 after allowing 23 hits and four jacks in 17 innings. Jae Seo makes his first start for the Devil Rays since being acquired from the Dodgers but he did pitch two innings of relief in is new digs against Florida and allowed just one hit. The Devil Rays scored 11 runs in the opener on Friday and yesterday had numerous chances to score plenty more than the three they put up by getting 11 hits and five walks but luck was just not on their side. Devil Rays are swinging some good bats right now and surely they have a great chance to take this series with a win this afternoon. Nationals are a horrible favorite and very risky favorite. Play: Tampa Bay +1.06 (Risking 1.5 units).
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