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> Arizona +1.48 over LOS ANGELES
Remember, the D-Backs were doing some serious damage before Jason Grimsley went Jose Canseco on everyone and that really shook this team up. It took them about a month to recover and now they’ve reeled off four wins in a row off AL competition. Furthermore, they’ve beaten the Dodgers five straight at Chavez Ravine and 11 of 13 against Los Angeles. Juan Cruz comes off the DL to pitch for the first time in a month. Cruz pitched seven shutout innings in a 2-1 victory over Atlanta on June 1 and was subsequently placed on the DL the following day with a sore right shoulder. He’s 2-1 with a 0.95 ERA in his last three starts, and has not allowed a run in his last 13 innings. Overall, he’s given up just 34 hits in 46 frames and has whiffed 42 batters. The opposition is hitting a puny .204 off Cruz and only three times has the ball left the yard on him. Meanwhile, the Dodgers have dropped five of six and have scored a lousy 15 runs in those six games. Only once during that stretch did they manage to score more than twice in a single game and overall, they were outscored 37-15. Derek Lowe was torched in his last game and he’s looked rather shaky in three of his last four starts. Anyway, the price here is sweet and frankly, as more than a 3-2 favorite there just isn’t a single thing to like about the Dodgers and plenty to like about the D-Backs. Big overlay. Play: Arizona +1.48 (Risking 1.5 units).
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Detroit –1 +1.14 over OAKLAND (Pinnacle)
Offensively this one’s a mismatch; on the hill it’s a mismatch, in the dugout it’s a mismatch, in the bullpen it’s a mismatch and talent wise it’s also a mismatch. So, while the A’s were getting swept by Arizona and scratching and clawing for every run for the better part of the last two weeks the Tigers were beating up on everyone and scoring runs and winning with ease. Nate Robertson has been lights out with a 3.14 ERA and winning seven of his last eight decisions. Robertson has great control and that doesn’t bode well here for the A’s because they’re going to have to hit the ball the get on base and that’s something they’re not very adept at right now. The A’s are averaging three runs a game over their last dozen contests. That’s not encouraging and neither is the fact that Joe Blanton is chucking. Blanton has been unimpressive all year and was battered badly in San Diego in his last start. Petco Park is not an easy venue to get knocked out in the fourth inning but Blanton managed to do just that. He’s throwing for a slumping team tonight, which just adds pressure, knowing he can’t give up much but chances are far greater that he’ll give up plenty to this offensive juggernaut. A’s go away quietly again. Play: Detroit -1 +1.14 (Risking 1.5 units).
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Toronto/TEXAS over 10½ +1.02 (Pinnacle)
Blue Jays opened as a slight underdog, which was rather confusing to begin with considering that John Rheinecker, a true stiff, is up against Ted Lilly. If the line is based on starting pitchers and current form than the Jays should be about –1.50 tonight, should they not? Of course they should be and don’t think for a second that the oddsmakers overlooked this one. Toronto is going to take the bulk of the action today and will likely be about –1.20 by game time. So, while the Blue Jays look very appetizing at a cheap price, we’re suggesting that the oddsmakers trust the Rangers will score a bunch tonight. That suggestion is based solely on the price of this game, which, again, seems way too cheap on the Jays. After all, we’re all pretty sure the Jays will get theirs tonight against Rheinicker, a guy that has allowed 55 hits in 39 innings and that’s been torched in his last three games. So, be careful when betting the Jays tonight, it looks too good and that’s always a red flag. The right play here is the over; the betting line on the sides says so. Play: Over 10½ +1.02 (Risking 1.5 units). <o></o>
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L.A. Angels +1.11 over SEATTLE
When Bartolo Colon returned from the DL, Jered Weaver was sent back down but he’s simply too good to stay down and the Angels recalled him back up almost right away. Weaver’s numbers are eye opening. He’s allowed just 16 hits in 26.1 frames and has struck out 22. Weaver has walked just four batters in those 26 innings and comes into this one with an ERA of 1.37 with the opposition hitting just .170 off him. He was simply dominating in the minors and so far he’s been just as dazzling in the majors. Felix Hernandez has some nice strikeout numbers too, however, his ERA is 4.92 and that’s average at best. It’s worth noting that Hernandez was terrific in June but when you consider that the Angels have seen Hernandez before while the Mariners have never seen Weaver and than throw in a tag too, the Angels have to be considered the prudent play. Play: L.A. Angels +1.11 (Risking 1.5 units).
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> Arizona +1.48 over LOS ANGELES Remember, the D-Backs were doing some serious damage before Jason Grimsley went Jose Canseco on everyone and that really shook this team up. It took them about a month to recover and now they’ve reeled off four wins in a row off AL competition. Furthermore, they’ve beaten the Dodgers five straight at Chavez Ravine and 11 of 13 against Los Angeles. Juan Cruz comes off the DL to pitch for the first time in a month. Cruz pitched seven shutout innings in a 2-1 victory over Atlanta on June 1 and was subsequently placed on the DL the following day with a sore right shoulder. He’s 2-1 with a 0.95 ERA in his last three starts, and has not allowed a run in his last 13 innings. Overall, he’s given up just 34 hits in 46 frames and has whiffed 42 batters. The opposition is hitting a puny .204 off Cruz and only three times has the ball left the yard on him. Meanwhile, the Dodgers have dropped five of six and have scored a lousy 15 runs in those six games. Only once during that stretch did they manage to score more than twice in a single game and overall, they were outscored 37-15. Derek Lowe was torched in his last game and he’s looked rather shaky in three of his last four starts. Anyway, the price here is sweet and frankly, as more than a 3-2 favorite there just isn’t a single thing to like about the Dodgers and plenty to like about the D-Backs. Big overlay. Play: Arizona +1.48 (Risking 1.5 units).
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fficeffice" /><o></o>Detroit –1 +1.14 over OAKLAND (Pinnacle)
Offensively this one’s a mismatch; on the hill it’s a mismatch, in the dugout it’s a mismatch, in the bullpen it’s a mismatch and talent wise it’s also a mismatch. So, while the A’s were getting swept by Arizona and scratching and clawing for every run for the better part of the last two weeks the Tigers were beating up on everyone and scoring runs and winning with ease. Nate Robertson has been lights out with a 3.14 ERA and winning seven of his last eight decisions. Robertson has great control and that doesn’t bode well here for the A’s because they’re going to have to hit the ball the get on base and that’s something they’re not very adept at right now. The A’s are averaging three runs a game over their last dozen contests. That’s not encouraging and neither is the fact that Joe Blanton is chucking. Blanton has been unimpressive all year and was battered badly in San Diego in his last start. Petco Park is not an easy venue to get knocked out in the fourth inning but Blanton managed to do just that. He’s throwing for a slumping team tonight, which just adds pressure, knowing he can’t give up much but chances are far greater that he’ll give up plenty to this offensive juggernaut. A’s go away quietly again. Play: Detroit -1 +1.14 (Risking 1.5 units).
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></o>Toronto/TEXAS over 10½ +1.02 (Pinnacle)
Blue Jays opened as a slight underdog, which was rather confusing to begin with considering that John Rheinecker, a true stiff, is up against Ted Lilly. If the line is based on starting pitchers and current form than the Jays should be about –1.50 tonight, should they not? Of course they should be and don’t think for a second that the oddsmakers overlooked this one. Toronto is going to take the bulk of the action today and will likely be about –1.20 by game time. So, while the Blue Jays look very appetizing at a cheap price, we’re suggesting that the oddsmakers trust the Rangers will score a bunch tonight. That suggestion is based solely on the price of this game, which, again, seems way too cheap on the Jays. After all, we’re all pretty sure the Jays will get theirs tonight against Rheinicker, a guy that has allowed 55 hits in 39 innings and that’s been torched in his last three games. So, be careful when betting the Jays tonight, it looks too good and that’s always a red flag. The right play here is the over; the betting line on the sides says so. Play: Over 10½ +1.02 (Risking 1.5 units). <o
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></o>L.A. Angels +1.11 over SEATTLE
When Bartolo Colon returned from the DL, Jered Weaver was sent back down but he’s simply too good to stay down and the Angels recalled him back up almost right away. Weaver’s numbers are eye opening. He’s allowed just 16 hits in 26.1 frames and has struck out 22. Weaver has walked just four batters in those 26 innings and comes into this one with an ERA of 1.37 with the opposition hitting just .170 off him. He was simply dominating in the minors and so far he’s been just as dazzling in the majors. Felix Hernandez has some nice strikeout numbers too, however, his ERA is 4.92 and that’s average at best. It’s worth noting that Hernandez was terrific in June but when you consider that the Angels have seen Hernandez before while the Mariners have never seen Weaver and than throw in a tag too, the Angels have to be considered the prudent play. Play: L.A. Angels +1.11 (Risking 1.5 units).
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