Oakland –1 +1.12 over BALTIMORE
Russ Ortiz couldn’t pitch in an Atlanta uniform, he couldn’t pitch wearing Snakes gear and nothing has changed in his new Oriole digs and that’s why the Braves and D-Backs want no part of him. He’s 0-6 with an ERA of 7.88 and has walked 28 batters in 32 frames, which is more batters than he’s struck out. As an Oriole, he’s made two starts against the Braves and White Sox and surrendered 17 hits, two jacks and 10 runs in 9 innings for an ERA of 9.95. He’s yet to start at Camden Yards and that place is not a friendly one to pitchers. The A’s are a frustrating team to wager on for sure, as their lack of offense and blown opportunities can have you pulling your hair out. However, Ortiz is constantly behind in the count, he’s always pitching with men on base and let’s not forget that the A’s are still in first place. In addition, Oakland scored 28 times in a four-games set in Boston prior to this series and a date with Ortiz doesn’t figure to cool them down. Play: Oakland –1 +1.12 (Risking 1.5 units).
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DETROIT –1 +1.07 over Chicago
Expect huge crowds and plenty of noise in this series, as there hasn’t been this much excitement about the Tigers in Detroit in over 20 years. The Tigers will bring it all in this series and it doesn’t hurt that they catch the White Sox at a very good time. The South Side was humbled in the Bronx over the weekend and has now lost five of six to fall 4½ games back of the leader. Jon Garland has pitched better of late but he’s still not close to the form that saw him win the Cy Young award last season. His 8-3 record is one of the more misleading in the business and he could just as easily be 3-8 to go along with that ERA of 5.37. Garland is 1-1 with a 9.75 ERA in two outings against the Tigers this season and overall he’s been tagged for 130 hits and 19 bombs in 109 innings. In addition, the White Sox have struggled all year against lefties and in fact, they’re 9-11 on the road and 20-17 overall and will face one here in Nate Robertson. By contrast, Robertson has a 2.70 ERA in two starts against Chicago this year and he’s been a model of consistency all season long. He’ll pitch deep into games and if everything plays to form in this one the Tigers should cruise; if it doesn’t, they’ll still likely win by two or three. Play: Detroit –1 +1.07 (Risking 1.5 units).
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L.A. ANGELS +1.10 over Cleveland
It was ludicrous that the Indians were favored last night in Anaheim and you can double that tonight. If the Angels were wearing Pinstripes they’d be –1.60 here and probably higher. Anyway, this one is simply a must play. The Angels are the hottest team in the business with seven wins in a row and they’ve also reeled off 12 of their past 13. They’ve scored 26 runs in their past three games and we highly doubt that Cliff Lee will even come close to taming them. Lee has an ERA of 4.68 and over his last three is ERA is 5.09. Lee is an average major league starter and that’s all he’ll ever be. The reason the Tribe is the chalk here is because the Angels will be sending another rookie to the mound to make his first major league start. A lot of good that did Cleveland last night and tonight’s starter, Joe Saunders, is a much better prospect than Dustin Moseley. In fact, if Saunders was with a different organization he would have been in the majors months ago but the Angels rotation is a tough one to crack. Saunders went 10-3 in Triple AAA Salt Lake with an ERA of 2.51. He’s struck out 91 batters while walking just 38 in 125 innings. The man can pitch and he also throws strikes. He’s also a lefty and it’s worth repeating that he’s throwing for the league’s hottest team, at home no less, and the Angels a pooch here should be a misprint but it’s not. Play: L.A. Angels +1.10 (Risking 1.5 units). <o></o>
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NY Mets –1 +1.10 over CINCINNATI
We’ll think about this one for about two seconds and than click the wager button. You see, the Mets are absolutely battering all the average pitchers that come their way and Eric Milton fits the bill. The Mets are 15-7 against lefties and they torched Milton, knocking him out in the fourth inning on June 22, and chances are great they’ll do the same to him here. Milton is 6-4, however, he’s been consistently bad for the past two months and he’s been rung out to dry in his last two starts against Atlanta and Colorado, in which those two hit .325 and .378 off him respectively. But hey, let’s not forget that the Reds brought in Gary Majewski and Bill Bray to pick up the slack for a brutal pen. Majewski gave up three runs in 1 1-3 innings over two games of the Colorado series. He's allowed six runs in his last three games. The Reds bullpen didn’t get better, their offense got worse and now they’ll face the NL’s best team. Sure, a wild Mike Pelfrey will throw for the Mets but he does have wicked stuff and the Reds are a group that’s never seen a pitch they didn’t like. With that in mind, and with Milton on the hill, we’ll take our chances. Play: NY Mets –1 +1.10 (Risking 1.5 units).
Russ Ortiz couldn’t pitch in an Atlanta uniform, he couldn’t pitch wearing Snakes gear and nothing has changed in his new Oriole digs and that’s why the Braves and D-Backs want no part of him. He’s 0-6 with an ERA of 7.88 and has walked 28 batters in 32 frames, which is more batters than he’s struck out. As an Oriole, he’s made two starts against the Braves and White Sox and surrendered 17 hits, two jacks and 10 runs in 9 innings for an ERA of 9.95. He’s yet to start at Camden Yards and that place is not a friendly one to pitchers. The A’s are a frustrating team to wager on for sure, as their lack of offense and blown opportunities can have you pulling your hair out. However, Ortiz is constantly behind in the count, he’s always pitching with men on base and let’s not forget that the A’s are still in first place. In addition, Oakland scored 28 times in a four-games set in Boston prior to this series and a date with Ortiz doesn’t figure to cool them down. Play: Oakland –1 +1.12 (Risking 1.5 units).
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
fficeffice" /><o></o>DETROIT –1 +1.07 over Chicago
Expect huge crowds and plenty of noise in this series, as there hasn’t been this much excitement about the Tigers in Detroit in over 20 years. The Tigers will bring it all in this series and it doesn’t hurt that they catch the White Sox at a very good time. The South Side was humbled in the Bronx over the weekend and has now lost five of six to fall 4½ games back of the leader. Jon Garland has pitched better of late but he’s still not close to the form that saw him win the Cy Young award last season. His 8-3 record is one of the more misleading in the business and he could just as easily be 3-8 to go along with that ERA of 5.37. Garland is 1-1 with a 9.75 ERA in two outings against the Tigers this season and overall he’s been tagged for 130 hits and 19 bombs in 109 innings. In addition, the White Sox have struggled all year against lefties and in fact, they’re 9-11 on the road and 20-17 overall and will face one here in Nate Robertson. By contrast, Robertson has a 2.70 ERA in two starts against Chicago this year and he’s been a model of consistency all season long. He’ll pitch deep into games and if everything plays to form in this one the Tigers should cruise; if it doesn’t, they’ll still likely win by two or three. Play: Detroit –1 +1.07 (Risking 1.5 units).
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></o>L.A. ANGELS +1.10 over Cleveland
It was ludicrous that the Indians were favored last night in Anaheim and you can double that tonight. If the Angels were wearing Pinstripes they’d be –1.60 here and probably higher. Anyway, this one is simply a must play. The Angels are the hottest team in the business with seven wins in a row and they’ve also reeled off 12 of their past 13. They’ve scored 26 runs in their past three games and we highly doubt that Cliff Lee will even come close to taming them. Lee has an ERA of 4.68 and over his last three is ERA is 5.09. Lee is an average major league starter and that’s all he’ll ever be. The reason the Tribe is the chalk here is because the Angels will be sending another rookie to the mound to make his first major league start. A lot of good that did Cleveland last night and tonight’s starter, Joe Saunders, is a much better prospect than Dustin Moseley. In fact, if Saunders was with a different organization he would have been in the majors months ago but the Angels rotation is a tough one to crack. Saunders went 10-3 in Triple AAA Salt Lake with an ERA of 2.51. He’s struck out 91 batters while walking just 38 in 125 innings. The man can pitch and he also throws strikes. He’s also a lefty and it’s worth repeating that he’s throwing for the league’s hottest team, at home no less, and the Angels a pooch here should be a misprint but it’s not. Play: L.A. Angels +1.10 (Risking 1.5 units). <o
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></o>NY Mets –1 +1.10 over CINCINNATI
We’ll think about this one for about two seconds and than click the wager button. You see, the Mets are absolutely battering all the average pitchers that come their way and Eric Milton fits the bill. The Mets are 15-7 against lefties and they torched Milton, knocking him out in the fourth inning on June 22, and chances are great they’ll do the same to him here. Milton is 6-4, however, he’s been consistently bad for the past two months and he’s been rung out to dry in his last two starts against Atlanta and Colorado, in which those two hit .325 and .378 off him respectively. But hey, let’s not forget that the Reds brought in Gary Majewski and Bill Bray to pick up the slack for a brutal pen. Majewski gave up three runs in 1 1-3 innings over two games of the Colorado series. He's allowed six runs in his last three games. The Reds bullpen didn’t get better, their offense got worse and now they’ll face the NL’s best team. Sure, a wild Mike Pelfrey will throw for the Mets but he does have wicked stuff and the Reds are a group that’s never seen a pitch they didn’t like. With that in mind, and with Milton on the hill, we’ll take our chances. Play: NY Mets –1 +1.10 (Risking 1.5 units).
