ARIZONA –1 +1.31 over Colorado
The D-Backs are only a –1.13 favorite and that’s pretty tempting but we’ll profit an extra 44 cents on every dollar wagered by laying a run and that works out a bit better. Frankly, we’re not sure why the Rockies are getting some credit in this series. Arizona was small chalk yesterday and they’re small chalk again today and it really doesn’t make much sense when you consider that the Rockies can’t get out of their own way. They’ve dropped 10 of their past 11 games and eight of nine on the road. They’re struggling miserably at the plate and they’ll face a pitcher here they’ve never seen before. In fact, throw out the game in which Colorado scored 13 runs in Pittsburgh and they’ve scored just 15 times in their previous seven games. Josh Fogg is average at best and he’ll face a sizzling offense that is putting up six, seven or eight runs just about every night. Arizona has won 12 of 17 and owns the NL’s best record since June 20. Enrique Gonzales has only surrendered five jacks in 48 innings and is coming off a seven inning, three run performance against the Dodgers. Surely, Gonzalez is no worse than Fogg, plus the D-Backs are at home, plus we have a hot team that’s seeing beach balls playing a cold team that’s seeing BB’s. Can’t find a single reason to lay off this one. Play: Arizona –1 +1.31 (Risking 1.5 units).
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Milwaukee –1 +1.02 over CINCINNATI<o></o>
The Brewers definitely have some problems in the bullpen but so does a slew of other teams and after blowing his fifth straight save opportunity, Derrick Turnbow has been relieved from his closing duties. So what. That doesn’t change the fact the Brewers will be facing Joe Mays and likely won’t need a closer. Mays was released by the Royals after going 0-4 with a 10.27 ERA in six starts. After being picked up by the Reds, he made three relief appearances before being inserted into the rotation when left-hander Brandon Claussen went on the disabled list with a sore shoulder. In three starts for the Reds, Mays is 0-1 with an 8.82 earned run average. Overall, he’s surrendered 73 hits, 10 jacks and 23 walks in 47 frames. We guess somebody in the Reds organization figured they had to have him as soon as the Royals let him go. Mays has a less chance of succeeding than David Wells would have if Wells were in the Tour De France. Anyway, Dave Bush has whiffed 111 batters in 132 innings and that bodes well here against a Cinci team that is prone to the strikeout. We’re playing against Mays and that’s all there is to it. Play: Milwaukee –1 +1.02 (Risking 1.5 units).
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Minnesota +1.24 over CLEVELAND<o></o>
The Twins have been just about unbeatable the past couple of months and any price on them has to be considered a gift. They destroyed C.C. Sabathia last night to run their winning streak to eight and should have little trouble putting up a bunch on Jeremy Sowers. Sowers has made just five starts and hasn’t even come close to making an impression. In 22.2 innings, he’s been tagged for 29 hits, 18 earned runs and seven bombs. It’s not like the Tribe is setting the world on fire either. They’re this year’s biggest disappointment and they’ve also dropped 10 of 13. For the Twins, it’ll be Scott Baker and if Minnesota is winning with Carlos Silva on the mound, surely they can win with Baker going. In his return to the majors in his last start, Baker looked pretty good, allowing three runs and eight hits in six innings of a 6-3 victory. He’s only issued eight walks while striking out 47 batters in 55 innings. Bottom line is that he throws strikes and the best pitch in baseball is still strike one. Twins are simply a must play and are wrongly being billed as the pup here. Play: Minnesota +1.24 (Risking 1.5 units).
The D-Backs are only a –1.13 favorite and that’s pretty tempting but we’ll profit an extra 44 cents on every dollar wagered by laying a run and that works out a bit better. Frankly, we’re not sure why the Rockies are getting some credit in this series. Arizona was small chalk yesterday and they’re small chalk again today and it really doesn’t make much sense when you consider that the Rockies can’t get out of their own way. They’ve dropped 10 of their past 11 games and eight of nine on the road. They’re struggling miserably at the plate and they’ll face a pitcher here they’ve never seen before. In fact, throw out the game in which Colorado scored 13 runs in Pittsburgh and they’ve scored just 15 times in their previous seven games. Josh Fogg is average at best and he’ll face a sizzling offense that is putting up six, seven or eight runs just about every night. Arizona has won 12 of 17 and owns the NL’s best record since June 20. Enrique Gonzales has only surrendered five jacks in 48 innings and is coming off a seven inning, three run performance against the Dodgers. Surely, Gonzalez is no worse than Fogg, plus the D-Backs are at home, plus we have a hot team that’s seeing beach balls playing a cold team that’s seeing BB’s. Can’t find a single reason to lay off this one. Play: Arizona –1 +1.31 (Risking 1.5 units).
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fficeffice" /><o></o>Milwaukee –1 +1.02 over CINCINNATI<o
></o>The Brewers definitely have some problems in the bullpen but so does a slew of other teams and after blowing his fifth straight save opportunity, Derrick Turnbow has been relieved from his closing duties. So what. That doesn’t change the fact the Brewers will be facing Joe Mays and likely won’t need a closer. Mays was released by the Royals after going 0-4 with a 10.27 ERA in six starts. After being picked up by the Reds, he made three relief appearances before being inserted into the rotation when left-hander Brandon Claussen went on the disabled list with a sore shoulder. In three starts for the Reds, Mays is 0-1 with an 8.82 earned run average. Overall, he’s surrendered 73 hits, 10 jacks and 23 walks in 47 frames. We guess somebody in the Reds organization figured they had to have him as soon as the Royals let him go. Mays has a less chance of succeeding than David Wells would have if Wells were in the Tour De France. Anyway, Dave Bush has whiffed 111 batters in 132 innings and that bodes well here against a Cinci team that is prone to the strikeout. We’re playing against Mays and that’s all there is to it. Play: Milwaukee –1 +1.02 (Risking 1.5 units).
<o
></o>Minnesota +1.24 over CLEVELAND<o
></o>The Twins have been just about unbeatable the past couple of months and any price on them has to be considered a gift. They destroyed C.C. Sabathia last night to run their winning streak to eight and should have little trouble putting up a bunch on Jeremy Sowers. Sowers has made just five starts and hasn’t even come close to making an impression. In 22.2 innings, he’s been tagged for 29 hits, 18 earned runs and seven bombs. It’s not like the Tribe is setting the world on fire either. They’re this year’s biggest disappointment and they’ve also dropped 10 of 13. For the Twins, it’ll be Scott Baker and if Minnesota is winning with Carlos Silva on the mound, surely they can win with Baker going. In his return to the majors in his last start, Baker looked pretty good, allowing three runs and eight hits in six innings of a 6-3 victory. He’s only issued eight walks while striking out 47 batters in 55 innings. Bottom line is that he throws strikes and the best pitch in baseball is still strike one. Twins are simply a must play and are wrongly being billed as the pup here. Play: Minnesota +1.24 (Risking 1.5 units).
