SEATTLE +1.12 over L.A. Angels
The Angels are sliding out of the race as quick as the Red Sox and in the most crucial stretch of the year they’ve lost five of seven, including last night’s 6-4 loss. John Lackey has struggled miserably in the month of August and the Mariners have always given Lackey trouble. In fact, He’s 0-2 with a 9.74 ERA in four starts against the Mariners this season and he’s 0-3 with a 7.07 ERA this month. It’s also worth noting that Lackey has allowed at least 10 hits or more in each of his last three appearances. Meanwhile, the Mariners have reeled off six in a row and they smacked around Jered Weaver last night. Seattle's Jake Woods has looked sharp in three starts since being moved from the bullpen to the rotation. Woods has a very respectable 4-1 record and 3.59 ERA, however, his ERA is 1.29 since was inserted into the starter’s role. It’s never a bad idea to play hot vs cold and when you add a tag to it, well, it just makes more sense. Play: Seattle +1.12 (Risking 1.5 units). <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
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CLEVELAND –1½ +1.30 over Toronto
The Indians are playing too good, especially at the Jake, to ignore in this spot against a Jays pitcher that performed horribly on the road. Shaun Marcum makes his ninth start of the year and fifth on the road. In those four other road starts Marcum is 0-3 with a 9.26 ERA and has not lasted past the fifth inning in any of them. In his last road start the Jays lost 15-0 at Baltimore. Overall, the opposition is hitting a hefty .352 off Marcum and to make matters worse, he’s always battling the strike zone. Cleveland is one of the league’s hottest teams at the moment, as its 15 win in 20 games would attest to. They’ve also won nine of 11, and eight of nine against the Blue Jays. Jeremy Sowers has been pitching under the radar the last month but his numbers definitely eye-opening. Sowers has been superb since July 22 against Minnesota, when he threw the first of consecutive shutouts. He's gone 5-0 with 1.69 ERA in seven starts in that span, not allowing more than three earned runs in any outing. He’s also a southpaw and he seems to be at his absolute best when he’s pitching in front of the locals. The Indians are having fun for the first time all year and we expect their strong play and dominance over the Jays to continue here. Play: Cleveland –1½ +1.30 (Risking 1.5 units). <o></o>
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TEXAS –1 +1.04 over Baltimore
Robinson Tejeda has spent a good portion of the year in the minors but there’s no denying this guy has major league stuff. He’s pitched just 33 innings for the Rangers this year but has 119 innings of major league experience. In those 119 innings he’s surrendered just 101 hits while striking out 93. The problem was his control and he seems to have worked things out in the minors. Amazing what a few bus rides can do. Anyway, Tejeda has been brilliant in his last two starts vs the Devil Rays and Tigers pitching into the seventh inning in both games and picking up the win in both starts. He gave up a total of three runs and nine hits while walking just three in 14.2 innings over that span. The Orioles are 23-38 on the road and will be without Corey Patterson for the next little while. That hurts and for a team that struggles offensively that does not bode well here. The Rangers score in bunches and Benson is 1-5 with a 6.45 ERA in eight starts since July 2, and he has not won on the road since June 17. Play: Texas –1 +1.04 (Risking 1.5 units).
The Angels are sliding out of the race as quick as the Red Sox and in the most crucial stretch of the year they’ve lost five of seven, including last night’s 6-4 loss. John Lackey has struggled miserably in the month of August and the Mariners have always given Lackey trouble. In fact, He’s 0-2 with a 9.74 ERA in four starts against the Mariners this season and he’s 0-3 with a 7.07 ERA this month. It’s also worth noting that Lackey has allowed at least 10 hits or more in each of his last three appearances. Meanwhile, the Mariners have reeled off six in a row and they smacked around Jered Weaver last night. Seattle's Jake Woods has looked sharp in three starts since being moved from the bullpen to the rotation. Woods has a very respectable 4-1 record and 3.59 ERA, however, his ERA is 1.29 since was inserted into the starter’s role. It’s never a bad idea to play hot vs cold and when you add a tag to it, well, it just makes more sense. Play: Seattle +1.12 (Risking 1.5 units). <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
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></o>CLEVELAND –1½ +1.30 over Toronto
The Indians are playing too good, especially at the Jake, to ignore in this spot against a Jays pitcher that performed horribly on the road. Shaun Marcum makes his ninth start of the year and fifth on the road. In those four other road starts Marcum is 0-3 with a 9.26 ERA and has not lasted past the fifth inning in any of them. In his last road start the Jays lost 15-0 at Baltimore. Overall, the opposition is hitting a hefty .352 off Marcum and to make matters worse, he’s always battling the strike zone. Cleveland is one of the league’s hottest teams at the moment, as its 15 win in 20 games would attest to. They’ve also won nine of 11, and eight of nine against the Blue Jays. Jeremy Sowers has been pitching under the radar the last month but his numbers definitely eye-opening. Sowers has been superb since July 22 against Minnesota, when he threw the first of consecutive shutouts. He's gone 5-0 with 1.69 ERA in seven starts in that span, not allowing more than three earned runs in any outing. He’s also a southpaw and he seems to be at his absolute best when he’s pitching in front of the locals. The Indians are having fun for the first time all year and we expect their strong play and dominance over the Jays to continue here. Play: Cleveland –1½ +1.30 (Risking 1.5 units). <o
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></o>TEXAS –1 +1.04 over Baltimore
Robinson Tejeda has spent a good portion of the year in the minors but there’s no denying this guy has major league stuff. He’s pitched just 33 innings for the Rangers this year but has 119 innings of major league experience. In those 119 innings he’s surrendered just 101 hits while striking out 93. The problem was his control and he seems to have worked things out in the minors. Amazing what a few bus rides can do. Anyway, Tejeda has been brilliant in his last two starts vs the Devil Rays and Tigers pitching into the seventh inning in both games and picking up the win in both starts. He gave up a total of three runs and nine hits while walking just three in 14.2 innings over that span. The Orioles are 23-38 on the road and will be without Corey Patterson for the next little while. That hurts and for a team that struggles offensively that does not bode well here. The Rangers score in bunches and Benson is 1-5 with a 6.45 ERA in eight starts since July 2, and he has not won on the road since June 17. Play: Texas –1 +1.04 (Risking 1.5 units).
