NY Mets +1.45 over HOUSTON<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
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When talking about teams in the NL there’s the NY Mets and than there’s everyone else and offering a tag like this on the Mets is a no-brainer. There are three teams in the NL that are more than three games above .500 and the Astros aren’t one of them. The Mets are, they’re 34 games over the break-even mark and their chances of winning are simply far greater than losing. The Astros can’t hit and while they do have a very good pitching staff that has translated into nothing more than another average year. Roy Oswalt has 10 wins in 26 starts meaning at least 16 games were decided by the pen. Perhaps the Mets will rest a few starters today with it being a day game after a night game but so what? The Mets continue to dominate its NL opposition and win, lose or draw, they’re a must play at this price. Play: NY Mets +1.45 (Risking 1.5 units). <o></o>
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Pittsburgh +1.63 over ST. LOUIS<o></o>
The Pirates have been brutal on the road all season long but there’s something even more unappealing about the Cardinals right now. This host has been lethargic as hell for the past two months and watching them play you get a sense that they’re just one total mass of frustration. There’s just no life to the Cardinals whatsoever. Ian Snell will start for the Pirates and this kid is coming along real nice. Pittsburgh has won the last four times he's taken the mound and eight of his last 10 starts and he’s 6-2 with a 3.65 ERA in 13 road starts this season. Anthony Reyes has been up and down from the minors all year. He’s made 12 starts for the Cardinals and he’s 2-2 with a 5.47 record at Busch Stadium. Reyes has definite potential and we’ve seen him dazzle, however, we’ve also seen him struggle miserably. Bottom line here is value and the Cardinals are just not playing well, both hitting and pitching, and are not worthy of this big price. Play: Pittsburgh +1.63 (Risking 1.5 units). <o></o>
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Florida –1.08 over MILWAUKEE<o></o>
How can we not take the Marlins laying less than a dime? Florida beat Milwaukee 9-6 yesterday, handing the Brewers their ninth straight loss overall. The Marlins are 6-0 against Milwaukee this season and have won seven straight in the series dating to Aug. 25, 2005. The Brewers fell to 12 games below .500 with the loss and are basically finished for the year. Scott Olsen has won two in a row and comes in here with 11 wins. Not bad for a guy that nobody has ever heard of. Olsen has struck out 133 batters in 142 frames and anytime a strikeout pitcher is throwing against the Brewers it’s a big edge. The Brewers have a bunch of guys that have never seen a pitch they didn’t like. Tomo Ohka has one win in his last seven starts. On July 23 Ohka beat Cincinnati but since than he’s gone 1-2 with an ERA of 6.23 in the aforementioned seven starts. Florida is just two games out of a playoff spot and we’re absolutely going with the best of it here. Hot vs cold with the superior chucker works for us, Play: Florida –1.08 (Risking 1.5 units). <o></o>
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Cleveland +1.50 over TEXAS<o></o>
If the season started in August every year the Indians would be considered the favorite to win it all because they simply play outstanding baseball starting in August. The Indians have gone 18-5 since Aug 9 and their offense has been the class of the league since than. Cleveland has won six in a row and seven straight series and while they may not have the edge on the mound here, they do have an edge everywhere else, including the all important momentum factor. Kevin Millwood is certainly not a dominant pitcher and with the way the Tribe are swinging the bats he’s going to have to be extremely sharp today to contain them. Texas has lost nine of its past 13 games and things don’t figure to change here. Overlay Play: Cleveland +1.50 (Risking 1.5 units).
fficeffice" /><o></o>When talking about teams in the NL there’s the NY Mets and than there’s everyone else and offering a tag like this on the Mets is a no-brainer. There are three teams in the NL that are more than three games above .500 and the Astros aren’t one of them. The Mets are, they’re 34 games over the break-even mark and their chances of winning are simply far greater than losing. The Astros can’t hit and while they do have a very good pitching staff that has translated into nothing more than another average year. Roy Oswalt has 10 wins in 26 starts meaning at least 16 games were decided by the pen. Perhaps the Mets will rest a few starters today with it being a day game after a night game but so what? The Mets continue to dominate its NL opposition and win, lose or draw, they’re a must play at this price. Play: NY Mets +1.45 (Risking 1.5 units). <o
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></o>Pittsburgh +1.63 over ST. LOUIS<o
></o>The Pirates have been brutal on the road all season long but there’s something even more unappealing about the Cardinals right now. This host has been lethargic as hell for the past two months and watching them play you get a sense that they’re just one total mass of frustration. There’s just no life to the Cardinals whatsoever. Ian Snell will start for the Pirates and this kid is coming along real nice. Pittsburgh has won the last four times he's taken the mound and eight of his last 10 starts and he’s 6-2 with a 3.65 ERA in 13 road starts this season. Anthony Reyes has been up and down from the minors all year. He’s made 12 starts for the Cardinals and he’s 2-2 with a 5.47 record at Busch Stadium. Reyes has definite potential and we’ve seen him dazzle, however, we’ve also seen him struggle miserably. Bottom line here is value and the Cardinals are just not playing well, both hitting and pitching, and are not worthy of this big price. Play: Pittsburgh +1.63 (Risking 1.5 units). <o
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></o>Florida –1.08 over MILWAUKEE<o
></o>How can we not take the Marlins laying less than a dime? Florida beat Milwaukee 9-6 yesterday, handing the Brewers their ninth straight loss overall. The Marlins are 6-0 against Milwaukee this season and have won seven straight in the series dating to Aug. 25, 2005. The Brewers fell to 12 games below .500 with the loss and are basically finished for the year. Scott Olsen has won two in a row and comes in here with 11 wins. Not bad for a guy that nobody has ever heard of. Olsen has struck out 133 batters in 142 frames and anytime a strikeout pitcher is throwing against the Brewers it’s a big edge. The Brewers have a bunch of guys that have never seen a pitch they didn’t like. Tomo Ohka has one win in his last seven starts. On July 23 Ohka beat Cincinnati but since than he’s gone 1-2 with an ERA of 6.23 in the aforementioned seven starts. Florida is just two games out of a playoff spot and we’re absolutely going with the best of it here. Hot vs cold with the superior chucker works for us, Play: Florida –1.08 (Risking 1.5 units). <o
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></o>Cleveland +1.50 over TEXAS<o
></o>If the season started in August every year the Indians would be considered the favorite to win it all because they simply play outstanding baseball starting in August. The Indians have gone 18-5 since Aug 9 and their offense has been the class of the league since than. Cleveland has won six in a row and seven straight series and while they may not have the edge on the mound here, they do have an edge everywhere else, including the all important momentum factor. Kevin Millwood is certainly not a dominant pitcher and with the way the Tribe are swinging the bats he’s going to have to be extremely sharp today to contain them. Texas has lost nine of its past 13 games and things don’t figure to change here. Overlay Play: Cleveland +1.50 (Risking 1.5 units).
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