<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 width=500 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=left width="50%">Yesterday</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">3</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">2</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">0</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="20%">+5.20 Units</TD></TR><TR><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=left width="50%">Last 30 Days</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">9</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">8</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">0</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="20%">+7.20 Units</TD></TR><TR><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=left width="50%">Season To Date (Since April 2007)</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">9</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">8</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">0</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="20%">+7.20 Units</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
HOME TEAM IN CAPS
All games are listed pitchers unless stated otherwise.
Colorado +1.37 over SAN DIEGO
David Wells starts his 21st season in the majors here after appearing in just 13 games last season. In fact, Wells threw just 75 frames last year, allowing 97 hits to go along with a 4.42 ERA, which is very unimpressive when you consider Petco Park in San Diego. Wells is 44-years-old and has lived a life filled with the consumption of beer and hamburgers. This past spring Wells through 13.1 innings and was torched to the tune of 24 hits and 15 earned runs for an ERA of 9.88. So, to recap, Wells is 44, he’s never met a hamburger he didn’t like, he’s out of shape, he was buried in the spring and his worn-out arm has over 3200 major league innings on it. Does it really matter who’s pitching for the Rockies? We think not and the fact that Wells is a -1.45 favorite here is ludicrous. Play: Colorado +1.37 (Risking 2 units). <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
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></o>Pittsburgh +1.57 over CINCINNATI (1:00 PM)
We’ve always liked Tony Armas and believe he has the stuff to be a solid starter for the Pirates. He’s always battled injuries but if he can stay healthy and endure a full year he may surprise some folks. In 820 major league innings, Armas has surrendered just 769 hits to go along with 601 k’s. The guy has major league stuff and is coming off a solid spring in which he made five starts, threw 24.1 innings, allowed just 20 hits, struck out 16 and walked just six. Aaron Harang makes his second start of the year after opening in impressive fashion against the Cubs. Harang went seven innings without allowing a run and that outing has him much overpriced here. Harang is somewhat of a reliable pitcher but no way are we putting too much weight on one outing, especially the opener. Bottom line here is value and we find some very nice value on the up-start Buccos Play: Pittsburgh +1.57 (Risking 2 units). <o
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></o>KANSAS CITY +1.22 over Detroit (2:00 PM)
Nobody wants to believe that the Royals are any good but we beg to differ. We pointed out in our future bets how this team has taken on a whole new look and thus far it’s a good one. This is a young, talented and very enthusiastic team that has jumped out of the gate 2-2 after playing Boston and Detroit. Not bad at all. They’ll hand the ball to Gil Meche once again and he was simply dazzling in the opener. Again, we’re not going to put too much weight on one outing, however, unlike Harang, Meche and the Royals are the pooch in this one and that’s what makes them worthy of some attention. For the Tigers, a team that overachieved last year after about 20 guys had career years, Mike Maroth will get the call. Maroth will make his first start in nearly a year after spending last season on the DL after May 25 but he did pitch in relief in September appearing in five outings and looking very ordinary. This past spring Maroth got plenty of work in, throwing 24 innings but allowing 14 earned runs in the process for an ERA of 5.25. Furthermore, aside from an eight run inning against the Blue Jays on Wednesday, the Tigers have scored just six runs in their other 25 innings and when you put it all together it just doesn’t add up to road chalk. Play: Kansas City +1.22 (Risking 2 units). <o
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></o>NY Mets +1.09 over ATLANTA (4:00 PM)
Obviously John Smoltz and Tom Glavine need no introductions, as these two have been around forever and frankly, it’s a pretty even pitching match-up. However, the evenness ends right there. While the Mets have scored 31 runs in four games the Braves have totaled just 17 and that includes eight in one game. As a team, the Mets are hitting .311 while the Braves are hitting just .222. Throw in a tag on the Mets and this one is a no-brainer. Play: NY Mets +1.09 (Risking 2 units). <o
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></o>Boston +1.16 over TEXAS
It is of our humble opinion that Rangers rookie manager, Ron Washington, is way in over his head here. Washington has not made one right decision yet and his biggest mistake his penciling in lying Sammy Sosa in the middle of the order. All Sammy has done this year is kill rallies and that’s not about to change. The Rangers got a solid pitching effort last night for their first win of the year but other then that they have not looked good. Washington looks lost in the dugout. Kevin Millwood may be the Rangers ace but that’s like putting perfume on a pig. Millwood is a very average pitcher with very average stiff and remains as hittable as ever. Juan Taverez earned a spot in the Red Sox rotation after moving there last year. Tavarez made 52 appearances out of Boston's pen last season before finding success when he was moved to the starting rotation in late August, going 3-0 with a 4.01 ERA in six starts. He also had a very decent spring and could be a key contributor for this intruder. The Red Sox plus anything against the Rangers seems like a very good idea to us. Play: Boston +1.16 (Risking 2 units).
