Ben Burns
MLB Money Line
free pick964 ARI (-170) vs 963 FLA
Analysis:
Olsen is 2-5 with a poor 6.10 ERA and an awful 2.010 WHIP in 10 road starts this season. Conversely, Webb is 3-4 (team is 5-4) with a respectable 3.77 ERA in his nine home starts. While Webb has averaged a healthy 6 2/3 innings in his home starts, Olsen has averaged less than five innings on the road. Webb doesn't have particularly great career stats vs. the Marlins. However, he has pitched very well the last two times that he faced them, allowing just three earned runs (2.08 ERA) through 13 innings. The Diamondbacks won both of those games, including a 6-3 winner most recently. Olsen was the losing pitcher in that contest (his lone start vs. Arizona) and he got rocked for nine hits, three walks and all six runs in just five innings. That's a 10.80 ERA and 2.4 WHIP! It's also worth noting that the Marlins are a money-burning 1-4 as road underdogs in the +150 to +175 range this season and just 11-21 in that role since 2005. Consider laying the price with ARIZONA
Ben Burns' Getaway Day Game of the Month (47-20!)
WOW! Ben Burns went 2-1 yesterday, including a 7-4 winner with Houston, his "Contrarian" Game of the Month. That brings this Documented Champ to an AWESOME 15-4 (79%) his L19 selections. More impressive, The Man is now an AMAZING 47-20 his last 67 MLB packages. Ben is stepping out with another "BIG" play this afternoon.
Colorado ML
Ben Burns' NL Total of the Month (7-0-1 L8 totals)
On 7/17, Ben Burns easily cashed a ticket with his AL Total of the Month on the Jays/Yanks "under" the number. Including that beauty, Burns is on a SWEET 7-0-1 RUN with his L8 MLB over/under picks. The TIME HAS COME for this renowned "Totals Guru" to release his #1 National League Total of the Month.
Pitt/NYM Under
BIG AL MCMORDIE
Game: Seattle Mariners at Texas Rangers Jul 25 2007 8:35PM
Prediction: Seattle Mariners
With virtually no chance of making the post-season, the Rangers have now officially transitioned into the role of spoiler. They put a big dent in the Mariners plans of making the playoffs by beating them twice on Tuesday, taking a double-header in Arlington. And these were both heartbreaking one-run losses for the club from Seattle. For the Rangers to win two games in the same week - let alone the same day - is quite an accomplishment considering how bad their pitching is and how much they are hurting at positions like second base, where Ian Kinsler has been on the DL with a foot injury and they have gone from Jerry Hairston to Ramon Vazquez to (yikes!) Desi Relaford to try and fill that void. Kinsler is expected back by perhaps this weekend, but Texas will still be without Otsuka and Blalock and facing the distraction of the possible trade of 1B Mark Teixiera before the end-of-the month deadline. Seattle needs to bounce back, and it's fortunate to have one of its biggest winners this season on the mound in the form of veteran righthander Miguel Batista. Batista has pitched very well in most of his starts, and the Mariners have taken advantage, going 12-7 in his 19 outings in 2007. He has turned it up a notch recently as well, with a 2.79 ERA and 1.24 WHIP in his last three starts. Take the Mariners. As always, good luck...Al McMordie
CAPPERSACCESS
(Wed) MLB Rockies Padres 130 Rockies
(Wed) MLB Red Sox Indians 105 Indians
JIM FEIST
A pair of southpaws matchup this Wednesday in Queens as the Pirates take on the Mets. The Pirates Tom Gorzelanny continues to be a bright spot for the Bucs this season. Despite taking a tough loss in his last outing versus Houston, 2-1, Gorzelanny is still a nice 9-5 overall this year and 5-2 on the road. And, he's been very consistent with his era, 3.21
overall and 3.38 on the road. In addition, he has an excellent strikeout to walk ratio of 2.26 (86 ko's to just 38 bb's). Crafty veteran Tom Glavine hasn't been as effective as last year's 17-8 mark, but at home he's been quite impressive with a 5-1 record and 3.00 era. We expect this matchup to be a very good pitcher's duel, so we'll take the UNDER here on Wednesday.