MLB Larry Ness
Mariners
The Twins are counting on their ace to help bounce back from a frustrating three-game sweep. Johan Santana squares off against Seattle's Felix Hernandez as the Twins and Mariners open a three-game series at Safeco Field on Monday night. The Twins fell to 1-5 on their nine-game road trip after being swept in a weekend series by the AL West-leading Angels. Minnesota, which also dropped two of three in Kansas City, has been held to three runs or less in 10 of 11 games this month. While Santana is a great road pitcher going 8-3 with a 2.51 ERA in 13 away starts, betting on him this year has not been the money-making proposition it was last year. Santana was MLB's top moneymaker in '06, as the Twins went 27-7 (plus-$1,669) in his starts. In 24 starts this year, the Twins are 14-10 but minus-$502. Seattle has won 11 of its last 15 and remained one percentage point ahead of the New York Yankees for the AL wild card lead after Sunday's 6-0 win over the Chicago White Sox. Seattle, which trails the Angels by 3 1/2 games in the West, finished its road trip with a 5-1 record and is a season high-tying 15 games above .500. The Mariners are MLB's moneyline leaders at plus-$2,077 and that comes mainly on the team's strength at home, where they are plus-$1,424 (37-22). Felix Hernandez has not been overpowering this year but the team is 7-3 in his last 10 starts, including 4-1 at home. Seattle is 8-3 in his 11 home starts in '07. Santana is 7-1 in eight career starts vs Seattle but as mentioned before, this is NOT a typical year for him. He entered his last start having gone 0-3 with a 4.85 ERA in his previous four outings and he went six innings while allowing eight hits and two ERs in an 11-4 win at KC. However, he left that game with a split nail on the middle finger of his pitching hand. He says it won't be a problem but who knows? Let's not forget, the Mariners are 22-8 (plus-$1,675) vs left-handers this year. MLB Underdog of the Week 15* Sea Mariners.
MLB Larry Ness
Tigers
The Tigers' 11-6 win over Oakland yesterday, gave them just an 8-16 mark in their last 24 games. However, with the Indians struggling as well (were just swept at home by the Yankees), Detroit is atop the AL Central for the first time since August 2. The Tigers just may STAY there! The A's have typically been a strong second half team this decade but so far in '07, are just 12-18 since the break. Tonight's starter, Chad Gaudin, has followed the path of his teammates. He was 6-1 with a 2.85 ERA in his first 14 starts but is 2-7 with a 6.00 ERA in his last 10. The A's went 13-5 in his 18 starts before the break but he's returned to go 0-5 with an 8.54 ERA in his six starts since (team is 0-6). He's opposed tonight by another Chad, Detroit's Durbin. Durbin allowed three runs and six hits in 4.1 innings of a 7-1 loss to Tampa Bay on Wednesday, his first start since June 19. He'd worked out of the bullpen in the interim. He's nothing special but the Tigers have "regained their mojo," while the A's are going nowhere fast. Gaudin has seemingly "lost it" on the mound plus Oakland could be without Nick Swisher and Mark Kotsay on Monday, as well. Swisher left Sunday's game with a sore hamstring, while Kotsay departed with a stiff back. Las Vegas Insider on the Det Tigers.