Michael Cannon Money Train
Tuesday Plays:
15 Dime –
CUBS (With Marquis and Backe as listed pitchers)
Take the Cubs for the road win over the Astros.
The Cubs are coming off an impressive 12-3 win over the Cardinals yesterday afternoon. Their offense finally broke out of the doldrums after scoring just 15 runs in their previous four games.
That surge should continue tonight against the Astros, who will start Brandon Backe.
Backe is making just his second start since undergoing elbow surgery in August 2006. He gave up four runs and eight hits in 5 2-3 innings of a 5-3 loss at Milwaukee last Tuesday.
While Backe continues his climb back from injury it should allow the Cubs bats to stay hot. Third-baseman Aramis Ramirez is 7-for-17 in his last four games and is batting .353 with a homer and eight RBIs in nine games against the Astros this year. First-baseman Derrick Lee is hitting .410 with three homers in 10 games this month.
Jason Marquis will start for the Cubs and although he’s pitched well in three of his last four starts he only has one win to show for it. He should be able to outpitch Backe tonight, and the Cubs offense will take care of the rest.
Take the Cubs for the road win.
5 Dime –
REDS (With Mulder and Belisle as listed pitchers)
Take the Reds for the home win over the Cardinals.
St. Louis will start Mark Mulder and he was tagged by the Pirates in his first outing of the season last Wednesday. The left-hander gave up six runs on eight hits in just four innings. His velocity is still down and his problem is hittable pitches, something the Reds should be able to take advantage of.
Playing in a hitter’s park is not going to benefit him as he continues to work himself back into shape.
Matt Belisle will start for the Reds and even though he’s no Cy Young candidate, his offense should provide him with plenty of run support. The right-hander does own a 1-0 record with a 0.95 ERA in 19 career innings against the Cardinals, so that should be enough to give the Reds the edge here.
Take Cincinnati for the home win.
INDIANS (With Byrd and Danks as listed pitchers)
Take the Indians as the big road chalk for the win over the White Sox.
Paul Byrd will start for the Tribe and he’s had good success against the White Sox in his career.
The right-hander is 7-2 with a 4.21 ERA in 12 lifetime outings against Chicago, including a 2-0 mark with a 1.71 ERA in three starts this season.
Byrd will be opposed by John Danks, who has routinely been pounded this year. The left-hander is 6-13 with a 5.41 ERA on the year, and has lost his last six outings.
With Cleveland having something to play for and the White Sox out of it, take the Tribe as the big road chalk for the win
Tuesday Plays:
15 Dime –
CUBS (With Marquis and Backe as listed pitchers)
Take the Cubs for the road win over the Astros.
The Cubs are coming off an impressive 12-3 win over the Cardinals yesterday afternoon. Their offense finally broke out of the doldrums after scoring just 15 runs in their previous four games.
That surge should continue tonight against the Astros, who will start Brandon Backe.
Backe is making just his second start since undergoing elbow surgery in August 2006. He gave up four runs and eight hits in 5 2-3 innings of a 5-3 loss at Milwaukee last Tuesday.
While Backe continues his climb back from injury it should allow the Cubs bats to stay hot. Third-baseman Aramis Ramirez is 7-for-17 in his last four games and is batting .353 with a homer and eight RBIs in nine games against the Astros this year. First-baseman Derrick Lee is hitting .410 with three homers in 10 games this month.
Jason Marquis will start for the Cubs and although he’s pitched well in three of his last four starts he only has one win to show for it. He should be able to outpitch Backe tonight, and the Cubs offense will take care of the rest.
Take the Cubs for the road win.
5 Dime –
REDS (With Mulder and Belisle as listed pitchers)
Take the Reds for the home win over the Cardinals.
St. Louis will start Mark Mulder and he was tagged by the Pirates in his first outing of the season last Wednesday. The left-hander gave up six runs on eight hits in just four innings. His velocity is still down and his problem is hittable pitches, something the Reds should be able to take advantage of.
Playing in a hitter’s park is not going to benefit him as he continues to work himself back into shape.
Matt Belisle will start for the Reds and even though he’s no Cy Young candidate, his offense should provide him with plenty of run support. The right-hander does own a 1-0 record with a 0.95 ERA in 19 career innings against the Cardinals, so that should be enough to give the Reds the edge here.
Take Cincinnati for the home win.
INDIANS (With Byrd and Danks as listed pitchers)
Take the Indians as the big road chalk for the win over the White Sox.
Paul Byrd will start for the Tribe and he’s had good success against the White Sox in his career.
The right-hander is 7-2 with a 4.21 ERA in 12 lifetime outings against Chicago, including a 2-0 mark with a 1.71 ERA in three starts this season.
Byrd will be opposed by John Danks, who has routinely been pounded this year. The left-hander is 6-13 with a 5.41 ERA on the year, and has lost his last six outings.
With Cleveland having something to play for and the White Sox out of it, take the Tribe as the big road chalk for the win