Larry Ness' Las Vegas Insider-MLB (1st of the '07 postseason)
My Las Vegas Insider is on the Phi Phillies at 3:05 ET.
It's playoff time and handicapping games is a little different. There's a case to be made for both rookie starters on Thursday, as Colorado has gone 6-2 when Morales starts (including 3-0 on the road) while the Phillies are 13-7 in Kendrick's 20 starts, including 9-2 here at home. With a 4-2 win in Game 1, the Rockies have now won 15 of their last 16 games and look like a "team of destiny." However, it's impossible to ignore Philadelphia's great run down the stretch in which the Phillies overtook the Mets. Kendrick was terrible in two starts vs Colorado this year (9 IP / 17 hits / 7 ERs / 7.00 ERA) but how much does that really mean? After all, Jeff Francis owned a 15.12 ERA against the Phillies this season, but outpitched Phillies ace Cole Hamels on Wednesday, allowing four hits with eight strikeouts over six innings! Jimmy Rollins, Case Utley and Ryan Howard combined to go 0-for-11 with eight strikeouts in Game. I'm betting that WON'T happen again and that the Phillies bounce back. I've backed Kendrick a number of times this year with great success and I'll ride him again in this one. Las Vegas Insider on the Phi Phillies.
Good Luck...larry
Larry Ness' 20* ALDS Game of the Year (won 18 of 26 weeks / 261-150 in the regular season!)
My 20* play is on the Cle Indians at 6:35 ET.
The Yankees won all six meetings with the Indians during the regular season. New York batted .348 and outscored Cleveland 49-17 to sweep the Indians at home in April and in Cleveland in August. Cleveland hit just .228 while posting an 8.19 ERA in this season's six losses to New York. Cleveland's starter in Game 1 of this series is CC Sabathia, who is 1-7 with a 7.13 ERA in eight career starts against the Yankees. I guess that means it's the Yankees in Game 1? Not so fast. The Indians are 31-13 since the most recent sweep at the hands of the Yankees and Sabathia hasn't met the Yankees since '04 (a lifetime ago!). He was 19-7 with a 3.21 ERA in '07 (team was 23-11) and set career highs for wins, strikeouts (209) and innings (241.0). He's 5-0 with a 2.45 ERA in his last six starts (team was 6-0) and 11-4 at Jacobs Field (team was 14-5). Better yet, the Yankees were just terrible vs left-handers away from the Bronx this year, going 5-14 (minus-$1,515)! Wang goes for the Yanks and he also went 19-7 this year (3.70 ERA), while matching his win total from last season. It's hard to argue against Wang, as New York is 44-20 in his starts the last two years but getting Sabathia at home (at this price) is to good to pass up! ALDS Game of the Year 20* Cle Indians.
Good Luck...Larry
My Las Vegas Insider is on the Phi Phillies at 3:05 ET.
It's playoff time and handicapping games is a little different. There's a case to be made for both rookie starters on Thursday, as Colorado has gone 6-2 when Morales starts (including 3-0 on the road) while the Phillies are 13-7 in Kendrick's 20 starts, including 9-2 here at home. With a 4-2 win in Game 1, the Rockies have now won 15 of their last 16 games and look like a "team of destiny." However, it's impossible to ignore Philadelphia's great run down the stretch in which the Phillies overtook the Mets. Kendrick was terrible in two starts vs Colorado this year (9 IP / 17 hits / 7 ERs / 7.00 ERA) but how much does that really mean? After all, Jeff Francis owned a 15.12 ERA against the Phillies this season, but outpitched Phillies ace Cole Hamels on Wednesday, allowing four hits with eight strikeouts over six innings! Jimmy Rollins, Case Utley and Ryan Howard combined to go 0-for-11 with eight strikeouts in Game. I'm betting that WON'T happen again and that the Phillies bounce back. I've backed Kendrick a number of times this year with great success and I'll ride him again in this one. Las Vegas Insider on the Phi Phillies.
Good Luck...larry
Larry Ness' 20* ALDS Game of the Year (won 18 of 26 weeks / 261-150 in the regular season!)
My 20* play is on the Cle Indians at 6:35 ET.
The Yankees won all six meetings with the Indians during the regular season. New York batted .348 and outscored Cleveland 49-17 to sweep the Indians at home in April and in Cleveland in August. Cleveland hit just .228 while posting an 8.19 ERA in this season's six losses to New York. Cleveland's starter in Game 1 of this series is CC Sabathia, who is 1-7 with a 7.13 ERA in eight career starts against the Yankees. I guess that means it's the Yankees in Game 1? Not so fast. The Indians are 31-13 since the most recent sweep at the hands of the Yankees and Sabathia hasn't met the Yankees since '04 (a lifetime ago!). He was 19-7 with a 3.21 ERA in '07 (team was 23-11) and set career highs for wins, strikeouts (209) and innings (241.0). He's 5-0 with a 2.45 ERA in his last six starts (team was 6-0) and 11-4 at Jacobs Field (team was 14-5). Better yet, the Yankees were just terrible vs left-handers away from the Bronx this year, going 5-14 (minus-$1,515)! Wang goes for the Yanks and he also went 19-7 this year (3.70 ERA), while matching his win total from last season. It's hard to argue against Wang, as New York is 44-20 in his starts the last two years but getting Sabathia at home (at this price) is to good to pass up! ALDS Game of the Year 20* Cle Indians.
Good Luck...Larry