HOME TEAM IN CAPS
All games are listed pitchers unless stated otherwise.
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></o>WASHINGTON/Pittsburgh under 9 –1.05
Matt Chico has really stunk up the joint this season with an 0-5 record and a 6.68 ERA but those stats are a result of his last two games in which he surrendered 11 earned runs in just eight frames. He’s only pitched twice at National Park and in one of those starts he went eight innings against the Braves and surrendered just one run. Besides, it’s not like he’s facing the Cubbies or close to it. The Pirates have one of the worst team batting averages in the league at .244. They’re a dismal 2-9 against lefthanders and to top it all off this park is proving to be very kind to pitchers. Of the 16 games played there this year only five of them have gone over this number. It might also be worth noting that Chico’s probably feeling pretty good going in today because he’s faced the Bucco’s twice last year and has a 1.38 career ERA against them. Paul Maholm has been hit and miss but the Nationals offense is almost always miss, as they rank near or at the bottom of every offensive category there is. Play: Washington/Pittsburgh under 9 –1.05 (Risking 2 units).
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></o>Chicago –1.02 over ST. LOUIS
Kyle Lohse has a 3-0 record and a 2.36 ERA, but that has about as much chance of lasting as John Goodman does of winning a Boston Marathon. The Cardinals are his fifth team in seven years and his fourth team in the last two years. The Reds, Phillies and Twins couldn’t buy him a ticket out of town quick enough and Tony LaRussa has been known to pick up scrap pieces and get some innings out of them. Lohse is a career #5 starter with below average career numbers and he’ll face one of top offenses in the game here. Pay no attention to Lohse’s early season success, as the man is just not that good; not even close. Ted Lilly by contrast is good but is off to a bit of a tough start. However, he was sharp in his last two games in which he went a full six innings in both and allowed just four hits in both and gave up a combined three runs. When Ted Lilly’s career is over and you look back at it, what you’ll see is a guy who was always reliable and consistent that gave his team a chance to win almost every time and he’s still like that. Play: Chicago –1.02 (Risking 2.04 units to win 2).
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></o>Seattle +1.04 over NY YANKEES
Yeah, the Yanks snapped a losing streak yesterday but don’t be too fooled by that. Four errors by the M’s early in the game lead to some unearned runs that put them behind the eight ball right off the start and they never recovered. Fact is, King Felix is about 50 times stronger then Mike Mussina and so is the M’s bullpen. Hernandez suffered his first loss of 2008 on Sunday against Oakland but he threw a shutout threw for the first seven innings. Hernandez has permitted only 11 earned runs in 44.2 innings this year, and leads the AL with 41 strikeouts. Any tag with Felix Hernandez against Mike Mussina is a good one, period. Play: Seattle +1.04 (Risking 2 units).
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></o>Los Angeles –1.02 over COLORADO
The Dodgers have turned into an offensive force and continue to put up some eye-opening numbers. They’re regularly scoring seven, eight or more runs and when they get away from Chavez Ravine they’ve been even more potent. Now they’ll face Jorge De La Rosa, who will be making his season debut after serving time in the minors and coming over from KC. De La Rosa’s major league numbers are bad, as he has a career ERA of 5.82 in 26 game, 23 of those starts. Facing the hottest offense in the league at this venue is not a good way to start the season. The Dodgers will counter with Esteban Loaiza but this has nothing to do with wagering on him, although we prefer him over De La Rosa 100 out of 100 times. This is all about playing on the surging Dodgers against the reeling Rockies and it’s also worth noting that every time the Rockies go to the pen it’s a nightmare waiting to happen. This is a cheap lay indeed. Play: Colorado –1.02 (Risking 2.04 units to win 2).
