Cincinnati +1.12 over HOUSTON
The Reds are really playing their best baseball of the season and in fact, have been one of the hottest teams in the league the past month with 16 wins in their last 23 games. The Astros, after a late season surge, now appear to be running strictly on fumes. The Reds have been out of this thing for a long time so this is nothing new for them but the Astros actually had a chance to get into the playoffs but that prayer was not answered. That’s relevant because we’re merely pointing out the current frame of mind of both these teams and are suggesting that Cincinnati is in a good mindset while the Astros are not with a blown opportunity hanging over their heads. Furthermore, the Reds will send out Ramon Ramirez and damn, this guy looks so good. He’s only started three games and pitched at least six full innings in all of them. He also pitched three full innings in relief in that marathon game against Pittsburgh and did not allow a single hit. Thus far in 22 innings, Ramirez has allowed just 13 hits for a BAA of .171. Of even more significance is that three of his four appearances came at Great American Ballpark, which is extremely tough on pitchers, yet he steamrolled the opposition. In his one appearance on the road he went six innings and threw a one-hitter. He really has some terrific stuff and it’s also worth noting that the Astros have never seen him before, which is another edge for the Reds. And finally, Cinci is actually above .500 against southpaws with a 29-24 record and will face a very average and aging one here in Randy Wolf, a guy that’s been on four different teams in the last four years and that’s very beatable. Play: Cincinnati (Risking 2 units). <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
fficeffice" /><o
></o>
<o></o>
MINNESOTA –1½ +1.68 over Chicago
I actually feel sick about not playing the Twins last night but will not make that mistake tonight. Offensively and home field is where the Twinkies have a huge advantage and that’s more then enough. Without Crede and Quentin in the line-up the South Side is just not a good team. So, while the White Sox have to worry about keeping guys like Morneau, Span, Mauer, Young, Kubel and Buscher off the bases, the Twins have to worry about the .235 hitting Thome (a double play waiting to happen) and the .243 hitting Konerko off the bases. Nick Blackburn has been struggling badly but we’re not going to concern ourselves with that. Against this beatable line-up he’s more then capable of coming up with a decent outing. Of more interest to us is the Twins incredible record both at home and against lefties. At the Metrodome, Minnesota has won 17 of its 21 games against left-handed starters. Twins have momentum and will be just a ½ game back after this one. Play: Minnesota –1½ +1.68 (Risking 2 units). <o></o>
<o></o>
Cleveland +1.58 over BOSTON
Terry Francona all but admitted that winning the division is more if an after thought and that he’s more concerned with getting “situated” or aligned right for the playoffs. In other words, he’ll make sure guys are healthy and rested and really couldn’t give a damn about the last five games. The Red Sox clinched last night and tonight’s game is going to be difficult to get up for. Then we have Paul Byrd going for the Sox and if any team knows his tendencies it’s the Indians, as they watched him pitch every fifth day for the first four months of the season. Byrd remains one of the most hittable pitchers in all of baseball and when you combine that against a very warm Indians club that knows him well then this take-back becomes even more appealing. The Indians have won seven of their last eight games and will find the Red Sox a lot less intense tonight. Definite overlay. Play: Cleveland +1.58 (Risking 2 units). <o></o>
The Reds are really playing their best baseball of the season and in fact, have been one of the hottest teams in the league the past month with 16 wins in their last 23 games. The Astros, after a late season surge, now appear to be running strictly on fumes. The Reds have been out of this thing for a long time so this is nothing new for them but the Astros actually had a chance to get into the playoffs but that prayer was not answered. That’s relevant because we’re merely pointing out the current frame of mind of both these teams and are suggesting that Cincinnati is in a good mindset while the Astros are not with a blown opportunity hanging over their heads. Furthermore, the Reds will send out Ramon Ramirez and damn, this guy looks so good. He’s only started three games and pitched at least six full innings in all of them. He also pitched three full innings in relief in that marathon game against Pittsburgh and did not allow a single hit. Thus far in 22 innings, Ramirez has allowed just 13 hits for a BAA of .171. Of even more significance is that three of his four appearances came at Great American Ballpark, which is extremely tough on pitchers, yet he steamrolled the opposition. In his one appearance on the road he went six innings and threw a one-hitter. He really has some terrific stuff and it’s also worth noting that the Astros have never seen him before, which is another edge for the Reds. And finally, Cinci is actually above .500 against southpaws with a 29-24 record and will face a very average and aging one here in Randy Wolf, a guy that’s been on four different teams in the last four years and that’s very beatable. Play: Cincinnati (Risking 2 units). <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
fficeffice" /><o></o><o
></o>MINNESOTA –1½ +1.68 over Chicago
I actually feel sick about not playing the Twins last night but will not make that mistake tonight. Offensively and home field is where the Twinkies have a huge advantage and that’s more then enough. Without Crede and Quentin in the line-up the South Side is just not a good team. So, while the White Sox have to worry about keeping guys like Morneau, Span, Mauer, Young, Kubel and Buscher off the bases, the Twins have to worry about the .235 hitting Thome (a double play waiting to happen) and the .243 hitting Konerko off the bases. Nick Blackburn has been struggling badly but we’re not going to concern ourselves with that. Against this beatable line-up he’s more then capable of coming up with a decent outing. Of more interest to us is the Twins incredible record both at home and against lefties. At the Metrodome, Minnesota has won 17 of its 21 games against left-handed starters. Twins have momentum and will be just a ½ game back after this one. Play: Minnesota –1½ +1.68 (Risking 2 units). <o
></o><o
></o>Cleveland +1.58 over BOSTON
Terry Francona all but admitted that winning the division is more if an after thought and that he’s more concerned with getting “situated” or aligned right for the playoffs. In other words, he’ll make sure guys are healthy and rested and really couldn’t give a damn about the last five games. The Red Sox clinched last night and tonight’s game is going to be difficult to get up for. Then we have Paul Byrd going for the Sox and if any team knows his tendencies it’s the Indians, as they watched him pitch every fifth day for the first four months of the season. Byrd remains one of the most hittable pitchers in all of baseball and when you combine that against a very warm Indians club that knows him well then this take-back becomes even more appealing. The Indians have won seven of their last eight games and will find the Red Sox a lot less intense tonight. Definite overlay. Play: Cleveland +1.58 (Risking 2 units). <o
></o>
