HOME TEAM IN CAPS
All games are listed pitchers unless stated otherwise.
BALTIMORE -½ +1.24 over Chicago (1<SUP>st</SUP> 5 innings)
The South Side is playing decent ball and they’re usually pretty tough but the fact is when Jose Contreras pitches their chances of winning decease dramatically. The White Sox have lost just three of its last eight and two of those losses were Contreras’s starts. He comes in with a 6.97 ERA in two starts and this is not an easy park to pitch in for struggling hurlers. The Orioles ran into some very tough pitching in Boston (Lester, Penny, Beckett, Masterson) so I wouldn’t be too concerned about their bats being cooled off. They’re still among the major league leaders in all key offensive categories. The O’s will send out rookie Brad Bergesen. He was the organization's Minor League Pitcher of the Year last season and this year he’s 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA at Triple-A Norfolk. In the spring he posted a 3.09 ERA and what’s more significant is that he struck out 11 and walked just one in 11.2 innings. The White Sox have yet to see face him and that, too, works in our favor. Play: Baltimore in the first five innings -½ +1.24 (Risking 2 units). <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
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TORONTO –1½ +1.01 over Texas
Take the top scoring team in the majors (87 runs), combine that with perhaps the best starter in the league or one of the top three for sure, throw in a Texas team that is winless on the road in three tries and that has a bunch of young hitters facing Halliday and what you have is the makings of an easy win for the home side. The Rangers Pen has an ERA of 7.68 and a 9.21 ERA over its last three starts. In two career starts at the Rogers Center, Brandon McCarthy is 0-2 with a 5.34 ERA and this edition of the Blue Jays will be his toughest to date. Play: Toronto –1½ +1.01 (Risking 2 units). <o></o>
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Detroit +1.01 over L.A. ANGELS
Jered Weaver has a BAA of .311 in two starts. Armando Gallaraga has a BAA of .191 in the same two starts. In 13.1 innings combined against Texas and the White Sox, Gallaraga has allowed one run. In his last start in that pitchers park in Seattle, Weaver allowed 10 hits and four runs in five innings. The Tigers are hot with six ins in its last eight and an overall record of 7-5 while the Angels are cold with one win in its last six and an overall record of 4-8. Furthermore, the Tigers have one of the best hitting line-ups in the majors while the Angels are seeing BB’s and own one of the worst offenses to date. It’s not a big take-back but any tag on the Tigers in this spot has to be considered very good value. Play: Detroit +1.01 (Risking 2 units).
All games are listed pitchers unless stated otherwise.
BALTIMORE -½ +1.24 over Chicago (1<SUP>st</SUP> 5 innings)
The South Side is playing decent ball and they’re usually pretty tough but the fact is when Jose Contreras pitches their chances of winning decease dramatically. The White Sox have lost just three of its last eight and two of those losses were Contreras’s starts. He comes in with a 6.97 ERA in two starts and this is not an easy park to pitch in for struggling hurlers. The Orioles ran into some very tough pitching in Boston (Lester, Penny, Beckett, Masterson) so I wouldn’t be too concerned about their bats being cooled off. They’re still among the major league leaders in all key offensive categories. The O’s will send out rookie Brad Bergesen. He was the organization's Minor League Pitcher of the Year last season and this year he’s 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA at Triple-A Norfolk. In the spring he posted a 3.09 ERA and what’s more significant is that he struck out 11 and walked just one in 11.2 innings. The White Sox have yet to see face him and that, too, works in our favor. Play: Baltimore in the first five innings -½ +1.24 (Risking 2 units). <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
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></o>TORONTO –1½ +1.01 over Texas
Take the top scoring team in the majors (87 runs), combine that with perhaps the best starter in the league or one of the top three for sure, throw in a Texas team that is winless on the road in three tries and that has a bunch of young hitters facing Halliday and what you have is the makings of an easy win for the home side. The Rangers Pen has an ERA of 7.68 and a 9.21 ERA over its last three starts. In two career starts at the Rogers Center, Brandon McCarthy is 0-2 with a 5.34 ERA and this edition of the Blue Jays will be his toughest to date. Play: Toronto –1½ +1.01 (Risking 2 units). <o
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></o>Detroit +1.01 over L.A. ANGELS
Jered Weaver has a BAA of .311 in two starts. Armando Gallaraga has a BAA of .191 in the same two starts. In 13.1 innings combined against Texas and the White Sox, Gallaraga has allowed one run. In his last start in that pitchers park in Seattle, Weaver allowed 10 hits and four runs in five innings. The Tigers are hot with six ins in its last eight and an overall record of 7-5 while the Angels are cold with one win in its last six and an overall record of 4-8. Furthermore, the Tigers have one of the best hitting line-ups in the majors while the Angels are seeing BB’s and own one of the worst offenses to date. It’s not a big take-back but any tag on the Tigers in this spot has to be considered very good value. Play: Detroit +1.01 (Risking 2 units).
