HOME TEAM IN CAPS
All games are listed pitchers unless stated otherwise.
Atlanta +1.02 over PHILADELPHIA (1<SUP>st</SUP> 5 innings)
Is there anything to like about Joe Blanton laying anything? I think not. Blanton was a stiff when he pitched for the A’s at that pitchers park and he virtually has no shot at Citizens Bank Park. Blanton has made five starts this season and he’s been in a jam just about every inning. The league is hitting .330 off him, he rarely strikes out anyone and he gives up about twice as many fly balls than ground balls, which is another danger sign. Back in early April he faced these Braves and allowed seven runs and nine hits in four innings of work. His ERA at Citizens Bank is 10.05 in three starts. Javier Vazquez is can bring it. In six starts his BAA against is 80 points lower than Blanton’s at .250. He’s whiffed 50 batters in 38 frames and has pitched at least six full innings in each of his starts this season. Based on these two starters, you have to give the edge to the Braves in the first half of the game and thus, I’ll play it that way. Play: Atlanta in the first five innings +1.02 (Risking 2 units). <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
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Washington +1.15 over ARIZONA
John Lannan is 1-3 and has an ERA on the road of 8.39. Doug Davis has an ERA at home of 3.81. The Nats own the league’s worst record and everyone likes to bet against them. The Snakes just changed managers and that’s an angle that bettors like to play on. The D-Backs lost last night and with a small price to pay tonight, with the manger change in its second day and with Lannan going against Davis, the books made the D-Backs a rather appealing proposition here. The Nats are usually taking back about +1.50 on the road or better and now they’re taking back a smaller price than they were last night with Arizona’s biggest stiff starting. Interesting, isn’t it? Anyway, I’m suggesting the Snakes are a sucker bet and therefore, based solely on the line, I’m backing the Nats because the books are looking for Snake money. Play: Washington +1.15 (Risking 2 units). <o></o>
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San Diego +1.03 over HOUSTON (1<SUP>st</SUP> 5 innings)
Anytime I can get a tag against Brian Moehler, you can pencil me in and that’s all there is to it. Moehler gave up two runs in five innings to the Nationals in his last start but don’t be fooled by that. He was in constant trouble and barely escaped it. In his other two starts he was knocked out in the second and third innings respectively. So, in three starts covering just nine innings, he’s allowed 23 hits for a BAA of .479. Moehler has always been very average and now, at the age of 37, he’s about as hittable as any pitcher in the league. Also consider that the Astros are seeing BB’s and aren’t giving anyone much support these days, which makes this assignment for Moehler a daunting one at best. Play: San Diego in the first five innings +1.03 (Risking 2 units). <o></o>
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Toronto –1.04 over OAKLAND
Despite his 5.83 ERA, Brian Tallet has some nasty stuff and looks like he could be a good one. ERA’s early in the year can be a little misleading and that’s certainly the case with Tallet. He’s had one bad outing in which he allowed 10 runs in four innings and thus, the inflated ERA. However, in his other starts he’s been very effective. He’s coming off a seven-inning, four hit, three runs allowed against the Indians. He threw 5.2 shutout innings against the White Sox and he also faced these A’s back in Toronto on April 18 and went 5.1 frames and allowed four hits and two earned runs. Throw out that one rough outing and his numbers would be sweet. Tallet is also a southpaw and the A’s are a dismal 3-9 against lefties. Sean Gallagher gets his first start of the year after working out of the pen and even if he’s effective, which isn’t likely when you consider a career ERA of 5.45 in 137 major league innings, it’s unlikely he’ll go more than five. The Jays lead the majors in runs scored and team batting average and frankly, this is a cheap lay on them, very cheap. Play: Toronto –1.04 (Risking 2.06 units to win 2).
All games are listed pitchers unless stated otherwise.
Atlanta +1.02 over PHILADELPHIA (1<SUP>st</SUP> 5 innings)
Is there anything to like about Joe Blanton laying anything? I think not. Blanton was a stiff when he pitched for the A’s at that pitchers park and he virtually has no shot at Citizens Bank Park. Blanton has made five starts this season and he’s been in a jam just about every inning. The league is hitting .330 off him, he rarely strikes out anyone and he gives up about twice as many fly balls than ground balls, which is another danger sign. Back in early April he faced these Braves and allowed seven runs and nine hits in four innings of work. His ERA at Citizens Bank is 10.05 in three starts. Javier Vazquez is can bring it. In six starts his BAA against is 80 points lower than Blanton’s at .250. He’s whiffed 50 batters in 38 frames and has pitched at least six full innings in each of his starts this season. Based on these two starters, you have to give the edge to the Braves in the first half of the game and thus, I’ll play it that way. Play: Atlanta in the first five innings +1.02 (Risking 2 units). <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
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></o>Washington +1.15 over ARIZONA
John Lannan is 1-3 and has an ERA on the road of 8.39. Doug Davis has an ERA at home of 3.81. The Nats own the league’s worst record and everyone likes to bet against them. The Snakes just changed managers and that’s an angle that bettors like to play on. The D-Backs lost last night and with a small price to pay tonight, with the manger change in its second day and with Lannan going against Davis, the books made the D-Backs a rather appealing proposition here. The Nats are usually taking back about +1.50 on the road or better and now they’re taking back a smaller price than they were last night with Arizona’s biggest stiff starting. Interesting, isn’t it? Anyway, I’m suggesting the Snakes are a sucker bet and therefore, based solely on the line, I’m backing the Nats because the books are looking for Snake money. Play: Washington +1.15 (Risking 2 units). <o
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></o>San Diego +1.03 over HOUSTON (1<SUP>st</SUP> 5 innings)
Anytime I can get a tag against Brian Moehler, you can pencil me in and that’s all there is to it. Moehler gave up two runs in five innings to the Nationals in his last start but don’t be fooled by that. He was in constant trouble and barely escaped it. In his other two starts he was knocked out in the second and third innings respectively. So, in three starts covering just nine innings, he’s allowed 23 hits for a BAA of .479. Moehler has always been very average and now, at the age of 37, he’s about as hittable as any pitcher in the league. Also consider that the Astros are seeing BB’s and aren’t giving anyone much support these days, which makes this assignment for Moehler a daunting one at best. Play: San Diego in the first five innings +1.03 (Risking 2 units). <o
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></o>Toronto –1.04 over OAKLAND
Despite his 5.83 ERA, Brian Tallet has some nasty stuff and looks like he could be a good one. ERA’s early in the year can be a little misleading and that’s certainly the case with Tallet. He’s had one bad outing in which he allowed 10 runs in four innings and thus, the inflated ERA. However, in his other starts he’s been very effective. He’s coming off a seven-inning, four hit, three runs allowed against the Indians. He threw 5.2 shutout innings against the White Sox and he also faced these A’s back in Toronto on April 18 and went 5.1 frames and allowed four hits and two earned runs. Throw out that one rough outing and his numbers would be sweet. Tallet is also a southpaw and the A’s are a dismal 3-9 against lefties. Sean Gallagher gets his first start of the year after working out of the pen and even if he’s effective, which isn’t likely when you consider a career ERA of 5.45 in 137 major league innings, it’s unlikely he’ll go more than five. The Jays lead the majors in runs scored and team batting average and frankly, this is a cheap lay on them, very cheap. Play: Toronto –1.04 (Risking 2.06 units to win 2).
