Thank you Rays. I would take them Saturday, but Colon has been sharp and Tampa's offense is due for an off game.
May 5
2 units on Pirates ML: Mike Leake is a mess, a head case and is likely to be dropped from the rotation after this next dismal start (I hope). Pitchers need to have a consistent, disciplined mindset to get through each inning. Leake, like Max Scherzer, can't decide what to do from pitch to pitch, and both of them are always fiddling with their mechanics. McCutcheon should be back for the Pirates. McDonald is a consistent, but unspectacular performer, and has a good bullpen to back him up. Reds lineup is a disappointment this year.
1 unit Pirates -1/2 first 5 innings
Baltimore: One unit ML . Red Sox should not be favored here. Their bullpen(and starters) is just plain bad. The lineup, other than Ortiz, is mostly right-handers and Hammel should do well against it. A. Gonzalez has hit poorly(4-23) vs. Hammel. Aaron Cook is the Sox version of a desperate starter. Hard to believe this game has one crummy ex-Rockies pitcher vs. another crummy ex-Rockies pitcher. Hammel seems to have refined his command; Cook and the Sox bullpen should get hit around. And Balt. bullpen is looking much improved. Besides, this Orioles team is hitting better than the Red Sox. Red Sox bettors are paying for their reputation and Fenway mojo.
SF Giants: One unit -1 (first 5 innings). Brewers might be missing Braun again, and even with him, they are one of the worst hitting teams in the majors. Baumgarner has great command for such a young guy. Randy Wolf's surprising stats: 26 innings, 38 hits, 20 ER, .336 avg. against- ouch!
Yankees: One unit RL. Don't like to take the Yankees, who are usually overpriced like the Red Sox, , but Kuroda's splitter is working. Royals 1-11 at home. Paulino's 1st start and a 8+ ERA vs. Yanks
Washington / Phillies : one unit on the under 6.5. Day game after a night game, 2 very solid starters, 2 good bullpens. And 2 lineups that have struggled hitting at times. Phillies seem to swing at everything, Nats middle of the lineup is awful.
ATL/Colorado: One unit on the over first 5 innings. Did ever notice how teams score early in Coors Field when mediocre pitchers are going? Both teams have decent bullpens so I'm hoping to get a number around 5 for the first 5 innings. Moyer and Minor both have potential for blowing up. And both teams can hit well.
May 5
2 units on Pirates ML: Mike Leake is a mess, a head case and is likely to be dropped from the rotation after this next dismal start (I hope). Pitchers need to have a consistent, disciplined mindset to get through each inning. Leake, like Max Scherzer, can't decide what to do from pitch to pitch, and both of them are always fiddling with their mechanics. McCutcheon should be back for the Pirates. McDonald is a consistent, but unspectacular performer, and has a good bullpen to back him up. Reds lineup is a disappointment this year.
1 unit Pirates -1/2 first 5 innings
Baltimore: One unit ML . Red Sox should not be favored here. Their bullpen(and starters) is just plain bad. The lineup, other than Ortiz, is mostly right-handers and Hammel should do well against it. A. Gonzalez has hit poorly(4-23) vs. Hammel. Aaron Cook is the Sox version of a desperate starter. Hard to believe this game has one crummy ex-Rockies pitcher vs. another crummy ex-Rockies pitcher. Hammel seems to have refined his command; Cook and the Sox bullpen should get hit around. And Balt. bullpen is looking much improved. Besides, this Orioles team is hitting better than the Red Sox. Red Sox bettors are paying for their reputation and Fenway mojo.
SF Giants: One unit -1 (first 5 innings). Brewers might be missing Braun again, and even with him, they are one of the worst hitting teams in the majors. Baumgarner has great command for such a young guy. Randy Wolf's surprising stats: 26 innings, 38 hits, 20 ER, .336 avg. against- ouch!
Yankees: One unit RL. Don't like to take the Yankees, who are usually overpriced like the Red Sox, , but Kuroda's splitter is working. Royals 1-11 at home. Paulino's 1st start and a 8+ ERA vs. Yanks
Washington / Phillies : one unit on the under 6.5. Day game after a night game, 2 very solid starters, 2 good bullpens. And 2 lineups that have struggled hitting at times. Phillies seem to swing at everything, Nats middle of the lineup is awful.
ATL/Colorado: One unit on the over first 5 innings. Did ever notice how teams score early in Coors Field when mediocre pitchers are going? Both teams have decent bullpens so I'm hoping to get a number around 5 for the first 5 innings. Moyer and Minor both have potential for blowing up. And both teams can hit well.