YTD 3-2 -.05 units - Been a little busy and decided to take a little time off to get a better handle on teams. Teams are starting to show their colors and I hope to heat up with my picks. By the way, Milw scoring 8 runs in the 3rd inning of the above game really p*sses me off. They did little the rest of the game while San Fran kept battling. I don't think Zito is that bad. On to today...I found some I like today:
Clev/KC - Cleveland has 4 wins in their last 10 games against...2 against Houston and 2 against the light hitting White Sox. In the last 10 games for KC, they have wins against Atlanta, Boston, & Detroit...arguably some pretty solid teams. KC has been one of those teams that have been improving the last couple of years and I see them continuing their winning ways this season. They are sitting atop a weak AL Central and they will play hard to stay there. Cleveland's Kazmir is only pitching because of some injuries and he will be lucky to last 5 innings. The Royals are hitting left handed pitching at a .292 clip. I feel that KC at both the first 5 innings and full game would be good bets. I will be going full game only though.
Kansas City -154
LA Angels/Seattle - I think we get an angry Angels team tonight with a good pitcher going against a Seattle team that has only 3 wins in their last 10. Last night was the only game in the Angels last 10 where they were held to no runs. In their other 9 games, they averaged a little over 5 runs. Harang has only gone 5 & 4.2 innings in two games. He has given up 15 hits (4 were HR's) and 11 earned runs in 9 innings. His only bright spot is 11/2 strikeout to walk ratio. The Angels are hitting righties at a .272 clip while the Mariners are only hitting lefties at a .194 clip. I feel that the Angels will be able to hit and score runs tonight against Harang and Wilson will have an easy night with a weak Seattle lineup.
LA Angels -134
Pitt/St Louis - This pick pains me because I LOVE the Pirates. There is no quit in my Buccos and I feel like they are in every game because of that mentality. Our bullpen is solid, the hitting is starting to heat up and we are getting solid starting pitching. But, we have a very mediocre pitcher going tonight in Sanchez and he is only a place sitter while we are waiting for Liriano, Karstens, Morton or Cole to make it to the senior circuit. The Cardinals should be able to hit and score against Sanchez and I don't see him lasting more than 5 innings. As a matter of fact, he only lasted 3 innings in his last start. These kinds of performances really tax the bullpen. This is an important series and I can see Hurdle staying with Sanchez a little longer just to keep the bullpen rested for the rest of the games in this series. Lance Lynn is pitching well and should keep the Bucco bats a little quiet for the beginning of the game. Since the Pirates never stop coming and the Cardinals relief pitching is suspect, I see value in playing the Cardinals for the first 5 innings.
St Louis -.5 1st 5 (line isn't out yet for the first 5 so, I will update later)
That's it for today...good luck!!!!