BEGINNING MONDAY MAY 13
Milwaukee at Pittsburgh (4) 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th
The Brewers dominated Pittsburgh in head to head play last year (11-4, +$620), but they’ve been erratic thus far, so caution is advised. The Bucs have been profitable against righthanders (+$710) and none of Milwaukee’s starters concern us (4.60 ERA, worst in the NL). PREFERRED: Pirates vs. righthanders.
N.Y. Mets at St. Louis (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Mets are floundering at this point (2-7, -$545 last 10 days) so a trip to Busch Stadium to take on a hot St. Louis team (7-3, +$470 last 10) comes at a bad time. The Cardinals are 16-9 vs. righthanders so far (+$640 with 5.2 runs per game) and it looks like they won’t have to face Matt Harvey. PREFERRED: Cardinals vs. righthanders.
Colorado at Chicago Cubs (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Rockies are off to a strong start in 2013, and they’ve complied an impressive 13-6 record against righthanders (+$780 with 5.6 runs per game). The Cubs are floundering as usual (-$835 overall) with a dismal 5-10 record here at Wrigley Field (-$530). We’ll try our luck with the road team. PREFERRED: Rockies vs. righthanders.
Atlanta at Arizona (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Braves have tapered off somewhat after a torrid start, but they’ve been very successful against lefthanders thus far (8-3, +$440). Arizona has some quality lefties who will command high prices here at Chase Field. We’ll grab the underdog price on the visitor. PREFERRED: Diamondbacks as underdogs vs. lefthanders.
Washington at L.A. Dodgers (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Nationals have won 7 of their last 11 (+$340 with a 2.87 ERA among starters) while the Dodgers continue to fade in the competitive NL West (-$970 overall). LA is averaging just 3.0 runs per game at home, while the Nationals are 4-0 (+$430) vs. lefthanders on the road. PREFERRED: Nationals vs. lefthanders.
Houston at Detroit (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The 8-24 Astros were brutalized by the Tigers in a four game sweep at Minute Maid Park last week, getting outscored 37-8 in those contests. It will only get worse at Comerica, where Detroit owns an 8-1 record against righthanders (+$615). Prices will be high, but Houston is hopeless. PREFERRED: Tigers vs. righthanders.
Chicago W. Sox at Minnesota (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Twins have already scored a couple of wins in head to head play (+$290), though they had little success vs. Chicago in 2012 (4-14, -$905). Both teams are under .500 and neither of them look appealing at present. PREFERRED: None.
Kansas City at L.A. Angels (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Royals are looking very strong at the moment, and they’ve been cleaning up against righthanders (+$665). The Angels have been truly terrible and are only 9-17 (-$1190) vs. righties. We’ll play this series accordingly. PREFERRED: Royals when righty meets righty.
Texas at Oakland (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Rangers lost a critical series to the A’s late in 2012 season, and it cost them an AL West title (-$805 in head to head play last year). However, they are 8-3 in night games outside of Arlington (+$430) and their top rated pitching staff (3.02) looks like a great value here in Oakland. PREFERRED: Rangers in night games.
N.Y. Yankees at Cleveland (2) 13th (DH)
The Yankees faced a floundering Cleveland team in April, when these two games were originally scheduled. Since then, the Tribe has looked much better (6-3, +$380 last 10 days). Both teams will be scrambling to find starters for these make-up games, so we’ll wait and see who they use before jumping in. PREFERRED: None.
BEGINNING TUESDAY MAY 14
Cincinnati at Miami (3) 14th, 15th, 16th
The Reds would seem to be an obvious pick, but they haven’t fared well outside of Great American ballpark, so we’ll go slow. They have added a capable lefty to their rotation in Tony Cingrani (2.63 ERA in four starts) and Miami is only 2-9 (-$565) vs. lefties, averaging just 1.4 runs per game in those contests. PREFERRED: Cingrani.
Seattle at N.Y. Yankees (3) 14th, 15th, 16th
The Mariners have turned a modest profit against lefties (+$210 with 4.7 runs per game) and could be an excellent underdog value in the Bronx, where the Yankees have averaged less than four runs per game on offense. PREFERRED: Mariners vs. lefthanders.
Boston at Tampa Bay (3) 14th, 15th, 16th
The Red Sox jumped all over the Rays at Fenway Park (3-0, +$300) and they’ve been getting great contributions of their righthanded starters (3.62 team ERA). Tampa is only 7-14 (-$1025) in that situation. PREFERRED: Righthanders vs. the Rays.
Cleveland at Philadelphia (2) 14th, 15th
The Phillies are losing a fortune at Citizen’s Bank (-$630) and they’ll be facing a Cleveland team that is among the league leaders in team offense (.272 BA, averaging 5.1 runs per game). The Tribe should do no worse than a split. PREFERRED: Indians in both games.
San Diego at Baltimore (2) 14th, 15th
The visitor’s run production has been anemic so far (only 3.9 per game) and they’ll be hard pressed to stop a hot Baltimore club (7-4, +$390 last 10 days). If the price is reasonable we’ll stick with the home team. PREFERRED: Orioles at -145 or less.
San Francisco at Toronto (2) 14th, 15th
The Blue Jays are on the ropes at 10 games under .500 (-$1365) so take a shot with the Giants, who have taken command of the NL West (+$510 so far). PREFERRED: Giants in both games.
Milwaukee at Pittsburgh (4) 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th
The Brewers dominated Pittsburgh in head to head play last year (11-4, +$620), but they’ve been erratic thus far, so caution is advised. The Bucs have been profitable against righthanders (+$710) and none of Milwaukee’s starters concern us (4.60 ERA, worst in the NL). PREFERRED: Pirates vs. righthanders.
N.Y. Mets at St. Louis (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Mets are floundering at this point (2-7, -$545 last 10 days) so a trip to Busch Stadium to take on a hot St. Louis team (7-3, +$470 last 10) comes at a bad time. The Cardinals are 16-9 vs. righthanders so far (+$640 with 5.2 runs per game) and it looks like they won’t have to face Matt Harvey. PREFERRED: Cardinals vs. righthanders.
Colorado at Chicago Cubs (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Rockies are off to a strong start in 2013, and they’ve complied an impressive 13-6 record against righthanders (+$780 with 5.6 runs per game). The Cubs are floundering as usual (-$835 overall) with a dismal 5-10 record here at Wrigley Field (-$530). We’ll try our luck with the road team. PREFERRED: Rockies vs. righthanders.
Atlanta at Arizona (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Braves have tapered off somewhat after a torrid start, but they’ve been very successful against lefthanders thus far (8-3, +$440). Arizona has some quality lefties who will command high prices here at Chase Field. We’ll grab the underdog price on the visitor. PREFERRED: Diamondbacks as underdogs vs. lefthanders.
Washington at L.A. Dodgers (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Nationals have won 7 of their last 11 (+$340 with a 2.87 ERA among starters) while the Dodgers continue to fade in the competitive NL West (-$970 overall). LA is averaging just 3.0 runs per game at home, while the Nationals are 4-0 (+$430) vs. lefthanders on the road. PREFERRED: Nationals vs. lefthanders.
Houston at Detroit (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The 8-24 Astros were brutalized by the Tigers in a four game sweep at Minute Maid Park last week, getting outscored 37-8 in those contests. It will only get worse at Comerica, where Detroit owns an 8-1 record against righthanders (+$615). Prices will be high, but Houston is hopeless. PREFERRED: Tigers vs. righthanders.
Chicago W. Sox at Minnesota (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Twins have already scored a couple of wins in head to head play (+$290), though they had little success vs. Chicago in 2012 (4-14, -$905). Both teams are under .500 and neither of them look appealing at present. PREFERRED: None.
Kansas City at L.A. Angels (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Royals are looking very strong at the moment, and they’ve been cleaning up against righthanders (+$665). The Angels have been truly terrible and are only 9-17 (-$1190) vs. righties. We’ll play this series accordingly. PREFERRED: Royals when righty meets righty.
Texas at Oakland (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Rangers lost a critical series to the A’s late in 2012 season, and it cost them an AL West title (-$805 in head to head play last year). However, they are 8-3 in night games outside of Arlington (+$430) and their top rated pitching staff (3.02) looks like a great value here in Oakland. PREFERRED: Rangers in night games.
N.Y. Yankees at Cleveland (2) 13th (DH)
The Yankees faced a floundering Cleveland team in April, when these two games were originally scheduled. Since then, the Tribe has looked much better (6-3, +$380 last 10 days). Both teams will be scrambling to find starters for these make-up games, so we’ll wait and see who they use before jumping in. PREFERRED: None.
BEGINNING TUESDAY MAY 14
Cincinnati at Miami (3) 14th, 15th, 16th
The Reds would seem to be an obvious pick, but they haven’t fared well outside of Great American ballpark, so we’ll go slow. They have added a capable lefty to their rotation in Tony Cingrani (2.63 ERA in four starts) and Miami is only 2-9 (-$565) vs. lefties, averaging just 1.4 runs per game in those contests. PREFERRED: Cingrani.
Seattle at N.Y. Yankees (3) 14th, 15th, 16th
The Mariners have turned a modest profit against lefties (+$210 with 4.7 runs per game) and could be an excellent underdog value in the Bronx, where the Yankees have averaged less than four runs per game on offense. PREFERRED: Mariners vs. lefthanders.
Boston at Tampa Bay (3) 14th, 15th, 16th
The Red Sox jumped all over the Rays at Fenway Park (3-0, +$300) and they’ve been getting great contributions of their righthanded starters (3.62 team ERA). Tampa is only 7-14 (-$1025) in that situation. PREFERRED: Righthanders vs. the Rays.
Cleveland at Philadelphia (2) 14th, 15th
The Phillies are losing a fortune at Citizen’s Bank (-$630) and they’ll be facing a Cleveland team that is among the league leaders in team offense (.272 BA, averaging 5.1 runs per game). The Tribe should do no worse than a split. PREFERRED: Indians in both games.
San Diego at Baltimore (2) 14th, 15th
The visitor’s run production has been anemic so far (only 3.9 per game) and they’ll be hard pressed to stop a hot Baltimore club (7-4, +$390 last 10 days). If the price is reasonable we’ll stick with the home team. PREFERRED: Orioles at -145 or less.
San Francisco at Toronto (2) 14th, 15th
The Blue Jays are on the ropes at 10 games under .500 (-$1365) so take a shot with the Giants, who have taken command of the NL West (+$510 so far). PREFERRED: Giants in both games.
