6/18/14<o
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Mariners vs. Padres<o></o>
Recommendation: Mariners -125<o></o>
If you’re a baseball bettor you undoubtedly know that thePadres offense in anemic. They are hitting right around .218 as a teamcollectively! Carlos Quentin is basically their biggest power hitter. Quentinis hurt all the time, but forget all that. When Carlos Quentin is your power threatyou have some serious problems. San Diego didn’t do themselves any favors inthe draft either. They didn’t draft a big stick when they desperately neededone. In June, the Friars are batting .146 and averaging 1.7 runs per game. Thisteam is an absolute disaster. The lone bright spot in this organization isAndrew Cashner. But Cash is 0-5 in his last 7 starts after getting hit aroundby the Mets last time out. It is a shock to see this team score any runs atall, let alone win a game. So we’ve establish that the Padres can’t hit anypitching, but now they have to face King Felix, one of the best pitchers in allof baseball. Even the casual fan knows that Hernandez doesn’t need to bejustified by stats, because he’s essentially great every time out. But rightnow he’s throwing some of the best baseball of his career! He’s 4-1 with a 1.34ERA in his last 6, and we’ll throw out that one loss because he allowed only 1run in 8 1/3 and received the L. We also must take into account the Tony Gwynnaffect. One of the most likeable and great baseball players of all time will behonored before the game tonight. Emotions will be running high, and it is sureto take some focus away from the players. Even if the Mariners score 2 or 3runs, there’s no way the Padres can beat them. Take the Mariners -125. <o></o>
Nationals vs. Astros <o></o>
Recommendation: Nationals -156<o></o>
The Nationals were in a bit of a funk before Tuesday.Luckily they got to start a series with the Houston Astros. Not that I’mknocking the ‘stros, as they have been a very pleasant surprise this year. Itwas lucky because the Nat’s absolutely own this team. Washington has won 11 of12 and 7 straight against Houston, quite possibly more dominance than againstany other team in the league. With Ryan Zimmerman back in the lineup recently,it has and will have an enormous impact on the Nat’s order. Zimmerman has awonderful bat, but his role on the team goes far beyond that. Zimmerman is aleader, and his presence on the field and in the dugout gives Washington lotsof energy. Gio Gonzalez throws for the Nat’s. He’s had very poor numbers butthat can be attributed to the shoulder inflammation that put him on the DL.Gonzalez looked good in his last rehab start in A Potomac. Manager Matt Williamssaid that his velocity was up, and he spent a good amount of time working onhis wicked curveball. He should be good to go. Scott Feldman’s up for theAstros. He hasn’t pitched poorly, but just hasn’t gotten any run support,especially on the road. I usually don’t like to lay this big of a price, butthe spot here fits. Houston is just too overmatched to get a W in this one.Take the Nationals -156. <o></o>
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></o>Mariners vs. Padres<o
></o>Recommendation: Mariners -125<o
></o>If you’re a baseball bettor you undoubtedly know that thePadres offense in anemic. They are hitting right around .218 as a teamcollectively! Carlos Quentin is basically their biggest power hitter. Quentinis hurt all the time, but forget all that. When Carlos Quentin is your power threatyou have some serious problems. San Diego didn’t do themselves any favors inthe draft either. They didn’t draft a big stick when they desperately neededone. In June, the Friars are batting .146 and averaging 1.7 runs per game. Thisteam is an absolute disaster. The lone bright spot in this organization isAndrew Cashner. But Cash is 0-5 in his last 7 starts after getting hit aroundby the Mets last time out. It is a shock to see this team score any runs atall, let alone win a game. So we’ve establish that the Padres can’t hit anypitching, but now they have to face King Felix, one of the best pitchers in allof baseball. Even the casual fan knows that Hernandez doesn’t need to bejustified by stats, because he’s essentially great every time out. But rightnow he’s throwing some of the best baseball of his career! He’s 4-1 with a 1.34ERA in his last 6, and we’ll throw out that one loss because he allowed only 1run in 8 1/3 and received the L. We also must take into account the Tony Gwynnaffect. One of the most likeable and great baseball players of all time will behonored before the game tonight. Emotions will be running high, and it is sureto take some focus away from the players. Even if the Mariners score 2 or 3runs, there’s no way the Padres can beat them. Take the Mariners -125. <o
></o>Nationals vs. Astros <o
></o>Recommendation: Nationals -156<o
></o>The Nationals were in a bit of a funk before Tuesday.Luckily they got to start a series with the Houston Astros. Not that I’mknocking the ‘stros, as they have been a very pleasant surprise this year. Itwas lucky because the Nat’s absolutely own this team. Washington has won 11 of12 and 7 straight against Houston, quite possibly more dominance than againstany other team in the league. With Ryan Zimmerman back in the lineup recently,it has and will have an enormous impact on the Nat’s order. Zimmerman has awonderful bat, but his role on the team goes far beyond that. Zimmerman is aleader, and his presence on the field and in the dugout gives Washington lotsof energy. Gio Gonzalez throws for the Nat’s. He’s had very poor numbers butthat can be attributed to the shoulder inflammation that put him on the DL.Gonzalez looked good in his last rehab start in A Potomac. Manager Matt Williamssaid that his velocity was up, and he spent a good amount of time working onhis wicked curveball. He should be good to go. Scott Feldman’s up for theAstros. He hasn’t pitched poorly, but just hasn’t gotten any run support,especially on the road. I usually don’t like to lay this big of a price, butthe spot here fits. Houston is just too overmatched to get a W in this one.Take the Nationals -156. <o
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