BEGINNING MONDAY APRIL 25
Philadelphia at Washington (3) 25th, 26th, 27th
The Nationals took 2 out of 3 at Philadelphia to open the season (+$185) and are playing above expectations. The swept the D?Backs at RFK in the season?s first series but they don?t have any lefthanders in their rotation, a key Philadelphia weakness. We?ll reassess this matchup as game day draws near. PREFERRED: None.
Houston at Pittsburgh (3) 25th, 26th, 27th
The Astros dominated in head to head play last year (12-5, +$330) but their offense has been anemic to start the season (only 4.0 runs per game) so we?re less than enthusiastic. Mark Redman has looked very sharp (2.33 ERA) and should provide a solid value against a visitor that tends to be overpriced. PREFERRED: Redman.
Atlanta at N.Y. Mets (3) 25th, 26th, 27th
These teams are almost even in pitching right now (Braves 3.68 ERA, Mets 3.86) but the Mets are 5-1 at home (+$455) and given how poorly Atlanta has fared in day games (0-4, -$470) we like the home team?s chances in Wednesday?s afternoon affair, regardless of pitcher or price. PREFERRED: Mets in day games.
Cincinnati at Chicago Cubs (3) 25th, 26th, 27th
The Cubs won the season series with the Reds last year nine games to eight, but they lost a staggering sum in the process (-$845). We?d grab the visitor of we could, but the Cubs have no lefties in their rotation and the Reds? losses against righties are substantial (only 2-5, -$265 with just 3.3 runs per game). PREFERRED: None.
Milwaukee at St. Louis (3) 25th, 26th, 27th
The Brewers posted a tidy profit against this team last year (+$420) and with the Cardinals struggling offensively, we?ll take a shot with Sheets (3.38) and Davis (3.64), both of whom should take the mound at Busch Stadium. PREFERRED: Sheets/Davis.
Arizona at L.A. Dodgers (3) 25th, 26th, 27th
The Dodgers are the hottest team in baseball at 9-2 (+$750) and while we?re impressed with the improvements the D?Backs have made, they are winless outside of Bank One Ballpark. Use the home team if the price is fair. PREFERRED: Dodgers at -150 or less.
San Diego at San Francisco (3) 25th, 26th, 27th
These teams squared off at Petco Park last week so check those results before jumping in. SD was excellent as a visitor last year (+$1275) and SF?s trouble with righties at SBC Park (-$1025 in 2004) spells trouble vs. this rotation. PREFERRED: Padres in all games.
Baltimore at Boston (3) 25th, 26th, 27th
The O?s turned a profit at Boston?s expense last year (+$650) and we?ll look to use them against righties at Fenway. Baltimore made a bundle of money in that situation in 2004 (32-23, +$1855) and are off to another good start (2-1, +$190). Keep in mind that the Red Sox were big money-burners vs. lefthanders last year (-$990) and they?ll be up against a formidable duo in Chen (1.80) and Bedard (1.50). PREFERRED: Chen &Bedard vs. righthanders.
Chicago W. Sox at Oakland (3) 25th, 26th, 27th
The White Sox are a very hot team, but they floundered against lefthanders in day games last year (10-31, -$2770) and only beat the A?s twice in nine attempts (-$440). Barry Zito has struggled, so we might get him at a discounted price, and he?ll almost certainly start one of the two scheduled evening meetings. PREFERRED: Zito.
BEGINNING TUESDAY APRIL 26
Florida at Colorado (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
The beleaguered Rockies get to take on a team with a staff ERA more than six runs lower than theirs (Marlins 1.61, Colorado 7.84). They only beat this team once in 2004 (1-5, -$400) and it?s hard to imagine the home team doing better than salvaging a single victory in this series. PREFERRED: Marlins in all games.
Detroit at Cleveland (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
Both teams had problems with lefthanders last year (Tigers -$1430, Indians -$1175) and Cleveland is off to another terrible start (only 1-4, -$315 with 2.2 runs per game). We?ll take the price on the visiting underdog when the right matchup presents itself. PREFERRED: Lefthanders vs. Detroit righthanders.
L.A. Angels at N.Y. Yankees (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
The Angels have been the toughest team for the Yankees to beat over the past decade, and last year was no exception (5-4, +$390). Bartolo Colon has a 1.31 ERA in two road starts this year (+$205) and looks very inviting as an underdog against a struggling New York team that is only 2-7 (-$795) vs. righties. PREFERRED: Colon.
Tampa Bay at Toronto (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
The Devil Rays were a bad bet on the road vs. righthanders in 2004 (-$1305) and the Blue Jays look very tough at this stage on the new campaign (+$430). We?ll take a shot with any of the home team?s three righty starters. PREFERRED: Halladay/Bush/Towers.
Seattle at Texas (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
We like what we?re seeing from the Mariners? mound corp this year (3.57 team ERA), so we?re not interested in laying big prices on the home team to go against them. But Texas?s numbers at home in 2004 (+$1945) make it impossible go go against them at this time. We?ll check back on game day. PREFERRED: None.
Minnesota at Kansas City (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
The Twins were 12-7 vs. KC last year (+$195) and they dominated righthanders (+$1550) while the Royals were posting horrific losses in that situation (-$3460). Looks like more of the same in 2005 (KC 0-3, -$325 at home vs. righties, with 3.3 runs per game), so play this series accordingly. PREFERRED: Twins when righty meets righty.
Philadelphia at Washington (3) 25th, 26th, 27th
The Nationals took 2 out of 3 at Philadelphia to open the season (+$185) and are playing above expectations. The swept the D?Backs at RFK in the season?s first series but they don?t have any lefthanders in their rotation, a key Philadelphia weakness. We?ll reassess this matchup as game day draws near. PREFERRED: None.
Houston at Pittsburgh (3) 25th, 26th, 27th
The Astros dominated in head to head play last year (12-5, +$330) but their offense has been anemic to start the season (only 4.0 runs per game) so we?re less than enthusiastic. Mark Redman has looked very sharp (2.33 ERA) and should provide a solid value against a visitor that tends to be overpriced. PREFERRED: Redman.
Atlanta at N.Y. Mets (3) 25th, 26th, 27th
These teams are almost even in pitching right now (Braves 3.68 ERA, Mets 3.86) but the Mets are 5-1 at home (+$455) and given how poorly Atlanta has fared in day games (0-4, -$470) we like the home team?s chances in Wednesday?s afternoon affair, regardless of pitcher or price. PREFERRED: Mets in day games.
Cincinnati at Chicago Cubs (3) 25th, 26th, 27th
The Cubs won the season series with the Reds last year nine games to eight, but they lost a staggering sum in the process (-$845). We?d grab the visitor of we could, but the Cubs have no lefties in their rotation and the Reds? losses against righties are substantial (only 2-5, -$265 with just 3.3 runs per game). PREFERRED: None.
Milwaukee at St. Louis (3) 25th, 26th, 27th
The Brewers posted a tidy profit against this team last year (+$420) and with the Cardinals struggling offensively, we?ll take a shot with Sheets (3.38) and Davis (3.64), both of whom should take the mound at Busch Stadium. PREFERRED: Sheets/Davis.
Arizona at L.A. Dodgers (3) 25th, 26th, 27th
The Dodgers are the hottest team in baseball at 9-2 (+$750) and while we?re impressed with the improvements the D?Backs have made, they are winless outside of Bank One Ballpark. Use the home team if the price is fair. PREFERRED: Dodgers at -150 or less.
San Diego at San Francisco (3) 25th, 26th, 27th
These teams squared off at Petco Park last week so check those results before jumping in. SD was excellent as a visitor last year (+$1275) and SF?s trouble with righties at SBC Park (-$1025 in 2004) spells trouble vs. this rotation. PREFERRED: Padres in all games.
Baltimore at Boston (3) 25th, 26th, 27th
The O?s turned a profit at Boston?s expense last year (+$650) and we?ll look to use them against righties at Fenway. Baltimore made a bundle of money in that situation in 2004 (32-23, +$1855) and are off to another good start (2-1, +$190). Keep in mind that the Red Sox were big money-burners vs. lefthanders last year (-$990) and they?ll be up against a formidable duo in Chen (1.80) and Bedard (1.50). PREFERRED: Chen &Bedard vs. righthanders.
Chicago W. Sox at Oakland (3) 25th, 26th, 27th
The White Sox are a very hot team, but they floundered against lefthanders in day games last year (10-31, -$2770) and only beat the A?s twice in nine attempts (-$440). Barry Zito has struggled, so we might get him at a discounted price, and he?ll almost certainly start one of the two scheduled evening meetings. PREFERRED: Zito.
BEGINNING TUESDAY APRIL 26
Florida at Colorado (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
The beleaguered Rockies get to take on a team with a staff ERA more than six runs lower than theirs (Marlins 1.61, Colorado 7.84). They only beat this team once in 2004 (1-5, -$400) and it?s hard to imagine the home team doing better than salvaging a single victory in this series. PREFERRED: Marlins in all games.
Detroit at Cleveland (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
Both teams had problems with lefthanders last year (Tigers -$1430, Indians -$1175) and Cleveland is off to another terrible start (only 1-4, -$315 with 2.2 runs per game). We?ll take the price on the visiting underdog when the right matchup presents itself. PREFERRED: Lefthanders vs. Detroit righthanders.
L.A. Angels at N.Y. Yankees (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
The Angels have been the toughest team for the Yankees to beat over the past decade, and last year was no exception (5-4, +$390). Bartolo Colon has a 1.31 ERA in two road starts this year (+$205) and looks very inviting as an underdog against a struggling New York team that is only 2-7 (-$795) vs. righties. PREFERRED: Colon.
Tampa Bay at Toronto (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
The Devil Rays were a bad bet on the road vs. righthanders in 2004 (-$1305) and the Blue Jays look very tough at this stage on the new campaign (+$430). We?ll take a shot with any of the home team?s three righty starters. PREFERRED: Halladay/Bush/Towers.
Seattle at Texas (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
We like what we?re seeing from the Mariners? mound corp this year (3.57 team ERA), so we?re not interested in laying big prices on the home team to go against them. But Texas?s numbers at home in 2004 (+$1945) make it impossible go go against them at this time. We?ll check back on game day. PREFERRED: None.
Minnesota at Kansas City (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
The Twins were 12-7 vs. KC last year (+$195) and they dominated righthanders (+$1550) while the Royals were posting horrific losses in that situation (-$3460). Looks like more of the same in 2005 (KC 0-3, -$325 at home vs. righties, with 3.3 runs per game), so play this series accordingly. PREFERRED: Twins when righty meets righty.
