Comps
Marc Lawrence
LA DODGERS
The Dodgers take on the Braves in Atlanta behind Derek Lowe Friday night knowing he is in commanding KW form with one walk and 16 strikeouts in his three starts this season. He's also 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA in this park the past three seasons. With the Braves back home off a two-week road trip, we'll back Lowe and the Dodgers here tonight.
Jim Feist
CLEVELAND INDIANS
The forgotten man in Spring Training for the Indians was lefty Cliff Lee. A top prospect who has had an up and down career, Lee has been lights out at 2-0 with a 0.61 ERA. He has a 12-to-1 strikeout to walk ratio. He'll be facing a light hitting Minnesota offense that averages less than 3 runs per game at home. Twins starter Francisco Liriano has been out of baseball for over a year after major arm surgery and looked it, walking 5 in 4 innings in his first start. Play the Indians!
Dave Cokin
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
Greg Maddux is off to a great start for the Padres, but he's at his toughest locale Friday night as San Diego takes on Arizona. Maddux has had a terrible time against the Diamondbacks, especially in this park. Plus, Maddux draws the extremely tough Dan Hare. The Padres hitters who have seen Haren have not done much with him. I'm on the favored Diamondbacks for my free Friday play.
Tony Matthews
WHITE SOX / DEVIL RAYS UNDER 9.5
We expect a low-scoring game as the Chicago White Sox face-off against the Tampa Bay Rays in Friday's MLB contest. The Chicago White Sox will use starting pitcher Javier Vazquez. After 3 starts on the season, Javier Vazquez has a solid 3.32 ERA. To say the least, we don't see the Tampa Bay Rays scoring much runs tonight. The Tampa Bay Rays will use starting pitcher Jeff Niemann. Jeff Niemann has only had one start so far this season, however, it was a very good start. Jeff Niemann has given up only 1 single run in 6 innings pitched. We see another solid start by Jeff Niemann tonight. These teams have a history of scoring very few runs when they meet. In fact, the Under is a Perfect 5-0 in the last 5 meetings between these teams. Take the Chicago White Sox/Tampa Bay Devil Rays Under 9.5!
Sports Gambling Hotline
2♦ METS / PHILLIES UNDER
Tonight we like a low-scoring game in the City of Brotherly Love as a pair of the tougher southpaws in baseball take to the mound at Citizens Bank Park. We don't care about Johan Santana's 4 runs allowed in his last start, this is the first time the Phillies are seeing this guy live, and we expect Santana will put up about 5 goose eggs before the Phils even mount a scoring threat. Philadelphia comes into this game having played UNDER the total in 5 of their last 7, while last night's UNDER for the Mets marked their third straight UNDER, and their 5th in their last 7 games. Cole Hamels has been darn near unhitable this spring with an ERA of 0.82. These teams have already played 2 of their first 3 meetings UNDER the posted price, and we like this one to stay low as well. Play on the UNDER.
Karl Garrett
1♦ ATLANTA BRAVES +110
Have to believe the Braves are back on track after their recent road woes, busting out for 8 runs on 15 hits in last night's win at Florida. Now back at home, I expect them to take advantage of the poor-traveling Los Angeles Dodgers. LA may be riding a modest two game win streak, but they are just 2-4 on the road for the month of April, and they did lose 2 of 3 last year at Turner Field. Derek Lowe has been very strong to open the year, as evidenced by his 4 runs allowed in 20 innings of work, but I expect it be to a little tougher for him tonight as Atlanta has got to be feeling good about themselves thanks to their 15-hit outburst last night. Buddy Carlyle is making his first start of the season, and I can see him giving Bobby Cox 5 or 6 quality innings of work in his season debut. I am going with the Braves as the small home underdog.
Bobby Maxwell
4♦ ATLANTA BRAVES +110
It's been a long nine-game road trip for the Braves and they finally return to Turner Field and host the Dodgers in this one. Atlanta closed the trip with an 8-0 win over the Marlins on Thursday. The Braves are 12-4 in their last 16 home games and 4-1 in their last five Friday games. Today they've got Buddy Carlyle making his first start of the season. He was solid for Atlanta last season, holding the opposition to three runs or less in seven of his last nine starts. Los Angeles counters with Derek Lowe (1-0, 1.80 ERA) who's seen a lot of the light-hitting Padres this season. Now he gets a Braves' squad that he has either been spectacular against or horrible. There's been no middle ground. He held them to two runs on 11 hits in 12 innings last season in two wins but got shelled in 2006, giving up eight runs on nine hits in five innings of an 11-10 loss. The Dodgers are just 1-4 in their last five road games and 1-9 when they start a series after a day off. Let's take the home team in this one as the Braves get to play in front of their home fans. Play the plus-money on Atlanta.
Terron Chapman
KANSAS CITY ROYALS -104
The A's offense is struggling right now to say the least. In their last five games they have a record of 1-4 and are averaging 1.4 runs/gm in that span. Tonight won't bring any relief as they face a pitcher who has been outstanding so far this season. Brian Bannister is 3-0 with an 0.86 ERA in three starts. He will be opposed by Chad Gaudin for the A's who will be taking the mound for the first time at home this year, but has struggled in his only two starts on the road this year. Gaudin in those two starts has an ERA of 7.20 in just 10 IP and lost his last outing against the Royals in Oakland giving up 5 ER and 10 hits in 6 IP of a 7-3 loss last season. The Royals come into this game with confidence having won four of the their last five in Oakland. The Royals are 7-1 in Bannisters last 8 road starts while the A's are just 1-4 in Gaudins last 5 starts as a home favorite and 3-9 in Gaudins last 12 starts on 4 days rest. I think the Royals are the better team with the better pitcher on the hill tonight, and recommend a play of 2 units on the Royals. Best of luck!
Matt Fargo
SEATTLE MARINERS +147
Ride the streaks in baseball. I have been on Seattle the last two nights and this team is playing its best baseball right now. I mentioned the last two nights that it has been up and down for Seattle so far this season but it is clearly in that upward movement right now and this the time to keep striking. The Mariners had a run of 0-4 and then won four of five before losing two in row on Sunday and Monday. The Mariners have now won three straight and this price is simply too good to even think about dropping off. The Angles have not played to their potential this season thus far and they should not be backed at a price this high. As a matter of fact, they have been priced at -150 or higher five times and are just 2-3 in those games so what many believe is a sure thing (teams at -150 or more) is hardly the case in California through the first two weeks. Los Angeles dropped two of three in Seattle before sweeping the two-game set in Texas. It came home and split with the Royals to move to a very average 7-6 in its last 13 games. R.A. Dickey? Yes he is back and he is sporting a brand new look. Dickey was a disaster in Texas but to his credit, not many pitchers have found success with the Rangers especially in that launching pad of a ballpark they have. Dickey went to the minors and has been there for over two years working on a transition to the knuckleball. Any team is going to have trouble with that and he comes in with a great mindset knowing he has posted a solid 3.68 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in five starts against the Angels. The Angels counter with Joe Saunders who has been a pleasant surprise thus far. He has a 1.27 ERA and 0.94 WHIP through his first three starts all of which ended up with wins for Los Angeles. Two of those games were quality outings and the third was not as sharp and it happened to be last time out in Seattle. A second straight start against Seattle is a big edge for the offense, especially when that offense is hitting .315 against left-handed pitching. Saunders has a 6.16 ERA and 1.84 WHIP in four career starts against Seattle.
Drew Gordon
2♦ LA DODGERS -125
Big-time pitching mismatch here, as the Dodgers travel to Turner Field for a series with the Braves. Both teams are coming off impressive victories with plenty of runs scored, but that?s about to change for Atlanta.The Dodgers Derek Lowe has started the season zeroed in, going 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA in 3 starts. If not for lack of support he could easily be undefeated, allowing just 4 runs over his 20 innings pitched this season! His last one was excellent, surrendering just 1 run on 4 hits over 8 innings of work against the Padres, retiring 20 of the last 21 batters he saw! Same cannot be said for the Braves Jeff Bennett, who found out Thursday that he?ll be starting tonight against the Dodgers. More of a glorified reliever than anything else, he?s gotten extensive action in two games this season, and was unimpressive in both, allowing 5 runs over 8 innings, while walking 6 batters. Not to mention, even in relief duty, he gave up a critical two-run homer to the Marlins Wednesday. While its true the Braves batting order is far and away better than anything Lowe has seen this season, let's not forget he's been pretty solid against Atlanta in the past, going 2-3 with a 3.70 ERA in 15 career appearances (8 starts) against them. Not only that, but if you saw Lowe cruise through20 of 21 Padres last Saturday, you have to believe he'll outpitch Bennett in this one. Take the LA Dodgers behind Lowe over Atlanta and Bennett in this MLB match up.
Mike Rose
PITTSBURGH PIRATES +125
Ian Snell will put his 2-0 mark on the line when he takes to the bump this afternoon to pitch against the Cubs for the first time this season. To date, he owns a solid 3.93 ERA allowing 20 hits and nine runs (8 earned) with a K/BB ratio of 15/4 in a little over 18 innings on the year. The Pirates are 3-0 in the games he?s started this season. He went 6 1/3rd innings in his last start against Cincinnati allowing nine hits and three earned runs in the Buccos 4-3 victory. In three starts against the Cubs last season, the Pirates went 1-2 but won his lone start at Wrigley. Lefty Rich Hill is yet to garner a decision this season, and to say he?s gotten off to a rocky ?08 start would be putting it very mildly. In two starts this year, he?s only pitched a total of nine innings, which includes his last start against the Pirates back on April 10th where he was yanked after three innings. He?s only allowed a combined five earned runs and seven hits, but his control has been shaky at best and he?s been on a very short leash. He had a couple of bullpen sessions throughout his seven-day lay-off to try and work on his mechanics. The Cubs are 4-2 in Hill?s starts against Pittsburgh in his career. The Cubs swept the Pirates last week at PNC, so Pittsburgh will most definitely look to be returning the favor starting this afternoon where they find themselves +125 underdogs. The Cubs have won six straight against the Buccos dating back to last season, and have had their number at home winning four of the last five overall. However, Pittsburgh is a moneymaking 5-1 in Snell?s last six road starts and 5-0 in his last five starts in the opening game of a series.
LT Profits
SEATTLE MARINERS +150
Joe Saunders of the Los Angeles Angles was a popular fantasy baseball sleeper selection before this season, but it appears that the value on him is gone at this price vs. the Seattle Mariners. Yes, Saunders had an outstanding spring, and that has carried over to his first three starts as he has a 1.27 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in 21 innings with the Angels winning all three of his starts. However, has he really done enough over his brief career to merit this much favoritism over a capable opponent? Besides, he has just one Quality Start in four outings vs. the Mariners, falling two-thirds of an inning short of a QS last week when he allowed two runs in 5.1 innings against Seattle despite allowing nine men to reach base. Now R.A. Dickey is making his first start as a Mariner, and he was mediocre at best when he started for the Texas Rangers in recent seasons. However, Dickey has had some success here in Anaheim, going a perfect two for two in Quality Starts here while allowing a total of four runs and 14 baserunners in 14 innings. If we add in his home starts vs. the Halos while he was with Texas, Dickey is actually four for five in Quality Starts against them in his short career. All things considered, this price seems inflated to us, so we will go with the value play on Seattle at the generous number.
NY RANGERS +100
In all honesty, the New York Rangers should have swept their opening round series vs. the rival New Jersey Devils already, as the Devils? lone win came on a lucky bounce in overtime. Look for the Rangers to officially put the Devils out of their misery tonight. The Rangers actually bear a strong resemblance to the Devils? Stanley Cup winning teams this season. They have a defensive mindset and a great goaltender in Henrik Lundqvist, in fact allowing the fewest goals in the Eastern Conference at just 2.32 goals per game. This has more than offset the fact that the offense is averaging a rather ordinary 2.60 goals per contest. However, that approach has worked to perfection vs. a Devils team that is also offensively challenged. The Rangers went 7-1 vs. New Jersey during the regular season, with the Devils not even managing a point against them until that lone victory, a 3-2 shootout win in the second-to-last games of the season. Now the Rangers only average 2.56 goals on the road, but again, that is offset by the fact that the Devils only average 2.47 goals per game at home. Thus, it is not a total shock that the Rangers have yet to lose here in New Jersey all year, going 6-0 in the regular season and playoffs combined. It was thought before this series began that the Rangers were the worst possible first round matchup for the Devils despite New Jersey owning the home ice advantage. Well, it appears that those fears were correct and we look for the Rangers to end the Devils? season tonight by concluding a season sweep in New Jersey.
Vegas Sports Picks
CHICAGO CUBS -130
Pittsburgh is 7-20 last 27 road games. Snell went 0-2 in three starts vs. Cubs last season, allowing 11 runs on 21 hits over 19 innings. Chicago has won the last six meetings, Hill starting two of the six. Cubs look to get back on track off getting routed by Cincinnati Thursday.
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES -105
The Mets at home beat last place Washington 1-0 in 14 innings last night. Philadelphia is 4-2 on the current home stand off beating Houston 10-2 Thursday. The Phillies are 15-5 last 20 Hamel's home starts and 9-2 last 11 meetings.
LA DODGERS -115
Carlyle makes his first start of the season in a fill in roll. Braves went 2-5 last seven Carlyle starts last season. Lowe has allowed four runs over 18 innings in three starts this season. The Dodgers won both Lowe starts vs. Atlanta last season by a combined 14-5.
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS -130
San Diego lost all four Young starts vs. Arizona last season. NL West leading Arizona is 10-2 last 12 games, 6-2 last eight home meetings, and 2-0 last two Haren starts.
BOSTON RED SOX -1.5 RL
Mendoza makes his fifth career start in a tough spot. Boston is 5-1 last six games off winning at the Yankees 7-5 last night. Matsuzaka is 3-0 over four starts this season allowing seven runs over 23 innings. Red Sox are 6-2 last eight meetings.
Matt Rivers
DETROIT TIGERS
I am not sure if Jim Leyland's boys are necessarily "back" after winning a few games in Cleveland but things are definitely looking a lot better and to get some money back here with that is the overall better team is enough for me. Obviously Kenny Rogers has been fairly awful to begin the season and is up against a solid Toronto lineup that can bang out some runs but AJ Burnett just had to come in the game on Wednesday in relief and could be thrown off his rhythm a bit. Yes it was his throw day but it's still not normal and with a guy that has injury problems year after year this is not a great scenario for the former Marlin righthander. Burnett has all of the tools to be a great Major League pitcher but somehow seems to underachieve with the best of them. When getting money back I have no issues with the Blue Jays or Burnett but they are the favorite here and with their pitcher in this unusual scenario I will assume that he is a little off his game and the powerful bats of Mags, Sheff, Cabrera and Pudge are able to smack the ball around. Maybe I'm putting too much stock into Burnett losing the game just two days ago but these pitchers are creatures of habit and that little difference could mean a lot!
Jake Timlin
MARINERS / ANGELS OVER
Freebie winner yesterday on the Over in Cleveland I look for even more run tonight in Anaheim as the Angels and Mariners both bring in solid offenses and weak pitching into tonight. You see in the first series meeting just a week ago in Seattle all three games flew Over the total as all three games ended in combined double digits. Reaching back to last year 7 of the last 9 meeting have gone Over the total as I now look for 8 of 10 tonight all due to explosive offenses that combined are averaging 10 plus run per games while both pitching staffs are resting with ERA?s in the low 4?s. Well mix all those numbers together and you get another high scoring game in Los Angeles tonight.
Tony Weston
3♦ MILWAUKEE BREWERS
What we love about this one is the pitching matchup between Brewers ace Ben Sheets and Reds slug Bronson Arroyo. Sheets comes into this game with a 2-0 record, with the Brew Crew having won each of the three games he?s started, and with a 1.17 ERA. Arroyo, on the other hand, is 0-1 with the Reds having lost two of his three starts. He also has a 5.17 ERA this season. Cincinnati comes into the game with a 1-5 record its last six games, while the Brewers are 3-2 their last five. Sheets will shut down the Reds and remain perfect on the year. Take Sheets and take the Brewers on the road.
Tom Freese
LA DODGERS
Los Angeles starter Derek Lowe is in excellent KW form with a better than 4 to 1 strikeout to walk ratio in his last 3 starts overall and in his last 3 starts vs. the Braves. Lowe is 2-0 with a 1>93 ERA in his last 2 starts at Atlanta. The Dodgers are 24-9 when Lowe pitches against a losing team. The Braves are 7-21 their last 28 games as home dogs and they are 2-6 their last 8 games vs. righthanders and they are 3-9 when the Total is 9.0 to 10.5.
John Fina
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS -130
Put us down on the Arizona Diamondbacks (-130) for our Free MLB Selection on Friday. Today the San Diego Padres will be on the road as they take on the Arizona Diamondbacks. We will side with the Arizona Diamondbacks! One reason why we like the Arizona Diamondbacks in this spot is because they will be sending to the mound the much better starting pitcher. The San Diego Padres will send to the mound Chris Young. Chris Young has been struggling so far this season. In fact, Chris Young has a 5.17 ERA. On the other hand, the Arizona Diamondbacks will send to the mound Dan Haren. Dan Haren is already a Perfect 2-0 to start the season with a solid 2.50 ERA. In addition to having the better starting pitcher on the mound, the Arizona Diamondbacks have almost always been able to beat the San Diego Padres (when playing in Arizona). In fact, the Arizona Diamondbacks are 54-25 in their last 79 meetings against the San Diego Padres (when playing in Arizona). As you can see, there is much value with the Arizona Diamondbacks tonight! Take the Arizona Diamondbacks!
Jimmy The Moose
TIGERS / BLUE JAYS OVER
Both teams send struggling pitchers to the mound to open up this series. Rogers, 0-3 with a 6.75 ERA will pitch for the Tigers. The Tigers haven't scored a run for him this season but they will tonight as they face Burnett. After a solid start to open the season AJ has really struggled. He comes into this game with a season ERA of 7.27. The Tigers have played over the total in 5 straight games while Toronto has played the over in 2 of their last 3. Expect a lot of runs in this game, play the over.