Comps
Jim Feist
SEATTLE MARINERS
It will be good for Seattle to get out of town. The Mariners heard the boos before two innings were complete in Saturday's loss. They opened the season against this bad Texas team and took 2 of 3. Texas is second worst in team ERA in the AL. Seattle goes with ace Erik Bedard, who has been great with a 1.99 ERA. He's 4-2 lifetime against Texas with a 2.44 ERA. Play the Mariners!
Marc Lawrence
HOUSTON ASTROS
The Astros send ace right hander Roy Oswalt up against struggling Barry Zito and the Giants in San Francisco Monday night knowing Zito is 0-7 in his seven starts this season, and 2-11 in his last 13 starts dating back to last season. With Oswalt back in good current form with four wins in his last five team starts, look for Zito's miseries to continue here this evening.
Chip Chirimbes
NY YANKEES
The Rays hope Matt Garza can extend the team's recent success as he is coming off his best performance of the season. Garza (1-1, 4.91 ERA) limited the Blue Jays to one run and six hits over 6 2-3 innings, despite suffering a 6-2 loss in Toronto on Wednesday. The right-hander is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA in two career appearances against the Yankees. In his lone start against them, he gave up five runs and seven hits over 4 2-3 innings of a 10-1 loss on Sept. 3, 2006 in New York, while pitching for Minnesota. The Yankees are coming off a weather-shortened series in Detroit as Sunday's finale was postponed by rain. They earned a 5-2 win on Saturday, getting six strong innings from starter Darrell Rasner. Mariano Rivera worked a scoreless ninth for this 10th save for New York, which has won two of three to move back to .500. "That's what we need from these young guys," Rivera told the Yankees' official Web site. "He stepped up big for us." New York hopes Andy Pettitte can do the same after his start was moved to Monday. Pettitte (3-3, 3.77) is 0-2 with a 5.71 ERA in his last three starts, but turned in a solid effort in his last outing, despite not receiving a decision. The veteran left-hander limited Cleveland to just two runs and five hits over 6 1-3 innings of a 5-3 home loss on Tuesday. Pettitte's next victory will tie him with Bob Shawkey for fifth on the franchise list (168). He is 14-3 with a 3.62 ERA in 23 career appearances versus the Rays, going 8-1 with a 3.30 ERA in 11 starts in Tampa Bay.
Dave Cokin
TEXAS RANGERS
The Mariners managed to stop the bleeding Sunday as they got past the White Sox. But now they have to head to Texas to face a Rangers team that's been hot lately. Erik Bedard is always tough to go against, but with Vicente Padilla on fire for Texas presently, and the Rangers in vastly superior team form, the home team is the right side.
Tony Mathews
MARINERS / RANGERS UNDER 9
We expect a low-scoring game as the Seattle Mariners face-off against the Texas Rangers in Monday's MLB contest. The Seattle Mariners will use starting pitcher Erik Bedard. Erik Bedard has pitched well this season. In fact, Erik Bedard has a 1.99 ERA on the season. In addition, Erik Bedard has a 1.31 ERA in his last 3 starts. We see Erik Bedard having another great game today. The Texas Rangers will use starting pitcher Vicente Padilla. Vicente Padilla has been pitching great as of late. In fact, Vicente Padilla is a Perfect 3-0 with a 0.42 ERA in his last 3 starts. We see Vicente Padilla having another great game today. The Under is 9-3-1 in the last 13 meetings between these teams, and we expect to see another low-scoring game today. Take the Seattle Mariners/Texas Rangers Under 9!
Terron Chapman
FLORIDA MARLINS +163
Believe it or not the Florida Marlins own the best record in the majors with a record of 23-14. They roll into Cincinnati Monday evening on a seven game win streak outscoring their opponents 49-14. They'll face Aaron Harang and the struggling Reds as they return home from a three game set with the New York Mets in which they dropped two of three. The Reds seemed to lose the momentum they carried into New York. They took two of three from the division leading Cubs after losing five straight. Harang has not gotten much run support this season on his way to a 1-5 record. The Reds have given Harang an average of 2.7 runs of support when he takes the hill. The price attached to Harang and his teammates is a little pricey for a team struggling such as the Reds are, giving us good value to back the best team in the majors. Young right hander Burke Badenhop will take the hill for the Marlins and despite his early struggles has pitched well in his last two outings. His most recent a 6-2 win against the Brewers in which he allowed five hits and two earned runs in five and two thirds innings. Badenhop has never faced the Reds who are hitting only .216 in their last 10 games against right handers. The Marlins are 11-5 on the road this season while the Reds are just 2-11 in the first game of a series this season.
Matt Fargo
FLORIDA MARLINS +154
The Marlins continue to find ways to win as they have now won seven straight games to improve their lead to three games in the National League East. Teams that are hot like this need to be played despite what the linesmakers are telling us and in this case they are telling us Florida has no chance. This is a huge number for any below average team to be laying no matter what the starting pitching matchup is. The Marlins are now 11-5 away from home which is the best road record in baseball. The Reds are the below average team in this case and despite a return home, they are not in good shape right now. They have lost eight of their last 11 games and playing at home isn?t necessarily a good thing as they are 4-7 in their last 11 at home. Both the offense and the pitching have been inconsistent and that does not make a favorable combination. Cincinnati has scored five runs or more in five of its last seven games but it has also scored three runs or fewer in six of 11 games. Aaron Harang is the reason for the size of this number. He is a top quality pitcher who will give a good effort almost every time out but that does not mean it is a sign to back him. He has tossed four straight quality outings but the last three have all resulted in losses as the offense mustered a total of three runs on those games. As good of a pitcher as he is, this is the most he has been favored by which comes as a huge shock considering who he is facing. Also, Harang has a 6.49 ERA in five career starts against Florida. The Marlins counter with Burke Badenhop whose numbers may not look appealing but they are clearly getting better. He is coming off his first Major League victory and that is a huge confidence builder right there. He was a third of an inning away from a second straight quality start and his ERA over those outings is a solid 3.86 compared to an ERA of 13.00 over his first three starts. His command is getting better as proven by his very impressive 1.11 WHIP over the last two games.
Alex Smart Sports
ATLANTA BRAVES -133 (G1)
The Atlanta Braves prepare to send one of the bright young rising talents in the NL to the hill today , to face the Pittsburgh Pirates. That pitcher is 22 year old Jair Jurrjens ( 4-2, 2.84) . This kid continues to impress me with his overall stuff, and cockiness, and his exceptional ability to think fast, under pressure. He is in my opinion a good bet, to get his 4th straight win against a Pirates squad, that despite of being on a 6 game home win streak, are hitting just .245 against righties like Jurrjens this season. Yes, I know the Braves have not played well on the road this year, as is evident by a 4-13 mark, but against a Pirates team that is just 4-14 against the money line in home games vs. a starting pitcher who gives up 0.5 or less HR's per start , they look to be in trouble. Key Trend: The Pirates are 1-10 in their starter Dukes last 11 outings vs. a team with a winning record.
Matt Rivers
CLEVELAND INDIANS
Cliff Lee has been an unbelievable story this season and right now is hands down the Cy Young award winner in the American League and possibly even an MVP candidate. The lefty was always an up and coming stud and then last season seemed to totally lose it altogether. Lee was atrocious, lost his confidence and was even sent down to the minor leagues. Well you can see the Cleveland southpaw has done a complete about face and now just seems to fire shutout after shutout. The guy has been flat out insane and I do not see anything changing here against a struggling and very very banged up Blue Jays team. Toronto had high hopes and a very good offense coming into the season but things have been very disappointing thus far. The offense has not clicked at all, Frank Thomas was released and now Vernon Wells is injured and out for a few months. That leaves Alex Rios and an average at the very very best lineup and one that on the road should not be able to solve Lee one iota. The Tribe have been struggling themselves this season as Travis Hafner has been awful and Victor Martinez has that neck issue but they have been playing better of late and to get money back here laying that extra run and a half is well worth the price of admission as we may not even allow a run. Shawn Marcum was converted into a starter last season and has been a very pleasant surprise. I can't take anything at all away from the righthander as he has been a seven inning three run type of a guy that has the potential to hold his own for sure today. But when all is said and done Marcum is no Lee and the Blue Jays may not even get on the board at all. Go Tribe go
Tony Weston
5♦ CLEVELAND INDIANS
Last year I was pimping Carmona big time and even said he was more deserving of the Cy Young than teammate and eventual winner C.C. Sabathia. I said Carmona was a better, stronger pitcher than Sabathia and not only did he prove it last year, but he?s been proving it this year. While Sabathia is struggling this season with a 2-5 record and a 6.55 ERA, Carmona is cruising with a 3-1 record and a 2.95 ERA. He?s also 2-0 in his last four starts, while the Indians are 3-1 in that four game stretch. As impressive as his 2.95 season ERA is, it?s even more impressive at home where he has a 2.28 ERA in four starts. Pitching opposite Carmona today will be Jays pitcher A.J. Burnett, who is 3-3 this season with a whopping 5.19 ERA. Burnett is only 2-2 his last five starts with a no decision. In that stretch Burnett has given up 15 earned runs in 31 2/3 innings of work. In his last three starts he?s given up eight earned runs in 21 innings of work and has gone just 1-2. Pencil in Carmona as your starting pitcher and take the Indians big at home in Game 1 of this double-header.
LT Profits
FLORIDA MARLINS +155
The Florida Marlins just keep on winning, as they have now won seven games in a row, yet they are again a sizable underdog tonight when they visit the Cincinnati Reds. This time, the odds are more understandable considering that the Reds have Aaron Harang on the mound, but we still like the value on Florida here. Florida starter Burke Badenshop may be nothing special, but he has allowed two and three runs in his last two starts respectively. Sure, he went just six innings in one of those starts and 5.2 innings in the other, but a repeat performance would still be fine with us given that the Marlins bullpen is ranked third in baseball with a 2.95 ERA, making Florida a Bullpen System play. The Reds may have some trouble offensively facing Badenshop for the first time, as they are hitting a modest .249 vs. right-handed pitchers for the season including a poor .227 over the last 10 games. Thus, this may be just another case of no run support for the unlucky Harang, who is unbelievably 1-5 despite a 3.09 ERA and 1.10 WHIP, and being commonly regarded as one of the best pitchers in the National League. We look for the Marlins? good fortune to continue at a very nice price tonight.
CHICAGO WHITE SOX -105
The short-handed Los Angeles Angels have now lost four straight games after getting swept by the Tampa Bay Rays this past weekend, and we now look for the Chicago White Sox to take advantage of the Halos. The White Sox had a three-game winnings streak snapped in Seattle, but they are still 4-2 in their last six games. The erratic Mark Buehrle takes this start tonight, and he is just as capable of tossing a shutout as he is of getting bombed. He appeared to have turned the corner with two straight Quality Starts, but he was then hit hard by the Minnesota Twins last tine out. However, should Buehrle be in need of a quick hook, it is reassuring to know that the Sox have now moved up to ninth in the Major Leagues in bullpen ERA at 3.42, and that makes them a Bullpen System play vs. an Angles team whose bullpen ranks 29th and second to last with a 4.88 ERA. The Bullpen System is now 26-22, +5.04 units so far this season after averaging over 97 units over the last three years. The Angels are still without Howie Kendrick, Chone Figgins and Maicer Itzuris, and this has obviously affected the offense. In fact, they have been shut out in each of the first two games at Tampa before scoring five runs in another loss yesterday. Besides a struggling offense and a struggling bullpen, Los Angeles is staring Nick Adenhart tonight, who has lasted a grand total of 6.1 innings in two starts while surrendering eight earned runs and a whopping 19 baserunners. That translates to a disgusting 11.37 ERA and 3.00 WHIP! Just about the only thing in the Angels? favor here is that they are home, but we do not think that will be enough to overcome all the other obstacles tonight.
Sports Gambling Hotline
2♦ CELTICS / CAVALIERS UNDER 181?
Saturday was the first OVER in three games in the Boston-Cleveland series. The total for that game was right around 178, but for tonight's Game Four, they have bumped the total up some 7 points to right around 185. We feel that is too much of a bump, and are going to play this one UNDER the posted price. Boston has played UNDER the total in 9 of their last 12 games against the Central Division, while Cleveland has played UNDER the total in 16 of their last 21 home dates. The Cavs have also been UNDER in 11 of their last 15 games overall. We look for a return to the slow down, half court games we have seen in Games One, and Two, and for this game to hold UNDER the inflated price. Play on the LOW.
Karl Garrett
3♦ NEW YORK METS -140
The Washington Nationals just suffered a weekend sweep at the hands of the Florida Marlins, and things don't get any easier to start the week in Queens, as the Mets come into this one having won 3 of their last 4 games to improve to 11-6 at Shea Stadium this year. The Nationals are just 5-12 on the road for the year, and are 0-3 this season at Shea. Starters Odallis Perez, and Nelson Figueroa are not likely to be around come the later innings, but with the Mets having already beaten Perez back in April, chances are the Metropolitans will be able to repeat against the lefty. I will lay the home wood with New York, and look for the Mets to win this one easily. Take New York in the opener of this long 4-game set.
Bobby Maxwell
3♦ TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS +105
Can we go against the Rays right now? I don't think so. This young, talented team has rattled off nine straight home wins and four straight overall and they are making Tropicana Field a tough place for a visitor to come into. Today we'll take our chances with Tampa Bay starter Matt Garza (1-1, 4.91 ERA) to get the job done against the Yankees and starter Andy Pettitte (3-3, 3.77). Pitching is contagious and winning baseball is contagious, so expect to see Garza be on top of his game as the other Rays' starters have allowed just eight runs in the last four games, including back-to-back 2-0 wins over the Angels Friday and Saturday. Tampa Bay has won 13 of their last 18 and Garza was great in his last start on Wednesday in Toronto when he allowed one run on six hits in 6.2 innings. He has allowed more than three eanred runs in a start just once this season. Pettitte faced the Rays on April 15 and gave up three runs on nine hits in seven innings of a 5-3 win, but on April 5 he allowed five runs on eight hits in five innings of a 6-3 loss. He's had career success against the Rays, but this is a whole different team than he's seen in the past. The Rays are getting some timely hitting and the pitching has been excellent. They are right in the thick of things in the tough A.L. East and these youngsters might just have what it takes to be in this thing to the end. Play the home team in this one as the Rays keep it going against Pettitte and the Yankees.
Drew Gordon
2♦ TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS +105
Great value here with the surging Devil Rays, who've won 13 of their last 18 games overall, including 9 straight at home! Right now they're playing with tremendous confidence and it shows, sweeping a solid LA Angels club over the weekend! David continues to slay Goliath tonight, as the D-Rays host the Yankees Monday night. Despite some struggles against the Yankess in the past, Matt Garza is primed for another strong effort tonight. He's coming off his best effort of the season, holding the Blue Jays to 1 run over 6 2/3 innings at the Rogers Centre, despite taking the loss thanks to a lack of run support. In fact, over his last 3 starts he's been on, going 1-1 with a solid 3.06 ERA! Yankees batting order became a lot less formidable without A-Rod, and I say Garza delivers in this one. Opposing Garza is the Yankees struggling veteran southpaw Andy Pettite, who's 0-2 with a 5.71 ERA over his last 3 starts. True, he had a good start against the Indians in his last one, but that's been far from the norm. He does have solid numbers against the D-Rays in the past, but I think we can all agree Tampa is playing some of their best baseball in a long long time, especially at home. Note, Tampa is batting .267 at home against lefties, and have seen Pettite already twice this season, collecting 6 earned on 17 hits over 12 innings against him. Bottom line, its hard to argue against the Devil Rays in this one, they've been excellent at home, have a solid pitching edge with Garza, and don't even have to face Alex Rodriguez, who's out with a quad injury. Long story short, they may not get the sweep like they did against the Angels, but tonight's game belongs to the D-Rays. Take Tampa Bay behind Garza over the NY Yankees and Pettite in this MLB match up.
Michael Cannon
2♦ CLEVELAND INDIANS -140 (G1)
Yesterday's free play on the Tribe gets rained out, but that doesn't change my mind about this play. This game has been rescheduled as part of a doubleheader today, so make sure you put your play on Game 1 of the DH, with Burnett and Carmona as listed pitchers! Cleveland will start Fausto Carmona, and he's 3-1 with a 2.95 ERA on the season. The right-hander has struggled with his command somewhat, but I expect him to turn in a solid performance today. That's because the Blue Jays have been decimated by injury. They lost Vernon Wells to a broken wrist on Friday after placing infielders David Eckstein and John McDonald on the DL the day before. Even with those players the Blue Jays were struggling offensively, they're averaging just 2.8 runs per game over their last 23 games. The Tribe have scored 18 runs over the last two games, so offense hasn't been a problem for them. Take Cleveland as they grab the win.
John Fina
ASTROS / GIANTS OVER 7?
Today we expect a high-scoring game as the Houston Astros battle with the San Francisco Giants. One reason why we expect a high-scoring game is because both these teams will be sending to the mound starting pitchers who have struggled this season. This says it all... The Houston Astros Starting Pitcher (Roy Oswalt) has a 5.33 ERA this season, while San Francisco Giants Starting Pitcher (Barry Zito) has a 6.95 ERA this season. As you can see, both these pitchers have struggled this season. We expect to see another high-scoring game tonight! Take the Houston Astros/San Francisco Giants Over 7?!
