Monday's Nuggets
There are only nine games on MLB?s card for Monday. Six games will go down between National League clubs, including a pair of late-night tilts on the west coast. Gamblers have just three AL games and one goes early (12:05 p.m. Eastern) between the Royals and the Rays.
Let?s throw out a few quick-hit thoughts on several games and some of the division and wild-card races?
--Detroit is the most expensive favorite on Monday?s board, as ?chalky? as minus-300 versus Baltimore at a few books. That?s because red-hot RHP Justin Verlander (12-5, 3.16 ERA) is poised to toe the slab. Verlander is 4-0 with a 1.85 career ERA against the Orioles. He is 7-0 with a 1.15 ERA in nine home assignments this season.
--Oakland LHP Brett Anderson will take the bump tonight as the A?s host Texas as short home favorites. Anderson has been sharp recently, posting a 2-1 record and 1.87 ERA in five starts during the month of July. With that said, we should note that the Rangers have feasted on southpaws with a 22-14 record against left-handed starters.
--Washington won a 5-3 decision Sunday at Pittsburgh as a plus-128 underdog. However, I?m real bullish on the Pirates in Monday?s series finale at PNC Park. The Nats are winless in Garrett Mock?s three starts this season. Mock, who made 13 relief appearances before joining the rotation, has an abysmal 7.09 ERA. Pittsburgh will turn to Charlie Morton, who is 1-1 with a 3.06 ERA his last three times out.
--The Pirates are 28-20 at home, while Washington is a pathetic 13-39 on the road.
--Arizona RHP Dan Haren (10-6, 2.19) has been one of the few bright spots for the Diamondbacks this year. He?ll take the ball Monday against the Mets and ?Zona is an expensive (-185ish) road ?chalk.? The D-backs won 5-2 at Citi Field on Sunday, hooking up their backers with a plus-110 payout.
--Just a monster win for the Marlins on Sunday, as they rallied from a 2-1 deficit in the ninth inning thanks to back-to-back homers from Dan Uggla and Cody Ross. The Fish won by a 3-2 count to stay within three games of the NL wild-card leaders, San Francisco and Colorado. The victory was even sweeter in that Florida produced its comeback win against former closer Kevin Gregg.
--I want to tip my cap to every gambler that played the Astros as plus-255 underdogs (risk $100 to win $255) in Sunday?s 2-0 win over St. Louis with Adam Wainwright throwing.
--Dodgers slugger Manny Ramirez doesn?t have an RBI in 42 consecutive at-bats. L.A. returns to Chavez Ravine tonight to take on Milwaukee as a minus-210 favorite. Joe Torre?s team spanked Atlanta by a 9-1 score last night before jumping the red eye out of Hartsfield-International.
--Likewise, the Braves headed west to start a series at San Diego tonight. They are short road favorites against the Padres.
--The Yankees dodged a sweep against the White Sox by prevailing 8-5 Sunday in the Windy City. They maintain a one-half game lead over Boston in the AL East. The Red Sox won their fourth straight Sunday, clobbering Baltimore in an 18-10 triumph as minus-150 road ?chalk.?
--Bettors have a chance to back one of MLB?s hottest pitchers tonight in San Francisco?s Matt Cain. Not only that, but the Giants can be had at an affordable minus-135 price (at least at The Palms as of early this morning). They are on the road facing Houston with Mike Hampton on the mound. Hampton is all over my fade list right now and the stat I?m about to mention doesn?t scare me away from a play on the Giants. With that said, we?d be remiss to not touch on Hampton?s 15-4 career record against San Francisco.
--The Cubs are minus-150 favorites tonight at Cincinnati. They will give the ball to Randy Wells, who is 3-0 with a 3.32 ERA in his last three outings. On the other hand, Aaron Harang is 0-3 with a 6.30 ERA his last three times out.
There are only nine games on MLB?s card for Monday. Six games will go down between National League clubs, including a pair of late-night tilts on the west coast. Gamblers have just three AL games and one goes early (12:05 p.m. Eastern) between the Royals and the Rays.
Let?s throw out a few quick-hit thoughts on several games and some of the division and wild-card races?
--Detroit is the most expensive favorite on Monday?s board, as ?chalky? as minus-300 versus Baltimore at a few books. That?s because red-hot RHP Justin Verlander (12-5, 3.16 ERA) is poised to toe the slab. Verlander is 4-0 with a 1.85 career ERA against the Orioles. He is 7-0 with a 1.15 ERA in nine home assignments this season.
--Oakland LHP Brett Anderson will take the bump tonight as the A?s host Texas as short home favorites. Anderson has been sharp recently, posting a 2-1 record and 1.87 ERA in five starts during the month of July. With that said, we should note that the Rangers have feasted on southpaws with a 22-14 record against left-handed starters.
--Washington won a 5-3 decision Sunday at Pittsburgh as a plus-128 underdog. However, I?m real bullish on the Pirates in Monday?s series finale at PNC Park. The Nats are winless in Garrett Mock?s three starts this season. Mock, who made 13 relief appearances before joining the rotation, has an abysmal 7.09 ERA. Pittsburgh will turn to Charlie Morton, who is 1-1 with a 3.06 ERA his last three times out.
--The Pirates are 28-20 at home, while Washington is a pathetic 13-39 on the road.
--Arizona RHP Dan Haren (10-6, 2.19) has been one of the few bright spots for the Diamondbacks this year. He?ll take the ball Monday against the Mets and ?Zona is an expensive (-185ish) road ?chalk.? The D-backs won 5-2 at Citi Field on Sunday, hooking up their backers with a plus-110 payout.
--Just a monster win for the Marlins on Sunday, as they rallied from a 2-1 deficit in the ninth inning thanks to back-to-back homers from Dan Uggla and Cody Ross. The Fish won by a 3-2 count to stay within three games of the NL wild-card leaders, San Francisco and Colorado. The victory was even sweeter in that Florida produced its comeback win against former closer Kevin Gregg.
--I want to tip my cap to every gambler that played the Astros as plus-255 underdogs (risk $100 to win $255) in Sunday?s 2-0 win over St. Louis with Adam Wainwright throwing.
--Dodgers slugger Manny Ramirez doesn?t have an RBI in 42 consecutive at-bats. L.A. returns to Chavez Ravine tonight to take on Milwaukee as a minus-210 favorite. Joe Torre?s team spanked Atlanta by a 9-1 score last night before jumping the red eye out of Hartsfield-International.
--Likewise, the Braves headed west to start a series at San Diego tonight. They are short road favorites against the Padres.
--The Yankees dodged a sweep against the White Sox by prevailing 8-5 Sunday in the Windy City. They maintain a one-half game lead over Boston in the AL East. The Red Sox won their fourth straight Sunday, clobbering Baltimore in an 18-10 triumph as minus-150 road ?chalk.?
--Bettors have a chance to back one of MLB?s hottest pitchers tonight in San Francisco?s Matt Cain. Not only that, but the Giants can be had at an affordable minus-135 price (at least at The Palms as of early this morning). They are on the road facing Houston with Mike Hampton on the mound. Hampton is all over my fade list right now and the stat I?m about to mention doesn?t scare me away from a play on the Giants. With that said, we?d be remiss to not touch on Hampton?s 15-4 career record against San Francisco.
--The Cubs are minus-150 favorites tonight at Cincinnati. They will give the ball to Randy Wells, who is 3-0 with a 3.32 ERA in his last three outings. On the other hand, Aaron Harang is 0-3 with a 6.30 ERA his last three times out.
