ROBERT FERRINGO
GAME OF MONTH
7-Unit Play. Take #956 Chicago White Sox (-135) over Chicago Cubs (4 p.m., Saturday, June 27)
Note: This is our Game of the Month.
After taking the first game of the series last night I think the White Sox keep it rolling over their Crosstown Rivals in a big way today. Javy Vazquez got knocked around a little bit against the Cubs on Sunday, but he was also the victim of a weak home run and the fact that the Sox hit into three DP?s in the first three innings. Vazquez is 13-3 in his last 16 home starts and is 22-10 in Chicago in his career. Further, the Sox have won six straight Vazquez starts when he gets an extra day of rest and 16-5 backing him as a favorite. Finally, Vazquez has a sparkling 1.26 ERA in day games this year (2-0) and has been a solid day starter in his career.
Sean Gallagher has dumped four straight road starts and in his career he is 0-3 with a 5.23 ERA. He has never faced the White Sox, so he?s never performed in this type of environment, and he is 0-2 with a 6.23 ERA in day games over the past two years. He hasn?t started in over a week, and that lack of a normal routine means that he could go either way ? either he?s on his (very average) game today or he doesn?t have the feel and could be bounced by the third inning against an ornery Sox lineup.
We have some other solid recent indicators here at work as well. The Cubs have been pretty average on the road lately, dropping four straight away from home and have gone 2-8 on the road as a dog of +110 to +150. They have also lost four straight games in A.L. parks. The White Sox, on the other hand, are 35-17 at home, 10-1 at home against an N.L. team with a winning record, and 17-7 against a right handed starters (20-6 at home). Finally, the Sox have been a great favorite. They are 17-4 as a home chalk and they still have the revenge factor on their side after losing three straight to the Cubs last week. The A.L., as a whole, has dominated the N.L. this year, particularly at home, and I think we get a W today with our Game of the Month.
3-Unit Play. Take #973 Philadelphia (-125) over Texas (8 p.m., Saturday, June 27)
If Texas' offense has a weakness, it's been against left-handed pitching. Cole Hamels, the Philly ace, is being called on here to help the Phils get back on track and I think he's going to answer with an ace performance. The Phillies are in danger of losing first place today. I think they understand this and I think they pounce all over their former mate, Vince Padilla. This will be a lower-scoring game (I have a lean on the 'under') and I think the difference will be the Philly bullpen late in this one.
2-Unit Play. Take #979 Los Angeles Angels (+115) over Los Angeles Dodgers (10 p.m.)
I'm still into fading Chad Billingsley. Neither the Angels nor the Dodgers have shown an ability to come back from an early deficit this year and I expect the Angels to get out front early. This one will be a grinder, but we're getting a great price on the more talented team. The Dodgers are working a patchwork lineup right now (especially in the infield) and I just don't believe that they have enough to sweep the Halos in this series. Therefore we'll be on L.A. or A until they get one.
2-Unit Play. Take #962 Detroit (-165) over Colorado (7 p.m., Saturday, June 27)
The Rockies are now 2-10 in their last 12 road games against the American League. Jeff Francis has been shaky, at best, this year and won't be getting any help from the ump behind the dish. He's facing a red-hot Detroit lineup that's been feasting on lefties for two years now (40-18 in their L58). Justin Verlander isn't all the way back, but he's looked good enough that I feel comfortable backing him.
1.5-Unit Play. Take #965 Tampa Bay (-130) over Pittsburgh (7 p.m., Saturday, June 27)
Ty Taubenheim was 4-9 with a 4.90 ERA in Triple-A and now is being called on to stop one of the hottest lineups in the Majors. I think we have to expect similar results to last night's Pitt spot starter - not good.
1.5-Unit Play. Take #976 Oakland (-135) over San Francisco (9 p.m., Saturday, June 27)
The weather is heating up, which means that the A's are getting hot as well. Justin Duchscherer has been one of the best bets in the business. And while I do hate going against Tim Lincecum, the San Fran ace has been touched up a little in his last three starts. But the red flag is that his velocity was down in his last start. Oakland is 18-6 in the last 24 meetings and 7-3 in their last 10 at home against the Giants.
Today's Totals
Remember Wednesday when we went 5-2 with our totals? Well, we have a similarly strong crop of umps today so I'm hoping for a 5-1 or 4-2 performance out of this group:
3-Unit Play. Take ?Over? 8.0 Arizona at Florida (7 p.m., Saturday, June 28)
3-Unit Play. Take ?Over? 9.5 Tampa Bay at Pittsburgh (7 p.m., Saturday, June 27)
2.5-Unit Play. Take ?Over? 9.5 St. Louis at Kansas City (7 p.m., Saturday, June 27)
2.5-Unit Play. Take ?Over? 9.0 Boston at Houston (7 p.m., Saturday, June 27)
2-Unit Play. Take ?Under? 8.5 Baltimore at Washington (7 p.m., Saturday, June 28)
1.5-Unit Play. Take ?Over? 9.5 Milwaukee at Minnesota (7 p.m., Saturday, June 27)