i don't see any gold this sunday. here are a few selections:
cincin + 140 at houston
dessens is an ok pitcher, certainly better in the season than lima. looking at the last few outings, it looks like he will go about 6 innings and give up about 4 runs. relievers will have to come in and contain houston.
lima had a horrible season last year, and this one is just slightly better, but nothing spectacular. he has had many rocky starts and got knocked off early often. the disparity in era is in favor of cinci by app. 2 runs.
not great value, but ok. i will take the +140 here and look for a game in the area of 5-4 cinci, so the under (12)as well.
ariz at chicubs
ellis is a solid 6-7 inning man, has allowed only one homer in 37 innings and his bases on balls per 9 innings has dropped drastically, now averaging less than 3 per 9 innings of work. his last two outings have been excellent, allowing 8 hits, 3 runs, 2 bases on balls in 13 innings (2 starts).
tapani on the other hand, had a great start but has been knocked off early in his last two, giving up 15 hits and 8 runs in his last 9 innings (2 games) as a starter.
trend wise, there is enough of a disparity here to take the visitor plus 110, not convinced that home field is enough to win this one.
s.f. at atlanta
livan's problems continue, despite his 2-1 in his last 3 outings. it could have easily been 1-2. his era is a horrendous 7, though he has improved on it lately.
burkett, on the other hand, has a very misleading 1-4 record, with a 2.82 era, evidence of the lack of power of the braves. he has been pitching a solid 7 innings for quite a few games now, and taking into account the 5 plus era differential here, atlanta is a solid pick. if atlanta's hitting was on, this would be at least a 180/100 proposition, so -125 is a bargain.
conclusion
4 picks
cinci +140 and the under
arizona +110
atlanta -125
pep
cincin + 140 at houston
dessens is an ok pitcher, certainly better in the season than lima. looking at the last few outings, it looks like he will go about 6 innings and give up about 4 runs. relievers will have to come in and contain houston.
lima had a horrible season last year, and this one is just slightly better, but nothing spectacular. he has had many rocky starts and got knocked off early often. the disparity in era is in favor of cinci by app. 2 runs.
not great value, but ok. i will take the +140 here and look for a game in the area of 5-4 cinci, so the under (12)as well.
ariz at chicubs
ellis is a solid 6-7 inning man, has allowed only one homer in 37 innings and his bases on balls per 9 innings has dropped drastically, now averaging less than 3 per 9 innings of work. his last two outings have been excellent, allowing 8 hits, 3 runs, 2 bases on balls in 13 innings (2 starts).
tapani on the other hand, had a great start but has been knocked off early in his last two, giving up 15 hits and 8 runs in his last 9 innings (2 games) as a starter.
trend wise, there is enough of a disparity here to take the visitor plus 110, not convinced that home field is enough to win this one.
s.f. at atlanta
livan's problems continue, despite his 2-1 in his last 3 outings. it could have easily been 1-2. his era is a horrendous 7, though he has improved on it lately.
burkett, on the other hand, has a very misleading 1-4 record, with a 2.82 era, evidence of the lack of power of the braves. he has been pitching a solid 7 innings for quite a few games now, and taking into account the 5 plus era differential here, atlanta is a solid pick. if atlanta's hitting was on, this would be at least a 180/100 proposition, so -125 is a bargain.
conclusion
4 picks
cinci +140 and the under
arizona +110
atlanta -125
pep
