Robert Ferringo
5-Unit Play. Take #910 St. Louis (-135) over Milwaukee (8 p.m., Tuesday, July 22)
Note: This is our Game of the Week.
I do not think that Jeff Suppan is OK and that is kind of at the crux of this play. Suppan is making his first start since a stint on the 15-day disabled list. However, he says that he's been pitching through pain in his shoulder since May. Who is to say if he's OK? St. Louis should be all over him regardless, seeing as the former Cardinals starter has no secrets when pitching against his former team. Further, Milwaukee won Game 1 and has C.C. and Sheets sitting in the kicker. They're in a great spot. And St. Louis knows they are in a rough one, putting all of the onus on getting this game tonight. This one is huge, and I think they will pull out all of the stops. The Brewers, on the other hand, may be more inclined to ease up, set their bullpen for the next two games, and try to walk out of St. Louis with a 3-1 series win. Further, the Brewers, a notoriously poor road team, has won four straight away from home. Teams playing in their fifth road game during such a streak this year are just 5-10. Kyle Lohse has been an ace for much of the year and has been dynamite at home (6-1, 2.37 ERA), while Suppan is just 3-5 with a 6.04 road ERA on the season. St. Louis is 11-1 in Lohse's last 12 starts and 5-2 in the last seven at home against Milwaukee. I think they bounceback nicely and we collect on a small price.
3-Unit Play. Take ?Over? 9.5 Minnesota at New York Yankees (7 p.m., Tuesday, July 22)
2-Unit Play. Take #917 Minnesota (+120) over New York Yankees (7 p.m., Tuesday, July 22)
Still working the Twins in this series and looking for a lot o' runs today. We have Tim McClelland behind the dish and he has a notoriously small zone. Mix in the fact that neither one of these arms are exactly lockdown candidates and we should be in business. The Twins have been an 'over' machine and they always swing better against righties, since most of Minny's power comes from the left-hand side. Darrell Rasner is a nibbler, and if McClelland isn't giving him the corners then he'll be in trouble. The Yankees seem to have their heads (and bats) out of their asses, so look for at least a 4-spot from them as well.
1.5-Unit Play. Take #903 Philadelphia (+1.5, -145) over New York Mets (7 p.m., Tuesday, July 22)
1-Unit Play. Take #903 Philadelphia (+155) over New York Mets (7 p.m., Tuesday, July 22)
I wish I had a nickel for every time the Mets let down their fans in a situation just like this. They are playing at home. They have a ton of momentum. First place is on the line. They have their ace on the hill and have a severe pitching mismatch. Their rival, the Phillies, have lost two of three in Florida before coming to Shea. It's after an off day, which has been money for the Mets over the last three years. Everything - I mean everything - sets up for the Mets. And that's the problem. It's too perfect. We're getting good odds on a Philly team that has owned New York over the last couple years. And this is the perfect situation where everyone expects the Mets to sweep into first place. Well, I know better. Look for seven shutout from Johan and then a Mets bullpen meltdown to give the Phillies the win.
1.5-Unit Play. Take #929 Boston (-160) over Seattle (10 p.m., Tuesday, July 22)
The Red Sox know knuckleballs and, even though R.A. Dickey has had some nice outings and has a generous ump behind the plate, I think that Boston gets all over him today. The Sox are patient and they are a veteran hitting team. The knuckleball is not going to phase them. On the flip side, Dice-K just wins when he takes the hill for Beantown. They are 19-7 in his last 26 starts and 10-1 in his starts against a team with a losing record.
1.5-Unit Play. Take #922 Tampa Bay (-150) over Oakland (7 p.m., Tuesday, July 22)
Note: If you haven't already made this play, please back it down to a 1-Unit selection.
I like the Rays - if they are getting -160 or less at home they are almost an automatic pick - but the number is dropping more than it should. It's a solid situation with a great home team facing what looks like a languid Oakland crew. But bump it down to a 1-Unit pick.
1.5-Unit Play. Take #924 Chicago White Sox (-165) over Texas (8 p.m., Tuesday, July 22)
1-Unit Play. Take #924 Chicago White Sox (-1.5, +120) over Texas (8 p.m., Tuesday, July 22)
Mark Buehrle has slowly but surely put together a nice little season and I think he's going to have the Rangers on their toes today. Texas has struggled a bit against lefties, going just 5-11 against southpaws overall recently and 16-35 against lefties on the road over the last couple years. The White Sox took a gut shot on Monday but I see them rallying back nicely. They feel the heat in their division and Ozzie will have them focused and ready to tool on that Rangers bullpen.
1-Unit Play. Take Los Angeles Angels (-1.5, +110) over Cleveland (10 p.m., Tuesday, July 22)
Matt Ginter has a career ERA of nearly 9.00 against the Angels and Jared Weaver is always on his game in front of the home faithful. The Angels had a letdown yesterday after their big sweep over Boston, but I expect them to get it straight today and get all over the Indians. This play should rate much higher given the system, situation, and pitching mismatch. However, the Indians are playing well and we're just playing the numbers and looking for a small cash.
1-Unit Play. Take #913 Chicago Cubs (+100) over Arizona (9 p.m., Tuesday, July 22)
Cubs aren't going to get swept in the desert since they are the better team than the D-Backs. I ignored my system yesterday and went with Chicago, like a fool, but we're going to get some of that cheddar back behind Jason Marquis. He's been very, very good to us this year and I think he'll come through again today over a spot starters. I love Petit. But if he can't go seven innings that's going to get us into that weak D-Backs pen.
1-Unit Play. Take 'Over' 9.5 Pittsburgh at Houston (8 p.m., Tuesday, July 22)
Just another stellar pitching matchup in Houston, with lefty Paul Maholm (1-5, 5.10 ERA) on the hill for the Pirates and being countered by the immortal Jack Cassel (6.28 ERA anywhere). We have Jim Reynolds behind the dish and the 'over' is 14-4 in his 18 games this year. He doesn't have an overly tight zone, but it should be enough for two bad starters and two weak bullpens to get 'over'.