Lenny Del Genio
15* Pitching Mismatch GOW (6-1 L2 days)
Play on San Diego at 10:05 ET. Greg Maddux gets his second crack at win #350 and he�ll get it tonight going against the horrible Matt Cain of San Francisco, who has seen the Giants lose all ten of his starts in the road underdog role. That�s just part of the problem, of course, as Cain has seen his team lost 27 of his last 36 starts overall! He hasn�t won a game since last August � a span of nine starts. His ERA over his last three starts is 9.20. San Francisco is coming off a sweep at the hands of Arizona. Maddux has dominated the Giants, owning a 16-4 mark vs. them since 1997 and has an ERA of 2.41. Padres will happy to return home after a 1-5 road swing. San Diego is our 15* Pitching Mismatch Game of the Week.
Good luck, Lenny
Lenny Del Genio's 15* MLB Dog of the Week (6-1 L2 Days)
Play on Arizona at 10:10 ET. We have no choice but to jump on Dan Haren and the D'backs at this price. Haren has never lost to the Dodgers (two starts) nor has he ever lost in the National League (four starts). Needless to say, he's made a much smoother transition to the Senior Circuit than has former teammate Barry Zito. Arizona crushed LA earlier this month, sweeping them and outscoring them 23-11 over the three games. That's just a part of the D'backs 13-3 mark against division foes this season. While the Dodgers Derek Lowe is also off to a solid personal star, he isn't getting the type of run support Haren is as Dodger Blue, who is 13th in the NL with just 83 runs scored total. After getting 11 runs of support in his lone victory, he has gotten just two in his other three outings. Haren has benefited from a ML best 29 runs. Arizona is our 15* MLB Dog of the Week!
Michael Cannon
NBA Playoffs: 4-1 (+60 dimes)
15 Dime ?
76ERS
Take the points with the 76ers in their Game Two matchup with the Pistons.
Granted, not many people saw the 76ers winning Game One outright, and I?m not calling for them to take a 2-0 series lead, but this line just doesn?t do Philadelphia any justice whatsoever.
I don?t doubt Detroit will come out focused and ready to exact revenge, but they are a team that is getting a little long in the tooth and the youthful exuberance of the 76ers should be enough to keep them within the number tonight.
Detroit had all kinds of excuses after the game about not giving a consistent effort and how they?ll make things right in Game Two.
Again, I don?t doubt they?ll be ready for this game, but they gave the 76ers something very dangerous in losing Game One.
Hope.
Now Philadelphia is confident they can take Detroit?s best shot and find themselves still standing at the end. Remember, this is a 76ers team that has won three straight against Detroit, including two on the road. They are also on a 10-3 ATS run in their last 13 road games.
Take the points with Philadelphia as they stay within the number tonight.
5 Dime ?
PHILLIES (With Hamels and Bush as listed pitchers)
Let?s stick with the City of Brotherly Love and back the Phillies on the road over the Brewers.
A bit of a pitching mismatch as Cole Hamels takes the mound opposite Dave Bush.
Bush has been struggling this season, going 0-3 with a 7.02 ERA. The right-hander has received only six total runs of support in his three starts and has failed to pitch more than six innings in any of those starts.
The Brewers bullpen could be taxed after using seven relievers last night.
Hamels was roughed up in his last start for Philadelphia, but I like him to bounce back to the form that saw him give up just two earned runs in his first three starts.
Take the Phillies as they grab the road win.
5 Dime ?
INDIANS (With Carmona and Tomko as listed pitchers)
Take the Tribe for the road win tonight over the Royals.
The Indians? offense broke out in a big way last night with 15 runs and 17 hits and I wouldn?t be surprised to see a similar output tonight.
They probably won?t need such an outburst with Fausto Carmona getting the start. The right-hander is 2-1 with a 1.96 ERA on the year, which is impressive considering the control issues he had through his first three starts. But Carmona looks like he might have that issue resolved after issuing just one free pass in his last start.
Brett Tomko will start for Kansas City and I don?t expect him to quell the Tribe?s offense. Royals? starters have allowed 46 runs in their last five losses, and Tomko is coming off a start in which he allowed five runs in seven innings last Thursday.
Take the Indians as they grab the road win.