Robert Ferringo
3.5-Unit Play. Take #961 Houston (-115) over Pittsburgh (7 p.m., Wednesday, June 4)
Has Roy turned the corner? I was really hoping that the Astros had lost last night. If so, this may have been our Game of the Month. Oswalt has had back-to-back quality outings and I'm hoping for another against a team he's fared well against in his career. He is 11-5 with a 2.49 career ERA against the Bucs and Houston has won six of his last eight starts against them. Houston is one of the best teams in the league against left-handed starters and Zach Duke is 0-3 in his career against the Astros. Houston showed some purpose and focus yesterday. I'm wagering they can keep it going.
2.5-Unit Play. Take #969 Los Angeles Angels (-120) over Seattle (4:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 4)
This play basically comes down to two things: 1) Carlos Silva is a slob, and 2) The Angels have been much, much better during the day. Silva didn't make it out of the first inning in his last start and has an ERA of 16.03 in his last three. He also has an 0-2 mark with a 7.66 ERA in day games, as opposed to his counterpart, Jared Weaver. Weaver is 10-2 with a 2.14 ERA in day games in his career and has even better numbers this year in the sunshine. As strange as it sounds, the Angels may be better off without Vlad in the lineup - he hadn't been hitting AT ALL - and I think they make it a clean sweep today.
2.5-Unit Play. Take #968 Oakland (-135) over Detroit (3:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 4)
This play is along the lines of the Angels wager. Detroit has been awful in day games and in road games, so it stands to reason that they'd be poor in road day games. The Tigers are 5-16 in day games and Nate Robertson has an 8.03 daytime ERA. Robertson is also 0-3 with a 6.12 ERA in his career at Oakland and is 14-24 during daylight hours.
2.5-Unit Play. Take #974 New York Yankees (-130) over Toronto (7 p.m., Wednesday, June 4)
Bounceback game for the Yankees. Home teams have dominated and after a big win by the Jays on Tuesday over Jaba I think the Bombers come roaring back. Their key lefty sticks - Damon, Matsui, Giambi, Abreu - have been hitting the ball well and I think they get to Jesse Litsch today. Mike Mussina has won seven of eight starts and is 14-4 as a home starter against Toronto in his career. Jesse Litsch has been exceptional recently, but he has actually been vulnerable at night. He has an ERA of 5.34 in evening games - a full two runs higher than his overall ERA. The Yanks even up the series with a W tonight.
1-Unit Play. Take #978 Minnesota (-115) over Baltimore (8 p.m., Wednesday, June 4)
Minnesota was one of my main teams to follow coming into this year because I knew they would be much better than the prognosticators projected. I haven't gone to them near enough, so we're going to start today. Baltimore is 6-20 in its last 26 against left-handed pitchers and just 2-9 in its last 11 against the Twins. After a surprise W yesterday I like the Twins to respond.
2.5-Unit Play. Take ?Over? 9.5 Florida at Atlanta (1 p.m., Wednesday, June 4)
2-Unit Play. Take ?Under? 10.5 Cleveland at Texas (8 p.m., Wednesday, June 4)
1-Unit Play. Take ?Over? 8.0 St. Louis at Washington (7 p.m., Wednesday, June 4)
1-Unit Play. Take ?Under? 9.0 Tampa Bay at Boston (7 p.m., Wednesday, June 4)
Note: if you haven't already played this Tampa-Boston total, bump it to a 1.5-Unit play