LT Profits
Oakland Athletics +230
Francisco Liriano of the Minnesota Twins appears to be back in peak form, but Dallas Braden has also pitched well for the Oakland Athletics and the fact that Oakland has the better bullpen makes the, attractive at this monster price.
Braden may have been rushed to the majors last season, although he did show some flashes while he was up, and it probably served him best that he began this season in the minors. He has matured since his call-up, allowing three runs or less in three of his five starts, and he comes in here off of back-to-back Quality Starts.
The most impressive aspect about Braden since his recall has been his control, as he has just six walks in 44 innings, including only a total of two in those last two outings. It should also serve him well that the Twins have never faced him before, and if he is in need of relief, the Athletics ranks fifth in the majors with a 3.51 bullpen ERA.
Now we obviously have nothing negative to say about Liriano right now, as he has allowed a grand total of three earned runs in 18.2 innings in his three comeback starts. However, he does not figure to toss a Complete Game yet at this stage of his recovery, so if Braden continues his fine pitching and keeps Oakland within reach, the Oakland pen would actually shift the advantage to their favor in a tight game late.
In what could very well be a toss up in the late stages, there is enormous value taking this big price here.
Athletics +230
Tampa Bay Rays -125
The Tampa Bay Rays are now 5-0 at Tropicana Field vs. the Los Angeles Angels this year after winning the first two games of this series, and we look for the Rays to finish off the home season sweep tonight.
Rays starter Matt Garza is coming off of a Complete Game two-hit shutout of the normally hard-hitting Texas Rangers at Arlington. This marked his second Complete Game shutout in six starts, and the third time in those six starts that he has tossed at least 7.2 scoreless innings. Garza also has a nice 2.47 ERA and 1.11 WHIP at home this year.
Jered Weaver has been a disappointment for an excellent Angel team, as he is only 10-9 with a 4.48 ERA, with the Halos as a team going a modest 12-12 in his starts. Weaver has failed to record a Quality Start in his last five starts, allowing at least five earned runs in two of those outings. He also has a rather high 1.45 WHIP on the road for the entire year.
The Rays are an amazing 47-17 at home, and we see no reason why they cannot bust out the brooms here.
Rays -125
Oakland Athletics +230
Francisco Liriano of the Minnesota Twins appears to be back in peak form, but Dallas Braden has also pitched well for the Oakland Athletics and the fact that Oakland has the better bullpen makes the, attractive at this monster price.
Braden may have been rushed to the majors last season, although he did show some flashes while he was up, and it probably served him best that he began this season in the minors. He has matured since his call-up, allowing three runs or less in three of his five starts, and he comes in here off of back-to-back Quality Starts.
The most impressive aspect about Braden since his recall has been his control, as he has just six walks in 44 innings, including only a total of two in those last two outings. It should also serve him well that the Twins have never faced him before, and if he is in need of relief, the Athletics ranks fifth in the majors with a 3.51 bullpen ERA.
Now we obviously have nothing negative to say about Liriano right now, as he has allowed a grand total of three earned runs in 18.2 innings in his three comeback starts. However, he does not figure to toss a Complete Game yet at this stage of his recovery, so if Braden continues his fine pitching and keeps Oakland within reach, the Oakland pen would actually shift the advantage to their favor in a tight game late.
In what could very well be a toss up in the late stages, there is enormous value taking this big price here.
Athletics +230
Tampa Bay Rays -125
The Tampa Bay Rays are now 5-0 at Tropicana Field vs. the Los Angeles Angels this year after winning the first two games of this series, and we look for the Rays to finish off the home season sweep tonight.
Rays starter Matt Garza is coming off of a Complete Game two-hit shutout of the normally hard-hitting Texas Rangers at Arlington. This marked his second Complete Game shutout in six starts, and the third time in those six starts that he has tossed at least 7.2 scoreless innings. Garza also has a nice 2.47 ERA and 1.11 WHIP at home this year.
Jered Weaver has been a disappointment for an excellent Angel team, as he is only 10-9 with a 4.48 ERA, with the Halos as a team going a modest 12-12 in his starts. Weaver has failed to record a Quality Start in his last five starts, allowing at least five earned runs in two of those outings. He also has a rather high 1.45 WHIP on the road for the entire year.
The Rays are an amazing 47-17 at home, and we see no reason why they cannot bust out the brooms here.
Rays -125
