BEGINNING THURSDAY JULY 15
Philadelphia at N.Y. Mets (4) 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th
The Phillies have a slight lead in the competitive NL East, but we wouldn?t bet on much success in this series. The Mets have a huge edge in pitching (3.75 team ERA, best in the majors, vs. 4.46 for Philly) and they?ve won 6 of the first 9 head to head contests (+$405). Most notably, New York has fared very well vs. righties here at Shea (19-12, +$610), and none of the righties in the visitor?s rotation have been profitable. BEST BET: Mets vs. righthanders.
St. Louis at Cincinnati (4) 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th
The Reds have the 2nd lowest team BA in the league (.251) and the 3rd worst ERA (4.87) so it?s hard to see them keeping pace with the surging Cardinals, who have already beaten them in 5 out of 6 (+$290). St. Louis checks in with the highest team BA (2.76, averaging 5.3 runs per game) and they are close to the Mets in pitching (3.81). They?ve got the best road record in the majors (26-15, +$1005) so we?ll grab them as a visitor in this series at what should be reasonable prices. BEST BET: Cardinals in all games.
Montreal at Atlanta (4) 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th
The Braves were given up for dead a few weeks back, but they?ve come roaring back into contention (7.2, +$535 last 10 days with 6.6 RPG and a 3.33 ERA among starters). The Expos are the worst team in the majors (31-56, -$1900) and they?ve lost 7 of 9 vs. Atlanta already (-$425), but it?s hard to take the home favorite under these circumstances, since prices will prohibitive. If we see something we like on game day we?ll reconsider. BEST BET: None.
Milwaukee at Chicago Cubs (4) 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th
These NL Central also-rans are in a virtual dead heat with each other, but the perception is that the Cubs have underperformed (47-40, -$395) while the Brewers have exceeded expectations (45-41, +$985). But since the Cubs are 8-1 vs. lefties at Wrigley, we?ll avoid the Milwaukee southpaws, focusing instead on Sheets (+$510, 2.26 ERA) and Santos (+$395, 3.82) who are ideally suiting for this assignment (Cubs -$735 vs. righties so far). BEST BET: Sheets/Santos.
San Francisco at Colorado (4) 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th
The Giants have been coming on strong in recent weeks, but the Rockies have suddenly gotten hot (8-2, +$1045 last 10 days) and could cause some trouble here at Coors field. The Giants have not fared well on the road in night games (13-18, -$500) and if they send Kirk Rueter to the hill in any of the first three games of this series, Colorado has the edge (Rockies 8-3, +$520 vs. southpaws at home with 7.8 runs per game). BEST BET: Rockies vs. Rueter at night
Los Angeles at Arizona (4) 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th
The Dodgers are hot again, jumping to the top of the NL West once again and we don?t want any part of the hapless Diamondbacks right now (31-58, -$3225 overall). LA is especially effective vs. righthanders (38-24, +$1555) and none of the home team?s hurlers gives us much cause for concern (5.00 team ERA, 2nd worst in the league). BEST BET: Dodgers vs. righthanders.
N.Y. Yankees at Detroit (4) 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th
The Yankees were upset by the Tigers in New York last week, losing 2 out of 3 (-$310) and they might be susceptible to a similar fate at Comerica Park. Detroit has been very tough at home vs. righties (+$660) while New York has dropped a bundle vs. righties in road games (14-17, -$1380). Bonderman (+$425) and Knotts (+$450) have been profitable starters despite inflated ERA?s, and should provide outstanding value. BEST BET: Bonderman/Knotts.
Baltimore at Tampa Bay (4) 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th
The D?Rays were swept in New York just prior to the All-Star break, dropping 3 games below .500 after finally building a winning record. Their numbers are unimpressive (4.74 team ERA, .259 BA, near the bottom in both departments) and we think they will trend downward in the second half. The Orioles have had a tough stretch, and their pitching remains weak (5.10 ERA). But they are a better hitting team (.280), so we?ll us them throughout and look for no worse than a profitable split. BEST BET: Orioles in all games.
Minnesota at Kansas City (4) 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th
The Twins are 9 and 3 vs. the Royals so far (+$570) and considering how pitiful the Royals are (.254 team BA, 5.10 ERA, worst in the league in both categories), it?s hard to believe they lost the 3. Minnesota has pounded righties on the road (16-9, +$955) so we?ll lay whatever price we have to on the visitor in that situation. Don?t be tempted by rising prices as the season wears on, KC should be avoided in the second half. BEST BET: Twins vs. righthanders.
Cleveland at Seattle (4) 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th
The Mariners are another team that has fallen by the wayside (only 32-54, -$2760) and they?ll spend the next two months experimenting with young talent as they attempt to rebuild their pitching staff. The Tribe has gotten some mileage out of their meager supply of talent, and their numbers vs. righthanders remain solid (+$960). They?ll no doubt be available at reasonable road prices, and should do no worse that a split. BEST BET: Indians vs. righthanders.
Chicago W. Sox at Oakland (4) 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th
We?d like to go against the A?s, given that their pitching has not looked sharp in recent days (7.08 ERA among starters last 10). But the White Sox have been terrible vs. lefthanders (only 9-15, -$795) and since Tim Hudson won?t be back from the DL in time for this series, the visitor will be fed a steady diet of southpaws. Oakland is 10-2 at home vs. lefties (+$750) so we?ll play this series accordingly, regardless of price. BEST BET: Athletics when lefty meets lefty.
Boston at Anaheim (4) 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th
The Red Sox are in a tough spot right now, trailing New York by 7 games in the AL East and having to make a west coast swing against this tough wildcard contender, with another series vs. the Yankees looming. The Angels won the first two meeting (+$245) and have a chance to beat up on a Boston team that has been dismal on the road (-$1500 so far). Even Schilling and Martinez are big losers outside of Fenway (-$1080 combined). BEST BET: Angels in all games.