BEGINNING FRIDAY JULY 16
Florida at Pittsburgh (3) 16th, 17th, 18th
We?ll look for the Marlins to start heating things up in the second half. We?ll stay off of Penny and Pavano, despite their dazzling performances so far in 2004, out of respect for Pittsburgh?s numbers vs. righthanders (+$1050). But the Bucs are a pathetic 5-14 vs. lefthanders (-$905 overall with only 3.7 RPG at PNC Park), and Florida has emerged victorious in 6 of Dontrelle Willis?s 7 starts on the road this season (+$535). BEST BET: Willis.
San Diego at Houston (3) 16th, 17th, 18th
We said all along that the Astros were vastly overrated, and if you spent the first half laying those fat prices on Houston, you?ve paid dearly (44-44,-$2075 so far). The Padres less heralded mound corp has compiled a better team ERA (3.80 vs. 4.10) and they are very much in the playoff picture. They do their best work on the road vs. lefthanders (+$8-3, +$630 with 5.9 RPG) so take a shot vs. the only southpaw the Astros have. BEST BET: Padres vs. Pettitte.
Toronto at Texas (3) 16th, 17th, 18th
There?s no way to ignore the Rangers? phenomenal record at home vs. righties (21-7, +$1650). The Jays have a dreadful road record (16-26, -$940) so if these games stay true to form, it should be a good weekend for Texas. But we?ll advise caution if prices get too high. BEST BET: Rangers vs. righthanders at -160 or less.
BEGINNING MONDAY JULY 19
Montreal at Pittsburgh (2) 19th, 20th
The all-righty Montreal rotation (4.44 ERA) is tailor made for the Bucs (+$1050 in that situation). The Expos are averaging 3.4 RPG so far. PREFERRED: Pirates in both games.
Florida at N.Y. Mets (2) 19th, 20th
Glavine (2.66) & Leiter (2.05) look like a good value against a Marlins? team that is in the red vs. lefties (only 10-12, -$505 so far). PREFERRED: Glavine/Leiter.
Milwaukee at Cincinnati (2) 19th, 20th
Doug Davis (+$720, 3.46 ERA) looks like a good value vs. the light hitting Reds (only 3.6 RPG vs. lefties at home). PREFERRED: Davis.
Philadelphia at Atlanta (2) 19th, 20th
Go with the Braves vs. Philly?s righthanders (Atlanta +$645), but take the visitor when they start a southpaw (Braves -$530). PREFERRED: Braves vs. righthanders/Lefthanders vs. the Braves.
St. Louis at Chicago Cubs (2) 19th, 20th
The Cards have been tough on the road (+$1005) and we?re not confident in the Cubs vs. the visitor?s solid all-righty rotation (-$730 vs. righties at Wrigley). PREFERRED: Cardinals in both games.
Los Angeles at Houston (2) 19th, 20th
Another chance to fatten up with a quality LA team (+$1555 vs. righties) as probable underdogs vs. the most overrated team in baseball. PREFERRED: Dodgers vs. righthanders.
San Diego at Colorado (2) 19th, 20th
We?ll take the home team if Wells (-$405) is on the hill (Rockies +$695 vs. lefties), otherwise it?s all Padres (Colorado -$985 vs. righties). PREFERRED: Righthanders vs. the Rockies/Rockies vs. Wells.
San Francisco at Arizona (2) 19th, 20th
The D?Backs are unusable (-$3225 so far) but SF is in the red in road night games (-$500), so caution is advised. PREFERRED: None.
Minnesota at Detroit (2) 19th, 20th
Both teams are profitable vs., righties (Tigers +$1970, Twins +$370) but losers vs. lefties (Tigers -$970, Twins -$205) so play these accordingly. PREFERRED: Righthanders vs. lefthanders.
N.Y. Yankees at Tampa Bay (2) 19th, 20th
The Yanks are ineffective on the road vs. righties (-$1380) and if the D?Rays are smart they?ll send a pair of them to the hill and look for a profitable split. PREFERRED: Righthanders vs. the Yankees
Chicago W. Sox at Texas (2) 19th, 20th
Those White Sox righties all have inflated ERA?s, not what you need when going into the Ballpark at Arlington (Texas +$1860 vs. righties so far). PREFERRED: Rangers vs. righthanders.
Baltimore at Kansas City (2) 19th, 20th
The O?s have had success on the road vs. righties (+$475) and none of the Royals? starters give us much cause for concern. But steer clear of those KC lefties. PREFERRED: Orioles vs. righthanders.
Boston at Seattle (2) 19th, 20th
We?re reluctant to take the Mariners, but they?ll be big underdogs and Boston (-$1500 on the road) will be thinking about those upcoming games vs. NY. PREFERRED: Mariners in both games.
Toronto at Oakland (2) 19th, 20th
The Athletics will be favored, but with a 10-2 (+$750) record vs. lefthanders at the Coliseum, they?ll be tough to pass up if Ted Lilly is available. PREFERRED: Athletics vs. Lilly.
Cleveland at Anaheim (2) 19th, 20th
Take the Tribe vs. righties (+$960 in that situation) and go against them when the Angels start a lefty (Tribe -$820 vs. southpaws). PREFERRED: Indians vs. righthanders/Lefthanders vs. the Indians.
BEGINNING WEDNESDAY JULY 21
Cincinnati at Chicago Cubs (2) 21st 22nd
The Reds are big moneymakers vs. righthanders (+$1270 so far), while the Cubs are exactly the opposite (-$735) so we?ll play this one accordingly. PREFERRED: Reds when righty meets righty.
Florida at Philadelphia (2) 21st 22nd
The Marlins have dominated this team the past two seasons (6-0, +$635 in 2004) and they are 9-2 (+$735) vs. righties in day games on the road. PREFERRED: Marlins vs. righthanders in day games.
Pittsburgh at Atlanta (2) 21st 22nd
Oliver Perez has had a tremendous season for Pittsburgh (+$380, 3.24 ERA) and matches up well against the Braves (only 1317, -$530 vs. lefties so far). PREFERRED: Perez.
Montreal at N.Y. Mets (2) 21st 22nd
With a 13-29 road record (-$1175) there?s not much to say about the hapless Expos, especially with an all-righty rotation going into Shea (NY +$875 vs. righties). PREFERRED: Mets in both games.
Milwaukee at St. Louis (2) 21st 22nd
The Brewers hold a 5-2 edge in head to head play (+$645) and they?ve been profitable as visitors (+$400) so we?ll look for a split at attractive underdog prices. PREFERRED: Brewers in both games.
Houston at Arizona (2) 21st 22nd
The Astros have been a major disappointment (-$2075 overall) and the D?Backs are one of the worst teams in baseball (-$3225) so we?ll steer clear of this mess entirely. PREFERRED: None.
Colorado at Los Angeles (2) 21st 22nd
If we get a lefty vs. lefty matchup, we?ll take a shot on the visiting underdog (Rockies +$695 vs. southpaws with 5.7 RPG, LA -$505 with 3.4 RPG). PREFERRED: Rockies when lefty meets lefty.
San Diego at San Francisco (2) 21st 22nd
Both teams are making money vs. lefties (SF +$1140, SD +$395) and losing vs. righties (SD -$560, SF -$685) so we?ll play this series accordingly. PREFERRED: Righthanders vs. lefthanders.
Baltimore at Boston (2) 21st 22nd
The O?s have taken 4 out of 6 so far (+$430) and a split at these prices means a huge profit. PREFERRED: Orioles in both games.
Toronto at N.Y. Yankees (2) 21st 22nd
The Yankees are 21-5 vs. lefties in 2004 (+$1400 with 6.0 RPG) and the Blue Jays are dismal road performers (-$940), so go against ex-Yank Ted Lilly if he?s in the box. PREFERRED: Yankees vs. Lilly.
Kansas City at Detroit (2) 21st 22nd
KC is 11-30 on the road (-$1460) and the Tigers have been cleaning up vs. righthanders (+$1970) so use the home team regardless of price. PREFERRED: Tigers vs. righthanders.
Chicago W. Sox at Cleveland (2) 21st 22nd
The Indians are dismal vs. lefthanders (-$820) and the White Sox have the most profitable one in the majors in Mark Buehrle (+$785) who we?ll use if he?s available. PREFERRED: Buehrle.
Anaheim at Texas (2) 21st 22nd
The Angels are only 14-16 vs. righties on the road (-$200) while the Rangers check in with a sizzling 21-7 (+$1650) mark vs. righties at Arlington. PREFERRED: Rangers when righty meets righty.
Tampa Bay at Minnesota (2) 21st 22nd
The D?Rays are worth a try if the Twins send a lefty to the hill (TB +$820 in that spot). PREFERRED: Devil Rays vs. lefthanders.
Oakland at Seattle (2) 21st 22nd
The A?s need to improve that 20-27 (-$930) road record if they hope to capture the AL west title, so take them here if the price is reasonable. PREFERRED: Athletics at -135 or less.
