BEGINNING MONDAY MAY 2
St. Louis at Cincinnati (3) 2nd, 3rd, 4th
We don?t expect to see Mark Mulder in this series, and that means a steady diet of St. Louis righthanders for the home team. The Reds are only 4-8 (+$375) vs. righties so far this year with 3.1 runs per game, and that?s a problem vs. a team they only beat 5 times in 19 attempts last year (-$430) and one that has excelled on the road the past two seasons (+$1800 in ?04, 6-1, +$495 so far in 2005). PREFERRED: Cardinals in all games.
Philadelphia at N.Y. Mets (4) 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th
The Mets pounded out 20 runs in a two game set in Philly last week, and considering the sorry state of the visitors? rotation (5.34 ERA), we like the Mets chances here (NY 7-2, +$395 at Shea Stadium so far). All the New York starters have been effective and they should lead this team to wins in at least 3 of the 4 contests. PREFERRED: Mets in all games.
Pittsburgh at Houston (3) 2nd, 3rd, 4th
The Astros got the best of this team in head to head play last year (12-5, +$330) and they?ve gone 7-2 (+$500) at home to start the season. The Pirates can?t hit (.230 team BA) their pitching is awful (5.08 ERA) and they are especially vulnerable against lefthanders (only 1-4, -$280 with 2.2 run per game). Go with Andy Pettitte (3.55 ERA) who?s slated to take a turn. PREFERRED: Pettitte.
San Francisco at Arizona (3) 2nd, 3rd, 4th
The Giants have been dreadful on the road (only 2-5, -$350) and their pitching is among the weakest in the NL right now (5.01 team ERA). the Diamondbacks are a very profitable 11-8 right now (+$345) and they?ve got a trio of starters who we?re interested in backing if and when available. PREFERRED: Webb/Halsey/Ortiz.
Colorado at San Diego (3) 2nd, 3rd, 4th
These teams opened the season with a high scoring split at Coors Field (42 runs scored in just two games). The Rockies are absolutely pitiful on the road (1-7, -$530) but we?re not comfortable laying big prices on the Padres after watching them getting swept by the Diamondbacks at Bank One last weekend. PREFERRED: None.
Washington at L.A. Dodgers (3) 2nd, 3rd, 4th
LA may be cooling off after jumping to that 12-2 start, and that may open the door for a Washington team that is 5-3 (+$430) on the road vs. righties. We?ll see several potential spots that look promising. PREFERRED: Nationals vs. all righthanders except Lowe.
Toronto at Baltimore (3) 2nd, 3rd, 4th
The O?s banged out 24 runs in a three game sweep at Skydome last weekend, as they continue to hold onto first place in the AL East. But Toronto has been deadly as a visitor thus far (7-5, +$340) and Baltimore is a disappointing 1-4 (-$410) vs. righties in night games at Camden Yards, a setting they fared poorly in last year (16-19, -$290). PREFERRED: Righthanders vs. the Orioles in night games.
Boston at Detroit (4) 2nd, 3rd, 4th,5th
The Bosox took 6 out of 7 in head to head play last year (+$480) and while we harbor some doubts about them as a road team, we?re
not about to pass up an opportunity to go against that dismal Tiger record vs. righthanders (5-9, -$615). Avoid Schilling, but the rest of them look very inviting. PREFERRED: Arroyo/Clement/Wakefield.
N.Y. Yankees at Tampa Bay (4) 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th
We?ve got the team with the AL?s highest team BA (.291) vs, the team with the 3rd worst ERA (5.27). Hard to believe it?s the Devil Rays who are hitting and Yankees who aren?t pitching. Tampa earned a profitable split in New York last week, the Yanks are only 4-10 (-$1350 vs. righties) and will be so high priced that if the home team splits we?ll clean up. PREFERRED: Devil Rays in all games.
Texas at Oakland (3) 2nd, 3rd, 4th
We?d love to use the Rangers against Barry Zito, who hasn?t flashed anything close to Cy Young form in a couple of years. But it appears he?ll miss this series entirely so we?ll settle for a play on Kenny rogers (3.33 ERA) against an Oakland team that is averaging only 3.0 runs per game vs. lefthanders. PREFERRED: Rogers.
L.A. Angels at Seattle (3) 2nd, 3rd, 4th
The Mariners are only 1-4 (-$320) vs. lefties, with just 3.0 runs per game, and Jarrod Washburn has been effective in his two most recent starts (3.46 ERA). We?ll also take the fat price against Jaime Moyer, considering LA?s 22-7 (+$1435) vs. lefties on the road the past two years. PREFERRED: Washburn/Angels vs. Moyer.
BEGINNING TUESDAY MAY 3
Florida at Atlanta (2) 3rd, 4th
The Braves dominated head to head play last year (14-5, +$1115), and they?ve got the pitching to capture their 14th consecutive division title (2.90 ERA). But the Marlins? pitching is just too good right now to go against (2.27 ERA, best in baseball). PREFERRED: None.
Chicago Cubs at Milwaukee (3) 3rd, 4th, 5th
The Brewers were a disaster at Miller Park in 2004 (-$830) and are off to a weak 2-7 (-$525) start this year. The all-righty Chicago rotation should make short work of this team that averages only 4.2 runs per game vs. righthanders. PREFERRED: Cubs in all games.
Kansas City at Chicago W. Sox (3) 3rd, 4th, 5th
The Chisox swept KC in Kaufman Stadium last week, en route to a 15-4 (+$1115) start. Prices will be out of range against the league?s weakest franchise, so we?ll stay away for now. PREFERRED: None.
Cleveland at Minnesota (3) 3rd, 4th, 5th
The Twins are 4-0 vs. lefthanders here at the Metrodome (+$400 with 7.5 runs per game) so go with the home team when Sabathia and Lee are on the hill. Both are off to good starts so the home team won?t be favored by much. PREFERRED: Twins vs. Sabathia & Lee.
