BEGINNING MONDAY MAY 16
Milwaukee at Washington (4) 16th, 17th, 18th,19th
The Brewers are holdng steady at the .500 level 30 games into the season and they?ve got a pair of hurlers who are holding the pitching staff together in the absence of Ben Sheets. Milwaukee has won 5 of Chris Capuano?s 7 starts so far (+$495) and Victor Santos checks in with a 2.76 ERA. We?ll no doubt get to use one if not both in this four game series. PREFERRED: Capuano/Santos.
Cincinnati at N.Y. Mets (3) 16th, 17th, 18th
The Reds have a terrible pitching staff (5.79 ERA) and they?ve compiled an embarrassing 3-11 record on the road (-$670). The Mets are very tough in their own backyard (11-5, +$565 at Shea Stadium) and should do no worse than taking 2 out of 3 in this series. PREFERRED: Mets in all games.
Atlanta at San Diego (3) 16th, 17th, 18th
The Padres are 9-2 in night games at Petco Park (+$620) and the Braves are only averaging 3.3 runs per game on the road at night. We?ll stick with Eaton (+$325, 3.79 ERA) and Peavy (+$350, 2.32 ERA) as long as they are starting in one of the two scheduled evening games. PREFERRED: Eaton & Peavy in night games.
Florida at L.A. Dodgers (3) 16th, 17th, 18th
The Dodgers are 7-1 vs. lefties (+$570), averaging 7.5 runs per game in those contests. They?ll catch a nice price when Dontrelle Willis is in opposition, and Al Leiter can?t seem to get anyone out these days (allowed 8 runs vs. the pitiful Rockies in his last start). Both are likely to see action. PREFERRED: Dodgers vs. lefthanders.
L.A. Angels at Cleveland (3) 16th, 17th, 18th
We talked about the Angels? successes on the road vs. lefthanders (20-7, +$1220 in ?04, 3-0, +$360 already this year) but considering how poorly the Indians have played at Jacobs Field (only 3-8, -$775) we?re inclined to go against them when their more capable pitchers are on the hill, regardless of the opponent. PREFERRED: Colon/ Escobar/Washburn/Angels vs. lefthanders.
Texas at Chicago W. Sox (3) 16th, 17th, 18th
The Rangers had a breakout year in 2004, but they still couldn?t figure out how to beat the White Sox (only 3-6, -$435 in head to head play). Now the White Sox have the best record in baseball (24-7, +$1700) and Texas is again being plagued by pitching woes (4.84 team ERA). If the prices aren?t to high we?ll ride the hot home team. PREFERRED: White Sox at -140 or less.
Boston at Oakland (3) 16th, 17th, 18th
The Athletics had lots of trouble against the top teams in the east last year, and the Red Sox were certainly no exception (1-8, -$735). But we?re still wary of backing Boston on the road, given their poor showing as visitors last year (-$1180) and the fact that they?ve yet to get on track in that department this year. PREFERRED: None.
N.Y. Yankees at Seattle (3) 16th, 17th, 18th
It?s hard to get a read on the Yankees right now, who could emerge from their coma and start rolling at any moment. They showed signs of life against Oakland in New York last weekend, while the Mariners were floundering in Fenway (3-7, -$360 last 10 days). We?ll examine this matchup more closely as game day draws near and a more up to date picture emerges. PREFERRED: None.
BEGINNING TUESDAY MAY 17
St. Louis at Philadelphia (3) 17th, 18th, 19th
The Cardinals dropped 2 out of 3 to this team at Busch Stadium earlier in the year (-$200) and it looks like they?ll be in against both Lieber (2.57 ERA) and Myers (1.49), two of our favorites right now. St. Louis has stumbled in recent days (5-6, -$320 last 10) and may run into trouble against the Phillies. PREFERRED: Lieber/Myers.
Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh (2) 17th, 18th
The Cubs have dropped a bundle on the road (6-10, -$535) but it?s very hard to get excited by a Pittsburgh team that is only 3-9 (-$650) at PNC Park this season. We?ll steer clear of this matchup for the time being. PREFERRED: None.
Arizona at Houston (3) 17th, 18th, 19th
The Diamondbacks are off to a solid start, but they are only 6-7 on the road and their numbers vs. lefthanders are unimpressive (only 3.5 runs per game). Andy Pettitte has looked very sharp despite a lack of run support (3.33 ERA in 7 starts) and is slated to take a turn in this series. PREFERRED: Pettitte.
San Francisco at Colorado (3) 17th, 18th, 19th
We?ll try to steal a couple a win with Shawn Chacon (3.25 ERA) against a San Francisco team that is hovering at .500, thanks to a pitching staff that has underperformed up to this point (4.82 ERA, 3rd worst in the NL). PREFERRED: Chacon.
Tampa Bay at Detroit (3) 17th, 18th, 19th
The Devil Rays beat Randy Johnson at Yankee Stadium one night back in April, but have failed to win another game on the road all year (-$640). They?ll be very lucky to salvage a single win in this series. PREFERRED: Tigers in all games.
Baltimore at Kansas City (3) 17th, 18th, 19th
The Orioles are 9-2 (+$890) on the road thus far, while the Royals are a pitiful 2-12 (-$1010) at Kaufman Stadium. If the prices don?t get too high, we?ll continue to ride on the surging visitor. PREFERRED: Orioles at -170 or less.
Toronto at Minnesota (3) 17th, 18th, 19th
The Twins are losing money at home vs. righthanders (-$295) and the Blue Jays have been a formidable road club (11-7, +$785) Roy Halladay (+$360, 3.78) has been flashing his Cy Young form, and is likely to take the hill at the Metrodome. PREFERRED: Halladay.
Milwaukee at Washington (4) 16th, 17th, 18th,19th
The Brewers are holdng steady at the .500 level 30 games into the season and they?ve got a pair of hurlers who are holding the pitching staff together in the absence of Ben Sheets. Milwaukee has won 5 of Chris Capuano?s 7 starts so far (+$495) and Victor Santos checks in with a 2.76 ERA. We?ll no doubt get to use one if not both in this four game series. PREFERRED: Capuano/Santos.
Cincinnati at N.Y. Mets (3) 16th, 17th, 18th
The Reds have a terrible pitching staff (5.79 ERA) and they?ve compiled an embarrassing 3-11 record on the road (-$670). The Mets are very tough in their own backyard (11-5, +$565 at Shea Stadium) and should do no worse than taking 2 out of 3 in this series. PREFERRED: Mets in all games.
Atlanta at San Diego (3) 16th, 17th, 18th
The Padres are 9-2 in night games at Petco Park (+$620) and the Braves are only averaging 3.3 runs per game on the road at night. We?ll stick with Eaton (+$325, 3.79 ERA) and Peavy (+$350, 2.32 ERA) as long as they are starting in one of the two scheduled evening games. PREFERRED: Eaton & Peavy in night games.
Florida at L.A. Dodgers (3) 16th, 17th, 18th
The Dodgers are 7-1 vs. lefties (+$570), averaging 7.5 runs per game in those contests. They?ll catch a nice price when Dontrelle Willis is in opposition, and Al Leiter can?t seem to get anyone out these days (allowed 8 runs vs. the pitiful Rockies in his last start). Both are likely to see action. PREFERRED: Dodgers vs. lefthanders.
L.A. Angels at Cleveland (3) 16th, 17th, 18th
We talked about the Angels? successes on the road vs. lefthanders (20-7, +$1220 in ?04, 3-0, +$360 already this year) but considering how poorly the Indians have played at Jacobs Field (only 3-8, -$775) we?re inclined to go against them when their more capable pitchers are on the hill, regardless of the opponent. PREFERRED: Colon/ Escobar/Washburn/Angels vs. lefthanders.
Texas at Chicago W. Sox (3) 16th, 17th, 18th
The Rangers had a breakout year in 2004, but they still couldn?t figure out how to beat the White Sox (only 3-6, -$435 in head to head play). Now the White Sox have the best record in baseball (24-7, +$1700) and Texas is again being plagued by pitching woes (4.84 team ERA). If the prices aren?t to high we?ll ride the hot home team. PREFERRED: White Sox at -140 or less.
Boston at Oakland (3) 16th, 17th, 18th
The Athletics had lots of trouble against the top teams in the east last year, and the Red Sox were certainly no exception (1-8, -$735). But we?re still wary of backing Boston on the road, given their poor showing as visitors last year (-$1180) and the fact that they?ve yet to get on track in that department this year. PREFERRED: None.
N.Y. Yankees at Seattle (3) 16th, 17th, 18th
It?s hard to get a read on the Yankees right now, who could emerge from their coma and start rolling at any moment. They showed signs of life against Oakland in New York last weekend, while the Mariners were floundering in Fenway (3-7, -$360 last 10 days). We?ll examine this matchup more closely as game day draws near and a more up to date picture emerges. PREFERRED: None.
BEGINNING TUESDAY MAY 17
St. Louis at Philadelphia (3) 17th, 18th, 19th
The Cardinals dropped 2 out of 3 to this team at Busch Stadium earlier in the year (-$200) and it looks like they?ll be in against both Lieber (2.57 ERA) and Myers (1.49), two of our favorites right now. St. Louis has stumbled in recent days (5-6, -$320 last 10) and may run into trouble against the Phillies. PREFERRED: Lieber/Myers.
Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh (2) 17th, 18th
The Cubs have dropped a bundle on the road (6-10, -$535) but it?s very hard to get excited by a Pittsburgh team that is only 3-9 (-$650) at PNC Park this season. We?ll steer clear of this matchup for the time being. PREFERRED: None.
Arizona at Houston (3) 17th, 18th, 19th
The Diamondbacks are off to a solid start, but they are only 6-7 on the road and their numbers vs. lefthanders are unimpressive (only 3.5 runs per game). Andy Pettitte has looked very sharp despite a lack of run support (3.33 ERA in 7 starts) and is slated to take a turn in this series. PREFERRED: Pettitte.
San Francisco at Colorado (3) 17th, 18th, 19th
We?ll try to steal a couple a win with Shawn Chacon (3.25 ERA) against a San Francisco team that is hovering at .500, thanks to a pitching staff that has underperformed up to this point (4.82 ERA, 3rd worst in the NL). PREFERRED: Chacon.
Tampa Bay at Detroit (3) 17th, 18th, 19th
The Devil Rays beat Randy Johnson at Yankee Stadium one night back in April, but have failed to win another game on the road all year (-$640). They?ll be very lucky to salvage a single win in this series. PREFERRED: Tigers in all games.
Baltimore at Kansas City (3) 17th, 18th, 19th
The Orioles are 9-2 (+$890) on the road thus far, while the Royals are a pitiful 2-12 (-$1010) at Kaufman Stadium. If the prices don?t get too high, we?ll continue to ride on the surging visitor. PREFERRED: Orioles at -170 or less.
Toronto at Minnesota (3) 17th, 18th, 19th
The Twins are losing money at home vs. righthanders (-$295) and the Blue Jays have been a formidable road club (11-7, +$785) Roy Halladay (+$360, 3.78) has been flashing his Cy Young form, and is likely to take the hill at the Metrodome. PREFERRED: Halladay.
