BEGINNING MONDAY JUNE 13
Florida at Chicago Cubs (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
With Kerry Wood and Mark Prior on the DL, our only Cubbies play would have to be Carlos Zambrano who has a 2.57 ERA in five starts in Wrigley Field and who lowered his ERA from 4.30 in April to 2.30 in May. Otherwise, the rest of this series belongs to the Marlins. PREFERRED: Zambrano/Marlins vs. all but Zambrano.
Cincinnati at Boston (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
Out of the frying pan and into the fire is clearly the theme of this analysis as the Reds? joke of a pitching staff goes from entertaining the Orioles to visiting Fenway Park, There isn?t a starting pitcher worth considering for Cincinnati, but the Bosox will be such prohibitive chalk that we?re forced to pass. PREFERRED: None.
Houston at Baltimore (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
Operating under the theory that even a blind squirrel finds an occasional acorn, we?ll ignore the fact that the Astros won a road series for the first time last week. The Orioles? pitching (starters? ERA is 3.24 in hitter-friendly Camden Yards) is more than capable of stopping the anemic Astros? offense especially if lefties Eric Bedard or Brian Chen are in the box as (Houston is 1-11, -$1020, averaging 1.2 RPG vs. them on the road). BEST BET: Lefthanders vs. the Astros.
St. Louis at Toronto (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Cards have been a strong road team (56-30, +$1490 last year, 19-10, +$640 currently) that we?re hard pressed to find a reason to play against them except, of course, if the sensational Ray Halladay (0.68 ERA in his last five starts, +$860 overall) is in the box. PREFERRED: Halliday/Cardinals in all other games.
Milwaukee at Tampa Bay (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Devil Rays are turning a nice profit at home (+$615) because they?re almost always an underdog. The Brewers have been a losing proposition on the road (-$480). TB has already won home series vs. the Yankees, Red Sox and White Sox, so it?s not a stretch to believe they can be successful against this team. PREFERRED: Kazmir.
Arizona at Chicago White Sox (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
Iinteresting match up between two of the most surprising teams in MLB. Not coincidentally, both teams owe their success to vastly improved pitching. The Pale Hose sport the second best ERA in both leagues and the D?backs? starters have the 2nd best road ERA in MLB. The Sox have had great success at home against righties (14-4, +$840) and own the best home record in the AL. We?ll stick with a winning scenario. PREFERRED: White Sox vs. righthanders.
Atlanta at Texas (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Braves bring their always solid pitching staff (starters? road ERA is 3.55) against a potent offense that is first in MLB in round trippers and second in RBIs. Surprisingly, the Rangers? starters have the third best home ERA (3.44) in the AL and, in fact, it?s 0.11 better than the Atlanta?s starters. With the Braves? relief corps struggling and Mike Hampton back on the DL, we?ll stay with the team with the more potent ?O?. PREFERRED: Rangers in all games.
Washington at L.A. Angels (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Nationals have excelled at RFK Stadium, but their performance on the road as been sub-par (only 13-17). If they had a lefty on the staff we?d be interested (LA only 2-6, -$725 vs. southpaws at home) but the Angels handle righthanders well (+$1060) and they?ll see a steady diet of them. Still, Washington makes money vs. righties, and we don?t feel like laying fat prices on LA. PREFERRED: None.
BEGINNING TUESDAY JUNE 14
Colorado at Cleveland (3) 14th,15th, 16th
The Rockies check in with an abysmal 4-23 record away from Coors Field (-$1595) so you?ll need a strong stomach to back the visitor in this one. The Tribe is no bargain at Jacobs Field (-$500) and they?ll be heavy favorites throughout. We?ll pass. PREFERRED: None.
Pittsburgh at N.Y. Yankees (3) 14th,15th, 16th
The Pirates have done well outside of PNC Park (+$410) and should catch some huge prices as visitors to the Bronx. The Yanks have been hemmoraging their backers? money in recent days (3-7, -$1045 last 10 days) and despite a 16-13 record,their losses at home are staggering (-$875). We?ll stick with a pair of quality throwers, who should see action in this series. PREFERRED: Wells/Redman.
San Diego at Detroit (3) 14th,15th, 16th
For all their success the Padres are only 2-6 on the road vs. southpaws (-$460) while the Tigers are just the opposite (8-4, +$485 vs. lefties overall). Righthanders are a very different story (SD +$1280, Detroit -$485) so we?ll play this series accordingly. PREFERRED: Padres when righty meets righty/Tigers when lefty meets lefty.
L.A. Dodgers at Kansas City (3) 14th,15th, 16th
It?s hard to use the Royals, but they?ve got a promising young righthander in Zack Greinke, who might be worth a try vs. a Dodger team that has been dreadful against righthanders all year (-$415). We?re not sure if he?ll see action, but if he does he?s woth a shot vs. a fading LA team. PREFERRED: Greinke.
San Francisco at Minnesota (3) 14th,15th, 16th
The Giants are playing poorly (1-9, -$780 last 10) and they?ve played poorly on the road all year (10-16, -$510). The Twins are well over .500 and giving the White Sox a run for their money in the AL Central thanks in large part to the best pitching staff in the majors right now (3.35 team ERA). SF will be lucky to salvage a victory in this series. PREFERRED: Twins in all games.
N.Y. Mets at Oakland (3) 14th,15th, 16th
The Mets made money against the AL in inter-league play last year (+$365) and after watching them win 3 out of 4 on a recent trip to Florida, we?re inclined to back them on the road in this series. The A?s are pitiful vs. righties (14-26, -$1225) and the NY staff looks very sharp (3.96 team ERA). PREFERRED: Righthanders vs. the Athletics.
Philadelphia at Seattle (3) 14th,15th, 16th
The Phillies are the hottest team in the majors right now (9-1, +$860 last 10 days) and they?ve got one of the NL?s most promising hurlers in Brett Myers (2.24 ERA in 12 starts). The sad sack Mariners are only 12-16 at Safeco (-$440) and should have their hands full with the big righthander. PREFERRED: Myers.
Florida at Chicago Cubs (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
With Kerry Wood and Mark Prior on the DL, our only Cubbies play would have to be Carlos Zambrano who has a 2.57 ERA in five starts in Wrigley Field and who lowered his ERA from 4.30 in April to 2.30 in May. Otherwise, the rest of this series belongs to the Marlins. PREFERRED: Zambrano/Marlins vs. all but Zambrano.
Cincinnati at Boston (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
Out of the frying pan and into the fire is clearly the theme of this analysis as the Reds? joke of a pitching staff goes from entertaining the Orioles to visiting Fenway Park, There isn?t a starting pitcher worth considering for Cincinnati, but the Bosox will be such prohibitive chalk that we?re forced to pass. PREFERRED: None.
Houston at Baltimore (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
Operating under the theory that even a blind squirrel finds an occasional acorn, we?ll ignore the fact that the Astros won a road series for the first time last week. The Orioles? pitching (starters? ERA is 3.24 in hitter-friendly Camden Yards) is more than capable of stopping the anemic Astros? offense especially if lefties Eric Bedard or Brian Chen are in the box as (Houston is 1-11, -$1020, averaging 1.2 RPG vs. them on the road). BEST BET: Lefthanders vs. the Astros.
St. Louis at Toronto (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Cards have been a strong road team (56-30, +$1490 last year, 19-10, +$640 currently) that we?re hard pressed to find a reason to play against them except, of course, if the sensational Ray Halladay (0.68 ERA in his last five starts, +$860 overall) is in the box. PREFERRED: Halliday/Cardinals in all other games.
Milwaukee at Tampa Bay (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Devil Rays are turning a nice profit at home (+$615) because they?re almost always an underdog. The Brewers have been a losing proposition on the road (-$480). TB has already won home series vs. the Yankees, Red Sox and White Sox, so it?s not a stretch to believe they can be successful against this team. PREFERRED: Kazmir.
Arizona at Chicago White Sox (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
Iinteresting match up between two of the most surprising teams in MLB. Not coincidentally, both teams owe their success to vastly improved pitching. The Pale Hose sport the second best ERA in both leagues and the D?backs? starters have the 2nd best road ERA in MLB. The Sox have had great success at home against righties (14-4, +$840) and own the best home record in the AL. We?ll stick with a winning scenario. PREFERRED: White Sox vs. righthanders.
Atlanta at Texas (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Braves bring their always solid pitching staff (starters? road ERA is 3.55) against a potent offense that is first in MLB in round trippers and second in RBIs. Surprisingly, the Rangers? starters have the third best home ERA (3.44) in the AL and, in fact, it?s 0.11 better than the Atlanta?s starters. With the Braves? relief corps struggling and Mike Hampton back on the DL, we?ll stay with the team with the more potent ?O?. PREFERRED: Rangers in all games.
Washington at L.A. Angels (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Nationals have excelled at RFK Stadium, but their performance on the road as been sub-par (only 13-17). If they had a lefty on the staff we?d be interested (LA only 2-6, -$725 vs. southpaws at home) but the Angels handle righthanders well (+$1060) and they?ll see a steady diet of them. Still, Washington makes money vs. righties, and we don?t feel like laying fat prices on LA. PREFERRED: None.
BEGINNING TUESDAY JUNE 14
Colorado at Cleveland (3) 14th,15th, 16th
The Rockies check in with an abysmal 4-23 record away from Coors Field (-$1595) so you?ll need a strong stomach to back the visitor in this one. The Tribe is no bargain at Jacobs Field (-$500) and they?ll be heavy favorites throughout. We?ll pass. PREFERRED: None.
Pittsburgh at N.Y. Yankees (3) 14th,15th, 16th
The Pirates have done well outside of PNC Park (+$410) and should catch some huge prices as visitors to the Bronx. The Yanks have been hemmoraging their backers? money in recent days (3-7, -$1045 last 10 days) and despite a 16-13 record,their losses at home are staggering (-$875). We?ll stick with a pair of quality throwers, who should see action in this series. PREFERRED: Wells/Redman.
San Diego at Detroit (3) 14th,15th, 16th
For all their success the Padres are only 2-6 on the road vs. southpaws (-$460) while the Tigers are just the opposite (8-4, +$485 vs. lefties overall). Righthanders are a very different story (SD +$1280, Detroit -$485) so we?ll play this series accordingly. PREFERRED: Padres when righty meets righty/Tigers when lefty meets lefty.
L.A. Dodgers at Kansas City (3) 14th,15th, 16th
It?s hard to use the Royals, but they?ve got a promising young righthander in Zack Greinke, who might be worth a try vs. a Dodger team that has been dreadful against righthanders all year (-$415). We?re not sure if he?ll see action, but if he does he?s woth a shot vs. a fading LA team. PREFERRED: Greinke.
San Francisco at Minnesota (3) 14th,15th, 16th
The Giants are playing poorly (1-9, -$780 last 10) and they?ve played poorly on the road all year (10-16, -$510). The Twins are well over .500 and giving the White Sox a run for their money in the AL Central thanks in large part to the best pitching staff in the majors right now (3.35 team ERA). SF will be lucky to salvage a victory in this series. PREFERRED: Twins in all games.
N.Y. Mets at Oakland (3) 14th,15th, 16th
The Mets made money against the AL in inter-league play last year (+$365) and after watching them win 3 out of 4 on a recent trip to Florida, we?re inclined to back them on the road in this series. The A?s are pitiful vs. righties (14-26, -$1225) and the NY staff looks very sharp (3.96 team ERA). PREFERRED: Righthanders vs. the Athletics.
Philadelphia at Seattle (3) 14th,15th, 16th
The Phillies are the hottest team in the majors right now (9-1, +$860 last 10 days) and they?ve got one of the NL?s most promising hurlers in Brett Myers (2.24 ERA in 12 starts). The sad sack Mariners are only 12-16 at Safeco (-$440) and should have their hands full with the big righthander. PREFERRED: Myers.
