I am passing on today's games but here is a Cliff's Notes version of what I see in each matchup. Good luck.
-Martinez comes off a relatively soft start for him so backing Boston on the road at this giant price seems like a questionable move. Tigers have cooled off badly but their bats seemed to get back on form yesterday. Sparks broke a losing streak in his last start but did give up 5 runs in the process.
-Blue Jays fired their manager and generally teams seem to play well in their first game with a new skipper. Odd pitching matchup as a middle reliever (Walker) faces a guy who never has a quality start (Sturtze) but stays in the rotation just because the D Rays have nobody else to eat innings.
-Clemens at this price is totally rediculous considering the O's have hit him this year and just watching him you can tell he is not as sharp as in 2001. Ponson struggled last time out and the formerly strong Baltimore pen is showing weakness. NOTE: I would strongly advise not succombing to the temptation of a chalk parlay on Martinez, Clemens and Schilling today. If you are going to play them play each one individually and be happy with the smaller profit.
-Pittsburgh is playing great ball but Wells retired 23 batters by balls put into play last time out, a number so high that it is a definite warning sign. Ohka has been sharp in his last two starts but the Expos are struggling.
-Mets vs. Atlanta looks like a trap to get players to take Atlanta in my opinion. Mets big bats are struggling, Trachsel comes off a mediocre start and the team lost two straight to Florida. Braves are outhitting everyone and outside of the tough loss yesterday to Cincy, they are on fire. Millwood threw great in each of his last two starts as well. So why is this line -125? My theory is that Bobby V rested up his key bullpen guys for this series and Smoltz is really struggling lately for the Braves. Even though logic dictates the Braves are a bargain at this price I came thisclose to playing the Mets.
-Cubs vs. Milwaukee is a game to stay away from in my view. Lieber looked to be getting back on track but then suffered a loss at Pittsburgh last time out. Wright looked great in his first start off the DL, but suspect in his second. Brewers are definitely the hotter team at the moment but they could very well get shut down by Lieber.
-No way am I touching White Sox vs. Royals. Sox have lost 7 straight and the Royals looked pitiful against Texas.
-In my opinion both starters are sketchy in the Colorado vs. L.A. game. Perez got the win last time out but he is getting his and he should get hit again. Stark has great numbers at home but he is a career minor leaguer who is unlikely to have consistent success at this level.
-What can I say about Schilling except his performance last time out was amazing and if he duplicates that any team he plays has almost no chance. Astros do seem to be getting hot winning 3 of 4, though.
-Ortiz has been terrible lately for the Giants but the Pads start Middlebrook, who looks like Greg Maddux in relief but Mike Maddux in starts. Pads are really struggling since Nevin went down again.
-M's have played their last 4 series against Tampa and Baltimore. They went 6-6 in those games and won only 1 series. Not what you want heading into a series with a hot Oakland team looking to get back into the race. I'd take Oakland here except I get wary of taking a guy in his second start who was lights out in his debut.
-Yeah, I know Ortiz is starting and all, but Texas is a very hot team while Anaheim is struggling as a whole. Certainly the pitching matchup and overall team quality says Anaheim is the choice, but I find an Angels bet very risky.
-Martinez comes off a relatively soft start for him so backing Boston on the road at this giant price seems like a questionable move. Tigers have cooled off badly but their bats seemed to get back on form yesterday. Sparks broke a losing streak in his last start but did give up 5 runs in the process.
-Blue Jays fired their manager and generally teams seem to play well in their first game with a new skipper. Odd pitching matchup as a middle reliever (Walker) faces a guy who never has a quality start (Sturtze) but stays in the rotation just because the D Rays have nobody else to eat innings.
-Clemens at this price is totally rediculous considering the O's have hit him this year and just watching him you can tell he is not as sharp as in 2001. Ponson struggled last time out and the formerly strong Baltimore pen is showing weakness. NOTE: I would strongly advise not succombing to the temptation of a chalk parlay on Martinez, Clemens and Schilling today. If you are going to play them play each one individually and be happy with the smaller profit.
-Pittsburgh is playing great ball but Wells retired 23 batters by balls put into play last time out, a number so high that it is a definite warning sign. Ohka has been sharp in his last two starts but the Expos are struggling.
-Mets vs. Atlanta looks like a trap to get players to take Atlanta in my opinion. Mets big bats are struggling, Trachsel comes off a mediocre start and the team lost two straight to Florida. Braves are outhitting everyone and outside of the tough loss yesterday to Cincy, they are on fire. Millwood threw great in each of his last two starts as well. So why is this line -125? My theory is that Bobby V rested up his key bullpen guys for this series and Smoltz is really struggling lately for the Braves. Even though logic dictates the Braves are a bargain at this price I came thisclose to playing the Mets.
-Cubs vs. Milwaukee is a game to stay away from in my view. Lieber looked to be getting back on track but then suffered a loss at Pittsburgh last time out. Wright looked great in his first start off the DL, but suspect in his second. Brewers are definitely the hotter team at the moment but they could very well get shut down by Lieber.
-No way am I touching White Sox vs. Royals. Sox have lost 7 straight and the Royals looked pitiful against Texas.
-In my opinion both starters are sketchy in the Colorado vs. L.A. game. Perez got the win last time out but he is getting his and he should get hit again. Stark has great numbers at home but he is a career minor leaguer who is unlikely to have consistent success at this level.
-What can I say about Schilling except his performance last time out was amazing and if he duplicates that any team he plays has almost no chance. Astros do seem to be getting hot winning 3 of 4, though.
-Ortiz has been terrible lately for the Giants but the Pads start Middlebrook, who looks like Greg Maddux in relief but Mike Maddux in starts. Pads are really struggling since Nevin went down again.
-M's have played their last 4 series against Tampa and Baltimore. They went 6-6 in those games and won only 1 series. Not what you want heading into a series with a hot Oakland team looking to get back into the race. I'd take Oakland here except I get wary of taking a guy in his second start who was lights out in his debut.
-Yeah, I know Ortiz is starting and all, but Texas is a very hot team while Anaheim is struggling as a whole. Certainly the pitching matchup and overall team quality says Anaheim is the choice, but I find an Angels bet very risky.
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I guess those were the days.