BEGINNING MONDAY MAY 2
Milwaukee at Atlanta (4) 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th
The Braves took 5 of 7 from this team in head to head play last season (+$170), but they?ve lost money at Turner Field in the early going (-$260) and Milwaukee has been scoring runs off righthanders (5.1 per game so far). Atlanta should be favored in all these games, and that makes visiting Milwaukee an attractive proposition. PREFERRED: Brewers at +115 or better.
Houston at Cincinnati (3) 2nd, 3rd, 4th
The Reds had their way with this team in 2010 (10-5, +$430 in head to head competition) and they took 2 of 3 in April of this year. They?ve done well in their first four starts vs. lefthanders (+$190 with 9.0 runs per game), and neither of the Houston southpaws has looked sharp. PREFERRED: Reds vs. lefthanders
Florida at St. Louis (4) 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th
This could be a big weekend for the Marlins as they look to stay hot at Busch Stadium vs. a surging St. Louis squad. They?ve been sensational vs. righthanders this year (11-3, +$880, including a 4-1 mark outside of Dolphin Stadium) and the Cardinals have lost money at home (-$345). We could benefit from fat underdog prices in some of these games. PREFERRED: Marlins vs. righthanders.
Pittsburgh at San Diego (3) 2nd, 3rd, 4th
The Pirates scare us, but the Padres are a dismal 0-7 (-$745) in night games here at Petco Park, averaging just over one run per game in those contests. The Bucs leave much to be desired, but if they can steal a win in one of the two scheduled night games we?ll turn a nice profit. PREFERRED: Pirates in night games.
Chicago Cubs at L.A. Dodgers (3) 2nd, 3rd, 4th
The Dodgers took 2 of 3 from the Cubs at Wrigley Field last weekend, scoring an impressive 27 runs in the process. The Cubs seem to be handling lefthanders well (5-1, +$405 with 5.8 runs per game) but they?ve not been successful vs. righties (5-10, -$655). We?ll play these three games accordingly. PREFERRED: Cubs vs. lefthanders/ Righthanders vs. the Cubs.
L.A. Angels at Boston (4) 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th
The Angels were a hot team until the Bosox ventured into Anaheim last weekend. The visitor swept the four game set (+$405), holding the Halos to a pathetic five runs during the entire series. Jon Lester has his ERA down to 2.59 after five starts, and LA averages just 3.9 runs per game vs. southpaws. PREFERRED: Lester.
N.Y. Yankees at Detroit (4) 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th
The Yanks took 2 out of 3 in the Bronx to open the season, but the Tigers have improved significantly in the month since then (7-3, +$450 last 10 days). But the Detroit mound corps still looks pretty rag-tag (4.52 ERA, 3rd worst in the league), and the Yankees are crushing righthanders in all settings (9-4, +$455 with 6.6 runs per game). None of the Detroit starters gives us cause for concern at the moment. PREFERRED: Yankees vs. righthanders.
BEGINNING THURSDAY MAY 3
Washington at Philadelphia (3) 3rd, 4th, 5th
The Nationals couldn?t handle the Phillies last year (6-12, -$325) and they?ve dropped 2 of 3 already in 2011. They?ve fared poorly vs. lefthanders in the early going (2.8 runs per game) and Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels have both been flashing top form in their most recent starts. Prices may get very high, but it looks like there?s still plenty of value to be had. PREFERRED: Hamels/Lee.
San Francisco at N.Y. Mets (3) 3rd, 4th, 5th
The Mets showed some signs of life after mauling the Diamondbacks here at CitiField last weekend, while the Giants? highly regarded mound corps stumbled (5.29 ERA among starters last 10 days). But New York checks in with some ugly stats (4.62 ERA, .246 team BA), so we?re not excited by either side. PREFERRED: None.
Colorado at Arizona (3) 3rd, 4th, 5th
The Rockies are a far superior team should have a huge edge in this series against the Diamondbacks. They?ve amassed an 8-3 record outside of Coors Field (+$475) and Arizona is only 1-4 in night games vs. righthanders at Chase Field. They?ll face some good particularly ones when Colorado comes calling. PREFERRED: Righthanders vs. the Diamondbacks
Toronto at Tampa Bay (3) 3rd, 4th, 5th
The Rays got hot on the road, but they?ve lost money at Tropicana Field this year (-$360) and they dropped a bundle in this venue last season (+$605). The Blue Jays have a pair of capable righthanders in Kyle Drabek (+$425, 3.00 ERA) and Jesse Litsch (3.64), at least one of whom should see action here. PREFERRED: Drabek/Litsch.
Minnesota at Chicago W. Sox (2) 3rd, 4th
The Twins are nicely poised to make a move in the AL Central, and they get to fatten up on a floundering Chicago team that they dispatched without difficulty last season (13-5, +$525). The White Sox are in free fall (1-9, -$900 last 10 days) so a sweep by the visitor is not unlikely. PREFERRED: Twins in both games.
Baltimore at Kansas City (3) 3rd, 4th, 5th
The Royals can?t hold things together indefinitely, but they rate much better than the Orioles in both pitching and hitting (KC .265 BA, 4.13 ERA . . . Baltimore .232 BA, 4.78 ERA) so we like the home team?s chances. The Royals took 4 of 6 from this team in head to head play last year (+$160). We?ll be surprised if they don?t take at least 2 out of 3. PREFERRED: Royals in all games.
Cleveland at Oakland (3) 3rd, 4th, 5th
After hosting a four game set with key division rival Texas, the A?s might be in for a letdown vs. the Tribe. The Indians have turned a nice profit in 2011 (+$720) and they?ve been averaging 5.0 runs per game thus far. If the price is right we?ll stick with the visitor. PREFERRED: Indians at +115 or better.
Texas at Seattle (3) 3rd, 4th, 5th
The Mariners were swept once already this year by the Rangers (0-3, -$300), following up on last year?s 7-12 (-$560) showing in head to head competition. Seattle is only 4-10 vs. righties (-$730 with 3.1 runs per game) so take a shot with Alexi Ogando, who?s looked sharp in his four starts (+$225, 2.13 ERA). PREFERRED: Ogando.
