MONTREAL EXPOS +125 ? This is a case where we are getting +125 on a team whose starting pitcher has the better key numbers and whose bullpen has also been much better this year. It really isn?t the fault of Javier Vazquez that he is just 8-9 this year, as he has a very good 3.77 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in 179 innings of work. The last time he faced the Rockies, he held them scoreless for 7 innings while allowing 7 hits and recording 10 strikeouts. Typically for Vazquez though, Montreal ended up losing that game 4-3. He suffered a similar fate in his last start on Thursday, limiting the Dodgers to just 1 run and 6 hits in 7 innings, yet taking the loss in a 1-0 defeat! I guess you can say that the gambling gods owe Vazquez some wins, as he has obviously pitched much better than his record. The fact that he is one game under .500 actually helps us here, as we are getting a very nice price on a pitcher that has tons of ability. Granted, Neagle has been sensational in his last 3 starts, allowing just 1 run in 20 innings. However, before getting too excited, consider that 2 of those starts came vs. an anemic Cubs offense, and the other came vs. a Florida team that has given up on the season. Neagle was lit up in his only start vs. the Expos this season, allowing 5 earned runs in 5 innings back in May. Furthermore, that start was at sea level in Montreal. Jose Vidro and Vladimir Guerrero both feast on left-handed pitching, and they are especially dangerous at this altitude. Should the bullpens be brought into play, the Montreal pen has a group ERA of 3.17, substantially lower than the Colorado pen?s 4.49.
