BEGINNING FRIDAY MAY 13
Chicago Cubs at Washington (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Cubs could do no better than 3-3 against this team when they were still in Montreal last year (-$555), so they?ll have their hands full here at RFK Stadium (Chicago 6-10, -$535 as visitors). The Nationals have been very profitable (+$600), and their rotation has looked particularly sharp in recent days (3.026 ERA last 10). They should take at least 2 out of 3 vs. the sputtering Cubs, who continue to lose ground in the NL Central. BEST BET: Nationals in all games.
Milwaukee at Pittsburgh (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Brewers have already topped the Bucs in 4 out of 5 head to head matchup this year (+$325) and they look very promising on this return trip to PNC Park, where the hapless Pirates are only 3-9 so far (-$650). The Brewers have gotten surprisingly good pitching (3.93 ERA, 4th best in the NL) and despite a .252 team BA, they?ve averaged almost 4.8 runs per game. Avoid lefty Mark Redman (3.05), but the rest of the Pittsburgh rotation (6.20 ERA last 10 days) is fair game. BEST BET: Brewers in all games unless opposed by Redman.
St. Louis at N.Y. Mets (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Cardinals dominated the Mets in 2004 (5-1, +$380), when they won 105 games and racked up huge profits on the road (+$1720). They?ve continued their winning ways as visitors (10-3, +$595) and their pitching is among the league?s most effective (3.69 ERA). The Mets have been playing well, particularly at Shea Stadium, so we?ll limit ourselves to playing against Tom Glavine (6.88 ERA, -$325) who has been awful in his 7 starts this year. The Cardinals are averaging 5.9 runs per game vs.lefties. BEST BET: Cardinals vs. Glavine.
Florida at San Diego (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Marlins continue to get great pitching from most of their staff (2.78 team ERA, best in baseball), but Al Leiter has been one notable exception (-$565, 6.68 ERA). The Padres have been the hottest team in the NL in recent days, taking 3 out of 4 from the high flying Cardinals at Busch Stadium last weekend. They are 10-4 at Petco Park (+$445), taking 4 out of 5 against lefthanders along the way. We?ll trust any of their starters when Florida?s struggling veteran is on the mound. BEST BET: Padres vs. Leiter.
Atlanta at L.A. Dodgers (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
Matchup of two first place teams who are facing stiff challenges within their respective divisions. The Braves have looked very sharp in recent days (7-2, +$460 last 10 with a 2.64 ERA and 6.6 runs per game), but we worry that they may have trouble at Chavez Ravine. The Dodgers are 7-1 (+$570) vs. southpaws, with 7.5 runs per game in those contests and will see both Mike Hampton (2.05 ERA) and Horacio Ramirez (3.68) in this series. They look like a solid value at home laying a short price. BEST BET: Dodgers vs. lefthanders.
Toronto at Cleveland (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Blue Jays got roughed up by the red-hot White Sox at Skydome last weekend, but they should fare much better here at Jacobs Field vs. the struggling Indians. They?ve been very effective on the road so far (11-7, +$785) and they?ll be sending their very promising young lefthander Gustavo Chacin (+$420, 3.13 ERA) to the mound. The Indians are a dismal 1-8 vs. lefties so far (-$745) averaging only 2.3 runs per game in those contests. BEST BET: Chacin.
L.A. Angels at Detroit (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Tigers dealt the first place Angels a setback when they took 2 out of 3 in Anaheim last week. (+$215). Now LA will look to exact a measure of revenge here at Comerica Park, and the setting looks quite favorable (Detroit only 6-8, -$390 at home so far). Last year the Angels were 20-7 (+$1220) on the road vs. lefthanders, and they are already 3-0 (+$360) in that situation this year. The Tigers have three southpaws in their starting rotation, so LA will get some chances to improve on those numbers. BEST BET: Angels vs. lefthanders.
Texas at Minnesota (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Rangers are starting to swing the bats well (5.9 runs per game last 10 days) and that?s a good thing, because their pitching has taken a noticeable step back this year (4.84 team ERA, 3rd worst in the AL). They?ve been profitable on the road thus far (9-5, +$660) and they will get to take on a Minnesota team that has been disappointing vs. righthanders here in the Metrodome (4-5, -$295 with only 4.1 runs per game). A good opportunity to stay within range of the leaders in the AL West. BEST BET: Righthanders vs. the Twins.
N.Y. Yankees at Oakland (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The obituaries being written about the Yankees may be a bit premature. They bounced back from a miserable run with back to back shutouts against the A?s last weekend. Oakland was a disappointing 2-7 (-$470) against New York last year and their offense is struggling (.236 team BA). They are only 2-7 in night games at the Coliseum so far (-$440) and the first two games of this series are evening affairs. Oakland will face Randy Johnson on Sunday, so they?ll be in against Mussina & Brown in the first two games, both of whom will be coming off their best performances of the year (A?s only 3.3 runs per game vs. righties). BEST BET: Mussina & Brown in night games.
Boston at Seattle (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
We?re disappointed in the Mariners, who have failed to bounce back from a lousy 2004 season. They are only 4-10 here at Safeco (-$735) and are coming off a miserable stretch of games in which they?ve failed in all aspects of the game (3-7, -$360 with 3.0 runs per game and a 6.03 ERA among starters). The Sox are holding up well despite a rash of injuries to their rotation (3.37 ERA among starters last 10 days). We?ll try our luck with Matt Clement (3.35) who has emerged as a key man in this depleted staff. BEST BET: Clement
Chicago Cubs at Washington (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Cubs could do no better than 3-3 against this team when they were still in Montreal last year (-$555), so they?ll have their hands full here at RFK Stadium (Chicago 6-10, -$535 as visitors). The Nationals have been very profitable (+$600), and their rotation has looked particularly sharp in recent days (3.026 ERA last 10). They should take at least 2 out of 3 vs. the sputtering Cubs, who continue to lose ground in the NL Central. BEST BET: Nationals in all games.
Milwaukee at Pittsburgh (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Brewers have already topped the Bucs in 4 out of 5 head to head matchup this year (+$325) and they look very promising on this return trip to PNC Park, where the hapless Pirates are only 3-9 so far (-$650). The Brewers have gotten surprisingly good pitching (3.93 ERA, 4th best in the NL) and despite a .252 team BA, they?ve averaged almost 4.8 runs per game. Avoid lefty Mark Redman (3.05), but the rest of the Pittsburgh rotation (6.20 ERA last 10 days) is fair game. BEST BET: Brewers in all games unless opposed by Redman.
St. Louis at N.Y. Mets (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Cardinals dominated the Mets in 2004 (5-1, +$380), when they won 105 games and racked up huge profits on the road (+$1720). They?ve continued their winning ways as visitors (10-3, +$595) and their pitching is among the league?s most effective (3.69 ERA). The Mets have been playing well, particularly at Shea Stadium, so we?ll limit ourselves to playing against Tom Glavine (6.88 ERA, -$325) who has been awful in his 7 starts this year. The Cardinals are averaging 5.9 runs per game vs.lefties. BEST BET: Cardinals vs. Glavine.
Florida at San Diego (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Marlins continue to get great pitching from most of their staff (2.78 team ERA, best in baseball), but Al Leiter has been one notable exception (-$565, 6.68 ERA). The Padres have been the hottest team in the NL in recent days, taking 3 out of 4 from the high flying Cardinals at Busch Stadium last weekend. They are 10-4 at Petco Park (+$445), taking 4 out of 5 against lefthanders along the way. We?ll trust any of their starters when Florida?s struggling veteran is on the mound. BEST BET: Padres vs. Leiter.
Atlanta at L.A. Dodgers (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
Matchup of two first place teams who are facing stiff challenges within their respective divisions. The Braves have looked very sharp in recent days (7-2, +$460 last 10 with a 2.64 ERA and 6.6 runs per game), but we worry that they may have trouble at Chavez Ravine. The Dodgers are 7-1 (+$570) vs. southpaws, with 7.5 runs per game in those contests and will see both Mike Hampton (2.05 ERA) and Horacio Ramirez (3.68) in this series. They look like a solid value at home laying a short price. BEST BET: Dodgers vs. lefthanders.
Toronto at Cleveland (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Blue Jays got roughed up by the red-hot White Sox at Skydome last weekend, but they should fare much better here at Jacobs Field vs. the struggling Indians. They?ve been very effective on the road so far (11-7, +$785) and they?ll be sending their very promising young lefthander Gustavo Chacin (+$420, 3.13 ERA) to the mound. The Indians are a dismal 1-8 vs. lefties so far (-$745) averaging only 2.3 runs per game in those contests. BEST BET: Chacin.
L.A. Angels at Detroit (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Tigers dealt the first place Angels a setback when they took 2 out of 3 in Anaheim last week. (+$215). Now LA will look to exact a measure of revenge here at Comerica Park, and the setting looks quite favorable (Detroit only 6-8, -$390 at home so far). Last year the Angels were 20-7 (+$1220) on the road vs. lefthanders, and they are already 3-0 (+$360) in that situation this year. The Tigers have three southpaws in their starting rotation, so LA will get some chances to improve on those numbers. BEST BET: Angels vs. lefthanders.
Texas at Minnesota (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Rangers are starting to swing the bats well (5.9 runs per game last 10 days) and that?s a good thing, because their pitching has taken a noticeable step back this year (4.84 team ERA, 3rd worst in the AL). They?ve been profitable on the road thus far (9-5, +$660) and they will get to take on a Minnesota team that has been disappointing vs. righthanders here in the Metrodome (4-5, -$295 with only 4.1 runs per game). A good opportunity to stay within range of the leaders in the AL West. BEST BET: Righthanders vs. the Twins.
N.Y. Yankees at Oakland (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The obituaries being written about the Yankees may be a bit premature. They bounced back from a miserable run with back to back shutouts against the A?s last weekend. Oakland was a disappointing 2-7 (-$470) against New York last year and their offense is struggling (.236 team BA). They are only 2-7 in night games at the Coliseum so far (-$440) and the first two games of this series are evening affairs. Oakland will face Randy Johnson on Sunday, so they?ll be in against Mussina & Brown in the first two games, both of whom will be coming off their best performances of the year (A?s only 3.3 runs per game vs. righties). BEST BET: Mussina & Brown in night games.
Boston at Seattle (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
We?re disappointed in the Mariners, who have failed to bounce back from a lousy 2004 season. They are only 4-10 here at Safeco (-$735) and are coming off a miserable stretch of games in which they?ve failed in all aspects of the game (3-7, -$360 with 3.0 runs per game and a 6.03 ERA among starters). The Sox are holding up well despite a rash of injuries to their rotation (3.37 ERA among starters last 10 days). We?ll try our luck with Matt Clement (3.35) who has emerged as a key man in this depleted staff. BEST BET: Clement
