BEGINNING FRIDAY AUGUST 26
Florida at Chicago Cubs (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
The Cubs have sent Kerry Wood to the bullpen and will rely on Mark Prior and Carlos Zambrano to keep them in the wildcard race. Taking five of seven games from the front running Cardinals (6-3, +$420 overall) tells us that the talent is there to make a serious run, so we?ll back them at home against the up and down Marlins who are -$1040 in the red on the road the last year plus. The lone exception is any game that A.J. Burnett (4-0 with a 1.14 ERA in August) starts. BEST BET: Burnett/Cubs vs. all but Burnett.
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh (4) 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th
These bottom feeders have split six games to date and play a three-game set in Ohio in two weeks. As usual, it will be the Reds? offense vs. the Pirates? pitching. Cincy?s starters have a 5.29 ERA on the road only to be outdone by its relievers (5.44), so there is a good chance that this wreck of a pitching staff will turn the Pirates? ordinary offense into a dynamo. Since the Pirates average one RPG more against southpaws as opposed to righties, we?ll wait for Eric Milton?s turn (3-7 on the road with a 6.82 ERA and a .290 BAA) and play anyone against him. BEST BET: Pirates vs. Milton.
St. Louis at Washington (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
When the best pitching staff in either league (Cards 3.45 team ERA) visits the team with the worst offense, nothing good can be predicted for the hosts, especially one fading from contention like Washington. The Cardls have the best record on the road (37-21, +$965) in the NL and three of their starters are in the black on the road: Chris Carpenter (+$1000), Matt Morris (+$160) and Mark Mulder (+$310). BEST BET: Carpenter/Morris/Mulder.
Atlanta at Milwaukee (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
Although the Braves have played superbly against righties at home, they?ve gone into the tank against them on the road (19-28, -$1010). The problem in playing against them in this series is that Milwaukee isn?t getting much out of their righty starters lately and none of them are in the black at home. The Braves are 10-5 (+$530) on the road vs. southpaws so we?re looking to play against Chris Capuano or Doug Davis. BEST BET: Braves vs. lefthanders.
Philadelphia at Arizona (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
The resurgent Phillies have survived the loss of Jim Thome and injuries to starters Randy Wolf and Vicente Padilla and are running neck and neck with the Astros in the battle for first place in the wildcard race. Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks are very much alive in the NL West. That makes this a tough series to call. Since neither team plays well vs. righties (Arizona is 17-25, -$1125 averaging 4.3 RPG at home, Philly is averaging 4.1 RPG against righties on the road), we?ll duck under the total if the match ups allow us. BEST BET: UNDER when righthander faces righthander.
Colorado at San Diego (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
The sputtering Padres may be catching a break here. They?ve already defeated the Rockies on six of eight occasions (+$410) and their solid pitching staff will be facing an offense that is hitting .232 on the road as opposed to .296 in hitter-friendly Coors Field. With the Rockies averaging 3.3 RPG on the road against righties it looks like a long weekend for the second worst team in MLB. BEST BET: Padres righthanders at -$175 or less.
N.Y. Mets at San Francisco (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
The Mets have the third worst road record (23-35, -$1185) in the NL, so don?t assume that they?ll replicate the success (won two of three in New York) they had against the Giants earlier this year. Plus, the Giants have been getting good pitching from Noah Lowry and Jason Schmidt lately and both are slated for a start in this series. BEST BET: Martinez/Schmidt & Lowry vs. all but Martinez .
Houston at L.A. Dodgers (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
The Astros swept the Dodgers in Texas in July holding them to nine runs in three games in that bandbox in Texas and ought to do just about as well in cavernous Dodger Stadium where that fine starting rotation should look positively awesome. Since the Dodgers aren?t much offensively and the Astros are averaging just 4.1 RPG on the road, we?ll be taking a close look at the TOTALS that Vegas put up. BEST BET: UNDER in all games.
Detroit at Boston (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
Two weeks ago in Detroit, the Tigers ended the Boston?s six-game winning streak and took two of three to cool the hot Sox down. But Boston has won 13 straight at home, averaging 7.1 RPG along the way and are now 38-18 (+$1120) overall in Massachusetts. They?re particularly dominating against righties (27-11, +$1165). The path is clear in this series. BEST BET: Red Sox vs. righthanders.
Kansas City at N.Y. Yankees (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
Oh boy, the prices for this game will be higher than your generic barrel of oil from our allies in Saudi Arabia. There isn?t any way we can recommend laying 3-1 and we?re not smart enough to predict what game the worst team in MLB might be lucky enough to win. A reminder for all you underdog buffs: The Yankees were swept by the Royals in Kansas City in late May-early June. BEST BET: None.
Cleveland at Toronto (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
The Blue Jays have fared well against righties at home (26-17, +$905) and the Tribe has not played winning ball when one of their righties starts. Toronto continues to hang in the AL East race even though they haven?t seen Roy Halladay on the mound since July 8. Stay with them at home. BEST BET: Blue Jays vs. Millwood, Westbrook & Elarton.
L.A. Angels at Tampa Bay (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
The last time the Angels traveled 3,000 miles east they lost five of six games in New York and Toronto. With the clock beginning to wind down on 2005, we expect a renewed effort. Dut the Devil Rays are no longer the patsies they were when the season began. They?ve won 22 of 34 since the All-Star break and are always tough at home. And, the way the Angels? pitching rotation is currently set up, the Rays are likely to avoid Bartolo Colon and John Lackey. BEST BET: Devil Rays vs. Washburn, Byrd, Bootcheck & Santana.
Oakland at Baltimore (4) 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th
In California 10 days ago, the Orioles came out of nowhere and swept a previously hot team (+$490), one with the third best home record in the AL. We?ll stay with the sounder team with superior pitching to make amends for that home brooming and we?ll use any of their starters against Sidney Ponson and Daniel Cabrera and counter with Erik Bedard and Brian Chen for the O?s. BEST BET: Bedard/Chen/Athletics vs. Ponson & Cabrera.
Minnesota at Texas (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
The Rangers have been a disaster since the All-Star break, losing 11 of 12 and falling out of playoff contention. Once again, the lack of effective pitching has done the Rangers in. Meanwhile, the Twins (8-2, +$765 last 10 days) have suddenly come alive after a desultory four weeks and have crept back into the wildcard race. The Twins? superior pitching, namely Johan Santana (10-2 on the road with a 2.98 ERA), should stifle the Rangers? offense. BEST BET: Santana.
Chicago W. Sox at Seattle (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
Maybe it?s the fact that the White Sox have an unassailable lead in the AL Central or maybe their mediocre offense has finally caught up with them, but the fact remains that Chicago is below .500 since August 1. This is no time to be investing your hard earned money in a slumping team with little incentive. Jamie Moyer is 7-0 at home with a 2.74 ERA in 88.2 innings. Let?s make him the top series play against what appears to be a disinterested team. BEST BET: Moyer.
Florida at Chicago Cubs (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
The Cubs have sent Kerry Wood to the bullpen and will rely on Mark Prior and Carlos Zambrano to keep them in the wildcard race. Taking five of seven games from the front running Cardinals (6-3, +$420 overall) tells us that the talent is there to make a serious run, so we?ll back them at home against the up and down Marlins who are -$1040 in the red on the road the last year plus. The lone exception is any game that A.J. Burnett (4-0 with a 1.14 ERA in August) starts. BEST BET: Burnett/Cubs vs. all but Burnett.
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh (4) 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th
These bottom feeders have split six games to date and play a three-game set in Ohio in two weeks. As usual, it will be the Reds? offense vs. the Pirates? pitching. Cincy?s starters have a 5.29 ERA on the road only to be outdone by its relievers (5.44), so there is a good chance that this wreck of a pitching staff will turn the Pirates? ordinary offense into a dynamo. Since the Pirates average one RPG more against southpaws as opposed to righties, we?ll wait for Eric Milton?s turn (3-7 on the road with a 6.82 ERA and a .290 BAA) and play anyone against him. BEST BET: Pirates vs. Milton.
St. Louis at Washington (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
When the best pitching staff in either league (Cards 3.45 team ERA) visits the team with the worst offense, nothing good can be predicted for the hosts, especially one fading from contention like Washington. The Cardls have the best record on the road (37-21, +$965) in the NL and three of their starters are in the black on the road: Chris Carpenter (+$1000), Matt Morris (+$160) and Mark Mulder (+$310). BEST BET: Carpenter/Morris/Mulder.
Atlanta at Milwaukee (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
Although the Braves have played superbly against righties at home, they?ve gone into the tank against them on the road (19-28, -$1010). The problem in playing against them in this series is that Milwaukee isn?t getting much out of their righty starters lately and none of them are in the black at home. The Braves are 10-5 (+$530) on the road vs. southpaws so we?re looking to play against Chris Capuano or Doug Davis. BEST BET: Braves vs. lefthanders.
Philadelphia at Arizona (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
The resurgent Phillies have survived the loss of Jim Thome and injuries to starters Randy Wolf and Vicente Padilla and are running neck and neck with the Astros in the battle for first place in the wildcard race. Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks are very much alive in the NL West. That makes this a tough series to call. Since neither team plays well vs. righties (Arizona is 17-25, -$1125 averaging 4.3 RPG at home, Philly is averaging 4.1 RPG against righties on the road), we?ll duck under the total if the match ups allow us. BEST BET: UNDER when righthander faces righthander.
Colorado at San Diego (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
The sputtering Padres may be catching a break here. They?ve already defeated the Rockies on six of eight occasions (+$410) and their solid pitching staff will be facing an offense that is hitting .232 on the road as opposed to .296 in hitter-friendly Coors Field. With the Rockies averaging 3.3 RPG on the road against righties it looks like a long weekend for the second worst team in MLB. BEST BET: Padres righthanders at -$175 or less.
N.Y. Mets at San Francisco (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
The Mets have the third worst road record (23-35, -$1185) in the NL, so don?t assume that they?ll replicate the success (won two of three in New York) they had against the Giants earlier this year. Plus, the Giants have been getting good pitching from Noah Lowry and Jason Schmidt lately and both are slated for a start in this series. BEST BET: Martinez/Schmidt & Lowry vs. all but Martinez .
Houston at L.A. Dodgers (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
The Astros swept the Dodgers in Texas in July holding them to nine runs in three games in that bandbox in Texas and ought to do just about as well in cavernous Dodger Stadium where that fine starting rotation should look positively awesome. Since the Dodgers aren?t much offensively and the Astros are averaging just 4.1 RPG on the road, we?ll be taking a close look at the TOTALS that Vegas put up. BEST BET: UNDER in all games.
Detroit at Boston (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
Two weeks ago in Detroit, the Tigers ended the Boston?s six-game winning streak and took two of three to cool the hot Sox down. But Boston has won 13 straight at home, averaging 7.1 RPG along the way and are now 38-18 (+$1120) overall in Massachusetts. They?re particularly dominating against righties (27-11, +$1165). The path is clear in this series. BEST BET: Red Sox vs. righthanders.
Kansas City at N.Y. Yankees (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
Oh boy, the prices for this game will be higher than your generic barrel of oil from our allies in Saudi Arabia. There isn?t any way we can recommend laying 3-1 and we?re not smart enough to predict what game the worst team in MLB might be lucky enough to win. A reminder for all you underdog buffs: The Yankees were swept by the Royals in Kansas City in late May-early June. BEST BET: None.
Cleveland at Toronto (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
The Blue Jays have fared well against righties at home (26-17, +$905) and the Tribe has not played winning ball when one of their righties starts. Toronto continues to hang in the AL East race even though they haven?t seen Roy Halladay on the mound since July 8. Stay with them at home. BEST BET: Blue Jays vs. Millwood, Westbrook & Elarton.
L.A. Angels at Tampa Bay (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
The last time the Angels traveled 3,000 miles east they lost five of six games in New York and Toronto. With the clock beginning to wind down on 2005, we expect a renewed effort. Dut the Devil Rays are no longer the patsies they were when the season began. They?ve won 22 of 34 since the All-Star break and are always tough at home. And, the way the Angels? pitching rotation is currently set up, the Rays are likely to avoid Bartolo Colon and John Lackey. BEST BET: Devil Rays vs. Washburn, Byrd, Bootcheck & Santana.
Oakland at Baltimore (4) 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th
In California 10 days ago, the Orioles came out of nowhere and swept a previously hot team (+$490), one with the third best home record in the AL. We?ll stay with the sounder team with superior pitching to make amends for that home brooming and we?ll use any of their starters against Sidney Ponson and Daniel Cabrera and counter with Erik Bedard and Brian Chen for the O?s. BEST BET: Bedard/Chen/Athletics vs. Ponson & Cabrera.
Minnesota at Texas (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
The Rangers have been a disaster since the All-Star break, losing 11 of 12 and falling out of playoff contention. Once again, the lack of effective pitching has done the Rangers in. Meanwhile, the Twins (8-2, +$765 last 10 days) have suddenly come alive after a desultory four weeks and have crept back into the wildcard race. The Twins? superior pitching, namely Johan Santana (10-2 on the road with a 2.98 ERA), should stifle the Rangers? offense. BEST BET: Santana.
Chicago W. Sox at Seattle (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
Maybe it?s the fact that the White Sox have an unassailable lead in the AL Central or maybe their mediocre offense has finally caught up with them, but the fact remains that Chicago is below .500 since August 1. This is no time to be investing your hard earned money in a slumping team with little incentive. Jamie Moyer is 7-0 at home with a 2.74 ERA in 88.2 innings. Let?s make him the top series play against what appears to be a disinterested team. BEST BET: Moyer.
