WEEKEND SERIES
WEEKEND SERIES
BEGINNING THURSDAY AUGUST 7
Kansas City at Tampa Bay (4) 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th
This is the first meeting of the year between the mercurial Royals and the perennial cellar dwelling Devil Rays. KC had a six-game lead in the AL Central in July, but is now fighting for its playoff life. Tampa Bay has been playing winning ball since the All-Star break (+$485 last 10 days), has Jeremi Gonzalez, Victor Zambrano lined up against a very ordinary Royals pitching staff and will be getting attractive prices as a home dog. BEST BET: Devil Rays in all games.
BEGINNING FRIDAY AUGUST 8
Florida at Milwaukee (3) 8th, 9th, 10th
The suddenly playoff-contending Marlins (7-2, +$430 last 10 days and 41 of 63 since firing the inept Jeff Torborg) have an opportunity to make things even tighter in the wildcard race. Not only have they dominated the Brewers (5-1, +$385), but Milwaukee, as usual, is bringing up the rear in the NL Central. The Brew Crew has been a disaster vs. southpaws (8-16, -$375), so we?ll be taking a hard look at the visitors? ace southpaws. BEST BET: Redman/Willis.
Montreal at Houston (3) 8th, 9th, 10th
The Expos took two of three from Houston to close out the first month of the season, but that was when the Astros were playing terrible baseball and the Expos were at their best. Times have changed; Houston is a serious playoff contender and the Expos are also rans. The Astros? offense (28-15, +$620 at home vs. righties) should do well vs. the all-righthanded Expos? starters save for Livan Hernandez (1.69 ERA last 2 starts). BEST BET: Astros vs. all but Hernandez.
Atlanta at St. Louis (3) 8th, 9th, 10th
The Braves swept the Cards (+$310) in Atlanta by two, two and one run(s) in Georgia, but the Cardinals are a far more dangerous team in their own nest. However, with Matt Morris still on the DL and Atlanta so solid on the road (32-20, +$1260), we have to lean to the visitor unless Woody Williams gets the nod (Cards are 10-2, +$600 in his 12 home starts). BEST BET: Williams/Braves vs. all others.
Pittsburgh at Colorado (3) 8th, 9th, 10th
These teams played last weekend in Ohio and the Rockies dropped two of three. But, Colorado is a different team at home (38-16, +$2060) so we have no hesitation in recommending them in Denver where the Rockies are 18-1 (+$1740) when Shawn Chacon and Jason Jennings are on the mound and both are scheduled in this series. BEST BET: Chacon/Jennings.
Cincinnati at San Diego (3) 8th, 9th, 10th
Not much to choose from here. Paul Wilson is the only current Reds? starter in the black (+$285) on the road and Oliver Perez and Kevin Jarvis are the only Padres making a profit at home. Recent trades have depleted Cincy and the Padres are, well, the Padres. Let?s move on to the next series. BEST BET: None.
NY Mets at Arizona (3) 8th, 9th, 10th
With Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson back in the fold and Miguel Batista and Brandon Webb having excellent seasons, we can?t see the offensively-challenged Mets (.253 team BA, 15th in the NL) doing much in the desert against the home loving ?Backs (won 16 of the last 19 at Bank One. BEST BET: Diamondbacks at -$175 or less.
Chicago Cubs at Los Angeles (3) 8th, 9th, 10th
First meeting between teams beginning to focus on the wild card. Pitching will be the order of the day as the Dodgers have the best team ERA in MLB (3.10) and the eighth best-Cubs are not too shabby either (3.96). We?ll keep on playing against the Dodgers when a righty takes the hill for Chicago until LA?s offense (3.2 RPG in that spot) shows some spark. BEST BET: Righthanders vs. the Dodgers.
Philadelphia at San Francisco (3) 8th, 9th, 10th
Here?s yet another series with an emphasis on pitching. The Phillies (3.63) and Giants (3.82) have the second and fourth best ERAs in the NL, so match ups here are important. The Giants excel at home (37-16, +$1360) particularly vs. southpaws (12-2, +$985) where they have yet to lose to a lefty (8-0) at night, so a play against Randy Wolf is in order. The Phillies have been profitable vs. righties on the road (25-18, +$490). Go against all SF righthanders except Jason Schmidt or the newly-acquired Sidney Ponson. BEST BET: Giants vs. Wolf/ Phillies without Wolf vs. Foppert,Williams & Brower.
Baltimore at Boston (4) 8th (DH), 9th, 10th
Last weekend in Camden Yards, the O?s took two of three and are $540 in the black even though the series is knotted at four games apiece. The Red Sox are 27-11 at home (+$905) vs. righties averaging 7.2 RPG and three righties (Rick Helling, Pat Hentgen and Jason Johnson) are scheduled to pitch in Fenway Park. BEST BET: Righthanders vs. the Orioles.
Seattle at NY Yankees (3) 8th, 9th, 10th
The Bronx Bombers have won four of six vs. the Mariners and 19 of their last 25 home games. On the other hand, Seattle has the second best road record in MLB (33-19, +$1020) as well as the second best mark vs. southpaws (25-10, +$1315 averaging 6.1 RPG). Add the above to the Yankees? poor record at home vs. righties (-$1245) and we?ll advise technical plays throughout the series. BEST BET: Mariners? righties vs. Yankees lefties.
Anaheim at Cleveland (3) 8th, 9th, 10th
The Angels are probably thanking you-know-who every evening just before bed time for the Indians. Anaheim is a perfect 5-0 (+$500) against the Tribe. But, this is a much better team than the one Anaheim steamrolled earlier this season. Besides, the Angels? decision to drop Kevin Appier tells us that they believe the 2003 season is history. They?re right. Anaheim?s averaging 1.1 RPG less (3.9) vs. lefties than righties which will not help a bit vs. Messrs. Traber, Anderson and Sabathia. BEST BET: Lefthanders vs. the Angels.
Minnesota at Detroit (3) 8th, 9th, 10th
These two teams met in Minnesota last weekend and the Twins made headlines by losing its first game to Detroit in over a year after 16-straight victories. Mike Maroth, a 15-game loser, got the monkey off the Tigers? back and if he gets the nod here we?ll take him as the Twins are just 8-12 (-$370). Stay away from Minnesota. The prices will be too high considering that the starting staff?s ERA is 6.06 the last 1o days. PREFERRED: Maroth.
Texas at Toronto (3) 8th, 9th, 10th
This is the last series between the Rangers and Blue Jays this season and they?ve split six games so far. Both teams can hit, and outside of Roy Halladay, neither pitches very well as Toronto is 11th in the AL in team ERA ( 4.82) while Texas is 14th and dead last (5.98). With Halladay, whose 15-game decision streak was ended by Anaheim on August 1, a likely starter in the finale on Sunday, we?ll make him the only play in this series unless we can find a reason to like anyone in the Benoit/Wasdin and Dickey/Escobar match ups in games one and two. We doubt we will. BEST BET: Halladay.
Oakland at Chicago White Sox (3) 8th, 9th, 10th
The Athletics and White Sox are making significant runs at the respective leaders (Seattle and Kansas City) of their divisions, so this series will likely be played in a playoff atmosphere. Oakland has won four of six (+$155) vs. the Pale Hose and Chicago may be a bit weary after facing the Royals six times and the Mariners three times right before this series. We?ll recommend Mark Mulder (2-0 vs. the Sox this season with a 0.50 ERA and 4-0 lifetime with a 2.09 ERA) as the top series play to best the hot Mark Buehrle and stay away from the other games for now. BEST BET: Mulder.
