LOOKING AHEAD
LOOKING AHEAD
BEGINNING MONDAY MAY 31
N.Y. Mets at Philadelphia (3) 31st, 1st, 2nd
Check the results of last week?s series at Shea, as well as how well the Mets fared against Florida over the weekend before committing fully. But with Leiter on the sidelines and Glavine unlikely to pitch, the Phillies (5.4 RPG vs. righties) will get a shot at the second tier Met starters. Could be tough for NY against those quality Philly hurlers. PREFERRED: Phillies vs. all righthanders except Trachsel.
Montreal at Atlanta (3) 31st, 1st, 2nd
If we see a glimmer of offense from the visiting Expos, we?d like to use some of their excellent starting pitchers (3.78 team ERA, 3rd best in the NL). But until they start producing at the plate those great starting performances will be wasted, so we?ll stay on the sidelines for now. PREFERRED: None.
Houston at Chicago Cubs (3) 31st, 1st, 2nd
The Cubs are a spectacular 17-8 (+$355) in day games and two of the games in this series are afternoon affairs. We?ll avoid Mitre (5.82 ERA) but all the other Chicago starters have looked sharp (3.62 team ERA, best in the league) and we?re not impressed with the overpriced Astros (-$820 overall) who have struggled in recent days (3-7, -$925). PREFERRED: All Cubs except Mitre in day games.
Cincinnati at Florida (3) 31st, 1st, 2nd
The Reds are are hanging tough in a NL Central, but it?s hard to see them keeping it up considering their lousy stats (.245 team BA, 2nd worst in the NL, 4.65 team ERA, 4th worst). They?ve only managed 3.8 RPG vs. southpaws so far, and Florida has a pair who are likely to see action. PREFERRED: Lefthanders vs. the Reds.
Milwaukee at Los Angeles (3) 31st, 1st, 2nd
It?s tough to make money with the Dodgers at Chavez Ravine (-$240 so far), and they?ve tumbled back after opening up that fat lead in their division. The Brewers have a quality arm in Ben Sheets (+$270, 2.86 ERA) who will be taking a turn in LA. PREFERRED: Sheets.
St. Louis at Pittsburgh (4) 31st, 1st, 2nd, 3rd
The Cards have been much too good on the road to go against (13-8, +$450) but they have an all righty rotation with a lackluster 4.05 ERA, and the Pirates have been performing well against righthanders in all settings (+$745). We?ll pass for now. PREFERRED: None.
San Francisco at Arizona (4) 31st, 1st, 2nd, 3rd
The Giants have done good work vs. righthanders in road games (9-6, +$515) so we?ll use them against against the weak starters on this Arizona team that has dropped a bundle here at Bank One (only 8-14, -$1145). PREFERRED: Giants vs. Daigle, Sparks & Dessens.
Colorado at San Diego (3) 31st, 1st, 2nd
With David Wells on the DL, the Padres don?t have any lefties in their rotation, but that?s good news against the sorrowful Rockies (10-22, -$895 in that situation). San Diego has gone 11-5 vs. righties at Petco Park (+$430) so we?ll not be worried by high prices on the favorite. PREFERRED: Padres when righty meets righty.
Kansas City at Detroit (4) 31st, 1st, 2nd, 3rd
The Royals rode herd (14-5, +$480) over last season?s worst team, but with a grand total of five road victories (13-27 overall, -$1190), they?ll be lucky to take a game. PREFERRED: Tigers in all games.
Tampa Bay at Minnesota (4) 31st, 1st, 2nd, 3rd
Here?s another road team (3-17, -$1285, averaging 2.7 RPG) that probably considers getting back to the hotel in one piece a moral victory. The prices are sure to be steep, but we can?t resist taking advantage of the Devil Rays? 2-13 record vs. righties. PREFERRED: Righthanders vs. the Devil Rays.
Toronto at Seattle (3) 31st, 1st, 2nd
The Blue Jays split a four-game series in Safeco last year en route to winning the season series, 4-3 (+$270). But, we can?t get too excited about Toronto, a team that can?t seem to get untracked (lost eight of eleven, team ERA 4.78). On the other hand, the Mariners have lost eight of eleven and are already talking about dumping expensive veterans. Seems a bit early to be waving the white flag, doesn?t it? PREFERRED: None.
BEGINNING TUESDAY JUNE 1
Baltimore at N.Y. Yankees (3) 31st, 1st, 2nd
The Yankees have dominated the Orioles in recent years including a 13-6 (+$535) advantage in 2003. And, the Yankees are rolling (won nine of 14 and 17 of 24) after a slow start. However, we?re still not convinced that the Bombers have solved their pitching problems (4.42 ERA) and are reluctant to back them at what will be huge prices. PREFERRED: None.
Texas at Cleveland (2) 1st, 2nd
The Rangers and Indians continue to surprise the pundits. The two teams combined to lose $1745 in 2003 and were $660 in the black as we went to press. The Indians average six RPG against righties (1.4 RPG more than vs.southpaws) and will be facing two righthanders in this series. Go with them as they are 10-6 vs. righties at home (+$490) especially if Chan Ho Park (5.19 road ERA) or Joaquin Benoit (7.11 road ERA) take the mound. PREFERRED: Indians vs. righthanders.
Chicago White Sox at Oakland (2) 31st, 1st
The Pale Hose is averaging 8.5 RPG at home against southpaws, so we?ll go against conventional wisdom and recommend plays against Barry Zito, Mark Redman and Mark Mulder. PREFERRED: White Sox vs. lefthanders.
Boston at Anaheim (2) 1st, 2nd
The Red Sox won 67% of last year?s games (6-3, +$240) against the Angels, with the great Pedro Martinez (1-0, 1.69 ERA, 16 innings) leading the way. Martinez was 2-0 vs. the Angels in 2002 with a 0.56 ERA in 16 innings, so we?re hoping injuries/rainouts don?t keep him from taking his turn. PREFERRED: P. Martinez.