BEGINNING MONDAY JUNE 23
Pittsburgh at Montreal (3) 23rd, 24th, 25th
The Pirates? profits on the road (18-18, +$510) may be eaten into by the Expos who excel at home (23-11, +$985). Javier Vazquez should be taking the hill in this series and since the Expos have won all seven of his starts (+$700) at home, it?s no stretch making him the top play in this series. PREFERRED: Vazquez.
Houston at Arizona (3) 23rd, 24th, 25th
The Diamondbacks are hoping that Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson are off the DL in time for this series because, if they?re not, it will be a long weekend against one of MLB?s best hitting teams. For whatever reason, Arizona (-$1235 at home) continues to be overpriced in the desert as though this was 2001 when they were the champs. That?s just fine with us. PREFERRED: Astros vs. all but Schilling & Johnson.
Colorado at San Diego (3) 23rd, 24th, 25th
This is the second meeting of the year for these two West division rivals in California and the Padres won two of three by holding the Rockies to a total of 3.0 RPG, two scores under their average. Given Colorado?s ineptness on the road (10-25, -$1025), look for a repeat performance. PREFERRED: Padres in all games.
Los Angeles at San Francisco (3) 23rd, 24th, 25th
The Dodgers? pitching remains excellent 2.92 team BA, (four or less runs allowed in 15 consecutive games), but the offense is last in the NL in BA (.245), and last in MLB in homers (40).. With that in mind, we?ll take Jason Schmidt and Kirk Rueter (SF is 11-3, +$610 in their home starts) as the two best plays in this three-game set. PREFERRED: Schmidt and Rueter.
Detroit at Boston (4) 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th
This series has ?massacre? written all over it. The hapless Tigers are hitting .223 and averaging 3.4 runs per game on the road and the Red Sox have the highest home BA in baseball. And, with Pedro Martinez off the DL and Derek Lowe pitching so well at home (4-0, 2.11 ERA), the forecast for the Tigers is bleak. But, oh those prices! PREFERRED: None.
Baltimore at Toronto (4) 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th
The Orioles have two pitchers that have been amazingly profitable on the road in Sidney Ponson (4-2, +$635), who?s definitely scheduled to go, and Jason Johnson (3-3, +$340). Baltimore has been a solid investment as both an underdog (+$695) and on the road (+$200) and is worth a long look as long as Roy Halladay (nine straight wins) stays on the bench. PREFERRED: Ponson &Johnson vs. all but Halladay.
Oakland at Texas (4) 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th
The Athletics can be had on the road especially if you possess solid righthanded pitchers (Oakland only 9-14, -$970 in that spot), but good pitching from either side of the slab is as rare in Texas as the sighting of a WMD in Iraq. Oakland?s recent lackluster play (lost 6 of 11) combined with being away should make them a reasonable favorite. PREFERRED: Oakland -$150 or less.
N.Y. Yankees at Tampa Bay (4) 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th
The Devil Rays? up and coming youngster Victor Zambrano not scheduled in this four-game tilt, and it?s impossible to recommend any other TB starter. But, we?re not keen about backing the Yankees as road chalk. PREFERRED: None.
BEGINNING TUESDAY JUNE 24
Florida at N.Y. Mets (3) 24th, 25th, 26th
These two mediocrities will be battling to stay out of the cellar in the NL East and we?ll side with the Mets, who have done a reasonably good job against lefthanded pitching (11-7, +$630) and the Marlins have three southpaws in their current rotation PREFERRED: Mets vs. lefthanders
Philadelphia at Atlanta (3) 24th, 25th, 26th
Until the Phillies start to hit (.248 BA), we can?t get too excited about their chances against the team with the best home record in the majors (24-9, +$865). We will, however, take a shot with ex-Brave Kevin Millwood who would love to win in his old digs and is 5-2 on the road (+$170). Go against Randy Wolf with any Braves? starter as Atlanta is 13-2 vs. southpaws (+$1155) averaging seven RPG. PREFERRED: Millwood/Braves vs. Wolf.
Milwaukee at Chicago Cubs (3) 24th, 25th, 26th
The Cubs have won five of seven vs. the Brewers, but are $10 in the red. That?s what happens when you lose twice at home to a poor team and your ace (Mark Prior) pitches in one of the games. Actually, the bullpen submarined Prior after a good outing in a (9-6) loss, but he made up for it with a ?W? in Milwaukee. He?s 3-1 at home with a 2.74 ERA and opponents are hitting just .230 against him. PREFERRED: Prior
Cincinnati at St. Louis (3) 24th, 25th, 26th
Surprise, surprise, the Reds have dominated the Cardinals this year, winning six of seven (+$755) by doing something they haven?t done all year----getting batters out. The Reds have held the hard-hitting Cardinals to 3.7 RPG, 2.0 RPG below their season?s average. We doubt that trend will continue and recommend a play on St. Louis in every game as long as the price is somewhat reasonable. PREFERRED: Cardinals at -$170 or less.
Kansas City at Cleveland (3) 24th, 25th, 26th
When the Royals could do no wrong earlier in the year, they destroyed the Indians in head to head play (5-1, +$445). Cleveland is not a pushover at home and has a major score to settle, but we?re not interested in backing a team that has trouble scoring runs at home or one that won?t be a big enough dog to attract our interest. PREFERRED: None.
Chicago White Sox at Minnesota (3) 24th, 25th, 26th
The Twins have won four of six (+$260) vs. the White Sox taking all three in Minnesota in mid May. The Pale Hose can?t afford to fall much further behind the defending Central division champs, but outside of possible starts from Estaban Loaiza(+$475, 2.24 ERA) and Bartolo Colon (3.99) we don?t give them much of a chance. PREFERRED:Twins vs. Garland,Wright & Buehrle.
Seattle at Anaheim (3) 24th, 25th, 26th
The best road team in the sport (25-8, +$1815) has an opportunity to end the defending world champions season before the All-Star break. The Angels (7-3, +$335 last 10 days) have been showing some life of late, but they?ll have to pitch a lot better (starters ERA is 4.96 at home) if they want to take this series. Jarrod Washburn has a scheduled start and we?ll play against him (15-14 at home vs. 27-10 on the road the past three plus years) with any Mariners? starter as Seattle is 20-5 (+$1485) averaging 6.8 RPG vs. southpaws. PREFERRED: Mariners vs. Washburn.
Pittsburgh at Montreal (3) 23rd, 24th, 25th
The Pirates? profits on the road (18-18, +$510) may be eaten into by the Expos who excel at home (23-11, +$985). Javier Vazquez should be taking the hill in this series and since the Expos have won all seven of his starts (+$700) at home, it?s no stretch making him the top play in this series. PREFERRED: Vazquez.
Houston at Arizona (3) 23rd, 24th, 25th
The Diamondbacks are hoping that Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson are off the DL in time for this series because, if they?re not, it will be a long weekend against one of MLB?s best hitting teams. For whatever reason, Arizona (-$1235 at home) continues to be overpriced in the desert as though this was 2001 when they were the champs. That?s just fine with us. PREFERRED: Astros vs. all but Schilling & Johnson.
Colorado at San Diego (3) 23rd, 24th, 25th
This is the second meeting of the year for these two West division rivals in California and the Padres won two of three by holding the Rockies to a total of 3.0 RPG, two scores under their average. Given Colorado?s ineptness on the road (10-25, -$1025), look for a repeat performance. PREFERRED: Padres in all games.
Los Angeles at San Francisco (3) 23rd, 24th, 25th
The Dodgers? pitching remains excellent 2.92 team BA, (four or less runs allowed in 15 consecutive games), but the offense is last in the NL in BA (.245), and last in MLB in homers (40).. With that in mind, we?ll take Jason Schmidt and Kirk Rueter (SF is 11-3, +$610 in their home starts) as the two best plays in this three-game set. PREFERRED: Schmidt and Rueter.
Detroit at Boston (4) 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th
This series has ?massacre? written all over it. The hapless Tigers are hitting .223 and averaging 3.4 runs per game on the road and the Red Sox have the highest home BA in baseball. And, with Pedro Martinez off the DL and Derek Lowe pitching so well at home (4-0, 2.11 ERA), the forecast for the Tigers is bleak. But, oh those prices! PREFERRED: None.
Baltimore at Toronto (4) 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th
The Orioles have two pitchers that have been amazingly profitable on the road in Sidney Ponson (4-2, +$635), who?s definitely scheduled to go, and Jason Johnson (3-3, +$340). Baltimore has been a solid investment as both an underdog (+$695) and on the road (+$200) and is worth a long look as long as Roy Halladay (nine straight wins) stays on the bench. PREFERRED: Ponson &Johnson vs. all but Halladay.
Oakland at Texas (4) 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th
The Athletics can be had on the road especially if you possess solid righthanded pitchers (Oakland only 9-14, -$970 in that spot), but good pitching from either side of the slab is as rare in Texas as the sighting of a WMD in Iraq. Oakland?s recent lackluster play (lost 6 of 11) combined with being away should make them a reasonable favorite. PREFERRED: Oakland -$150 or less.
N.Y. Yankees at Tampa Bay (4) 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th
The Devil Rays? up and coming youngster Victor Zambrano not scheduled in this four-game tilt, and it?s impossible to recommend any other TB starter. But, we?re not keen about backing the Yankees as road chalk. PREFERRED: None.
BEGINNING TUESDAY JUNE 24
Florida at N.Y. Mets (3) 24th, 25th, 26th
These two mediocrities will be battling to stay out of the cellar in the NL East and we?ll side with the Mets, who have done a reasonably good job against lefthanded pitching (11-7, +$630) and the Marlins have three southpaws in their current rotation PREFERRED: Mets vs. lefthanders
Philadelphia at Atlanta (3) 24th, 25th, 26th
Until the Phillies start to hit (.248 BA), we can?t get too excited about their chances against the team with the best home record in the majors (24-9, +$865). We will, however, take a shot with ex-Brave Kevin Millwood who would love to win in his old digs and is 5-2 on the road (+$170). Go against Randy Wolf with any Braves? starter as Atlanta is 13-2 vs. southpaws (+$1155) averaging seven RPG. PREFERRED: Millwood/Braves vs. Wolf.
Milwaukee at Chicago Cubs (3) 24th, 25th, 26th
The Cubs have won five of seven vs. the Brewers, but are $10 in the red. That?s what happens when you lose twice at home to a poor team and your ace (Mark Prior) pitches in one of the games. Actually, the bullpen submarined Prior after a good outing in a (9-6) loss, but he made up for it with a ?W? in Milwaukee. He?s 3-1 at home with a 2.74 ERA and opponents are hitting just .230 against him. PREFERRED: Prior
Cincinnati at St. Louis (3) 24th, 25th, 26th
Surprise, surprise, the Reds have dominated the Cardinals this year, winning six of seven (+$755) by doing something they haven?t done all year----getting batters out. The Reds have held the hard-hitting Cardinals to 3.7 RPG, 2.0 RPG below their season?s average. We doubt that trend will continue and recommend a play on St. Louis in every game as long as the price is somewhat reasonable. PREFERRED: Cardinals at -$170 or less.
Kansas City at Cleveland (3) 24th, 25th, 26th
When the Royals could do no wrong earlier in the year, they destroyed the Indians in head to head play (5-1, +$445). Cleveland is not a pushover at home and has a major score to settle, but we?re not interested in backing a team that has trouble scoring runs at home or one that won?t be a big enough dog to attract our interest. PREFERRED: None.
Chicago White Sox at Minnesota (3) 24th, 25th, 26th
The Twins have won four of six (+$260) vs. the White Sox taking all three in Minnesota in mid May. The Pale Hose can?t afford to fall much further behind the defending Central division champs, but outside of possible starts from Estaban Loaiza(+$475, 2.24 ERA) and Bartolo Colon (3.99) we don?t give them much of a chance. PREFERRED:Twins vs. Garland,Wright & Buehrle.
Seattle at Anaheim (3) 24th, 25th, 26th
The best road team in the sport (25-8, +$1815) has an opportunity to end the defending world champions season before the All-Star break. The Angels (7-3, +$335 last 10 days) have been showing some life of late, but they?ll have to pitch a lot better (starters ERA is 4.96 at home) if they want to take this series. Jarrod Washburn has a scheduled start and we?ll play against him (15-14 at home vs. 27-10 on the road the past three plus years) with any Mariners? starter as Seattle is 20-5 (+$1485) averaging 6.8 RPG vs. southpaws. PREFERRED: Mariners vs. Washburn.
