BEGINNING MONDAY AUGUST 22
St. Louis at Pittsburgh (3) 22nd, 23rd, 24th
If you?re thinking of backing the visitors, you?re only concern will be whether they fall into a coma. The Cardinals are 7-2 (+$300) vs. the Pirates this year and 19-7 (+$720) in the last year plus. Given Pittsburgh?s inability to hit righties (3.9 RPG overall), we have no problem with any of Tony LaRussa?s gifted starters. PREFERRED: Morris/Suppan/Marquis/Carpenter.
Atlanta at Chicago Cubs (3) 22nd, 23rd, 24th
The Cubbies are going nowhere and the Braves are likely to help them remain in purgatory. Atlanta has been truly remarkable at home against righties (31-11, +$1515) and we won?t hesitate to pull the trigger even if mark Prior or Carlos Zambrano are in the box. PREFERRED: Braves vs. righthanders.
N.Y. Mets at Arizona (4) 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th
The Mets be able to point to the one obvious reason why they failed to make post season play: They are an terrible road team (only 23-35, -$1185). With the Diamondbacks still hanging in the race in the mediocre NL West, we?ll key on them at decent prices in all situations except when either Pedro Martinez or Kris Benson is scheduled. PREFERRED: Diamondbacks vs. Glavine, Seo & Zambrano.
Houston at San Diego (3) 22nd, 23rd, 24th
The Padres? offense has gone back to sleep after a brief respite. Now it must pass the test of going up against one of the five best starting corps in MLB. However, scoring runs against the Astros? starting corps is quite another story especially when that offense is producing just 3.7 RPG at home. Houston?s starters have a 3.79 ERA on the road, the third best in the NL. PREFERRED: Astros vs. all but Peavy.
Philadelphia at San Francisco (3) 22nd, 23rd, 24th
The Phillies have turned around last season?s 2-4 (-$315) showing against the Giants by sweeping all three games in Pennsylvania. The Giants haven?t been world beaters at home lately losing nine of their last 15 games. The Phillies are the pick unless they run into the hot Jason Schmidt. PREFERRED: Phillies vs. all but Schmidt.
Toronto at N.Y. Yankees (4) 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th
The Yankees took two of three from the Blue Jays in Toronto three weeks ago and lead the series, 5-3, but are in the red (-$115). They missed Roy Halladay in Canada and it looks like they?ll miss him in the Bronx as his return from the DL has been delayed once again. Yes, New York will be high priced, but considering that the Yankees average 5.9 RPG in the Bronx vs. righties, we can?t resist them. PREFERRED: Yankees vs. righthanders.
Cleveland at Tampa Bay (4) 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th
Here we are in late August and this is the first series between these two teams which is another way of saying that we?re not the biggest proponents of inter league play. It should be a great time for the Tribe to be running into the Devil Rays, but the Rays have won series against Toronto, Baltimore and these same Indians (swept the Indians last weekend at the Jake) and are not to be taken lightly. We?ll take the Tribe in a heavy revenge mode should Tampa Bay send a righty to the hill as they are 31-17 (+$1850) on the road against them. PREFERRED: Indians vs. righthanders.
BEGINNING TUESDAY AUGUST 23
Cincinnati at Washington (3) 23rd, 24th, 25th
The Reds swept the Nationals in Ohio back in late May (3-0, +$310) when Washington was in first place in the NL East. After a disastrous swoon in July, the Nationals have somewhat righted the ship, and are in the midst of the wild card race. The Reds have been one of the hottest teams in MLB since the All-Star break but may be due for a fall with a pitching staff that allows almost 1.5 more RPG than Washington?s. John Patterson has been simply amazing at home (5-0 with a 1.67 ERA and a .192 BAA) and has a 1.69 ERA since the All-Star break. PREFERRED: Patterson.
Florida at Milwaukee (3) 23rd, 24th, 25th
The Marlins? team BA has been respectable virtually all year (.274, bet in the NL) but now they face the vastly improved Brewers? pitching staff. We can?t trust the on again-off again Marlins who look like a playoff team in one series and a minor league team in the next. We?re not about to play them on the road (-$1010). PREFERRED: Brewers in all games.
Colorado at L.A. Dodgers (3) 23rd, 24th, 25th
These two NL West rivals have played ten games with the Dodgers winning six of them (+$135). Finding a sure fire play or two in this series is difficult since both teams possess starting corps that are 80% righthanded and neither team can hit them (the Rockies lose 64% of the time against them while the Dodgers are 40-49, (-$1040). That doesn?t leave us with much, does it? Let?s play it safe and pass. PREFERRED: None.
L.A. Angels at Baltimore (3) 23rd, 24th, 25th
After a surprising start, the Orioles have fallen out of the running and have to be content with playing the role of spoiler. Are they up to it? Nah! The Angels are too poised and too well managed to a team that has not only had to deal with losing, but with the firing of Lee Mazzilli and the outing of Raphael Palmeiro as a phony as well. PREFERRED: Angels in all games.
Oakland at Detroit (3) 23rd, 24th, 25th
Oakland has the second best record in the AL against southpaws (21-12, +$895) and are averaging a gaudy 5.5 RPG against them. We respect the Tigers? Mike Maroth and Nate Robertson, but Detroit is just 9-14 (-$775) in their starts art Comerica and the Athletics are playing too well to ignore. PREFERRED: Athletics in all games.
Seattle at Texas Rangers (3) 23rd, 24th, 25th
The Rangers hold a slim, 5-4 (+$55), in this series and are 17-11 (+$480) against the Mariners since the beginning of last year. With the Rangers fading out of the wild card race and Kenny Rogers looking unsteady since returning from his 13-game abbreviated suspension, we?re not backing the high priced spread. Try the dog should they start a southpaw as Texas averages 1.6 RPG fewer vs. them vs. righthanders. PREFERRED: Mariners? lefthanders.
Boston at Kansas City (3) 23rd, 24th, 25th
With the Red Sox in the midst of a nice run (six consecutive wins and 14 in their last 16 games) and the Royals stinking up the joint more than usual, why not take the far superior team as long as the prices aren?t ridiculous? On the other hand, it?s hard to believe that those prices will be anything but ridiculous and deservedly so. PREFERRED: None.
Chicago W. Sox at Minnesota (3) 23rd, 24th, 25th
With Torii Hunter on the sidelines for the rest of 2005, the Twins? lame offense (2nd lowest team BA in the league) figures to be more ineffectual than normal. One wonders how Minny will score against what is easily the best pitching staff in the AL, a unit that held the powerful Bronx Bombers? offense to all of five runs in three games in Yankee Stadium. PREFERRED: White Sox in all games.
St. Louis at Pittsburgh (3) 22nd, 23rd, 24th
If you?re thinking of backing the visitors, you?re only concern will be whether they fall into a coma. The Cardinals are 7-2 (+$300) vs. the Pirates this year and 19-7 (+$720) in the last year plus. Given Pittsburgh?s inability to hit righties (3.9 RPG overall), we have no problem with any of Tony LaRussa?s gifted starters. PREFERRED: Morris/Suppan/Marquis/Carpenter.
Atlanta at Chicago Cubs (3) 22nd, 23rd, 24th
The Cubbies are going nowhere and the Braves are likely to help them remain in purgatory. Atlanta has been truly remarkable at home against righties (31-11, +$1515) and we won?t hesitate to pull the trigger even if mark Prior or Carlos Zambrano are in the box. PREFERRED: Braves vs. righthanders.
N.Y. Mets at Arizona (4) 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th
The Mets be able to point to the one obvious reason why they failed to make post season play: They are an terrible road team (only 23-35, -$1185). With the Diamondbacks still hanging in the race in the mediocre NL West, we?ll key on them at decent prices in all situations except when either Pedro Martinez or Kris Benson is scheduled. PREFERRED: Diamondbacks vs. Glavine, Seo & Zambrano.
Houston at San Diego (3) 22nd, 23rd, 24th
The Padres? offense has gone back to sleep after a brief respite. Now it must pass the test of going up against one of the five best starting corps in MLB. However, scoring runs against the Astros? starting corps is quite another story especially when that offense is producing just 3.7 RPG at home. Houston?s starters have a 3.79 ERA on the road, the third best in the NL. PREFERRED: Astros vs. all but Peavy.
Philadelphia at San Francisco (3) 22nd, 23rd, 24th
The Phillies have turned around last season?s 2-4 (-$315) showing against the Giants by sweeping all three games in Pennsylvania. The Giants haven?t been world beaters at home lately losing nine of their last 15 games. The Phillies are the pick unless they run into the hot Jason Schmidt. PREFERRED: Phillies vs. all but Schmidt.
Toronto at N.Y. Yankees (4) 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th
The Yankees took two of three from the Blue Jays in Toronto three weeks ago and lead the series, 5-3, but are in the red (-$115). They missed Roy Halladay in Canada and it looks like they?ll miss him in the Bronx as his return from the DL has been delayed once again. Yes, New York will be high priced, but considering that the Yankees average 5.9 RPG in the Bronx vs. righties, we can?t resist them. PREFERRED: Yankees vs. righthanders.
Cleveland at Tampa Bay (4) 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th
Here we are in late August and this is the first series between these two teams which is another way of saying that we?re not the biggest proponents of inter league play. It should be a great time for the Tribe to be running into the Devil Rays, but the Rays have won series against Toronto, Baltimore and these same Indians (swept the Indians last weekend at the Jake) and are not to be taken lightly. We?ll take the Tribe in a heavy revenge mode should Tampa Bay send a righty to the hill as they are 31-17 (+$1850) on the road against them. PREFERRED: Indians vs. righthanders.
BEGINNING TUESDAY AUGUST 23
Cincinnati at Washington (3) 23rd, 24th, 25th
The Reds swept the Nationals in Ohio back in late May (3-0, +$310) when Washington was in first place in the NL East. After a disastrous swoon in July, the Nationals have somewhat righted the ship, and are in the midst of the wild card race. The Reds have been one of the hottest teams in MLB since the All-Star break but may be due for a fall with a pitching staff that allows almost 1.5 more RPG than Washington?s. John Patterson has been simply amazing at home (5-0 with a 1.67 ERA and a .192 BAA) and has a 1.69 ERA since the All-Star break. PREFERRED: Patterson.
Florida at Milwaukee (3) 23rd, 24th, 25th
The Marlins? team BA has been respectable virtually all year (.274, bet in the NL) but now they face the vastly improved Brewers? pitching staff. We can?t trust the on again-off again Marlins who look like a playoff team in one series and a minor league team in the next. We?re not about to play them on the road (-$1010). PREFERRED: Brewers in all games.
Colorado at L.A. Dodgers (3) 23rd, 24th, 25th
These two NL West rivals have played ten games with the Dodgers winning six of them (+$135). Finding a sure fire play or two in this series is difficult since both teams possess starting corps that are 80% righthanded and neither team can hit them (the Rockies lose 64% of the time against them while the Dodgers are 40-49, (-$1040). That doesn?t leave us with much, does it? Let?s play it safe and pass. PREFERRED: None.
L.A. Angels at Baltimore (3) 23rd, 24th, 25th
After a surprising start, the Orioles have fallen out of the running and have to be content with playing the role of spoiler. Are they up to it? Nah! The Angels are too poised and too well managed to a team that has not only had to deal with losing, but with the firing of Lee Mazzilli and the outing of Raphael Palmeiro as a phony as well. PREFERRED: Angels in all games.
Oakland at Detroit (3) 23rd, 24th, 25th
Oakland has the second best record in the AL against southpaws (21-12, +$895) and are averaging a gaudy 5.5 RPG against them. We respect the Tigers? Mike Maroth and Nate Robertson, but Detroit is just 9-14 (-$775) in their starts art Comerica and the Athletics are playing too well to ignore. PREFERRED: Athletics in all games.
Seattle at Texas Rangers (3) 23rd, 24th, 25th
The Rangers hold a slim, 5-4 (+$55), in this series and are 17-11 (+$480) against the Mariners since the beginning of last year. With the Rangers fading out of the wild card race and Kenny Rogers looking unsteady since returning from his 13-game abbreviated suspension, we?re not backing the high priced spread. Try the dog should they start a southpaw as Texas averages 1.6 RPG fewer vs. them vs. righthanders. PREFERRED: Mariners? lefthanders.
Boston at Kansas City (3) 23rd, 24th, 25th
With the Red Sox in the midst of a nice run (six consecutive wins and 14 in their last 16 games) and the Royals stinking up the joint more than usual, why not take the far superior team as long as the prices aren?t ridiculous? On the other hand, it?s hard to believe that those prices will be anything but ridiculous and deservedly so. PREFERRED: None.
Chicago W. Sox at Minnesota (3) 23rd, 24th, 25th
With Torii Hunter on the sidelines for the rest of 2005, the Twins? lame offense (2nd lowest team BA in the league) figures to be more ineffectual than normal. One wonders how Minny will score against what is easily the best pitching staff in the AL, a unit that held the powerful Bronx Bombers? offense to all of five runs in three games in Yankee Stadium. PREFERRED: White Sox in all games.
