BEGINNING MONDAY AUGUST 29
St. Louis at Florida (3) 29th, 30th, 31st
These two teams split a four-game series in Missouri at the beginning of this month with A.J. Burnett winning the finale. Burnett is our top choice. He?s 7-1 with a 2.05 ERA since the All-Star break with a .230 BAA in 49 innings. We?ll go with Chris Carpenter as our top Cardinals? selection. He?s 9-0 on the road with a 1.93 ERA and a .191 BAA in 74.2 innings. Not bad, not bad at all. PREFERRED: Burnett/Carpenter.
Washington at Atlanta (4) 29th, 30th, 31st, 1st
If the Nationals have any gas left in the tank, now is the time to show it. The Nationals? 100% righthanded starting rotation will be put to the test by a Braves? offense that is 31-15 (+$800) at home against righties. Play against them all save for Livan Hernandez as the Nationals are 10-6 (+$790) in his 16 road starts. PREFERRED: Hernandez/Braves vs. all but Hernandez.
L.A. Dodgers at Chicago Cubs (3) 29th, 30th, 31st
The Cubs swept (3-0, +$365) the Dodgers in LA in late May, early June and, the way the Dodgers perform against righties on the road (20-31, -$750), there is a good chance Chicago will bring the broom out of the closet again. Only one current LA starter, Jeff Weaver, is in the black on the road. PREFERRED: Cubs? righthanders.
Arizona at San Diego (3) 29th, 30th, 31st
The Padres have a chance to put some distance between themselves and the Diamondbacks in the battle for first place in the NL West, but are they up to the task? Arizona is leading the series (7-6, +$215), so there is no chance of being intimidated by mediocre San Diego. The stats say that the Padres are 9-7 (56%) against portsiders at home, but the fact is that they are averaging 2.9 RPG in that situation so let?s tab Brad Halsey as out top Diamondbacks? play unless he faces Jake Peavy (.205 BAA in 85.2 innings at home). PREFERRED: Peavy/Halsey vs. all but Peavy.
Colorado at San Francisco (3) 29th, 30th, 31st
The Giants aren?t scaring anyone, but they do hold a lead (7-5, +$80) in the season series and the Rockies are, by far, the worst road team in the majors (14-42, -$1850). We?re eagerly awaiting southpaw Noah Lowry?s turn in the box as the he has a 1.71 ERA since the All-Star break as opposed to a 5.07 ERA before it and Colorado is 2-17 (-$1365) on the road against lefties, averaging 3.7 RPG. PREFERRED: Lowry.
Detroit at Cleveland (3) 29th, 30th, 31st
The last time these teams met the Tribe ?broomed? the Tigers in Michigan and while we?re sure that Detroit will want to atone for that poor showing, we?re not convinced they can. The Tigers have lost 8 of their last 12 road games while the Indians have won 16 of their last 22 games. Stay with the superior home team. PREFERRED: Indians in all games.
Tampa Bay at Boston (4) 29th, 30th, 31st, 1st
The Red Sox have defeated the Devil Rays four of six times since mid July and are 22-9 against them since the beginning of last year. However, the Rays are still susceptible to southpaws on the road (5-18, -$740 averaging 3.9 RPG) and David Wells has allowed just three earned runs in 13.3 innings over two starts against them this year. PREFERRED: D. Wells.
Chicago W. Sox at Texas (4) 29th, 30th (DH), 31st
The Sox have a chance to drive the final nail in the Rangers? playoffs hopes, but as mentioned above in our Chicago/Seattle analysis, we don?t have much confidence in them right now. At home, where they have hit 117 homers, are batting .284 and averaging 6.1 RPG, Texas is a scary team and can beat anyone, especially a team that is playing less than its ?A? game. PREFERRED: Rangers in all games.
Minnesota at Kansas City (3) 29th, 30th, 31st
They?re lining up from New England to the west coast: Everyone wants to play the Royals right now. The Twins are still drawing a pulse in the wildcard race and, if they have any chance at all to make the playoffs, they must dominate teams of this caliber. PREFERRED: Twins at -$175 or less.
N.Y. Yankees at Seattle (4) 29th, 30th, 31st, 1st
The Yankees have dominated the Mariners this year (5-1, +$325), but Seattle is a tougher team now than the one the Bronx Bombers faced earlier in the season. New York is still a money burner on the road (-$1380) and we like the way Jamie Moyer has pitched at Safeco (Seattle is 10-2, +$830 in his 12 home starts) and 19-year old Felix Hernandez (2-0 at home with a 0.56 ERA at home) is certainly worth a look. PREFERRED: Moyer/Hernandez.
BEGINNING TUESDAY AUGUST 30
Philadelphia at N.Y. Mets (3) 30th, 31st, 1st
The Mets continue to get the job done at home (40-25, -$915) and have won seven of their last nine games at Shea Stadium. They?ve been successful against the division-rival Phillies (8-4, +$545) including winning four of six at home. But, the Phillies are one of the hottest teams in either league and with their starters pitching well, it?s time for them to grab a couple of ?Ws?. PREFERRED: Padilla, Tejeda, Lieber & Lidle vs. all but Martinez.
Cincinnati at Houston (3) 30th, 31st, 1st
The Astros are 9-4 (+$475) against the Reds this year and 20-10 (+$620) against them since the start of 2004. But, Houston has lost some momentum and the question to be asked is, ?Do you want to lay all that juice on a team not playing anywhere near its best?? The answer should be a resounding ?NO?. PREFERRED None.
Pittsburgh at Milwaukee (2) 30th, 31st
The Brewers will be undoubtedly looking to align their pitching staff to throw as many righties as possible. The Pirates are averaging just 3.7 RPG against rigties on the road. Throw in the fact that Pittsburgh has lost 20 of its last 31 road games and it?s hard to get enthusiastic about them in either game of this abbreviated series. PREFERRED: Brewers righthanders.
Baltimore at Toronto (3) 30th, 31st, 1st
After taking two of three from the Orioles in Camden Yards earlier this month, the Blue Jays took the lead in the season series (7-6, +$240). The Jays have had their greatest success at home vs. righties (26-17, -$905) and since only one Orioles? righty starter (Daniel Cabrera) is in the black on the road, we?ll ride a horse that has made us money. PREFERRED Blue Jays vs. righthanders.
Oakland at L.A. Angels (3) 30th, 31st, 1st
These teams met earlier this month with the Athletics taking two of three in Oakland, increasing their lead in the season series to, 7-5, (+180). Oakland is slumping somewhat (2-7, -$1325 last 10 days) nd is just a .500 road team, so the Angels have a solid opportunity to make amends. LA would seem to have a distinct advantage when the Athletics start one of their four righties having won 26 of 44 times in that role at home. PREFERRED: Angels vs. righthanders.
St. Louis at Florida (3) 29th, 30th, 31st
These two teams split a four-game series in Missouri at the beginning of this month with A.J. Burnett winning the finale. Burnett is our top choice. He?s 7-1 with a 2.05 ERA since the All-Star break with a .230 BAA in 49 innings. We?ll go with Chris Carpenter as our top Cardinals? selection. He?s 9-0 on the road with a 1.93 ERA and a .191 BAA in 74.2 innings. Not bad, not bad at all. PREFERRED: Burnett/Carpenter.
Washington at Atlanta (4) 29th, 30th, 31st, 1st
If the Nationals have any gas left in the tank, now is the time to show it. The Nationals? 100% righthanded starting rotation will be put to the test by a Braves? offense that is 31-15 (+$800) at home against righties. Play against them all save for Livan Hernandez as the Nationals are 10-6 (+$790) in his 16 road starts. PREFERRED: Hernandez/Braves vs. all but Hernandez.
L.A. Dodgers at Chicago Cubs (3) 29th, 30th, 31st
The Cubs swept (3-0, +$365) the Dodgers in LA in late May, early June and, the way the Dodgers perform against righties on the road (20-31, -$750), there is a good chance Chicago will bring the broom out of the closet again. Only one current LA starter, Jeff Weaver, is in the black on the road. PREFERRED: Cubs? righthanders.
Arizona at San Diego (3) 29th, 30th, 31st
The Padres have a chance to put some distance between themselves and the Diamondbacks in the battle for first place in the NL West, but are they up to the task? Arizona is leading the series (7-6, +$215), so there is no chance of being intimidated by mediocre San Diego. The stats say that the Padres are 9-7 (56%) against portsiders at home, but the fact is that they are averaging 2.9 RPG in that situation so let?s tab Brad Halsey as out top Diamondbacks? play unless he faces Jake Peavy (.205 BAA in 85.2 innings at home). PREFERRED: Peavy/Halsey vs. all but Peavy.
Colorado at San Francisco (3) 29th, 30th, 31st
The Giants aren?t scaring anyone, but they do hold a lead (7-5, +$80) in the season series and the Rockies are, by far, the worst road team in the majors (14-42, -$1850). We?re eagerly awaiting southpaw Noah Lowry?s turn in the box as the he has a 1.71 ERA since the All-Star break as opposed to a 5.07 ERA before it and Colorado is 2-17 (-$1365) on the road against lefties, averaging 3.7 RPG. PREFERRED: Lowry.
Detroit at Cleveland (3) 29th, 30th, 31st
The last time these teams met the Tribe ?broomed? the Tigers in Michigan and while we?re sure that Detroit will want to atone for that poor showing, we?re not convinced they can. The Tigers have lost 8 of their last 12 road games while the Indians have won 16 of their last 22 games. Stay with the superior home team. PREFERRED: Indians in all games.
Tampa Bay at Boston (4) 29th, 30th, 31st, 1st
The Red Sox have defeated the Devil Rays four of six times since mid July and are 22-9 against them since the beginning of last year. However, the Rays are still susceptible to southpaws on the road (5-18, -$740 averaging 3.9 RPG) and David Wells has allowed just three earned runs in 13.3 innings over two starts against them this year. PREFERRED: D. Wells.
Chicago W. Sox at Texas (4) 29th, 30th (DH), 31st
The Sox have a chance to drive the final nail in the Rangers? playoffs hopes, but as mentioned above in our Chicago/Seattle analysis, we don?t have much confidence in them right now. At home, where they have hit 117 homers, are batting .284 and averaging 6.1 RPG, Texas is a scary team and can beat anyone, especially a team that is playing less than its ?A? game. PREFERRED: Rangers in all games.
Minnesota at Kansas City (3) 29th, 30th, 31st
They?re lining up from New England to the west coast: Everyone wants to play the Royals right now. The Twins are still drawing a pulse in the wildcard race and, if they have any chance at all to make the playoffs, they must dominate teams of this caliber. PREFERRED: Twins at -$175 or less.
N.Y. Yankees at Seattle (4) 29th, 30th, 31st, 1st
The Yankees have dominated the Mariners this year (5-1, +$325), but Seattle is a tougher team now than the one the Bronx Bombers faced earlier in the season. New York is still a money burner on the road (-$1380) and we like the way Jamie Moyer has pitched at Safeco (Seattle is 10-2, +$830 in his 12 home starts) and 19-year old Felix Hernandez (2-0 at home with a 0.56 ERA at home) is certainly worth a look. PREFERRED: Moyer/Hernandez.
BEGINNING TUESDAY AUGUST 30
Philadelphia at N.Y. Mets (3) 30th, 31st, 1st
The Mets continue to get the job done at home (40-25, -$915) and have won seven of their last nine games at Shea Stadium. They?ve been successful against the division-rival Phillies (8-4, +$545) including winning four of six at home. But, the Phillies are one of the hottest teams in either league and with their starters pitching well, it?s time for them to grab a couple of ?Ws?. PREFERRED: Padilla, Tejeda, Lieber & Lidle vs. all but Martinez.
Cincinnati at Houston (3) 30th, 31st, 1st
The Astros are 9-4 (+$475) against the Reds this year and 20-10 (+$620) against them since the start of 2004. But, Houston has lost some momentum and the question to be asked is, ?Do you want to lay all that juice on a team not playing anywhere near its best?? The answer should be a resounding ?NO?. PREFERRED None.
Pittsburgh at Milwaukee (2) 30th, 31st
The Brewers will be undoubtedly looking to align their pitching staff to throw as many righties as possible. The Pirates are averaging just 3.7 RPG against rigties on the road. Throw in the fact that Pittsburgh has lost 20 of its last 31 road games and it?s hard to get enthusiastic about them in either game of this abbreviated series. PREFERRED: Brewers righthanders.
Baltimore at Toronto (3) 30th, 31st, 1st
After taking two of three from the Orioles in Camden Yards earlier this month, the Blue Jays took the lead in the season series (7-6, +$240). The Jays have had their greatest success at home vs. righties (26-17, -$905) and since only one Orioles? righty starter (Daniel Cabrera) is in the black on the road, we?ll ride a horse that has made us money. PREFERRED Blue Jays vs. righthanders.
Oakland at L.A. Angels (3) 30th, 31st, 1st
These teams met earlier this month with the Athletics taking two of three in Oakland, increasing their lead in the season series to, 7-5, (+180). Oakland is slumping somewhat (2-7, -$1325 last 10 days) nd is just a .500 road team, so the Angels have a solid opportunity to make amends. LA would seem to have a distinct advantage when the Athletics start one of their four righties having won 26 of 44 times in that role at home. PREFERRED: Angels vs. righthanders.
