BEGINNING MONDAY AUGUST 18
Kansas City at NY Yankees (3) 18th, 19th, 20th
The Yankees have come on like gangbusters at home (won 20 of the last 29), but the never-say-die Royals have just as much incentive to play well here what with the White Sox nipping at their heels. Prices will be huge on the Pinstripers, so we?ll shy away from laying more than 2-1 vs. a team with playoff aspirations of its own. We?re willing to take a shot with the rejuvenated Jose Lima (KC is 8-1, +$805 in his nine starts), if he?s off the DL, provided that KC has lost the previous game. PREFERRED: Lima off a Yankees? win.
Texas at Detroit (3) 18th, 19th, 20th
Normally the poor road play (22-37, -$260) of the Rangers would instill confidence in their host. However, the Tigers have the worst home record (14-42, -$1595) in MLB by far and we?re not about to try and sort out one match up in a combination of uninspiring scenarios. Suffice it to say that Matt Roney and Wilfredo Ledezma are the only two current Tigers? starters in the black at home (6 starts, +$260). PREFERRED: None.
Anaheim at Chicago White Sox (3) 18th, 19th, 20th
It will be interesting too see if the Angels? disappointing pitching staff (starters have a 5.36 ERA on the road) can hold the Sox? offense at bay. Now that the halos have fallen off the Angels, Anaheim may require divine providence to do so. PREFERRED: White Sox in all games.
BEGINNING TUESDAY AUGUST 19
Chicago Cubs at Houston (3) 19th, 20th, 21st
The race for first place in the NL Central continues. The Cubs trail the Astros, but are up 5-4 (+$140) in this series. However, please note that these teams played a four-game series in the Windy City last week, before we went to press, and we?re reluctant to take a stand on this series without those results. PREFERRED: None.
Philadelphia at Milwaukee (3) 19th, 20th, 21st
The Brewers have been simply awful at home (21-39, -$1325) and we see no reason for that to change against one of the best staffs in MLB. We?ll be getting some fairly reasonable prices with classy starters like Vicente Padilla, Kevin Millwood, Randy Wolf and Brett Myers and there is no reason not to take advantage with a team vying for the wildcard vs. one trying to wind up with fewer losses than the Mets or Padres. PREFERRED: Phillies in all games.
Pittsburgh at St. Louis (3) 19th, 20th, 21st
It?s time for the Cardinals to step up and jump on a team they should be taking behind the woodshed every night. St. Louis has managed just a 5-5 split (-$360) so far, but should do better this time around vs. the depleted Pirates. However, picking the Cardinals to win more than a game here with a starting corps that is extremely shaky after Woody Williams, is an iffy proposition vs. a team that is +$930 on the road and +$630 as a dog. PREFERRED: Pirates vs. all but Williams.
Florida at Colorado (3) 19th, 20th, 21st
Never count the Rockies out at home. As hot as Florida has been over the last two plus months, we look for Colorado to return the favor and win this series. If Shawn Chacon, Darren Oliver or Jason Jennings gets the call, we?ll be ready. Colorado is 25-3 (+$2375) in that trio?s 28 home starts. PREFERRED: Chacon/Oliver/Jennings.
Cincinnati at Arizona (3) 19th, 20th, 21st
A depleted Reds? offense is bound to have its hands full vs. the likes of four of the five Diamondbacks? starters (Randy Johnson, Curt Schilling, Brandon Webb and Miguel Batista). Meanwhile, four of the five current Cincinnati starters have an ERA over 5.00 on the road with Jose Acevedo (3.00 ERA, .225 BAA) the lone exception. Try him vs. Elmer Dessens only and the ?Backs in the rest of the match ups, odds permitting. PREFERRED: Acevedo vs. Dessens/ Arizona at -$175 or less.
NY Mets at San Diego (3) 19th, 20th, 21st
The Mets don?t shine too often on the road (25-34), but they?re not to be out done by the Padres who have the third worst home record (24-36) in MLB. San Diego?s record vs. southpaws at home (7-13, averaging 3.6 RPG) has us looking hard at New York?s lefties. PREFERRED: Glavine/Leiter.
Montreal at Los Angeles (3) 19th, 20th, 21st
The Expos are coming off a four-game series with the tough Giants in Canada and had to fly to the west coast without a day off. That?s not a great success formula for beating up on the best pitching staff (3.03 ERA) in MLB. Sounds like time to load up on the Dodgers, right? Just a sec! Montreal?s entire starting corps is righthanded and LA is averaging an anemic 3.2 RPG vs. righties at home ($745 in the red). Sounds like El Paso time for us. PREFERRED: None.
Atlanta at San Francisco (3) 19th, 20th, 21st
The Giants and Braves are on a collision course to meet in the NL playoffs. Since both teams have comfortable leads in their respective divisions, it?s not likely either team will be doing anything to tip off strategies in October. Still, you?ll want to play against Kirk Rueter (0-3 vs. the Braves with a 6.43 ERA and a .348 BAA since 2000). PREFERRED: Braves vs. Rueter.
Oakland at Boston (3) 19th, 20th, 21st
Second series in less than a week between these two contenders. Boston is simply lethal (39-19) at home while the A?s are quite ordinary (27-32, -$1765) on the road. But, like the Houston/Cubs series above, this is too important a series to handicap without information from the prior meeting. PREFERRED: None.
Minnesota at Cleveland (2) 19th, 20th
The Twins are chasing both the Royals and White Sox in the AL Central and can?t afford a slip-up in this mini-series. Minny should be on the alert, however, having already lost five of seven (-$450) earlier this year. But, the Twins have had some problems vs. lefties on the road (-$170), so let?s key on the Tribe?s trio of southpaws. PREFERRED: Sabathia/Traber/Anderson.
Seattle at Toronto (3) 19th, 20th, 21st
We?d be surprised if the Blue Jays have much left in the tank vs. one of the best road teams (36-22 this season, +$880) in MLB over the past five years. A so-so Mariners? offense is sure to find the Sky Dome as well as Toronto?s pitching staff, except for Roy Halladay, of course, to its liking. PREFERRED: Halladay/Mariners vs. all others.
Tampa Bay at Baltimore (3) 19th, 20th, 21st
Last series of the year between these AL East rivals. If you?ve been backing the Devil Rays since the break (13-11, +$720), you?re a happy man and that good fortune is likely to continue should Victor Zambrano (Rays are 5-3, +$745 in his eight road starts) take the hill in Camden Yards. The rest of the series should belong to the Birds. PREFERRED: Zambrano/Orioles vs. all but Zambrano.
