Sat
- Thread starter RAYMOND
- Start date
5*
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Houston at Atlanta (3) 7th, 8th, 9th
The Braves were extremely successful against the Astros last year (5-1, +$430), but the feeling here is that a combination of Houston additions like Roger Clemens (5-0 1.95 ERA, 32 Ks) and Andy Pettitte and Atlanta subtractions like Javy Lopez, Gary Sheffield and Greg Maddux has done a lot to even the playing field. Atlanta was 24-13 a year ago against lefties, but with Sheffield and Lopez gone is just 3-4, so let?s make Andy Pettitte, the old Atlanta nemesis (3-0 lifetime, 2.77 ERA), as the top series play. BEST BET: Pettitte. PREFERRED: Astros in the other two games.
Houston at Atlanta (3) 7th, 8th, 9th
The Braves were extremely successful against the Astros last year (5-1, +$430), but the feeling here is that a combination of Houston additions like Roger Clemens (5-0 1.95 ERA, 32 Ks) and Andy Pettitte and Atlanta subtractions like Javy Lopez, Gary Sheffield and Greg Maddux has done a lot to even the playing field. Atlanta was 24-13 a year ago against lefties, but with Sheffield and Lopez gone is just 3-4, so let?s make Andy Pettitte, the old Atlanta nemesis (3-0 lifetime, 2.77 ERA), as the top series play. BEST BET: Pettitte. PREFERRED: Astros in the other two games.
series info for this week
series info for this week
BEGINNING MONDAY MAY 10
NY Mets at Arizona (4) 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th
This is the Mets second trip west and the season is barely five weeks old. That?s not a particularly enviable position for a team with as weak an offense and as many flaws as the residents of Shea Stadium. And ace lefty Randy Johnson (3.10 ERA) is scheduled to start in this series. BEST BET: Johnson.
Cleveland at Boston (3) 10th, 11th, 12th
The lefthanders in the Cleveland rotation are all pitching well (Sabathia 1.61 ERA, Lee 3.14) and Stanford (0.82 in two starts) is expected to return from the DL in time for this series. Boston is far less effective against southpaws, and Cleveland is putting up some very good numbers against righthanders so far (6.2 runs per game). PREFERRED: Lefthanders vs. the Red Sox.
Toronto at Kansas City (3) 10th, 11th, 12th
Despite their dreadful start, the Royals have managed to go 4-0 (+$405) vs. lefties at Kaufman Stadium this year. The only southpaw in the Toronto rotation right now is Ted Lilly (4.99 ERA), but it?s not clear if he?ll see action here. But his turn might fall, and if it does we?ll take a shot on the home team. PREFERRED: Royals vs. Lilly.
BEGINNING TUESDAY MAY 11
Florida at Houston (3) 11th, 12th, 13th
Here?s an early look at two teams that may well be meeting in October. Both teams have the requisite pitching required of a playoff contender and both offenses are well above average. We?ll let them play and take copious notes for now. PREFERRED: None.
Montreal at Milwaukee (3) 11th, 12th, 13th
The Expos put a hurting? on the Brewers last year winning all six games (+$600), but Montreal is a shell of last year?s team while the Brewers (12-13,+$280) are early on looking like one of the most improved teams in the NL. PREFERRED: Brewers in all games.
Atlanta at St. Louis (3) 11th, 12th, 13th
The Braves took four of six (+$205) from St. Louis a year ago and the way the Cardinals are currently playing at home (6-10, -$935) a repeat performance is more than a possibility. PREFERRED: Braves in all games.
Pittsburgh at Colorado (3) 11th, 12th, 13th
The Pirates are hoping to be as successful (6-3, +$460 including two wins in three games at Coors Field) this year as they were against the Rockies in 2003 and certainly have enough offense to do damage to that awful Rockies? staff (6.19 team ERA). PREFERRED: Kennedy/Pirates in the remaining games.
Cincinnati at San Diego (3) 11th, 12th, 13th
These teams split six games a year ago with the Reds taking two of three in California, but a paper-thin Reds? pitching staff (5.26 team ERA) may be weary as it plays games 11, 12 and 13 on the road out of the last 19. PREFERRED: Padres in all games.
Chicago Cubs at Los Angeles (3) 11th, 12th, 13th
Considering that the Cubs have started the season without Mark Prior, arguably their best pitcher, they?re off to a solid beginning. But since they average 1.5 RPG less on the road than at home, we?ll leave this series alone for now. PREFERRED: None.
Philadelphia at San Francisco (3) 11th, 12th, 13th
There?s little question that the Phillies and Giants are among the top teams in the NL but you?d never know it by how they?ve played in the first month of the season (Philly -$345, SF -$270). Given each team?s unpredictability, there?s no reason to invest your hard earned dollars in this series. PREFERRED; None.
Anaheim at N.Y. Yankees (3) 11th, 12th, 13th
Last year the Yankees beat the Angels in 6 out of 9 head to head contests. But Anaheim has been the toughest franchise for New York over the past decade, and the Bombers shaky start on the road (5-6, -$490) makes the home team inviting. We?ll clean up if they can come away with 2 out of 3. PREFERRED: Angels in all games,
Oakland at Detroit (3) 11th, 12th, 13th
Barry Zito has not been the least bit impressive over the course of five starts this year (-$295, 6.83 ERA) so we won?t hesitate to go with the hot home team when he takes his turn here (Tigers 3-1, +$255 vs. lefties at home). PREFERRED: Tigers vs. Zito.
Texas at Tampa Bay (3) 11th, 12th, 13th
The Rangers went 6-3 (+$285) vs. the Devil Rays last year, and they are a considerably better team this year. Tampa Bay can?t get on track offensively (.246 team BA vs. .315 for Texas) so the visitor has a chance to stay hot. PREFERRED: Rangers vs. righthanders.
Baltimore at Chicago W. Sox (3) 11th, 12th, 13th
The Orioles have been a terrific road team vs. righthanders, but they are winless in three tries vs. lefties (-$345 with only 2.3 runs per game), and the White Sox, who play well at home, have a pair of quality southpaws available. PREFERRED: Buehrle/Schoeneweis.
Seattle at Minnesota (3) 11th, 12th, 13th
Comparing Seattle?s terrible record vs. righties the past two years (6-12, -$850 with 3.8 RPG so far in ?04, -$2015 in ?03) to Minnesota?s stellar performance vs. righties (+$350 with 6.5 RPG this season, +$1655 last season), makes this a very easy call. PREFERRED: Twins when righty meets righty.
series info for this week
BEGINNING MONDAY MAY 10
NY Mets at Arizona (4) 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th
This is the Mets second trip west and the season is barely five weeks old. That?s not a particularly enviable position for a team with as weak an offense and as many flaws as the residents of Shea Stadium. And ace lefty Randy Johnson (3.10 ERA) is scheduled to start in this series. BEST BET: Johnson.
Cleveland at Boston (3) 10th, 11th, 12th
The lefthanders in the Cleveland rotation are all pitching well (Sabathia 1.61 ERA, Lee 3.14) and Stanford (0.82 in two starts) is expected to return from the DL in time for this series. Boston is far less effective against southpaws, and Cleveland is putting up some very good numbers against righthanders so far (6.2 runs per game). PREFERRED: Lefthanders vs. the Red Sox.
Toronto at Kansas City (3) 10th, 11th, 12th
Despite their dreadful start, the Royals have managed to go 4-0 (+$405) vs. lefties at Kaufman Stadium this year. The only southpaw in the Toronto rotation right now is Ted Lilly (4.99 ERA), but it?s not clear if he?ll see action here. But his turn might fall, and if it does we?ll take a shot on the home team. PREFERRED: Royals vs. Lilly.
BEGINNING TUESDAY MAY 11
Florida at Houston (3) 11th, 12th, 13th
Here?s an early look at two teams that may well be meeting in October. Both teams have the requisite pitching required of a playoff contender and both offenses are well above average. We?ll let them play and take copious notes for now. PREFERRED: None.
Montreal at Milwaukee (3) 11th, 12th, 13th
The Expos put a hurting? on the Brewers last year winning all six games (+$600), but Montreal is a shell of last year?s team while the Brewers (12-13,+$280) are early on looking like one of the most improved teams in the NL. PREFERRED: Brewers in all games.
Atlanta at St. Louis (3) 11th, 12th, 13th
The Braves took four of six (+$205) from St. Louis a year ago and the way the Cardinals are currently playing at home (6-10, -$935) a repeat performance is more than a possibility. PREFERRED: Braves in all games.
Pittsburgh at Colorado (3) 11th, 12th, 13th
The Pirates are hoping to be as successful (6-3, +$460 including two wins in three games at Coors Field) this year as they were against the Rockies in 2003 and certainly have enough offense to do damage to that awful Rockies? staff (6.19 team ERA). PREFERRED: Kennedy/Pirates in the remaining games.
Cincinnati at San Diego (3) 11th, 12th, 13th
These teams split six games a year ago with the Reds taking two of three in California, but a paper-thin Reds? pitching staff (5.26 team ERA) may be weary as it plays games 11, 12 and 13 on the road out of the last 19. PREFERRED: Padres in all games.
Chicago Cubs at Los Angeles (3) 11th, 12th, 13th
Considering that the Cubs have started the season without Mark Prior, arguably their best pitcher, they?re off to a solid beginning. But since they average 1.5 RPG less on the road than at home, we?ll leave this series alone for now. PREFERRED: None.
Philadelphia at San Francisco (3) 11th, 12th, 13th
There?s little question that the Phillies and Giants are among the top teams in the NL but you?d never know it by how they?ve played in the first month of the season (Philly -$345, SF -$270). Given each team?s unpredictability, there?s no reason to invest your hard earned dollars in this series. PREFERRED; None.
Anaheim at N.Y. Yankees (3) 11th, 12th, 13th
Last year the Yankees beat the Angels in 6 out of 9 head to head contests. But Anaheim has been the toughest franchise for New York over the past decade, and the Bombers shaky start on the road (5-6, -$490) makes the home team inviting. We?ll clean up if they can come away with 2 out of 3. PREFERRED: Angels in all games,
Oakland at Detroit (3) 11th, 12th, 13th
Barry Zito has not been the least bit impressive over the course of five starts this year (-$295, 6.83 ERA) so we won?t hesitate to go with the hot home team when he takes his turn here (Tigers 3-1, +$255 vs. lefties at home). PREFERRED: Tigers vs. Zito.
Texas at Tampa Bay (3) 11th, 12th, 13th
The Rangers went 6-3 (+$285) vs. the Devil Rays last year, and they are a considerably better team this year. Tampa Bay can?t get on track offensively (.246 team BA vs. .315 for Texas) so the visitor has a chance to stay hot. PREFERRED: Rangers vs. righthanders.
Baltimore at Chicago W. Sox (3) 11th, 12th, 13th
The Orioles have been a terrific road team vs. righthanders, but they are winless in three tries vs. lefties (-$345 with only 2.3 runs per game), and the White Sox, who play well at home, have a pair of quality southpaws available. PREFERRED: Buehrle/Schoeneweis.
Seattle at Minnesota (3) 11th, 12th, 13th
Comparing Seattle?s terrible record vs. righties the past two years (6-12, -$850 with 3.8 RPG so far in ?04, -$2015 in ?03) to Minnesota?s stellar performance vs. righties (+$350 with 6.5 RPG this season, +$1655 last season), makes this a very easy call. PREFERRED: Twins when righty meets righty.
