BEGINNING MONDAY JULY 17
Washington at Florida (3) 17th, 18th, 19th
The Marlins have turned a profit against righthanders this year (+$530) so they shouldn?t have too much trouble vs. a Washington team that is 10 games under .500 outside of RFK Stadium (-$365). They?ve only averaged 3.7 runs per game vs. lefthanders on the road, so take a shot with the Marlins if either of their two top southpaws s available. PREFERRED: Willis & Olsen vs. righthanders.
Colorado at Pittsburgh (3) 17th, 18th, 19th
The Rockies are a good road team (+$805) so we?ll stay away from Pittsburgh throughout. As mentioned before, the Pirates are dreadful against lefthanders (-$1825) and in day games (-$1745). Thanks to a scheduled Wednesday afternoon contest, we?re assured of at least one opportunity to beat up on the listless home team. PREFERRED: Lefthanders vs. the Pirates/Rockies in day games.
Atlanta at St. Louis (3) 17th, 18th, 19th
Price may get a bit steep when these two clubs square off at Busch Stadium, but the Cardinals have dominated righthanders a Busch Stadium this year (20-6, +$905) while the floundering Braves are a dismal 31-39 (-$1560) against righthanders in 2006. Hard to pass up the home team at any price under the circumstances. PREFERRED: Cardinals when righty meets righty.
L.A. Dodgers at Arizona (4) 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th
The Dodgers have gotten the best of the Diamondbacks in earlier head to head play (5-3, +$130), but they are only 9-16 (-$785) in night games on the road, and all four games in this series are in the evening. We?re not too impressed with Arizona right now (-$745) at Chase Park in 2006, but those shaky LA road numbers will keep us on the sidelines. PREFERRED: None.
Philadelphia at San Diego (3) 17th, 18th, 19th
We discussed the problem with taking the Padres here at Petco Park (-$920 vs. righties at home) earlier in this issue, and the same circumstances are present in this matchup with the Phillies. But the visitor is dead in the water right now (-$1470 overall) so this series looks particularly uninviting. PREFERRED: None.
Milwaukee at San Francisco (3) 17th, 18th, 19th
The Giants have struggled against righthanders here at ATT Park, but they are 8-2 (+$505) vs. lefthanders at home. The Brewers are terrible away from the friendly confines of Miller Park (-$870) so go with the home team when Chris Capuano makes his second start following the All-Star Break. We should get the home team at a very nice price vs. the Brewers? ace. PREFERRED: Giants vs. Capuano.
Texas at Toronto (3) 17th, 18th, 19th
The Rangers make money vs. lefties (+$710) and lose it against righties (-$625) while the Blue Jays are just the opposite (+$565 vs. righties, -$240 vs. lefties). Play this series accordingly. PREFERRED: Blue Jays when righty meets righty/Rangers when lefty meets lefty.
Seattle at N.Y. Yankees (3) 17th, 18th, 19th
The Mariners are very good against righthanders on the road (+$625) and it looks like they?ll miss Randy Johnson in this series. The Yankees have dropped a bundle against righthanders in the Bronx (-$1050) and will no doubt be heavily favored throughout this series. PREFERRED: Mariners when righty meets righty.
Kansas City at Boston (3) 17th, 18th, 19th
The Royals are the AL?s worst road team (12-33, -$610) while the Red Sox are one of the league?s best home teams (27-10, +$1265), but prices on Boston will be so high they?ll need to win all three or their backers will lose money. We?ll pass. PREFERRED: None.
Oakland at Baltimore (3) 17th, 18th, 19th
Barry Zito is having his best year since winning the Cy Young in 2002 (3.29 ERA in 19 starts) and he?s a tremendous value if he gets a start here at Camden Yards taking on a Baltimore team that is only 8-22 (-$1560) against lefthanders. PREFERRED: Zito.
Tampa Bay at Minnesota (4) 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th
Should be easy picking for the Twins, who check in with a 30-10 record here at the Metrodome (+$2080). but the Devil Rays have averaged 5.0 runs per game vs. lefthanders this year, and we don?t love the righthanders in the Twins? rotation. PREFERRED: None.
Cleveland at L.A. Angels (3) 17th, 18th, 19th
As stated before, we don?t trust the Angels as a home team (-$1160 in that role) but the Indians are no bargain away from Jacobs Field (only 17-24, -$935). PREFERRED: None.
BEGINNING TUESDAY JULY 18
N.Y. Mets at Cincinnati (3) 18th, 19th, 20th
These clubs split a pair at Shea Stadium earlier, but we think the visitor has an excellent chance to take at least 2 out of 3. The Reds are big losers in this ballpark (-$800) and the Mets have cleaned up on the road in 2006 (+$715). PREFERRED: Mets in all games.
Houston at Chicago Cubs (3) 18th, 19th, 20th
The Astros have their problems away from MinuteMaid Park, but they?ve taken 7 of 9 from this team in earlier meetings (+$420) and the Cubs are in danger of falling below Pittsburgh for worst record in the NL (34-54, -$1855). PREFERRED: Oswalt/Clemens.
Chicago W. Sox at Detroit (3) 18th, 19th, 20th
The White Sox took 5 of the first 6 in this season series (+$395) but they?ve been far less effective vs. lefthanders this year (-$470 on the road) and the Tigers, with an MLB best 3.46 team ERA, have a pair of southpaws who may see action. PREFERRED: Rogers/Robertson.
Washington at Florida (3) 17th, 18th, 19th
The Marlins have turned a profit against righthanders this year (+$530) so they shouldn?t have too much trouble vs. a Washington team that is 10 games under .500 outside of RFK Stadium (-$365). They?ve only averaged 3.7 runs per game vs. lefthanders on the road, so take a shot with the Marlins if either of their two top southpaws s available. PREFERRED: Willis & Olsen vs. righthanders.
Colorado at Pittsburgh (3) 17th, 18th, 19th
The Rockies are a good road team (+$805) so we?ll stay away from Pittsburgh throughout. As mentioned before, the Pirates are dreadful against lefthanders (-$1825) and in day games (-$1745). Thanks to a scheduled Wednesday afternoon contest, we?re assured of at least one opportunity to beat up on the listless home team. PREFERRED: Lefthanders vs. the Pirates/Rockies in day games.
Atlanta at St. Louis (3) 17th, 18th, 19th
Price may get a bit steep when these two clubs square off at Busch Stadium, but the Cardinals have dominated righthanders a Busch Stadium this year (20-6, +$905) while the floundering Braves are a dismal 31-39 (-$1560) against righthanders in 2006. Hard to pass up the home team at any price under the circumstances. PREFERRED: Cardinals when righty meets righty.
L.A. Dodgers at Arizona (4) 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th
The Dodgers have gotten the best of the Diamondbacks in earlier head to head play (5-3, +$130), but they are only 9-16 (-$785) in night games on the road, and all four games in this series are in the evening. We?re not too impressed with Arizona right now (-$745) at Chase Park in 2006, but those shaky LA road numbers will keep us on the sidelines. PREFERRED: None.
Philadelphia at San Diego (3) 17th, 18th, 19th
We discussed the problem with taking the Padres here at Petco Park (-$920 vs. righties at home) earlier in this issue, and the same circumstances are present in this matchup with the Phillies. But the visitor is dead in the water right now (-$1470 overall) so this series looks particularly uninviting. PREFERRED: None.
Milwaukee at San Francisco (3) 17th, 18th, 19th
The Giants have struggled against righthanders here at ATT Park, but they are 8-2 (+$505) vs. lefthanders at home. The Brewers are terrible away from the friendly confines of Miller Park (-$870) so go with the home team when Chris Capuano makes his second start following the All-Star Break. We should get the home team at a very nice price vs. the Brewers? ace. PREFERRED: Giants vs. Capuano.
Texas at Toronto (3) 17th, 18th, 19th
The Rangers make money vs. lefties (+$710) and lose it against righties (-$625) while the Blue Jays are just the opposite (+$565 vs. righties, -$240 vs. lefties). Play this series accordingly. PREFERRED: Blue Jays when righty meets righty/Rangers when lefty meets lefty.
Seattle at N.Y. Yankees (3) 17th, 18th, 19th
The Mariners are very good against righthanders on the road (+$625) and it looks like they?ll miss Randy Johnson in this series. The Yankees have dropped a bundle against righthanders in the Bronx (-$1050) and will no doubt be heavily favored throughout this series. PREFERRED: Mariners when righty meets righty.
Kansas City at Boston (3) 17th, 18th, 19th
The Royals are the AL?s worst road team (12-33, -$610) while the Red Sox are one of the league?s best home teams (27-10, +$1265), but prices on Boston will be so high they?ll need to win all three or their backers will lose money. We?ll pass. PREFERRED: None.
Oakland at Baltimore (3) 17th, 18th, 19th
Barry Zito is having his best year since winning the Cy Young in 2002 (3.29 ERA in 19 starts) and he?s a tremendous value if he gets a start here at Camden Yards taking on a Baltimore team that is only 8-22 (-$1560) against lefthanders. PREFERRED: Zito.
Tampa Bay at Minnesota (4) 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th
Should be easy picking for the Twins, who check in with a 30-10 record here at the Metrodome (+$2080). but the Devil Rays have averaged 5.0 runs per game vs. lefthanders this year, and we don?t love the righthanders in the Twins? rotation. PREFERRED: None.
Cleveland at L.A. Angels (3) 17th, 18th, 19th
As stated before, we don?t trust the Angels as a home team (-$1160 in that role) but the Indians are no bargain away from Jacobs Field (only 17-24, -$935). PREFERRED: None.
BEGINNING TUESDAY JULY 18
N.Y. Mets at Cincinnati (3) 18th, 19th, 20th
These clubs split a pair at Shea Stadium earlier, but we think the visitor has an excellent chance to take at least 2 out of 3. The Reds are big losers in this ballpark (-$800) and the Mets have cleaned up on the road in 2006 (+$715). PREFERRED: Mets in all games.
Houston at Chicago Cubs (3) 18th, 19th, 20th
The Astros have their problems away from MinuteMaid Park, but they?ve taken 7 of 9 from this team in earlier meetings (+$420) and the Cubs are in danger of falling below Pittsburgh for worst record in the NL (34-54, -$1855). PREFERRED: Oswalt/Clemens.
Chicago W. Sox at Detroit (3) 18th, 19th, 20th
The White Sox took 5 of the first 6 in this season series (+$395) but they?ve been far less effective vs. lefthanders this year (-$470 on the road) and the Tigers, with an MLB best 3.46 team ERA, have a pair of southpaws who may see action. PREFERRED: Rogers/Robertson.
