BEGINNING FRIDAY JUNE 18
Cincinnati at St. Louis (3) 18th, 19th, 20th
The Reds pitching is mediocre (both starters? and relievers? road ERA is over 5.50) and the hitting is average (.249 BA is 14th in the NL) at best, but Sean Casey (.370 BA), Ken Griffey Jr, (18 HRs) and Danny Graves (26 closes) have been heroic all year. And, now they play a team that has all righthanded starters with an offense that is 26-17 (+$1450) against them. However, one of those righties is Chris Carpenter (7-2, 3.97 ERA), an early candidate for Comeback Player of the Year. Another righty, Woody Williams, is 7-3 lifetime against the Reds. Cincinnati has been slumping lately (lost six straight) and the Cardinals are due to get their act together at home. BEST BET: Carpenter/Williams.
Oakland at Chicago Cubs (3) 18th, 19th, 20th
The Cubs are a perfect 4-0 (+$400) at Wrigley Field against southpaws averaging 6.1 RPG and those stats will severely tested by Mark Mulder, Barry Zito and Mark Redman. Mulder (8-2, 2.96 ERA) has been at the top of his game virtually all year, Zito is getting there after a slow start and Redman has been a model of consistency. But, the Cubs will have Carlos Zambrano (7-2, 2.27 ERA overall, 4-0 at home with a 1.66 ERA and a .176 BAA) in the box for the series finale. Take him no matter who he draws. Matt Clement is 6-2 at home this year with a 2.53 ERA and was 10-5 at Wrigley Field last season. BEST BET: Zambrano. PREFERRED: Clement vs. Redman, Zito & Harden/Mulder, Zito & Hudson vs. Rusch & Maddux.
Chicago White Sox at Montreal (3) 18th, 19th, 20th
The Pale Hose?s competent pitching staff (starters have a 3.81 ERA on the road) gets a chance to fatten their statistics against MLB?s worst offense (.232 BA at home, averaging 2.5 RPG). And, with Mark Buehrle and Scott Schoeneweiss having such good years (the Sox are 11-4, +$615 in their home starts), the Expos (1.14 RPG vs. southpaws at home) appear overmatched. Sure, the White Sox will be heavy favorites, but we can?t make a case for the dog in any game. BEST BET: Buehrle/Schoeneweiss.
Kansas City at Philadelphia (3) 18th, 19th, 20th
It?s too bad that the Phillies? righty starters have been so mediocre because the Royals are just 6-15 (-$745) against righthanders on the road. On second thought, it may not matter. The word on the street is that the annual Kansas City ?fire sale? is about to begin, so logic tells us that a team with nothing to play for with such a poor road record (7-20, -$1105) won?t be the least bit interested in playing. PREFERRED: Phillies in all games.
Seattle at Pittsburgh (3) 18th, 19th, 20th
Speaking of teams that can?t hit righthanded pitching on the road, the Mariners are 5-15 (-$1140). But, Seattle is running up against the coldest team in MLB and it?s quite possible that it can come up with a win or two here. The Pirates have lost 10 of their last 11 games and are scoring less than 4 RPG while allowing almost 7 RPG during that span, and they have the worst home record (9-18, -$745) in the NL. You might try a play on Freddy Garcia (3.20 ERA) who has been tough all year of vs. Oliver Perez, as the Mariners are averaging 6.7 RPG on the road vs. southpaws. PREFERRED: F. Garcia/Mariners vs. Perez.
Detroit at NY Mets (3) 18th, 19th, 20th
The Tigers better hope that they don?t have to face either Tom Glavine (2.31 ERA at home) or Al Leiter (2-0, 0.69 ERA, .169 BAA at home). Detroit is 2-7 on the road (-$420) against southpaws and 8-16 (-$720) against them overall. We?d love to come in with a couple of BEST BETS on the New Yorkers, but that inept offense (3.6 RPG last 11 contests) prevents us from pulling the trigger. PREFERRED: Glavine/Leiter.
Cleveland at Atlanta (3) 18th, 19th, 20th
We?re aware of the Tribe?s recent spirited road play, but the fact is that they?re a dismal 4-15 (-$1215) overall against southpaws including 1-9 (-$800) away from the Jake. That leads us to Mike Hampton and we?re just as aware as you are that he?s not having the greatest of years (-$470, 5.32 ERA). The Tribe is a much different team against righties (25-16, +$1445) so we?ll grab the dog in that situation and hope that Cleveland puts C.C. Sabathia or Cliff Lee in the box as Atlanta is 7-12 (-$520) vs. lefties averaging 3.3 RPG. BEST BET: Lefthanders vs. Atlanta righthanders.
Texas at Florida (3) 18th, 19th, 20th
The Rangers continue to be a profitable investment on the road (+$260) even though they are hitting .247 as opposed to .313 at home. But, the Marlins pitch so well in Florida (starters have a 3.59 ERA) that the Texas will be lucky to hit that high against them in Florida. And, the Marlins (16-12, -$120) are overdue to put a string of ?W?s together at home. PREFERRED: Marlins in all games.
Minnesota at Milwaukee (3) 18th, 19th, 20th
We can?t think of a reason to back the up and down Twins who will undoubtedly be favorites against a Brewers? club that has performed fairly well (31-29, +$870). But, the Brewers? pitching staff, except for Ben Sheets, is in shambles and Sheet is likely to hook up with Brad Radke. No play, no way. PREFERRED: None.
Anaheim at Houston (3) 18th, 19th, 20th
The Angels bring their powerful offense (5.8 RPG, 31 HR?s, .447 slugging % on the road) into the bandbox in Houston, but will they have enough pitching to stave off the home team? That vaunted Anaheim offense has run into a stone wall of late, averaging just 3.9 RPG while pitching to a 5.97 ERA in the last eleven games. That?s not the stuff that good road trips are made of. Make Roger Clemens (29-8 with a 2.43 ERA lifetime vs. the Angels, 5-0 at home this year with a 1.15 ERA) your top play. BEST BET: Clemens.
Baltimore at Colorado (3) 18th, 19th, 20th
Oh, boy! MLB debuts its latest arcade game at Coor?s Field. There is no telling how many hits and runs will be produced by two of the most dynamic offenses (the Orioles are hitting .283 on the road, the Rockies are hitting .308 in Denver) in the game. And, without a reliable pitcher on either staff, there is no way to make a selection except to say goes ?OVER?. PREFERRED: OVER in all games.
Cincinnati at St. Louis (3) 18th, 19th, 20th
The Reds pitching is mediocre (both starters? and relievers? road ERA is over 5.50) and the hitting is average (.249 BA is 14th in the NL) at best, but Sean Casey (.370 BA), Ken Griffey Jr, (18 HRs) and Danny Graves (26 closes) have been heroic all year. And, now they play a team that has all righthanded starters with an offense that is 26-17 (+$1450) against them. However, one of those righties is Chris Carpenter (7-2, 3.97 ERA), an early candidate for Comeback Player of the Year. Another righty, Woody Williams, is 7-3 lifetime against the Reds. Cincinnati has been slumping lately (lost six straight) and the Cardinals are due to get their act together at home. BEST BET: Carpenter/Williams.
Oakland at Chicago Cubs (3) 18th, 19th, 20th
The Cubs are a perfect 4-0 (+$400) at Wrigley Field against southpaws averaging 6.1 RPG and those stats will severely tested by Mark Mulder, Barry Zito and Mark Redman. Mulder (8-2, 2.96 ERA) has been at the top of his game virtually all year, Zito is getting there after a slow start and Redman has been a model of consistency. But, the Cubs will have Carlos Zambrano (7-2, 2.27 ERA overall, 4-0 at home with a 1.66 ERA and a .176 BAA) in the box for the series finale. Take him no matter who he draws. Matt Clement is 6-2 at home this year with a 2.53 ERA and was 10-5 at Wrigley Field last season. BEST BET: Zambrano. PREFERRED: Clement vs. Redman, Zito & Harden/Mulder, Zito & Hudson vs. Rusch & Maddux.
Chicago White Sox at Montreal (3) 18th, 19th, 20th
The Pale Hose?s competent pitching staff (starters have a 3.81 ERA on the road) gets a chance to fatten their statistics against MLB?s worst offense (.232 BA at home, averaging 2.5 RPG). And, with Mark Buehrle and Scott Schoeneweiss having such good years (the Sox are 11-4, +$615 in their home starts), the Expos (1.14 RPG vs. southpaws at home) appear overmatched. Sure, the White Sox will be heavy favorites, but we can?t make a case for the dog in any game. BEST BET: Buehrle/Schoeneweiss.
Kansas City at Philadelphia (3) 18th, 19th, 20th
It?s too bad that the Phillies? righty starters have been so mediocre because the Royals are just 6-15 (-$745) against righthanders on the road. On second thought, it may not matter. The word on the street is that the annual Kansas City ?fire sale? is about to begin, so logic tells us that a team with nothing to play for with such a poor road record (7-20, -$1105) won?t be the least bit interested in playing. PREFERRED: Phillies in all games.
Seattle at Pittsburgh (3) 18th, 19th, 20th
Speaking of teams that can?t hit righthanded pitching on the road, the Mariners are 5-15 (-$1140). But, Seattle is running up against the coldest team in MLB and it?s quite possible that it can come up with a win or two here. The Pirates have lost 10 of their last 11 games and are scoring less than 4 RPG while allowing almost 7 RPG during that span, and they have the worst home record (9-18, -$745) in the NL. You might try a play on Freddy Garcia (3.20 ERA) who has been tough all year of vs. Oliver Perez, as the Mariners are averaging 6.7 RPG on the road vs. southpaws. PREFERRED: F. Garcia/Mariners vs. Perez.
Detroit at NY Mets (3) 18th, 19th, 20th
The Tigers better hope that they don?t have to face either Tom Glavine (2.31 ERA at home) or Al Leiter (2-0, 0.69 ERA, .169 BAA at home). Detroit is 2-7 on the road (-$420) against southpaws and 8-16 (-$720) against them overall. We?d love to come in with a couple of BEST BETS on the New Yorkers, but that inept offense (3.6 RPG last 11 contests) prevents us from pulling the trigger. PREFERRED: Glavine/Leiter.
Cleveland at Atlanta (3) 18th, 19th, 20th
We?re aware of the Tribe?s recent spirited road play, but the fact is that they?re a dismal 4-15 (-$1215) overall against southpaws including 1-9 (-$800) away from the Jake. That leads us to Mike Hampton and we?re just as aware as you are that he?s not having the greatest of years (-$470, 5.32 ERA). The Tribe is a much different team against righties (25-16, +$1445) so we?ll grab the dog in that situation and hope that Cleveland puts C.C. Sabathia or Cliff Lee in the box as Atlanta is 7-12 (-$520) vs. lefties averaging 3.3 RPG. BEST BET: Lefthanders vs. Atlanta righthanders.
Texas at Florida (3) 18th, 19th, 20th
The Rangers continue to be a profitable investment on the road (+$260) even though they are hitting .247 as opposed to .313 at home. But, the Marlins pitch so well in Florida (starters have a 3.59 ERA) that the Texas will be lucky to hit that high against them in Florida. And, the Marlins (16-12, -$120) are overdue to put a string of ?W?s together at home. PREFERRED: Marlins in all games.
Minnesota at Milwaukee (3) 18th, 19th, 20th
We can?t think of a reason to back the up and down Twins who will undoubtedly be favorites against a Brewers? club that has performed fairly well (31-29, +$870). But, the Brewers? pitching staff, except for Ben Sheets, is in shambles and Sheet is likely to hook up with Brad Radke. No play, no way. PREFERRED: None.
Anaheim at Houston (3) 18th, 19th, 20th
The Angels bring their powerful offense (5.8 RPG, 31 HR?s, .447 slugging % on the road) into the bandbox in Houston, but will they have enough pitching to stave off the home team? That vaunted Anaheim offense has run into a stone wall of late, averaging just 3.9 RPG while pitching to a 5.97 ERA in the last eleven games. That?s not the stuff that good road trips are made of. Make Roger Clemens (29-8 with a 2.43 ERA lifetime vs. the Angels, 5-0 at home this year with a 1.15 ERA) your top play. BEST BET: Clemens.
Baltimore at Colorado (3) 18th, 19th, 20th
Oh, boy! MLB debuts its latest arcade game at Coor?s Field. There is no telling how many hits and runs will be produced by two of the most dynamic offenses (the Orioles are hitting .283 on the road, the Rockies are hitting .308 in Denver) in the game. And, without a reliable pitcher on either staff, there is no way to make a selection except to say goes ?OVER?. PREFERRED: OVER in all games.
