BEGINNING THURSDAY JULY 29
Baltimore at N.Y. Yankees (4) 29th, 30th, 31st, 1st
The Bombers have won eight of nine (+$640) this year vs. the Orioles and 13 of 19 (+$535) a year ago, so why should anything be different in this series? And, the way the Yankees are playing at home of late (six straight wins and 12 of the last 14), it looks like another lost weekend for the 2nd worst pitching staff in the AL (5.00 ERA). The Yankees will be too high priced to play, but we might take a shot against Javier Vazquez, provided that New York is coming off a ?W?. He has already allowed 20 homers this season. PREFERRED: Orioles vs. Vazquez off a Yankees? victory.
Chicago White Sox at Detroit (4) 29th, 30th, 31st, 1st
One would expect the Pale Hose to have their portsiders, especially Mark Buehrle (8-4 lifetime against the Tigers with a 2.57 ERA) ready for this series given the Tigers? inability (13-27, -$1265) to hit them. In Chi town last weekend, the Sox took two of three (+$35), but it won?t be that easy in Motown where the Tigers are hitting .282 and are +$640 in the black vs. righties. PREFERRED: Lefthanders vs. the Tigers/Tigers vs. righthanders.
Oakland at Texas (4) 29th, 30th, 31st, 1st
Texas is ahead in seven of the 12 series they?ve played. One of the two teams they?re trailing is the Athletics, (6-3, -$115 overall, including 2-1 last week). The Rangers have played too well at home (30-14, +$1665) and against righties at home (25-8, +$1930) to not take advantage of Kirk Sarloos or Rich Harden. They?re also averaging 6.7 RPG vs. lefties in Texas, so we?ll also go against the disappointing Barry Zito or Mark Redman. BEST BET: Rangers vs. righthanders. PREFERRED: Rangers vs. Zito & Redman.
Seattle at Anaheim (4) 29th, 30th, 31st, 1st
We guarantee you that the Angels can?t wait for the Mariners to show up. They?ve already won seven of nine (+$500) and the way the Mariners play on the road (-$1995), there isn?t much hope for a turnaround. But, the age old question is, ?Do you want to lay 2-1 or more. Handicapping 101 and WINNING POINTS say, ?No way, Jose!? PREFERRED: None.
BEGINNING FRIDAY JULY 30
Philadelphia at Chicago Cubs (3) 30th, 31st, 1st
Two of the most disappointing teams in the NL are meeting for the second time in a week (Phillies won two of three last weekend). But, Kevin Millwood (7-2 lifetime with a 3.00 ERA) has had success with the Cubbies in the past and Greg Maddux (two or less runs yielded in three of his last four starts, back-to-back complete game victories) is pitching his best ball of the season just when Chicago needs him the most. BEST BET: Millwood/Maddux.
Houston at Cincinnati (3) 30th, 31st, 1st
The Reds hold a 5-3 advantage over the Astros for a tidy profit of +$480, a 180 degree turnaround from last season?s 5-12 (-$235) performance. We?re not enamored with either team right now as both are below .500 during the last 10 days. The only scenario that makes sense at this time is a play on the Astros? Andy Pettitte. The Reds are 6-7 (-$125) at home vs. lefties as opposed to 22-11 (+$1125) at home against righties. PREFERRED: Pettitte.
N.Y. Mets at Atlanta (3) 30th, 31st, 1st
The Braves continue to play solid baseball against righties (20-12, +$525 at home vs. righties) while struggling mightily (-$560) against southpaws, so it makes sense to go against Steve Trachsel (2-4 on the road with a 6.69 ERA and a .285 BAA), retread Scott Erickson and the inconsistent Jae Seo. BEST BET: Braves vs. righthanders. PREFERRED: Lefthanders vs. the Braves.
Montreal at Florida (3) 30th, 31st, 1st
Surprise, surprise! The lowly Expos came off a 28-day road trip and swept the Marlins in Canada, holding them to a total of seven runs in three games. We expect a bounce back in the Sunshine State although we?re not about to lay $175 or more on a team that is not hitting. Let?s go to Livan Hernandez who, with last week?s 6-4 victory, is now 7-3 lifetime vs. his old team. PREFERRED: Hernandez.
Pittsburgh at Milwaukee (3) 30th, 31st, 1st
Where would the Pirates be without the Brewers to kick around? Pittsburgh has won eight of nine games against them (+$795) including a pair of ?Ws? against Ben Sheets. But, it?s turnaround time and we have no problem going back to Mr. Sheets (7-4 at home with a 1.79 ERA and a .196 BAA). We also prefer Doug Davis (3.76 ERA overall, 5-2 at home with a 2.88 ERA and a .233 BAA) given the Pirates 2-7 record (-$480) on the road against southpaws. BEST BET: Sheets/Davis.
Arizona at Colorado (3) 30th, 31st, 1st
With both teams well on their way to 100 or so losses, Coloradoans may well select Broncos? ?two-a-days? as a more exciting alternative. Last weekend in Arizona, the Rockies jumped on the bandwagon and extended the Diamondbacks losing streak to an astonishing 14 games, 0-11 since the All-Star game (-$4525 overall). Colorado even managed to beat Randy Johnson, who probably can?t wait to leave the desert, so why shouldn?t they beat them at home? PREFERRED: Rockies in all games.
Los Angeles at San Diego (3) 30th, 31st, 1st
In last weekend?s extremely critical series in Los Angeles, LA took two of three, and have now won six of nine ($+540) to reverse last year?s 8-11 (-$930) record. The Dodgers have won nine of eleven since the All-Star break and 17 of 20 since July 3. Those are numbers you don?t want to play against unless you think you have a ?can?t miss? Padres proposition and, with San Diego at -$485 at home and -$990 as chalk, we don?t see one. The Dodgers are a lucrative investment (45-25, +$2140) vs. righties, so we?ll go against Brian Lawrence, Adam Eaton, Ismael Valdez and Jake Peavy. BEST BET: Dodgers vs. righthanders.
St. Louis at San Francisco (3) 30th, 31st, 1st
The Giants have won 24 of their last 38 games, but still trail the Dodgers in the NL West. Considering that the Giants are not nearly as good a team as they were last year, however, they?re lucky to be as close as they are. The Cardinals were cooled off by San Francisco (lost two of three in St. Louis last weekend), but St, Louis has been dynamite on the road (31-16, +$1385) as well as against righties (47-30, +$900). Looks like a good opportunity to exact some revenge. BEST BET: Cardinals vs. all righthanders except Schmidt.
Toronto at Tampa Bay (3) 30th, 31st, 1st
The Devil Rays are no longer a bad team on a hot streak. Their pitching is improved, their line up is solid and Lou Piniella gets our early vote for AL Manager of the Year. The Blue Jays swept the series in Canada last weekend, but those losses will spur the Rays to return the favor. Toronto?s 5-11 away record (-$655) indicates a play on either Mark Hendrickson (Rays are 7-3, +$590 in his 10 home starts) or John Halama. BEST BET: Lefthanders vs. the Blue Jays.
Boston at Minnesota (3) 30th, 31st, 1st
It?s hard to trust any other Boston starter than Pedro Martinez or Curt Schilling on the road as the rest of the staff is a combined is an unimpressive -$400 in the red. Hell, the Sox are just 9-11 (-$880) when one of those two pitch in a park not called Fenway. And, with the Red Sox probably still in a funk (they?ve been a .500 team for the last three months since a 15-6 start), we?ll go with the feistier home team looking to stay even with the White Sox in the battle for first place in the AL Central. BEST BET: Twins in all games.
Cleveland at Kansas City (3) 30th, 31st, 1st
In the ?Jake? last weekend, the Indians jumped all over the hapless Royals (35-62, -$2320). Can Kansas City exact a measure of revenge? We think not. There isn?t a reliable starter on the roster (5.12 team ERA) and the offense isn?t much better. As infielder Tony Graffanino intoned last week, ?I?ve never been on a team where everybody stinks.? Amen, Tony amen! PREFERRED: Indians in all games.
Baltimore at N.Y. Yankees (4) 29th, 30th, 31st, 1st
The Bombers have won eight of nine (+$640) this year vs. the Orioles and 13 of 19 (+$535) a year ago, so why should anything be different in this series? And, the way the Yankees are playing at home of late (six straight wins and 12 of the last 14), it looks like another lost weekend for the 2nd worst pitching staff in the AL (5.00 ERA). The Yankees will be too high priced to play, but we might take a shot against Javier Vazquez, provided that New York is coming off a ?W?. He has already allowed 20 homers this season. PREFERRED: Orioles vs. Vazquez off a Yankees? victory.
Chicago White Sox at Detroit (4) 29th, 30th, 31st, 1st
One would expect the Pale Hose to have their portsiders, especially Mark Buehrle (8-4 lifetime against the Tigers with a 2.57 ERA) ready for this series given the Tigers? inability (13-27, -$1265) to hit them. In Chi town last weekend, the Sox took two of three (+$35), but it won?t be that easy in Motown where the Tigers are hitting .282 and are +$640 in the black vs. righties. PREFERRED: Lefthanders vs. the Tigers/Tigers vs. righthanders.
Oakland at Texas (4) 29th, 30th, 31st, 1st
Texas is ahead in seven of the 12 series they?ve played. One of the two teams they?re trailing is the Athletics, (6-3, -$115 overall, including 2-1 last week). The Rangers have played too well at home (30-14, +$1665) and against righties at home (25-8, +$1930) to not take advantage of Kirk Sarloos or Rich Harden. They?re also averaging 6.7 RPG vs. lefties in Texas, so we?ll also go against the disappointing Barry Zito or Mark Redman. BEST BET: Rangers vs. righthanders. PREFERRED: Rangers vs. Zito & Redman.
Seattle at Anaheim (4) 29th, 30th, 31st, 1st
We guarantee you that the Angels can?t wait for the Mariners to show up. They?ve already won seven of nine (+$500) and the way the Mariners play on the road (-$1995), there isn?t much hope for a turnaround. But, the age old question is, ?Do you want to lay 2-1 or more. Handicapping 101 and WINNING POINTS say, ?No way, Jose!? PREFERRED: None.
BEGINNING FRIDAY JULY 30
Philadelphia at Chicago Cubs (3) 30th, 31st, 1st
Two of the most disappointing teams in the NL are meeting for the second time in a week (Phillies won two of three last weekend). But, Kevin Millwood (7-2 lifetime with a 3.00 ERA) has had success with the Cubbies in the past and Greg Maddux (two or less runs yielded in three of his last four starts, back-to-back complete game victories) is pitching his best ball of the season just when Chicago needs him the most. BEST BET: Millwood/Maddux.
Houston at Cincinnati (3) 30th, 31st, 1st
The Reds hold a 5-3 advantage over the Astros for a tidy profit of +$480, a 180 degree turnaround from last season?s 5-12 (-$235) performance. We?re not enamored with either team right now as both are below .500 during the last 10 days. The only scenario that makes sense at this time is a play on the Astros? Andy Pettitte. The Reds are 6-7 (-$125) at home vs. lefties as opposed to 22-11 (+$1125) at home against righties. PREFERRED: Pettitte.
N.Y. Mets at Atlanta (3) 30th, 31st, 1st
The Braves continue to play solid baseball against righties (20-12, +$525 at home vs. righties) while struggling mightily (-$560) against southpaws, so it makes sense to go against Steve Trachsel (2-4 on the road with a 6.69 ERA and a .285 BAA), retread Scott Erickson and the inconsistent Jae Seo. BEST BET: Braves vs. righthanders. PREFERRED: Lefthanders vs. the Braves.
Montreal at Florida (3) 30th, 31st, 1st
Surprise, surprise! The lowly Expos came off a 28-day road trip and swept the Marlins in Canada, holding them to a total of seven runs in three games. We expect a bounce back in the Sunshine State although we?re not about to lay $175 or more on a team that is not hitting. Let?s go to Livan Hernandez who, with last week?s 6-4 victory, is now 7-3 lifetime vs. his old team. PREFERRED: Hernandez.
Pittsburgh at Milwaukee (3) 30th, 31st, 1st
Where would the Pirates be without the Brewers to kick around? Pittsburgh has won eight of nine games against them (+$795) including a pair of ?Ws? against Ben Sheets. But, it?s turnaround time and we have no problem going back to Mr. Sheets (7-4 at home with a 1.79 ERA and a .196 BAA). We also prefer Doug Davis (3.76 ERA overall, 5-2 at home with a 2.88 ERA and a .233 BAA) given the Pirates 2-7 record (-$480) on the road against southpaws. BEST BET: Sheets/Davis.
Arizona at Colorado (3) 30th, 31st, 1st
With both teams well on their way to 100 or so losses, Coloradoans may well select Broncos? ?two-a-days? as a more exciting alternative. Last weekend in Arizona, the Rockies jumped on the bandwagon and extended the Diamondbacks losing streak to an astonishing 14 games, 0-11 since the All-Star game (-$4525 overall). Colorado even managed to beat Randy Johnson, who probably can?t wait to leave the desert, so why shouldn?t they beat them at home? PREFERRED: Rockies in all games.
Los Angeles at San Diego (3) 30th, 31st, 1st
In last weekend?s extremely critical series in Los Angeles, LA took two of three, and have now won six of nine ($+540) to reverse last year?s 8-11 (-$930) record. The Dodgers have won nine of eleven since the All-Star break and 17 of 20 since July 3. Those are numbers you don?t want to play against unless you think you have a ?can?t miss? Padres proposition and, with San Diego at -$485 at home and -$990 as chalk, we don?t see one. The Dodgers are a lucrative investment (45-25, +$2140) vs. righties, so we?ll go against Brian Lawrence, Adam Eaton, Ismael Valdez and Jake Peavy. BEST BET: Dodgers vs. righthanders.
St. Louis at San Francisco (3) 30th, 31st, 1st
The Giants have won 24 of their last 38 games, but still trail the Dodgers in the NL West. Considering that the Giants are not nearly as good a team as they were last year, however, they?re lucky to be as close as they are. The Cardinals were cooled off by San Francisco (lost two of three in St. Louis last weekend), but St, Louis has been dynamite on the road (31-16, +$1385) as well as against righties (47-30, +$900). Looks like a good opportunity to exact some revenge. BEST BET: Cardinals vs. all righthanders except Schmidt.
Toronto at Tampa Bay (3) 30th, 31st, 1st
The Devil Rays are no longer a bad team on a hot streak. Their pitching is improved, their line up is solid and Lou Piniella gets our early vote for AL Manager of the Year. The Blue Jays swept the series in Canada last weekend, but those losses will spur the Rays to return the favor. Toronto?s 5-11 away record (-$655) indicates a play on either Mark Hendrickson (Rays are 7-3, +$590 in his 10 home starts) or John Halama. BEST BET: Lefthanders vs. the Blue Jays.
Boston at Minnesota (3) 30th, 31st, 1st
It?s hard to trust any other Boston starter than Pedro Martinez or Curt Schilling on the road as the rest of the staff is a combined is an unimpressive -$400 in the red. Hell, the Sox are just 9-11 (-$880) when one of those two pitch in a park not called Fenway. And, with the Red Sox probably still in a funk (they?ve been a .500 team for the last three months since a 15-6 start), we?ll go with the feistier home team looking to stay even with the White Sox in the battle for first place in the AL Central. BEST BET: Twins in all games.
Cleveland at Kansas City (3) 30th, 31st, 1st
In the ?Jake? last weekend, the Indians jumped all over the hapless Royals (35-62, -$2320). Can Kansas City exact a measure of revenge? We think not. There isn?t a reliable starter on the roster (5.12 team ERA) and the offense isn?t much better. As infielder Tony Graffanino intoned last week, ?I?ve never been on a team where everybody stinks.? Amen, Tony amen! PREFERRED: Indians in all games.
