BEGINNING TUESDAY AUGUST 10
Arizona at Montreal (3) 10th, 11th, 12th
Here?s how bad the Diamondbacks are: They were swept at home by the hapless Expos and were outscored 15-4 in the process. So, if you think that Arizona is capable of revenge against a team that is 5-2 at home since coming off a 28-day road trip, be our guest. PREFERRED: Expos in all games.
San Francisco at Pittsburgh (3) 10th, 11th, 12th
The Giants benefit here by probably not facing Kip Wells or Oliver Perez and, with Kris Benson now pitching in Shea Stadium, that leaves the disappointing Jason Fogg and the mediocre Ryan Vogelsong, among others. San Francisco avenges an earlier three game sweep. PREFERRED: Giants in all games.
St. Louis at Florida (3) 10th, 11th, 12th
The Marlins have been fading out of the playoff picture since mid-June (15-23) and their recent flurry of trades tells us to stay away from a team in this much flux. We?ll take the visitors (12-4 since the All-Star break) especially if they should face Dontrelle Willis (St. Louis is 8-3, +$495 on the road vs. southpaws) or Josh Beckett who has been on the DL three different times in the last two months. PREFERRED: Cardinals in all games.
Houston at N.Y. Mets (3) 10th, 11th, 12th
The Mets took two of three from the Astros earlier this year (+$380) and have now won six of the last nine (+$740). New York continues to get exemplary starting pitching (3.06 ERA is the best in MLB) and the additions of Kris Benson and Victor Zambrano won?t hurt. But, the Mets have folded faster than a cheap suit in August and are all but out of playoff contention. PREFERRED: None.
Los Angeles at Cincinnati (3) 10th, 11th, 12th
When the Reds could do no wrong a few months ago they swept LA in Los Angeles (+$440). But, it?s the Dodgers who are playing great baseball now while the Reds, who were 34-22 on June 4, have now lost 31** of their last 48 games. With a pitching staff that now consists of one legitimate starter, Paul Wilson, who is 6-1 at home and one real reliever (Danny Graves), we want no part of them right now unless Wilson trudges out to the mound. PREFERRED: Wilson/Dodgers vs. all but Wilson.
Milwaukee at Atlanta (3) 10th, 11th, 12th
The Braves just keep rolling along. They?ve won 13 of their last 18 home games (+$820 overall) and, once again look like the team to beat in the NL East. Taxes, death and, now, the Atlanta Braves. But, the Bravos, having put considerable distance between themselves and their NL East rivals, could be ready to tread water for a stretch, while the feisty Brewers and their vastly improved pitching staff (3.97 ERA) have never stopped hustling from the first game in April. PREFERRED: Lefthanders vs. the Braves.
San Diego at Chicago Cubs (3) 10th, 11th, 12th
The Padres are fighting for the NL West title or a wildcard slot, so expect good pitching and close games to be the order of the day. Carlos Zambrano (6-1 at home with a 1.99 ERA and a .174 BAA) is the closest thing to a sure thing as there is in this series and he?s our only recommendation at this time. PREFERRED: Zambrano.
Toronto at Cleveland (3) 10th, 11th, 12th
The Blue Jays and Indians hooked up for a four-game series in Canada last week, so please check those results. The Blue Jays are $1380 in the hole on the road and we don?t gave them much of a chance what with Miguel Batista and Ted Lilly scheduled to miss this series, but we?re not about to lay heavy lumber to prove the point. PREFERRED: None.
Kansas City at Chicago White Sox (3) 10th, 11th, 12th
The Royals and White Sox played three games in KC last week, so please check those results. We?d love to use one of the Royals? southpaws here as the Sox generally have trouble against them, but we have little or none faith in any of them. And, with the White Sox prices being loftier than the prose in an acceptance speech at a political convention, we?ll pass for now. PREFERRED: None.
N.Y. Yankees at Texas (3) 10th, 11th, 12th
These frontrunners played a pair of exciting three-game sets earlier in the year and split them with each winning two of three in its own park. The Yankees have pulled away from the Red Sox and have almost a mortal lock on the AL East while the Rangers are struggling to win the AL West or capture the wildcard, so this may be a good time to take advantage of the experienced and relaxed visitors as opposed to the young Texans. PREFERRED: Yankees in all games.
Minnesota at Seattle (3) 10th, 11th, 12th
If the Twins are to defeat the White Sox in the AL Central, this is the kind of series, against a decidedly inferior opponent, that they can?t afford to lose. Minny has already won four of six (+$240). The Mariners have lost eight of their last 10 games, are -$555 in the red at home and 4-11 at home against portsiders. What is there to like about them? PREFERRED: Lefthanders vs. the Mariners
Detroit at Oakland (3) 10th, 11th, 12th
The Tigers incredibly poor record (6-16, -$715) on the road against southpaws will not serve well against the likes of Mark Mulder, Barry Zito and Mark Redman especially at night where they are 1-13 (-$1165). PREFERRED: Lefthanders vs. the Tigers.
Baltimore at Anaheim (3) 10th, 11th, 12th
The Angels jumped all over the Orioles (5-1, +$400) when Baltimore was pretending to be a contender. But, Anaheim did nothing to bolster a disappointing pitching staff before the trade deadline while the O?s starters have steadily improved since the early June under the patient tutelage of pitching coach Ray Miller. Sidney Ponson, after a horrendous start, has reeled off three straight wins including a route-going, one run/four hit performance vs. New York in the Bronx. He?s worth a look at nice odds. PREFERRED: Ponson.
Arizona at Montreal (3) 10th, 11th, 12th
Here?s how bad the Diamondbacks are: They were swept at home by the hapless Expos and were outscored 15-4 in the process. So, if you think that Arizona is capable of revenge against a team that is 5-2 at home since coming off a 28-day road trip, be our guest. PREFERRED: Expos in all games.
San Francisco at Pittsburgh (3) 10th, 11th, 12th
The Giants benefit here by probably not facing Kip Wells or Oliver Perez and, with Kris Benson now pitching in Shea Stadium, that leaves the disappointing Jason Fogg and the mediocre Ryan Vogelsong, among others. San Francisco avenges an earlier three game sweep. PREFERRED: Giants in all games.
St. Louis at Florida (3) 10th, 11th, 12th
The Marlins have been fading out of the playoff picture since mid-June (15-23) and their recent flurry of trades tells us to stay away from a team in this much flux. We?ll take the visitors (12-4 since the All-Star break) especially if they should face Dontrelle Willis (St. Louis is 8-3, +$495 on the road vs. southpaws) or Josh Beckett who has been on the DL three different times in the last two months. PREFERRED: Cardinals in all games.
Houston at N.Y. Mets (3) 10th, 11th, 12th
The Mets took two of three from the Astros earlier this year (+$380) and have now won six of the last nine (+$740). New York continues to get exemplary starting pitching (3.06 ERA is the best in MLB) and the additions of Kris Benson and Victor Zambrano won?t hurt. But, the Mets have folded faster than a cheap suit in August and are all but out of playoff contention. PREFERRED: None.
Los Angeles at Cincinnati (3) 10th, 11th, 12th
When the Reds could do no wrong a few months ago they swept LA in Los Angeles (+$440). But, it?s the Dodgers who are playing great baseball now while the Reds, who were 34-22 on June 4, have now lost 31** of their last 48 games. With a pitching staff that now consists of one legitimate starter, Paul Wilson, who is 6-1 at home and one real reliever (Danny Graves), we want no part of them right now unless Wilson trudges out to the mound. PREFERRED: Wilson/Dodgers vs. all but Wilson.
Milwaukee at Atlanta (3) 10th, 11th, 12th
The Braves just keep rolling along. They?ve won 13 of their last 18 home games (+$820 overall) and, once again look like the team to beat in the NL East. Taxes, death and, now, the Atlanta Braves. But, the Bravos, having put considerable distance between themselves and their NL East rivals, could be ready to tread water for a stretch, while the feisty Brewers and their vastly improved pitching staff (3.97 ERA) have never stopped hustling from the first game in April. PREFERRED: Lefthanders vs. the Braves.
San Diego at Chicago Cubs (3) 10th, 11th, 12th
The Padres are fighting for the NL West title or a wildcard slot, so expect good pitching and close games to be the order of the day. Carlos Zambrano (6-1 at home with a 1.99 ERA and a .174 BAA) is the closest thing to a sure thing as there is in this series and he?s our only recommendation at this time. PREFERRED: Zambrano.
Toronto at Cleveland (3) 10th, 11th, 12th
The Blue Jays and Indians hooked up for a four-game series in Canada last week, so please check those results. The Blue Jays are $1380 in the hole on the road and we don?t gave them much of a chance what with Miguel Batista and Ted Lilly scheduled to miss this series, but we?re not about to lay heavy lumber to prove the point. PREFERRED: None.
Kansas City at Chicago White Sox (3) 10th, 11th, 12th
The Royals and White Sox played three games in KC last week, so please check those results. We?d love to use one of the Royals? southpaws here as the Sox generally have trouble against them, but we have little or none faith in any of them. And, with the White Sox prices being loftier than the prose in an acceptance speech at a political convention, we?ll pass for now. PREFERRED: None.
N.Y. Yankees at Texas (3) 10th, 11th, 12th
These frontrunners played a pair of exciting three-game sets earlier in the year and split them with each winning two of three in its own park. The Yankees have pulled away from the Red Sox and have almost a mortal lock on the AL East while the Rangers are struggling to win the AL West or capture the wildcard, so this may be a good time to take advantage of the experienced and relaxed visitors as opposed to the young Texans. PREFERRED: Yankees in all games.
Minnesota at Seattle (3) 10th, 11th, 12th
If the Twins are to defeat the White Sox in the AL Central, this is the kind of series, against a decidedly inferior opponent, that they can?t afford to lose. Minny has already won four of six (+$240). The Mariners have lost eight of their last 10 games, are -$555 in the red at home and 4-11 at home against portsiders. What is there to like about them? PREFERRED: Lefthanders vs. the Mariners
Detroit at Oakland (3) 10th, 11th, 12th
The Tigers incredibly poor record (6-16, -$715) on the road against southpaws will not serve well against the likes of Mark Mulder, Barry Zito and Mark Redman especially at night where they are 1-13 (-$1165). PREFERRED: Lefthanders vs. the Tigers.
Baltimore at Anaheim (3) 10th, 11th, 12th
The Angels jumped all over the Orioles (5-1, +$400) when Baltimore was pretending to be a contender. But, Anaheim did nothing to bolster a disappointing pitching staff before the trade deadline while the O?s starters have steadily improved since the early June under the patient tutelage of pitching coach Ray Miller. Sidney Ponson, after a horrendous start, has reeled off three straight wins including a route-going, one run/four hit performance vs. New York in the Bronx. He?s worth a look at nice odds. PREFERRED: Ponson.
