series info

[RAYMOND]

BEGINNING THURSDAY JUNE 30



Houston at Cincinnati (4) 30th, 1st, 2nd, 3rd

Houston has won six of nine (+$245) against Cincinnati this season and 17 of 26 since 2004. Maybe it?s payback time for the Reds who are holding their own at home against righthaneded starters (16-13). The problem is that two of those righties are Roy Oswalt, who has never lost to them and Roger (Cy Young) Clemens. BEST BET: Oswalt & Clemens

Colorado at St. Louis (4) 30th, 1st, 2nd, 3rd

These teams split four games in Colorado earlier this year, but don?t expect similar results in Missouri where St. Louis is tough tp beat. The Rockies are a miserable 5-31 (-$2205) on the road and will tote a road ERA close to six RPG into Busch Stadium. St. Louis has been murder on righties at home for the past year plus (38-21 a year ago, 18-8, +$435 in ?05) and will manhandle anyone of the mediocre Rockies? hurlers. Add that first element to Colorado?s 4-19 (-$1205) record against righty starters on the road and you should be in business. BEST BET: Cardinals when rightyr meets righty.

Cleveland at Baltimore (4) 30th, 1st, 2nd, 3rd

The Indians and O?s are hoping to be in the thick of things all year in the AL. The Indians have won of the best pitching staffs in either league (3.71 team ERA), but Baltimore could use more pitching (4.31 team ERA) and the Tribe needs more production to keep running with the big dogs (.256 team BA, worst in the AL). Cliff Lee, however, is getting along fine with the support given to him and he has been remarkable on the road. The Tribe is 8-1 (+$810) in his nine away starts and Lee?s road ERA is 2.70. BEST BET: Lee.



BEGINNING FRIDAY JULY 1



Washington at Chicago Cubs (3) 1st, 2nd, 3rd

Chicago has lost eight of their last 13 games and its pitching has fallen apart (7.00 ERA among starters last 10 days) . We?ll stay with the surprise NL East leaders when the Cubs send a righty to the hill as Nationals are 29-18 against them (+$1580), the fourth best record in that category in MLB. BEST BET: Nationals vs. righthanders.

Atlanta at Philadelphia (3) 1st, 2nd, 3rd

The Braves are hot again (8-2, +$620 last 10 days) after a long slump and the Phillies, who were rolling, have now lost 7 of 8 including 5 of 6 at home last week. Brett Myers has cooled off after a sizzling start, Vicente Padilla (8.65 ERA last two games) continuers to struggle, Jon Lieber has been inconsistent and Randy Wolf has been lost for the rest of the season due to surgery. That puts the fate of the Phillies? pitching staff in the hands of youngster Robinson Tejeda. No thanks. BEST BET: Braves in all games.

Florida at N.Y. Mets (3) 1st, 2nd, 3rd

The Mets, after losing 15 of 19 (-$1030) to the Marlins a year ago, have turned it around and have copped six of nine (+$450) in 2005. Given New York?s overall success in Shea Stadium (22-15, +$385) coupled with the Marlins? inability to win on the road, we?ll shade the home team especially when they send Pedro Martinez (three starts vs. Florida, 2-0 in 22 innings allowing three earned runs with 27 Ks) to the mound. BEST BET: Martinez/All other Mets? rightihanders vs. all but Willis/Willis vs. all but Martinez.

Pittsburgh at Milwaukee (3) 1st, 2nd, 3rd

Pittsburgh?s pitching has been in a tailspin (6.47 ERA among starters last 10 days) which makes sense considering that they?ve played against .500 or better teams in seven of their last eight series. The Brewers have been playing solid baseball lately and have had success at home vs. righty starters (15-10, +$435). We?ll stay with them against the struggling Bucs. BEST BET:: Brewers? vs. righthanders.

San Francisco at San Diego (3) 1st, 2nd, 3rd

The Padres have won six of eight (+$400) against the Giants and swept them in San Francisco in their last meeting. However, San Diego has been in a swoon for the better part of the month and will be big favorites in any game not started by the Giants? Jason Schmidt. Schmidt, who might be pitching his way to a contending team, is 2-0 in his last two outings with a 0.00 ERA and an 8.4 H/W ratio. BEST BET: Schmidt.

Arizona at L.A. Dodgers (3) 1st, 2nd, 3rd

This has been a strange series so far. The Diamondbacks are up, 5-4 (+$150), but are only 2-4 at home while winning all three in Los Angeles. Could the ?Backs broom the Dodgers again? The way that Los Angeles is playing lately (11 losses in the last 13 games) anything is possible. With Arizona struggling, this looks like a series to pass for the time being. BEST BET: None.

N.Y. Yankees at Detroit (3) 1st, 2nd, 3rd

The Tigers took four of seven (+$430) last year and their young pitchers are a lot tougher now than they were a year ago (3.91 team ERA). Given the Dr. Jekyl/Mr. Hyde persona of the Bronx Bombers as well as an offense that is hitting 35 points lower on the road than at home, we?ll take the home team with favorable prices throughout the series. BEST BET: Tigers vs. Brown,Henn & Pavano

Toronto at Boston (3) 1st, 2nd, 3rd

We?re solidly behind the hot defending champions (won 12 of13) who have climbed back into first place in the AL East. Of course, going against Roy Halladay (11-4, 2.51 ERA, .223 BAA) makes absolutely no sense, so we?ll make him our top Jays play and stay with the hot team the rest of the way. BEST BET: Halladay/Red Sox vs. all but Halladay.

L.A. Angels at Kansas City (3) 1st, 2nd, 3rd

The Angels have four ?Ws? in six tries against the Royals, but are $30 in the red because they?ve been such big favorites. LA plays well on the road (+$890 this year, +$1605 the last year plus) and even though the Royals have been playing better at home (won 9 of 13), they?ve lost six straight and eight of their last nine games and are 16-32 (-$750) against righthanderd starters overall. BEST BET:: Righthanders.vs. the Royals.

Tampa Bay at Minnesota (3) 1st, 2nd, 3rd

The Twins swept three games (+$305) from the Devil Rays in Florida in early May, outscoring them by a 3-1 margin (24-8) in those contests. The Devil Rays reverted to form after taking three of four from the Yankees in the Bronx losing three straight at home to struggling Florida over the weekend, so we can?t trust them against a far superior team, but the prices on the chalk will be prohibitive. BEST BET: None.

Chicago W. Sox at Oakland (3) 1st, 2nd, 3rd

The A?s have played decent ball at home, especially against lefties. Oakland is averaging 5.3 RPG overall against southpaws as opposed to 3.9 vs. righties and is scoring 5.6 RPG at home against portsiders which helps to explain their 10-3 record (+$665) against them. We?ll go against Mark Buehrle who has just two of his nine victories on the road, but we?ll stop right there as the White Sox are too hot to ignore. BEST BET: Athletics vs. Buehrle.

Texas at Seattle (3) 1st, 2nd, 3rd

The Mariners were getting solid pitching until they traveled to San Diego last weekend and were tattooed for 18 runs in three games. But they figure to do better against the Rangers who have lost 11 of their last 13 road games mainly because their offense (3.5 RPG) failed them. Jamie Moyer is on fire. He has a 2.33 ERA in June after getting knocked around in May (7.88 ERA, .337 BAA) and figures to keep it going as the Rangers are 4-11 (-$825) vs. southpaws averaging 3.5 RPG. BEST BET: Moyer.

 

[RAYMOND]

BEGINNING MONDAY JULY 4



N.Y. Mets at Washington (4) 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th

The Mets might be in for a long four days in our nation?s capitol. The Nationals lead MLB in starters? lead MLB in ERA at home and their relievers are almost as good. It looks like Pedro Martinez and Livan Hernandez will both be pitching in this series and will miss each other. The way they?re pitching, it?s impossible not to make them co-top plays. PREFERRED: Martinez/L. Hernandez.

San Diego at Houston (4) 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th

We?re still not sure we can trust the Padres? offense (.262 team BA) against the likes of Roy Oswalt (2.70), Andy Pettitte (3.25) and, of course, the ageless Roger Clemens (1.51). On the other hand, the Astros will be going up against the likes of Jake Peavy (2.88) and Co. PREFERRED: UNDER in all games.

Cincinnati at San Francisco (4) 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th

The ball may be flying out of the park in this four-game set. The Giants and Reds are 14th and 15th in the league in team ERA and the Reds are the only team in MLB with a BAA over.300. A managerial change isn?t going to help that awful pitching staff (starters? road ERA is 6.56) any better and the Giants? staff is just as bad. Jason Schmidt, however, finally appears to be rounding into form and if he?s in the box in this series, you?ve got a legitimate play. PREFERRED: Schmidt/OVER in games without Schmidt.

Philadelphia at Pittsburgh (4) 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th

The last time that the Phillies went on the road, they lost four of six games to a pair of the weakest teams in the AL, Seattle and Oakland. The Pirates have gone back to their losing ways after a brief winning streak, so what we have here are two teams struggling big time. There are just too many problems with the Phillies? pitching staff (4.66 team ERA) to trust them on the road and since they?ve struggled on the road against righty starters (10-15, -$380 averaging 3.7 runs per game), we?ll back the home side to end its malaise. PREFERRED: Righthanders. vs, the Phillies.

Milwaukee at Florida (4) 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th

If you?re a Marlins? backer, you?ll certainly be hoping that they have their lefthanded starters available in this series. The Brewers have lost eight of eleven road games (-$505) when a southpaw takes the mound for the opposition. Dontrelle Willis (1.91 ERA in June) certainly comes to mind and Al Leiter, who was promoted from bullpen duty when Josh Beckett went on the DL for what seems like the 20th time in his brief career, makes sense as well. PREFERRED: Lefthanders.vs. the Brewers.

St. Louis at Arizona (4) 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th

The front-running Cardinals won five of six games (+$195) against the Diamondbacks last year. St. Louis has been particularly tough on the road against lefties (9-4, +$375 averaging 5.5 RPG). St. Louis should dominate either Shawn Estes or Brad Halsey. PREFERRED: Cardinals vs. lefthanders.

Chicago Cubs at Atlanta (4) 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th

The Cubs and Braves may well be contending for the wildcard berth in the NL, so even though we?ve just reached the halfway mark in the season, this is an important series for Bobby Cox and Dusty Baker, a pair of managers who are always thinking ahead. It has taken awhile, but it?s safe to say that John Smoltz (2.74 ERA in 17 starts) has become the great starter again. Smoltz is 3-0 in his last three starts allowing three runs in 26 innings. With Carlos Zambrano slumping and Kerry Wood still on the DL, we?ll pass on the Cubs even if ex-Brave Greg Maddux (9.00 ERA vs. Atlanta last year) gets a start. PREFERRED: Smoltz.

L.A. Dodgers at Colorado (4) 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th

The Dodgers have already defeated the Rockies on four of six occasions (+$140), but the Rockies, never easy to beat in Denver, won two of three here in late April. And, with the Dodgers? pitching staff in bad shape (Perez and Gagne are out) and not effective on the road (starters? ERA is 4.88, relievers? ERA is 5.04), we?re leaning to the home team throughout. PREFERRED: Rockies in all games.

Baltimore at N.Y. Yankees (2) 4th, 5th

These teams hooked up for a three-game set in Camden Yards last week, so please check those results before plunging in. The Orioles have been a below .500 team since posting a 30-16 record on May 26. We?d like to play New York in both games, but they?ll be big favorites and their suspect pitching scares us away against the Orioles? fine offense. PREFERRED: None.

Detroit at Cleveland (3) 4th, 5th, 6th

The Tigers, a team that came dangerously tough to breaking the Mets? record for losses in a season, are over.500 and have won 8 of their last 11 games and have been successful on the road against southpaws (5-1, +$560), so we?re not afraid to go against Cliff Lee or C.C. Sabathia. PREFERRED: Tigers? vs. lefthanders.

Tampa Bay at Chicago W. Sox (3) 4th, 5th, 6th

Surprisingly, the Devil Rays defeated the White Sox two games to one earlier this year, but we don?t expect a team with an 8-29 road record (-$1340) to do much damage against the team with the best record in MLB. And, the way the White Sox are at home (27-12, +$1340) there is no reason to entertain any plays on the dog. PREFERRED: Righthanders.vs. the Devil Rays.

Boston at Texas (3) 4th, 5th, 6th

The Red Sox won two of three games in Arlington earlier with the ?Ws? posted by the hot Matt Clement and the slumping Bronson Arroyo. Boston has done well in staying close to the first place-Orioles despite a slow start from Manny Ramirez and Curt Schilling spending the first half of the year on the DL. With the Rangers exhibiting the same pitching woes that have plagued them for years, we?ll stay with the veteran champions in what should be three fairly high scoring games. PREFERRED: Red Sox vs. all but Rogers.

Seattle at Kansas City (3) 4th, 5th, 6th

The Royals started the season playing so poorly that they were broomed at home by mediocre Seattle by a cumulative score of, 20-5. We?ll give them a chance to redeem themselves against a team that is almost as bad as they are. PREFERRED: Royals in all games.

Minnesota at L.A. Angels (3) 4th, 5th, 6th

Here?s another series that might have post season ramifications later on in the season. The Twins (2-1, +$35 vs. LA) may already be thinking ?wildcard? having dropped far behind the White Sox in the AL Central and the Angels? starting pitching, except for Bartolo Colon, is likely to keep Texas within range of first place. The Twins have been struggling mightily and will be running into a team that has dominated righties at home (20-7, +$880). We?ll look for them to continue that success. PREFERRED: Angels vs. righthanders.



BEGINNING TUESDAY JULY 5



Oakland at Toronto (3) 5th, 6th, 7th

This is the final series between these teams and the Athletics hold a slim 4-3 (+$25) lead. The Athletics have been playing solid baseball of late (8-3 in their last 11 games with a 2.97 ERA) and are capable of doing some damage here as long as they can avoid Roy Halladay who is 5-2 at home with a .219 BAA. PREFERRED: Athletics vs. all but Halladay.

 

[woodsy]

thanks Ray

 

[shamrock]

bump, happy 4th Raymond

 

[RAYMOND]

God bless us all

 

[infinii]

bump for tues