BEGINNING TUESDAY AUGUST 2
Chicago Cubs at Philadelphia (3) 2nd, 3rd, 4th
The Phillies took two of three (+$165) from the Cubs at Wrigley Field in early May with Carlos Zambrano avoiding a sweep with a one-run, five-hit, route going performance. However, the Cubs were suffering from a multitude of injuries at that time and Aramis Ramirez was mired in an awful slump. We?ll take any of Chicago?s righty starters against a team that averages one RPG fewer against them than southpaw starters. PREFERRED: Cubs? righthanders.
L.A. Dodgers at Washington (3) 2nd, 3rd, 4th
Looks like that long 162-game schedule is starting to catch up with the surprising Nationals. Over the past three weeks, Washington has lost 14 of 18. Their pitching is still strong, but the offense, which is hard pressed to score four runs per game, has been awful lately (2.9 RPG last 10 days). But, we?re not enamored with the way the Dodgers are playing on the road against righties (14-27, -$1130), so we?ll take a closer look later this week. PREFERRED: None.
San Diego at Pittsburgh (3) 2nd, 3rd, 4th
The Padres have not been a particularly good road investment so far (-$940), but they do possess a good enough pitching staff to keep the Pirates? bats in check. Pittsburgh is still having trouble scoring runs (next to last in that category in MLB) and are particularly unproductive against righties (averaging a mere 3.5 RPG). UNDER is the direction you should be headed in this three-game set. PREFERRED: UNDER in all games.
Atlanta at Cincinnati (3) 2nd, 3rd, 4th
The Braves have rebounded from losing four of six (-$485) a year ago to the Reds to taking three of four (+$195). Now that they?ve captured first place in the NL East, we can?t see them faltering against pitching poor Cincinnati (5.93 home ERA for starters is the worst in MLB). Meanwhile, the more than solid Braves? pitching on the road (starters? ERA is 3.89, relievers? ERA is 3.80) should hold the solid Cincy offense (5.8 RPG at home) in check. Take the Bravos, who are 10-3 (+$765) on the road against southpaws, any time the Reds start one. BEST BET: Braves vs. lefthanders.
Milwaukee at N.Y. Mets (3) 2nd, 3rd, 4th
The Mets continue to do their best work at home (+$765) especially when they are facing a southpaw (11-5, +$515) and are currently playing their best baseball of the year. Milwaukee has been susceptible to lefties on the road (4-9, -$505), so we?ll be waiting for Tom Glavine or even Kaz Ishii. PREFERRED: Mets? lefthanders.
Houston at Arizona (3) 2nd, 3rd, 4th
Back in mid May, when the D?backs were still surprising teams and the Astros were averaging a ?W? per week; Arizona took two of three in Texas. Arizona has lost 11 of their last 16 home games while the Astros, after a slow start, have won 15 of their last 22 road games. We?ll take the better team at reasonable prices this time around. PREFERRED: Astros in all games.
Colorado at San Francisco (3) 2nd, 3rd, 4th
Hey, the Giants are having a miserable year without ?Balco? Bonds, but as bad as they are, we can?t get too excited about backing a team with all of 10 road wins (-$2045) and winners of one road series (last week in Washington) all year. Are you? And, Colorado has been so bad against lefties when traveling (1-16, -$1400), we?re hoping Noah Lowry gets a turn against them. PREFERRED: Lowry.
Kansas City at Boston (3) 2nd, 3rd, 4th
Since D.J. Carrasco is the only current Royals? starter who is in the black on the road (+$195), the pickings look pretty slim if you prefer not to lay major wood on the chalk and take a shot on the traveler. Why not, the way that Boston is playing lately (lost 11 of 19) there is no way you want to invest a red cent on them. PREFERRED: Carrasco.
N.Y. Yankees at Cleveland (3) 2nd, 3rd, 4th
The Yankees averaged seven RPG when they took three of four from the Tribe in the Bronx, but the Pinstripers average 4.9 RPG on the road vs. 6.3 at home so one should not assume this series will be a repeat of the first. Additionally, New York is back on the road after a tough eleven game stretch against Boston, Texas and the Angels and their starting pitching rotation is still a mess. The Yankees have been in the red vs. righties all year (-$1305), so we?ll take a stab on the struggling Tribe when one of them takes the hill. PREFERRED: Indians? righthanders.
Seattle at Detroit (3) 2nd, 3rd, 4th
In their struggle to reach .500, the Tigers have lost seven of their last ten home games. We?ll stay with the home team but only if a lefthander is in the box as the Mariners are 4-11 (-$730) with 4.8 RPG in that situation on the road. PREFERRED: Tigers? lefthanders.
Tampa Bay at Texas (3) 2nd, 3rd, 4th
A good opportunity for the Rangers to get back to their winning ways in the Ballpark at Arlington after losing six of seven to the Athletics and Yankees last week. The Devil Rays are brutal on the road against righties especially in night games (4-16, -$950) and the Rangers starting corps is almost exclusively righthanded. Additionally, the Rangers are 26-18 at home against righties (+$595) averaging six RPG. PREFERRED: Rangers when righty meets righty.
Toronto at Chicago W. Sox (3) 2nd, 3rd, 4th
It looks like nothing can stand in the way of the steamroller called the White Sox, so we?re not going to challenge them with a team missing its most important player (Roy Halladay ). On the other hand, were not interested in laying 2-1 to prove our point. PREFERRED: None.
Baltimore at L.A. Angels (3) 2nd, 3rd, 4th
This is an important series for the Orioles, who are vying for both first place in the AL East as well as the wildcard, while the Angels, who have a huge lead in the AL West can coast. But LA has enjoyed tremendous success against righties overall (45-26, +$1320) and are 22-13 against them at home. PREFERRED: Angels vs. righthanders.
Chicago Cubs at Philadelphia (3) 2nd, 3rd, 4th
The Phillies took two of three (+$165) from the Cubs at Wrigley Field in early May with Carlos Zambrano avoiding a sweep with a one-run, five-hit, route going performance. However, the Cubs were suffering from a multitude of injuries at that time and Aramis Ramirez was mired in an awful slump. We?ll take any of Chicago?s righty starters against a team that averages one RPG fewer against them than southpaw starters. PREFERRED: Cubs? righthanders.
L.A. Dodgers at Washington (3) 2nd, 3rd, 4th
Looks like that long 162-game schedule is starting to catch up with the surprising Nationals. Over the past three weeks, Washington has lost 14 of 18. Their pitching is still strong, but the offense, which is hard pressed to score four runs per game, has been awful lately (2.9 RPG last 10 days). But, we?re not enamored with the way the Dodgers are playing on the road against righties (14-27, -$1130), so we?ll take a closer look later this week. PREFERRED: None.
San Diego at Pittsburgh (3) 2nd, 3rd, 4th
The Padres have not been a particularly good road investment so far (-$940), but they do possess a good enough pitching staff to keep the Pirates? bats in check. Pittsburgh is still having trouble scoring runs (next to last in that category in MLB) and are particularly unproductive against righties (averaging a mere 3.5 RPG). UNDER is the direction you should be headed in this three-game set. PREFERRED: UNDER in all games.
Atlanta at Cincinnati (3) 2nd, 3rd, 4th
The Braves have rebounded from losing four of six (-$485) a year ago to the Reds to taking three of four (+$195). Now that they?ve captured first place in the NL East, we can?t see them faltering against pitching poor Cincinnati (5.93 home ERA for starters is the worst in MLB). Meanwhile, the more than solid Braves? pitching on the road (starters? ERA is 3.89, relievers? ERA is 3.80) should hold the solid Cincy offense (5.8 RPG at home) in check. Take the Bravos, who are 10-3 (+$765) on the road against southpaws, any time the Reds start one. BEST BET: Braves vs. lefthanders.
Milwaukee at N.Y. Mets (3) 2nd, 3rd, 4th
The Mets continue to do their best work at home (+$765) especially when they are facing a southpaw (11-5, +$515) and are currently playing their best baseball of the year. Milwaukee has been susceptible to lefties on the road (4-9, -$505), so we?ll be waiting for Tom Glavine or even Kaz Ishii. PREFERRED: Mets? lefthanders.
Houston at Arizona (3) 2nd, 3rd, 4th
Back in mid May, when the D?backs were still surprising teams and the Astros were averaging a ?W? per week; Arizona took two of three in Texas. Arizona has lost 11 of their last 16 home games while the Astros, after a slow start, have won 15 of their last 22 road games. We?ll take the better team at reasonable prices this time around. PREFERRED: Astros in all games.
Colorado at San Francisco (3) 2nd, 3rd, 4th
Hey, the Giants are having a miserable year without ?Balco? Bonds, but as bad as they are, we can?t get too excited about backing a team with all of 10 road wins (-$2045) and winners of one road series (last week in Washington) all year. Are you? And, Colorado has been so bad against lefties when traveling (1-16, -$1400), we?re hoping Noah Lowry gets a turn against them. PREFERRED: Lowry.
Kansas City at Boston (3) 2nd, 3rd, 4th
Since D.J. Carrasco is the only current Royals? starter who is in the black on the road (+$195), the pickings look pretty slim if you prefer not to lay major wood on the chalk and take a shot on the traveler. Why not, the way that Boston is playing lately (lost 11 of 19) there is no way you want to invest a red cent on them. PREFERRED: Carrasco.
N.Y. Yankees at Cleveland (3) 2nd, 3rd, 4th
The Yankees averaged seven RPG when they took three of four from the Tribe in the Bronx, but the Pinstripers average 4.9 RPG on the road vs. 6.3 at home so one should not assume this series will be a repeat of the first. Additionally, New York is back on the road after a tough eleven game stretch against Boston, Texas and the Angels and their starting pitching rotation is still a mess. The Yankees have been in the red vs. righties all year (-$1305), so we?ll take a stab on the struggling Tribe when one of them takes the hill. PREFERRED: Indians? righthanders.
Seattle at Detroit (3) 2nd, 3rd, 4th
In their struggle to reach .500, the Tigers have lost seven of their last ten home games. We?ll stay with the home team but only if a lefthander is in the box as the Mariners are 4-11 (-$730) with 4.8 RPG in that situation on the road. PREFERRED: Tigers? lefthanders.
Tampa Bay at Texas (3) 2nd, 3rd, 4th
A good opportunity for the Rangers to get back to their winning ways in the Ballpark at Arlington after losing six of seven to the Athletics and Yankees last week. The Devil Rays are brutal on the road against righties especially in night games (4-16, -$950) and the Rangers starting corps is almost exclusively righthanded. Additionally, the Rangers are 26-18 at home against righties (+$595) averaging six RPG. PREFERRED: Rangers when righty meets righty.
Toronto at Chicago W. Sox (3) 2nd, 3rd, 4th
It looks like nothing can stand in the way of the steamroller called the White Sox, so we?re not going to challenge them with a team missing its most important player (Roy Halladay ). On the other hand, were not interested in laying 2-1 to prove our point. PREFERRED: None.
Baltimore at L.A. Angels (3) 2nd, 3rd, 4th
This is an important series for the Orioles, who are vying for both first place in the AL East as well as the wildcard, while the Angels, who have a huge lead in the AL West can coast. But LA has enjoyed tremendous success against righties overall (45-26, +$1320) and are 22-13 against them at home. PREFERRED: Angels vs. righthanders.
