BEGINNING MONDAY JUNE 12
Colorado at Washington (4) 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th
They?ve got a long way to go, but the Nationals continue to move up in the NL East standings, ending the week with an impressive sweep over the Brewers at Miller Park (7-3, +$490 last 10 days). The Rockies are in a free fall after getting drubbed by the lowly Marlins at Coors Field. We?ll try our luck with Tony Armas (3.67 ERA) and Michael O?Connor (3.25), a pair of hurlers who have played a key role in the home team?s upswing. PREFERRED: Armas/O?Connor.
Milwaukee at Cincinnati (3) 12th, 13th, 14th
The Brewers are another team on the way down, having lost eight straight games (-$900), and they were awful on the road even before they went on their losing streak (only 9-19, -$925). The Reds remain on of the top money-makers in the league (32-24, +$935) and they should manage to take at least 2 out of 3 from the hapless visitor. PREFERRED: Reds in all games.
Tampa Bay at Detroit (4) 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th
It?s hard to take a perennial 100 game loser on the road against the team with the best record in baseball (Tigers 37-20, +$1605 so far in 2006). But Scott Kazmir (+$880, 3.16 ERA) has been the biggest money-maker in the majors so far, and despite an 11-3 mark vs. lefties, Detroit has only averaged 3.8 runs per game in those contests. Take the southpaw if he starts at Comerica. PREFERRED: Kazmir.
Baltimore at Toronto (4) 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th
The Blue Jays have been terrific so far in ?06, especially at home (19-11, +$635) and their league leading offense (.303 team BA) should feast on the pitching poor Orioles. Prices may get high, so stick with Gustavo Chacin (+$715) and Ted Lilly, given Baltimore?s pitiful 4-13 (-$1025) record vs. lefthanders. PREFERRED: Chacin/Lilly.
Chicago W. Sox at Texas (4) 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th
The Rangers are coming off a productive weekend in Chicago, taking 2 out of 3 from the World Champions and solidifying their grip on first place in the AL West. The White Sox can?t get the job done vs. lefties, particularly in road night games (1-8, -$955) so take a shot with John Koronka (+$200) and rookie John Rheinecker, who shut this team down in his last start. PREFERRED: Koronka/Rheinecker.
Kansas City at L.A. Angels (4) 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th
Obviously we?re staying away from a Kansas City team that is on track to break the single season record for losses, and is a pathetic 6-25 (-$1050) on the road. But we don?t trust the Angels enough to lay a fat price on them at this time. PREFERRED: None.
BEGINNING TUESDAY JUNE 13
Atlanta at Florida (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Marlins are a scrappy team that has looked sharp in recent days, as their young players continue to mature. But they?ve lost money at home playing to empty houses (-$655) and the Braves could cause problems for their lefty starters, given their 7-3 (+$425) record against southpaws. PREFERRED: Braves vs. lefthanders.
N.Y. Mets at Philadelphia (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
These two teams have split the first six meetings, but the Mets are finishing up a brutal road trip that included visits to the Arizona and Los Angeles to take on the two surging front-runners in the NL West. We need to see what kind of shape they are in before we?ll commit ourselves here at Citizen?s Bank. PREFERRED: None.
St. Louis at Pittsburgh (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Pirates continue to excel in night games vs. righthanders at PNC Park (12-3, +$1070 with 6.0 runs per game) and we?ll no doubt get at least one chance vs. this rotation, hopefully at a nice underdog price. Mark Mulder has been roughed up in recent outings, but he?s still won 8 of his 12 starts (+$220) so we?ll take him against the Pirates, who check in with a 5-15 record vs. southpaws (-$1050). PREFERRED: Mulder/Pirates vs. righthanders in night games.
Houston at Chicago Cubs (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
These teams will have squared off for the first time in 2006 at Minute Maid Park last week, so check those results before jumping in here. The Astros have not looked sharp in recent days, and their road record is not encouraging (9-18, -$1030). Despite their many woes, the Cubs are 7-1 in night games at Wrigley (+$565) so take them in the two scheduled evening contests. As long as they split we won?t get hurt. PREFERRED: Cubs in night games.
San Francisco at Arizona (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Giants have held their own nicely in the very competitive NL West, but it?s going to be difficult to keep pace with the first place Diamondbacks, who have amassed a stellar 17-6 record in night games at Chase Field (+$1040 with 6.4 runs per game). We expect the home team to do no worse than 2 out of 3 in this series. PREFERRED: Diamondbacks in all games.
L.A. Dodgers at San Diego (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Dodgers are making money vs. righthanders (+$530 with 5.2 runs per game) while the Padres are a disappointing 11-15 (-$810) in that situation at Petco Park. These two rotations are primarily righthanded, so we?ll get plenty of chances to use the surging Dodgers at reasonable road prices. PREFERRED: Dodgers when righty meets righty.
Cleveland at N.Y. Yankees (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Indians have lost money on the road (11-15, -$720). While the Yankees remain undefeated vs. lefthanders in the Bronx (9-0, +$900). The Yankees are 17-3 in day games (+$1420) and the last game of this series is scheduled for Thursday afternoon. PREFERRED: Yankees vs. lefthanders and in day games.
Boston at Minnesota (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Red Sox are presently without a lefthander in their starting rotation, bad news vs. a Minnesota team that is 10-2 (+$880) in night games vs. righties at the Metrodome. The Red Sox are far less imposing away from Fenway Park, so we?ll look for Minnesota in the right situation. PREFERRED: Twins vs. righthanders.
Seattle at Oakland (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The A?s took 12 of 18 from this team in 2005 (+$595) and they are 6-1 already this season (+$515) so avoid the visitor at all costs. Barry Zito looks like the best bet of the series, given his strong showing so far (2.87 ERA in 12 starts), coupled with Seattle?s 6-14 (-$910) record vs. lefthanders. PREFERRED: Zito.
Colorado at Washington (4) 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th
They?ve got a long way to go, but the Nationals continue to move up in the NL East standings, ending the week with an impressive sweep over the Brewers at Miller Park (7-3, +$490 last 10 days). The Rockies are in a free fall after getting drubbed by the lowly Marlins at Coors Field. We?ll try our luck with Tony Armas (3.67 ERA) and Michael O?Connor (3.25), a pair of hurlers who have played a key role in the home team?s upswing. PREFERRED: Armas/O?Connor.
Milwaukee at Cincinnati (3) 12th, 13th, 14th
The Brewers are another team on the way down, having lost eight straight games (-$900), and they were awful on the road even before they went on their losing streak (only 9-19, -$925). The Reds remain on of the top money-makers in the league (32-24, +$935) and they should manage to take at least 2 out of 3 from the hapless visitor. PREFERRED: Reds in all games.
Tampa Bay at Detroit (4) 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th
It?s hard to take a perennial 100 game loser on the road against the team with the best record in baseball (Tigers 37-20, +$1605 so far in 2006). But Scott Kazmir (+$880, 3.16 ERA) has been the biggest money-maker in the majors so far, and despite an 11-3 mark vs. lefties, Detroit has only averaged 3.8 runs per game in those contests. Take the southpaw if he starts at Comerica. PREFERRED: Kazmir.
Baltimore at Toronto (4) 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th
The Blue Jays have been terrific so far in ?06, especially at home (19-11, +$635) and their league leading offense (.303 team BA) should feast on the pitching poor Orioles. Prices may get high, so stick with Gustavo Chacin (+$715) and Ted Lilly, given Baltimore?s pitiful 4-13 (-$1025) record vs. lefthanders. PREFERRED: Chacin/Lilly.
Chicago W. Sox at Texas (4) 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th
The Rangers are coming off a productive weekend in Chicago, taking 2 out of 3 from the World Champions and solidifying their grip on first place in the AL West. The White Sox can?t get the job done vs. lefties, particularly in road night games (1-8, -$955) so take a shot with John Koronka (+$200) and rookie John Rheinecker, who shut this team down in his last start. PREFERRED: Koronka/Rheinecker.
Kansas City at L.A. Angels (4) 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th
Obviously we?re staying away from a Kansas City team that is on track to break the single season record for losses, and is a pathetic 6-25 (-$1050) on the road. But we don?t trust the Angels enough to lay a fat price on them at this time. PREFERRED: None.
BEGINNING TUESDAY JUNE 13
Atlanta at Florida (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Marlins are a scrappy team that has looked sharp in recent days, as their young players continue to mature. But they?ve lost money at home playing to empty houses (-$655) and the Braves could cause problems for their lefty starters, given their 7-3 (+$425) record against southpaws. PREFERRED: Braves vs. lefthanders.
N.Y. Mets at Philadelphia (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
These two teams have split the first six meetings, but the Mets are finishing up a brutal road trip that included visits to the Arizona and Los Angeles to take on the two surging front-runners in the NL West. We need to see what kind of shape they are in before we?ll commit ourselves here at Citizen?s Bank. PREFERRED: None.
St. Louis at Pittsburgh (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Pirates continue to excel in night games vs. righthanders at PNC Park (12-3, +$1070 with 6.0 runs per game) and we?ll no doubt get at least one chance vs. this rotation, hopefully at a nice underdog price. Mark Mulder has been roughed up in recent outings, but he?s still won 8 of his 12 starts (+$220) so we?ll take him against the Pirates, who check in with a 5-15 record vs. southpaws (-$1050). PREFERRED: Mulder/Pirates vs. righthanders in night games.
Houston at Chicago Cubs (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
These teams will have squared off for the first time in 2006 at Minute Maid Park last week, so check those results before jumping in here. The Astros have not looked sharp in recent days, and their road record is not encouraging (9-18, -$1030). Despite their many woes, the Cubs are 7-1 in night games at Wrigley (+$565) so take them in the two scheduled evening contests. As long as they split we won?t get hurt. PREFERRED: Cubs in night games.
San Francisco at Arizona (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Giants have held their own nicely in the very competitive NL West, but it?s going to be difficult to keep pace with the first place Diamondbacks, who have amassed a stellar 17-6 record in night games at Chase Field (+$1040 with 6.4 runs per game). We expect the home team to do no worse than 2 out of 3 in this series. PREFERRED: Diamondbacks in all games.
L.A. Dodgers at San Diego (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Dodgers are making money vs. righthanders (+$530 with 5.2 runs per game) while the Padres are a disappointing 11-15 (-$810) in that situation at Petco Park. These two rotations are primarily righthanded, so we?ll get plenty of chances to use the surging Dodgers at reasonable road prices. PREFERRED: Dodgers when righty meets righty.
Cleveland at N.Y. Yankees (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Indians have lost money on the road (11-15, -$720). While the Yankees remain undefeated vs. lefthanders in the Bronx (9-0, +$900). The Yankees are 17-3 in day games (+$1420) and the last game of this series is scheduled for Thursday afternoon. PREFERRED: Yankees vs. lefthanders and in day games.
Boston at Minnesota (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Red Sox are presently without a lefthander in their starting rotation, bad news vs. a Minnesota team that is 10-2 (+$880) in night games vs. righties at the Metrodome. The Red Sox are far less imposing away from Fenway Park, so we?ll look for Minnesota in the right situation. PREFERRED: Twins vs. righthanders.
Seattle at Oakland (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The A?s took 12 of 18 from this team in 2005 (+$595) and they are 6-1 already this season (+$515) so avoid the visitor at all costs. Barry Zito looks like the best bet of the series, given his strong showing so far (2.87 ERA in 12 starts), coupled with Seattle?s 6-14 (-$910) record vs. lefthanders. PREFERRED: Zito.
