BEGINNING MONDAY JUNE 26
Milwaukee at Chicago Cubs (4) 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th
The Cubs will be playing a pair of day games on Wednesday &
Thursday, bad news when you consider their appalling 5-17 record
in day games at Wrigley (-$1535). But only take the plunge if the
Brewers are facing a lefthander (averaging 5.5 runs per game vs.
southpaws), because their road record in 2006 is not at all encouraging.
PREFERRED: Brewers vs. lefthanders in day games.
Houston at Detroit (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
A very tough set of inter-league games for a struggling Houston
squad, a trip to Comerica on the heels of a weekend set vs. the
White Sox in Chicago. Houston does better vs. lefties, so we?ll avoid
those Detroit southpaws, and rely instead on their trio of righties
(Bonderman 1.93 ERA last two starts, Verlander +$665, 3.31 overall
and Miner 2.65 ERA in his three starts), at least a couple of whom
should see action. PREFERRED Bonderman/Verlander/Miner.
Atlanta at N.Y. Yankees (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
The Yankees have had their woes of late, but no team is as battered
and demoralizd as the floundering Braves. But they do have one
bright spot in Tim Hudson, whose led the team to victories in 10 of
his 15 starts thus far (+$315, 3.88 ERA). The Yankees are losing big
bucks to righthanders in the Bronx (-$1110 so far) and we?ll catch
the Atlanta ace at a good price. PREFERRED: Hudson.
Tampa Bay at Florida (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
The Marlins are looking better in recent weeks, and they?ve managed
to break even money-wise in this ballpark. So why not take a
shot vs. a Tampa Bay team that has lost money as a visitor (-$395),
while posting a 15-26 record in the process. Florida should take at
least 2 out of 3. PREFERRED: Marlins in all games.
Cleveland at St. Louis (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
The Indians are in against a team with a 18-5 record vs. righthanders
at Busch Stadium (+$945) and all these games are taking place in the
evening (Tribe 5-15, -$1295 on the road at night). If it wasn?t for the
Cardinals? weak record vs. lefthanders (-$740 overall), we?d take the
home team throughout. PREFERRED: Cardinals vs. righthanders.
L.A. Dodgers at Minnesota (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
The Dodgers have the most potent attack in the NL (.279, 5.6 runs
pr game), the best we?ve seen out of LA in many years. But the
Twins are tough on righties, particularly at night (+$1220) so we?ll
wait until game day before passing judgement. PREFERRED: None.
Colorado at L.A. Angels (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
The Rockies have been a better proposition away from Coors Field
this year (+$490) and they?ve gotten off to a 3-0 start vs. the AL in
2006 (+$305). We want to be careful going against the Angels, who
may be on the upswing, but their losses at home are quite significant
(-$1085). So if the right situation comes up, we?ll try our luck
on the visiting underdog. PREFERRED: Rockies at +140 or better.
BEGINNING TUESDAY JUNE 27
N.Y. Mets at Boston (3) 27th, 28th, 29th
The Red Sox are a team you rarely want to mess around with here at
Fenway Park. But the Mets have proved they can compete with the
best in hostile road settings (+$945) and they?ll get to use their ace
southpaw Tom Glavine (+$1065, 3.48 ERA in 15 starts) along the
way. (Boston 11-11 -$360 against lefthanders with only 4.8 runs per
game). PREFERRED: Glavine.
Philadelphia at Baltimore (3) 27th, 28th, 29th
The Phillies have been in a downward spiral (-$885 overall) and
they?ve been hammered in inter-league play (2-4, -$315 so far) while
the Orioles have cleaned up vs. righthanders (+$1005) and turned a
profit vs. their NL competition (+$185). stick with the home team
in this one. PREFERRED: Orioles vs. righthanders.
Washington at Toronto (3) 27th, 28th, 29th
The Blue Jays are 16-7 (+$780) in night games at Skydome, but the
Nationals are a pesky team that has a habit of causing trouble as a
visitor (+$325 in that role). We can?t risk going against the home
team, but the prices on the Blue Jays in this series are going to be
way out of line. We?ll take a pass. PREFERRED: None.
Chicago W. Sox at Pittsburgh (3) 27th, 28th, 29th
The Pirates are only 1-10 in day games at PNC Park (-$1125) so you
start to wonder why the team would even schedule an afternoon
contest on getaway day. But they did, and we?ll use the visitor in
that contest whatever the pitching matchup. We?ll also take a shot
with Mark Buehrle (+$465, 3.13 ERA) if he takes a turn. PREFERRED:
Buehrle/White Sox in day games.
Kansas City at Cincinnati (3) 27th, 28th, 29th
The Reds have had a terrific first half for a team from which little
was expected, but they are sub .500 here at Great American
Ballpark, so caution is advised. But the Royals remain a pitiful 9-30
on the road (-$890) and there?s no way we?re going to try and guess
when that next rare road win will occur. PREFERRED: None.
Seattle at Arizona (3) 27th, 28th, 29th
The D?backs have used nine different starting pitchers this year, and
so far not a single lefty. That?s what you need to stop the Mariners, a
team that has been very profitable vs. righties (+$655 with 5.4 runs
per game). Seattle has a pair of hurlers coming off excellent outings
(Gil Meche 1.93 ERA last two, Felix Hernandez 3.60 ERA last two),
both of whom should see action. PREFERRED: Meche/Hernandez.
Oakland at San Diego (3) 27th, 28th, 29th
We?ll take a shot with the red hot Athletics (10-0, +$1235 last 10
days), a team that has turned a nice profit on the road (+$430) vs. a
San Diego team that has been punishing its backers here at Petco
Park, particularly vs. righthanders (-$820). The Padres have the
weakest offense in the league. PREFERRED: Athletics in all games.
Texas at San Francisco (3) 27th, 28th, 29th
The Rangers fell just behind the A?s for the top slot in the AL West,
but that race is far from over, and Texas has a very impressive road
record that gives us plenty of confidence (+$1025). The Giants have
been dreadful vs. righthanders here at ATT Park (11-15, -$845) and
none of their current starters gives us much cause for concern right
now. PREFERRED: Rangers in all games.
Milwaukee at Chicago Cubs (4) 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th
The Cubs will be playing a pair of day games on Wednesday &
Thursday, bad news when you consider their appalling 5-17 record
in day games at Wrigley (-$1535). But only take the plunge if the
Brewers are facing a lefthander (averaging 5.5 runs per game vs.
southpaws), because their road record in 2006 is not at all encouraging.
PREFERRED: Brewers vs. lefthanders in day games.
Houston at Detroit (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
A very tough set of inter-league games for a struggling Houston
squad, a trip to Comerica on the heels of a weekend set vs. the
White Sox in Chicago. Houston does better vs. lefties, so we?ll avoid
those Detroit southpaws, and rely instead on their trio of righties
(Bonderman 1.93 ERA last two starts, Verlander +$665, 3.31 overall
and Miner 2.65 ERA in his three starts), at least a couple of whom
should see action. PREFERRED Bonderman/Verlander/Miner.
Atlanta at N.Y. Yankees (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
The Yankees have had their woes of late, but no team is as battered
and demoralizd as the floundering Braves. But they do have one
bright spot in Tim Hudson, whose led the team to victories in 10 of
his 15 starts thus far (+$315, 3.88 ERA). The Yankees are losing big
bucks to righthanders in the Bronx (-$1110 so far) and we?ll catch
the Atlanta ace at a good price. PREFERRED: Hudson.
Tampa Bay at Florida (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
The Marlins are looking better in recent weeks, and they?ve managed
to break even money-wise in this ballpark. So why not take a
shot vs. a Tampa Bay team that has lost money as a visitor (-$395),
while posting a 15-26 record in the process. Florida should take at
least 2 out of 3. PREFERRED: Marlins in all games.
Cleveland at St. Louis (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
The Indians are in against a team with a 18-5 record vs. righthanders
at Busch Stadium (+$945) and all these games are taking place in the
evening (Tribe 5-15, -$1295 on the road at night). If it wasn?t for the
Cardinals? weak record vs. lefthanders (-$740 overall), we?d take the
home team throughout. PREFERRED: Cardinals vs. righthanders.
L.A. Dodgers at Minnesota (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
The Dodgers have the most potent attack in the NL (.279, 5.6 runs
pr game), the best we?ve seen out of LA in many years. But the
Twins are tough on righties, particularly at night (+$1220) so we?ll
wait until game day before passing judgement. PREFERRED: None.
Colorado at L.A. Angels (3) 26th, 27th, 28th
The Rockies have been a better proposition away from Coors Field
this year (+$490) and they?ve gotten off to a 3-0 start vs. the AL in
2006 (+$305). We want to be careful going against the Angels, who
may be on the upswing, but their losses at home are quite significant
(-$1085). So if the right situation comes up, we?ll try our luck
on the visiting underdog. PREFERRED: Rockies at +140 or better.
BEGINNING TUESDAY JUNE 27
N.Y. Mets at Boston (3) 27th, 28th, 29th
The Red Sox are a team you rarely want to mess around with here at
Fenway Park. But the Mets have proved they can compete with the
best in hostile road settings (+$945) and they?ll get to use their ace
southpaw Tom Glavine (+$1065, 3.48 ERA in 15 starts) along the
way. (Boston 11-11 -$360 against lefthanders with only 4.8 runs per
game). PREFERRED: Glavine.
Philadelphia at Baltimore (3) 27th, 28th, 29th
The Phillies have been in a downward spiral (-$885 overall) and
they?ve been hammered in inter-league play (2-4, -$315 so far) while
the Orioles have cleaned up vs. righthanders (+$1005) and turned a
profit vs. their NL competition (+$185). stick with the home team
in this one. PREFERRED: Orioles vs. righthanders.
Washington at Toronto (3) 27th, 28th, 29th
The Blue Jays are 16-7 (+$780) in night games at Skydome, but the
Nationals are a pesky team that has a habit of causing trouble as a
visitor (+$325 in that role). We can?t risk going against the home
team, but the prices on the Blue Jays in this series are going to be
way out of line. We?ll take a pass. PREFERRED: None.
Chicago W. Sox at Pittsburgh (3) 27th, 28th, 29th
The Pirates are only 1-10 in day games at PNC Park (-$1125) so you
start to wonder why the team would even schedule an afternoon
contest on getaway day. But they did, and we?ll use the visitor in
that contest whatever the pitching matchup. We?ll also take a shot
with Mark Buehrle (+$465, 3.13 ERA) if he takes a turn. PREFERRED:
Buehrle/White Sox in day games.
Kansas City at Cincinnati (3) 27th, 28th, 29th
The Reds have had a terrific first half for a team from which little
was expected, but they are sub .500 here at Great American
Ballpark, so caution is advised. But the Royals remain a pitiful 9-30
on the road (-$890) and there?s no way we?re going to try and guess
when that next rare road win will occur. PREFERRED: None.
Seattle at Arizona (3) 27th, 28th, 29th
The D?backs have used nine different starting pitchers this year, and
so far not a single lefty. That?s what you need to stop the Mariners, a
team that has been very profitable vs. righties (+$655 with 5.4 runs
per game). Seattle has a pair of hurlers coming off excellent outings
(Gil Meche 1.93 ERA last two, Felix Hernandez 3.60 ERA last two),
both of whom should see action. PREFERRED: Meche/Hernandez.
Oakland at San Diego (3) 27th, 28th, 29th
We?ll take a shot with the red hot Athletics (10-0, +$1235 last 10
days), a team that has turned a nice profit on the road (+$430) vs. a
San Diego team that has been punishing its backers here at Petco
Park, particularly vs. righthanders (-$820). The Padres have the
weakest offense in the league. PREFERRED: Athletics in all games.
Texas at San Francisco (3) 27th, 28th, 29th
The Rangers fell just behind the A?s for the top slot in the AL West,
but that race is far from over, and Texas has a very impressive road
record that gives us plenty of confidence (+$1025). The Giants have
been dreadful vs. righthanders here at ATT Park (11-15, -$845) and
none of their current starters gives us much cause for concern right
now. PREFERRED: Rangers in all games.