BEGINNING MONDAY AUGUST 14
N.Y. Mets at Philadelphia (4) 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th
The Mets have the edge in head to head play this year (8-4, +$360) and we’ve already noted how effective New York has been on the road this year (+$1090). The Phillies are a weak home team (only 27-31, -$1290) and their starting pitching (4.84 team ERA, 3rd worst in the league) can’t match up with the Mets’ league leading mound corps (4.09 ERA). PREFERRED: Mets in all games.
Atlanta at Washington (4) 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th
The Braves don’t appear to be a candidate for any kind of late season surge and they could have trouble with a Washington club that has a shot to climb out of the NL East basement if they put together a strong series. The Nationals are profitable vs. lefties at RFK Stadium (9-3, +$610) and none of Atlanta’s southpaws gives us much cause for concern. PREFERRED: Nationals vs. lefthanders.
Milwaukee at Pittsburgh (3) 14th, 15th, 16th
The Pirates are a bad proposition in day games (only 11-28, -$1465) and they are only 7-30 (-$2255) against lefthanders. But the Brewers are not a good road club (20-36, -$1205) and Pittsburgh is an outstanding 19-7 (+$1080) in night games against righthanders at PNC Park. PREFERRED: Pirates vs. righthanders at night.
Chicago Cubs at Houston (3) 14th, 15th, 16th
We’re not touching the hapless Cubs under any circumstances (only 47-64, -$1435 in 2006), but the Astros can’t be trusted against righthanders at home. But Houston does own a 9-3 record against lefthanders at MinuteMaid Park (+$410) so we’ll try our luck with the home team if Chicago sends a southpaw to the hill in this series. PREFERRED: Astros vs. lefthanders.
Arizona at Colorado (4) 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th
The Diamondbacks have gotten the best of the Rockies in head to head play (8-4, +$375) and they’ve been a major breadwinner away from Chase Park (+$870). A good chance both Brandon Webb (+$240, 2.74 ERA) and Miguel Batista (+$1195) will see action in this four game set. PREFERRED: Webb/Batista.
San Francisco at San Diego (4) 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th
We tend to shy away from the Padres at Petco Park where they’ve had a fair bit of trouble getting the job done (28-31, -$1210). But the Giants are reeling (2-8, -$810 last 10 days) so we’ll take a shot with Chris Young (+$200, 3.78) and Woody Williams (+$270, 3.89), both of whom may see action. PREFERRED: Young/Williams.
Florida at L.A. Dodgers (3) 14th, 15th, 16th
The Dodgers are too hot to oppose right now and they make money against righthanders at home (+$390). And while they are in the red vs. lefties, their run production vs. southpaws is still very solid (6.1 run per game). Mark Hendrickson matches up well with Florida (Marlins -$785 vs. lefhanders) and is very likely to see action in this series. PREFERRED: Hendrickson.
Detroit at Boston (3) 14th, 15th, 16th
Sensational matchup between one of the best home teams in MLB (Sox +$1035 at Fenway) vs. the winningest road team in baseball (Tigers +$1950 as visitors). We’ll try our luck with lefthander Nate Robertson (3.82 ERA in 22 starts), who we should see on the hill early in this series (Sox -$730 vs. lefties). PREFERRED: Robertson.
Kansas City at Chicago W. Sox (4) 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th
The White Sox are 8-4 in head to head play with KC, but they’d be in better shape in the playoff hunt if they’d done a bit better against this sad-sack franchise. Watch out if the Royals start a lefty (Chicago -$575 vs. southpaws), otherwise go ahead and lay the fat prices against a struggling Royals’ team that is only 15-40 on the road this year (-$660). PREFERRED: White Sox vs. righthanders.
Seattle at Oakland (3) 14th, 15th, 16th
Victories over the Athletics have ben few and far between for the Mariners this year (only 1-12, -$1145 in head to head play), and given their dreadful showing against lefthanders in 2006 (-$410 with only 3.9 runs per game) it’s going to be hard to pass up Barry Zito (+$340, 3.50 ERA in 24 starts) when he take his turn, whatever the price may be. PREFERRED: Zito.
BEGINNING TUESDAY AUGUST 15
Cincinnati at St. Louis (3) 15th, 16th, 17th
With Eric Milton not expected to see action, the Cardinals will be fed a steady diet of righthanders, a situation in which they have excelled this year (25-9, +$1040 at Busch Stadium with 5.6 runs per game). But the Reds are very hard to make money against when they are away from Great American Ballpark, particularly vs. righties (+$1045) so we’ll steer clear for now. PREFERRED: None.
Baltimore at N.Y. Yankees (3) 15th, 16th, 17th
The Orioles check in with a 3-6 record against the Yankees this year (-$145) but we’ll decline using the Yankees when they start their righthanders (O’s +$830 vs. righties on the road). On the other hand, Baltimore is only 4-17 against southpaws away from Camden Yards (-$1350) and it looks like Randy Johnson will be on the mound in this series. We’ll lay the big price on the big lefty, even though the price could exceed 2 to 1. PREFERRED: R. Johnson.
Toronto at Tampa Bay (3) 15th, 16th, 17th
The Blue Jays are fading from the AL playoff picture, and righty vs. righty matchups are very unfavorable for them here at Tropicana Field, given their weak showing in that situation as a visitor (-$1045) as opposed to Tampa Bay’s strong showing on their home field (+$745). PREFERRED: Devil Rays when righty meets righty.
L.A. Angels at Texas (2) 15th, 16th
The Angels will have John Lackey available for this series, enjoying his best season since breaking in with the team in 2002 (3.28 ERA so far). The Rangers are only 17-23 (-$1100) vs. righthanders here at Arlington. PREFERRED: Lackey.
Cleveland at Minnesota (3) 15th, 16th, 17th
When you look at these two in the standings it’s hard to believe these teams have split their 12 head to head meetings. The Twins are dominant at the Metrodome (+$2190) while the Indians can’t win on the road (-$1360). The visitor wile be fortunate to salvage a single victory. PREFERRED: Twins in all games.
N.Y. Mets at Philadelphia (4) 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th
The Mets have the edge in head to head play this year (8-4, +$360) and we’ve already noted how effective New York has been on the road this year (+$1090). The Phillies are a weak home team (only 27-31, -$1290) and their starting pitching (4.84 team ERA, 3rd worst in the league) can’t match up with the Mets’ league leading mound corps (4.09 ERA). PREFERRED: Mets in all games.
Atlanta at Washington (4) 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th
The Braves don’t appear to be a candidate for any kind of late season surge and they could have trouble with a Washington club that has a shot to climb out of the NL East basement if they put together a strong series. The Nationals are profitable vs. lefties at RFK Stadium (9-3, +$610) and none of Atlanta’s southpaws gives us much cause for concern. PREFERRED: Nationals vs. lefthanders.
Milwaukee at Pittsburgh (3) 14th, 15th, 16th
The Pirates are a bad proposition in day games (only 11-28, -$1465) and they are only 7-30 (-$2255) against lefthanders. But the Brewers are not a good road club (20-36, -$1205) and Pittsburgh is an outstanding 19-7 (+$1080) in night games against righthanders at PNC Park. PREFERRED: Pirates vs. righthanders at night.
Chicago Cubs at Houston (3) 14th, 15th, 16th
We’re not touching the hapless Cubs under any circumstances (only 47-64, -$1435 in 2006), but the Astros can’t be trusted against righthanders at home. But Houston does own a 9-3 record against lefthanders at MinuteMaid Park (+$410) so we’ll try our luck with the home team if Chicago sends a southpaw to the hill in this series. PREFERRED: Astros vs. lefthanders.
Arizona at Colorado (4) 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th
The Diamondbacks have gotten the best of the Rockies in head to head play (8-4, +$375) and they’ve been a major breadwinner away from Chase Park (+$870). A good chance both Brandon Webb (+$240, 2.74 ERA) and Miguel Batista (+$1195) will see action in this four game set. PREFERRED: Webb/Batista.
San Francisco at San Diego (4) 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th
We tend to shy away from the Padres at Petco Park where they’ve had a fair bit of trouble getting the job done (28-31, -$1210). But the Giants are reeling (2-8, -$810 last 10 days) so we’ll take a shot with Chris Young (+$200, 3.78) and Woody Williams (+$270, 3.89), both of whom may see action. PREFERRED: Young/Williams.
Florida at L.A. Dodgers (3) 14th, 15th, 16th
The Dodgers are too hot to oppose right now and they make money against righthanders at home (+$390). And while they are in the red vs. lefties, their run production vs. southpaws is still very solid (6.1 run per game). Mark Hendrickson matches up well with Florida (Marlins -$785 vs. lefhanders) and is very likely to see action in this series. PREFERRED: Hendrickson.
Detroit at Boston (3) 14th, 15th, 16th
Sensational matchup between one of the best home teams in MLB (Sox +$1035 at Fenway) vs. the winningest road team in baseball (Tigers +$1950 as visitors). We’ll try our luck with lefthander Nate Robertson (3.82 ERA in 22 starts), who we should see on the hill early in this series (Sox -$730 vs. lefties). PREFERRED: Robertson.
Kansas City at Chicago W. Sox (4) 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th
The White Sox are 8-4 in head to head play with KC, but they’d be in better shape in the playoff hunt if they’d done a bit better against this sad-sack franchise. Watch out if the Royals start a lefty (Chicago -$575 vs. southpaws), otherwise go ahead and lay the fat prices against a struggling Royals’ team that is only 15-40 on the road this year (-$660). PREFERRED: White Sox vs. righthanders.
Seattle at Oakland (3) 14th, 15th, 16th
Victories over the Athletics have ben few and far between for the Mariners this year (only 1-12, -$1145 in head to head play), and given their dreadful showing against lefthanders in 2006 (-$410 with only 3.9 runs per game) it’s going to be hard to pass up Barry Zito (+$340, 3.50 ERA in 24 starts) when he take his turn, whatever the price may be. PREFERRED: Zito.
BEGINNING TUESDAY AUGUST 15
Cincinnati at St. Louis (3) 15th, 16th, 17th
With Eric Milton not expected to see action, the Cardinals will be fed a steady diet of righthanders, a situation in which they have excelled this year (25-9, +$1040 at Busch Stadium with 5.6 runs per game). But the Reds are very hard to make money against when they are away from Great American Ballpark, particularly vs. righties (+$1045) so we’ll steer clear for now. PREFERRED: None.
Baltimore at N.Y. Yankees (3) 15th, 16th, 17th
The Orioles check in with a 3-6 record against the Yankees this year (-$145) but we’ll decline using the Yankees when they start their righthanders (O’s +$830 vs. righties on the road). On the other hand, Baltimore is only 4-17 against southpaws away from Camden Yards (-$1350) and it looks like Randy Johnson will be on the mound in this series. We’ll lay the big price on the big lefty, even though the price could exceed 2 to 1. PREFERRED: R. Johnson.
Toronto at Tampa Bay (3) 15th, 16th, 17th
The Blue Jays are fading from the AL playoff picture, and righty vs. righty matchups are very unfavorable for them here at Tropicana Field, given their weak showing in that situation as a visitor (-$1045) as opposed to Tampa Bay’s strong showing on their home field (+$745). PREFERRED: Devil Rays when righty meets righty.
L.A. Angels at Texas (2) 15th, 16th
The Angels will have John Lackey available for this series, enjoying his best season since breaking in with the team in 2002 (3.28 ERA so far). The Rangers are only 17-23 (-$1100) vs. righthanders here at Arlington. PREFERRED: Lackey.
Cleveland at Minnesota (3) 15th, 16th, 17th
When you look at these two in the standings it’s hard to believe these teams have split their 12 head to head meetings. The Twins are dominant at the Metrodome (+$2190) while the Indians can’t win on the road (-$1360). The visitor wile be fortunate to salvage a single victory. PREFERRED: Twins in all games.
