BEGINNING MONDAY JUNE 2
Pittsburgh at San Diego (3) 2nd, 3rd, 4th
We?ve noted how the Padres can?t hit, but they do own a 5-3 record vs. lefties (+$235) and it?s hard to resist going against the Pirates and that dreadful 6-18 record outside of PNC Park (-$785). None of the southpaws in the Pittsburgh rotation give us cause for concern pitching at Petco Park. PREFERRED: Padres vs. lefthanders.
Boston at Cleveland (3) 2nd, 3rd, 4th
The Red Sox are sinking like a stone (0-10, -$1210 last 10 days), trailing in the AL East by a full 8 games on Memorial Day. The Indians don?t warrant much excitement, but they?ve averaged 4.9 runs per game vs. righthanders, and no one of the Boston pitching staff is performing well. PREFERRED: Indians vs. righthanders.
Tampa Bay at Miami (2) 2nd, 3rd
Miami at Tampa Bay (2) 4th, 5th
Who would have guessed that Miami would be over .500 and within striking distance of first place in the NL East, and that Tampa would be well under .500 at this point? The Rays have lost money in all settings (-$1065 overall) so take a shot vs. their lefthanders, at least one of whom should be on the mound during these four contests (Miami 10-4, +$665 vs. southpaws). PREFERRED: Marlins vs. lefthanders.
Minnesota at Milwaukee (2) 2nd, 3rd
Milwaukee at Minnesota (2) 4th, 5th
Both these teams were expected to lose again in 2014, but so far both are among MLB?s most profitable clubs (Brewers +$955, Twins +$715 so far). Lots of uncertainty with this matchup, so we prefer to steer clear for now. PREFERRED: None.
Kansas City at St. Louis (2) 2nd, 3rd
St. Louis at Kansas City (2) 4th, 5th
The Cardinals are playing better overall, but their offense is averaging just 3.9 runs per game and they are in the red vs. lefthanders so far (-$415). We?ll try our luck with a pair of KC southpaws who are both likely to take turns in this series. PREFERRED: J. Vargas/Duffy.
Chicago W. Sox at L.A. Dodgers (3) 2nd, 3rd, 4th
The Dodgers are 4-1 in their inter-league games at this point (+$295) and they have a tremendous pitching edge over Chicago (LA 3.50 ERA, White Sox 4.67). But avoid the home team?s lefties, given the visitor?s impressive 5.4 runs per game average against southpaws. PREFERRED: Righthanders vs. the White Sox.
Seattle at N.Y. Yankees (1) 2nd
The way the schedule sets up, it appears that Felix Hernandez will be on the mound for this make-up game in the Bronx. He?s looked outstanding as always (2.75 ERA in 11 starts) and New York is only 6-12 (-$1095) vs. righties at night. PREFERRED: F. Hernandez.
BEGINNING TUESDAY JUNE 3
Philadelphia at Washington (3) 3rd, 4th, 5th
Despite a rash of injuries the Nationals have a distinct advantage in pitching (3.23 team ERA vs. 4.16 for the Phillies). Righties Jordan Zimmermann (3.95) and Stephen Strasburg (3.43) are both worth a shot, given the visitor?s poor showing in that situation (-$400 so far). PREFERRED: Zimmermann/Strasburg.
San Francisco at Cincinnati (3) 3rd, 4th, 5th
The Reds are only 3-7 vs. lefthanders this year (-$425) and they will have their hands full against Bradley Bumgarner (3.15), who?s expected to see action here. PREFERRED: Bumgarner.
N.Y. Mets at Chicago Cubs (3) 3rd, 4th, 5th
The Mets have been a solid money-maker outside of CitiField the past couple of seasons (+$390 in 2014) and their righties should handle the Cubs without difficulty (Chicago -$1145 in that situation, with 3.5 runs per game). PREFERRED: Righthanders vs. the Cubs.
Arizona at Colorado (3) 3rd, 4th, 5th
The Rockies have already taken 4 of 6 in head to head play (+$200) and they check in with a 13-3 record in night games here at Coors Field (+$920 with 6.8 runs per game). All three games in this series are evening affairs. PREFERRED: Rockies in all games.
Oakland at N.Y. Yankees (3) 3rd, 4th, 5th
The Athletics continue to get outstanding pitching (2.90 team ERA) and they?ve been a tremendous moneymaker on the road so far (+$700). The Yankees have performed poorly vs. righthanders in night games (-$1095) so we?ll approach this series accordingly. PREFERRED: Righthanders vs. the Yankees in night games.
Toronto at Detroit (3) 3rd, 4th, 5th
It looks like Mark Buehrle will miss this series, and that means the Tigers will face at least two righthanders. They?ve fared poorly in that situation here at Comerica (-$630) while Toronto has posted fat profits in night games outside of Rogers Centre (+$760). PREFERRED: Righthanders vs. the Tigers.
Baltimore at Texas (3) 3rd, 4th, 5th
The Rangers have been scoring lots of runs, but the Orioles look like a solid visiting underdog here at Arlington. They are 11-4 in road games at night (+$1000), averaging 5.3 runs per game in those contests. Good chance to score a fat profit if the visitor takes 2 out of 3. PREFERRED: Orioles in all games.
L.A. Angels at Houston (3) 3rd, 4th, 5th
The Angels have taken 5 of 7 from the hapless Astros, but high prices at Anaheim have limited the profit. Best value here looks like CJ Wilson (3.00 ERA in 10 starts), given Houston?s 5-12 (-$540) record vs. lefthanders this season. PREFERRED: C. Wilson.
Seattle at Atlanta (2) 3rd, 4th
The Mariners are only 12-17 vs. righties (-$625) and when they venture into Turner field they?ll be up against the best pitching staff in the NL (2.89 ERA). PREFERRED: Righthanders vs. the Mariners.
Pittsburgh at San Diego (3) 2nd, 3rd, 4th
We?ve noted how the Padres can?t hit, but they do own a 5-3 record vs. lefties (+$235) and it?s hard to resist going against the Pirates and that dreadful 6-18 record outside of PNC Park (-$785). None of the southpaws in the Pittsburgh rotation give us cause for concern pitching at Petco Park. PREFERRED: Padres vs. lefthanders.
Boston at Cleveland (3) 2nd, 3rd, 4th
The Red Sox are sinking like a stone (0-10, -$1210 last 10 days), trailing in the AL East by a full 8 games on Memorial Day. The Indians don?t warrant much excitement, but they?ve averaged 4.9 runs per game vs. righthanders, and no one of the Boston pitching staff is performing well. PREFERRED: Indians vs. righthanders.
Tampa Bay at Miami (2) 2nd, 3rd
Miami at Tampa Bay (2) 4th, 5th
Who would have guessed that Miami would be over .500 and within striking distance of first place in the NL East, and that Tampa would be well under .500 at this point? The Rays have lost money in all settings (-$1065 overall) so take a shot vs. their lefthanders, at least one of whom should be on the mound during these four contests (Miami 10-4, +$665 vs. southpaws). PREFERRED: Marlins vs. lefthanders.
Minnesota at Milwaukee (2) 2nd, 3rd
Milwaukee at Minnesota (2) 4th, 5th
Both these teams were expected to lose again in 2014, but so far both are among MLB?s most profitable clubs (Brewers +$955, Twins +$715 so far). Lots of uncertainty with this matchup, so we prefer to steer clear for now. PREFERRED: None.
Kansas City at St. Louis (2) 2nd, 3rd
St. Louis at Kansas City (2) 4th, 5th
The Cardinals are playing better overall, but their offense is averaging just 3.9 runs per game and they are in the red vs. lefthanders so far (-$415). We?ll try our luck with a pair of KC southpaws who are both likely to take turns in this series. PREFERRED: J. Vargas/Duffy.
Chicago W. Sox at L.A. Dodgers (3) 2nd, 3rd, 4th
The Dodgers are 4-1 in their inter-league games at this point (+$295) and they have a tremendous pitching edge over Chicago (LA 3.50 ERA, White Sox 4.67). But avoid the home team?s lefties, given the visitor?s impressive 5.4 runs per game average against southpaws. PREFERRED: Righthanders vs. the White Sox.
Seattle at N.Y. Yankees (1) 2nd
The way the schedule sets up, it appears that Felix Hernandez will be on the mound for this make-up game in the Bronx. He?s looked outstanding as always (2.75 ERA in 11 starts) and New York is only 6-12 (-$1095) vs. righties at night. PREFERRED: F. Hernandez.
BEGINNING TUESDAY JUNE 3
Philadelphia at Washington (3) 3rd, 4th, 5th
Despite a rash of injuries the Nationals have a distinct advantage in pitching (3.23 team ERA vs. 4.16 for the Phillies). Righties Jordan Zimmermann (3.95) and Stephen Strasburg (3.43) are both worth a shot, given the visitor?s poor showing in that situation (-$400 so far). PREFERRED: Zimmermann/Strasburg.
San Francisco at Cincinnati (3) 3rd, 4th, 5th
The Reds are only 3-7 vs. lefthanders this year (-$425) and they will have their hands full against Bradley Bumgarner (3.15), who?s expected to see action here. PREFERRED: Bumgarner.
N.Y. Mets at Chicago Cubs (3) 3rd, 4th, 5th
The Mets have been a solid money-maker outside of CitiField the past couple of seasons (+$390 in 2014) and their righties should handle the Cubs without difficulty (Chicago -$1145 in that situation, with 3.5 runs per game). PREFERRED: Righthanders vs. the Cubs.
Arizona at Colorado (3) 3rd, 4th, 5th
The Rockies have already taken 4 of 6 in head to head play (+$200) and they check in with a 13-3 record in night games here at Coors Field (+$920 with 6.8 runs per game). All three games in this series are evening affairs. PREFERRED: Rockies in all games.
Oakland at N.Y. Yankees (3) 3rd, 4th, 5th
The Athletics continue to get outstanding pitching (2.90 team ERA) and they?ve been a tremendous moneymaker on the road so far (+$700). The Yankees have performed poorly vs. righthanders in night games (-$1095) so we?ll approach this series accordingly. PREFERRED: Righthanders vs. the Yankees in night games.
Toronto at Detroit (3) 3rd, 4th, 5th
It looks like Mark Buehrle will miss this series, and that means the Tigers will face at least two righthanders. They?ve fared poorly in that situation here at Comerica (-$630) while Toronto has posted fat profits in night games outside of Rogers Centre (+$760). PREFERRED: Righthanders vs. the Tigers.
Baltimore at Texas (3) 3rd, 4th, 5th
The Rangers have been scoring lots of runs, but the Orioles look like a solid visiting underdog here at Arlington. They are 11-4 in road games at night (+$1000), averaging 5.3 runs per game in those contests. Good chance to score a fat profit if the visitor takes 2 out of 3. PREFERRED: Orioles in all games.
L.A. Angels at Houston (3) 3rd, 4th, 5th
The Angels have taken 5 of 7 from the hapless Astros, but high prices at Anaheim have limited the profit. Best value here looks like CJ Wilson (3.00 ERA in 10 starts), given Houston?s 5-12 (-$540) record vs. lefthanders this season. PREFERRED: C. Wilson.
Seattle at Atlanta (2) 3rd, 4th
The Mariners are only 12-17 vs. righties (-$625) and when they venture into Turner field they?ll be up against the best pitching staff in the NL (2.89 ERA). PREFERRED: Righthanders vs. the Mariners.
