BEGINNING MONDAY JUNE 30
Atlanta at Florida (3) 30th, 1st, 2nd
Now that inter-league play is mercifully over, we?ll return our focus to more compelling showdowns between division rivals. It?s hard to pass up the Braves when the Marlins send one of their lefties to the hill (Atlanta 14-2, +$1315 vs. southpaws), and we may catch a very low price against Dontrelle Willis, who has looked immensely impression so far. PREFERRED: Braves vs. lefthanders.
Chicago Cubs at Philadelphia (4) 30th, 1st, 2nd, 3rd
The Phillies run production has been so low against lefties (only 3.1 per game) that we?re even willing to take the price with Shawn Estes (3.00 ERA on the road at night). We?re also prepared to go against the Randy Wolf, given Chicago?s 7-2 mark against lefties on the road (+$475 with 6.1 RPG). PREFERRED: Estes/Cubs vs. Wolf.
Montreal at N.Y. Mets (3) 30th, 1st, 2nd
The Expos beat the hapless Mets like a rented mule in earlier head to head play (+$330) and are no doubt licking their chops in anticipation of this return engagement. New York can?t hit (.244 team BA, the NL?s lowest), so Montreal?s all-righty rotation should have a field day (NY -$545 in that spot). PREFERRED: Expos in all games.
San Francisco at St. Louis (4) 30th, 1st, 2nd, 3rd
The Giants have great numbers against righthanders in road games (19-11, +$875) but you have to respect that high run production generated by the Cardinals when taking on lefthanders (7.3 per game). Pass on Rueter & Moss, otherwise it?s open season on the Birds. PREFERRED: Righthanders vs. the Cardinals.
Arizona at Colorado (4) 30th, 1st, 2nd, 3rd
The Diamondbacks are a lackluster 2-5 against the Rockies in head to head matchups (-$735) and everything here points to another Colorado romp. They are amazing at Coors Field (29-13, +$1515) and they average more than run extra run per game over the visitor. PREFERRED: Rockies in all games.
N.Y. Yankees at Baltimore (3) 30th, 1st, 2nd
The Yankees have been a money-maker on the road against righties (19-8, +$645), while the O?s have come up on the short end at Camden Yards (-$480). NY gets the jump on Baltimore in the first of their 19 meetings in 2003. PREFERRED: Yankees vs. righthanders.
Toronto at Detroit (3) 30th, 1st, 2nd
How bad is a team that approaches the mid-point of a 162 game schedule with just six victories (-$1930) at home? A team as hot as the Jays (7-2, +$490) would be hard put to not take at least 2 out of 3. PREFERRED: Blue Jays in all games.
Minnesota at Chicago W. Sox (3) 30th, 1st, 2nd
We keep waiting for the White Sox to pick up the pace and make some noise in the AL central (only 35-40, -$1615 in 2003). They?ve been badly out hit by the Twins so far (.279 team BA vs. .243 for Chicago) and Minnesota has posted solid marks on the road vs. righthanders all year (13-9, +$550). Avoid Loaiza if he?s on the hill, but the rest of the righties on the staff are fair game for the visitor. PREFERRED: Tins vs. all righthanders except Loaiza.
Cleveland at Kansas City (3) 30th, 1st, 2nd
The Royals took 5 out of 6 from the Indians when they squared off early in the season (+$445) but since them the KC rotation has fallen apart to the point where they have the second highest ERA in the AL (5.07). Right now we don?t expect to see C.C. Sabathia (3.41 ERA) or Jason Davis (+$710) in this series. That?s a pity, because the rest of the Tribe?s staff provides slim pickings. PREFERRED: None.
Texas at Anaheim (4) 30th, 1st, 2nd, 3rd
The Rangers gave the defending champs a difficult time in their prior meetings (4-3, +$215) but what can we do with a team that has lost 18 of their last 20? They are most inept against lefthanders (7-17, -$830 with only 4.0 runs per game) and we do expect to see Jarrod Washburn (3.87) on the mound for the Angels. we?ll lay the price when he goes. PREFERRED: Washburn.
Seattle at Oakland (4) 30th, 1st, 2nd, 3rd
Everyone picked the Athletics to dominate in the AL west this year. But Oakland needs to start making up ground if they hope to topple the first place Mariners. They dominate lefties in all settings (20-8, +$980 with 6.2 runs per game) and their quality righthanders (3.44 team ERA) should do well (A?s -$835 vs. righties with 4.7 runs per game). PREFERRED: Righthanders vs. Oakland lefthanders.
BEGINNING TUESDAY JULY 1
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh (3) 1st, 2nd, 3rd
The Reds should be primed for revenge after being swept by this team at Great American Ballpark (-$390). The Pirates are a terrible home team (13-22, -$935) and their all-righty rotation is tailor made for the Cincinnati attack (+$1270 in that situation with 5.0 runs per game). PREFERRED: Reds in all games.
Milwaukee at Houston (3) 1st, 2nd, 3rd
The Brewers can?t hit southpaws, but the only lefty in the Astros? rotation is one we?re not comfortable with (Robertson 5.60 ERA). On the other hand, Milwaukee has done well on the road vs. righties at night (10-7, +$1215) and all these games are scheduled evening affairs. PREFERRED: Brewers vs. righthanders.
San Diego at Los Angeles (3) 1st, 2nd, 3rd
The Dodgers will want to atone after posting a disappointing 3-4 mark against the Padres in earlier meetings (-$360). If they go up against Oliver Perez we?ll lay the fat price (LA 14-3, +$1165 vs. southpaws), but we?ll pass the rest, given LA?s poor run production vs. righties (only 3.3 per game). PREFERRED: Dodgers vs. Perez.
Boston at Tampa Bay (3) 1st, 2nd, 3rd
The Red Sox have a 6-1 record against the last place Devil Rays (+$320) and are averaging 6.4 runs per game against righthanders in 2003. Tampa has a pair of promising young righties (Gonzalez 3.00, Zambrano 3.92) we?ll avoid, otherwise we?ll jump on the Bosox. PREFERRED: Red Sox unless opposed by Gonzalez & Zambrano.
Atlanta at Florida (3) 30th, 1st, 2nd
Now that inter-league play is mercifully over, we?ll return our focus to more compelling showdowns between division rivals. It?s hard to pass up the Braves when the Marlins send one of their lefties to the hill (Atlanta 14-2, +$1315 vs. southpaws), and we may catch a very low price against Dontrelle Willis, who has looked immensely impression so far. PREFERRED: Braves vs. lefthanders.
Chicago Cubs at Philadelphia (4) 30th, 1st, 2nd, 3rd
The Phillies run production has been so low against lefties (only 3.1 per game) that we?re even willing to take the price with Shawn Estes (3.00 ERA on the road at night). We?re also prepared to go against the Randy Wolf, given Chicago?s 7-2 mark against lefties on the road (+$475 with 6.1 RPG). PREFERRED: Estes/Cubs vs. Wolf.
Montreal at N.Y. Mets (3) 30th, 1st, 2nd
The Expos beat the hapless Mets like a rented mule in earlier head to head play (+$330) and are no doubt licking their chops in anticipation of this return engagement. New York can?t hit (.244 team BA, the NL?s lowest), so Montreal?s all-righty rotation should have a field day (NY -$545 in that spot). PREFERRED: Expos in all games.
San Francisco at St. Louis (4) 30th, 1st, 2nd, 3rd
The Giants have great numbers against righthanders in road games (19-11, +$875) but you have to respect that high run production generated by the Cardinals when taking on lefthanders (7.3 per game). Pass on Rueter & Moss, otherwise it?s open season on the Birds. PREFERRED: Righthanders vs. the Cardinals.
Arizona at Colorado (4) 30th, 1st, 2nd, 3rd
The Diamondbacks are a lackluster 2-5 against the Rockies in head to head matchups (-$735) and everything here points to another Colorado romp. They are amazing at Coors Field (29-13, +$1515) and they average more than run extra run per game over the visitor. PREFERRED: Rockies in all games.
N.Y. Yankees at Baltimore (3) 30th, 1st, 2nd
The Yankees have been a money-maker on the road against righties (19-8, +$645), while the O?s have come up on the short end at Camden Yards (-$480). NY gets the jump on Baltimore in the first of their 19 meetings in 2003. PREFERRED: Yankees vs. righthanders.
Toronto at Detroit (3) 30th, 1st, 2nd
How bad is a team that approaches the mid-point of a 162 game schedule with just six victories (-$1930) at home? A team as hot as the Jays (7-2, +$490) would be hard put to not take at least 2 out of 3. PREFERRED: Blue Jays in all games.
Minnesota at Chicago W. Sox (3) 30th, 1st, 2nd
We keep waiting for the White Sox to pick up the pace and make some noise in the AL central (only 35-40, -$1615 in 2003). They?ve been badly out hit by the Twins so far (.279 team BA vs. .243 for Chicago) and Minnesota has posted solid marks on the road vs. righthanders all year (13-9, +$550). Avoid Loaiza if he?s on the hill, but the rest of the righties on the staff are fair game for the visitor. PREFERRED: Tins vs. all righthanders except Loaiza.
Cleveland at Kansas City (3) 30th, 1st, 2nd
The Royals took 5 out of 6 from the Indians when they squared off early in the season (+$445) but since them the KC rotation has fallen apart to the point where they have the second highest ERA in the AL (5.07). Right now we don?t expect to see C.C. Sabathia (3.41 ERA) or Jason Davis (+$710) in this series. That?s a pity, because the rest of the Tribe?s staff provides slim pickings. PREFERRED: None.
Texas at Anaheim (4) 30th, 1st, 2nd, 3rd
The Rangers gave the defending champs a difficult time in their prior meetings (4-3, +$215) but what can we do with a team that has lost 18 of their last 20? They are most inept against lefthanders (7-17, -$830 with only 4.0 runs per game) and we do expect to see Jarrod Washburn (3.87) on the mound for the Angels. we?ll lay the price when he goes. PREFERRED: Washburn.
Seattle at Oakland (4) 30th, 1st, 2nd, 3rd
Everyone picked the Athletics to dominate in the AL west this year. But Oakland needs to start making up ground if they hope to topple the first place Mariners. They dominate lefties in all settings (20-8, +$980 with 6.2 runs per game) and their quality righthanders (3.44 team ERA) should do well (A?s -$835 vs. righties with 4.7 runs per game). PREFERRED: Righthanders vs. Oakland lefthanders.
BEGINNING TUESDAY JULY 1
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh (3) 1st, 2nd, 3rd
The Reds should be primed for revenge after being swept by this team at Great American Ballpark (-$390). The Pirates are a terrible home team (13-22, -$935) and their all-righty rotation is tailor made for the Cincinnati attack (+$1270 in that situation with 5.0 runs per game). PREFERRED: Reds in all games.
Milwaukee at Houston (3) 1st, 2nd, 3rd
The Brewers can?t hit southpaws, but the only lefty in the Astros? rotation is one we?re not comfortable with (Robertson 5.60 ERA). On the other hand, Milwaukee has done well on the road vs. righties at night (10-7, +$1215) and all these games are scheduled evening affairs. PREFERRED: Brewers vs. righthanders.
San Diego at Los Angeles (3) 1st, 2nd, 3rd
The Dodgers will want to atone after posting a disappointing 3-4 mark against the Padres in earlier meetings (-$360). If they go up against Oliver Perez we?ll lay the fat price (LA 14-3, +$1165 vs. southpaws), but we?ll pass the rest, given LA?s poor run production vs. righties (only 3.3 per game). PREFERRED: Dodgers vs. Perez.
Boston at Tampa Bay (3) 1st, 2nd, 3rd
The Red Sox have a 6-1 record against the last place Devil Rays (+$320) and are averaging 6.4 runs per game against righthanders in 2003. Tampa has a pair of promising young righties (Gonzalez 3.00, Zambrano 3.92) we?ll avoid, otherwise we?ll jump on the Bosox. PREFERRED: Red Sox unless opposed by Gonzalez & Zambrano.
