SERIES INFO
SERIES INFO
Pittsburgh at N.Y. Mets (3) 28th, 29th, 30th
The Mets are surging right now, and they?ll have an opportunity to send ace lefthanders Johan Santana (3.25 ERA) and Oliver Perez (2.49) to the mound against the hapless Pirates. Pittsburgh?s pitching is dead last in the NL 5.26) and they are a dismal 1-6 (-$465) vs. southpaws so far. PREFERRED: J. Santana/Ol. Perez.
Cincinnati at St. Louis (3) 28th, 29th, 30th
The Reds have stumbled out of the gate (-$420 so far), but they do have a trio of quality starters in Johnny Cueto (3.42), Aaron Harang (3.33) and Edinson Volquez (1.17) at least a couple of whom are likely to see action. Prices could be fairly high given the solid work by St. Louis so far, so we?ll be getting excellent value on this trio of quality arms. PREFERRED: Cueto/Harang/Volquez.
Houston at Arizona (3) 28th, 29th, 30th
The Astros dropped 5 of 7 to the Diamondbacks in 2007 (-$330) and it?s hard to see how they stay competitive with Arizona at the moment. They?ve lost a bundle vs. righthanders (-$710 with only 3.6 runs per game) and the trio of Danny Haren (+$200, 1.80), Brandon Webb (+$400, 1.86) and Micah Owings (+$310, 2.29) looks unhittable right now. PREFERRED: Haren/Webb/Owings.
Colorado at San Francisco (3) 28th, 29th, 30th
The Rockies have picked up momentum (7-3, +$545 last 10 days) and the righties in their rotation are good enough to slow down a San Francisco offense that is only 4-10 (-$540) vs. righties, averaging just 2.8 runs per game. PREFERRED: Righthanders vs. the Giants.
Oakland at L.A. Angels (4) 28th, 29th, 30th, 1st
The Athletics are have the lowest team ERA in the league (3.49 ERA) and they are a perfect 6-0 in night games on the road this year (+$940). Greg Smith (+$400, 3.00) and Dana Eveland (+$190, 2.00) have been the staff standouts, and we?re likely to see both in this four game series. PREFERRED: G. Smith/Eveland.
BEGINNING TUESDAY APRIL 29
San Diego at Philadelphia (3) 29th, 30th, 1st
The Phillies were roughed up by the Mets last weekend at this ballpark, and their money losses here at Citizens Bank continue to increase (-$390). The Padres have a better pitching staff even if the numbers don?t reflect it, but avoid the home team?s lefthanders (SD -$590 in that situation). PREFERRED: Padres vs. righthanders.
Atlanta at Washington (3) 29th, 30th, 1st
Hard to believe a quality team like the Braves has a 2-2 (-$165) record against a team as dreadful as the Nationals. The Atlanta rotation may have a hole here and there, but most of their hurlers have looked sharp. If prices in this series don?t get too out of line, we?ll stick with the visitor. PREFERRED: Braves at -160 or less.
L.A. Dodgers at Florida (3) 29th, 30th, 1st
The Dodgers are getting very good starting pitching (3.37) and after playing the tough teams in the NL West they should start making up ground against the league?s weaker clubs. The righthanders in the Florida rotation have all been terrible, and prices on the visitor should be reasonable. PREFERRED: Dodgers vs. righthanders.
Milwaukee at Chicago Cubs (3) 29th, 30th, 1st
The NL Central looks very competitive, and these are two of the teams in the thick of the action. The Brewers took 2 out of 3 in an earlier showdown (+$170) and so far this season they are a perfect 5-0 vs. lefthanders (+$360 with 8.4 runs per game). That makes them a team to use when Rich Hill and Ted Lilly are on the mound for Chicago. PREFERRED: Brewers vs. lefthanders.
Seattle at Cleveland (3) 29th, 30th, 1st
We?d love to take the Mariners, a team that dominates lefthanders, against a floundering C.C. Sabathia (13.51 ERA), but it appears we won?t get that opportunity. Seattle is far less imposing against righthanders (only 4.1 runs per game), and we like what we?re seeing from Fausto Carmona (1.96 ERA) and Jake Westbrook (2.73). Expect to see the Tribe to show improvement in the days ahead. PREFERRED: Carmona/Westbrook.
Detroit at N.Y. Yankees (3) 29th, 30th, 1st
When you realize that Detroit?s poor start (6-12, -$1020) is actually a continuation of the lousy second half they endured in 2007, you begin to wonder if this team can in fact turn things around. But Chien Ming Wang is not expected to start, Andy Pettitte would be vulnerable to the Tigers? attack (7.5 runs per game vs. southpaws), and the rest of the New York rotation is struggling badly. Can?t lay fat prices on the Bombers right now. PREFERRED: None.
Tampa Bay at Baltimore (3) 29th, 30th, 1st
The Rays were one of the few teams the Orioles got the best of in 2007 (11-7, +$380) and Baltimore has put together a very respectable month of April (+$575). James Shields is the one Tampa Bay pitcher who concerns us (3.52 ERA) but he?s not due to take a turn at Camden Yards. The rest of the staff, including Edwin Jackson, are vulnerable. PREFERRED: Orioles in all games.
Toronto at Boston (3) 29th, 30th, 1st
The Red Sox lost money to the Blue Jays in 2007 (-$310) and they were pulverized earlier this month in a three game debacle at Rogers Centre (-$340). Toronto has done well scoring runs against righthanders this year (+$255 with 5.4 per game), and we?re tempted to grab the visitor as a high priced underdog vs. Boston?s stable of aces. PREFERRED: Blue Jays vs. righthanders.
Kansas City at Texas (3) 29th, 30th, 1st
The Royals may have lost some of their luster when they took a nosedive at McAfee Coliseum last weekend, but we?re still very enamored with Brian Bannister (+$295, 2.42) and Zack Greinke (+$295, 1.24), an outstanding pair of young righthanders who are likely to see action in this series. PREFERRED: Bannister/Greinke.
Chicago W. Sox at Minnesota (2) 29th, 30th
These clubs split a pair of games earlier in the year, having split 18 games in 2007. The White Sox are getting excellent run production (5.4 per game) despite their mediocre team BA, and their pitching has been better than expected (3.65 ERA). Avoid Blackburn (2.49) & Hernandez (3.00) but al the rest are fair game. PREFERRED: White Sox unless opposed by Blackburn or L. Hernandez.
