BEGINNING THURSDAY AUGUST 18
Milwaukee at Houston (4) 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st
The Astros finally came back to reality by losing three straight on the road 10 days ago, but it?s difficult to be enthusiastic about going up against the second best home team (39-18,-$1460) in the NL without a good reason. The Astros have shown some vulnerability against southpaws (3.7 RPG vs. 4.5 RPG vs. righthanders), but Chris Capuano is not scheduled to start and Doug Davis has been a disaster lately (8.39 ERA and a 20.50 H&W ratio in his last two starts). You?ll pay way too much to back the chalk. BEST BET: None.
Seattle at Minnesota (4) 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st
The way the Twins are playing lately (lost 11 of 17) there isn?t a team out there that isn?t capable of giving them trouble. They?re averaging just 4.4 RPG at home and have scored more than five runs twice in their last 15 games. In addition, the Mariners are likely to miss Johann Santana. We?re hoping that the Twins start Joe Mays and Kyle Lohse as the Twins are 17-26 (-$1145) in games that they have started. BEST BET: Mariners vs. Lohse & Mays.
Boston at L.A. Angels (4) 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st
The Red Sox are a hot team once again and have already taken two of three (+$75) from the Angels in Massachusetts. The Angels are fighting for both the AL West title and the wildcard, so you can expect a playoff atmosphere in Anaheim. Boston has been racking up the victories (7-2, +$475 last 10 days) and Bartolo Colon is not scheduled to go in this series, so LA?s hopes are probably pinned to John Lackey who checks in with a 3.63 ERA and has made +$730 for his backers. Otherwise, it?s all Red Sox. BEST BET: Lackey/Red Sox vs. all but Lackey.
BEGINNING FRIDAY AUGUST 19
Chicago Cubs at Colorado (3) 19th, 20th, 21st
Given the fact that the Cubs? starters are almost exclusively righthanded and the Rockies have had a multitude of problems (29-51, -$1225) with them, an initial look at this series tells us that backing the team with something to play for is the way to go. However, the Cubs have looked awful lately (3-8, -$690 last 11) and are fading quickly into the sunset. Your most logical Cubbies? choice is Mark Prior as Chicago is 13-6 (+$820) in his 19 starts. BEST BET: Prior.
Pittsburgh at Philadelphia (3) 19th, 20th, 21st
The Pirates have held their own (2-2, +$25) against the Phillies, but it?s extremely difficult to back a team with a 17-28 record against righties on the road especially since they?re averaging 3.7 RPG in that scenario. The Phillies are a more than respectable 11-5 (+$485) at home vs. southpaws averaging six runs per game. Stay away from rookie Zach (5-0) Duke, but play against Mark Redman (5.90 ERA, .305 BAA on the road) and Dave Williams. BEST BET: Phillies vs. Redman & Williams.
Arizona at Cincinnati (3) 19th, 20th, 21st
Contender vs. also ran. Confused? While it?s true that both teams are below .500, the Diamondbacks are still alive, thanks to the mediocre Padres, in the NL West and, having lost two of three (-$215) to the Reds, they?re not about to take them lightly. No team in MLB has done better than the Diamondbacks (+$1030) on the road against righties, so we?ll take the road dog with more to play for. BEST BET: Diamondbacks vs. righthanders.
Washington at N.Y. Mets (3) 19th, 20th, 21st
When the Nationals last played the Mets in early July, they were in first place and had won six straight and nine of their last ten games. The Mets won three of four in DC and the Nationals haven?t been the same since. New York, with Carlos Beltran and Mike Cameron on the sidelines, are going to have more trouble than usual scoring runs. And since the Nationals have the worst offense (3.9 RPG) in either league and both teams possess good pitching staffs, UNDER is the way to go in this series. BEST BET: UNDER in all games.
L.A. Dodgers at Florida (4) 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd
Just when it looked like the Marlins were finally going to live up to the hype in their media guide they lost a doubleheader in Colorado two weeks ago and have reverted back to playing just .500 baseball. And, since the Marlins has been a money burner both in home games (-$540) and as a favorite (-$545), we?re somewhat reluctant to select them unless they start A.J. Burnett or Josh Beckett as LA is an awful 17-29 (-$995) on the road vs. righthanders. BEST BET: Beckett/Burnett.
San Diego at Atlanta (3) 19th, 20th, 21st
Back in May, when the Padres couldn?t lose and the Braves were scratching for three ?Ws? per week, San Diego swept a three-game series in California by a combined score of, 16-9 (+$325). Boy oh boy, has the shoe moved over to the other foot! The Braves have pulled away in the NL East while the Padres are hanging on for dear life in the NL West and Bobby Cox has a long memory. And, with Jake Peavy not scheduled to start, it makes the Braves, who are a scintillating 31-11 (+$1515) at home against righties, a relatively easy pick. BEST BET: Braves vs. righthanders.
San Francisco at St. Louis (3) 19th, 20th, 21st
This is the end of the longest road trip (12 games) of the year for the beleaguered Giants an, by far, their toughest opponent. The only possible play on San Francisco is the game that Jason Schmidt starts. Schmidt is 2-0 in August with a 1.93 ERA and will be a big dog on the road. The Cardinals will be 2-1 at least in the other two games and that?s too rich for our blood. BEST BET: Schmidt.
Baltimore at Cleveland (3) 19th, 20th, 21st
The Tribe was a hot ball club until being ambushed at home by the lowly Devil Rays this past weekend. We still expect them to dominate the Orioles, who have won exactly two series since the middle of June and one since the All-Star break. Cleveland has been outstanding on the road under the lights against righties (25-8, +$2105). Those are numbers too powerful to ignore. BEST BET: Indians vs. righthanders at night.
Toronto at Detroit (3) 19th, 20th, 21st
These two teams met just two weeks ago and the Blue Jays took three out of four contests in Canada and have now won 16 of their last 24 games. Meanwhile, the Tigers are going in the opposite direction, despite sweeping a doubleheader from KC last Sunday. We want no part of them right now. With Nate Robertson and Dave Maroth a combined -$775 in the red at home and the Blue Jays 10-6 (+$765) on the road against southpaws, we?ll stick with the travelers. BEST BET: Blue Jays vs. lefthanders.
Texas at Tampa Bay (3) 19th, 20th, 21st
These two teams lit up the scoreboard in the Ballpark at Arlington in early August putting 49 runs on the board as the Devil Rays took two of three and now lead the season series, 3-2 (+$220). The Rangers pitching staff (5.17 team ERA), due to suspensions, injuries, trades, poor pitching performances and a plethora of high scoring close games, has been stretched so thin that it should be a sitting duck for the revitalized Devil Rays who are 19-10 since the All-Star break. BEST BET: Devil Rays in all games.
N.Y. Yankees at Chicago W. Sox (3) 19th, 20th, 21st
In Yankee Stadium ten days ago, the Pale Hose took two of three which each game decided by a single run and 11 total runs crossed the plate. The White Sox are home where they are 36-22 and still possess that sound pitching (3.64 ERA, best in the AL). Take them throughout the series. BEST BET: White Sox in all games.
Kansas City at Oakland (3) 19th, 20th, 21st
To say that Oakland dominated the rotten Royals in KC earlier this month doesn?t give the A?s the credit they deserve. Oakland swept a three-game series and outscored the Royals, 31-5. To make matters worse for the hapless Royals who have now lost 15 straight games, Oakland is 95-32 in August since 2001. However, since the Athletics will be 3-1 chalk throughout, we?ll take the sensible approach and pass. BEST BET: None.
