BEGINNING FRIDAY JUNE 20
Cincinnati at Arizona (3) 20th, 21st, 22nd
Both teams are hovering around .500, but the Diamondbacks are losing money (-$1460) at a faster rate than Cincinnati. However, the Reds starting pitching staff has a gaudy 6.50 ERA over the last 10 days and only Jimmy Haynes one of our least favorite hurlers, has good numbers in recent outings (3.07 ERA, 9.8 H&W ratio last two starts). As for the ?Backs, their 18-18 (-$1235) home record says it all. BEST BET: None.
Chicago W. Sox at Chicago Cubs (3) 20th, 21st, 22nd
The pitching-rich (3.64 ERA, fourth-best in MLB) Cubs are taking on the archrival White Sox, a team with a very disappointing offense (.243 team BA, 12th in in AL). But, the Cubs aren?t exactly lighting up the scoreboard (4.5 runs per game last 10 days) themselves and the Pale Hose could end up giving their crosstown rivals some trouble. Bartolo Colon has brought his ERA down to 3.99 and checks in with a 31-17 record on the road since 2000. BEST BET: Colon.
Boston at Philadelphia (3) 20th, 21st, 22nd
The next time George Steinbrenner decides to complain about the Yankees? inter league schedule, he ought to take a gander at the Phillies? opponents. First Seattle and Oakland followed by a 3000-mile journey to Anaheim. With Pedro Martinez (2.70 ERA) finally healthy, the Sox are bound to be a handful for an anemic Phillies? offense (.248 team BA, 2nd from the bottom in the NL) that has yet to hit its stride. On the other hand, Philadelphia?s pitching has been particularly outstanding (starters? ERA is 3.67, relievers? is 3.14) and Boston is merely mortal (17-17, -$830) on the road. BEST BET: Martinez/Phillies vs. all others
Cleveland at Pittsburgh (3) 20th, 21st, 22nd
There won?t be much fireworks on display as each team resides in the lower quadrant in most offensive categories in their respective leagues (Indians are 13th in the AL and the Pirates 11th in the NL). In addition, each team plays its worst baseball in this setting as the Indians are 10-23 (-$880) away and the Pirates are 9-21 (-$1220) at home. Furthermore, Pittsburgh is only 1-6 (-$580) averaging 2.9 runs per game vs. lefties at home and the Indians are 6-16 (-$825) on the road averaging 4.3 runs per game. BEST BET: Pirates when righty meets righty/ Indians when lefty meets lefty
Toronto at Montreal (3) 20th, 21st, 22nd
These Canadian rivals? approaches to the game are about as compatible as oil and water. The Expos? emphasis is solid pitching and timely hitting while the Blue Jays? stats on offense often resemble a box score in a slo-pitch softball league. The Expos have been both an excellent home team (23-11, +$995) and as chalk (26-9, +$1430) and we?ll recommend them in any game except the one that Roy Halladay starts (14-2 on the road since the beginning of last season). BEST BET: Halladay/Expos vs. the rest.
N.Y. Yankees at N.Y. Mets (3) 20th, 21st, 22nd
This could be really ugly. The Yankees have dominated (22-13) the Mets since inter league play in 1997 and have never had a losing record against them in any given year. Since 2000, the Pinstripers are 15-8, including a 4-1 2000 World Series romp, and this is the Mets worst team during that interval (only 31-36). The Yankees have begun hitting again (5.8 runs per game last 10 days), and have done their best work on the road, particularly against righthanders (18-8, +$545 with over 7 runs per game). The Bronx Bombers have too many guns. BEST BET: Yankees vs. righthanders.
Baltimore at Atlanta (3) 20th, 21st, 22nd
The Braves usually eat up teams like the Orioles. Baltimore?s pitching is mediocre at best (4.87 team ERA) and even worse on the road (starters have a 5.45 ERA, relievers? ERA is 6.37). Atlanta has been putting up some terrific offensive numbers (52 HRs, .293 BA, 5.9 RPG) at Turner Field. The only Orioles? hurler worth considering is Sidney Ponson (5-1 away, 3.51 ERA), but he?s not slated to appear in this series. BEST BET: Braves in all games.
Tampa Bay at Florida (3) 20th, 21st, 22nd
After a decent start, the Devil Rays have reverted to form. Since May 20, TB is 5-17 and most recently have lost 9 of 10 (-$805). Lou Piniella has already used 11 different starters and none of them has an ERA less than 4.50 except Jeremi Gonzalez (3.25) and he?s been a standout on the road (2.63 ERA, 24 innings, .202 BAA). We?ll grab the price on Tampa Bay when he goes. The rest of the series belongs to Florida and especially the game Dontrelle Willis pitches. He?s got an ERA at home of 1.80 and the Marlins have won all of his first three starts. BEST BET: Willis/Gonzalez.
Houston at Texas (3) 20th, 21st, 22nd
This is another of the eight intrastate rivalries on this weekend?s schedule, the only reason, we believe, to schedule inter league games. The Astros were on a roll until they visited the Yankees and Red Sox and lost five of six. But, those aforementioned teams are two-dimensional while the Rangers can only win if they?re hitting and lately (3.8 RPG last 10 games), that hasn?t been the case. The explosive Houston offense should have a ball in Arlington. BEST BET: Astros in all games.
Minnesota at Milwaukee (3) 20th, 21st, 22nd
The Twins have the third-best road record (20-12, +$1175) in MLB while the Brewers have the second-poorest worst home mark in the NL (11-23, -$845). Rarely is handicapping this simple. If you need a bit more ammunition, we?re happy to tell you that the Brewers are 23-38 as dogs while the Twins are 24-11 (+$645) as favorites, the second best record in MLB. BEST BET: Twins in all games.
Kansas City at St. Louis (3) 20th, 21st, 22nd
With Woody Williams slowly, but surely coming back to earth after such an incandescent start and Matt Morris pitching with reported arm trouble, we?re not inclined to lay heavy wood to back pitchers named Garrett Stephenson et al. The Royals have their share of injuries to their starters too, but have managed to win 6 of 10 (+$450), are +$650 as an underdog and are +$420 on the road. PREFERRED: Royals +$165 or more.
Detroit at Colorado (3) 20th, 21st, 22nd
When the worst team (17-49, -$1900) in the game visits a homester that rarely loses (25-10, +$1600) averaging seven RPG, you?d better have a couple of great reasons to play the puppy. And folks, we don?t. The Rockies are hitting 79 points higher at home than the Tigers are on the road and have averaged more than twice the number of runs per game (6.9 vs. 3.4) . If the Rockies were -$150 over the Tigers in Detroit, how expensive will they be in Denver? Too rich for our blood. BEST BET: None.
San Francisco at Oakland (3) 20th, 21st, 22nd
Is an all Bay area World Series a possibility? Absolutely! The Giants lost to Anaheim last year and are equally formidable this year (42-26, +$885) and the As? pitching (3.57 team ERA) can beat anyone in a short series. The standout play in this series looks to be Tim Hudson (+$615), 4-0 at home this year and 31-15 in Oakland since 2000. None of the other match ups are appealing. BEST BET: Hudson
Seattle at San Diego (3) 20th, 21st, 22nd
Mismatch, mismatch, mismatch! Aren?t there enough teams in the AL like the Tigers and Rangers for the Mariners to kick around? In a nutshell, the Mariners are first in the AL in ERA (3.50) and third in BA (.282) while the Padres (12-24, -$1125 at home) are next to last in the NL in ERA (5.42). Prices may become prohibitively expensive, but if it stays below 2 to 1 we?ll get involved. BEST BET: Mariners if available at -190 or less.
Anaheim at Los Angeles (3) 20th, 21st, 22nd
The Angels bring those big bats into Dodger Stadium where LA starters have a 2.96 ERA and the relievers are even better at 2.58. The problem is that the Dodgers are averaging just 3.4 RPG at home and their slugging percentage (37.4%) is second-lowest in MLB. Jarrod Washburn is coming off a poor outing, but he?s 5-2 on the road this year with a 2.42 ERA and 27-10 away since 2000 and should hold the weak-hitting Dodgers in check. Kevin Brown more than matches Washburn?s exploits with a 6-1 home record, a 1.95 ERA and a BAA of .201. BEST BET: Washburn/Brown.