<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 width=500 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=left width="50%">Yesterday</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">2</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">2</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">0</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="20%">+2.36 Units</TD></TR><TR><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=left width="50%">Last 30 Days</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">35</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">35</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">1</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="20%">+14.84 Units</TD></TR><TR><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=left width="50%">Season To Date (Since March 2009)</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">77</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">85</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">7</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="20%">+10.74 Units</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
HOME TEAM IN CAPS
All games are listed pitchers unless stated otherwise.
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NY Mets +1.08 over NY YANKEES (1<SUP>st</SUP> 5 innings)
Once again we find some great value going against the Yanks. Johan Santana’s ERA is about 2½ runs lower than A.J. Burnett’s and you absolutely don’t need me to tell you that Santana is the superior pitcher. Furthermore, Santana is 4-1 with a 3.15 ERA lifetime vs the Yanks while Burnett is 2-6 lifetime vs the Mets to go along with an ERA of 3.83. Burnett is very capable of throwing a good game, he has strong stuff and he’s been effective for years. However, he has just four wins in 12 starts for the Yanks, his ERA is average and he’s just not getting it done in Pinstripes. Johan Santana is an absolute monster out there and any tag on him is worthy no matter who the competition is. Yanks are overpriced again. This pick is based solely on the starters and what figures to be a low scoring first five, I prefer to not allow this wager to be decided by the pens. Play: NY Mets +1.08 in the first five innings (Risking 2 units). <o></o>
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Washington +2.30 over TAMPA BAY (1<SUP>st</SUP> 5 innings)
I really like the kid that’s pitching today for the Nats. He’s 0-3 and has yet to pick up a win at this level but he’s going to pick one up soon and this could be the day. Don’t pay much attention to his numbers, as they’re deceiving and don’t tell the whole story. Ross Detwiler has made just five starts and three of them were very decent. He was roughed up at Philly and at home to the Giants but in his other three starts he’s thrown 17 innings, allowing just 10 hits and six earned runs. Detwiler is also a southpaw and the Rays are just 8-14 against left-handed starters. James Shields can be very tough indeed and the Rays could easily complete the sweep. However, the Nats have had a lead in both games thus far heading to the sixth and thus, I’ll play it that way. The price here has big influence on this choice, as it’s just too high to pass up on. Play: Washington +2.30 in the first five innings (Risking 2 units). <o></o>
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Florida +1.09 over TORONTO (1<SUP>st</SUP> 5 innings)
I’m not going to let the Marlins shaky bullpen beat me here and therefore I’ll play this one too in the first five innings. The Jays are 0-2 in this series, they’ve now lost seven straight to the Marlins and overall they’ve lost to this team 16 times in 20 games. The Marlins are 14-7 against lefties and will face one here in Brian Tallet. Tallet has good numbers but I’m not convinced he’s that good. Living in Toronto, I see quite a few Jays games and have seen Tallet pitch almost every time. His stock is higher than it should be after he pitched a 9-0 complete game over the Rangers in Texas and that’s an extremely difficult thing to do. That had to take a lot out of him and his chances of even coming close to duplicating that are slim at best. Tallet doesn’t have overpowering stuff by any stretch. Here’s a 32-year-old career reliever that is on a bit of a roll but I’ve seen his average stuff too many times to trust him. He’s imploded on a few occasions already this year and after that long and tiring outing in Texas in which he was completely dialed in for nine innings, you can expect a reverse in form here. Josh Johnson is a quality pitcher with filthy stuff, a 5-1 record, a 2.73 ERA, a BAA of .226, 77 k’s against just 20 walks in 89 frames and there’s nothing deceiving about his numbers. Play: Florida +1.09 in the first five innings (Risking 2 units). <o></o>
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Minnesota +1.19 over CHICAGO
I’m upset at myself for missing out on the Twins in the first two games of this series. I liked them yesterday and I liked them Friday but didn’t pull the trigger for some reason but I’m not about to make that mistake today. The Cubbies look about as pathetic as a major-league team can look. Outside of Derek Lee, there’s not a single batter in the line-up that instills fear into opposing pitchers. Milton Bradley is hitting .226, Soriano is hitting .233, Soto is hitting .209 and those are the hot guys. They don’t have a .300 hitter and collectively they’re batting .246. However, in their last 10 games they’re hitting .219 and over its last three games the Cubbies are batting .131. The Twins have won four of five, they have a bunch of hot hitters and Scott Baker has once again found his groove. Anyway, does it really matter who’s pitching here? The Cubbies can’t score or win so why would this one be any different? Play: Minnesota +1.19 (Risking 2 units). <o></o>
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Chicago +1.13 over MILWAUKEE
Is there anything to like about the Brewers here as the chalk? Milwaukee has lost five of six and Braden Looper is the epitome of an average pitcher in this league. Looper has surrendered five runs or more in four of his last seven starts. He’s a big risk as a favorite and you can double that against an AL team. In fact, the South Side has won seven of its last eight meeting against the Brewers including a 7-1 win yesterday. Mark Buehrle is having his usual good year with a 6-2 record and a 3.24 ERA. Every year Buehrle goes out there, throws quality innings and gives the White Sox a chance to win every time he takes the hill. Yet, he gets about the least recognition among quality pitchers in this league. There’s almost value on this guy every time he’s a pooch and this one is no exception. Play: Chicago +1.13 (Risking 2 units).
HOME TEAM IN CAPS
All games are listed pitchers unless stated otherwise.
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></o>NY Mets +1.08 over NY YANKEES (1<SUP>st</SUP> 5 innings)
Once again we find some great value going against the Yanks. Johan Santana’s ERA is about 2½ runs lower than A.J. Burnett’s and you absolutely don’t need me to tell you that Santana is the superior pitcher. Furthermore, Santana is 4-1 with a 3.15 ERA lifetime vs the Yanks while Burnett is 2-6 lifetime vs the Mets to go along with an ERA of 3.83. Burnett is very capable of throwing a good game, he has strong stuff and he’s been effective for years. However, he has just four wins in 12 starts for the Yanks, his ERA is average and he’s just not getting it done in Pinstripes. Johan Santana is an absolute monster out there and any tag on him is worthy no matter who the competition is. Yanks are overpriced again. This pick is based solely on the starters and what figures to be a low scoring first five, I prefer to not allow this wager to be decided by the pens. Play: NY Mets +1.08 in the first five innings (Risking 2 units). <o
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></o>Washington +2.30 over TAMPA BAY (1<SUP>st</SUP> 5 innings)
I really like the kid that’s pitching today for the Nats. He’s 0-3 and has yet to pick up a win at this level but he’s going to pick one up soon and this could be the day. Don’t pay much attention to his numbers, as they’re deceiving and don’t tell the whole story. Ross Detwiler has made just five starts and three of them were very decent. He was roughed up at Philly and at home to the Giants but in his other three starts he’s thrown 17 innings, allowing just 10 hits and six earned runs. Detwiler is also a southpaw and the Rays are just 8-14 against left-handed starters. James Shields can be very tough indeed and the Rays could easily complete the sweep. However, the Nats have had a lead in both games thus far heading to the sixth and thus, I’ll play it that way. The price here has big influence on this choice, as it’s just too high to pass up on. Play: Washington +2.30 in the first five innings (Risking 2 units). <o
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></o>Florida +1.09 over TORONTO (1<SUP>st</SUP> 5 innings)
I’m not going to let the Marlins shaky bullpen beat me here and therefore I’ll play this one too in the first five innings. The Jays are 0-2 in this series, they’ve now lost seven straight to the Marlins and overall they’ve lost to this team 16 times in 20 games. The Marlins are 14-7 against lefties and will face one here in Brian Tallet. Tallet has good numbers but I’m not convinced he’s that good. Living in Toronto, I see quite a few Jays games and have seen Tallet pitch almost every time. His stock is higher than it should be after he pitched a 9-0 complete game over the Rangers in Texas and that’s an extremely difficult thing to do. That had to take a lot out of him and his chances of even coming close to duplicating that are slim at best. Tallet doesn’t have overpowering stuff by any stretch. Here’s a 32-year-old career reliever that is on a bit of a roll but I’ve seen his average stuff too many times to trust him. He’s imploded on a few occasions already this year and after that long and tiring outing in Texas in which he was completely dialed in for nine innings, you can expect a reverse in form here. Josh Johnson is a quality pitcher with filthy stuff, a 5-1 record, a 2.73 ERA, a BAA of .226, 77 k’s against just 20 walks in 89 frames and there’s nothing deceiving about his numbers. Play: Florida +1.09 in the first five innings (Risking 2 units). <o
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></o>Minnesota +1.19 over CHICAGO
I’m upset at myself for missing out on the Twins in the first two games of this series. I liked them yesterday and I liked them Friday but didn’t pull the trigger for some reason but I’m not about to make that mistake today. The Cubbies look about as pathetic as a major-league team can look. Outside of Derek Lee, there’s not a single batter in the line-up that instills fear into opposing pitchers. Milton Bradley is hitting .226, Soriano is hitting .233, Soto is hitting .209 and those are the hot guys. They don’t have a .300 hitter and collectively they’re batting .246. However, in their last 10 games they’re hitting .219 and over its last three games the Cubbies are batting .131. The Twins have won four of five, they have a bunch of hot hitters and Scott Baker has once again found his groove. Anyway, does it really matter who’s pitching here? The Cubbies can’t score or win so why would this one be any different? Play: Minnesota +1.19 (Risking 2 units). <o
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></o>Chicago +1.13 over MILWAUKEE
Is there anything to like about the Brewers here as the chalk? Milwaukee has lost five of six and Braden Looper is the epitome of an average pitcher in this league. Looper has surrendered five runs or more in four of his last seven starts. He’s a big risk as a favorite and you can double that against an AL team. In fact, the South Side has won seven of its last eight meeting against the Brewers including a 7-1 win yesterday. Mark Buehrle is having his usual good year with a 6-2 record and a 3.24 ERA. Every year Buehrle goes out there, throws quality innings and gives the White Sox a chance to win every time he takes the hill. Yet, he gets about the least recognition among quality pitchers in this league. There’s almost value on this guy every time he’s a pooch and this one is no exception. Play: Chicago +1.13 (Risking 2 units).
