Vernon Croy
Seattle Mariners vs. Colorado Rockies
Play: Colorado Rockies
This pick falls into one of my top MLB systems and it would be a premium play for me but it is over my personal limit of -150. The Rockies have the advantage of facing Brandon Morrow (0-3, 6.38) instead of Mariners ace Erik Bedard who is scratched from tonight's game. Jason Marquis (8-4, 3.98) has pitched solid for the Rockies over his last 3 starts with an ERA of just 2.61 over 20.7 innings. The Rockies are a red hot 9-0 over their last 9 games and they are 6-1 in their last 7 MLB Interleague games as a favorite. The Rockies are 4-1 in Marquis' last 5 starts and they are 4-1 in their last 5 games against the Seattle Mariners. The Rockies are averaging 5.8 rpg at home this season and I look for them to hit Morrow hard tonight in his 1st start out of the bullpen. Take the Colorado Rockies
Seattle Mariners vs. Colorado Rockies
Play: Colorado Rockies
This pick falls into one of my top MLB systems and it would be a premium play for me but it is over my personal limit of -150. The Rockies have the advantage of facing Brandon Morrow (0-3, 6.38) instead of Mariners ace Erik Bedard who is scratched from tonight's game. Jason Marquis (8-4, 3.98) has pitched solid for the Rockies over his last 3 starts with an ERA of just 2.61 over 20.7 innings. The Rockies are a red hot 9-0 over their last 9 games and they are 6-1 in their last 7 MLB Interleague games as a favorite. The Rockies are 4-1 in Marquis' last 5 starts and they are 4-1 in their last 5 games against the Seattle Mariners. The Rockies are averaging 5.8 rpg at home this season and I look for them to hit Morrow hard tonight in his 1st start out of the bullpen. Take the Colorado Rockies
Jack Jones
Philadelphia Phillies -124
The Phillies are the play in Philadelphia against the Red Sox Saturday. Daisuke Matsuzaka is still struggling this year, going 1-2 with a 5.17 ERA and a 19.8 WHIP in his last three starts, which actually improved his overall numbers on the season to 1-4 with a 7.33 ERA and a 2.11 WHIP. Until Dice-K shows he can put together a quality start, the Red Sox are going to be in trouble when he steps on the mound. The Phillies are one of the better scoring teams in baseball, averaging 5.4 runs per game. Boston walked away with Game 1 in the series with a very strong outing from Jon Lester, but I doubt they will get the same support from Dice-K tonight. Take the Phillies.
Philadelphia Phillies -124
The Phillies are the play in Philadelphia against the Red Sox Saturday. Daisuke Matsuzaka is still struggling this year, going 1-2 with a 5.17 ERA and a 19.8 WHIP in his last three starts, which actually improved his overall numbers on the season to 1-4 with a 7.33 ERA and a 2.11 WHIP. Until Dice-K shows he can put together a quality start, the Red Sox are going to be in trouble when he steps on the mound. The Phillies are one of the better scoring teams in baseball, averaging 5.4 runs per game. Boston walked away with Game 1 in the series with a very strong outing from Jon Lester, but I doubt they will get the same support from Dice-K tonight. Take the Phillies.
Scott Rickenbach
Atlanta Braves at Baltimore Orioles
Prediction: Over
Despite 24 hits in Game One of this series yesterday, it managed to stay just short of going over the total. Tonight we expect both teams to again hit the ball very well but there will be no "craziness" in this match-up. The hits come and the runs follow! Rich Hill of the Orioles couldn't even get out of the first inning in his most recent start. Kevin Kawakami of the Braves has proven susceptible to the big inning so far in his young career. Consider a small play on OVER the total in Baltimore.
Atlanta Braves at Baltimore Orioles
Prediction: Over
Despite 24 hits in Game One of this series yesterday, it managed to stay just short of going over the total. Tonight we expect both teams to again hit the ball very well but there will be no "craziness" in this match-up. The hits come and the runs follow! Rich Hill of the Orioles couldn't even get out of the first inning in his most recent start. Kevin Kawakami of the Braves has proven susceptible to the big inning so far in his young career. Consider a small play on OVER the total in Baltimore.
Who Will Cover.Com
Houston (-120) at ARIZONA By Jeff Benton, Featured Handicapper
Another freebie winner Friday as the Rockies battled back got it done on the run-line against Seattle, giving me a 6-1 free-play run over the past week. For Saturday, we’ll head to the desert and back the Astros and ace Roy Oswalt as a slight road chalk against the Diamondbacks.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
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Now in his ninth season in the majors, Oswalt has been having an unprecedented down year with the Astros. Normally, the star right-hander is good for at least 15 wins, but he enters the day 2-3 with a 4.66 ERA in 13 starts, and he was given an extra two days of rest for this start because of a sore right wrist. However, the rest puts Oswalt in a good spot as he faces the Diamondbacks, a team he has owned throughout his career, going 7-1 with a 2.25 ERA in nine starts.
Conversely, Diamondbacks starter Jon Garland had been an innings-eater in his first season with the team, but those innings have not been productive ones. Garland (4-6, 5.61 ERA) hasn’t tasted victory since he beat Florida on May 19. He has lost his last four starts, posting a 7.98 ERA over this span, including getting bombed for six runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings against San Diego in his last outing.
Also, Garland has been especially bad this season at home, where his ERA is an outrageous 8.71 in six starts, compared with 3.08 on the road. So, considering Garland’s struggles and Oswalt’s history against Arizona, the Astros – who will certainly be happy to see Garland after getting handcuffed by Dan Haren last night – are a smart play at this price.
3? HOUSTON (based on a 1? to 10? scale)
Cincinnati (+105) at KANSAS CITY By Bobby Maxwell, Featured Handicapper
We handed you an interleague FREE winner on Friday night when the Red Sox got the win in Philadelphia and we'll get you another one tonight as the Reds get the job done for us in Kansas City.
The Royals have been fading fast in the A.L. Central standings, going from the top of the group five weeks ago to the bottom of the division now. They've only won eight games in five weeks as they've gone 8-23 since May 7 with a .233 batting average and team ERA of 4.84.
Things aren't getting better tonight when they have to face Cincinnati's Bronson Arroyo (7-4, 5.00 ERA). Arroyo has a 2.79 ERA in three career starts against Kansas City and he gave up three runs and five hits on Sunday against the Cubs, but the Reds lost 6-3 in 11 innings.
The Royals go with Kyle Davies (2-6, 5.13 ERA) who is on a five-game losing streak. He had some bad luck on Sunday when he went up against Roy Halladay. Davies threw a complete game and gave up four runs and nine hits in eight innings. He hasn't notched a win since April 30.
Kansas City got the win Friday night, beating Cincinnati 4-1, but that isn't happening two times in a row. Kansas City is just 2-6 in its last eight games as a home favorite and 4-10 against right-handed pitching.
The Reds are on runs of 8-3 against the A.L. Central and 6-2 against teams with a losing record. Look for the Reds to get some offense tonight and win this one with ease. Play Cincinnati.
3? CINCINNATI
Seattle at COLORADO (-115) By Drew Gordon, Featured Handicapper
Now on a 13-4 roll with the plays I'm giving away, including the Brewers over the Chicago White Sox 7-2 last night! For tonight's complimentary play, we're looking at the Seattle/Colorado match-up.
Not only are the Rockies playing their best baseball in recent memory, but they also get a nice break in not having to face the Mariners southpaw ace Eric Bedard tonight. Winners of 9 in a row, including a ridiculous 8 of those 9 wins on the road, the Rockies are rolling and its going to take a lot more than Brandon Morrow to cool them off!
Speaking of the Mariners' Morrow, let's get real, he was going to be pitching for Triple-A Tacoma before Bedard's "mild elbow inflammation," so let's not get too carried away with the young righty. Not only did he blow his chance as the M's closer early on this season, but he proved as road-weary as they get, going an ugly 0-3 with a 10.24 ERA on the road... And this is the guy you want to back against a red-hot Rockies club? Also note, he's not expected to throw more than 60 or so pitches, so they'll be additional pressure on the bullpen one way or the other.
Opposing Morrow is the Rockies Jason Marquis, who's been nothing short of stellar over his last 5 starts, going 4-1 with a 2.23 ERA! He's also pitched well against the Mariners in the past, going 1-0 with a 3.18 ERA in 2 career starts. Some critics of this play will point to Marquis' 5.34 ERA at Coors, but that's more a result of a couple bad starts in mid-May, and there's no question he's got the kinks worked out over his L5 starts.
Finally, not only have the Rockies been winning because of their pitching, but you better believe they've been rock-solid at the plate, batting .284 as a team over their last 10. Statistically, they've preferred hitting lefties at Coors, but once again, over their last 10 games, they've been hitting everything, batting a potent .285 against rigthies over that span! In the end, some of you may think this is the spot where the winning streak ends, but think again, as the Rockies make it 10 in a row tonight!
Take Colorado behind Marquis over Seattle and Morrow in this MLB match up.
2? COLORADO
Seattle at COLORADO (-115) By Karl Garrett, Featured Handicapper
G-Man is now 121-96-4 with my comp plays long-term!
For Saturday night, how can you argue what is going on with the Rockies right now?
Last night's win over Seattle pushed the Colorado winning streak to 9 in a row!
Tonight Jason Marquis and his 8-4 mark will toe the rubber at Coor's Field. True, Seattle hurler Erik Bedard has been rolling along, but you just get the feeling that the way the Rocks are playing right now, they will find a way to win this contest.
Colorado is closing in on the .500 mark for the season, while Seattle is still just 14-17 away from Safeco this year.
Can't buck this horse tonight, as the Rockies definitely have something brewing.
Take Colorado to extend the winning streak to 10 straight.
3? COLORADO
Oakland at SAN FRANCISCO (-110) By Chris Jordan, Featured Handicapper
He won his 300th, threw less than 80 pitches and then came out on three days’ rest and was defeated by the Marlins. Let’s come back with Randy Johnson, who will work on his normal four days' rest for this Bay City rivalry. Hey, fact is, Johnson pitched respectably at Florida, tossing shutout ball in four of his five innings; problem was his lone lapse made a difference as he left one hanging for Brett Carroll, who drilled a three-run homer in a 4-0 Giants defeat.
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Not to worry, as he’s 4-2 at home with a 4.24 ERA, and should be pumped to face the organization’s crosstown rival. I admit, I’m a big fan of Josh Outman – I think he’s Oakland’s best rookie in that young staff – but The Big Unit is my choice tonight, as he avenges his loss to the Fish.
1? GIANTS (LIST Johnson)
Oakland (-110) at SAN FRANCISCO By Michael Cannon, Featured Handicapper
I’m 30-23-1 with my last 54 overall Bonus Plays.<o></o>
<o> </o>
Let’s back the A’s tonight on the road over the Giants and Randy Johnson.<o></o>
<o> </o>
Johnson’s goal this season was to reach 300 career victories and with that mission accomplished you have to think there’s going to be somewhat of a letdown now, as the 45-year-old really doesn’t have much to pitch for anymore. The Giants aren’t going to win the World Series this year and it’s just a lot to ask for someone his age to keep running out there every five days and be effective.<o></o>
<o> </o>
As for <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comffice:smarttags" /><st1:City><st1lace>Oakland</st1lace></st1:City>, I know they aren’t going anywhere this season either, but I’ve been impressed from what I’ve seen out of Josh Outman this year. The left-hander is 4-0 with a 3.17 ERA on the year. He hasn’t allowed more than three runs in any of his outings this year and his four wins have come in his last six starts.<o></o>
<o> </o>
Take the A’s as they grab the road win.
2? OAKLAND
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Houston (-120) at ARIZONA By Jeff Benton, Featured Handicapper
Another freebie winner Friday as the Rockies battled back got it done on the run-line against Seattle, giving me a 6-1 free-play run over the past week. For Saturday, we’ll head to the desert and back the Astros and ace Roy Oswalt as a slight road chalk against the Diamondbacks.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
fficeffice" /><o></o><o
> </o>Now in his ninth season in the majors, Oswalt has been having an unprecedented down year with the Astros. Normally, the star right-hander is good for at least 15 wins, but he enters the day 2-3 with a 4.66 ERA in 13 starts, and he was given an extra two days of rest for this start because of a sore right wrist. However, the rest puts Oswalt in a good spot as he faces the Diamondbacks, a team he has owned throughout his career, going 7-1 with a 2.25 ERA in nine starts.
Conversely, Diamondbacks starter Jon Garland had been an innings-eater in his first season with the team, but those innings have not been productive ones. Garland (4-6, 5.61 ERA) hasn’t tasted victory since he beat Florida on May 19. He has lost his last four starts, posting a 7.98 ERA over this span, including getting bombed for six runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings against San Diego in his last outing.
Also, Garland has been especially bad this season at home, where his ERA is an outrageous 8.71 in six starts, compared with 3.08 on the road. So, considering Garland’s struggles and Oswalt’s history against Arizona, the Astros – who will certainly be happy to see Garland after getting handcuffed by Dan Haren last night – are a smart play at this price.
3? HOUSTON (based on a 1? to 10? scale)
Cincinnati (+105) at KANSAS CITY By Bobby Maxwell, Featured Handicapper
We handed you an interleague FREE winner on Friday night when the Red Sox got the win in Philadelphia and we'll get you another one tonight as the Reds get the job done for us in Kansas City.
The Royals have been fading fast in the A.L. Central standings, going from the top of the group five weeks ago to the bottom of the division now. They've only won eight games in five weeks as they've gone 8-23 since May 7 with a .233 batting average and team ERA of 4.84.
Things aren't getting better tonight when they have to face Cincinnati's Bronson Arroyo (7-4, 5.00 ERA). Arroyo has a 2.79 ERA in three career starts against Kansas City and he gave up three runs and five hits on Sunday against the Cubs, but the Reds lost 6-3 in 11 innings.
The Royals go with Kyle Davies (2-6, 5.13 ERA) who is on a five-game losing streak. He had some bad luck on Sunday when he went up against Roy Halladay. Davies threw a complete game and gave up four runs and nine hits in eight innings. He hasn't notched a win since April 30.
Kansas City got the win Friday night, beating Cincinnati 4-1, but that isn't happening two times in a row. Kansas City is just 2-6 in its last eight games as a home favorite and 4-10 against right-handed pitching.
The Reds are on runs of 8-3 against the A.L. Central and 6-2 against teams with a losing record. Look for the Reds to get some offense tonight and win this one with ease. Play Cincinnati.
3? CINCINNATI
Seattle at COLORADO (-115) By Drew Gordon, Featured Handicapper
Now on a 13-4 roll with the plays I'm giving away, including the Brewers over the Chicago White Sox 7-2 last night! For tonight's complimentary play, we're looking at the Seattle/Colorado match-up.
Not only are the Rockies playing their best baseball in recent memory, but they also get a nice break in not having to face the Mariners southpaw ace Eric Bedard tonight. Winners of 9 in a row, including a ridiculous 8 of those 9 wins on the road, the Rockies are rolling and its going to take a lot more than Brandon Morrow to cool them off!
Speaking of the Mariners' Morrow, let's get real, he was going to be pitching for Triple-A Tacoma before Bedard's "mild elbow inflammation," so let's not get too carried away with the young righty. Not only did he blow his chance as the M's closer early on this season, but he proved as road-weary as they get, going an ugly 0-3 with a 10.24 ERA on the road... And this is the guy you want to back against a red-hot Rockies club? Also note, he's not expected to throw more than 60 or so pitches, so they'll be additional pressure on the bullpen one way or the other.
Opposing Morrow is the Rockies Jason Marquis, who's been nothing short of stellar over his last 5 starts, going 4-1 with a 2.23 ERA! He's also pitched well against the Mariners in the past, going 1-0 with a 3.18 ERA in 2 career starts. Some critics of this play will point to Marquis' 5.34 ERA at Coors, but that's more a result of a couple bad starts in mid-May, and there's no question he's got the kinks worked out over his L5 starts.
Finally, not only have the Rockies been winning because of their pitching, but you better believe they've been rock-solid at the plate, batting .284 as a team over their last 10. Statistically, they've preferred hitting lefties at Coors, but once again, over their last 10 games, they've been hitting everything, batting a potent .285 against rigthies over that span! In the end, some of you may think this is the spot where the winning streak ends, but think again, as the Rockies make it 10 in a row tonight!
Take Colorado behind Marquis over Seattle and Morrow in this MLB match up.
2? COLORADO
Seattle at COLORADO (-115) By Karl Garrett, Featured Handicapper
G-Man is now 121-96-4 with my comp plays long-term!
For Saturday night, how can you argue what is going on with the Rockies right now?
Last night's win over Seattle pushed the Colorado winning streak to 9 in a row!
Tonight Jason Marquis and his 8-4 mark will toe the rubber at Coor's Field. True, Seattle hurler Erik Bedard has been rolling along, but you just get the feeling that the way the Rocks are playing right now, they will find a way to win this contest.
Colorado is closing in on the .500 mark for the season, while Seattle is still just 14-17 away from Safeco this year.
Can't buck this horse tonight, as the Rockies definitely have something brewing.
Take Colorado to extend the winning streak to 10 straight.
3? COLORADO
Oakland at SAN FRANCISCO (-110) By Chris Jordan, Featured Handicapper
He won his 300th, threw less than 80 pitches and then came out on three days’ rest and was defeated by the Marlins. Let’s come back with Randy Johnson, who will work on his normal four days' rest for this Bay City rivalry. Hey, fact is, Johnson pitched respectably at Florida, tossing shutout ball in four of his five innings; problem was his lone lapse made a difference as he left one hanging for Brett Carroll, who drilled a three-run homer in a 4-0 Giants defeat.
<o
> </o>Not to worry, as he’s 4-2 at home with a 4.24 ERA, and should be pumped to face the organization’s crosstown rival. I admit, I’m a big fan of Josh Outman – I think he’s Oakland’s best rookie in that young staff – but The Big Unit is my choice tonight, as he avenges his loss to the Fish.
1? GIANTS (LIST Johnson)
Oakland (-110) at SAN FRANCISCO By Michael Cannon, Featured Handicapper
I’m 30-23-1 with my last 54 overall Bonus Plays.<o
></o><o
> </o>Let’s back the A’s tonight on the road over the Giants and Randy Johnson.<o
></o><o
> </o>Johnson’s goal this season was to reach 300 career victories and with that mission accomplished you have to think there’s going to be somewhat of a letdown now, as the 45-year-old really doesn’t have much to pitch for anymore. The Giants aren’t going to win the World Series this year and it’s just a lot to ask for someone his age to keep running out there every five days and be effective.<o
></o><o
> </o>As for <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
ffice:smarttags" /><st1:City><st1lace>Oakland</st1lace></st1:City>, I know they aren’t going anywhere this season either, but I’ve been impressed from what I’ve seen out of Josh Outman this year. The left-hander is 4-0 with a 3.17 ERA on the year. He hasn’t allowed more than three runs in any of his outings this year and his four wins have come in his last six starts.<o></o><o
> </o>Take the A’s as they grab the road win.
2? OAKLAND
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