MLB Comps
Mike Rose
Seattle Mariners (100)
Wed Aug 22 '07 1:10p
Seattle.....Minnesota? Offense....no offense? Hot, or colder than a wet noodle? These are the questions you have to ask yourself heading into the final game of this three game set between the Mariners and Twins. Throughout the first two games of this series, the M's have outscored the Twins by a 16-6 count and it doesn't look like their bats are going to fizzle out anytime soon. These guys are raking right handed pitching of late to the tune of a .310 batting average, and they've averaged six runs per game in their L/10 overall. Miguel Batista has been an innings eater for them all season long, and boasts a respectable 13-8 record to boot. Minnesota hasn't been able to put runs on the board for months now, and can you trust their offense enough right now to outscore the Mariners in this match-up? I sure don't!!! Even if the M's rest a couple of their big bats, I'm still confident in them enough to be able to exceed whatever the Twins are able to muster against Batista. Silva has had success against Seattle in his career. However, most of his wins were attained against a much different M's team than the one that will take the field this afternoon. It's quite simple people. Seattle is a contender for a playoff spot, while the Twins are a pretender. Grab the better team at plus money as they complete the sweep and head to Texas looking to add to their lofty run production.
Chicago Cubs @ San Francisco Giants u8.0 (-110)
Wed Aug 22 '07 10:10p
If you stayed up late enough last night, you were witness to one of the better comeback victories of this baseball season. The Cubbies were dominated by the Giants Tim Lincecum for 8 innings, and looked destined to fall by a 1-0 final count. However, lady luck jumped into the Cubbies bullpen in the top of the 9th as they rallied for 5 runs to shock the Pac bell crowd and take Game 1 of the series. Game 2 of the series pits a couple of lefties against one another as the Cubs Rich Hill squares off against the Giants Barry Zito. Hill bounced back from his massacre in Colorado and pitched a gem in Game 1 of their series against St. Louis last Friday afternoon. His stuff was electric as he only allowed 3 hits and 1 ER, while striking out 7 and issuing 2 free passes. Barry Zito is off a tremendous start as well, and maybe his best effort in a Giant uniform. He pitched 1-hit ball through seven innings and struck out 8 in the Giants 3-0 win over the Marlins last Friday night. Both these guys have faced each respective club this season, and each earned a very low scoring victory. I expect more of the same tonight as these two starters look to be on top of their game heading into this match-up. Neither club can hit lefties for a lick, so grab the 'Under' here in a game that has 2-1 or 3-2 written all over it.
JIM FEIST
Two pitchers going in very different directions. Reds starter Bronson Arroyo has turned things around, with a 2-1 record and a 3.60 ERA his last three starts. He's also 3-1 in his career against the Braves. Atlanta starter Lance Cormier has been awful, with an 0-3 record and a 7.20 ERA his last three starts. Cincy is no easy place to pitch, and on the season Cormier has a 9.90 ERA. Play the Reds!
DAVE COKIN
The Dodgers have Derek Lowe on the hill as they try to even up their series with the Phillies. But rookie JD Durbin has been pretty good for Philly and with LA just not playing good baseball, I see the home team as the right side for a second straight night
Michael Cannon
Take the Diamondbacks on the run line tonight over the Brewers.
This is an easy call when you consider how dominant Brandon Webb has been pitching for the Diamonbacks.
The right-hander enters this contest having pitched 42 consecutive scoreless innings, just 17 innings short of the major league record set by Orel Hershiser of the Dodgers in 1988.
Webb has tossed three straight shutouts, the last a two-hitter over the Braves on Friday.
Jeff Suppan is scheduled to start for the Brewers and he is 0-3 in his last 10 starts since an 11-6 win over Kansas City on June 22. Even when he has had a good start the Brewers have failed to score for him, and I don't expect that trend to change tonight against Webb.
Take the Diamondbacks on the run line as Webb continues his mastery of the opposition.
3♦ ARIZONA -1 1/2 RUN LINE
MATT RIVERS
Mets as the home dog.
Jake Peavy is a top flight hurler and as good as they come this season on the road but I don't care! If you want to give me the definite better team with the far superior offense in the Mets at Shea plus a little coin then I am all for it.
Brian Lawrence is an old pro who should go six innings and hold his own as he has in his first month with the Mets. The guy was a solid pitcher on the Padres and now could get a little revenge against his former club who happens to be allergic to offense most of the time.
Peavy has been insanely great away from PETCO and has as good of an upside as anybody on the planet but he is going to get tested today against what is still the best team in the National League. Willie Randolph's gang has the ability and skill to knock around any pitcher and especially so at home. Beltran, Reyes, Wright and Delgado form a great foursome and overall the Mets are no joke and at home plus money is more than I could ever ask.
There's nothing to lose by taking this home dog and I'm all for it.
Bobby Maxwell
We've got to go with the home team in this matchup as they rallied for a big win Tuesday night and will keep that momentum going tonight and get to the San Diego ace on the hill.
It's the Mets' Brian Lawrence (1-0, 5.06 ERA) going up his former teammates and Padres' ace Jake Peavy (13-5, 2.19) in this one. Yes, Peavy is the better pitcher but we like the New York offense and think Lawrence will have something to prove to his old mates tonight.
Lawrence has made just three starts in a Mets uniform and just one in front of the home crows, giving up two runs through six innings of a 4-3 loss to the Marlins on Aug. 10.
Peavy gave up just one run in his last start but the Padres lost to the Astros 3-1. Against New York, San Diego has lost the last three times he's started and the last time he pitched in Shea Stadium he gave up seven runs on seven hits in five innings of a 12-0 loss.
Another reason to play the Mets in this one - San Diego has lost seven straight in the Big Apple. The Padres haven't won in New York since 2004 and they're not going to break that streak tonight. Play the Mets.
2♦ N.Y. METS
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