Robert Ferringo's Picks For Major League Baseball
4-Unit Play. Take #976 Texas (-135) over Kansas City (8:30 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 14)
Prior to last week’s win over Minnesota, Kyle Davies hadn’t had a start in which he’d failed to give up a run since July of 2005. In the past two years, Davies has had eight starts in which he’s surrendered one or fewer runs. In the eight starts following that solid outing he is 0-8 with an ERA of 8.58. The Royals are 2-5 in their last seven at Texas and 17-50 against a team with a losing record. You know I hate Kevin Millwood, so it would have to be something pretty special to back him. I think this fits the bill.
4-Unit Play. Take #958 Atlanta (-1.5, -120) over San Francisco (7 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 14)
I don’t see any way that this one doesn’t get out of hand. This is San Fran’s fourth game in three days in its third different city. That’s a lot of travel for a bad of old men. Atlanta is 9-3 against the Giants in Atlanta and has its ace – John Smoltz – on the hill. Smoltz is due for a good outing and the Braves offense should absolutely carve up a guy who’s never started a game in his pro career.
3.5-Unit Play. Take #953 New York Mets (-135) over Pittsburgh (7 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 14)
The Mets are 37-16 following an off day and the Pirates are 18-42 against a team with a winning record. Ian Snell has lost six straight starts and El Duque has won six straight.
2-Unit Play. Take ‘Over’ 7.5 (+100) Colorado at San Diego (10 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 14)
I like Jeff Francis and Greg Maddux but they are not two elite pitchers, warranting this low of a total. The Rockies hit and hit hard. The ‘over’ is 7-3 in their last 10 and 5-1-1 in Francis’ last seven starts. The ‘over’ is also 9-4 with San Diego at home against a team with a losing road record, 8-3 against a lefty, and 6-2 at home against a lefty.
2-Unit Play. Take #962 Milwaukee (-130) over St. Louis (8 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 14)
The Brewers have lost 14 straight starts by Chris Capuano. Fourteen. I normally don’t bet against a streak, but I’ll make an exception here for one reason: Kip Wells. I will bet against him as long as the Cardinals keep trotting him out there. On top of that, the Brewers are 4-0 in Capuano’s last four home starts against St. Louis and 7-3 in his last 10 overall against them.
1-Unit Play. Take #952 Florida (-135) over Arizona (7 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 14)
What’s not to like about the Diamondbacks right now? Well, for starters, they have B.K. Kim on the hill against the team that cut him a few weeks ago. Next, they’re just 3-10 in their last 13 meetings in Florida.