tonyosports 3 straight top winners
The sizzling Florida Marlins will take baseball's best record to the nation's capital this weekend for a 3-game series with the lowly Washington Nationals. Marlins righthander Ricky Nolasco (1-1, 7.36) will be opposed by Nationals southpaw John Lannon (0-2, 10.00). Nolasco won both his starts vs. Washington last season, as he allowed just 3 runs in 13 innings pitched for a 2.08 ERA. Lannon lost to Florida on April 6th, as he allowed 6 runs on 6 hits in just 3 innings pitched during the Marlins' 12-6 loss. Look for the Marlins to win easily & head off to their first 9-1 start in franchise history. All FLORIDA!
The Arizona Diamondbacks will look to pick things up after a shaky start, as they'll travel to the West Coast to take on the San Francisco Giants in a 3-game weekend series. Diamondbacks righthander Dan Haren (0-2, 2.08) will go up against Giants southpaw Jonathan Sanchez (0-1, 9.64). Haren is off to a great start, but has only received 1 run of offensive support during his first 2 outings of the season. Haren went 2-1 in 4 starts against San Francisco last season with a 2.67 ERA & struck out 31 batters. (Tied for highest total among opposing NL teams) Giants' outfielder Fred Lewis does have limited success against Haren, with a .429 average off him in 14 career at-bats. Sanchez struggled against Arizona last season, as he went 1-2 against them in 3 starts with a 8.83 ERA. Sanchez also served up 3 home runs to the Diamondbacks, which is the most out of all opposing NL teams. Diamondbacks' 1st baseman/outfield Conor Jackson (.750 career average against Sanchez in 12 at-bats) & shortstop Stephen Drew (.429 career average against Sanchez in 14 at-bats) figure to see playing time tonight. I look for Arizona to win this game behind another strong performance by Haren. All ARIZONA.
Today's Complimentary Play: TEXAS
The sizzling Florida Marlins will take baseball's best record to the nation's capital this weekend for a 3-game series with the lowly Washington Nationals. Marlins righthander Ricky Nolasco (1-1, 7.36) will be opposed by Nationals southpaw John Lannon (0-2, 10.00). Nolasco won both his starts vs. Washington last season, as he allowed just 3 runs in 13 innings pitched for a 2.08 ERA. Lannon lost to Florida on April 6th, as he allowed 6 runs on 6 hits in just 3 innings pitched during the Marlins' 12-6 loss. Look for the Marlins to win easily & head off to their first 9-1 start in franchise history. All FLORIDA!
The Arizona Diamondbacks will look to pick things up after a shaky start, as they'll travel to the West Coast to take on the San Francisco Giants in a 3-game weekend series. Diamondbacks righthander Dan Haren (0-2, 2.08) will go up against Giants southpaw Jonathan Sanchez (0-1, 9.64). Haren is off to a great start, but has only received 1 run of offensive support during his first 2 outings of the season. Haren went 2-1 in 4 starts against San Francisco last season with a 2.67 ERA & struck out 31 batters. (Tied for highest total among opposing NL teams) Giants' outfielder Fred Lewis does have limited success against Haren, with a .429 average off him in 14 career at-bats. Sanchez struggled against Arizona last season, as he went 1-2 against them in 3 starts with a 8.83 ERA. Sanchez also served up 3 home runs to the Diamondbacks, which is the most out of all opposing NL teams. Diamondbacks' 1st baseman/outfield Conor Jackson (.750 career average against Sanchez in 12 at-bats) & shortstop Stephen Drew (.429 career average against Sanchez in 14 at-bats) figure to see playing time tonight. I look for Arizona to win this game behind another strong performance by Haren. All ARIZONA.
Today's Complimentary Play: TEXAS
Brandon Lang
Friday ...
10 Dime Pirates - Not only did Florida awaken everyone to what it has to offer, by stuffing the Braves on their own field, but we saw Atlanta's offense pull a disappearing act. And now there's a chance Yunel Escobar will join Chipper Jones on the bench after straining an abdominal muscle. Jones is already out with a bruised thumb. Of course, there's not much to say about Pittsburgh's offense, as it is batting .178 and averaging 1.6 runs in its five losses. The good news is it is batting .353 and averaging 7.5 runs in its four wins. This one being at home, the Bucs are going to have plenty of confidence to break out offensively and stymie Atlanta. It's not impossible, as the Pirates won five of the teams' seven meetings last season, so let's bank on Paul Maholm to lead the Bucs to the win.
10 Dime Orioles - Three straight series wins, a 6-3 mark and now a weekend-set with an AL East rival that is 3-6. Thing is, the Red Sox are the ones with three wins, while Baltimore is the team that has been playing much better during the first couple of weeks. Baltimore started the campaign with series wins over AL East foes New York and Tampa Bay, and then took two of three from Texas this week. Why not keep it going against Boston? And I know the O's generally struggle at Fenway Park, but we're counting on Jeremy Guthrie. He's the only Baltimore starter to make it through six innings. The right-hander is 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA thus far, while the O's are on winning runs of 7-2 in his last nine starts following a quality start, 6-2 when he pitches on five days's rest and 5-2 when he pitches in a series opener.
10 Dime Blue Jays - This offense has been quite impressive, wouldn't you say? After outscoring Minnesota 31-13 behind 56 hits in their third straight series win, the Jays are atop the bigs with 77 runs and 128 hits heading into the weekend. Perfect for us, as the Jays have dominated the Athletics of late, having won six straight in this series - including four in a row at Rogers Center. Coincidentally, Toronto's run against the A's has been because of offense, having outscored them 35-10 in the six wins. The Jays won the most recent series by a 21-9 tally. Game 1 could be ugly against young righty Josh Outman, who hasn't earned a decision yet, but does have a rather-high 6.23 ERA. Expect another breakout game by the Jays, as they'll chase Outman early.
5 Dime Dodgers - Five straight wins for the boys in blue, and it's been much in part to the balanced attack that has outscored opponents 37-10 during the streak. And at least five players have gotten a hit in each game, while at least three have driven in one run. That included last night's series finale against NL West-rival San Francisco, as the Dodgers watched seven different players record a hit. On top of that, Dodgers pitchers have allowed two runs or fewer in four of the five wins. And since the Dodgers won five of nine meetings at home against the Rockies last season, confidence will brew for this opener.
5 Dime Astros - Gotta like Houston-ace Roy Oswalt here, as the due theory kicks in thanks to his 0-2 start to the 2009 campaign, not to mention the generous 6.23 ERA he's posted. No time like the present for the right-hander, though, as Oswalt he's been near-perfect in his career against the Reds, sporting a 23-1 mark, along with a 2.47 ERA in 28 career games (26 of them being starts) against them. That remarkable record included an 8-0 mark with a 2.39 ERA in as many starts since suffering his lone loss to the Reds (in Cincinnati) almost three years ago. Even better, Oswalt has held the Reds to one run in each of his last three outings against them, while the Astros won 12 of 15 meetings with Cincy last season. This bonus winner is easy, as we take the 'Stros.
FREE - Brewers (See daily video for your analysis)
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Friday ...
10 Dime Pirates - Not only did Florida awaken everyone to what it has to offer, by stuffing the Braves on their own field, but we saw Atlanta's offense pull a disappearing act. And now there's a chance Yunel Escobar will join Chipper Jones on the bench after straining an abdominal muscle. Jones is already out with a bruised thumb. Of course, there's not much to say about Pittsburgh's offense, as it is batting .178 and averaging 1.6 runs in its five losses. The good news is it is batting .353 and averaging 7.5 runs in its four wins. This one being at home, the Bucs are going to have plenty of confidence to break out offensively and stymie Atlanta. It's not impossible, as the Pirates won five of the teams' seven meetings last season, so let's bank on Paul Maholm to lead the Bucs to the win.
10 Dime Orioles - Three straight series wins, a 6-3 mark and now a weekend-set with an AL East rival that is 3-6. Thing is, the Red Sox are the ones with three wins, while Baltimore is the team that has been playing much better during the first couple of weeks. Baltimore started the campaign with series wins over AL East foes New York and Tampa Bay, and then took two of three from Texas this week. Why not keep it going against Boston? And I know the O's generally struggle at Fenway Park, but we're counting on Jeremy Guthrie. He's the only Baltimore starter to make it through six innings. The right-hander is 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA thus far, while the O's are on winning runs of 7-2 in his last nine starts following a quality start, 6-2 when he pitches on five days's rest and 5-2 when he pitches in a series opener.
10 Dime Blue Jays - This offense has been quite impressive, wouldn't you say? After outscoring Minnesota 31-13 behind 56 hits in their third straight series win, the Jays are atop the bigs with 77 runs and 128 hits heading into the weekend. Perfect for us, as the Jays have dominated the Athletics of late, having won six straight in this series - including four in a row at Rogers Center. Coincidentally, Toronto's run against the A's has been because of offense, having outscored them 35-10 in the six wins. The Jays won the most recent series by a 21-9 tally. Game 1 could be ugly against young righty Josh Outman, who hasn't earned a decision yet, but does have a rather-high 6.23 ERA. Expect another breakout game by the Jays, as they'll chase Outman early.
5 Dime Dodgers - Five straight wins for the boys in blue, and it's been much in part to the balanced attack that has outscored opponents 37-10 during the streak. And at least five players have gotten a hit in each game, while at least three have driven in one run. That included last night's series finale against NL West-rival San Francisco, as the Dodgers watched seven different players record a hit. On top of that, Dodgers pitchers have allowed two runs or fewer in four of the five wins. And since the Dodgers won five of nine meetings at home against the Rockies last season, confidence will brew for this opener.
5 Dime Astros - Gotta like Houston-ace Roy Oswalt here, as the due theory kicks in thanks to his 0-2 start to the 2009 campaign, not to mention the generous 6.23 ERA he's posted. No time like the present for the right-hander, though, as Oswalt he's been near-perfect in his career against the Reds, sporting a 23-1 mark, along with a 2.47 ERA in 28 career games (26 of them being starts) against them. That remarkable record included an 8-0 mark with a 2.39 ERA in as many starts since suffering his lone loss to the Reds (in Cincinnati) almost three years ago. Even better, Oswalt has held the Reds to one run in each of his last three outings against them, while the Astros won 12 of 15 meetings with Cincy last season. This bonus winner is easy, as we take the 'Stros.
FREE - Brewers (See daily video for your analysis)
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