HOME TEAM IN CAPS
All games are listed pitchers unless stated otherwise.
Colorado +1.09 over PITTSBURGH
The Pirates have just three wins in its last 16 games and as a favorite they offer up very little appeal. In addition, Paul Maholm has been struggling miserably and after a strong start he’s been absolutely rocked in three of his last four starts. In fact, over his last four starts covering 23 frames, Maholm has allowed 31 hits and 18 earned runs and his BAA is .323. Maholm was battered by the Mets in his last start and with all the good right-handed hitters in the Rockies line-up, chances are he’ll get hit pretty good again. The Rockies OPS against lefties is .898, which ranks them fourth in the majors. Relying on pitchers that nobody wanted for years is something to be reluctant about but in Jorge De La Rosa we’re not talking about a guy that has one or two or three good starts. No De La Rosa has been bringing it all year and in fact, since the all-star break last season his numbers are sweet. 108.2 IP, 86 H, 54 BB, 103 K, 1.293 WHIP and a 3.24 ERA puts him in an elite group and when you consider that he pitches at least half his games at Coors, his numbers become even more impressive. De La Rosa is 0-3 because of a lack of run support but don’t be fooled by his record. The Rockies know this guy deserves a win and they’ll play their hearts out to get him one here against an extremely ripe opponent. Play: Colorado +1.09 (Risking 2 units). <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
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Minnesota +1.16 over NY YANKEES
The Yanks are good and chances are they’ll compete for the division, however, that doesn’t change the fact that they’re overpriced once again and that either Phil Hughes’s confidence is shattered or he just isn’t very good. Hughes couldn’t get out of the second inning in his last start at Baltimore, as he allowed eight runs before being yanked. Since striking out six and walking two in his season debut against the Tigers, he's walked six, struck out two and has been tagged for 15 hits in 5.2 innings. His ERA is up to 8.49 and the new Yankee Stadium is proving to be hard on inexperienced and struggling pitchers. Behind him is a bullpen that is about as bad as it gets. The Twins are coming off a sweep of the Tigers and although they’ve struggled badly against the Yanks, they still offer up good value here with an experienced Francisco Liriano that is about 100 times more likely to throw a good game than Hughes is. Since the return of Joe Mauer the Twins have been soaring up the offensive rankings in the league and it’s unlikely that Hughes will slow them down. Play: Minnesota +1.16 (Risking 2 units). <o></o>
All games are listed pitchers unless stated otherwise.
Colorado +1.09 over PITTSBURGH
The Pirates have just three wins in its last 16 games and as a favorite they offer up very little appeal. In addition, Paul Maholm has been struggling miserably and after a strong start he’s been absolutely rocked in three of his last four starts. In fact, over his last four starts covering 23 frames, Maholm has allowed 31 hits and 18 earned runs and his BAA is .323. Maholm was battered by the Mets in his last start and with all the good right-handed hitters in the Rockies line-up, chances are he’ll get hit pretty good again. The Rockies OPS against lefties is .898, which ranks them fourth in the majors. Relying on pitchers that nobody wanted for years is something to be reluctant about but in Jorge De La Rosa we’re not talking about a guy that has one or two or three good starts. No De La Rosa has been bringing it all year and in fact, since the all-star break last season his numbers are sweet. 108.2 IP, 86 H, 54 BB, 103 K, 1.293 WHIP and a 3.24 ERA puts him in an elite group and when you consider that he pitches at least half his games at Coors, his numbers become even more impressive. De La Rosa is 0-3 because of a lack of run support but don’t be fooled by his record. The Rockies know this guy deserves a win and they’ll play their hearts out to get him one here against an extremely ripe opponent. Play: Colorado +1.09 (Risking 2 units). <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
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></o>Minnesota +1.16 over NY YANKEES
The Yanks are good and chances are they’ll compete for the division, however, that doesn’t change the fact that they’re overpriced once again and that either Phil Hughes’s confidence is shattered or he just isn’t very good. Hughes couldn’t get out of the second inning in his last start at Baltimore, as he allowed eight runs before being yanked. Since striking out six and walking two in his season debut against the Tigers, he's walked six, struck out two and has been tagged for 15 hits in 5.2 innings. His ERA is up to 8.49 and the new Yankee Stadium is proving to be hard on inexperienced and struggling pitchers. Behind him is a bullpen that is about as bad as it gets. The Twins are coming off a sweep of the Tigers and although they’ve struggled badly against the Yanks, they still offer up good value here with an experienced Francisco Liriano that is about 100 times more likely to throw a good game than Hughes is. Since the return of Joe Mauer the Twins have been soaring up the offensive rankings in the league and it’s unlikely that Hughes will slow them down. Play: Minnesota +1.16 (Risking 2 units). <o
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