Friday, July 24
**12-2 in 25 dime plays this year, No. 13 goes tonight!**
25 dime - Dodgers
Hell of a pitchers duel out west tonight as two of baseball's bright young studs square off in Hollywood. One of these two phenoms, however, happens to be riding a video game-like streak -- and that's Clayton Kershaw. The Los Angeles southpaw is 5-0 with a ridiculous 0.62 ERA his last seven starts, all of which the Dodgers have won. He's also 3-2 at home with an 1.62 ERA, another statistic that boggles my mind. Now don't get me wrong, Josh Johnson can flat out deal, but I question him on the road and I'm not sure that the Fish can score enough runs off of Kershaw to pull out the 'W.' Johnson's ERA jumps almost a full two points on the road and his two losses this season came against the NL West. Also, I'm the biggest advocate of winning the first game and the Dodgers have won 8 of their last 10 series openers. If you get a chance to watch this game, I highly suggest you do so. This is going to be one of the best games of the season with these two aces on the bump. Too much offense and too much Kershaw though as L.A. cashes yet another 25 dime winner. Play the Dodgers.
10 dime - Phillies
I think it's fair to say that the Phillies have surpassed the Rockies and can rightfully deem themselves the hottest team in baseball. Philly has won 15 of their last 17 games and they are showing absolutely no signs of slowing down. Their pitching has been incredible, they're getting timely hitting (both situational and power) and they are doing all the little things in between the lines. Tonight, the dreary and tired Cardinals come to town and something tells me they won't be 100 percent ready for the opener. Stuck in the middle of an extremely tough road trip, the Cards were laid up in Washington D.C. last night for a one game make-up against the Nats. Granted, they won the game, but that didn't come without two separate rain delays and then the subsequent bus and train ride to Philly well after 1 o'clock in the morning. It doesn't get any easier for St. Louis, as they face J.A. Happ, who let's be real is a flat-out winner. Happ (7-0, 2.68) hasn't allowed more than three runs since June 14, he's 3-0 at CBP this year and he hasn't lost a start since 2007. Best of luck to Albie and Company, but I'm rolling with the Phillies.
10 dime - Rangers
Great puppy value in Kansas City tonight as Vegas is still in love with Royals' ace Zack Greinke. I'm still baffled by this high of a line though, as Greinke (10-5, 2.08) hasn't won a game since June 28 and KC has dropped 10 of their last 11 games. The bleeding doesn't stop there, because honestly, the Royals have an atrocious offense and an even worse bullpen. Their biggest power hitter, Jose Guillen, was just placed on the disabled list and nobody outside of closer Joakim Soria is reliable in relief. That's the key to getting past Greinke: work your counts, get his pitch count high and get to the bullpen. The Rangers, fresh off a sweep of Boston, have so many great hitters. Young, Kinsler, Hamilton and Cruz all have the capability of changing the game with one swing of the bat while Kansas City counters with Billy Butler (chuckle) and Mark Teahen. Bottom line, the Rangers have offense and the Royals do not. I don't care how much of a stud Greinke is -- if he doesn't have run support, Kansas City is going to continue falling into a downward spiral.
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