Dave Cokin
Bonus Play Friday
BREWERS (Nelson) @ PHILLIES (Velasquez) 7:05 PM
Take: BREWERS +105
Vincent Velasquez is an impressive young pitcher, and I’m one who’s very bullish on the Phillies righty. But like many of the Phils, he’s struggling right now and I’ll be trying to beat him tonight.
The early season euphoria in the City of Brotherly Love has given way to cruel reality lately. The Phillies will enter tonight’s clash with the Brewers having dropped seven straight games. I think there’s a very good chance the slump gets extended to eight consecutive defeats.
The problem for this team right now is a serious lack of offense. The Phils have been held to two or fewer runs in six of the losses, and the one game where they scratched out three runs was also a defeat. This is not a go with team at the present time, and Velasquez is also mired in a slump of his own.
Milwaukee is actually kind of an under the radar success story right now. The Brewers have been playing some good baseball recently and they’ve got a good form guy on the hill tonight in Jimmy Nelson.
This is one of those games where the betting line is about where it should be, but it isn’t as well. I realize that sounds contradictory. Basically, what I’m saying is that based on the full body of work for both the teams and the two starting pitchers, the Phillies and Velasquez are properly priced at somewhere right around 6:5. But off the current form for both the two teams and the starting pitchers, I see Nelson and the Brewers as being a worthwhile take at any underdog price. Thus, Milwaukee with a plus sign is a play for me tonight.
Bonus Play Friday
BREWERS (Nelson) @ PHILLIES (Velasquez) 7:05 PM
Take: BREWERS +105
Vincent Velasquez is an impressive young pitcher, and I’m one who’s very bullish on the Phillies righty. But like many of the Phils, he’s struggling right now and I’ll be trying to beat him tonight.
The early season euphoria in the City of Brotherly Love has given way to cruel reality lately. The Phillies will enter tonight’s clash with the Brewers having dropped seven straight games. I think there’s a very good chance the slump gets extended to eight consecutive defeats.
The problem for this team right now is a serious lack of offense. The Phils have been held to two or fewer runs in six of the losses, and the one game where they scratched out three runs was also a defeat. This is not a go with team at the present time, and Velasquez is also mired in a slump of his own.
Milwaukee is actually kind of an under the radar success story right now. The Brewers have been playing some good baseball recently and they’ve got a good form guy on the hill tonight in Jimmy Nelson.
This is one of those games where the betting line is about where it should be, but it isn’t as well. I realize that sounds contradictory. Basically, what I’m saying is that based on the full body of work for both the teams and the two starting pitchers, the Phillies and Velasquez are properly priced at somewhere right around 6:5. But off the current form for both the two teams and the starting pitchers, I see Nelson and the Brewers as being a worthwhile take at any underdog price. Thus, Milwaukee with a plus sign is a play for me tonight.
Jim Feist
Jim Feist's Comp MLB Pick, Friday, June 2, 2016 10:10 PM
(961) ATLANTA BRAVES VS (962) LOS ANGELES DODGERS
Take: UNDER
Reason: Your Bonus Play for Thursday, June 2, 2016 is in the MLB scheduled contest between the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles from Dodger stadium. This is a big park in centerfield, tough on hitters, and a Atlanta offense is in town ranked No. 29 in runs scored. Atlanta is on a 7-3-2 run under the total, but at least they have a hot starter going in Julio Teheran (2.77 ERA). Opponents are hitting .209 off him, but he's 1-5 because the offense can't get him any runs. The Under is 22-8-2 in Teheran's last 32 starts during game 1 of a series. The Dodgers are home from a long road trip, playing yesterday in Wrigley Field. The Under is 14-4-3 in the Dodgers last 21 games vs. a team with a winning percentage below .400, plus they are on an 18-8 run under at home. Play Atlanta/LA Dodgers Under the total.
Jim Feist's Comp MLB Pick, Friday, June 2, 2016 10:10 PM
(961) ATLANTA BRAVES VS (962) LOS ANGELES DODGERS
Take: UNDER
Reason: Your Bonus Play for Thursday, June 2, 2016 is in the MLB scheduled contest between the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles from Dodger stadium. This is a big park in centerfield, tough on hitters, and a Atlanta offense is in town ranked No. 29 in runs scored. Atlanta is on a 7-3-2 run under the total, but at least they have a hot starter going in Julio Teheran (2.77 ERA). Opponents are hitting .209 off him, but he's 1-5 because the offense can't get him any runs. The Under is 22-8-2 in Teheran's last 32 starts during game 1 of a series. The Dodgers are home from a long road trip, playing yesterday in Wrigley Field. The Under is 14-4-3 in the Dodgers last 21 games vs. a team with a winning percentage below .400, plus they are on an 18-8 run under at home. Play Atlanta/LA Dodgers Under the total.
Matt Josephs
MIL vs PHI
Bonus Play UNDER 7.5
Vincent Velasquez is glad to be home where he is 3-1 with a 0.74 ERA and a WHIP of 0.781 in four starts. His numbers are ugly, but roadtrips to Chicago and Detroit will do that to a pitcher. Aaron Hill is the only Brewer to have seen the righty and he's 1-for-2 in those games. Milwaukee's lineup isn't very good as evidenced by the .223 batting average on the road before Thursday. The Phillies bullpen hasn't been terrible with just one loss and one blown save at home. Their offense has been bad hitting around .215 in their last eight games. Jimmy Nelson has allowed three runs and 15 hits in his last three outings so the righty should find some success on Friday. Last year he was touched up a bit by the Phillies, but their offense is much worse this year. These two offenses should be held down on Friday.
MIL vs PHI
Bonus Play UNDER 7.5
Vincent Velasquez is glad to be home where he is 3-1 with a 0.74 ERA and a WHIP of 0.781 in four starts. His numbers are ugly, but roadtrips to Chicago and Detroit will do that to a pitcher. Aaron Hill is the only Brewer to have seen the righty and he's 1-for-2 in those games. Milwaukee's lineup isn't very good as evidenced by the .223 batting average on the road before Thursday. The Phillies bullpen hasn't been terrible with just one loss and one blown save at home. Their offense has been bad hitting around .215 in their last eight games. Jimmy Nelson has allowed three runs and 15 hits in his last three outings so the righty should find some success on Friday. Last year he was touched up a bit by the Phillies, but their offense is much worse this year. These two offenses should be held down on Friday.
Art Aronson
NYM vs MIA
1* Bonus Play UNDER Mets/Marlins
The visitors hand the ball to All-Star candidate Noah Syndergaard (5-2, 1.84 ERA) who was ejected in the third inning of a game vs. the Dodgers last Saturday after throwing behind second basman Chase Utley. Syndergaard has been the very model of consistency this year though and is 3-1 with a tiny 1.67 ERA on the road thus far. The home side counters with Tom Koehler (3-5, 4.50) who comes in off a win, giving up two earned runs with two K’s over seven innings over the Braves on Sunday (note that Koehler is 2-1 with a 3.49 ERA in all “night” games this year). We’re expecting these two competent starters to battle into the latter frames, indeed making the UNDER worthy of a second look in this matchup.
AAA Sports
NYM vs MIA
1* Bonus Play UNDER Mets/Marlins
The visitors hand the ball to All-Star candidate Noah Syndergaard (5-2, 1.84 ERA) who was ejected in the third inning of a game vs. the Dodgers last Saturday after throwing behind second basman Chase Utley. Syndergaard has been the very model of consistency this year though and is 3-1 with a tiny 1.67 ERA on the road thus far. The home side counters with Tom Koehler (3-5, 4.50) who comes in off a win, giving up two earned runs with two K’s over seven innings over the Braves on Sunday (note that Koehler is 2-1 with a 3.49 ERA in all “night” games this year). We’re expecting these two competent starters to battle into the latter frames, indeed making the UNDER worthy of a second look in this matchup.
AAA Sports
Marc Lawrence
Royals vs Indians
Play - Cleveland Indians w/Salazar
Edges - Indians: Danny Salazar 3-0 with 2.13 ERA last 3 home team starts in this series, and 12-4 last 16 overall home team starts, including 3-1 with 1.61 ERA and 0.89 WHIP this season. Royals: Ednison Volquez 0-3 with 6.48 ERA last 3 team starts in this series. With Volquez sporting a 6.95 ERA with a 1.91 WHIP away, as opposed to a 2.38 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP at home this season, we recommend a 1* play on Cleveland. Thank you and good luck as always.
Royals vs Indians
Play - Cleveland Indians w/Salazar
Edges - Indians: Danny Salazar 3-0 with 2.13 ERA last 3 home team starts in this series, and 12-4 last 16 overall home team starts, including 3-1 with 1.61 ERA and 0.89 WHIP this season. Royals: Ednison Volquez 0-3 with 6.48 ERA last 3 team starts in this series. With Volquez sporting a 6.95 ERA with a 1.91 WHIP away, as opposed to a 2.38 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP at home this season, we recommend a 1* play on Cleveland. Thank you and good luck as always.
