Stu Feiner
KANSAS CITY @ MINNESOTA 8:00 ET
THIS LINE HAS BEEN DROPPING ALL WEEK AND CONTINUES TO GO DOWN SO BET IT ASAP. IF THE GAME DROPS BELOW 3, BUY IT BACK UP TO 3 JUST IN CASE. BUT SAYING THAT, I THINK KANSAS CITY WILL WIN OUTRIGHT EASILY. YES I KNOW KC IS 1-9 ATS THEIR LAST 10 PRESEASON ROAD GAMES. YES I KNOW THE HOME TEAM HAS WON AND COVERED THE LAST 3 MEETINGS. WE THROW ALL THAT OUT THE WINDOW. NEW COACH TODD HALEY HAS RUN A VERY STRICT CAMP AND TONIGHT THEY ARE PLAYING TO WIN. WITH THE DEEPEST QB ROTATION IN PRESEASON, LOOK FOR CASSEL, CROYLE, THIGPEN AND MARTIN TO CONTROL THE GAME. WITH FAVRE JOINING MINNY THIS WEEK, I BELEIVE THERE ARE TOO MANY DISTRACTIONS FOR THEM TO BE FOCUSED TONIGHT. KC WINS GOING AWAY.
KANSAS CITY +3 1000 DIME SELECTION
Stu's 1000 Dimer
KANSAS CITY @ MINNESOTA 8:00 ET
THIS LINE HAS BEEN DROPPING ALL WEEK AND CONTINUES TO GO DOWN SO BET IT ASAP. IF THE GAME DROPS BELOW 3, BUY IT BACK UP TO 3 JUST IN CASE. BUT SAYING THAT, I THINK KANSAS CITY WILL WIN OUTRIGHT EASILY. YES I KNOW KC IS 1-9 ATS THEIR LAST 10 PRESEASON ROAD GAMES. YES I KNOW THE HOME TEAM HAS WON AND COVERED THE LAST 3 MEETINGS. WE THROW ALL THAT OUT THE WINDOW. NEW COACH TODD HALEY HAS RUN A VERY STRICT CAMP AND TONIGHT THEY ARE PLAYING TO WIN. WITH THE DEEPEST QB ROTATION IN PRESEASON, LOOK FOR CASSEL, CROYLE, THIGPEN AND MARTIN TO CONTROL THE GAME. WITH FAVRE JOINING MINNY THIS WEEK, I BELEIVE THERE ARE TOO MANY DISTRACTIONS FOR THEM TO BE FOCUSED TONIGHT. KC WINS GOING AWAY.
KANSAS CITY +3 1000 DIME SELECTION
Stu's 1000 Dimer
PLAYERS ADVANTAGE HUGE O/U TOP PLAY! Over 9.5 Royals vs. Twins - Aug 21
Scott Rickenbach’s Top Play: OVER the total in Kansas City vs Minnesota @ 8:10 PM ET: Hochevar vs Blackburn – We are getting some line value here due to the absence of Justin Morneau of the Twins for this game. We’re not going to lie to you. We’d sure love to his bat in there tonight. However, what’s funny about things like this is that Morneau is 0 for 4 in his career against Luke Hochevar of the Royals. Morneau’s replacement in the lineup is expected to again be Michael Cuddyer. Note that Minnesota’s Cuddyer is 2 for 6 with a double and an RBI against Hochevar. In other words, we sometimes get line value that is even “better than usual” in a situation like this. Morneau misses but Cuddyer comes in and knocks the cover off the ball. It is very likely with the way things have been going for Hochevar and the Royals pitching staff!
Kansas City’s Hochevar is 0-3 with an 8.59 ERA in his last four starts. Also, it’s not just Hochevar that’s struggling for the Royals pitching staff. Their team ERA, during their current 6-21 slide in home games, is a lofty 5.78 in these 27 home games! One of the few bright spots on this staff is closer Joakim Soria but even he is nursing a twisted ankle. Hochevar did have a very strong start versus the Twins on June 29th. However, look what’s happened since then! Hochevar had a 5.74 ERA and a .315 BAA in July. Also, in August he’s 0-2 with a 7.88 ERA and a .361 BAA in his three starts this month. Even though he had that great outing versus Minnesota earlier this season, note how he’s faded ever since then. Also note that Hochevar’s only other career start against the Twins certainly did not go too well! The right-hander allowed five earned runs on nine hits in 5.1 innings of work in his 2008 outing versus Minnesota. Look for another rough one here and, keep in mind, the bullpen has really struggled for the Royals.
The Twins are certainly not without their own pitching issues in this one. They hand the ball to Nick Blackburn and this outing has the makings of a disaster for him. Blackburn has always struggled more against lefties than righties in his career and the Royals are loaded with left-handed sticks! Additionally, Blackburn’s current form has simply been awful of late. Blackburn is 0-4 with a 10.17 ERA in his last six starts! In addition, don’t be fooled by his solid long-term numbers against the Royals. The last time Blackburn faced Kansas City he had one of his worst outings of the season. That start came less than two weeks ago and that means the Royals are getting a quick second look and, hence, another chance to get some very good cuts against him! Blackburn has lasted five innings or less in four of his last six starts and that will further tax a struggling Twins pitching staff. Minnesota has allowed 6.7 runs per game in their last 19 games and we look for more of the same here. Play OVER the total in Kansas City as a Top Play selection on Friday night!
Scott Rickenbach’s Top Play: OVER the total in Kansas City vs Minnesota @ 8:10 PM ET: Hochevar vs Blackburn – We are getting some line value here due to the absence of Justin Morneau of the Twins for this game. We’re not going to lie to you. We’d sure love to his bat in there tonight. However, what’s funny about things like this is that Morneau is 0 for 4 in his career against Luke Hochevar of the Royals. Morneau’s replacement in the lineup is expected to again be Michael Cuddyer. Note that Minnesota’s Cuddyer is 2 for 6 with a double and an RBI against Hochevar. In other words, we sometimes get line value that is even “better than usual” in a situation like this. Morneau misses but Cuddyer comes in and knocks the cover off the ball. It is very likely with the way things have been going for Hochevar and the Royals pitching staff!
Kansas City’s Hochevar is 0-3 with an 8.59 ERA in his last four starts. Also, it’s not just Hochevar that’s struggling for the Royals pitching staff. Their team ERA, during their current 6-21 slide in home games, is a lofty 5.78 in these 27 home games! One of the few bright spots on this staff is closer Joakim Soria but even he is nursing a twisted ankle. Hochevar did have a very strong start versus the Twins on June 29th. However, look what’s happened since then! Hochevar had a 5.74 ERA and a .315 BAA in July. Also, in August he’s 0-2 with a 7.88 ERA and a .361 BAA in his three starts this month. Even though he had that great outing versus Minnesota earlier this season, note how he’s faded ever since then. Also note that Hochevar’s only other career start against the Twins certainly did not go too well! The right-hander allowed five earned runs on nine hits in 5.1 innings of work in his 2008 outing versus Minnesota. Look for another rough one here and, keep in mind, the bullpen has really struggled for the Royals.
The Twins are certainly not without their own pitching issues in this one. They hand the ball to Nick Blackburn and this outing has the makings of a disaster for him. Blackburn has always struggled more against lefties than righties in his career and the Royals are loaded with left-handed sticks! Additionally, Blackburn’s current form has simply been awful of late. Blackburn is 0-4 with a 10.17 ERA in his last six starts! In addition, don’t be fooled by his solid long-term numbers against the Royals. The last time Blackburn faced Kansas City he had one of his worst outings of the season. That start came less than two weeks ago and that means the Royals are getting a quick second look and, hence, another chance to get some very good cuts against him! Blackburn has lasted five innings or less in four of his last six starts and that will further tax a struggling Twins pitching staff. Minnesota has allowed 6.7 runs per game in their last 19 games and we look for more of the same here. Play OVER the total in Kansas City as a Top Play selection on Friday night!
ASA's MLB pick on Fri, Aug. 21 - Under Arizona vs. Houston
3* ‘UNDER 9’ Arizona Diamondbacks (Petit) at Houston Astros (Oswalt) 6:05 PM
The Astros and Diamondbacks have both cooled off at the plate with Arizona batting .240 over the last ten games and Houston batting .251. Just twice in the past eleven games has Arizona topped four runs and Houston has scored two or fewer runs in five of the last seven games. The ‘under’ is 34-24-4 in games at Minute Maid Park this season and less than 8.6 runs per game are being scored in Houston despite a reputation as a higher scoring park.
The Diamondbacks are batting just .235 in road games this year and Roy Oswalt allowed just one run over seven innings in his last start against Arizona in June. Oswalt has just six wins this season but he has allowed one run or less in seven of his last 13 starts. The ‘under’ is 6-4 in his home starts and he owns an impressive 3.08 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Oswalt’s ERA in night games is just 3.67 and the Houston bullpen owns a 3.85 ERA in home games.
Yusmeiro Petit has terrible numbers for the season but he has allowed just ten runs in his last four starts. Petit owns a 4.15 ERA in his road starts as his main struggles have been at home at Chase Field. Arizona’s bullpen has shown significant improvement in the last month and the ‘under’ is 9-4 in the last 13 Arizona games which they have played as underdogs. The ‘under’ is also 32-24-3 in Arizona road games.
3* ‘UNDER 9’ Arizona Diamondbacks (Petit) at Houston Astros (Oswalt) 6:05 PM
The Astros and Diamondbacks have both cooled off at the plate with Arizona batting .240 over the last ten games and Houston batting .251. Just twice in the past eleven games has Arizona topped four runs and Houston has scored two or fewer runs in five of the last seven games. The ‘under’ is 34-24-4 in games at Minute Maid Park this season and less than 8.6 runs per game are being scored in Houston despite a reputation as a higher scoring park.
The Diamondbacks are batting just .235 in road games this year and Roy Oswalt allowed just one run over seven innings in his last start against Arizona in June. Oswalt has just six wins this season but he has allowed one run or less in seven of his last 13 starts. The ‘under’ is 6-4 in his home starts and he owns an impressive 3.08 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Oswalt’s ERA in night games is just 3.67 and the Houston bullpen owns a 3.85 ERA in home games.
Yusmeiro Petit has terrible numbers for the season but he has allowed just ten runs in his last four starts. Petit owns a 4.15 ERA in his road starts as his main struggles have been at home at Chase Field. Arizona’s bullpen has shown significant improvement in the last month and the ‘under’ is 9-4 in the last 13 Arizona games which they have played as underdogs. The ‘under’ is also 32-24-3 in Arizona road games.
Nick BookieKiller Parsons
Today's Pick: BOSTON RED SOX
Today's pick is a pay premium pick from Nick "BookieKiller" Parsons provided exclusively to Plus10Club.com.
MLB
Yankees vs. Boston
7:10 EST
For a number of different reasons I feel that we're getting great value on the home side as the Red Sox look to end a recent slump vs. the Yankees: Boston dominated this rivalry over the season?s first half, winning the first eight meetings and taking a three-game division lead into the All-Star break as a result. The Yankees won their first eight overall after the break, though, and led the Red Sox by 2 1/2 games when Boston arrived in the Bronx for four contests starting Aug. 6, which the Yanks swept. New York has continued to play well since then, however they'll be in tough today; Boston has scored 42 runs in winning all six meetings between the clubs at Fenway this season, and also won the final matchup there last September. The Yankees will send Andy Pettitte (9-6, 4.09 ERA) to the mound for the series opener. The veteran left-hander has given up two runs or fewer in each of his last four starts, but has a mere 1-0 record to show for it as he?s received a total of six runs in support during that span. The Red Sox counter with Brad Penny (7-7, 5.22), who is 0-3 with a 7.54 ERA over his last four starts. He didn?t face the Yankees earlier this month but threw six shutout innings against them June 11, when he didn?t get the decision in Boston?s 4-3 win. The right-hander is 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA in two career starts against the Yankees. Penny is 5-2 with a 4.70 ERA at home as well. The lack of ball support that Pettitte has been receiving lately, the fact that the Red Sox were swept by the Yankees in their last series, and that Boston is a great 30-18 (+10 units) against division opponents means that I must recommend a play on the RED SOX! 6*
Today's Pick: BOSTON RED SOX
Today's pick is a pay premium pick from Nick "BookieKiller" Parsons provided exclusively to Plus10Club.com.
MLB
Yankees vs. Boston
7:10 EST
For a number of different reasons I feel that we're getting great value on the home side as the Red Sox look to end a recent slump vs. the Yankees: Boston dominated this rivalry over the season?s first half, winning the first eight meetings and taking a three-game division lead into the All-Star break as a result. The Yankees won their first eight overall after the break, though, and led the Red Sox by 2 1/2 games when Boston arrived in the Bronx for four contests starting Aug. 6, which the Yanks swept. New York has continued to play well since then, however they'll be in tough today; Boston has scored 42 runs in winning all six meetings between the clubs at Fenway this season, and also won the final matchup there last September. The Yankees will send Andy Pettitte (9-6, 4.09 ERA) to the mound for the series opener. The veteran left-hander has given up two runs or fewer in each of his last four starts, but has a mere 1-0 record to show for it as he?s received a total of six runs in support during that span. The Red Sox counter with Brad Penny (7-7, 5.22), who is 0-3 with a 7.54 ERA over his last four starts. He didn?t face the Yankees earlier this month but threw six shutout innings against them June 11, when he didn?t get the decision in Boston?s 4-3 win. The right-hander is 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA in two career starts against the Yankees. Penny is 5-2 with a 4.70 ERA at home as well. The lack of ball support that Pettitte has been receiving lately, the fact that the Red Sox were swept by the Yankees in their last series, and that Boston is a great 30-18 (+10 units) against division opponents means that I must recommend a play on the RED SOX! 6*
Evan Altemus
Today's Pick: COLORADO ROCKIES
Today's pick is a pay premium pick from Evan Altemus provided to Plus10Club.com.
MLB
San Francisco vs. Colorado
9:10 EST
San Francisco's line-up has struggled to hit lately, especially in their recent series against Cincinnati. Their hitters simply have problems producing offense on the road. The Rockies have been one of the hottest teams in baseball over the last few months, but the media hasn't really noticed, which means there is still great value on them. Colorado has a great pitching advantage today with Aaron Cook going against Jonathan Sanchez. The Rockies hit him hard the last time they faced him, while Cook shutdown the Giants just a few starts ago. Cook struggled in his last start, but I look for him to be motivated to have a strong outing today because of that. Colorado crushes lefties at home, both this season and especially recently. The Giants are also dealing with several injuries to starters. Look for Colorado to get a run line win.
3 UNIT SELECTION ROCKIES
Today's Pick: COLORADO ROCKIES
Today's pick is a pay premium pick from Evan Altemus provided to Plus10Club.com.
MLB
San Francisco vs. Colorado
9:10 EST
San Francisco's line-up has struggled to hit lately, especially in their recent series against Cincinnati. Their hitters simply have problems producing offense on the road. The Rockies have been one of the hottest teams in baseball over the last few months, but the media hasn't really noticed, which means there is still great value on them. Colorado has a great pitching advantage today with Aaron Cook going against Jonathan Sanchez. The Rockies hit him hard the last time they faced him, while Cook shutdown the Giants just a few starts ago. Cook struggled in his last start, but I look for him to be motivated to have a strong outing today because of that. Colorado crushes lefties at home, both this season and especially recently. The Giants are also dealing with several injuries to starters. Look for Colorado to get a run line win.
3 UNIT SELECTION ROCKIES
Dwayne Bryant
Today's Pick: ST. LOUIS RAMS
Today's pick is a pay premium pick from Dwayne Bryant provided to Plus10Club.com.
NFL
Atlanta vs. St. Louis
8:00 EST
This is Atlanta's second straight road game and they did not look good in allowing 27 points and 454 yards at Detroit last week. That's what happens when your defense loses five starters to free agency. Atlanta's defensive reserves did not look good at Detroit, to say the least. The Falcons focus may also be a bit off, as they may get caught looking ahead to next week's '09 home debut, which also just happens to be televised by CBS. I'll take the Rams as a live home dog in this one
Today's Pick: ST. LOUIS RAMS
Today's pick is a pay premium pick from Dwayne Bryant provided to Plus10Club.com.
NFL
Atlanta vs. St. Louis
8:00 EST
This is Atlanta's second straight road game and they did not look good in allowing 27 points and 454 yards at Detroit last week. That's what happens when your defense loses five starters to free agency. Atlanta's defensive reserves did not look good at Detroit, to say the least. The Falcons focus may also be a bit off, as they may get caught looking ahead to next week's '09 home debut, which also just happens to be televised by CBS. I'll take the Rams as a live home dog in this one
SPARTAN
Today's Pick: TENNESSEE TITANS
Today's pick is a pay premium pick from Spartan provided exclusively to Plus10Club.com.
NFL
Tennessee vs. Dallas
8:00 EST
I have stated this in prior pre-season post's but will repeat it here. All my NFL exhibition games are single star plays. I have a system that is tryed and tested over several years that has ALWAYS produced winning results at the conclusion of the pre-seaon. I personally do not subscribe to the theory that you can break down an exhibition game, some claim to and more power to them. I feel I am as sharp as they come when it comes to NFL and have the past results to prove it. BET THESE RELEASES MODERATELY! Crazy, sick, weird things happen in the NFL, now multiply that by 10 for the pre-season, get my point? Just being straight with you guys. Over the course of the entire pre-season using my system we should make a profit and have some fun having a lot of action out there. Just don't step up to the plate with these swinging for the fences guys! Take The Titans.
Today's Pick: TENNESSEE TITANS
Today's pick is a pay premium pick from Spartan provided exclusively to Plus10Club.com.
NFL
Tennessee vs. Dallas
8:00 EST
I have stated this in prior pre-season post's but will repeat it here. All my NFL exhibition games are single star plays. I have a system that is tryed and tested over several years that has ALWAYS produced winning results at the conclusion of the pre-seaon. I personally do not subscribe to the theory that you can break down an exhibition game, some claim to and more power to them. I feel I am as sharp as they come when it comes to NFL and have the past results to prove it. BET THESE RELEASES MODERATELY! Crazy, sick, weird things happen in the NFL, now multiply that by 10 for the pre-season, get my point? Just being straight with you guys. Over the course of the entire pre-season using my system we should make a profit and have some fun having a lot of action out there. Just don't step up to the plate with these swinging for the fences guys! Take The Titans.
Lenny Del Genio
Today's Pick: MINNESOTA TWINS
Today's pick is a pay premium pick from Lenny Del Genio provided exclusively to Plus10Club.com.
MLB
Minnesota vs. Kansas City
8:10 EST
We look for the Twins to get back on track after an 11-1 drubbing at the hands of Texas last night against the struggling Royals, whom they have revenge on their minds for a 5-4 loss back on 8/13. Kansas City actually won two of those three games in the Metrodome, but we find Minnesota at 8-1 on the road when seeking revenge for a loss as a home favorite since the start of last season. Neither of these pitchers are in good form, with each seeing their team lose each of their four previous starts. However, the Twins? bats have excelled in division play, hitting .288 and scoring nearly six full runs per game. Over the last seven days, the Royals offense is averaging just 3.6 runs per game and hitting .214 as a team. Take Minnesota.
Today's Pick: MINNESOTA TWINS
Today's pick is a pay premium pick from Lenny Del Genio provided exclusively to Plus10Club.com.
MLB
Minnesota vs. Kansas City
8:10 EST
We look for the Twins to get back on track after an 11-1 drubbing at the hands of Texas last night against the struggling Royals, whom they have revenge on their minds for a 5-4 loss back on 8/13. Kansas City actually won two of those three games in the Metrodome, but we find Minnesota at 8-1 on the road when seeking revenge for a loss as a home favorite since the start of last season. Neither of these pitchers are in good form, with each seeing their team lose each of their four previous starts. However, the Twins? bats have excelled in division play, hitting .288 and scoring nearly six full runs per game. Over the last seven days, the Royals offense is averaging just 3.6 runs per game and hitting .214 as a team. Take Minnesota.
Wunderdog
Game: Milwaukee at Washington (7:05 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on Washington +110 (moneyline) (risk 3 to win 3.3)
The Brewers lost Ben Sheets and CC Sabathia from last year's playoff team, but didn't skip a beat and surprised early by leading the NL Central. Reality has dealt a blow to those early-season hopes and surprises, and the Brew Crew now finds themselves back to reality. That 25-14 start has turned into a terrible 33-48 mark in their last 81, and recently really falling off the cliff by losing four straight, and just 16-27 in their last 43. That includes just 8-18 in their last 26 on the road. That puts the suddenly hot Nationals in prime position as a dog at home here, as the Nats are 15-10 in their last 25, but they are also 14-7 in their last 21 against a team with a losing record. I'll go with the Nats to win this one.
Game: Milwaukee at Washington (7:10 PM Eastern)
Pick: 4 units on Washington +1.5 runs -150 (runline) (risk 4 to win 2.7)
There has been a distinct role reversal for these teams over the last month. The Brewers, once 25-14, have fallen fast and hard and are now just 33-48 in their last 81, and 16-27 in their last 43, including 8-18 on the road. The Nats have been plenty hot at home, and when you consider them on the +1.5 runline, they would be 10-1 in their last 11 at home. That is troublesome to a Brewer team that appears to have cashed it in, and has dropped four straight. I'll go with Washington on the runline in this one.
Game: Chicago Cubs at Los Angeles Dodgers (10:10 PM Eastern)
Pick: 4 units on Los Angeles Dodgers -145 (moneyline) (risk 4 to win 2.8)
The Dodgers have been the team to beat all season in the NL West. While the Cubs, expected to do big things, have found the road to the 2009 playoffs full of land mines. The Cubs used a big-time 16-6 stretch to push themselves over .500, but have gone back to struggling once again, as they are just 4-10 since. The offense continues to be a problem, and they have scored three runs or less in nine of the 14 games. Last night's loss to the Dodgers moved the Cubs to 10 games under .500 on the road, and now 14-37 in their last 51 as a dog, and have dropped six straight to teams with a winning record. The Dodgers meanwhile, continue to feast at home where they are now 62-27 in their last 89 as a home chalk. The Cubs had huge revenge motive for the playoff sweep at the hands of the Dodgers last year, and couldn't get it done. That makes the task here even more difficult. The Dodgers get the call.
Game: Chicago Cubs at Los Angeles Dodgers (10:15 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5 runs +145 (runline) (risk 3 to win 4.4)
The Dodgers are churning out wins as a home chalk at the rate of 70% winners. Randy Wolf on regular four days rest has turned in a stellar 21-7 mark for the Dodgers in his last 28 starts. The Cubs' big failures have come against a pitcher with a WHIP of 1.15 or less, as they are just 5-18 in their last 23 against top pitchers. And as good as Wells has been, he can't turn the tide as the Cubs are 0-4 with him on the mound as a dog. The Cubs' bats have been quiet on the road, and in their last 15 road losses, 14 of the 15 have been by two runs or more. I also like the Dodgers on the runline here.
Game: Milwaukee at Washington (7:05 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on Washington +110 (moneyline) (risk 3 to win 3.3)
The Brewers lost Ben Sheets and CC Sabathia from last year's playoff team, but didn't skip a beat and surprised early by leading the NL Central. Reality has dealt a blow to those early-season hopes and surprises, and the Brew Crew now finds themselves back to reality. That 25-14 start has turned into a terrible 33-48 mark in their last 81, and recently really falling off the cliff by losing four straight, and just 16-27 in their last 43. That includes just 8-18 in their last 26 on the road. That puts the suddenly hot Nationals in prime position as a dog at home here, as the Nats are 15-10 in their last 25, but they are also 14-7 in their last 21 against a team with a losing record. I'll go with the Nats to win this one.
Game: Milwaukee at Washington (7:10 PM Eastern)
Pick: 4 units on Washington +1.5 runs -150 (runline) (risk 4 to win 2.7)
There has been a distinct role reversal for these teams over the last month. The Brewers, once 25-14, have fallen fast and hard and are now just 33-48 in their last 81, and 16-27 in their last 43, including 8-18 on the road. The Nats have been plenty hot at home, and when you consider them on the +1.5 runline, they would be 10-1 in their last 11 at home. That is troublesome to a Brewer team that appears to have cashed it in, and has dropped four straight. I'll go with Washington on the runline in this one.
Game: Chicago Cubs at Los Angeles Dodgers (10:10 PM Eastern)
Pick: 4 units on Los Angeles Dodgers -145 (moneyline) (risk 4 to win 2.8)
The Dodgers have been the team to beat all season in the NL West. While the Cubs, expected to do big things, have found the road to the 2009 playoffs full of land mines. The Cubs used a big-time 16-6 stretch to push themselves over .500, but have gone back to struggling once again, as they are just 4-10 since. The offense continues to be a problem, and they have scored three runs or less in nine of the 14 games. Last night's loss to the Dodgers moved the Cubs to 10 games under .500 on the road, and now 14-37 in their last 51 as a dog, and have dropped six straight to teams with a winning record. The Dodgers meanwhile, continue to feast at home where they are now 62-27 in their last 89 as a home chalk. The Cubs had huge revenge motive for the playoff sweep at the hands of the Dodgers last year, and couldn't get it done. That makes the task here even more difficult. The Dodgers get the call.
Game: Chicago Cubs at Los Angeles Dodgers (10:15 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5 runs +145 (runline) (risk 3 to win 4.4)
The Dodgers are churning out wins as a home chalk at the rate of 70% winners. Randy Wolf on regular four days rest has turned in a stellar 21-7 mark for the Dodgers in his last 28 starts. The Cubs' big failures have come against a pitcher with a WHIP of 1.15 or less, as they are just 5-18 in their last 23 against top pitchers. And as good as Wells has been, he can't turn the tide as the Cubs are 0-4 with him on the mound as a dog. The Cubs' bats have been quiet on the road, and in their last 15 road losses, 14 of the 15 have been by two runs or more. I also like the Dodgers on the runline here.
BOB BALFE
Chiefs/Vikings Over 37
The Chiefs may have lost Tony Gonzalez, but they have a very impressive bunch at wide receiver and decent depth at running back. This is a team that should put up some points this year which is something they could not do in the past. The Vikings are the most talked about team in the league now that they acquired Brett Favre. The Vikings also have good receivers and great depth at running back. Favre will push the backup QB's especially Tavaris Jackson to step up their own play. Look for fireworks in this game on offense. Take the Over 37.
Rays -155 over Rangers
Kazmir/Nippert
Chiefs/Vikings Over 37
The Chiefs may have lost Tony Gonzalez, but they have a very impressive bunch at wide receiver and decent depth at running back. This is a team that should put up some points this year which is something they could not do in the past. The Vikings are the most talked about team in the league now that they acquired Brett Favre. The Vikings also have good receivers and great depth at running back. Favre will push the backup QB's especially Tavaris Jackson to step up their own play. Look for fireworks in this game on offense. Take the Over 37.
Rays -155 over Rangers
Kazmir/Nippert
