DAVE COKIN
Matchup: Minnesota at Philadelphia
Time: 7:05 PM EDT (Fri)
Listed pitchers must go: (R) BLACKBURN, N vs. (R) BLANTON, J
Play: Minnesota (ML +115)
You won't often see me trying to make money on Nick Blackburn pitching away from home. The Twins righty is a lifetime 9-20 on the road, which clearly does not exactly inspire confidence. But he's facing a stone cold Joe Blanton tonight. Blanton is arguably about as awful as it can possibly get right now, and is definite fade material as even moderate chalk. The Philliesw are starting to swing the bats, but the Twins can also knock it around the park, and with Blanton serving up homers by the bunch, I believe they can outscore the hosts tonight. I'll go for the underdog odds with Minnesota.