Players of America
Today's Selections
STL vs. FL
Sport: Major League Baseball
Game: St. Louis Cardinals vs. Florida Marlins
The Play: Florida Marlins -120.0
Play Description:
Star Value: 1* (10 Units)
Writeup:
Monday brings sort of a lousy card to the table, but there really are a few match ups worthy of a wager. Our first release comes to us from Dolphin Stadium in Florida where the Marlins are set to host the Cardinals at 7:10PM EST. The Cardinals are off the hot seat of their big, prime time show down on live TV with the Cubs and now snapping back to reality a bit. That plane ride from Chicago to Florida will have a lot of tired men on it with a late night game, and Florida should be well rested from their day time win yesterday in New York.
Florida strutted their stuff last night knocking out the Mets in convincing fashion at home. They played very well all around and finally looked like a team that can compete come early October. Tonight, however, the Marlins return home to host St. Louis and are putting the right hander Anibal Sanchez on the mound. Sanchez comes in at just 1-1 overall on the season pitching just ten short innings. His ERA is a bit inflated at 4.22 in those ten innings, but we'll give him another chance to prove himself right here. The Fish bullpen has been solid this season tallying up an ERA of just 3.09 in over 323 total innings pitched. In those innings, they also hold a WHIP of 1.29. Florida and St. Louis are both 5-5 in their last ten games, and both need to string together a late run this season to boost their positions in their respective divisions. Additionally, the Marlins are relatively healthy all the way around and Hanley Ramirez returns to the line up with his leadership and play.
Righty Joel Pineiro will start for the Cards and Joel comes in a game under even so far this year at 4-5 overall. His ERA is fairly high at 5.04. He has given up almost 140 hits in just 110 innings, too. St. Louis needs to come in to this event tonight with a clear mind. They need to put everything out of their mind including their showdown with the Cubs, the Pujols talk and everything. Quite frankly, we're not confident this team has the discipline to do that. The bullpen of the Cardinals have thrown 27.1 total innings in their last three games and they've earned an ERA of almost 5.00 even, along with a WHIP of 1.78. That's a bit scary. Some rather big names on the good ole disabled list may hinder the full capabilities of this team tonight too. Super star Rick Ankiel has been listed as Doubtful for Monday's game due to an abdominal strain. Chris Dunca, Brian Barton and Juan Encarnacion all join Ankiel on the list and will not be participating in Monday's thriller.
All in all, this one comes down to execution. There is no shorting either team because both are solid in many aspects of the game. However, the edge goes to Florida and it's a pretty good price to grab. There isn't a huge pitching mismatch or anything like that tonight, just the better team sporting home field advantage. We're turning Florida in for a 10 unit wager tonight.
TREND OF THE GAME:
- The Cardinals are 3-8 in their last 11 games in Florida
Florida 7, St. Louis 3
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TOR vs. DET
Sport: Major League Baseball
Game: Toronto Blue Jays vs. Detroit Tigers
The Play: Toronto Blue Jays +155.0
Play Description:
Star Value: 1* (10 Units)
Writeup:
Next, we like the spot the Blue Jays are in again tonight in Detroit. We selected this team last night at home against Cleveland and it didn't pay off, but we'll be on them again tonight at the listed price. The Tigers play host to Toronto at 7:10PM EST at Comerica Park in downtown Detroit.
Its an interesting pitching match up in Detroit tonight. The Jays will put a very under-the-radar type pitcher on the mound in Shaun Marcum. Shaun is better than people think and he really goes out and performs almost every, single night. He's stated at just 6-5 overall this season, however, he has an impressive WHIP of 1.08 and a respectable ERA of 3.44. He is a very solid anchor in this Toronto rotation to back up Doc Halladay and AJ Burnett. He deserves more credit. When he gets done putting on a show, his team has a lot of faith in that bullpen, and this is why. In Toronto's last three games they've went to the bullpen for 18.1 innings. In those innings the pen has an ERA of just 1.95 and a WHIP of 1.25. Even more remarkable, the pen on the year has an ERA of 2.58 in over 225 innings. That is flat out incredible.
Verly will get the nod for Detroit on Monday night and Justin comes in at a sub par 8-12 overall. His ERA is rising by the game at 4.56 and he isn't really settling down like everyone thought he would. Everyone that follows the majors knows what he is capable, however, he hasn't shown us any of that so far this season. Until he does, it's always a good spot to bet against him because those guys in Las Vegas are giving him way too much credit. His last three starts have been an utter joke. He's 0-3 his last three starts with a WHIP of 1.56 and an astronomical ERA of 9.35. Read it again, 9.35. The bullpen for Detroit is streaky, you never really know what you're going to get with those guys. The Tigers have dropped seven of their last ten games and at this point in the year they really need to be going the other direction or thinking about making some moves for the future.
The Tigers have power, ability and talent, but they are way overpriced for the situation at hand tonight. Toronto is fully capable of winning this game, and dominating the entire way. Because of that, we'll put 10 units on the line with the Blue Jays at a very attractive number.
TRENDS OF THE GAME:
- The Tigers are 2-7 in their last 9 overall
- The Tigers are 2-6 in their last 8 Monday games
Toronto 6, Detroit 3
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NYY vs. MIN
Sport: Major League Baseball
Game: New York Yankees vs. Minnesota Twins
The Play: New York Yankees +120.0
Play Description:
Star Value: 1* (10 Units)
Writeup:
Last but not least we've spotted another delightful match up with some big time value. The Yankees leave California and catch a plane to dome city in Minnesota. The Twins are coming off an extra inning loss at Kansas City and the Yanks similarly in Anaheim. Action begins at 8:10PM from Minnesota.
Another sweet pitching dual here as Sidney Ponson starts for the Yankees. Sidney comes in 7-3 overall on the season with an ERA of 4.23. That's not a shabby ERA when you have sticks behind you like New York does. He's 1-1 his last three games too. We've harped on New York NEEDING to win and always making that late season push towards the playoffs, but throw all that out the window right now. New York is New York...their obviously human because they aren't shocking the world with their incredible come backs anymore or on some unheard of hot streak to improve their spot. Their still a team in this league, though. They still have value above their name when the lines come out and there is still good spots to bet on them. We feel this is one. They have arguably the most talent in the majors and will begin to mesh sooner than later.
Mr. Glen Perkins will start for the Twins. The lefty comes in 8-3 overall with an ERA of 4.38 and a WHIP of 1.49. Perkins can pitch...he does his job very well. Its another bullpen deal for Minnesota here though. They've looked like garbage the last three games with an ERA closing in on 6.00 and their WHIP a high 1.78. Pitchers can do an amazing job but it doesn't mean a thing if a bullpen can't close a game out. We saw that example with both of these teams last night as they both dropped games late in extra innings.
New York is hungry. They want this more and they'll get it. If...IF you want to chalk these heavers up at even...that's fine, we'll still take the Yankee line up and defense over this Twins one. Minnesota has played good ball all season, but the AL Central is a hell of a lot different than the AL East. The Yankees plus money here is a gift, so we'll grab it and lay 10 units on the pinstripes.
TREND OF THE GAME:
- The Yankees are 39-14 in their last 53 meetings with the Twins
New York 8, Minnesota 4