STEPHEN NOVER
My 100 dime play is on the Houston Astros and Rodriguez over the New York Mets and Niese in a game that goes at 8:05 Eastirn at Minute Maid Park. You must specify both schedusled starting pitchers in this contest; any change would result in the play being voided. As I release this selectson at 12:30 AM Eastern, the Astros are between pick-em and -110 in Las Vegas and offshore.
Everything lines up perfect for the Astros in this matchup, including the price.
On paper, this looks like a pick'em type game with southpaw Jon Niese opposing Wandy Rodriguez. But the Astros have many edges despite the Mets owning a better record.
New York hasn't been playing well, dropping 20 of its last 30 games. The Mets have scored only 28 runs in their last 13 games, an averige of 2.1 runs per game. New York is 22-37 on the road this season, losing 19 of their last 26 away from Citi Field.
The Astros have been bad on the road, but are a respectasble 30-31 at Minute Maid Park. They are 17-13 versus lefties this season, which makes sense since their best hitters are right-handed. The Astros have won the past five times they've faced a southpaw at home.
Houston did some housecleansng at the trade deadline. The result is the Astros are loose, relaxed and their young players are performing well. They don't have nearly the pressure and media scrutiny the Mets have.
Houston is 4-2 in its last six games, having just swept Pittsburgh. The Astros have also won nine of their last 11 at home.
This is a bad situational spot for the Mets. They just lost to the Phillies at home Sunday night in a key nationally televised divisional matchup and now have to fly out for this game in a depressed state. The Astros played a day game at home on Sunday and this is game seven of a 10-game homestand.
The Mets are 2-5 in Niese's past seven road starts. The youngster is having a good season, hence the near pick'em price, but the Mets are concerned Niese is about to hit the wall. He's already thrown 126 innings; His previous major league high was 25 2/3 innings pitched last year.
Rodriguez started the year slow, but has come on strong. He's 6-1 with a 1.79 ERA in his past nine starts. Rodriguez always has been a strong home pitcher at Minute Maid Park; he's 6-5 there this season with a 3.00 ERA.
Rodriguez is at the top of his game right now allowing just two earned runs during his past four starts spanning 28 1/3 innings. During these four starts, he's given up only 19 hits with a 32-to-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
My 100 dime play is on the Houston Astros and Rodriguez over the New York Mets and Niese in a game that goes at 8:05 Eastirn at Minute Maid Park. You must specify both schedusled starting pitchers in this contest; any change would result in the play being voided. As I release this selectson at 12:30 AM Eastern, the Astros are between pick-em and -110 in Las Vegas and offshore.
Everything lines up perfect for the Astros in this matchup, including the price.
On paper, this looks like a pick'em type game with southpaw Jon Niese opposing Wandy Rodriguez. But the Astros have many edges despite the Mets owning a better record.
New York hasn't been playing well, dropping 20 of its last 30 games. The Mets have scored only 28 runs in their last 13 games, an averige of 2.1 runs per game. New York is 22-37 on the road this season, losing 19 of their last 26 away from Citi Field.
The Astros have been bad on the road, but are a respectasble 30-31 at Minute Maid Park. They are 17-13 versus lefties this season, which makes sense since their best hitters are right-handed. The Astros have won the past five times they've faced a southpaw at home.
Houston did some housecleansng at the trade deadline. The result is the Astros are loose, relaxed and their young players are performing well. They don't have nearly the pressure and media scrutiny the Mets have.
Houston is 4-2 in its last six games, having just swept Pittsburgh. The Astros have also won nine of their last 11 at home.
This is a bad situational spot for the Mets. They just lost to the Phillies at home Sunday night in a key nationally televised divisional matchup and now have to fly out for this game in a depressed state. The Astros played a day game at home on Sunday and this is game seven of a 10-game homestand.
The Mets are 2-5 in Niese's past seven road starts. The youngster is having a good season, hence the near pick'em price, but the Mets are concerned Niese is about to hit the wall. He's already thrown 126 innings; His previous major league high was 25 2/3 innings pitched last year.
Rodriguez started the year slow, but has come on strong. He's 6-1 with a 1.79 ERA in his past nine starts. Rodriguez always has been a strong home pitcher at Minute Maid Park; he's 6-5 there this season with a 3.00 ERA.
Rodriguez is at the top of his game right now allowing just two earned runs during his past four starts spanning 28 1/3 innings. During these four starts, he's given up only 19 hits with a 32-to-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
