DAVID MALINSKY
4* ATLANTA over NY METS
We are not sure why, but Jair Jurrjens just does not get the market respect that he deserves. His 7-1/1.51 opening to the season is Cy Young material, and there is no one anywhere working at a better rhythm – his last three starts have produced PPI’s of 12.6, 12.7 and 12.2, and it has been seven straight of 14.6 or less. Want to talk about consistency even more? How about a 1.51 over 35.2 IP on the road and a 1.50 over 30.0 at home? To be taken out of that kind of rhythm means that the opposing bats have to produce, and we see little chance of that happening tonight. Jurrjens has handled the Mets to an 8-2/2.54 over 11 career starts, and if anything he is even stronger against the current New York lineup, holding key cogs Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, Jason Bay and Angel Pagan to a significant 10-69. And as for a running game that has the Mets #3 in the N.L. in steals, opposing base-runners are just 2-6 against Jurrjens. While there will not be much needed from the Atlanta bullpen, that group has worked to a 2.24 this season, and does not bring a fatigue rating anywhere.
Meanwhile the Mets have issues galore. There is a dearth of power in the middle of the lineup without David Wright and Ike Davis; the defense has fallen all the way to #28 on our best charts, which does not help a starter like Dillon Gee that has to pitch to contact; and for as bad as the bullpen has been recently, there are also fatigue ratings for Jason Isringhausen and Francisco Rodriguez, with the latter mired in a funk that has seen him allow seven earned Runs over 3.2 IP of his last four outings. This is a weak team package that does not belong in this price range.
4* ATLANTA over NY METS
We are not sure why, but Jair Jurrjens just does not get the market respect that he deserves. His 7-1/1.51 opening to the season is Cy Young material, and there is no one anywhere working at a better rhythm – his last three starts have produced PPI’s of 12.6, 12.7 and 12.2, and it has been seven straight of 14.6 or less. Want to talk about consistency even more? How about a 1.51 over 35.2 IP on the road and a 1.50 over 30.0 at home? To be taken out of that kind of rhythm means that the opposing bats have to produce, and we see little chance of that happening tonight. Jurrjens has handled the Mets to an 8-2/2.54 over 11 career starts, and if anything he is even stronger against the current New York lineup, holding key cogs Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, Jason Bay and Angel Pagan to a significant 10-69. And as for a running game that has the Mets #3 in the N.L. in steals, opposing base-runners are just 2-6 against Jurrjens. While there will not be much needed from the Atlanta bullpen, that group has worked to a 2.24 this season, and does not bring a fatigue rating anywhere.
Meanwhile the Mets have issues galore. There is a dearth of power in the middle of the lineup without David Wright and Ike Davis; the defense has fallen all the way to #28 on our best charts, which does not help a starter like Dillon Gee that has to pitch to contact; and for as bad as the bullpen has been recently, there are also fatigue ratings for Jason Isringhausen and Francisco Rodriguez, with the latter mired in a funk that has seen him allow seven earned Runs over 3.2 IP of his last four outings. This is a weak team package that does not belong in this price range.
CHUCK O'BRIEN
Saturday's Selections
Your 40 Dime MLB winner is the SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (listing Bumgarner) over the Rockies in an N.L. West clash. As I go live with this selection, the odds at Las Vegas and offshore sportsibooks have this as a pick-em game (-105 or -110 on both sides). When making your wager, you must specify Madison Bumgarner as the Giants’ starter. If Bumgarner gets scratched, this play is null and void.
Your 15 Dime MLB winner is the UNDER in the A’s-Red Sox contest at Fenway Park. As I go live with this selection, the odds at Las Vegas and offshore sportsbooks have the total at 7½, with the UNDER at EVEN money or -105. Starting pitchers are automatically specified with totals wagers, so both Josh Beckett (Boston) and Trevor Cahill (Oakland) must start. If either gets scratched, this play is null and void.
Saturday's Selections
Your 40 Dime MLB winner is the SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (listing Bumgarner) over the Rockies in an N.L. West clash. As I go live with this selection, the odds at Las Vegas and offshore sportsibooks have this as a pick-em game (-105 or -110 on both sides). When making your wager, you must specify Madison Bumgarner as the Giants’ starter. If Bumgarner gets scratched, this play is null and void.
Your 15 Dime MLB winner is the UNDER in the A’s-Red Sox contest at Fenway Park. As I go live with this selection, the odds at Las Vegas and offshore sportsbooks have the total at 7½, with the UNDER at EVEN money or -105. Starting pitchers are automatically specified with totals wagers, so both Josh Beckett (Boston) and Trevor Cahill (Oakland) must start. If either gets scratched, this play is null and void.
