DAVID MALINSKY
2* FLORIDA
2* FLORIDA -1.5
It is all about “timing” here, as we catch both a resurgent team and a resurgent starting pitcher at the right moment, all the while fading a listless team heading nowhere that can not wait for Sunday afternoon’s trip to the airport.
The Marlins got a win that they need in the worst way when they rallied to beat the Phillies in Wednesday’s dramatic walk-off, and since falling down 4-0 that night it has been an 18-5 surge in Runs and three straight wins. Hanley Ramirez has been the catalyst, going 3-3 last night with a HR and three rbi’s, his third three-hit game over the past week, and when he goes so does this entire offense. There is little reason why his surge does not continue against Brett Myers, who he has hit .355 against over a significant 31 career at-bats. We also see Myers as being vulnerable here after cashing a ticket against him on Monday in a particularly flat showing against the Pirates – he allowed 13 Hits in that game while managing only one K, the worst ratio for those categories in his career, but got several favorable bounces so that only four earned Runs come around, hence not taking an ERA hit or alerting the marketplace, despite the Pirates batting .448 against him.
Meanwhile Ricky Nolasco brings much better stuff than his 5-5/3.91 bottom line shows, and while he only has one win over his lat three outings, which does not send off any fireworks, take a closer look – he has worked to a 1.56 ERA and 0.91 WHIP in that span, carrying a shutout into the 7th inning in each of those games. In that last 1-0 loss to Philadelphia he had 13 ground-ball outs vs. only one in the air, a sign that he is on top of his game, and this time there will be some offensive support behind him.
We are going to split our ticket here – we do not want to lose money from a one-run Marlin win, yet also want some of the value that comes from a game that has the potential to break open.
2* FLORIDA
2* FLORIDA -1.5
It is all about “timing” here, as we catch both a resurgent team and a resurgent starting pitcher at the right moment, all the while fading a listless team heading nowhere that can not wait for Sunday afternoon’s trip to the airport.
The Marlins got a win that they need in the worst way when they rallied to beat the Phillies in Wednesday’s dramatic walk-off, and since falling down 4-0 that night it has been an 18-5 surge in Runs and three straight wins. Hanley Ramirez has been the catalyst, going 3-3 last night with a HR and three rbi’s, his third three-hit game over the past week, and when he goes so does this entire offense. There is little reason why his surge does not continue against Brett Myers, who he has hit .355 against over a significant 31 career at-bats. We also see Myers as being vulnerable here after cashing a ticket against him on Monday in a particularly flat showing against the Pirates – he allowed 13 Hits in that game while managing only one K, the worst ratio for those categories in his career, but got several favorable bounces so that only four earned Runs come around, hence not taking an ERA hit or alerting the marketplace, despite the Pirates batting .448 against him.
Meanwhile Ricky Nolasco brings much better stuff than his 5-5/3.91 bottom line shows, and while he only has one win over his lat three outings, which does not send off any fireworks, take a closer look – he has worked to a 1.56 ERA and 0.91 WHIP in that span, carrying a shutout into the 7th inning in each of those games. In that last 1-0 loss to Philadelphia he had 13 ground-ball outs vs. only one in the air, a sign that he is on top of his game, and this time there will be some offensive support behind him.
We are going to split our ticket here – we do not want to lose money from a one-run Marlin win, yet also want some of the value that comes from a game that has the potential to break open.
CHIP CHIRIMBES
Diamondbacks at Cardinals
Pick: Diamondbacks +135
If playing on the weekends has ant value the numbers for these two teams is surprising. First, St. Louis is only 6-14 in their last 20 Saturday games while Arizona is 7-2 in their last nine Saturday starts. Arizona starer Daniel Hudson (9-5, 3.75 ERA) has been effective as the Diamondbacks have won 12 of his last 14 starts while the Cardinals are just 2-6 in their last eight at home.
Diamondbacks at Cardinals
Pick: Diamondbacks +135
If playing on the weekends has ant value the numbers for these two teams is surprising. First, St. Louis is only 6-14 in their last 20 Saturday games while Arizona is 7-2 in their last nine Saturday starts. Arizona starer Daniel Hudson (9-5, 3.75 ERA) has been effective as the Diamondbacks have won 12 of his last 14 starts while the Cardinals are just 2-6 in their last eight at home.
