Service Plays Sunday 8/1/10

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

The Rx.com Mod Team has created this Service Play sub-forum in order to supply an area for Rx Service Play Posters to expand upon their posting topics without creating a logjam in the main forum where the three principle threads are maintained..

Posters can track services here if they care to but we will need any trackers to do so in an accurate and civil manner. We did not create this area for posters to ridicule or bash any services..

You can also discuss who is hot and who is not. The general state of the pay for plays industry and any other subject or topic related to service plays.

You can also create individual threads about specific services and discuss them freely but civilly. Again bashing and abusive treatment of any services will not be tolerated.

Please remember, this forum is not here for regular posters who cap their own games to post ther daily plays. Please use our individual sport forums to post your plays. Professional cappers (those that sell plays) must remain in the Site Promotion Forum.

The Rx.com will not tolerate posters that post false records of any services they track. Please be truthful if you decide to track a particular service.

Lastly The Rx Moderators are appealing to you our everyday posters to report any promotional threads or posts that are made by services or individual touts. No links or contact information to an individual service will be allowed. Just the name of the service. Please report any threads or posts that are promotional attempts by services and touts to use this forum to promote themselves..

Posters can easily report a promotional post by using the triangular Report-a-Post Icon at the bottom left of all post boxes. The poster name of any poster who reports a post that is out of line will be kept strictly confidential.

I will leave this thread open for a month to take questions and do my best to answer them. I will check in daily but am off on Wednesday and Thursday.

I hope this additional Service Play Forum will satisfy those posters that would like to widen the scope of topics relating to service plays and the industry in general to have their own threads. Mods will be liberal as possible regarding topics but this forum was specifically created to allow you more freedom to express your ideas regarding service plays and related subject matter. No off topic threads will be allowed.

Thank you, wilheim




TheRX.com Policy on Posting Handicapper Plays:
In the poster agreement that all posters agree to when signing up, posters have agreed to NOT post copyrighted information.
Some handicappers do not mind having their plays posted, If we are asked by any company to not let their information be posted here, we will comply with the request and remove the information if we see it.
For The Record.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To all services and professional handicappers. I am only going to be editing posts where your copyrighted write-ups are involved. Please do not email me if someone simply posts so and so likes xyz team plus or minus so many points only.
Thank you, wilheim.......

We have received requests from the following companies:
Apple Handicappers
PlusLineSports- Do not post
PowerPlay Wins
Pregame.com
The Real Animal
THELOCKOFTHEDAY
Right Angle Sports (RAS)
Tony Karpinski and 3G-Sports
Discreat Cat (do not post at all..)
Dr. Bob Sports
Dr. guru sports
madduxsports
Red Zone Sports
Dennis Hill
Peter Gold at VI
Strike Point Sports
Vegas Sports Informer
Winning Points/Sports Reporter
ASA, ASA Inc’s or American Sports Analysts
Sal Bansa/sportspicks1019
Mikelineback
Larry Ness
Al McMordie
zen_gambler
Tom Stryker
Lenny Delgenio
Scott Spreitzer
Matt Fargo
@ntonwins
Doc's Sports Services
Robert Ferringo
Pacific (Pac Star) Sports
The Prez
Mike Rose
LT Profits
Pregame.- which include (shaker,law,o'shea,jwip,creole,nover,rocketman,d'angelo,vrunner)
Alex Smart
JB Sports
ATS Consultants
Ken Jenkins
AJ Apollo
Jim Avery
Jim Kruger
Paul Stone
Ross Benjamin
Dave Cokin
Tony George
Fred Wallin
Rocky Atkinson
Jorge Gonzalez
Greg DiPalma
Vernon Croy
Ron Raymond
Dennis Macklin
Ben Lewis
Lucky Lester
Bruce Marshall
Ted Sevransky (Teddy Covers)
Ben Burns
Fairway Jay
EZ Winners
Pointwise Sports
Pro Sports Info
Steve Merril SportsAlatex Sports
Tennessee Valley Sports
Trushel Sports Consulting
Sports Memo Crew which include:
Rob Veno,Brent Crow,Erin Rynning,Donnie Black,Marty Otto,Jared Klein,David Jones,Ed Cash
Sixth Sense Sports
Marc Lawrence, and/or
Playbook, and/or
Preferred Picks
Boxslayer
PayneInsider
Killersportslive
-------

****Please note we can post ONLY Picks for the services above - NO WRITE - UPS. All other services not on this list can be posted in any fashion. GL!​

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Sunday’s Streaking and Slumping Starting Pitchers

Streaking

Gavin Floyd (6-8, 3.66 ERA), Chicago White Sox

This former Philly prospect is on a 14-inning shutout streak and owns a minuscule 1.04 ERA over his last 10 starts. The Chi-Sox are 6-2 in his last eight appearances and the under is 9-4-1 in his last 14 trips to the hill.

"I feel like I'm going out there and having conviction every pitch, not concerned about the results," Floyd told the Associated Press after allowing no runs in seven innings of work against the Mariners last week. "I just try to go out there and make a pitch and whatever happens, happens."

Cole Hamels (7-7, 3.48 ERA), Philadelphia Phillies

All the talk the past few weeks about Roy Oswalt, who finally joined the Phils early this week, has shadowed the efforts of Hamels. The 2008 World Series MVP sports a tidy 1.30 ERA over his last four starts and the Phils are 4-0 over his hot streak.

Total bettors have been cashing in with Hamels on the mound too. The under is 7-3 in his last 10 appearances.

Slumping

Kevin Millwood (2-10, 5.96 ERA), Baltimore Orioles

If anyone else was this bad at their job they would have been fired months ago. But Kevin Millwood is a professional baseball player with a guaranteed contract. So even though he’s dealing duds on a regular basis and he isn’t helping the development the younger pitchers on the staff, he continues to take the ball every fifth day.

He’s been charged with five earned runs in four straight starts, carries a 10.43 ERA and has just one quality outing since the beginning of June. The over is also 7-1 in his last eight trips to the bump.

Edinson Volquez (1-1, 8.26 ERA), Cincinnati Reds

It’s been a tough return for Volquez. The former 17-game winner was brilliant in his first start coming back from injury and a 50-game suspension early this month but his last two outings haven’t gone nearly as well.

He’s got dinged for 10 runs in just six innings of work. The Reds are 1-1 in those two starts and the over is 2-1 in his three starts since rejoining his Cincinnati teammates.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Hot Lines: Today's best MLB bets

New York Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays (125, 8.5)

This key AL West weekend series concludes with a pair of pitchers who are very familiar with their foes, but have enjoyed contrasting results over the years.

Yankees southpaw CC Sabathia is 8-3 lifetime against the Rays with a 3.03 ERA and an astounding 108 strikeouts. He is 1-0 vs. the Rays in two meetings this season, giving up just three earned runs and striking out 11 in 14 2/3 innings.

Conversely, Rays righty James Shields is just 2-7 against the Yankees with a 5.45 ERA and Tampa Bay is 2-10 in his last 12 starts against the Bombers. He is 1-0 this season in three starts against the Yanks, allowing 16 hits and eight earned runs in 18 2/3 innings.

Neither pitcher earned a decision in their last head-to-head meeting on July 16, but Sabathia battled through a difficult outing to allow the Yankees to win it.

"CC picked us up time and time again. On a night where he didn't have his best stuff, he was able to get us through it," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "... That's what (late owner George) Steinbrenner talks about - a warrior and being tough - and that's exactly what CC did."

Don't expect anything less from CC & Co. in this one.

Pick: Yankees


Detroit Tigers at Boston Red Sox (-150, 8)

A glitch in the pitching rotation may be just what the doctor ordered for Detroit's Justin Verlander, who will be throwing on one less day of rest.

Verlander is 7-2 with a 2.69 ERA this season when pitching on a four-day cycle. The righty is 4-1 in his last six starts, allowing 15 earned runs in 41 1/3 innings.

Counterpart Clay Buchholz is coming off his first win since June 20 after serving a stint on the 15-day DL. He allowed only one earned run in seven innings.

The Red Sox have scored four or more runs just four times in their last 15 games. The Tigers have done so only six times over the same span.

With both teams batting worse against righties than lefties in their last 10 and the pitchers facing offenses struggling to produce, look for a low-scoring affair today at Fenway.

Pick: Under

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

MLB NEWS AND NOTES
MLB RoundUp For 8/1

National League

Braves (-120) @ Reds with a total of 9

Tommy Hanson had his worst start of 2010 against these Reds; of course, that game involved one of the most absurd late comebacks of the season, maybe of the decade. Point is, Hanson is going to want to rebound strong. Can he? Well, he certainly can't do any worse than that previous start, but perhaps, given Volquez's need to build up arm strength, the Over might be better than backing Hanson against a team that hits him plenty hard. Because, really, even if he pitches better, he's probably only going 6 innings, max, and will likely give up a couple runs to a Reds team that, when healthy, can hit.

D'backs @ Mets (-165) with a total of 9

I will admit, I'm a little afraid of backing the Mets against Arizona -- the D'backs don't beat many teams in this League, and even fewer on the road, but they seem to have New York's number, even if the pitching match-up strongly favors the Mets. Not only that, Dan Hudson will make his first start for his new team, in a new League, and we've seen how starters tend to perform when they make the leap. This one is a little different, I guess, since Hudson had only made a handful of starts in the AL, so it's not like he's "used to" a particular strike zone or level of competition, but I sure as heck wouldn't back the Mets at this price.

Phillies (-165) @ Nationals with a total of 8.5

I will admit, a great deal of my handicapping of this game is going to come once we see how the Phillies deal with that first loss in a long while they suffered on Friday. So, let's wait and see. Will Blanton right the ship, or will the Phils take that customary "equilibrating" second loss off a long win streak? In any event, Hamels is 9-3 with a 2.58 ERA against the Nats, so this isn't exactly a team he fears. Lannan, meanwhile, is 0-7 with a 6.32 ERA against Philadelphia. On paper, this looks like one of the most lopsided pitching match-ups of the year, but we know how often things go according to how they look on paper. Still, I can't argue my way out of it - the Over or the road RL are both on the board.

Brewers (-140) @ Astros with a total of 9

That's a pretty steep price to pay for a road lefty with a 5.07 ERA on the season. Still, he went 7 shutout against the Astros once this year, already, and Randy is coming off a strong outing against the Reds, so his confidence should be back up. Wesley Wright is 0-1 with a 3.09 ERA against the Brewers, but he's really still just getting his feet wet as a starter, this year, and hasn't yet gone deeper than 5 innings. I'd be tempted to lay the road chalk, except that the Astros just shipped off Berkman, and I wonder how the young guys respond to losing a team leader. Hopefully, Saturday will give us some indications that we can use on this one.

Pirates @ Cardinals (-325) with a total of 7.5

Out of price, out of mind. That is, unless you can get Pirates +2.5 at a good price, hah!

Cubs @ Rockies (-145) with a total of 9.5

Somewhat under the radar, De La Rosa seems to be rounding back into pre-injury form. It took a couple starts, that's for sure, but his last two outings have been strong enough to win, and the 8 strikeouts in each tells you his stuff is coming back. Silva squeaked his way through 5 innings against the Astros, and has been much more Silva-like over the last month or so. He did go 6 innings and allow 2 runs to the Rockies earlier this year, so there's some success, there, but pitching at Coors is a totally different bird, and De La Rosa is 2-0 with a 0.64 ERA lifetime against the Cubbies. I happen to think the line for De La Rosa might be high for a reason, here.

Marlins (-130) @ Padres with a total of 6.5

Both of these starters have tremendous numbers against the other team, which brings to mind a couple questions. First, Johnson has gone 17 innings in two starts against the Padres, beating Mat Latos way back in April, and losing a 2-1 nailbiter to Garland, in Florida, at the end of June. So, to some degree, this is a Rematch Game. Still, with them battling to a 3-run total, wouldn't you think that this line might have even come out at 6? I suppose Garland is never going to drive the total that low, but he is 4-1 with a 2.01 ERA against the Marlins, and could very well pitch solidly against them, again. This game has all the makings of a pitchers' duel, and potentially a slow one.

Dodgers @ Giants (-125) with a total of 7

Will Matt Cain ever beat the Dodgers? 0-8 now, in his career, but the ERA of 4.32 really isn't so awful. Kershaw has no record against the Giants, but an ERA of just 1.71. He got run in his last start against the Giants, and the Dodgers pen let him down, but you can bet the kid is ready to come back and dominate in a rather pitcher-friendly park in San Francisco. This should be a very fun one, since the Giants are definitely hitting better and trying to acquire some bats at the trade deadline. Buster Posey has completely revitalized that offense, so Kershaw will have his hands full, but I don't know if we'll ever see the youngster more focused than this ESPN rivalry game on Sunday Night. That total of 7 almost looks high, doesn't it?

American League

Indians @ Blue Jays (-175) with a total of 9

Jesse Litsch should never be a -175 favorite. That's all I have to say about that.

Tigers @ Red Sox (-150) with a total of 8

Clay Buchholz was a fade candidate the day he came off the DL, but it only took 1 start for him to get his act together, and now, coming off a 7-inning, 1-run effort, it's probably not a great time to back the Tigers. They got their road win thanks to an offensive jolt provided by the newest Tiger, Jhonny Peralta, but given Verlander's propensity to give up a few runs here and there, and given that Youkilis is one of a handful of current Sox that have given him trouble, this is not the place where I'd want to take a shot with Detroit on the road.

Yankees (-145) @ Rays with a total of 8.5

Shields has never really shown me he can handle the Yankees, the way that many of his teammates have. He's 2-7 with a 5.45 ERA against the Bombers, and when you put that with C.C.'s 8-3 mark against the Rays, this one looks like a scary spot for Tampa. To Shields' credit, he's been serviceable against New York this year, more than in year's past, I'd say, but it hasn't been enough. C.C. doesn't mind pitching in Tampa, and this price is, in my opinion, high for a reason, once again. Considering C.C. was a -170 favorite at home, this adjustment is quite small, which makes me think oddsmakers believe the public is going to go extra strong on the Yankees. We need to be careful here, but I probably wouldn't back Shields.

Athletics @ White Sox (-150) with a total of 8

Here's the jinx effort of the century -- Gavin Floyd hasn't allowed a homer since June 2, a span of 10 straigh starts. Gonzalez has been pretty good on that account, too, though not quite as impressive. Also disconcerting, Gonzalez is 0-2 with a 12.96 ERA against the White Sox, while Floyd is 2-0 with a 1.33 ERA against the A's. Floyd, too, has continued to dominate into late July, which is a nice change of pace for him, and I wonder how that carries over into August, if indeed it does. As we've talked about, it's easier to ride waves, though, and we know Gonzalez is a much better pitcher at home, and we also know that the pitching histories line up nicely for Floyd, who will have to take his game up a tiny bit since he won't be facing Seattle for the first time in a while, but he can certainly handle the upgrade in competition.

Orioles @ Royals (-145) with a total of 9.5

Who would have thought the day would come when Bruce Chen would be a -145 favorite over Kevin Millwood? This is a sad time, indeed. Still, I can't help but think that Millwood's greatest weakness, the fly ball that leaves the yard, doesn't really match up with a Royals' strength. Maybe that's why Millwood was able to last 8 innings against KC and give up 3 runs in a win over them this season. Of course, his 2-10 record is giving plenty of value on that side, and Chen's 5-5 mark is duping people into thinking that he's a serviceable starter. Chen has been on the very precipitous decline this month, and I have little reason to think that he somehow stems the tide.

Mariners @ Twins (-325) with a total of 8.5

Quarter-unit on the dog? Sure, why not.

Rangers (-145) @ Angels with a total of 7

Rematch alert! This could be a fun one, as Cliff Lee went 8.1 strong innings in a 3-2 win over Weaver and the Angels. The Texas pen doesn't figure to get a ton of work, here, so that always makes handicapping a little easier. On the Angels side, Weaver is much better against the Rangers at home, so this might actually be a spot where the Angels would be considered a live dog. My concern comes from the line adjustment, as Lee was a -175 home favorite when these cats faced off, so this move is pretty small. That could either be the result of the expectation of huge public money on Lee, or because the Angels need to be a little more enticing, and the books are expecting decent public and sharp money (combined) on the Texas side. Either way, it's inflated, and we need to figure out why.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

BETTOR'S TIPS AND NOTES
Bettors' Best Friend (BBF): Sunday's Wagering Tips

Lines To Keep An Eye On

Brewers at Astros: Total opened at 9.5 but has dropped to 9. Under is 8-2 in their last 10 meetings.
Fever at Dream (WNBA): Dream opened as -1.5 favorite but are no at -2. Total opened at 161.5 but has dropped to 160.5.
Sky at Mercury (WNBA): Total opened at 179 but has jumped to as high as 180.5 at most books.
Storm at Lynx (WNBA): Storm opened as -4.5 faves but are now at -5. Total opened at 151.5 but has climbed to 152.5.

Weather To Watch

Diamondbacks at Mets: 30 percent chance of thunderstorms.
Cubs at Rockies: 20 percent chance of thunderstorms.
Phillies at Nationals: 30 percent chance of showers.

Who's Hot

Phillies have won eight of their last nine.
Twins have won eight of their last nine..
Rays have won six in a row.
Blue Jays have won six of their last seven.
White Sox have won five in a row.

Who's Not

Orioles have lost six of their last seven.
Diamondbacks have lost seven of their last eight.
Indians have lost six of their last seven.
Mariners have lost five in a row.

Key Stat

$50 million - Amount of St. Louis Rams rookie quarterback Sam Bradford's six-year, $78 million contract that is guaranteed. That's the highest ever in an NFL contract and may go down in history as such. NFL commissioner Roger Goddell has hinted at a new collective bargaining agreement that cuts back on guarantee-heavy deals for draftees. The contract also offers an additional $8 million incentives, but how much motivation is that with $50 mil in the bank?

Injury That Shouldn't Be Overlooked

Atlanta Braves second baseman Martin Prado suffered a broken knuckle on his right pinkie finger Friday night and will be sidelined for at least one week. The Braves' leadoff man leads the NL with 138 hits and has been one of the team's top performers, batting .315 with a .357 on-base percentage and slugging at a .484 clip. Atlanta will be hard pressed to replace his production at the plate.

Game Of The Day

NY Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays (125, 8.5)

Notable Quotable

"The key thing is you ask yourself, 'Are we pushing him too hard; does it happen at the end of practice when the players are tired?' We all know now when you get a little tired you can get injured."
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told ESPN about the freak ankle injury rookie wide receiver Dez Bryant suffered Friday that will keep him out of the remainder of training camp. Jones said Saturday he wasn't being critical of his coaches but also did not back off the remarks.

Tips And Notes

Not that the Pirates see a lot of save opportunities but they face a new dilemma when they do now that they traded closer Octavio Dotel to the Angels. Dotel carried a 4.28 ERA but was a solid 21 for 26 in save situations this season. Pirates manager John Russell wouldn't say who will close in Pittsburgh now that Dotel is gone, but it appears to be between righthanders Evan Meek and Joel Hanrahan. Meek has a 1.23 ERA but is only 1 for 6 in save situations while Hanrahan has a 3.35 ERA and is 0 for 2 in save opportunities. No matter which one he chooses, the Bucs will have a hard time nailing down wins.

For all the deals before the trade deadline, the big story going into August may be the one that didn't go down. According to an SI.com report, the Cubs and Mets tried to trade problem pitchers - righthander Carlos Zambrano for lefty Oliver Perez. The sticking point was the Mets' insistence on the Cubs also taking second baseman Luis Castillo, apparently a deal-breaker. Now that the two losers were unable to move their problem players, keep an eye on the waiver wire for some key pickups by contenders who aren't finished shopping.

On July 3 we accurately predicted Dale Earnhardt Jr. would drive his late father's No. 3 to victory lane in the Nationwide Series at Daytona - not based on stats, but on NASCAR's knack for scripting feel-good finishes. Another one lurks at Pocono Raceway today after multi-car owner Jack Roush survived a plane crash earlier in the week. With the "Cat in the Hat" recovering, don't be surprised if one of his drivers - Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle or Jeff Burton - bring home the Hollywood ending.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

GREEK SPORTS PICKS

Chicago White Sox -150
LA Dodgers +105

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

BASEBALL CRUSHER
PLAY OF THE DAY

Florida Marlins (-135) over SD Padres

 

[goldencontender]

Sunday MLB Play- GC

On Sunday the Bonus Play is on the Baltimore Orioles. Game 975 ar 2:10 eastern. The Orioles are more like the ugly ducklings here today. However they do fit a nice dog system and should have an easier time with B. Chen than they did with Z. Greinke. Chen for the Royals has hit a wall of late with a 7.94 era over his past 3 starts. The journey man lefty is more of a spot starter and has now become a regular rotation guy for KC. This alone shows why KC cant compete. The Orioles have K. Millwood on the mound. If anyone looks shot this season its Millwood. He has been hit hard all year. However he has had some sucess against KC. Over his last 3 starts vs the Royals he has pitched 17 innings allowing just 5 runs. In his last start he went 8 strong to get the win. Look for Balty to pull it out today. On Sunday I have 2 Big Power system plays. The 21-2 AL Dominator and the 95% Diamond Cutter system Side that goes on ESPN Tonight. Saturday card bounced back nicely with a 2-0 totals sweep. MLB Back to 34 games over .500. For the Bonus Play take the Orioles. GC

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Ben lee lost again (4 in a row) on Saturday with the White Sox -$150/A's.

For Sunday "Mr Chalk" likes two the Mets -$160/Diamondbacks and the White Sox -$150/A's.

"Mr Chalk" is 67-47 -$1010 for the 2010 MLB season.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Smart Money Sports

NYM-150
COL-140
CWS-145
TEX-125
MIN-1'-145
COL o9'-105

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

808 Sports

Free Pick Phillies RL.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Foxsheets WNBA


7*
Favoring: CHICAGO on the money line.
Play Against - Home favorites vs. the money line (PHOENIX) - after having won 4 of their last 5 games, playing with 2 days rest
(32-16 over the last 5 seasons.) (66.7%)
The situation's record this season is: (4-1)

6*
Favoring: CHICAGO on the money line.
Play Against - Home teams vs. the money line (PHOENIX) - after having won 4 of their last 5 games, playing with 2 days rest
(33-17 over the last 5 seasons.) (66.0%)
The situation's record this season is: (5-1)

Favoring: INDIANA on the money line.
Play Against - Home favorites vs. the money line (ATLANTA) - revenging a loss where opponent scored 85 or more points, off an upset win as an underdog
(21-8 over the last 5 seasons.) (72.4%, +33 units.
The situation's record this season is: (0-1)

Favoring: INDIANA on the money line.
Play Against - Home teams vs. the money line (ATLANTA) - revenging a loss where opponent scored 85 or more points, off an upset win as a road underdog
(22-8 over the last 5 seasons.) (73.3%)
The situation's record this season is: (1-1)

Favoring: CHICAGO on the money line.
Play Against - Home favorites vs. the money line (PHOENIX) - after having covered 4 of their last 5 against the spread, playing with 2 days rest
(24-11 over the last 5 seasons.) (68.6%)
The situation's record this season is: (5-2)

Favoring: CHICAGO on the money line.
Play Against - Home teams vs. the money line (PHOENIX) - after having covered 5 or 6 of their last 7 against the spread, playing with 2 days rest
(34-18 over the last 5 seasons.) (65.4%)
The situation's record this season is: (7-3)

Favoring: CHICAGO on the money line.
Play Against - Home teams vs. the money line (PHOENIX) - after having covered 4 of their last 5 against the spread, playing with 2 days rest
(27-13 over the last 5 seasons.) (67.5%)
The situation's record this season is: (6-2)

5*
Favoring: MINNESOTA on the money line.
Play On - Home teams vs. the money line (MINNESOTA) - revenging a same season loss versus opponent, off a road loss by 10 points or more
(86-28 over the last 5 seasons.) (75.4%)
The situation's record this season is: (3-2)

Favoring: CONNECTICUT on the money line.
Play On - Any team vs the money line (CONNECTICUT) - revenging a loss versus opponent as a home favorite of 7 or more, off an upset loss to a division rival as a favorite
(21-6 since 1997.) (77.8%)
The situation's record this season is: (0-0 0 units)

Favoring: CONNECTICUT on the money line.
Play On - Any team vs the money line (CONNECTICUT) - revenging a straight up loss vs opponent as a favorite of 7 or more, off an upset loss to a division rival as a favorite
(21-6 since 1997.) (77.8%)
The situation's record this season is: (0-0 0 units).

Favoring: MINNESOTA on the money line.
Play On - Home teams vs. the money line (MINNESOTA) - revenging a loss versus opponent, off a loss by 10 points or more to a division rival
(88-29 over the last 5 seasons.) (75.2%)
The situation's record this season is: (2-1)

Favoring: WASHINGTON on the money line.
Play Against - Road teams vs. the money line (TULSA) - in non-conference games, off 2 or more consecutive home losses
(41-5 since 1997.) (89.1%)
The situation's record this season is: (2-1)

Favoring: INDIANA on the money line.
Play Against - Any team vs the money line (ATLANTA) - revenging a loss where opponent scored 85 or more points, off an upset win as a road underdog
(37-16 over the last 5 seasons.) (69.8%)
The situation's record this season is: (2-2)

Favoring: INDIANA against the spread.
Play Against - Favorites (ATLANTA) - revenging a loss versus opponent, off a road win by 10 points or more
(45-9 over the last 5 seasons.) (83.3)
The situation's record this season is: (0-2)

Favoring: CHICAGO on the money line.
Play Against - Home favorites vs. the money line (PHOENIX) - after having covered 5 or 6 of their last 7 against the spread, playing with 2 days rest
(27-17 over the last 5 seasons.) (61.4%)
The situation's record this season is: (4-3)

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Hondo


The gritty Yankees, aka The Big Team That Could, gutted out a victory for Hondo last night as they largely offset his setback with Chisox and left him with a slightly increased deficit of 1,195 tekulves.

Today, he's back for another track attack with a five-unit plunge on Beautician to make him look good in the sixth at Saratoga. Also, he'll take a wild, 10-unit stab with Duke and the Pirates over their arch-enemies in St. Louis and put another 10 on Cain to raise some funds for The Cause.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

CAPPERS ACCESS
Angel
Giants

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Arthur Ralph Sports

488 - 361 run 58 %
Bonus Play Sun Texas Rangers -140

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

MLB DUNKEL

Atlanta at Cincinnati
The Braves look to bounce back from yesterday's 5-2 loss and take advantage of a Cincinnati team that is 1-5 in its last 6 games as a home underdog. Atlanta is the pick (-120) according to Dunkel, which has the Braves favored by 1. Dunkel Pick: Atlanta (-120). Here are all of today's picks.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 1

Game 951-952: Atlanta at Cincinnati (1:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Atlanta (Hanson) 15.875; Cincinnati (Volquez) 14.654
Dunkel Line: Atlanta by 1; 8
Vegas Line: Atlanta (-120); 9
Dunkel Pick: Atlanta (-120); Under

Game 953-954: Arizona at NY Mets (1:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Arizona (Hudson) 14.455; NY Mets (Niese) 14.904
Dunkel Line: NY Mets by 1/2; 9 1/2
Vegas Line: NY Mets (-160); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: NY Mets (-160); Over

Game 955-956: Philadelphia at Washington (1:35 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Philadelphia (Hamels) 16.039; Washington (Lannan) 14.523
Dunkel Line: Philadelphia by 1 1/2; 9
Vegas Line: Philadelphia (-165); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Philadelphia (-165); Over

Game 957-958: Milwaukee at Houston (2:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Milwaukee (Wolf) 14.251; Houston (Wright) 15.155
Dunkel Line: Houston by 1; 8 1/2
Vegas Line: Milwaukee (-140); 9
Dunkel Pick: Houston (+120); Under

Game 959-960: Pittsburgh at St. Louis (2:15 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Pittsburgh (Duke) 13.410; St. Louis (Wainwright) 15.158
Dunkel Line: St. Louis by 1 1/2; 8
Vegas Line: St. Louis (-325); 7
Dunkel Pick: St. Louis (-325); Over

Game 961-962: Chicago Cubs at Colorado (3:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Cubs (Silva) 13.793; Colorado (De La Rosa) 14.621
Dunkel Line: Colorado by 1; 8 1/2
Vegas Line: Colorado (-145); 9 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Colorado (-145); Under

Game 963-964: Florida at San Diego (4:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Florida (Johnson) 16.539; San Diego (Garland) 15.367
Dunkel Line: Florida by 1; 5 1/2
Vegas Line: Florida (-135); 6 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Florida (-135); Under

Game 965-966: LA Dodgers at San Francisco (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: LA Dodgers (Kershaw) 15.518; San Francisco (Cain) 14.334
Dunkel Line: LA Dodgers by 1; 7 1/2
Vegas Line: San Francisco (-125); 6 1/2
Dunkel Pick: LA Dodgers (+105); Over

Game 967-968: Cleveland at Toronto (1:07 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Cleveland (Gomez) 14.891; Toronto (Litsch) 15.795
Dunkel Line: Toronto by 1; 10
Vegas Line: Toronto (-175); 9
Dunkel Pick: Toronto (-175); Over

Game 969-970: Detroit at Boston (1:35 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Detroit (Verlander) 14.720; Boston (Buchholz) 15.044
Dunkel Line: Boston by 1/2; 7
Vegas Line: Boston (-150); 8
Dunkel Pick: Boston (-150); Under

Game 971-972: NY Yankees at Tampa Bay (1:40 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: NY Yankees (Sabathia) 18.032; Tampa Bay (Shields) 16.810
Dunkel Line: NY Yankees by 1; 8
Vegas Line: NY Yankees (-145); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: NY Yankees (-145); Under

Game 973-974: Oakland at Chicago White Sox (2:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Oakland (Gonzalez) 16.000; White Sox (Floyd) 17.188
Dunkel Line: Chicago White Sox by 1; 9
Vegas Line: Chicago White Sox (-150); 8
Dunkel Pick: Chicago White Sox (-150); Over

Game 975-976: Baltimore at Kansas City (2:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Baltimore (Millwood) 14.211; Kansas City (Chen) 13.024
Dunkel Line: Baltimore by 1; 9
Vegas Line: Kansas City (-145); 9 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Baltimore (+125); Under

Game 977-978: Seattle at Minnesota (2:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Seattle (French) 14.174; Minnesota (Liriano) 17.185
Dunkel Line: Minnesota by 3; 9
Vegas Line: Minnesota (-320); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Minnesota (-320); Over

Game 979-980: Texas at LA Angels (3:35 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Texas (Lee) 15.128; LA Angels (Weaver) 14.354
Dunkel Line: Texas by 1; 6
Vegas Line: Texas (-140); 7
Dunkel Pick: Texas (-140); Under
<!-- / message --> <!-- controls -->

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Hot pitchers
--

--

Cold pitchers
--

--

Totals
-- Under is 7-2-1 in Dodgers' last ten games.
-- Four of last six Washington home games stayed under total.
-- Five of last six Houston home games stayed under the total.
-- atl-cin
-- Over is 6-1-1 in last eight Arizona road games.
-- Under is 10-3-3 in last sixteen Pittsburgh road games.
-- Over is 12-5 in last seventeen games at Coors Field.
-- Six of last nine Florida road games stayed under the total.

-- Over is 7-3-1 in last eleven Toronto home games.
-- Four of last six Minnesota games went over the total.
-- Under is 8-2-1 in last eleven Detroit games.
-- Six of last seven White Sox home games went over total.
-- army.com is America's favorite website.
-- Over is 8-2-1 in last eleven Kansas City home games.
-- Under is 10-3 in last thirteen Bronx road games.
-- tex-laa

Hot Teams
-- Phillies won eight of their last ten games. Nationals won four of their last five contests.
-- Astros are 11-5 in their last 16 home games.
-- Cardinals won ten of their last eleven home games.
-- Padres won 10 of their last 14 games. Marlins won 11 of their last 15 games.
-- Giants won 19 of their last 24 games.

-- Blue Jays won six of their last seven games.
-- Rays won 11 of their last 13 home games. Bronx won 18 of its last 24 games.
-- White Sox are 19-2 in their last twenty-one home games.
-- Twins won their last seven games, scoring 63 runs.
-- Rangers are 11-5 in their last sixteen games.

Cold Teams
-- Arizona is 5-25 in its last 30 road games. Mets are 5-11 since the All-Star break.
-- Braves are 7-10 in their last 17 road games.
-- Brewers lost 17 of their last 22 road games.
-- Pirates are 4-24 in last 28 road games.
-- Cubs lost seven of their last nine road games.
-- Dodgers lost eight of their last nine road games.

-- Indians lost six of their last eight games.
-- Tigers lost 14 of their last 18 games. Red Sox lost five of their last seven home games.
-- Royals lost 14 of their last 19 games. Orioles lost 13 of last 15 games.
-- Mariners lost 23 of their last 28 games.
-- Angels lost eight of their last ten games.

Umpires
-- LA-SF-- Seven of last nine West games went over the total.
-- Phil-Wsh-- Over is 10-2-2 in last fourteen Bucknor games.
-- Mil-Hst-- Three of last four Guccione games went over.
-- Atl-Cin-- Over is 7-3 in last ten Marquez games.
-- Az-NY-- Favorite won seven of eight Muchlinski games.
-- Pitt-StL-- Under is 8-2-1 in last eleven Fletcher games.
-- Chi-Col-- Home side won last eight Estabrook games, with five of last seven staying under the total.
-- Fla-SD-- Home side won 12 of last 15 Davis games.

-- Cle-Tor-- Home side won first two Porter games.
-- Sea-Min-- Over is 8-1-1 in last ten Kulpa games.
-- Det-Bos-- Over is 10-3 in last thirteen Scott games.
-- A's-Chi-- Over is 6-1-1 in last eight Cousins games.
-- Blt-KC-- Last four Diaz games all went over the total.
-- NY-TB-- Over is 3-0-1 in last four BWelke games.
-- Tex-LA-- Over is 9-1-1 in last eleven Vanover games.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

WNBA DUNKEL

Tulsa at Washington
The Mystics look to build on their 8-1-1 ATS record in their last 10 games versus the Western Conference. Washington is the pick (-12) according to Dunkel, which has the Mystics favored by 14 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Washington (-12). Here are all of today's picks.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 1

Game 651-652: Indiana at Atlanta (3:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Indiana 114.491; Atlanta 117.641
Dunkel Line & Total: Atlanta by 3; 164
Vegas Line & Total: Atlanta by 2; 161
Dunkel Pick: Atlanta (-2); Over

Game 653-654: Connecticut at New York (4:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Connecticut 110.955; New York 112.040
Dunkel Line & Total: New York by 1; 152
Vegas Line & Total: New York by 3; 156
Dunkel Pick: Connecticut (+3); Under

Game 655-656: Tulsa at Washington (4:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Tulsa 98.831; Washington 115.528
Dunkel Line & Total: Washington by 14 1/2; 158 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Washington by 12; 157 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Washington (-12); Over

Game 657-658: Chicago at Phoenix (6:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Chicago 114.184; Phoenix 115.925
Dunkel Line & Total: Phoenix by 2; 186
Vegas Line & Total: Phoenix by 5 1/2; 181
Dunkel Pick: Chicago (+5 1/2); Over

Game 659-660: Seattle at Minnesota (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Seattle 116.948; Minnesota 111.158
Dunkel Line & Total: Seattle by 6; 150
Vegas Line & Total: Seattle by 5; 152 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Seattle (-5); Under

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

AUGUST's GOOD and BAD BASEBALL PITCHERS
By Marc Lawrence

With the MLB trade deadline at hand and the NFL pre-season whetting our pigskin appetite, the month of August sets the table for the stretch run of the baseball season. Which pitchers can we count on to satisfy our tastes, and which ones figure to turn our stomach? Take a look below.

Listed below are hurlers that have enjoyed a two-to-one or better success ratio in team starts the last three seasons during the month of August. On the flip side, we've also listed pitchers that struggle in August team starts, winning 33% percent or less of their efforts. To qualify pitchers must have made a minimum of 10 starts, with at least one start each August over the last three years. I'll be back next month with September's Good Month Pitchers. Until then, enjoy...

GOOD MONTH PITCHERS

Baker, Scott *12-6:
The Minnesota starting pitching has been mediocre for a large part of the season and Scott Baker has been part of the problem, with ERA hovering around 5. This would be the right time for the right-hander to pitch up to expectations with the Twins looking for another AL Central crown.

Bush, Dave * 8-3
Milwaukee's Dave Bush begins this month with below average career record of 53-63, however he has flourished in the dog days of summer. With fastball topping out at 90 MPH, he has to have his variety of breaking stuff working to be effective, which it is usually this month.

Hernandez, Felix * 13-5
Last season Hernandez was 19-5, with WHIP of 1.114 and hitters batting .227 against him. This year his WHIP to start this month is exactly the same, opponents are hitting ever so slightly better at .231, yet with an inferior team, he is 7-7. With run support, King Felix could have typical August.

Kazmir, Scott * 12-5
On the DL, expected to have rehab assignment the middle of August and could return if all goes well.

Lincecum, Tim * 12-6
Being a two-time Cy Young winner, there are not many bad months. Though still extremely effective, the ERA is up over three this season, with strikeouts down and opponents batting average up to .239 (compared to .221 career). Let's see if Lincecum pitches to usual high standards with San Francisco back in pennant race.

Oswalt, Roy *13-3
Always a strong closer at the end of the year, Oswalt got the energy boost he needed being traded to the Philadelphia Phillies.

Pettitte, Andy *13-5
On the DL since July 19, Pettitte has been soft-tossing without discomfort and could well be back before projected 4-5 weeks initial outlook to continue August dominance. Pineiro, Joel * 12-2
In the midst of solid 10-7 season and career innings pitched, the Angels right-hander is out six to eight weeks with oblique strain.

Sabathia, C.C. * 14-4
The big left-hander is 8-1 with 2.10 ERA in his last 10 starts, proving he is primed for another awesome August.

Santana, Ervin * 10-4
Always a quality No. 3 starter, Santana has often been an important cog in the Angels winning AL West titles. While this might not occur in 2010, this Dominican dandy is poised for another sharp month.

Shields, James *12-6
If Tampa Bay is to catch the Yankees, getting better pitching from James Shields would make a difference. His 9-9 record with 4.79 ERA is far cry from 2007-08 when he was 26-16, with ERA a full run lower. Time for Shields to find a way to avoid bats.

Wainwright, Adam *10-3
The Cardinals have a pair of aces with Chris Carpenter and Wainwright and the Georgia native could be on to 20-win campaign if he has usual stellar August. Opposing teams are batting a career low .219 against him.

Wolf, Randy * 10-3 The lefty has found the difference between Miller Park and Dodger Stadium to be severe this season. Two areas demonstrate the difference for Wolf this year compared to last. In 2009, opponents hit .227 against Wolf, presently they are at .269. His strikeout totals this season are more reflective of his poorer career years with 87 to begin August, compared to 160 last season. Will Wolf turn it around?

BAD MONTH PITCHERS

Duke, Zach * 2-8
When opponents are batting over .300 against a starting pitcher for his career, the front office should look in the mirror and question themselves.

Guthrie, Mark * 5-13
His ERA is up nearly a run in last 10 starts, explaining 1-6 record. When Guthrie struggles, it's because the fastball comes to the plate like it is on a string and breaking stuff lacks bite to keep hitters off balance. Pitching for Orioles doesn't help.

Hernandez, Livan * 4-11
His ERA is creeping up, yet still highly respectable 3.22. For most of his later career, Hernandez has tended to wear down as the year progressed, making him play against pitcher as part of his M.O.

Olsen, Scott * 2-9
Has made one start since being placed on the DL in May and difficult to determine how the left-hander might do for Washington with only 20 total appearances the last two years.

Owings, Micah * 3-8
Optioned to Triple-A Louisville by Cincinnati on July 28.

Robertson, Nate * 3-8
Released by Florida on July 27.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Mexican Apertura

Bonus Play is America -120
MLS Bonus Play LA Galaxy -190
WNBA Bonus Play Phoenix -5.5