Randall the Handle
Chicago (A.L) +1.62 over CHICAGO
The South Side came out with a miracle win yesterday after they rallied for four runs after two outs and none on in the ninth inning. That was a huge momentum win and a win like that could definitely carry over here. Then we have the AL vs NL angle and it’s not like they’re playing the Phillies or Rockies. No, they’re playing a team that is a huge risk at this big price. The Cubbies just don’t win enough and they lose to so many bad pitchers that it would be extremely foolish to put any faith in them here. Yeah, they have an edge on the hill but that’s where any edge they have ends. Besides, Carlos Torres hasn’t looked bad at all in two starts. He walks too many but he can also strike out hitters and in those two starts against Cleveland and Tampa Bay his BAA was just .257. No doubt he has the ability, he just has to throw strikes and he and the South Side have a great chance to win. Note the 2:20 PM start time. Play: Chicago +1.62 (Risking 2 units).
Seattle +1.19 over OAKLAND
The M’s are still eight games out of a wild card spot but they just beat the Angels twice in a row and their record against the A’s is a good one. In fact, the Mariners have won four straight in this series and overall this season they’ve beaten Oakland nine times in 12 games. Furthermore, Ichiro is back in the line-up and all he’s done is hit .448 against the A’s this year. Meanwhile, the A’s seldom win two in a row and after beating KC last night they’ll find the going much tougher against a team they have trouble against. Brett (Suitcase) Tomko has put up some nice numbers since coming over from the Yanks but you know that’s not going to last. Tomko has played for 11 teams in 12 years and it would appear that each team couldn’t get rid of him fast enough. The Mariners hitters have seen plenty of him and if past performance means anything he could be in for a rough outing. The M’s players have had a combined 120 AB’s against Tomko and they’re a solid 40-121 against him for a .331 batting average. In any case, the M’s are 10½ games better than the A’s, they’ve owned them this season and as a pooch, they sure offer up some decent value. Play: Seattle +1.19 (Risking 2 units).
San Francisco -½ +1.02 over PHILADELPHIA (1st 5 innings)
Based solely on the starters here, the Giants have a big edge in the first half of the game with Cy Young candidate, Tim Lincecum going up against Pedro Martinez. The Phillies have won all four of Pedro’s starts but two of those starts were rain-shortened, (five innings combined) thus, he really hasn’t been exposed yet. He faced the D-Backs once and in another outing the Mets got to him for four runs in six frames. Pedro is hittable and he’s pitched just 16 innings in four starts after being off for more then a year. This park certainly can’t help his cause. Meanwhile, Lincecum is the straight goods. He’s allowed two runs in 22 innings in his last three starts against the Phillies and his 2.33 ERA is the league’s second best mark. He’s lost just four times this season and the chances of the Giants taking a lead into the sixth are great. Play: San Francisco -½ +1.02 in the first five innings (Risking 2 units).
Chicago (A.L) +1.62 over CHICAGO
The South Side came out with a miracle win yesterday after they rallied for four runs after two outs and none on in the ninth inning. That was a huge momentum win and a win like that could definitely carry over here. Then we have the AL vs NL angle and it’s not like they’re playing the Phillies or Rockies. No, they’re playing a team that is a huge risk at this big price. The Cubbies just don’t win enough and they lose to so many bad pitchers that it would be extremely foolish to put any faith in them here. Yeah, they have an edge on the hill but that’s where any edge they have ends. Besides, Carlos Torres hasn’t looked bad at all in two starts. He walks too many but he can also strike out hitters and in those two starts against Cleveland and Tampa Bay his BAA was just .257. No doubt he has the ability, he just has to throw strikes and he and the South Side have a great chance to win. Note the 2:20 PM start time. Play: Chicago +1.62 (Risking 2 units).
Seattle +1.19 over OAKLAND
The M’s are still eight games out of a wild card spot but they just beat the Angels twice in a row and their record against the A’s is a good one. In fact, the Mariners have won four straight in this series and overall this season they’ve beaten Oakland nine times in 12 games. Furthermore, Ichiro is back in the line-up and all he’s done is hit .448 against the A’s this year. Meanwhile, the A’s seldom win two in a row and after beating KC last night they’ll find the going much tougher against a team they have trouble against. Brett (Suitcase) Tomko has put up some nice numbers since coming over from the Yanks but you know that’s not going to last. Tomko has played for 11 teams in 12 years and it would appear that each team couldn’t get rid of him fast enough. The Mariners hitters have seen plenty of him and if past performance means anything he could be in for a rough outing. The M’s players have had a combined 120 AB’s against Tomko and they’re a solid 40-121 against him for a .331 batting average. In any case, the M’s are 10½ games better than the A’s, they’ve owned them this season and as a pooch, they sure offer up some decent value. Play: Seattle +1.19 (Risking 2 units).
San Francisco -½ +1.02 over PHILADELPHIA (1st 5 innings)
Based solely on the starters here, the Giants have a big edge in the first half of the game with Cy Young candidate, Tim Lincecum going up against Pedro Martinez. The Phillies have won all four of Pedro’s starts but two of those starts were rain-shortened, (five innings combined) thus, he really hasn’t been exposed yet. He faced the D-Backs once and in another outing the Mets got to him for four runs in six frames. Pedro is hittable and he’s pitched just 16 innings in four starts after being off for more then a year. This park certainly can’t help his cause. Meanwhile, Lincecum is the straight goods. He’s allowed two runs in 22 innings in his last three starts against the Phillies and his 2.33 ERA is the league’s second best mark. He’s lost just four times this season and the chances of the Giants taking a lead into the sixth are great. Play: San Francisco -½ +1.02 in the first five innings (Risking 2 units).
