SPORTS WAGERS
CINCINNATI –1½ +1.56 over Milwaukee
Note the 12:35 PM EST start. The Brewers are in big, big trouble. They sent out its ace last night, Yovani Gallardo and were crushed 6-3 (it was 6-1 going to the ninth). The Brewers have now dropped seven straight and they’ve allowed eight runs or more in five of those seven losses and have been outscored 57-23. Now the Brewers are making the call to the bullpen for today’s starter, Manny Parra. Parra has been given many opportunities to start and it’s not like this rotation is a tough one to crack with Dave Bush, Doug Davis and Christopher Narverson in it. In fact, one could argue that the Brewers possess the worst rotation in the majors and perhaps the worst bullpen too. Over the last 10 games, the Brewers pen has an ERA of 7.88 over the final three innings. Anyway, Parra was sent to the minors last season after he compiled a 5.17 ERA in 140 IP and a close look at his numbers over the years is rather horrifying at hitter friendly venues. At Philadelphia his career ERA is 16.88, at Wrigley it’s 9.00, at Coors Field it’s 11.57, at Dolphin Stadium it’s 22.50, at Minute Maid it’s 6.41 and at Great American it’s 5.73. Parra has started 58 games in the majors before this year and has been used exclusively out of the pen this year. He’s had four good outing in 10 appearances and a close look at that reveals that he pitched well when the Brewers were up 20-0 against Pitt and then two days later when they were up 17-3. His next two strong appearances occurred when the Brewers were down 8-1 against the Cubbies and subsequently when they won in Arizona 17-3. This guy pitches well when there’s a 10-run winning or losing margin. In all of his other appearances he was shaky as hell and that’s precisely what you can expect today. The Reds are the hottest team in the majors with nine wins in its last 10 and for the first time in years, this team can’t wait to get to the park. Play: Cincinnati –1½ +1.56 (Risking 2 units).
Colorado +1.08 over CHICAGO
The Cubbies have won two in a row but this is another team in big, big trouble. The Cubbies are an older squad that really is below average at everything they do. They, too, have a toxic pen and that pen is very likely to get called upon here. Carlos Silva is 4-0 with a 3.40 ERA in seven starts and while that’s very nice, it’s not going to last. This guy is not a winning pitcher, never has been and never will be. Despite his decent numbers, his charmed life is about to come to an end at any time. Silva has been extremely fortunate but you can see it beginning to unravel. He’s allowed 25 hits over his last 16 frames and LH’s have absolutely crushed this guy. Carlos Silva is the reason that Carlos Zambrano’s bullpen stint will not be permanent. The sample size is small for Jhoulys Chacin but his numbers are not. He has six walks and 19 K’s in 20 innings of work. Prior to his last start he did not allow a single runs in 15.1 innings. He certainly does not have overpowering stuff but he features a great changeup and he throws strikes and that alone gives him a great chance for success especially against a team like the Cubs. The Cubbies as a favorite with Silva on the hill is about as risky as it gets and all the value here is on the Rocks. Play: Colorado +1.08 (Risking 2 units).
Kansas City –1.09 over BALTIMORE
Does this one really need much explanation? Here we have one of the top five pitcher’s in the game laying a dime against one of the two worst teams in the AL. Greinke is 1-4 because of poor run support but Camden Yards is one of the better hitting parks in the AL and that has to work to Greinke’s advantage because the chances of Kevin Millwood allowing runs is much higher than Greinke’s chances. Furthermore, the Royals have woke up with four wins in five games since firing its manager while the O’s continue to lose at an alarming rate. Millwood has been pitching good but he’s not in the same caliber as Greinke, not even close and the Royals know him well with a combined 227 AB’s against him. Play: Kansas City –1.09 (Risking 2 units).