DAVE COKIN
3* Red Sox/Orioles – Under 8 -115 (Rodriguez/Gonzalez)
Definitely want some action on Eduardo Rodriguez here. The rookie lefty has looked great in his two starts, and he’s going to want to send a message to this former organization here. Miguel Gonzalez has been exceptional recently for Baltimore and he’s facing a Boston offense that continues to struggle mightily. They got seven on Sunday, but that was after getting blanked for seven innings before they blew up the pathetic Oakland bullpen. Orioles offense is very capable against lefties at Camden Yards, but I like ERod to limit them here and the best option looks to me to be the Under.
2* Rockies +107 (Wacha/De La Rosa)
There’s no such thing as an easy call against this Cardinals team, as they’re playing some terrific baseball. But now they’re minus another key guy with Holliday getting hurt last night and that is a big absence in their lineup. Michael Wacha has been outstanding, and it’s silly to try and make a compelling case against him. About the only real negative could be his one prior experience at Coors where he got lit up, but a one-game sample means nothing. The upside here is on the Rockies, who are actually playing well right now and have climbed back to within four games of .500. De La Rosa at home continues to be a big winning proposition long term, and Troy Tulowitzki, who can carry a team at times is really hot right now. I made this game pick ’em and with the Holliday injury I’d probably make the Rockies about -105 here. So getting any plus price is a decent value and I’ll go ahead and take my chances with the Rockies tonight.
Bonus Play – 1*Mets -120 (Heston/Syndergaard)
Chris Heston is a rookie so it’s not like this a deep sample. But he’s starting to show some pretty defined home/road splits, with the road being the down side of that equation. He is also starting to indicate either really good or really bad splits, with not much in between. Heston has surpassed all expectations and might be legit but I have my doubts. Syndergaard is the real thing and even in that disastrous last start he was still generating a ton of swings and misses. I actually think he might end up being the best of all these talented young Mets pitchers, as he’s dominating and doesn’t even know what he’s doing right now. Mets have been terrific at home, but this is one where it’s really a bet on the starting pitching matchup and I’m taking the home team.