COMPS:
Jim Feist
Colorado Rockies vs Cleveland Indians
Pick: Cleveland Indians
A strange road trip for Colorado, playing three games at Cleveland, three in the Bronx and then one at the Cubs. Cleveland fired their batting coach Monday then scored 7 runs off the Rockies in a loss. The Indians are 7-1 in their last 8 interleague games and 20-8 in their last 28 home games vs. a right-handed starter. The Indians are also 10-1 in Josh Tomlin's last 11 home starts. Cleveland has had no trouble with Colorado starter Jason Hammel (0-2, 6.27 ERA against the Indians) and they are 1-8 in Hammel's last 9 starts (0-4 on the road), making this a good spot for the home field. Play the Indians.
Freddy Wills
Philadelphia Phillies vs. St.Louis Cardinals
Play: Philadelphia Phillies
Phillies -145 (1.5* Bonus Play) We don't mind grabbing a team with a little juice as we have had some bad luck as of late with under dog plays in our free pick plays and I feel like we have a solid pick with Lee pitching RED HOT right now as he has had a 0.38 ERA with a 0.75 WHIP in his last 3 starts over 24 innings and the Phillies have gone 3-0. Cardinals have not had much luck against him and without Pujols it will be an even greater challenge as he has a 2.10 ERA in 3 starts vs. the Cardinals. Phillies are also 20-8 in Lee's last 28 starts as a favorite while the Cardinals send their best starter this year to the mound, but Kyle Lohshe is struggling of late and the Cardinals are just 4-9 in his last 13 starts vs. the NL East.
Lohshe has a 6.58 ERA in his last 3 starts but his 2.88 ERA on the season is among the season leaders and that's why I feel like we get fair value on the Phillies who over their last 10 games have hit right handed pitching well .255 with 5.77 runs per 9 along with a 2.63 bullpen ERA something the Cardinals have been struggling with big time. Lohshe should be cautious Howard/Ibanez/Polanco are a combined 23/55 with 4 HR and the bullpen backing him up has a uncharacteristic 6.67 bullpen ERA. I feel confident with the Phillies on Wednesday night.
BIG AL
San Diego Padres @ Boston Red Sox
PICK: Boston Red Sox
The Padres got a giant monkey off their backs on Tuesday as they won their first inter-league game of the season after losing their first seven. It wasn't easy as they had to score a go-ahead run in the top of the seventh and then hold off the high-powered Red Sox offense for three more innings at Fenway Park in order to secure the victory. And ironically it was the top prospect that the Padres got from Boston in the Adrian Gonzalez trade (one of four total players they received in return) first baseman Anthony Rizzo who drove in that winning run. But this is still the weak offense of the Padres we're talking about so don't be surprised if it takes another eight games for them to notch another inter-league victory. Today they have to face righthander John Lackey who has certainly had his share of struggles this season with a 5-5 record and a 7.02 ERA in his 10 starts so far. But if there's anything that could help get the big veteran on track it's an inter-league outing as Lackey has incredible stats in his career against the National League - 15-5 with a 3.02 ERA in 30 appearances (29 starts). That includes a very good outing in his last inter-league start - which happened to also be his last trip to the mound on Friday against the Brewers - in which Lackey went eight strong innings, allowing just four runs on eight hits with no walks, while picking up his fifth win. Take the Red Sox.
Rob Vinciletti
Minnesota Twins vs. San Francisco Giants
Play: San Francisco Giants
The Giants qualify in a nice system that has cashed 18 of 25 times. What we want to do is play on home favorites of -140 or higher with a total of 8 or less if they are off a home favored loss by 5 or more runs, scored 2 or less runs on 5+ hits vs an opponent off a road dog win with 5+ runs scored and 10+ hits. The Giants were ambushed last night as M. Bumgarner was rocked for 8 runs in the first inning taking the Giants out of it early. The Twins may be a hot team. However N. Blackburn starts for them tonight and he's in his worst role here taking on a winning team on the road. His 3.81 road era is not as good as Giants starter Voglesongs 1.05 home era. Look for the Giants to take Game 2 tonight.
Matt Fargo
Detroit Tigers vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Play: Los Angeles Dodgers
We are getting exceptional value on the Dodgers once again. Los Angeles has won the first two games of this series behind a two-hit shutout from Clayton Kershaw and another strong performance from Chad Billingsley last night. The three-game winning streak comes after a five-game skid so the momentum has switched. Los Angeles has been a huge disappointment this season but they are only 6.5 games out in the National League West as the Giants continue their freefall. The Tigers remain a game out in the American League Central as they have been pretty inconsistent following a great run in late May and early June. Detroit is 6-8 over its last 14 games and it comes down to pitching. In those six wins, the Tigers have allowed a total of six runs and to no surprise, Justin Verlander is responsible for three of those. Detroit is now three games under .500 on the road compared to eight games over .500 at home and it is 2-9 in its last 11 Interleague road games against losing teams. The Dodgers send Ted Lilly to the mound and he has put together a strong run after a slow start. He has allowed three runs or fewer in seven of his last 10 starts, six of which have been quality outings after having only one quality performance in his first five starts. He is coming off a bad game against Houston where he allowed five runs but he has bounced back fantastic as in the other five times he has allowed four runs or more, he has followed that up with four quality starts and another where he allowed just two runs. The Tigers counter with Rick Porcello who has put together a fine season to date. Like Lilly he has had his share of blowups but he has fought through those to put up eight quality starts on the season. He is coming off his worst start of the season at Colorado and the last time he had a poor outing like this on the road, he followed it up with another forgettable performance. His 20:17 K:BB ratio over his last seven starts is a real concern and the Tigers are 6-14 in his last 20 starts as a road underdog. 3* Los Angeles Dodgers
Marc Lawrence
Seattle Mariners at Washington Nationals
Prediction: Seattle Mariners
The Mariners and Nationals meet in Game Two of this three game series when Erik Bedard takes on John Lannan in the nation's capitol Wednesday evening. Bedard toes the rubber knowing he is 4-2 with a 2.52 ERA in his road team starts this season. He's also in terrific KW form with three walks and 18 strikeouts in his last three starts. With Lannan in rocky KW form with 10 walks and 10 K's in his last four starts, look for the better team and the better arm to come up big here tonight. We recommend a 1-unit play on Seattle.
KARL GARRETT COMP
As for your comp play tonight, have to lay the road chalk and side with the Phillies over the Cardinals.
Philly broke open a 2-1 deficit last night with a 9-runs in the 8th inning last night to take it 10-2.
Tonight Philadelphia will ride Cliff Lee to the winner's circle. All Lee has done is go 3-0 his last 3 starts with an ERA of 0.38!
Kyle Lohse has been in a rut, as Lohse has allowed 23 hits and 12 earned runs in just under 17 innings of work his last 3 starts for an 0-1 mark.
The Phillies are 9-2 their last 11 games, while the Cardinals are 3-9 their last 12 games.
You do the math...Philadelphia to come through once again tonight.
5? PHILADELPHIA
Dave Cokin
Wednesday Bonus Play is the Orioles
Golden contender
On Wednesday the free MLB System Play is on the San Francisco Giants. Game 980 at 10:15 eastern. The Giants qualify in a nice system that has cashed 18 of 25 times. What we want to do is play on home favorites of -140 or higher with a total of 8 or less if they are off a home favored loss by 5 or more runs, scored 2 or less runs on 5+ hits vs an opponent off a road dog win with 5+ runs scored and 10+ hits. The Giants were ambushed last night as M. Bumgarner was rocked for 8 runs in the first inning taking the Giants out of it early. The Twins may be a hot team. However N. Blackburn starts for them tonight and he's in his worst role here taking on a winning team on the road. His 3.81 road era is not as good as Giants starter Voglesongs 1.05 home era. Look for the Giants to take Game 2 tonight
Jack Clayton
Bonus Play
Sport: MLB
Game: D-Backs at Royals
Pick: Diamondbacks
CHRIS JORDAN COMP
The Phillies are going to continue their offensive surge, and will once again take advantage of the depleted Cardinals.
Dinged up St. Louis is hosting the best team in baseball. And as I told you last night, that's now without Albert Pujols, who was hurt Sunday and will be out an estimated six weeks. He joins a list of big names the Cardinals have lost due to injury.
The Phils, meanwhile, have healed up nicely, and have now won nine of 11 overall and hand the ball to Cliff Lee, who will be looking to continue his recent surge from the moun.
Lee, who is 7-5 with a 3.12 ERA this season, has allowed just one run over 24 innings in three June starts, including a stifling two-hitter against the Marlins in a 3-0 victory last Thursday.
Count on the Phils to keep the bats alive at the plate, and Lee to stymie the injury-plagued Redbirds.
2? PHILLIES RUN LINE
DOM CHAMBERS COMP
For San Diego, ending its six-game skid in Beantown had to provide a boost, and could give it momentum at the plate coming right back in this matinee.
For Boston, it'll certainly piss the hottest team in baseball off, an will re-energize the bats for today.
Looking at the pitching matchup, I wouldn't be surprised if the city of Boston is in store for an offensive treat.
Though San Diego has lost nine of 11, the Sox are handing the ball to John Lackey, who has an ERA above 7 this season, and has needed offensive support to overcome his 5.03 ERA in his last three starts. The Red Sox have responded to his poor showings with 28 runs of support over the three outings.
Opponents are hitting a sweltering .293 against him in 2011, as Lackey has given up 46 runs and 70 hits over 59 innings.
Now, I did say Boston has been giving him run support, and that continues today against Clayton Richard, who could become the majors' first 10-game loser with a loss today.
He's in after giving up six runs in five innings against Minnesota last Friday, and lost a career-high fifth straight decision. Now he thinks he is going to stop his slide against a Red Sox team that will be steamed after losing for just the third time in 17 games?
This one has double digits written all Over it. Play this one high!!!
3? OVER PADRES/RED SOX (RICHARD/LACKEY)
SCOTT DELANEY COMP
Now, about the Rangers, who eked out a victory last night, they're going to be fired up to do something they've only been able to do once during their all-time series with their intra-state rivals: complete the home sweep.
It would mark the first time in six years, and I don't think it'll take all that much effort against the downtrodden Astros, who sport the majors' worst record overall.
Texas has won 12 of 14 overall against Houston, and the way the Rangers have been powering the ball out of the park, this one could get ugly.
Texas has drilled 19 home runs over its last eight home games, and the team's 82 long balls rank among the most in the majors. And get this, Houston's scheduled starter Brett Myers has allowed 19 home runs - tied for most in the majors.
Now, quick disclaimer, Myers is tied with Texas' Colby Lewis, is also scheduled to toe the slab tonight, but the problem for Houston is, it can't hit. To wit: the 'Stros have plated seven runs during its current three-game skid
Thus, Lewis shouldn't be worried.
Lay the run line in this one, as the Rangers win big
5? TEXAS RUN LINE
