jeff benton wednesday
2-0 yesterday plus 30 dimes or plus $320..overall, 97-118-4 minus 425
Wednesday's plays ...
20 DIME selection on the <b>CUBS</b> over the Nationals from Nationals Park in Washington D.C. This is pretty much a pick-em conaest in most locales, with the Cubs a very slight -110 chalk in some spots. As always, do your homeweork and lay the cheapest number possible. Note that you must list the Cubs’ Ryan Dempster and the Nats’ Jason Marquis as the starting pitrhers. If either does not go, this play is VOID!
<b>Cubs</b>
Maybe Lou Pineilla should’ve retired a long time ago, because since the old skipper took off the uniform for the final time on Sunday, his former mates have been swinaing the lumber in the nation’s capital. After rolling to a 9-1 win in Monday’s series opener, Chicago jumped out to a 5-1 lead last night and held on 5-4 – only the fourth time since the first week of July that the team recorded back-to-back wins.
That was also the last time the Cubs had a three-game winning streak – it was a road sweep of Arizona, capped by Ryan Dempster’s 8-3 victory on July 7. Well, I’m putting my faith in Dempster that he’ll once again lead the way to another three-game road sweep tonight.
Dempster has been fantaestic lately, giving up just five earned runs in his last four starts covering 27 1/3 innings (1.65 ERA). He won the first three of those games by scores of 15-3, 8-6 and 9-7, but got a no-decision in Friday’s 5-3 loss to the Braves when his bullpen fell apart. Still, the fact the Cubs are just 16-27 since July 7 but 6-3 with Dempster on the hill during this stretch is something worth noting.
One more tidbit about Dempster: Since returning to the Cubs’ rotation in 2008, he’s made three starts against the Nationals and posted the following numbers: two earned runs in seven innings, one run in 7 1/3 innings, three runs in eight innings.
As for Dempster’s counterpart tonight – veteran Jason Marquis – here’s all you need to know: He’s 0-6 with an 11.39 ERA in six starts this year, including 0-3 with a 20.25 ERA at home. And the right-hander is 4-6 with a 4.42 ERA in 13 career apperrances (12 starts) against his former team. In six starts versus Chicago since 2006, Marquis has allowed 27 runs (21 earned) in 32 2/3 innings (5.79 ERA).
Finally, the Cubs have now won six straight games in Washington, and they’ve taken 10 of the last 14 meetings overall. On top of that, the Nats are in funks of 4-11 overall, 3-10 against right-handed starters and 8-20 against teams with a losing record.
This price is WAY too cheap given the talent on both teams and the advantage Chicago has on the hill. Cubs roll and probably roll comfortably once again.
2-0 yesterday plus 30 dimes or plus $320..overall, 97-118-4 minus 425
Wednesday's plays ...
20 DIME selection on the <b>CUBS</b> over the Nationals from Nationals Park in Washington D.C. This is pretty much a pick-em conaest in most locales, with the Cubs a very slight -110 chalk in some spots. As always, do your homeweork and lay the cheapest number possible. Note that you must list the Cubs’ Ryan Dempster and the Nats’ Jason Marquis as the starting pitrhers. If either does not go, this play is VOID!
<b>Cubs</b>
Maybe Lou Pineilla should’ve retired a long time ago, because since the old skipper took off the uniform for the final time on Sunday, his former mates have been swinaing the lumber in the nation’s capital. After rolling to a 9-1 win in Monday’s series opener, Chicago jumped out to a 5-1 lead last night and held on 5-4 – only the fourth time since the first week of July that the team recorded back-to-back wins.
That was also the last time the Cubs had a three-game winning streak – it was a road sweep of Arizona, capped by Ryan Dempster’s 8-3 victory on July 7. Well, I’m putting my faith in Dempster that he’ll once again lead the way to another three-game road sweep tonight.
Dempster has been fantaestic lately, giving up just five earned runs in his last four starts covering 27 1/3 innings (1.65 ERA). He won the first three of those games by scores of 15-3, 8-6 and 9-7, but got a no-decision in Friday’s 5-3 loss to the Braves when his bullpen fell apart. Still, the fact the Cubs are just 16-27 since July 7 but 6-3 with Dempster on the hill during this stretch is something worth noting.
One more tidbit about Dempster: Since returning to the Cubs’ rotation in 2008, he’s made three starts against the Nationals and posted the following numbers: two earned runs in seven innings, one run in 7 1/3 innings, three runs in eight innings.
As for Dempster’s counterpart tonight – veteran Jason Marquis – here’s all you need to know: He’s 0-6 with an 11.39 ERA in six starts this year, including 0-3 with a 20.25 ERA at home. And the right-hander is 4-6 with a 4.42 ERA in 13 career apperrances (12 starts) against his former team. In six starts versus Chicago since 2006, Marquis has allowed 27 runs (21 earned) in 32 2/3 innings (5.79 ERA).
Finally, the Cubs have now won six straight games in Washington, and they’ve taken 10 of the last 14 meetings overall. On top of that, the Nats are in funks of 4-11 overall, 3-10 against right-handed starters and 8-20 against teams with a losing record.
This price is WAY too cheap given the talent on both teams and the advantage Chicago has on the hill. Cubs roll and probably roll comfortably once again.
MR A
Wednesday, August 25, 2010 3:35 p.m. est.
Tampa Bay Rays (78-48) at Los Angeles Angels (62-65)
(R) Jeff Niemann (10-3) vs. (R) Dan Haren (1-4)
Oddsmakers line:
Los Angeles as a -120 home favorite over Tampa Bay with the total listed at 8½'over'
Tampa Bay Rays +100
Wednesday, August 25, 2010 8:05 p.m. est.
Minnesota Twins (72-54) at Texas Rangers (71-54)
(L) Brian Duensing (7-1) vs. (L) C.J. Wilson (12-5)
Oddsmakers line:
Texas as a -150 home favorite over Minnesota with the total listed at 8½'over'
Minnesota Twins +130
Wednesday, August 25, 2010 3:35 p.m. est.
Tampa Bay Rays (78-48) at Los Angeles Angels (62-65)
(R) Jeff Niemann (10-3) vs. (R) Dan Haren (1-4)
Oddsmakers line:
Los Angeles as a -120 home favorite over Tampa Bay with the total listed at 8½'over'
Tampa Bay Rays +100
Wednesday, August 25, 2010 8:05 p.m. est.
Minnesota Twins (72-54) at Texas Rangers (71-54)
(L) Brian Duensing (7-1) vs. (L) C.J. Wilson (12-5)
Oddsmakers line:
Texas as a -150 home favorite over Minnesota with the total listed at 8½'over'
Minnesota Twins +130
GINA
Wednesday, August 25, 2010, 10:05 p.m. est.
Arizona Diamondbacks (49-77) at San Diego Padres (75-49)
(L) Joe Saunders (1-3) vs. (L) Wade LeBlanc (7-11)
The struggling Arizona Diamondbacks have now lost six of their last seven games overall and are just 2-8 in the last 10 meetings versus the Padres, 0-8 in San Diego. Meanwhile, the surging Padres have won 12 of their last 15 games and its last five at home.
Arizona's lefthander Joe Saunders (7-13, 4.54 ERA), is 0-3 with a 6.50 ERA in his last three starts and is 1-1 with a 3.77 ERA in 2 career starts against the Padres. The Diamondbacks are 1-4 in Saunders' last 5 starts.
San Diego's lefthander Wade LeBlanc (7-11, 3.85 ERA), is 2-1 with a 5.62 ERA in his last three starts and is 0-0 with a 3.38 ERA in 3 career starts against the Diamondbacks.
Let’s go again with the San Diego Padres to grab their ninth straight win over the tumbling Arizona Diamondbacks tonight at Petco Park.
MLB
San Diego Padre -170
Wednesday, August 25, 2010, 10:05 p.m. est.
Arizona Diamondbacks (49-77) at San Diego Padres (75-49)
(L) Joe Saunders (1-3) vs. (L) Wade LeBlanc (7-11)
The struggling Arizona Diamondbacks have now lost six of their last seven games overall and are just 2-8 in the last 10 meetings versus the Padres, 0-8 in San Diego. Meanwhile, the surging Padres have won 12 of their last 15 games and its last five at home.
Arizona's lefthander Joe Saunders (7-13, 4.54 ERA), is 0-3 with a 6.50 ERA in his last three starts and is 1-1 with a 3.77 ERA in 2 career starts against the Padres. The Diamondbacks are 1-4 in Saunders' last 5 starts.
San Diego's lefthander Wade LeBlanc (7-11, 3.85 ERA), is 2-1 with a 5.62 ERA in his last three starts and is 0-0 with a 3.38 ERA in 3 career starts against the Diamondbacks.
Let’s go again with the San Diego Padres to grab their ninth straight win over the tumbling Arizona Diamondbacks tonight at Petco Park.
MLB
San Diego Padre -170
SR COMPUTER PICKS
1:35 p.m.
Seattle Mariners at Boston Red Sox
(R) David Pauley (2-4) vs. (R) Josh Beckett (3-3)
Boston Red Sox -150
7:05 p.m.
Oakland Athletics at Cleveland Indians
(R) Trevor Cahill (13-5) vs. (R) Mitch Talbot (8-10
Oakland Athletics -145
10:05 p.m.
Arizona Diamondbacks at San Diego Padres
(L) Joe Saunders (1-3) vs. (L) Wade LeBlanc (7-11)
San Diego Padres -165
1:35 p.m.
Seattle Mariners at Boston Red Sox
(R) David Pauley (2-4) vs. (R) Josh Beckett (3-3)
Boston Red Sox -150
7:05 p.m.
Oakland Athletics at Cleveland Indians
(R) Trevor Cahill (13-5) vs. (R) Mitch Talbot (8-10
Oakland Athletics -145
10:05 p.m.
Arizona Diamondbacks at San Diego Padres
(L) Joe Saunders (1-3) vs. (L) Wade LeBlanc (7-11)
San Diego Padres -165
RoyalFlushSports
The time to win for the Cards is now and last night's loss certainly didn't boost their chances of making the playoffs. They rallied in the 9th but came up just short. When you lose to a team as bad as Pittsburgh with your ace on the mound at this point in the season when you're fighting tooth and nail for a playoff spot it feels like a ton of bricks have fallen on you and it's the only wake up call this extremely talented team should need. Westbrook has been stellar in the month of August. Red Birds come ready to play tonight with a lunch pale type mentality. St.Louis wins the series tonight taking 2 out of 3 games and keeping their eye on the prize that is the National League Playoffs.
Free Selection: 2 Dimes St. Louis Cardinals-170
The time to win for the Cards is now and last night's loss certainly didn't boost their chances of making the playoffs. They rallied in the 9th but came up just short. When you lose to a team as bad as Pittsburgh with your ace on the mound at this point in the season when you're fighting tooth and nail for a playoff spot it feels like a ton of bricks have fallen on you and it's the only wake up call this extremely talented team should need. Westbrook has been stellar in the month of August. Red Birds come ready to play tonight with a lunch pale type mentality. St.Louis wins the series tonight taking 2 out of 3 games and keeping their eye on the prize that is the National League Playoffs.
Free Selection: 2 Dimes St. Louis Cardinals-170
BOB BALFE
Philadelphia Phillies -1.5
The Phillies lost a tough extra- innings game last night but the ejection of Ryan Howard had to fire up this team (oh, and have the best pitcher in baseball on the mound tonight). The Phillies are a good home team (with the exception of the last two nights) and it is not often they get swept at home. Look for the Phillies to get a much-needed win tonight. Take Philly.
Philadelphia Phillies -1.5
The Phillies lost a tough extra- innings game last night but the ejection of Ryan Howard had to fire up this team (oh, and have the best pitcher in baseball on the mound tonight). The Phillies are a good home team (with the exception of the last two nights) and it is not often they get swept at home. Look for the Phillies to get a much-needed win tonight. Take Philly.
