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WEDNESDAY'S Bonus Play - Seattle-Yankees OVER
Syndicate Sharps Wednesday, 6/30/2010
Houston Astros R: 1.5 (-139.0)
BIG AL
Rangers @ Angels
PICK: Under 9.5
When I saw that the Rangers were calling up a minor leaguer by the name of Omar Beltre to start this game my initial reaction was that Texas had gone to the well to bring up yet another in a long line of talented, YOUNG pitchers. But when I looked up Beltre's history I saw that he's been in the minors leagues since he was 18 years old and that was 10 years ago! He's had stints at just about every level, including three seasons playing for the Rangers in the Dominican Summer League. The 28-year-old Dominican also has suspicious gaps in his professional resume, having missed every third year of professional ball since 2000. But the reality is that he's actually a talented OLDER player. And the gaps in his resume were mainly due (I presume) to the reason he's not made an appearance in the Majors: He actually was banned from the USA for five years after getting caught up in a human trafficking ring in the Dominican Republic! But Beltre's now past that penalty, and the Rangers look like they have a solid talent. So, with both Rich Harden and Derek Holland still on the DL, the Rangers needed another starter tonight and Beltre gets the call. Unfortunately, despite the ripe age and the pro-ball experience that comes with it, Beltre couldn't win a single game at AAA this year (0-5), despite 15 appearances and five starts. But his ERA was a solid 1.25 in those five starts, so the skills are there. Angels' lefthander Scott Kazmir looked like he had turned things around when June came as the veteran southpaw pitched very well to start the month and won his first four starts before taking a step backward in his last outing on June 24 in inter-league play against the Dodgers. But Kazmir has a very good history against Texas (6-2 with a 2.37 ERA with 75 strikeouts in 68 innings) so he's an excellent candidate to bounce back tonight against the biggest rival in the division. Take the 'Under.'
Marc Lawrence
Texas Rangers at Los Angeles Angels
Prediction: Texas Rangers
Game Two of this three game division showdown series takes place Wednesday evening when the Rangers meet Scott Kazmir and the Angels in Ahaheim. Kazmir - who has not lasted more than seven innings in any start this season, and only once in his last 60 starts - is 0-3 with an 8.36 ERA in his last three home team starts. With the Rangers one of a few teams that is hitting the cover of the ball, we'll back them against the shaky favorite here tonight. We recommend a 1-unit play on Texas.
BRETT ATKINS
Tonight, I have a free winner coming on the Angels as they host the Rangers in this A.L. West matchup.
Texas is sending out Omar Beltre for his first career start, and he’s going up against the team right behind the Rangers in the A.L. West standings – the Angels. Scott Kazmir is on the hill for Los Angeles and he was showing his dominating form for four straight starts, but got off track a bit on Thursday against the Dodgers. In his four prior to that one, he did not allow a team more than two runs and got the Angels four straight wins. Against the Rangers, Kazmir has held them to three runs or less in nine of the last 10 outings and his teams have won eight of those 10 times he’s faced Texas. The Angels are on several hot streaks, including 21-8 overall, 8-2 against the division and 6-2 at home. Texas struggles against elite teams, going just 2-8 against teams with winning records.
I’m going with the home team Angels to get this one and move a little closer in the standings.
5? L.A. ANGELS (on a 1? to 5?)
Chris Jordan, Featured Handicapper
This is the rubber match between the American League Central Division rivals, and my money is on the home team after seeing its bats come alive in yesterday’s 11-4 rout at Target Field.Though the Twins have hit the skids lately, Denard Span has been peppering the ball lately, going 9-for-20 with eight RBI over his last five games. And the good news is, he is a .403 lifetime hitter against Motown pitchers.
I know Kevin Slowey has been roughed up lately, going 0-2 with a 12.41 ERA in his last three starts, but he’s 4-0 in six starts against Detroit.I’d rather side with the veteran Slowey, rather than Andy Oliver, who is making just his second career start in this game.
1? MINNESOTA (Listing Slowey and Oliver)
Karl Garrett, Featured Handicapper
Boston loses Pedroia and Martinez, and they still come out last night and take care of the fading Tampa Bay Rays!
The G-Man will continue to go against the Rays tonight, as Garza and Matsuzaka take the mound at Fenway Park this evening.
Boston's Matsuzaka is 2-0 in the month of June, and has allowed just 5 runs in his 20 innings this month. I expect Dice-K to give the Sox 7 quality innings tonight.Tampa Bay comes in to this game having lost their last pair of games, and they have been on the losing end in 6 of their last 8 games overall.The Rays appear to have lost their way, and starter Matt Garza is just 1-2 the last 3 times he has faced Boston.
Tampa's slide continues tonight, G-Man on the Red Sox to add to the Rays woes.
2? BOSTON
Bobby Maxwell, Featured Handicapper
I scored the FREE winner on Tuesday with the Angels at home over the Rangers to improve my comp record to 115-99-3. Tonight I'm adding another winner to the total with the Red Sox as they'll take care of the Rays at home.
The Rays look like they are imploding, fighting among themselves in the dugout and just not winning many baseball games right now. They’ve dropped nine of their last 12 and they’re not going to beat the Red Sox tonight at Fenway. Play Boston with Daisuke Matsuzaka on the hill in this one.Matsuzaka is rounding into form, leading the Red Sox to wins in each of his last three starts and posting a 2.29 ERA in those three games. He hasn’t allowed an opponent more than three runs in any of his last five starts and he beat the Rockies last time out. He hasn’t seen the Rays this season and only saw them once in his injured year last season. But in 2008 he got three straight wins against them, including a playoff win.Matt Garza (8-5, 4.10 ERA) is on the hill for the Rays, and he’s got a whopping 8.40 ERA in his last three starts. He’s allowed three runs or more in six straight outings and his last roadie he allowed seven runs on seven hits in 1.1 innings in Miami against the Marlins. He pitched against these Sox on May 26 and gave up six runs in five innings of an 11-3 loss.
The Red Sox are 54-20 in the last 74 meetings with the Rays at Fenway and they are on further runs of 36-17 overall, 7-1 against A.L. East teams, 20-6 against right-handed starters and 20-7 as a favorite. Plus, with Matsuzaka on the hill, they are 42-17 overall, 23-9 when he gets five days off and 35-16 as a favorite. Meanwhile, the Rays are on slides of 1-5 on the road, 0-5 as a road ‘dog and 1-4 when Garza starts on the highway. I’m going with the home team in this one as the Red Sox have won four straight over the Rays and they’ll make it five tonight with Matsuzaka on the hill.
4? BOSTON