Game Time: 09/24/2008 07:07 PM -
By: LT Profits Sports Group | who2beton.com
A.J. Burnett has had an inconsistent career considering that he has nuclear stuff, but he is pitching to his vast potential this year. Burnett has won 18 games and is showing no signs or wearing down, posting Quality Starts in his last five outings while averaging a strikeout per inning. He has also been successful vs. the Yankees, while Yanks starter Philip Hughes has had his best games vs. Toronto. Go Under tonight.
The New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays have gone Under in five of their seven meetings here in Toronto this season, including a 3-1 Yankees victory here last night, and we look for a similar result this evening.
A.J. Burnett has finally pitched up to his potential for the Jays this season, as he is 18-10 with Toronto going 20-13 in all of his starts, and the Under also going 20-13. Best of all, he has maintained his raging form, as he has reeled off five consecutive Quality Starts.
Those five outings include two appearances where Burnett did not allow an earned run, and he has 35 strikeouts in 34.2 innings in these starts, hardly signs of a pitcher getting fatigued late in the year. Perhaps most importantly, Burnett has allowed two runs or less in each of his last six starts against the Yankees.
Now Philip Hughes was supposed to be one of the young saviors in the Yankees rotation this year, but things have obviously not turned out that way. Still, Hughes has pitched well vs. Toronto during his brief career. He allowed two runs and only four hits in six innings against the Blue Jays in his only start against them this season, and he allowed a total of four earned runs and 10 hits in 11 innings in his last two starts against them last year.
Anything close to those efforts by Hughes should ensure this Under here.
Game Time: 09/24/2008 08:15 PM -
By: Al McMordie | bigal.com
The Cardinals are still playing for pride while the Diamondbacks' season has collapsed. Back Adam Wainwright and St. Louis Wednesday at home against Arizona.
Our Wednesday night MLB selection is on the St. Louis Cardinals at home in the Gateway City over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The recent collapse of the D-Backs in the NL West Division may not exactly rival that of Wall Street. However if something doesn't happen soon, even a government bailout won't be able to help them. On August 21, Arizona had a 67-60 record, good for a .528 win percentage and a two-game lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers. After Tuesday night's loss to this Cardinal team and LA's blowout of the lowly Padres, the D-Backs now find themselves on the brink of elimination as the Dodgers magic number now stands at three.
The Cardinals' righthanded starter Adam Wainwright has been very efficient in 2008, throwing only 126 innings, but still getting double-digit wins for the second straight season. Wainwright isn't going very deep in his starts lately, and that's by design as the Cards have been eliminated from the postseason and they want to keep Wainwright healthy for next season when they once again should be a force to be reckoned with in the NL Central. Wainwright already owns a victory over Arizona, an 8-2 blowout back on September 2.
Arizona's 24-year-old Max Scherzer is a very talented, hard-luck righthander that has yet to get his first MLB win, despite putting up some very impressive power numbers in his brief stint in this, his rookie season. That is somewhat appropriate, as Scherzer's season is mirroring the bad luck his team has been having since the middle of August. Also, the D-Backs are now 7-16 in their last 23 games in St. Louis. Take the Cards.
Game Time: 09/24/2008 07:05 PM -
By: Bryan Leonard | experts.covers.com
On the verge of an unbelievable AL East title, the upstart Rays should move a step closer tonight when Tampa Bay closes out their series at the Baltimore Orioles.
There is no doubt about what these teams are trying to accomplish. The Rays are about to clinch their first ever division title as they head down the stretch very focused. Tampa has won seven of their last nine games with pitching leading the way. In those seven victories the Rays allowed just 16 total runs. This is a team with something to prove and they are living up to their talent level.
The same cannot be said of the hosts as once again the Orioles are long out of the playoffs and just playing out the string. Baltimore has now lost eight straight games heading into Wednesday, dropping 25 of their last 30 games overall. To top it off the Orioles have dropped 11 straight games to Tampa Bay.
Today Baltimore sends to the hill Radhames Liz who owns a whopping 6.69 ERA on the season. The sad part for Orioles fans is that they have very little pitching help in the minors which is why Liz is still in the rotation. If the 6.69 ERA doesn't scare you enough maybe his miniscule 52 to 48 strikeout to walk ratio will do the trick.
Anyway you slice it the Orioles and their organization have quit on their fans. Today's opponent is the small market team who did it right, building from the inside. Along with the Tigers you can put a fork in the Orioles, they are done. Play Tampa Bay.
Game Time: 09/24/2008 07:10 PM -
By: Bob Harvey | bobharveysports.com
Josh Johnson has bounced back from a horrendous 2007 to post solid numbers for Florida this year. Back Johnson and the Marlins tonight at the Washington Nationals.
Florida pitcher Josh Johnson should be among the front-runners for the NL’s Comeback Player of the year award. Here’s a guy that was out of baseball for nearly two years and has bounced back to post a 6-1 record with a 3.65 ERA and will try to win his third straight start.
He pitched five innings against the Phillies on Friday, allowing six runs – five earned – and seven hits in a 14-8 win. The right-hander is 2-0 with a 3.15 ERA in three starts and one relief appearance against the Nationals. On Sept. 13, he pitched six innings, allowing two runs and six hits in a 4-2 win over Washington.
While the loss ended their postseason hopes, Florida can hand the Nationals their 100th loss of the season if they win the next two games. The Marlins also could play spoiler this weekend, wrapping up the regular season in New York against the NL wild card-leading Mets. Even though they’ve lost four straight and will be outside looking in when the playoffs begin, the Fish still have something to play for. They’re guaranteed at least a .500 record and you figure they’ll want to top that.
Look for Johnson to make another strong start as the Marlins finish strong over the final five games.
Game Time: 09/24/2008 02:05 PM -
By: Alex Smart | who2beton.com
Oakland struggles against lefties and are 3-7 in their last 10 games at Texas. Play the Rangers on the moneyline Wednesday afternoon when they host the Ahtletics.
Matt Harrison (8-3, 5.68 ERA), the Rangers' starting hurler today, goes against an A's offense that struggles mightily against lefites, as is evident by having recorded the worst OPS in the majors against unorthodox pitching with a (.638) average.
Harrison has owned the Athletics this season registering a 2-0 mark along with a minuscule 0.65 ERA in 14 innings of work that includes a five-hitter in his last start. Considering the native of North Carolina's domination in this series, it will be an easy decision to back him in this spot.
Meanwhile Dana Eveland (8-9, 4.09 ERA), the Athletics' starting pitcher for this tilt in Arlington, just got back from the minors. He pitched well in his first start after his return, but has had a lot of problems with his control all season. The southpaw could easily wilt and regress in the Texas heat this afternoon against a Rangers offense that has averaged 5.9 RPG at home this season.
Final Notes & Key Trends: The A's have lost seven of their last 10 as visitors in this series.
Game Time: 09/24/2008 07:00 PM -
By: Christopher Quinn | christopherquinn.mysbrforum.com
Mets lefty Oliver Perez has cashed the run line in four of his last five starts. With New York needing a win and the Cubs coasting, make your play on the Mets vs. Chicago.
New York's Oliver Perez has covered the run line in four of his last five starts. Watch tonight as he and the Mets continue to cover the run line at -1½.
Carlos Zambrano is taking the hill this evening for the Cubs. The right hander is a very streaky pitcher as we have seen in his last few games. We all saw his epic no-hitter against the weak Astros, followed directly by 1.2 innings against the Cardinals in which he gave up six hits and eight earned runs with three walks. Look for the hot bats of David Wright, Carlos Delgado, Carlos Beltran and Jose Reyes, who have just eaten apart right handed pitchers this season, to light up the shaky righty tonight and put big numbers on the board for the Mets.
With Oliver Perez (10-7, 4.10) getting the rock tonight for the Mets and having won four of his last five games, look for the southpaw to keep the Cubs score down and give the Cub’s power offense a chance to light up the scoreboard. The bookies want action on the Mets side of the run line (-1½), so let’s give it to them at a price of +150 or better.
Game Time: 09/24/2008 08:15 PM -
By: Marc Lawrence | playbook.com
Max Scherzer has to win sometime, and it might as well be tonight. Make your play on the Arizona Diamondbacks Wednesday when they take on the St. Louis Cardinals.
Max Scherzer has had nothing but bad luck this season, going winless in his six team starts for the Diamondbacks. The results don't tell the story, however, as Scherzer has hurled extremely well in those starts.
He enters tonight game in great KW form with five walks and 28 strikeouts in his last three starts. He's been even better on the road with three walks and 25 strikeouts in his three road efforts. Look for Scherzer to break through to the winners circle here tonight. Take the Diamondbacks. We recommend a 1-unit play on Arizona with Scherzer.
Game Time: 09/24/2008 07:05 PM -
By: Jimmy the Moose | sportspic.com
You know the Tigers have finally given up if they are trotting Nate Robertson to the mound. Cash the Kansas City Royals as road dogs Wednesday night at Detroit.
The red hot Kansas City Royals are 10-2 in their last 12 games. In their last nine games vs. a team with a losing record, the Royals are 9-0. KC is 9-4 in their last 13 games vs. a left-handed starter.
The Royals are 7-2 in Brian Bannister's last nine road starts vs. a team with a losing record. In his last 20 starts overall vs. a team with a losing record, the Royals are 14-6.
The Tigers are 7-20 in their last 27 overall. They are 3-9 in their last 12 home games vs. a team with a losing record. Detroit has lost four of Nate Robertson's last five starts. In his last 28 starts vs. a team from the AL Central the Tigers are 8-20. KC has won six of their last eight at Detroit.
Game Time: 09/24/2008 10:15 PM -
By: LT Profits Sports Group | who2beton.com
Jonathan Sanchez has become a solid second starter for the Giants while Livan Hernandez has pitched well vs. the Giants and is coming off of probably his best start of the year. Go Under in San Francisco.
Livan Hernandez has been a pleasant surprise since being picked up by the Colorado Rockies while Jonathan Sanchez has done his best pitching at home for the San Francisco Giants, so we do not expect many fireworks here tonight.
Hernandez may be coming off of his best start of the entire year, which he has split between the Rockies and the Minnesota Twins, as he allowed just three hits in five scoreless innings of a 1-0 win over the San Diego Padres. He has also had success vs. the Giants, allowing three runs or less in eight of his last nine starts against them and just four runs in the other start.
Sanchez has become a reliable second starts for the Giants behind Tim Lincecum despite his 9-11 record, as the Giants are 15-13 as a team whenever he takes the mound. He has already faced the Rockies four times this season, allowing three runs or less in three of those outings. It certainly helps that the Rockies are batting just .249 on the road this year.
We look for each starter to duplicate his recent performances vs. their respective opponent tonight.
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