Game Time: 10/03/2008 06:05 PM -
By: LT Profits Sports Group | who2beton.com
Scott Kazmir has been fantastic at home, going 8-2 with a 2.90 ERA with better than a strikeout per inning. Mark Buehrle in also in peak form with six straight Quality Starts. Go Under at the Trop.
The Tampa Bay Rays won the first playoff game in the history of the franchise 6-4 behind two home runs from Evan Longoria yesterday, but we expect the pitchers to play more of a dominant role today.
Scott Kazmir finished at 12-8 with a 3.49 ERA overall this season, but as good as those numbers are, he was actually better at home. Kazmir was 8-2 with a 2.90 ERA at Tropicana Field, averaging more than a strikeout per innings with 80 punch-outs in 77.2 innings.
Kazmir also pitched very well in two starts vs. the White Sox this season, allowing a grand total of three runs and seven hits in 13 innings. In his one home start against Chicago, he allowed just three hits in six scoreless innings. Kazmir is also catching the Sox at the right time, as they are batting a dismal .158 vs. left-handed pitching over their last 10 games.
Now Mark Buehrle has been inconsistent at times, but the bottom line is that he did finish 15-12 with a nice 3.79 ERA. More importantly, he is now on one of his up cycles, as he has reeled off six consecutive Quality Starts. He also had Quality Starts in each of his last two starts vs. Tampa Bay this season.
Finally, the Rays are another team that does not hit as well vs. southpaws (.245) as they do vs. right-handers (.267), so do not look for much scoring today.
Game Time: 10/03/2008 06:05 PM -
By: Marc Lawrence | playbook.com
Still have doubts about the Rays? Take Tampa Bay Friday behind southpaw Scott Kazmir to move to 2-0 against Mark Buerhle and the Chicago White Sox in the ALDS.
Game 2 of this series finds the Rays going with staff ace Scott Kazmir against Chicago's Mark Buerhle as Tampa looks to go up 2-0 with a win tonight - and we feel they'll get it.
Kazmir has been spectacular at home this season, going 12-2 with a 2.90 ERA. He's also 15-3 with a 2.89 ERA at night this season. With Mark Buerhle 3-12 in his last 15 road starts, look for Kazmir to improve to 5-0 on Fridays this season here this evening.
We recommend a 1-unit play on Tampa with Kazmir vs. Buerhle.
SBR Top-Rated Sportsbooks
Front Page MLB Picks (Fri., Oct 3)
Reply With Quote
