Vegas Dave's Baseball Picks 06/01/09
Short write-ups today, just wanted to get my plays out there.
Pick 1: Cincinnati Reds +112 over St. Louis Cardinals
Volquez returns from the DL having missed the minimum required time with a back spasm. Obviously they wouldn't rush him back if he wasn't ready to go, and I'm sure the DL stint was just being precautionary as well. Volquez has been shaky at points this season, but he is an excellent young pitcher and is leading the National League among starters with a .185 BAA on the season. Too good to pass up on at +odds.
Pick 2: Oakland Athletics @ Chicago White Sox Under 9 -102
Throw out two very bad 7-run starts by Cahill, and the kid has given up 2 runs or less in all 8 of his other starts. 2 runs or less in 8 of 10 starts; not too bad. Colon has been quietly effective this season too, also like Cahill in either being very good or very bad: 5 runs in 3 starts, 2 or less in 6 starts.
With two of the worst offenses in the majors facing off today, I'll assume these two will be on their 2-run behavior today. And even if one isn't sharp, the total still has a good shot at staying under double digits.
Pick 3: New York Mets -104 over Pittsburgh Pirates
Yes, I know that the Mets lineup is very beat up and looks pretty darn bad on paper. But Ian Snell has been so consistently mediocre; 3 or more runs in 5 straight starts and 6 of his last 7; that I just don't expect him to do well against even a battered up Mets lineup.
Livan Hernandez meanwhile has been sharp in May, giving up two runs or less in 4 of his 5 May outings (including 3 one-run games). He should do fine against Pittsburgh today, and Snell will allow the Mets to give him some run support.
Pick 1: Cincinnati Reds +112 over St. Louis Cardinals
Volquez returns from the DL having missed the minimum required time with a back spasm. Obviously they wouldn't rush him back if he wasn't ready to go, and I'm sure the DL stint was just being precautionary as well. Volquez has been shaky at points this season, but he is an excellent young pitcher and is leading the National League among starters with a .185 BAA on the season. Too good to pass up on at +odds.
Pick 2: Oakland Athletics @ Chicago White Sox Under 9 -102
Throw out two very bad 7-run starts by Cahill, and the kid has given up 2 runs or less in all 8 of his other starts. 2 runs or less in 8 of 10 starts; not too bad. Colon has been quietly effective this season too, also like Cahill in either being very good or very bad: 5 runs in 3 starts, 2 or less in 6 starts.
With two of the worst offenses in the majors facing off today, I'll assume these two will be on their 2-run behavior today. And even if one isn't sharp, the total still has a good shot at staying under double digits.
Pick 3: New York Mets -104 over Pittsburgh Pirates
Yes, I know that the Mets lineup is very beat up and looks pretty darn bad on paper. But Ian Snell has been so consistently mediocre; 3 or more runs in 5 straight starts and 6 of his last 7; that I just don't expect him to do well against even a battered up Mets lineup.
Livan Hernandez meanwhile has been sharp in May, giving up two runs or less in 4 of his 5 May outings (including 3 one-run games). He should do fine against Pittsburgh today, and Snell will allow the Mets to give him some run support.