Thursday's Front Page Picks (May 10)

[Willie Bee]

Giants -110 to Batter Cook

Game Time: 05/10/2007 08:35 PM -
By: Marc Lawrence

http://www.playbook.com/

Not only has Colorado’s Aaron Cook struggled at home this season, but he also never pitched well vs. San Francisco in Coors Field, so back the Giants and Noah Lowry to prevail.

The Giants open a four game set in Colorado this evening after making the short trip from San Francisco, while the Rockies had a longer trip after playing in St. Louis yesterday.

Aaron Cook has struggled with a 6.50 ERA at home this year, and he has been horrible when pitching against the Giants in this stadium, going 0-5 with a 5.40 ERA lifetime. Also, the Rockies are 1-7 this season against southpaws.

With Noah Lowry sporting a 3.29 ERA for the year, look for the Giants to win the series opener here tonight.

Play: Giants -110

[Willie Bee]

BoSox, Jays to Stay Under 8.5

Game Time: 05/10/2007 07:05 PM -
By: L.T. Profit Sports Group

http://www.who2beton.com

The Under is perfect this season when Roy Halladay pitches at home and when Tim Wakefield pitches on the road, so the bats should be quiet north of the border tonight.

These two pitchers are polar opposites stylistically, but they have both gotten the job done, so runs should be hard to come by.

Roy Halladay is always a Cy Young candidate, although he was battered around mercilessly for nine runs and 12 hits at Texas in his last start. We do expect a strong bounce-back performance tonight though, as Halladay has a microscopic 1.37 ERA and 0.76bWHIP in three home starts covering 26.1 innings. He also has six Quality Starts in his last eight career appearances vs. the Red Sox, with the two non-quality efforts coming on the road in Fenway Park.

Statistically, the knuckleballer Tim Wakefield has actually outpitched Halladay to this point. Wakefield has a 2.11 ERA for the season including a 1.78 ERA in four road starts. He tossed a masterpiece in his last start in Minnesota, pitching seven scoreless innings while allowing just three hits.

Not surprisingly, the Under is a perfect 3-0 in all of Halladay’s home starts and 4-0 in all of Wakefield’s road starts, so look for that pattern to continue here tonight.

Play: Red Sox, Blue Jays Under 8½ -105

[Willie Bee]

Pick Giants -110 to Rock Colorado

Game Time: 05/10/2007 08:35 PM -
By: Al McMordie

http://www.bigal.com/

Noah Lowry has been a bright spot on the Giants’ pitching staff this season, while Aaron Cook has had trouble getting people out in his own park, so Bonds & Co. should get the job done here.

It is no longer a question of whether Barry Bonds will break Hank Aaron's all-time home run record, but simply a matter of when.

A much bigger question is whether the Giants have enough overall talent on their team to take them to the postseason. They recently brought up phenom pitcher Tim Lincecum from AAA, where his numbers were almost inhuman, only to see Lincecum get hit pretty hard in an 8-5 loss to the Phillies in San Francisco. However, the Giants should have an easier time of it tonight in Colorado, as the Rockies are in a bit of disarray right now.

Righthander Aaron Cook goes to the mound for the Rockies, and unfortunately, he has not fared well this season at his home park. He is 0-1 with a 6.50 ERA in 18 innings pitched in Coors Field. He also has not fared well against the Giants, as Colorado has lost the last seven games that Cook has started against them.

San Francisco left-hander Noah Lowry has been one the team's most consistent starters this season, and he is undefeated in his last 3 starts (3-0). Finally, the Rockies best offensive player, outfielder Matt Holiday, is listed as questionable tonight for this one, so take the Giants at this cheap price.

Play: Giants -110

[Willie Bee]

Pick Pale Hose as pups in Minnesota

Game Time: 05/10/2007 01:10 PM -
By: Dennis Macklin

http://www.sbrforum.com

This price presents a perfect time to back Chicago on the road in Minnesota. Play the White Sox this afternoon at the Metrodome against the Twins.

With the way the White Sox have handled right-handed pitching (156-92) and have performed as a road dog (35-21) at this price the past three years, there's no reason not to play them today against the Twins.

The Pale Hose also fit a 41-21 angle as road dog when the posted total is 8-8½. Jose Contreras has been adequate going 3-2 with a 3.72 ERA against Minny while his counterpart, Carlos Silva, is just 4-7 with 5.75 ERA facing ChiSox. The Twins are hitting just .244 at home and averaging less than four runs a game which won't bode well if Silva gets lit like he has in the past in this matchup. Take the White Sox.

Play: White Sox +105

[Willie Bee]

Go Under 8½ with ChiSox, Twins

Game Time: 05/10/2007 01:10 PM -
By: L.T. Profit Sports Group

http://www.who2beton.com

The Under is 11-5 in all Minnesota home games this season, and with both of these stating pitchers in good current form and with a good history vs. their opponent today, go Under again.

The home/away splits for this contest suggest that a low scoring affair is in order.

The Under is now 11-5-3 in all Minnesota home games this season with an average combined total score of 7.79 runs per game, as well as 9-7-2 in all White Sox road games with an average score of 8.16 runs. Jose Contreras has allowed three runs or less in four of his last five starts for the Pale Hose, and the last time he pitched here in Minnesota, he allowed just one run on five hits in eight innings. Meanwhile Carlos Silva has allowed three earned runs or less in all six of his starts this year, and he has three Quality Starts in his last four outings vs. Chicago.

Finally the Twins ranks sixth in the Major Leagues with a collective 3.15 ERA, while the White Sox pen is now also in the top half of the league at 3.83, so go with the Under as tack-on runs should be at a minimum.

Play: White Sox, Twins Under 8½

[Willie Bee]

Chalking the Halos vs Tribe

Game Time: 05/10/2007 03:35 PM -
By: Jimmy the Moose


This afternoon's getaway contest in Anaheim features a lopsided pitching matchup in the home team's favor. Back the Angels today versus the Cleveland Indians.

The Indians are 2-6 in their last eight games as the underdog. Today they send Jeremy Sowers to the mound and he has stuggled this season.

The left-handed Sowers is 0-2 with a 5.86 ERA. Over his last three starts his ERA is 6.60 and the Indians have lost two of the three games. Angels right-hander Kelvim Escobar is 3-1 with a 2.86 ERA and the Angels have won four of his five starts. The Angels are 41-19 in their last 60 home games.

Play: Angels -130

[bigboydan]

I disagree with Mr.McMordie & Lawrence on this game.

[rmcaj]

I'm leaning towards
the under in that giant game.