Tuesday's Front Page Plays (May 15)

[Willie Bee]

Take Astros -115 with Williams

Game Time: 05/15/2007 08:05 PM -
By: Marc Lawrence | playbook.com


Woody Williams has had success vs. the Giants in recent years, and with Matt Morris struggling on the road this season, look for that success to continue at home in Houston tonight.

The Astros send veteran Woody Williams to the hill against the Giants here in Houston tonight.

Williams is in solid current form, allowing three runs or less in each of his last four starts, and his teams have cashed six of his last eight starts against San Francisco. He also owns a sharp 2.25 ERA at home against the Giants the last two seasons, and he has allowed two earned runs or less in his last six starts against them overall.

Giant starter Matt Morris has a 4.58 ERA with a high 1.73 WHIP on the road this year, so stay at home with Williams and the Astros tonight.

Free Pick: Astros -115

[Willie Bee]

Angels, M’s to Duel Under 7½

Game Time: 05/15/2007 10:05 PM -
By: Ben Burns | sportspic.com


Felix Hernandez was an early season Cy Young candidate before going on the disable list, and Kelvim Escobar is in excellent current form, so runs should be hard to come by here.

These pitchers faced each other last summer and the final score was 2-0. This figures to be another low-scoring affair.

Felix Hernandez has a miniscule 1.56 ERA and 0.69 WHIP in three starts this season, with two of those three games staying Under the total. Hernandez also has a 2.64 ERA and 0.82 WHIP in four career starts vs. the Angels, with the Under goings 3-0-1. While Hernandez, who just came off the disabled list, will be on a limited pitch count of probably 75-85 pitches), it is also worth noting that the Seattle bullpen has an excellent 2.74 ERA and 1.05 WHIP at home this season.

Kelvim Escobar has seen five of his six starts stay Under the total. He has a 2.21 ERA for the season, and that figure drops to 1.14 along with a 0.85 WHIP in his last three starts. Escobar has also seen three straight starts vs. the Mariners dip below the total.

Look for another pitcher's duel, so go with the Under again tonight.

Free Pick: Angels, Mariners Under 7½ -115

[Willie Bee]

Chalk Up A’s -200 over Royals

Game Time: 05/15/2007 10:05 PM -
By: Brad Diamond | playbook.com


The Royals have been abysmal vs. left-handed starters this season at 0-9, bringing them to just 13-49 in their last 62 games vs. southpaws, so lay the chalk with Joe Kennedy and the A’s.

The suffering Royals must show up in Oakland and face lefty Kennedy and the Athletics, who just smashed their egos to the tune of 17-3 last week in Kansas City.

Although the visitor has won four of the last five meetings in Oakland, the series edge is all A’s here at 44-16 last 60. Over their last 62 encounters vs. left-handed pitchers, the Royals have won just 13 games, and they have struggled to an 0-9 record versus port-siders this season!

With Kansas City historically a feeble road team, we are on the A's this evening

Free Pick: Athletics -200

[Willie Bee]

Take Tribe (-130) vs Twins

Game Time: 05/15/2007 07:05 PM -
By: Steve Zukiel | procappers.com


The Indians have the home field edge and the pitching advantage this evening. Back Cleveland at home tonight when they host the Minnesota Twins.

In this contest, my money is on the Cleveland Indians. Both teams have struggled coming into this contest, as they have both lost four of their last five baseball games. The difference for Cleveland however is that they are coming home where they are 11-3 on the season.

I also think the pitching matchup favors the Indians as well. Ramon Ortiz goes for the Twins and he has struggled somewhat as of late. The right-hander has lost his last two starts, and in 10 innings of work has allowed a whopping nine runs on 13 hits. Cleveland goes with Paul Byrd and he is 2-1 on the year with a 3.41 ERA. Those are solid numbers, but nothing compared to what he has done at home. The right-hander is 2-0 in two home starts and has allowed just three runs in 12 innings of work. Take Cleveland in this one.

Free Pick: Indians -130

[Willie Bee]

Make Mets the play vs Cubbies

Game Time: 05/15/2007 07:10 PM -
By: Alex Smart | who2beton.com

The Mets have their Maine Man on the hill tonight, plus the crowd behind them at Shea. Nab New York this evening versus Carlos Zambrano and the Chicago Cubs.

Mets starting pitcher John Maine enters into today's contest against the visiting Chicago Cubs with a 5-0 record on the season along with a stingy 1.79 ERA. The right-hander has allowed more than two earned runs in only one contest this season.

New York has had had a lot of success when Maine takes to the hill, winning 19 of his last 22 starts including seven straight as a home favorite. With Maine stretching out, the Mets once again look like a very viable bet.

Final Notes & Trends: The Mets are 20-8 in their last 28 home games against a team like the Cubs with a winning road record. New York is 20-5 in their last 25 against the moneyline versus NL starting pitchers with a 5.70 ERA or worse (Carlos Zambrano, the Cubs starter, owns a bloated 5.83 ERA on the season).

Free Pick: Mets -145

[Willie Bee]

O's, Blue Jays Over 9½

Game Time: 05/15/2007 07:05 PM -
By: Jimmy the Moose | sportspic.com


The Orioles have been favoring the Over recently, and with Daniel Cabrera going against rookie Jesse Litsch for the Blue Jays, the Over looks solid tonight when Baltimore visits Toronto.

The Baltimore Orioles have played over the total in seven of their last 10 games, with the average total in those 10 an even 11.0 per game.

Baltimore has played the Over in five of Daniel Cabrera's eight starts this season. The Over is 6-2 in his last eight road starts. Cabrera's last three starts vs. Toronto have played the over. The Jays will be getting a spot start here from Jesse Litsch, a young arm making his MLB debut. The teams have played the over in four of the last six meetings.

Free Pick: Orioles-Blue Jays Over 9½