Thursday's Front Page Picks (May 24)

[Willie Bee]

Play Padres to sweep Cubs

Game Time: 05/24/2007 10:05 PM -
By: Al McMordie | bigal.com


The Padres are on a roll against the Cubs. Side with San Diego at home tonight when they go for their third consecutive series sweep of Chicago dating back to 2006.

Our MLB selection for Thursday is on the San Diego Padres over the Chicago Cubs. Do the Padres have such a great bullpen because Petco Park is such a great pitchers' park, or is Petco such a great pitchers' park because San Diego has a great bullpen? My guess is that it's a little bit of both.

The Padres bullpen in 2007 looks pretty much like the best in baseball over the last 10 years or so. On the season they have pitched 137 innings and have an ERA of 1.77 and a WHIP of 0.96. Those are quite simply unbelievable numbers when you consider it is not from one or two great arms, but a combination of stats from nine different pitchers, the worst of whom is closer Trevor Hoffman who has an ERA of 3.12.

With that many quality relievers, all San Diego has to do is get its starter to go six decent innings and for the offense to score a few runs, and the game is probably over. They've obviously begun to employ this strategy as the Pads are 8-3 in their last 11 and have improved their overall record to 26-20 on the season. Right-hander Chris Young is the second best starter in the rotation right now (behind Jake Peavy who is having a Cy Young-type year) and assuming his team can score some runs, Young and that deadly bullpen should be on cruise control in this one. Take the Padres.

Free Pick: Padres -135

[Willie Bee]

Dog the Royals at home vs Indians

Game Time: 05/24/2007 08:10 PM -
By: Marc Lawrence | playbook.com


Coming off wins in the previous two games with the Indians, the Royals go for the series sweep this evening at home in Kansas City against Cleveland who is still drawing the chalk.

The Royals close out their series with the Tribe knowing Cleveland's Jeremy Sowers is in rotten strikeout-to-walk form and has dropped six of his eight teams starts this season.

The Cleveland left-hander is 0-4 on the season with a 7.13 ERA. In his last three starts covering just 13 innings total, Sowers has allowed 19 earned runs, 22 hits and walked six against just four strikeouts.

I see no reason why Sowers should be favored here tonight. Stay at home with Kansas City.

Free Pick: Royals +117

[Willie Bee]

Astros, Diamondbacks Under 9 (-105)

Game Time: 05/24/2007 09:40 PM -
By: L.T. Profit Sports Group | who2beton.com

Both the Astros and Diamondbacks have been very Under-friendly this year, and with both offenses struggling lately and two capable starters, look for that to continue tonight.

The Under is now 28-16-4 in all Arizona games this season, as well as 24-19-3 in all Houston games, and we look for those patterns to continue tonight.

Wandy Rodriguez is 2-3 for the Astros, but he had pitched much better than that record, with a fine 3.99 ERA and an excellent 1.19 WHIP in 49.2 innings. He allowed exactly one run in each of his last two starts, and he has allowed a total of one run in his last two starts vs. Arizona, covering 12 innings. Now granted, Micah Owings was bombed by the Pittsburgh Pirates in his last start for the Diamondbacks, but he had allowed three runs or less in each of his first five starts, and his task will be made easier here by the fact that the Astros are hitting a pathetic .207 vs. right-handed pitching over the last 10 games.

Finally both of these bullpens have performed well this year, with Arizona ranking sixth in the National League with a pen ERA of 3.47, and Houston eighth at 3.89.

Free Pick: Astros, Diamondbacks Under 9 -105

[Willie Bee]

Indians, Royals Over 10½

Game Time: 05/24/2007 08:10 PM -
By: Jimmy the Moose | sportspic.com

With Jeremy Sowers on the mound for Cleveland, and the two teams combining for 18 runs yesterday, play the Over tonight when the Indians close out their series with the Royals in KC.

The Indians have played the Over in four of Jeremy Sowers' last five starts. Over his last three starts, Sowers' ERA is 13.15. In Cleveland's last 25 games played on Thursday, the Over is 17-7-1.

The Over is 2-1 in Jorge De La Rosa's three starts vs. the Indians. The Over is 20-7-1 in Kansas City's last 28 home games vs. a left-handed starter. Play the Over.

Free Pick: Indians-Royals Over 10½

[rjt721]

Astros, Diamondbacks Under 9 (-105)

Game Time: 05/24/2007 09:40 PM -
By: L.T. Profit Sports Group | who2beton.com

Both the Astros and Diamondbacks have been very Under-friendly this year, and with both offenses struggling lately and two capable starters, look for that to continue tonight.

The Under is now 28-16-4 in all Arizona games this season, as well as 24-19-3 in all Houston games, and we look for those patterns to continue tonight.

Wandy Rodriguez is 2-3 for the Astros, but he had pitched much better than that record, with a fine 3.99 ERA and an excellent 1.19 WHIP in 49.2 innings. He allowed exactly one run in each of his last two starts, and he has allowed a total of one run in his last two starts vs. Arizona, covering 12 innings. Now granted, Micah Owings was bombed by the Pittsburgh Pirates in his last start for the Diamondbacks, but he had allowed three runs or less in each of his first five starts, and his task will be made easier here by the fact that the Astros are hitting a pathetic .207 vs. right-handed pitching over the last 10 games.

Finally both of these bullpens have performed well this year, with Arizona ranking sixth in the National League with a pen ERA of 3.47, and Houston eighth at 3.89.

Free Pick: Astros, Diamondbacks Under 9 -105

I like this play LT.