Saturday's Front Page Picks (May 26)

Willie Bee · 05-26-07, 09:16 AM

Dog the Angels +150 vs. Yankees

Game Time: 05/26/2007 01:05 PM -
By: L.T. Profit Sports Group | who2beton.com

The value on Kelvim Escobar and the Angels is just too much to pass up this afternoon, when the hotter pitcher and hotter team take on the Yankees in the Bronx.

The Los Angeles Angels took the series opener from the Yankees 10-6 here last night, and the Halos look like a big overlay today with Kelvim Escobar on the mound.

Escobar is 5-2 with a nice 2.82 ERA and an outstanding 1.14 WHIP in 51 innings this season. Sure he has a 7.20 ERA on the road, but that is only because he has made just two starts away from home and one of them was his worst outing of the year, where he allowed six earned runs in just 2.1 innings in Seattle. He recorded a Quality Start in his only other road effort, allowing just two runs in 7.2 innings at the White Sox, and he has three Quality Starts in his last four appearances vs. the Yankees with two of those coming in New York, so Escobar should be just fine here.

Chien-Ming Wang can obviously be tough at times, but he does have a high 4.72 ERA here at home this year, and he was simply brutal the last time he faced the Angels, allowing five earned runs on a whopping 13 hits in 5.1 innings right here in this ballpark last August. Finally, Los Angeles has the much deeper bullpen, as the Yankees’ long relief has been shaky at best.

Free Pick: Angels +150

Willie Bee · 05-26-07, 09:17 AM

Zambrano & Cubs to crack Dodgers

Game Time: 05/26/2007 03:55 PM -
By: Dave Price | procappers.com

The Cubs have played well in LA the past few seasons, and Carlos Zambrano has owned the Dodgers lineup. Lay the small chalk on Chicago tonight against Los Angeles.

The Cubs are 5-1 in Los Angeles against the Dodgers over the last three seasons and 8-4 in all games against the Dodgers over the last three seasons.

Chicago right-hander Carlos Zambrano has done his best work on the road this season going 3-1. He has a career ERA of 1.74 against the Dodgers. That includes holding Jeff Kent, Rafael Furcal and Juan Pierre to a combined .182 batting average. We’ll side with the Cubbies in this one.

Free Pick: Cubs -110

Willie Bee · 05-26-07, 09:19 AM

Play White Sox on the run line

Game Time: 05/26/2007 07:05 PM -
By: Alex Smart | who2beton.com

Look for Chicago's Javier Vazquez to pick up his first win in more than a month tonight when the White Sox host the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at U.S. Cellular Field.

Javier Vazquez (2-2, 4.21), the White Sox starting pitcher here today, continues to be a workhorse for his team, pitching deep into games and giving his team a chance to win on most occasions.

The righty unfortunately has not won since April 13. Look for his fortunes to change this evening against a poor traveling Tampa Bay team that is a lowly 16-56 in their last 72 games against right-handed pitchers on the road.

Note: Erwin Jackson, the D-Rays' man on the hill for this tilt, is 0-6 on the season along with a bloated 7.78 ERA. And going back further his team has lost nine straight times when he starts, losing those games by an average of four runs per game. You have to like the Pale Hose to bring home the cash in this spot. Play on the White Sox.

Free Pick: White Sox -1½ (Even)

Willie Bee · 05-26-07, 09:21 AM

Win with Webb, Diamondbacks

Game Time: 05/26/2007 09:40 PM -
By: Jeff Alexander | procappers.com

The Houston Astros couldn't hit the fifth starter for an A-ball club right now, and they certainly can't muster any offense against Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Brandon Webb.

We’ll pay the juice here to get Brandon Webb at home against the Astros who are struggling more than any other team in baseball.

In six career games versus Houston, Webb has a WHIP of 0.99 and is only allowing the Astros to hit for a .186 average against him. The 2006 NL Cy Young winner shut the Astros down earlier this year in Houston, tossing a complete game 6-hitter and striking out 10 in the process. It doesn’t get any easier than this. Take the D-Backs.

Free Pick: Diamondbacks -167

Willie Bee · 05-26-07, 09:22 AM

Maine & Mets to mash Marlins

Game Time: 05/26/2007 07:05 PM -
By: Jimmy the Moose | sportspic.com

Though John Maine has struggled recently, back the right-hander and the Mets tonight when New York continues their series in Florida against the Marlins.

New York Mets right-hander John Maine is 5-2 on the season. Although he's struggled over his last couple of starts the Mets have still won seven of his nine starts. Maine is 4-0 on the road with a 1.64 ERA.

The Florida Marlins are 2-6 in their last eight meetings with NL East opponents. Florida has lost their last five home games vs. the Mets. Play on the Mets.

Free Pick: Mets -138

Willie Bee · 05-26-07, 09:25 AM

D'Rays & White Sox Over 10

Game Time: 05/26/2007 07:05 PM -
By: Greg Daraban | playbook.com

The pitching matchup tonight on Chicago's South Side points to an Over. Play the Devil Rays and White Sox to light up the scoreboard this evening in the Windy City.

This is Game 2 of the series as Chicago won 5-4 Friday thanks to a Joe Crede sac fly in the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded.

Tampa's right-hander Edwin Jackson is 0-6 and on the brink of being sent to the minors with a 7.71 ERA. Javier Vazquez is just 2-2 overall for the White Sox with a 4.21 ERA. Both teams have some very big bats. This will be a high-scoring game at Chicago.

Free Pick: Devil Rays-White Sox Over 10

cwsulzba · 05-26-07, 11:30 AM

Really like the runline on Chicago vs. Tampa Bay, as well as the ml in the D-Backs game.

onlooker · 05-26-07, 11:33 AM

I'm with you LT on them Angels, but I disagree with Dave Price. I like the Dodgers in that one.

Funny, I'm on both LA teams.