Thursday's Front Page Picks (May 31)

Willie Bee · 05-31-07, 08:47 AM

White Sox & Blue Jays Under 8½

Game Time: 05/31/2007 07:05 PM -
By: Al McMordie | bigal.com

Roy Halladay returns from the DL to take the mound tonight for Toronto against Chicago's Mark Buehrle. Play the Under when the Blue Jays and White Sox clash.

Our Thursday MLB selection is on the Chicago White Sox and Toronto Blue Jays to play Under the total.

The Jays open a crucial four game homestand against the White Sox, and this first game features the return of Toronto's ace, right-hander Roy Halladay, who is an organ lighter after undergoing an emergency appendectomy on May 11. That may not seem that long ago, but athletes generally recover pretty quickly from these procedures and after all, you don't throw with your appendix. Halladay experienced no problems in a 66-pitch simulated game last Friday and the team has pronouced him ready to go.

His opponent is another one of the AL's best in lefty Mark Buehrle for the Sox. Although both of these aces have had some rough patches lately, their overall numbers for the year are still excellent and I'm expecting both to rebound significantly in this game tonight in a ballpark that is extremely friendly to pitchers. Toronto's bullpen has not lost a beat despite a plethora of pitching injuries and the loss of one of the best closers in the game, BJ Ryan, to Tommy John surgery that will have him sidelined at least until the start of next season. In fact, their pitching overall has been pretty solid and if they could get any consistent hitting at all, they would be over .500 for sure.

It doesn't help matters that All-Star third baseman Troy Glaus has yet another nagging injury, this one a hamstring, and may miss even more playing time, including this game. Take the Under.

Free Pick: White Sox-Blue Jays Under 8½

Willie Bee · 05-31-07, 08:49 AM

Florida Marlins +135 to Upset Brewers

Game Time: 05/31/2007 08:05 PM -
By: Mike Rose | who2beton.com

These teams are heading in opposite directions, as the Marlins just swept a three-game series at Wrigley Field while the Brewers continued to slide when the bullpen imploded Wednesday.

How can we not back the Fighting Fish at this price in this spot?

The Marlins enter this game red hot, as they are coming off their first ever three-game sweep at Wrigley Field. Now they have to jump on a bus and head north to take on the slumping Brewers, who are coming off one of their toughest losses of the season. They looked to have Wednesday's game against the Braves well in hand late in the game, but the bullpen imploded and turned a 2-1 Brewer lead into a 9-3 defeat after allowing eight runs in the last two innings of the contest.

Florida has yet to win a road start for Wes Obermueller, but Miller Park could be his home away from home, as he was a member of the Brewers pitching staff for a couple of years. He is familiar with the atmosphere and surroundings, and I believe he will put forth his best road effort of the year.

Claudio Vargas has gotten off to a nice start this year, but I simply do not trust him whatsoever. He is way overdue to get blown up one of these days, and the Marlins are just the team to take it to him out of nowhere. He has been hit hard his last three starts, and this looks to be as good a time as any to fade him once again.

After pulling to just one game under .500 last night, the Marlins will come out very eager, looking to even up their record at 27-27. Look for them to barrage Vargas early and continue to do so against a Milwaukee pen that simply imploded yesterday afternoon.

Free Pick: Marlins +135

Willie Bee · 05-31-07, 08:52 AM

Play Maddux & Padres at Pirates

Game Time: 05/31/2007 07:05 PM -
By: Alex Smart | who2beton.com

With veteran Greg Maddux starting and the game's best bullpen behind him, the San Diego Padres are an easy pick tonight in Pittsburgh against the Pirates.

The San Diego Padres will send 21-year major league veteran Greg Maddux (337-206, 3.08 ERA lifetime) to the hill to face the Pittsburgh Pirates this evening.

Maddux is off a good outing, winning against Milwaukee his last time out. The right-hander has allowed three or fewer earned runs in six of his last eight starts. If and when the old guy falters, he is backed with what is in my opinion the best bullpen in baseball as is evident by a 2.33 ERA.

His pitching opponent from the Bucs, Shawn Chacon, remains one of baseballs most hittable throwers, having allowed 767 career hits in just 777 innings of work for a bloated 5.03 ERA. Bottom line: I know the Pirates have been playing some fairly good baseball of late winning four of their last six overall, but I see them beginning to revert to their previous sub .500 form after being shut out in two of their last three games.

Let's ride the momentum of a Padres team that has won 11 of their last 15 overall. Play on San Diego.

Free Pick: Padres -129

Willie Bee · 05-31-07, 08:54 AM

Bet the Dodgers on run line at Nats

Game Time: 05/31/2007 07:05 PM -
By: Mike Rose | who2beton.com

After taking the first two games of the series by a 15-0 aggregate, laying the Los Angeles Dodgers on the run line tonight against the Washington Nationals is the play.

The Nationals returned home feeling great about themselves after taking five games from the Reds and Cardinals on a 7-game road trip, and things looked to be on the up and up. That is until the Dodgers paid the nation's capital a visit and gave the Nats sound beatings the last couple nights.

The tally from the first two games of this series is quite simple: Dodgers-15, Nationals-0, zippo, zilch, nothin', nada!

That's right, the Dodgers' pitching staff and defense haven't allowed the Nats one run thus far, and runs look to be few and far between again tonight with lefty Mark Hendrickson toeing the rubber for LA. Washington is flat-out putrid when it comes to hitting lefty pitching. They own a woeful batting average of .245 and an anemic slugging percentage of .348. Not the greatest of numbers at all, and I don't foresee them just blowing up against Hendrickson regardless of the fact that he hasn't been the sharpest his last three starts.

I'm not a fan of relievers jumping up to the starters role, and Micah Bowie by no means will strike any fear into the hearts of the Dodger batters. His only two starts this season saw him up against a struggling Cards team at the time, and the soft-hitting Orioles. This Dodger club is a completely different breed than what he's faced thus far, and I foresee an early exit for Bowie this evening as the Dodgers role big here to cover the run line.

Free Pick: Dodgers -1½ (+120)

Willie Bee · 05-31-07, 08:55 AM

Make money on Mets vs Giants

Game Time: 05/31/2007 07:10 PM -
By: Jimmy the Moose | sportspic.com

Look for the Mets to close out their series with the Giants on a winning note tonight. Nab New York as home favorites in their series finale with San Francisco.

Right-hander Matt Cain (2-4, 3.23) takes the mound for the Giants tonight. San Francisco is 2-8 in his 10 starts this season. The Giants won last night and are now 1-4 in their last five games.

The Mets counter with Orlando Hernandez tonight. The Mets are 4-2 in games he's started. Over his last three starts, the right-handed Hernandez is 1-0 with an ERA of 0.45 and NY has won all three games. The Giants are 4-9 in their last 13 vists to Shea. Play on the Mets.

Free Pick: Mets -141