Padres with Germano, Nationals Under 8½
Game Time: 06/02/2007 07:05 PM -
By: Al McMordie | bigal.com
Germano of the Padres is being touted as the next Jake Peavy, and although Nationals’ starter Speigner has been struggling, the weak Padre bats may be just what he needs.
I never thought I would use this phrase this year, and it is going to sound a bit strange, but the Washington Nationals are hot.
All of sudden, the Nationals are playing like they means it, and not because they have had a string of games against weak teams. First, the Nats took three of four games in Cincinnati. Then, they took two of three in St. Louis. Next, although they lost the series at home to the Dodgers, they dominated them in the third and final game on Thursday, Finally, they just knocked off the Padres and their ace Jake Peavy in the first game of the current series at home.
After winning that game in 10 innings with the help of outstanding performances from Christian Guzman, Ryan Zimmerman, and Dmitri Young, they'll come back for Game 2 against a pitcher who could be the Padres' "Jake Peavy of the future", young right-hander Justin Germano. The Nationals are going to give at least one more start to their struggling young right-hander Levale Speigner, mainly because they have so many pitching injuries that they are forced to keep him in the rotation.
However this could be a good thing, as a decent start at home against a weak-hitting opponent like the Padres could be all Speigner needs to turn it around. San Diego is only batting .238 vs. right-handers, and one of their hottest hitters, catcher Josh Bard, may be forced to miss this one as he is scheduled to start serving a suspension soon for bumping an umpire.
Also, five of the last six games played between these two at RFK Stadium have totaled a combined eight runs or less, so take the Under tonight.
Free Pick: Padres, Nationals Under 8½ (+100)
Game Time: 06/02/2007 07:05 PM -
By: Al McMordie | bigal.com
Germano of the Padres is being touted as the next Jake Peavy, and although Nationals’ starter Speigner has been struggling, the weak Padre bats may be just what he needs.
I never thought I would use this phrase this year, and it is going to sound a bit strange, but the Washington Nationals are hot.
All of sudden, the Nationals are playing like they means it, and not because they have had a string of games against weak teams. First, the Nats took three of four games in Cincinnati. Then, they took two of three in St. Louis. Next, although they lost the series at home to the Dodgers, they dominated them in the third and final game on Thursday, Finally, they just knocked off the Padres and their ace Jake Peavy in the first game of the current series at home.
After winning that game in 10 innings with the help of outstanding performances from Christian Guzman, Ryan Zimmerman, and Dmitri Young, they'll come back for Game 2 against a pitcher who could be the Padres' "Jake Peavy of the future", young right-hander Justin Germano. The Nationals are going to give at least one more start to their struggling young right-hander Levale Speigner, mainly because they have so many pitching injuries that they are forced to keep him in the rotation.
However this could be a good thing, as a decent start at home against a weak-hitting opponent like the Padres could be all Speigner needs to turn it around. San Diego is only batting .238 vs. right-handers, and one of their hottest hitters, catcher Josh Bard, may be forced to miss this one as he is scheduled to start serving a suspension soon for bumping an umpire.
Also, five of the last six games played between these two at RFK Stadium have totaled a combined eight runs or less, so take the Under tonight.
Free Pick: Padres, Nationals Under 8½ (+100)