Thursday's Front Page Picks (Jun 7)

[Willie Bee]

St. Louis Cardinals -150 vs. Lohse & Reds

Game Time: 06/07/2007 08:10 PM -
By: Marc Lawrence | playbook.com

Kyle Lohse was hammered in his first start vs. St, Louis this season, and he is winless in three career starts against them, so lay the chalk with the Cardinals tonight.

The St. Louis Cardinals are looking for the sweep as they wrap up their three-game set with the Cincinnati Reds tonight.

Kyle Lohse of the Reds was roughed up in his first start vs. St. Louis this year, allowing five earned runs on a whopping 11 hits in six innings, and his teams are now 0-3 in his career starts vs. the Cardinals.

With Cincinnati now 2-7 in Game Three of a road series this season, we'll stay at home with the Redbirds here tonight.

Free Pick: Cardinals -150

[Willie Bee]

Ride Rangers to win vs Tigers

Game Time: 06/07/2007 08:35 PM -
By: Matt Fargo | procappers.com

Despite having the worst record in the majors, the Texas Rangers are the right play tonight when they conclude their three-game set at home with the Detroit Tigers.

The series is on the line in Texas on Thursday and there are a lot of things pointing toward the Rangers to take two out of three. Texas has the worst record in baseball but most of that is attributed to its 9-22 road record which is easily the worst in all of baseball. The Rangers are just four games under .500 at home and that is due to going 0-6 in six games against the Yankees and Red Sox last month.

The Tigers have been below average since mid-May, going 10-13. The pitching matchup is a toss up and that is the way to go in taking the home underdog. Kameron Loe has been anything but consistent this season but the bright side has been that two of his last four home outings have been quality starts including his last one against the Red Sox. He does possess a 1.40 WHIP at home in 39.1 innings which is pretty solid considering the Rangers have a 1.45 WHIP as a whole at home. All of the Rangers wins in his starts have been at home.

The Tigers could not lose with Mike Maroth on the mound to start the season but they have now lost his last three outings. His numbers are not good as he has allowed five runs in each of his last three starts and four of his last five. He has yet to be given a road loss despite the fact he has a gaudy 1.74 WHIP. He will now be coming to a hitters park against a team that he has posted a career 8.67 ERA against and is hitting .281 against left-handed pitching at home on the season.

Maroth is considered a contact pitcher as he does not strike hitters out and that is part of a great situation favoring the Rangers. Play against road favorites with a money line of -110 or higher that is hitting .285 or better on the season and starting a pitcher that strikes out three or fewer hitters per start. This situation is 51-23 against the moneyline (68.9 percent) since 1997 and is obviously even stronger based on the fact it is an underdog spot. Look for the Rangers to bust out after putting up the goose egg on Wednesday. Play Texas for one unit.

Free Pick: Rangers +121

[Willie Bee]

Peavy & Padres the Play

Game Time: 06/07/2007 10:05 PM -
By: Ben Burns | sportspic.com

The price is high, and for good reason as San Diego has their ace Jake Peavy on the mound tonight. Play the Padres at home against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Yesterday's selection was a +180 winner on the Royals. Today, we'll go the opposite direction and back a big favorite.

I've successfully played on the Padres the past two days. While today's price is a bit too steep for this to qualify as a "premium" selection, I do like the Padres a lot again tonight. I expect them to complete the sweep and, despite the high price, I still feel that they offer solid value.

San Diego starting pitcher Jake Peavy has been awesome this season, going 7-1 while posting a miniscule 1.68 ERA and 0.98 WHIP. He has also dominated the Dodgers over his career going 7-1 with a 2.31 ERA and 1.04 WHIP. Earlier this season, he beat them 7-2 in Los Angeles, allowing just three hits and one run through seven innings. The last time he faced them here in San Diego, he tossed seven shutout innings, also allowing only three hits. The Padres won that game by a score of 1-0. Peavy is backed by the best bullpen in the majors. Indeed, the San Diego relievers now have an awesome 1.64 ERA at home for the season.

Peavy will face left-hander Hong-Chih Kuo of the Dodgers who has an awful 7.71 ERA and 2.00 WHIP in limited innnings. Yesterday's win brought the Padres to 8-1 the last nine times they faced a left-hander at home. Consider a play on San Diego listing Peavy.

Free Pick: Padres -220

[Willie Bee]

Bet Blanton, A's vs Red Sox

Game Time: 06/07/2007 03:35 PM -
By: Alex Smart | who2beton.com

The Athletics have now won seven straight at home over the Red Sox. And that streak will grow to eight this afternoon when Oakland and Boston conclude their four-game series out west.

The Oakland As are currently playing their best baseball of the season, winning five straight games and looking to sweep a four-game set from the slumping Boston Red Sox here today.

The Athletics' current run can be attributed to a pitching staff that has allowed just 17 earned runs in their last eight games. With one their of their best hurlers, Joe Blanton, taking to the hill here this afternoon, look for the A's hot run to continue.

Note: Blanton owns a stingy 2.04 ERA at home this season allowing just nine earned runs 37 plus inning of work. Play on Oakland.

Free Pick: Athletics +130

[Willie Bee]

Cash the Cardinals vs Reds

Game Time: 06/07/2007 08:10 PM -
By: Tom Freese | touthouse.com

The Cardinals hitters should feast on Reds right-hander Kyle Lohse this evening. Side with St. Louis at home as the Redbirds go for a sweep of Cincinnati tonight.

St. Louis is starting to play much better ball winning six of their last seven games. Starter Adam Wainwright has allowed two runs or less in seven of his 11 starts this year.

Cincinnati starter Kyle Lohse has never beaten the Cardinals going 0-3 in three career starts against them. The Reds are just 9-20 their last 29 games in St. Louis, have lost four straight games overall and five of their last six. Play On St. Louis (Wainwright vs. Lohse).

Free Pick: Cardinals -150

[Willie Bee]

Hamels, Phils are best bets vs Mets

Game Time: 06/07/2007 07:10 PM -
By: Jimmy the Moose | sportspic.com

With the Mets struggling right now and the Phillies sending ace Cole Hamels to the hill in this one, play Philadelphia on the road in New York tonight.

The Phillies send their ace Cole Hamels to the mound. Hamels is 8-2 this season with a 3.55 ERA, is coming off a complete game victory and will look to carry the momentum into this one.

The Mets are struggling having lost three in a row and four of their last five. New York's John Maine was off to a stellar start but has struggled of late. The Mets have dropped three of his last four starts. Maine has been successful vs. the Phillies but tonight expect Hamels to pitch another gem and get the victory. Play on the Phillies.

Free Pick: Phillies -104