Monday's Front Page Picks (Jun 25)

[Willie Bee]

Halladay & Jays to 'hurt' Twins

Game Time: 06/25/2007 08:10 PM -
By: Brian Gabrielle | bgsports.com

The Blue Jays have their ace Roy Halladay on the hill and slugger Frank 'Big Hurt' Thomas looking for HR #500. Take Toronto tonight when they begin a series in Minnesota vs the Twins.

The Twins' bats have responded to the loss of Justin Morneau since a collision at home plate on Friday left him coughing up blood with a bruised lung. Joe Mauer, in particular, went 4-for-8 with six RBIs and two home runs over the weekend.

But Toronto is swinging well lately, too, and they have their ace Roy Halladay on the mound after reaching .500 Sunday for the first time since May 1 (they did it with a one-hitter from Dustin McGowan). That’s a huge motivation for a team that lost nine in a row to start May and has been clawing its way back since.

The Jays have averaged 9.2 runs scored per game in their last six (4-2 in that stretch). Frank Thomas is one shy of 500 career home runs against a young pitcher in Kevin Slowey who has given up a lot.

Free Pick: Blue Jays -135

[Willie Bee]

Pick Padres -105 over San Francisco Giants

Game Time: 06/25/2007 10:15 PM -
By: Bob Harvey | bobharveysports.com

Germano has taken the league by storm, unlike the more highly-touted Lincecum, and with Germano owning a 0.88 road WHIP, go Padres.

Youth will be served tonight as Justin Germano and Tim Lincecum square off in the series opener between the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants.

Germano has been a real find for the Padres, compiling a 5-1 record with a 2.63 ERA. Germano has been at his best on the road, going 3-0 with a great 1.50 ERA and a microscopic 0.88 WHIP. Linecum, aka the next big thing, has struggled going 0-2 in four June starts while posting a 10.61 ERA. He has also failed to work past the fifth inning in his last three starts, and he has a terrible 7.52 ERA and 1.77 WHIP here at home.

Finally, I look for the Giants to be a little flat after their three game series with the Yankees, while San Diego needs a win to keep pace in the tight and talented (excluding San Francisco) National League West.

Free Pick: Padres -105

[Willie Bee]

White Sox +120 to upset Devil Rays

Game Time: 06/25/2007 07:10 PM -
By: L.T. Profit Sports Group | who2beton.com

Both of these teams have struggled, but Howell cannot be trusted as a decided favorite, and with Danks showing at least some ability, go White Sox.

We do not think anyone could have envisioned before this season started the Tampa Bay Devil Rays being three games in front of the Chicago White Sox at this point in the year!

However, we do look for the White Sox to close that gap some tonight. The Devil Rays may still be a bit giddy after taking the last two games from the Los Angeles Dodgers this weekend, and they may forget the fact that they are still under the .500 mark, at 19-20 here at home. Also, the Rays starting pitcher J.P. Howell is winless in his last three starts, with a 5.71 ERA and a 1.79 WHIP.

Now John Danks is not really that much better statistically for the White Sox, but at least the young southpaw has shown signs of having a future this year, and he should be tough on a Tampa Bay team that has never faced him before. In fact, Danks has allowed three earned runs or less in seven of his last nine starts. His problem is that he has struggled with his control, which is the main reason he has not pitched deeper into games lately.

Danks gets a break here though in that he is facing a young and over-aggressive Devil Rays lineup that does not draw enough walks, so look for the White Sox to post a rare road win at a nice price tonight.

Free Pick: White Sox +120

[Willie Bee]

Padres & Germano, Giants & Lincecum Over 8½ (+100)

Game Time: 06/25/2007 10:15 PM -
By: Al McMordie | bigal.com

Young Tim Lincecum has failed to live up to the hype, while the league is catching up to fellow youngster Justin Germano, so play the Over.

Young San Francisco Giants right-handed fireballer Tim Lincecum is yet another example of a "next big thing" starter who was tearing it up in the minors, only to come up to The Show and promptly become the "next bad thing."

Sure Lincecum can throw hard and strike people out, but as they say about a lot of young hurlers these days, he knows how to throw, but just has to learn how to pitch.
Lincecum has been so awful lately that Manager Bruce Bochy had actually considered skipping his start tonight, but decided to keep Lincecum out there. Lincecum, who was on just about everyone's watch list as one of the up and coming stars, needs to have a decent outing, or else he might be moved to the bullpen.

Young San Diego Padres right-hander Justin Germano is sort of the anti-Lincecum, as he was hardly on anyone's watch list prior to the season, but has been one of the biggest surprises in the league. Germano has a 5-1 record, a 2.62 ERA and only seven walks in 48 innings of work. However, there may be signs that the league is starting to catch up to Germano, a guy who doesn't throw hard or strike out a lot of batters. Also, Germano has had the benefit of pitching against some of the lesser hitting teams in the league in his recent starts; as Baltimore, Tampa Bay, Washington, and Seattle twice are the teams that he has faced in five of his last six outings.

Furthermore, six of the last seven Giants games have produced a total of nine runs or more, so take the Over.

Free Pick: Padres, Giants Over 8½ (+100)

[Willie Bee]

Rake some winnings courtesy of Red Sox tonight

Game Time: 06/25/2007 10:05 PM -
By: Jimmy the Moose | sportspic.com

Boston has been in control of the AL East all season, and they'll try to extend their lead tonight in Seattle when they open a series with the Mariners. Cash in on the Red Sox.

Boston is heating up having won seven of their last nine games. The Red Sox send Julian Tavarez to the mound tonight and he's been red hot going 2-0 over his last three starts with an ERA of 2.25. Boston has won his last three starts and six of his last seven. The Red Sox have also won four of his last five road starts.

Jeff Weaver has pitched well in his last three starts but the Mariners still seem to lose when he's on the mound. Seattle is 2-7 in his last nine starts this season. In his most recent four starts vs. Boston his teams are is 1-3. Look for Tavarez to out-pitch Weaver tonight and the Red Sox to be victorious. Play on the Red Sox.

Free Pick: Red Sox -125

[Willie Bee]

Take Tigers to top Rangers

Game Time: 06/25/2007 07:05 PM -
By: Vernon Croy | procappers.com

The Tigers have won eight of their last 10 and 11 of their last 14 to take control of the AL Central. And they'll extend this good run at home tonight in Detroit vs. the Texas Rangers.

This Detroit team is red-hot coming into tonight's home game and they are by far the superior team here.

Starting pitcher Kameron Loe has struggled for Texas this season and Detroit is averaging seven runs per game over their last seven and are hitting .293 as a team this season. I never like taking the big juice but I have to lay down on this pick tonight for a unit.

Free Pick: Tigers -210

[onlooker]

I hope you win Bob Harvey, because I may very well be on the Padres tonight too.