Tuesday's Front Page Plays (Aug 28)

[Willie Bee]

KC Royals (+104) vs Detroit Tigers

Game Time: 08/28/2007 08:10 PM -
By: Tony George | 10starpicks.com

This is a prime letdown spot for the Tigers off their 16-0 rout of the Yankees. Back Brian Bannister and the Royals at home in Kansas City this evening when the Detroit Tigers come to town.

I like the Royals' chances at home in this one, a game I will attend tonight. Detroit is off a 16-0 butt kicking of the Yankees, who clearly were looking ahead to their series with Boston this week. The last time these two teams hooked up, Kansas City took two out of three in the series.

Nate Robertson has been ice cold for the Tigers recently on the hill; he is 7-10 on the year with an ERA approaching 5.005. He has won just one game in his last seven starts on the road.

Kansas City is quietly boasting one of the better bullpens in the AL this season and while some quality wins avoid some of their starters, this team is on the rise in terms of young talent, including Alex Gordon at third base who is one of the better young fielders I have seen in awhile. At home this year, KC has hit southpaws better than right-handers as a team, and Detroit has hit less than .250 as team on the road against right-handers. I like KC's bats at home in this one tonight against a struggling pitcher who has stunk it up on the road this year.

Brian Bannister takes the mound for KC tonight. He has given up 25 runs at home this season in 10 starts with an ERA of 3.25 while allowing opposing hitters a .272 average against him. He has won three out of his last four starts and has had a WHIP of just 1.08.

The last time Detroit played KC in Detroit, these two pitchers hooked up and the Royals won 5-2. I expect a lower scoring game tonight with KC at home and having a better bullpen, I like their chances as an underdog. Coming off a 16-0 emotional win last night and then traveling, this is a letdown spot for Detroit. The Tigers are just 2-7 their last nine as a favorite.

Free Pick: Royals +104

[Willie Bee]

Detroit Tigers (-101) at KC Royals

Game Time: 08/28/2007 08:10 PM -
By: Al McMordie | bigal.com

Trailing in the AL Central and in the AL Wildcard race, Detroit looks to keep their winning ways going tonight in Kansas City against the Royals. Back Nate Robertson and the Tigers.

Our Tuesday night MLB selection is on the Detroit Tigers over the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.

Detroit is playing Kansas City and guess who's favored? What kind of odds could you have gotten at the beginning of the season on Nate Robertson and the Tigers being an underdog to Brian Bannister and the Royals in late August? And while Bannister has had quite a year, how in the world can you not like Detroit here?

I actually think KC would have a better chance if the game were being played in Motowan at Comerica Park. Detroit is a better road than home team and they have absolutely dominated the Royals at Kauffman Stadium, going 8-1 in the last nine games played there since the beginning of the 2006 season. Ok, so Robertson has been dreadful on the road at 2-7 with a 5.66 ERA, but a lot of that damage was done earlier in the season when he was battling some nagging injuries and he's actually pitched much better lately.

Bannister did not fare very well when facing the Tigers at home back on May 4, only lasting 4.2 innings on the way to a 6-3 loss. Another problem for the Royals is that they will be without one of their most consistent offensive performers in outfielder Mark Teahen who is out with a hyperextended elbow, and while the Tigers are also without Gary Sheffield, they have many other weapons at their disposal as they showed Monday night in warming up for this road trip with a 16-0 blowout of the Yankees at home. Take the Tigers.

Free Pick: Tigers -101

[Willie Bee]

Smoltz, Atlanta Braves (-1½) at Florida Marlins

Game Time: 08/28/2007 07:05 PM -
By: Scott Spreitzer | sportspic.com

Coming off their 13-2 win last night over the Marlins, look for the Atlanta Braves to keep the offense smokin' this evening in Florida behind veteran John Smoltz.

I'm laying the Run Line with the Braves on Tuesday when Atlanta takes on the Marlins in Florida for Game 2 of their three game series.

Atlanta has smashed right-handers in road night action. They're winning at almost a 67% clip in this spot while scoring an average of 6.0 RPG. That should be more than enough against a Florida squad that continues to struggle. Last night's 11-run loss drops them to 11 games below .500 in home night games against righties.

John Smoltz is no one to get healthy against. He's dominated the Marlins throughout his career and has been smokin' in his last three starts. Look for the Braves to cruise again on Tuesday. Atlanta is my Run Line release.

Free Pick: Braves -1½ (+120)

[Willie Bee]

Cleveland Indians -156 vs Twins

Game Time: 08/28/2007 07:05 PM -
By: Will Cover | playbook.com

This is a complete mismatch on the mound tonight in Cleveland as Jake Westbrook has been outstanding of late and Minnesota's Boof Bonser has struggled. Play the Indians at home.

The Twins give the starting nod to right-hander Boof Bonser and that’s all we need to know as Minnesota is just 3-10 in his last 13 starts. Bonser lasted just two and a third innings in his only start against the Tribe this year, posting a horrific 13.50 ERA.

After struggling in the first half of the season, Indians right-hander Jake Westbrook is in fine form of late with a 1.67 ERA and a 0.86 WHIP in his last six starts. Should he need help, Cleveland’s bullpen with Rafael Betancourt (24 Holds) and Joe Borowski (37 Saves) can close it out. The Indians have won three in a row, five of six, and eight of their last 11. Lay it with the surging Tribe!

Free Pick: Indians -156

[Willie Bee]

Orioles and Devil Rays Over 10

Game Time: 08/28/2007 07:05 PM -
By: Brad Diamond | playbook.com

The last time Daniel Cabrera took to the mound for the Orioles, Texas posted a 30-spot. Bet the Over tonight at Camden Yards when Baltimore hosts the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Heading down to Grab Town this evening we’ll take in the game and sights around Camden Yards that are always worth the ride.

For the low-flying Orioles, the prospect of the Devils Rays playing opposite Route 395 is always a promising scenario. Series history indicates Baltimore is the controlling entity winning 38 of 52. On the mound, hurler Jason Hammel of Tampa Bay has been nothing special in his last five outings averaging five earned runs per game.

Right-hander Daniel Cabrera of Baltimore has a nice mark (4-0) against Tampa Bay, but he can’t help but recall his last experience in a starting role in Baltimore when Texas came away a 30-3 winner! With that in mind, play on the Over this evening.

Free Pick: Devil Rays-Orioles Over 10

[Willie Bee]

Pirates -156 vs Reds in Game 1

Game Time: 08/28/2007 05:05 PM -
By: Vernon Croy | 10starpicks.com

Tonight's twilight twinbill in Pittsburgh features a pitching advantage for the home team in Game 1. Play the Pirates and Tom Gorzelanny in their opener against the Reds today.

The Pirates have the superior pitcher on the mound tonight with Tom Gorzelanny (12-7 ERA 2.40) who has an ERA of just 2.70 over his last three starts while lasting an average of 6.7 innings per start. The Reds send Elizardo Ramirez (0-1 ERA 7.72) who has lasted an average of just 4.7 innings per start over his two starts this season.

The Pirates' opponents are hitting just .240 against them while averaging just 3.3 rpg over their last seven games while the Pirates are averaging 5.4 rpg over their last seven games. The Reds have struggled against lefties this season hitting just .247 as a team with a 20-28 record and I look for the Pirates lineup to have a lot of success against Ramirez on Tuesday.

Free Pick: Pirates -155

[Willie Bee]

Kansas City Royals (+105) over Detroit Tigers

Game Time: 08/28/2007 08:10 PM -
By: Ben Burns | sportspic.com

Off their 16-0 laugher against the Yankees yesterday, the Detroit Tigers are ripe for the upset tonight in Kansas City when Brian Bannister chunks for the Royals at home.

Stepping down in class to face the lowly Royals, the Tigers may be ripe for a letdown after yesterday's 16-0 laugher over the Yankees. In fact, the Tigers have really struggled against the league's weaker teams lately, going a money-burning 8-14 (-11) during the second half of the season against teams with a losing record.

Conversely, the Royals have been profitable against winning teams all year, going 35-41 (+10.5) for the season. Note that the Royals, who didn't play yesterday, are also a solid 8-6 (+4.3) after having had the previous day off.

Nate Robertson takes the mound for the visitors and he's been awful on the road, going 2-7 with a 5.66 ERA and 1.662 WHIP in nine starts. Brian Bannister gets the call for the home team and he's been extremely solid all season, going 10-7 with a 3.28 ERA and 1.139 WHIP. He also has a stellar 2.31 ERA in two starts vs. the Tigers, most recently outpitching Robertson en route to a 5-2 win last month at Detroit. Consider a play on the home underdog Royals.

Free Pick: Royals +105

[Willie Bee]

Seattle Mariners -115 vs Angels

Game Time: 08/28/2007 10:05 PM -
By: Jimmy the Moose | sportspic.com

The Angels have not cashed often with Ervin Santana on the mound while the Mariners have posted a 4-0 mark in Jeff Weaver's latest trips to the hill. Side with Seattle tonight at home.

The Angels are 3-7 in Ervin Santana's last 10 starts as an underdog. In his last 12 road starts, the Angels are 2-10 and the Angels have dropped five of his last six starts. The Angels are 3-7 in their last 10 games played on Tuesday.

Seattle is 13-4 in their last 17 games as a favorite of -110 to -150. In their last 23 vs. a team with a winning record the Mariners are 16-7. Seattle is 22-10 in their last 32 home games.

The Mariners have won Jeff Weaver's last four starts. The pitching edge in this one goes to Weaver who has been pitching very well of late. Play on the Mariners.

Free Pick: Mariners -115