Tuesday's Front Page Plays (Sep 11)

[Willie Bee]

Play Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers Over 10½

Game Time: 09/11/2007 01:05 PM -
By: Mike Rose | who2beton.com

Today's first game in Detroit pits a couple of hurlers who have struggled this season. Take the Over this afternoon when the Rangers meet the Tigers in Motown.

It's a twinbill for the Tigers and Rangers today as they get set to play two in Detroit. The first game pits the Rangers' Vicente Padilla vs. the Tigers' Chad Durbin. Combined, these pitchers boast an ERA of 10.58, and I’ve got a very good feeling that both offenses get the day started off with a plethora of runs.

The Tigers are coming off a huge come from behind win over Toronto on Monday night, and they’ll no doubt take the field looking to get right back at chasing down the Wild Card leading Yankees.

Padilla has been a gas can on the road in each of the last few seasons, and I see nothing changing this afternoon. He comes into this game sporting a 1-6 mark with a 9.06 ERA when starting on the visitors mound, and he hasn’t fooled anyone in his day starts this year giving up 16 hits in 10 innings of work which equates to a robust 7.20 ERA.

Durbin, has been nothing short of mediocre this year. He owns an 8-6 mark with a 4.57 ERA, but has been very hittable allowing 126 hits in 124 innings of work. He’s not overpowering, and he’s semi wild registering 48 walks.

With both clubs simply pounding right-handed pitching of late -- Texas .310 / Detroit .307 -- I foresee a good old-fashioned slugfest taking place provided the weather cooperates with us. Not even the cavernous Comerica will be able to keep these clubs off the board today as the Rangers and Tigers go at it in a high scoring matinee.

Free Pick: Rangers-Tigers Over 10½

[Willie Bee]

Chicago Cubs -116 versus Astros

Game Time: 09/11/2007 08:05 PM -
By: Al McMordie | bigal.com

The Cubs and Astros open a 3-game set in Houston tonight with Chicago looking towards the postseason and the Astros look forward to nothing but a long winter of discontent.

Our Tuesday night MLB selection is on the Chicago Cubs over the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park.

Just when the Cubs could start to taste the pennant at least a little bit, the Brewers decided to get hot and have wrested the lead in the NL Central back away from Chicago. The Brewers have won seven of their last nine games and they are hitting the ball perhaps better than at any time during the season. And they have a relatively easy schedule in front of them the rest of the way with series against the Pirates, Reds, and Astros before ending the season at home for their last seven games.

The Cubs do not get a head-to-head with Milwaukee the rest of the way, so they will have to just play better than them from here out and hope to pick up a game along the way. They can start with this series against the Astros as the starters listed for Houston in the first two games are Brandon Backe and Troy Patton. The right-hander Backe goes tonight and this is only his second start since coming off of Tommy John surgery from last year. In his first start against the aforementioned Brewers, Backe had his problems and only lasted 5.2 innings throwing 91 pitches and taking the loss.

The Cubs lost Jason Marquis' last start as well, but unlike Backe he pitched well enough to win and should have if not for some very late heroics by the Dodgers off Chicago closer Ryan Dempster. Marquis retired the first 14 batters he faced in that one and his only walk was an intentional pass. No letdowns tonight for Chicago. Take the Cubs.

Free Pick: Cubs -116

[bradleysnyder]

Chicago Cubs -116 versus Astros

Game Time: 09/11/2007 08:05 PM -
By: Al McMordie | bigal.com

It should be loud tonight at Wrigley Field when the Cubs host the Astros to open a 3-game set. Back Jason Marquis and Chicago in this one against Houston and Brandon Backe.

Our Tuesday night MLB selection is on the Chicago Cubs over the Houston Astros at Wrigley Field.

Just when the Cubs could start to taste the pennant at least a little bit, the Brewers decided to get hot and have wrested the lead in the NL Central back away from Chicago. The Brewers have won seven of their last nine games and they are hitting the ball perhaps better than at any time during the season. And they have a relatively easy schedule in front of them the rest of the way with series against the Pirates, Reds, and Astros before ending the season at home for their last seven games.

The Cubs do not get a head-to-head with Milwaukee the rest of the way, so they will have to just play better than them from here out and hope to pick up a game along the way. They can start with this series against the Astros as the starters listed for Houston in the first two games are Brandon Backe and Troy Patton. The right-hander Backe goes tonight and this is only his second start since coming off of Tommy John surgery from last year. In his first start against the aforementioned Brewers, Backe had his problems and only lasted 5.2 innings throwing 91 pitches and taking the loss.

The Cubs lost Jason Marquis' last start as well, but unlike Backe he pitched well enough to win and should have if not for some very late heroics by the Dodgers off Chicago closer Ryan Dempster. Marquis retired the first 14 batters he faced in that one and his only walk was an intentional pass. No letdowns tonight for Chicago. Take the Cubs.

Free Pick: Cubs -116

this game is not at wrigley,at least its not listed that way at mlb.com or my book.am i missing something?

[Willie Bee]

You are correct sir, thanks for pointing that out.

[Willie Bee]

Twins (-128) at Kansas City Royals

Game Time: 09/11/2007 08:10 PM -
By: Marc Lawrence | playbook.com

This one just has huge pitching mismatch written all over it with Scott Baker tossing for the Twins and Kyle Davies for the home team Kansas City Royals. Make Minnesota your play.

Twins right-hander Scott Baker takes the hill in Kansas City against Kyle Davies knowing the Royals are just 7-16 home in Game 2 of a series this season.

Baker (8-7, 4.14) is 2-2 in his last five starts with Minnesota 3-2 in those games. The former Oklahoma State Cowboy has tossed 33.1 innings in those five outings allowing nine earned runs (2.43) with 24 strikeouts opposite just seven walks. Davies, who sports a combined 6-12 record and 5.81 ERA between Atlanta and Kansas City this season, is 1-4 in his most recent five starting assignments, averaging less than five innings an outing and posting a 6.54 ERA.

With Baker in solid current form and Davies struggling to find the plate, look for Minnesota to come up big here tonight.

Free Pick: Twins -128

[Willie Bee]

Byrd, Indians (-158) at White Sox

Game Time: 09/11/2007 08:10 PM -
By: Scott Spreitzer | sportspic.com

Paul Byrd is 3-0 in his three starting assignments against the White Sox this season, and he moves to 4-0 after the game tonight in Chicago. Chalk this one up to Byrd and Cleveland.

I'm laying the price with the Tribe. Paul Byrd has pitched very well in this situation all season and it has allowed the Indians to post a 10-1 mark in his 11 starts within the AL Central Division.

His counterpart has not been as fortunate. White Sox lefty John Danks has been horrible at home this season and Chicago has lost each of his last six appearances overall. They're just 5-12 when Danks is opposed by a right-hander and the Sox are a horrible 31-52 when priced as an underdog. Look for the Indians to roll on Tuesday. The Tribe are the play.

Free Pick: Indians -158

[Willie Bee]

Detroit Tigers -160 versus Rangers

Game Time: 09/11/2007 01:05 PM -
By: Vernon Croy | 10starpicks.com

Rangers starting pitcher Vincente Padilla has been as good a road fade as you could find this year in the big leagues. Take the Tigers at home in Detroit in the afternoon matinée.

This pick falls into one of my MLB systems and this game means a lot more to Detroit who is still trying to make the postseason. Chad Durbin (6-6 ERA 4.64) pitched solid in his last outing allowing just four hits over five innings.

Texas is just 1-9 this season when Vicente Padilla (5-9 ERA 6.01) has pitched on the road and they are just 5-11 when he has pitched as an underdog. Padilla has struggled on the road this season with a 1-6 record over 10 starts and an ERA of 9.06. Padilla has allowed 80 hits on the road over 81.7 innings and this is a very good hitting Detroit ball club that erased a three-run deficit in the ninth inning last night to cost me my 10-Unit MLB play.

Texas is just 4-10 this season as a road dog of +150 to +175 and Rangers' opponents are averaging 5.7 rpg over their last seven games.

Free Pick: Tigers -160

[Willie Bee]

Baker & Twins -128 at KC Royals

Game Time: 09/11/2007 08:10 PM -
By: Nelly's Sportsline | playbook.com

With the Royals on a 6-game skid and the Twins having the pitching edge tonight with Scott Baker on the mound, make your play on Minnesota in Game 2 of their series in Kansas City.

Scott Baker's last start came in a difficult spot coming off the near perfect game and the birth of his son.

Baker has allowed three or fewer runs in seven of his last eight outings with four outings of allowing one or fewer runs. The Twins ended a six-game losing streak on Sunday and Minnesota has actually been scoring runs of late with 5.8 runs scored per game in the last five.

Kansas City enters this series on a five-game losing streak and Kyle Davies has failed to last past the fifth inning in five consecutive starts.

Free Pick: Twins -128

[Willie Bee]

Back Chicago Cubs (-115) at Houston Astros

Game Time: 09/11/2007 08:05 PM -
By: Mike Rose | who2beton.com

The Cubs moved back into a tie for first in the NL Central with the Brewers last night, and will keep the pressure on with a win this evening on the road in Houston.

The Cubs and Jason Marquis were forced to swallow a bitter pill the last time he took the mound as Ryan Dempster climbed the bump in the ninth looking to close out a 4-3 win for the home team. The win wasn’t in the cards however as the Chicago cloers went on to give up four runs, and the Dodgers escaped with a 7-4 win and broke the hearts of the Wrigley faithful.

Since partaking in a couple side sessions with pitching coach Larry Rothschild, Marquis has really turned the corner. He’s churned out six quality starts in a row with his last one coming against this exact same team.

Houston has pretty much mailed it in considering they're 11 games out in the Central, and they’ve already started looking at guys for next season. Brandon Backe put forth an admirable performance in his ’07 debut vs. the Brewers, but Milwaukee prefers lefties while the Cubs would love nothing more than to sink their teeth into a soft tossing righty.

With their offense coming alive of late and moving back into first yesterday with a big win over St. Louis, I’m looking for the Cubs to bring their 'A' game with them against Houston and take the season series once and for all. It all starts tonight with Marquis, so play them as short chalk as they look to inch close towards securing a postseason invite.

Free Pick: Cubs -115

[Willie Bee]

Arizona Diamondbacks +120 at San Francisco Giants

Game Time: 09/11/2007 10:15 PM -
By: Michael Alexander | 10starpicks.com

The Diamondbacks are getting good value in this matchup tonight on the road in San Francisco. Make your play on Arizona as the underdogs against the last place Giants.

The red hot Arizona Diamondbacks look to make it two in a row when they meet the Giants in game two of their three game series. The Diamondbacks, sitting atop the NL West, have won 6 in a row and hold a 3½-game lead over the Padres.

Arizona will be sending right-hander Edgar Gonzalez to the hill for his first start since June. Gonzalez has been effective in his road starts this season sporting a very low 2.12 ERA and he will be facing a San Francisco team who has struggled against right-handers posting a money losing 44-54 record.

The San Francisco Giants come into this game firmly in last place in the NL West and after last night's loss have a 3-5 mark their last eight overall. They haven't fared well at home this season either going only 35-37 overall.

The Giants will send their own right-hander to the hill tonight in Kevin Correia. After coming out of the bullpen Correia has pitched very well making four starts and posting an impressive 2.02 ERA. However, he will be facing a team tonight that has feasted on right-handed starters going 58-47 (+$1007).

I am a big believer in pitching matchups but anytime you can get a hot team who is in first place going against a team in last place and is listed as an underdog as well it's just too hard to pass up. I'm taking the better team and the underdog in this one. I'm taking Arizona.

Free Pick: Diamondbacks +120