Game Time: 06/20/2007 09:05 PM -
By: L.T. Profit Sports Group | who2beton.com
The Rockies upset the Yankees last night, and do not be surprised if they do it again tonight when the red-hot Jeff Francis faces Any Pettitte.
The Colorado Rockies shocked the New York Yankees 3-1 here last night, and it is hardly a given that the Yankee bats will awaken tonight vs. the red-hot Jeff Francis.
Francis pitched five scoreless innings in Boston vs. the potent Red Sox lineup in a 7-1 victory last Thursday, marking the seventh time in his last eight starts that he has allowed two runs or less! Moreover, aside from that Boston start, he went at least seven innings in all of the other outings. What is even more impressive is that four of those seven shutdown efforts came here in the altitude of Coors Field. The southpaw is also facing the Yanks for the first time ever, which is usually to the pitcher’s advantage.
The Bronx Bombers counter with Andy Pettitte, who bounced back from a couple of sub-par efforts with a nice outing vs. Arizona in his last start. Looking at his history vs. the Rockies, yes he pitched 16 scoreless innings against them in his last two starts while amazingly allowing a total of just eight hits. Keep in mind however that both of those outings came in Houston. Pettitte’s only other career start against the Rocks also happens to be his only appearance here in Colorado, and the altitude affected him that day as he was roughed up for eight runs in 3.1 innings in a game the Yankees won 20-10!
Unlike Francis, Pettitte has yet to prove he could pitch in this environment, and his task will not be made easier by the fact that Colorado is hitting .333 as a team vs. left-handed pitching the last 10 games. All things considered, we feel that the Rockies offer some nice value at this price with Francis at home.
Game Time: 06/20/2007 07:05 PM -
By: Bob Harvey | bobharveysports.com
The Tigers and Nationals have combined for 33 runs the last two games, and with the Detroit bats on fire and two bad bullpens, go Over again.
One trend that I have spotted in round two of interleague play has been the high scores, including this series, which has seen a total of 33 runs scored in two games.
Maybe it is the Designated Hitter factor in some parks, maybe it is bad starting pitching and even worse “relief” from the bullpen. Whatever it is, it’s leading to some high scores and easy money. I hit the Over here yesterday and I am hitting it even harder today. Jeremy Bonderman and Mike Bacsik square off in Washington, and while I do not think the Washington Nationals will do much against Bonderman, I see no signs the Detroit Tigers getting ready to cool off.
Also, two really bad bullpens will be involved here once again, and that gives Over bettors the upper hand in this one.
Game Time: 06/20/2007 07:07 PM -
By: Matt Fargo | procappers.com
Roy Halladay may be a big favorite here, but there is enough support for the run line in this spot to lay the 1½ runs at positive odds vs. Kuo.
The Los Angeles Dodgers exploded for 10 runs on Tuesday, as the Toronto Blue Jays pitching staff allowed more than four runs for the first time in its last seven games.
The Blue Jays offense was held in check by Brad Penny once again, the second time he has given the Blue Jays nothing in 12 days. The pitching matchup is a lot different tonight as Toronto gets to face a left-handed starter, where it is hitting .289 at home. The Blue Jays are 10-3 at home against left-handed starters on the season.
Roy Halladay recovered from a bad outing three games back with a solid performance at Los Angeles and then a gem at home against Washington. Toronto is 9-3 in his 12 starts this season including a 5-2 record at home, where both of those defeats came against Boston, a team he has notoriously struggled against throughout his career.
The Dodgers send Hong-Chih Kuo to the hill, and he has been a pleasant surprise in the already strong rotation. His last two starts have been quality and all three of his outings have gotten better along the way. However, he went up against two weak offenses in Pittsburgh and San Diego, and then faced a slumping Mets squad at home last time out, so this will be the biggest test thus far. Behind Kuo is a bullpen that has posted a 5.08 ERA over their last 10 games.
This is a good price for Halladay and the Blue Jays, who are now 22-4 in his last 26 home starts with a line of -150 or more. However, we are still going with the run line, based on a great situation that wins heavily. This angle say to play on American League home favorites with a money line of -150 or more that are averaging 4.7 or fewer runs per game against a starting pitcher who gave up one or less earned runs in his last outing.
This situation is 73-18, 80.2 percent since 1997, with an average run differential +2.3 runs per game, so play the Blue Jays on the run line.
Yes, this is a chalky price, but C.C. Sabathia has been unbeatable at home while Jon Lieber has struggled with good teams, so lay it.
The Cleveland Indians roll into Jacobs Field this evening the first place entry in the American League Central, carrying a one game lead over the hard charging Detroit Tigers.
The Phillies were in solid position to overtake the Mets in the Natioanal League East, but then interleague play got in the way as they dropped two of three at home to Detroit before splitting the first two games of this series. Technically speaking, the Indians are a solid 18-6 as chalk in this price range as of late, they are also a red hot 9-1 as a team in the last 10 home starts made by C. C. Sabathia. Meanwhile, the Phillies are a horrid 2-19 as a road underdog in this price range, and their starter Jon Lieber is 0-4 vs. teams that are at .500 or better.
The Indians are the ascending team at this time both emotionally and technically, so lay the big wood here.
Game Time: 06/20/2007 07:05 PM -
By: Mike Rose | who2beton.com
Jeremy Bonderman is 7-0, but he has been far from unhittable lately, and with the Tiger bats expected to feast on Washington, Over is the play.
The first two games of this series have seen a total of 33 runs scored, and I'm expecting another lofty mark to be reached to night with Jeremy Bonderman squaring off against Mike Bacsik.
Bacsik was lit up his last outing for the Washington Nationals and suffered his fourth loss in a row, surrendering nine hits while only lasting a measly 4.1 innings, his shortest stint of the season. In fact, he enters tonight's contest 0-3 in his last three starts, and he has allowed 24 hits in only 13.2 innings of work. He has three more walks (9) than strikeouts (6) during that stretch as well, and his bloated WHIP of 2.41 will not do him any favors against this potent Detroit Tigers offense.
Bonderman was also pounded for five runs and nine hits in six innings in his last outing, but the hot Tiger bats bailed him out yet again and allowed him to keep his perfect 7-0 mark intact. That being said, Bonderman his been walking on thin ice of late. He has allowed 21 hits in 18.2 innings of work over his last three outings, with five of those hits being of the home run variety.
Washington has been a pesky team this year, and they'll no doubt want to salvage one game in this series. Look for them to get three to five runs off of Bonderman and the Tiger pen, and for the Tigers to feast upon the Nationals pitching staff once again.
Game Time: 06/20/2007 10:05 PM -
By: Alex Smart | who2beton.com
Both Germano and Guthrie have been surprisingly effective since entering their respective rotations, so expect very little scoring tonight.
Justin Germano, the San Diego Padres starting hurler, continues to be a stable cog in the Padres rotation, as is evident by a 5-0 record and a stingy 2.36 ERA in seven starts.
Germano is backed with what I consider to be Major League Baseball’s top bullpen, which has garnered a tight 2.11 ERA this season. The Baltimore Orioles starting thrower Jeremy Guthrie has been equally efficient, recording a 2.57 ERA in 15 outings, including a minuscule 1.71 ERA in nine starts. Guthrie has gone at least seven innings in seven straight starts, and has not allowed more than three earned runs in an outing during his 2007 campaign.
Furthermore, The Padres are hitting just .227 at home this year, while Baltimore is hitting just barely above the Mendoza line on the road, with a .255 average. With two top notch pitchers on the hill tonight, and two inconsistent batting orders facing them, this contest has a high potential to go under the set total.
Finally, the Padres have gone under in 16 of their last 21 home games with a total of between 7 and 7½.
Game Time: 06/20/2007 10:05 PM -
By: Jimmy the Moose | sportspic.com
The Orioles have now lost 14 of their last 16 games, due mainly to a terrible bullpen that can’t support the promising starters, so play the Padres.
The Orioles are really struggling, having lost nine of their last 10 and 14 of their last 16 games overall.
Baltimore is also 1-10 in their last 11 interleague games. Guthrie has pitched well for the Orioles, but they have still found ways to lose his last three starts, and they are now 3-6 in games that he has started. The Padres are 7-2 in their next game following a win. Germano takes the mound tonight and he is 5-0 on the season with a 2.36 ERA.
The Padres are 20-12 at home this season, and they won't have any trouble taking this one either.
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