Wednesday's Front Page Plays (Sep 26)

[Willie Bee]

Play Phillies +117 versus Braves

Game Time: 09/26/2007 07:05 PM -
By: Mike Rose | who2beton.com

The home dog is the way to play Game 2 of this critical National League series. Back the Philadelphia Phillies this evening at home against Tim Hudson and the Atlanta Braves.

The Braves picked up a monster win last night against the Phillies, and kept their postseason aspirations alive in the process. The victory inched them to within four games of the NL East Division leading Mets, and three games behind the Wild Card leading San Diego Padres. They kept calm and collected after Philly tied the game up at four apiece in the fourth inning, and then broke the game wide open in the sixth by playing long ball en route to the 10-6 road victory.

They'll be sending Timmy Hudson to the bump tonight in search of win #17, but something tells me the Phills will bounce back with a series knotting win this evening. Yeah, the Braves boast the pitching edge tonight, but I just can't fade the "Fightin' Phills" in this spot considering how much heart they've shown me the last couple months. This club has been simply decimated with injuries all season long yet they still sit in the thick of the Division and Wild Card races. Jimmy Rollins has put forth an MVP worthy season, and Charlie Manuel has to get some Manager of the Year consideration for the way he's kept this club playing.

Both clubs have fared very well of late with the Braves 8-2 in their last 10 and the Phillies 7-3 over the same span, but I still have to side with the home club here as a small underdog. The Phillies hit Hudson up pretty good the last couple times they've faced him, and Philadelphia starting pitcher Kyle Lohse won his only start against the Braves only three weeks ago in Atlanta.

Roll with the home dog looking to even up the series at a game apiece and throw their hat back in the race for the postseason.

Free Pick: Phillies +117

[Willie Bee]

Braves -1½ (+130) at Phillies

Game Time: 09/26/2007 07:05 PM -
By: Marc Lawrence | playbook.com

With Tim Hudson on the mound tonight and the Braves making a last-ditch effort to get into the postseason, Atlanta is a solid run line play this evening on the road in Philadelphia.

The Braves send Tim Hudson up against Kyle Lohse and the Phillies this evening knowing Hudson is 13-4 in his last 17 team starts, including 7-2 in his last nine away.

Hudson has enjoyed a solid season to date, posting a 16-9 record and 3.34 ERA in nearly 220 innings over 33 starts. Atlanta is 3-1 in his four outings against Philadelphia in Hudson's starts against the Phils, and Hudson is sporting a 2.28 ERA over his most recent three starting assignments.

With Lohse owning a 13.45 ERA in his last three efforts, we'll back Hudson and the Braves here tonight.

Free Pick: Braves -1½ (+130)

[Willie Bee]

Saunders, Angels (-120) at Rangers

Game Time: 09/26/2007 02:05 PM -
By: Al McMordie | bigal.com

After resting some key players yesterday, look for the Angels regulars to return to the lineup this afternoon in Texas when the AL West champions finish off their series with the Rangers.

Our Wednesday afternoon MLB selection is on the Los Angeles Angels over the Texas Rangers doen in the Lone Star State.

The Angels have once again clinched the AL West, but don't expect them to rest on their laurels from now until the end of the regular season. They know that they will have a tough road in the playoffs against the likes of Boston, Cleveland, and New York, and they will not take anything for granted.

Los Angeles rested both Vladimir Guerrero and Garrett Anderson on Tuesday and still played a great game against the Rangers, although in the end they lost. Look for both of these offensive stars to be back on Wendesday, and the Angels throw one of their best young pitchers in left-handed starter Joe Saunders. Texas is batting a paltry .247 vs. southpaws in the last 10 games, and Saunders has become one of the best young lefties in the American League this season.

The Rangers will send little-known righthander Luis Mendoza to the mound against the Angels this afternoon, and although his time at the major league level has been very short, Mendoza's minor league numbers from 2001 through 2006 do not inspire confidence.

The Angels are 7-2 in Saunders' last nine road starts and 21-9 in his last 30 overall starts. Texas is 1-8 in its last nine games as an underdog. Take the Angels.

Free Pick: Angels -120

[Willie Bee]

Dog the Colorado Rockies (+125) at the Los Angeles Dodgers

Game Time: 09/26/2007 10:10 PM -
By: Jimmy the Moose | sportspic.com

The Rockies' late season run has been as amazing as the Dodgers' September swoon. Bet Colorado to make it 10 straight in the win column tonight in Los Angeles.

After last night's 9-7 win in Los Angeles, the Rockies have won nine straight games. Colorado is 6-0 in their last six games as an underdog. The Rockies have won five of their last six road games. In their last 24-games vs. right-handed starters they are 18-6.

Colorado has won nine of today's starter Josh Fogg's last 10 starts vs. teams with a winning record. The Rockies are 5-2 in his last seven road starts vs. a team with a winning record.

Los Angeles is 1-7 in their last eight games. They are also 1-7 in their last eight vs. a team with a winning record. The Dodgers have lost their last five meetings with Colorado. Play on the Rockies.

Free Pick: Rockies +125

[Willie Bee]

Milwaukee Brewers (-190) versus St. Louis Cardinals

Game Time: 09/26/2007 08:05 PM
By: Mike Rose | who2beton.com

The Brewers broke out the big sticks last night for a crucial win over the Cardinals, and they'll add another dubya to the ledger this evening. Make your play on Milwaukee.

Welcome back to the NL Central race Milwaukee! The folks in Miller Park were treated to a massive blowout last night as their beloved Brewers took the Cardinals out behind the woodshed and handed them a 9-1 beat down. The beer was flowing, Bernie Brewer got a ton of work in, the Polish won the sausage race, and many a Cheesehead went home happy with a belly full of brats and Old Style. It doesn’t get much better than that.

The victory also inched the Brew Crew a game closer to the division leading Cubs, and they only sit two games back coming into Game 2 of this series. That being said, tonight just might be a different story.

Brad Thompson will take the bump for the visitors and the Cardinals have won 11 of his 16 starts on the year. He’s coming off a brilliant outing that saw him go six innings vs. Houston surrendering just four hits and a lone earned run. STL went on to win that game 7-4. He and the Cardinals will be hoping his second go round against Milwaukee is better than his first stint back in July. He got lit up that day surrendering seven hits and four earned runs while striking out two and walking four in just three innings of work. As long as he keeps his stuff down in the zone and has his sinker working, he should be able to put forth another quality start.

Carlos Villanueva has been a blessing for Milwaukee manager Ned Yost as he’s filled in admirably for the injured Ben Sheets. The Brewers have won four of his five starts this season, and he’s coming off a solid effort that saw him go six innings against Atlanta in the Brewers' 4-1 victory last Friday night. He’s mostly been in the bullpen this season, but he’s got starter stuff. Since joining the starting rotation, he’s 2-1 with a 1.50 ERA and opponents are hitting a measly .218 off him. He saw the Cardinals twice at the end of last season, and the Brewers managed to win both of those games.

St. Louis is a figment of itself from a year ago, and the Brewers hold a solid advantage over them throughout the rest of this series. I’d be shocked if St. Louis was able to win a game in this series let alone tonight. There’s a reason they’ve been installed as 170+ underdogs.

Free Pick: Brewers -190