My SUNDAY NIGHT Play
Thanx to that huge 8th and 9th inning comeback by Atlanta, I actually won some money today! Could have been a big day if Chicago Cubs had come through.
Tonight...
Rays -136 (4 unit play)
Coming off that fantastic win last night, I really like the Rays in this spot. The Rays are playing at home and I feel this is actually a very cheap line for them. They are sending james Shields to the hill tonight. Shields had been struggling, but has been brilliant his last 2 times out: both against good opponents Anaheim and Texas. In his last start, against the Angels, he struck out 10 batters. The Red Sox are sending John Lackey to the bump tonight. Lackey has been very inconsistent. He seems to follow up every good start with a clunker. He was very good in his last outing, but the Rays are not an easy team to reverse that trend against. They have some very good left handed bats with Crawford, Zobrist, and Pena. And right handed bat, Longoria can hit anyone. Last nights loss has to have a lingering effect on this Sox team. It's not a loss any team could just shrug off. The Red Sox were up 2-1 late in the game. They could, obviously, smell/taste being just 3 1/2 games behind TB. But then just like that, with 2 swings of the bat, one by B.J. Upton and one by Dan Johnson (who?), it was back to 5 1/2 games. The pressue is squarely on the Red Sox tonight. And its never easy playing under pressure. Especially when they are missing their heart and soul of Pedroia and Youkilis. The biggest problem for Boston not be their starter tonight, but will once again be the bottom half of their order. Last night, Lowell, Nava, Kalsih, and Hall were a combined 1 for 15. Thats not a typo. That definitely will not get it done tonight. Especially against a tough pitcher like Shields. He will be able to pitch around Ortiz and Beltre if the bottom of the Sox lineup remains the same. I fully expect the Red Sox to battle, but talent will come through in the later innings, and the home team Rays will just about put the Sox playoff chances to bed.
Final Score Prediction:
Rays 6 Red Sox 4
(Too close to play the plus money run line.)
Good luck to all followers.
Tonight...
Rays -136 (4 unit play)
Coming off that fantastic win last night, I really like the Rays in this spot. The Rays are playing at home and I feel this is actually a very cheap line for them. They are sending james Shields to the hill tonight. Shields had been struggling, but has been brilliant his last 2 times out: both against good opponents Anaheim and Texas. In his last start, against the Angels, he struck out 10 batters. The Red Sox are sending John Lackey to the bump tonight. Lackey has been very inconsistent. He seems to follow up every good start with a clunker. He was very good in his last outing, but the Rays are not an easy team to reverse that trend against. They have some very good left handed bats with Crawford, Zobrist, and Pena. And right handed bat, Longoria can hit anyone. Last nights loss has to have a lingering effect on this Sox team. It's not a loss any team could just shrug off. The Red Sox were up 2-1 late in the game. They could, obviously, smell/taste being just 3 1/2 games behind TB. But then just like that, with 2 swings of the bat, one by B.J. Upton and one by Dan Johnson (who?), it was back to 5 1/2 games. The pressue is squarely on the Red Sox tonight. And its never easy playing under pressure. Especially when they are missing their heart and soul of Pedroia and Youkilis. The biggest problem for Boston not be their starter tonight, but will once again be the bottom half of their order. Last night, Lowell, Nava, Kalsih, and Hall were a combined 1 for 15. Thats not a typo. That definitely will not get it done tonight. Especially against a tough pitcher like Shields. He will be able to pitch around Ortiz and Beltre if the bottom of the Sox lineup remains the same. I fully expect the Red Sox to battle, but talent will come through in the later innings, and the home team Rays will just about put the Sox playoff chances to bed.
Final Score Prediction:
Rays 6 Red Sox 4
(Too close to play the plus money run line.)
Good luck to all followers.
gl with tampa i just need the over
