Pick: Indians vs. Royals Under 8.5
Cleveland starter Carlos Carrasco has allowed 5 runs total in his 3 starts this year. The Indians are 34-16-2 UNDER their last 52 games vs. righty starters. Cleveland is 41-18-3 UNDER off a win. The Tribe are 6-0 UNDER their 6 games vs. a team with a losing record. Kansas City starter Kyle Davies has allowed just 5 runs total in his last 3 starts. The Royals are 12-3-1 UNDER with Davies as a home underdog and they are 10-1-2 UNDER in Davies last 13 starts when their opponent allowed 2 runs or less in their last game. PLAY ON ‘UNDER’
Pick: Philadelphia Phillies -1.5 -125
I’ll back the red hot Phillies on the run line tonight with as good as Roy Oswalt has been going. The Phillies have won each of his last 8 starts, and 6 of those wins have come by at least 2 runs. In addition, Oswalt’s teams are an impressive 13-0 in home games when he gets the start vs. an NL team with an on base percentage of .325 or worse in the second half of the season over the last 3 seasons. His clubs are winning by an average score of 5.5 to 2.0 in these games. Oswalt will be opposed by Jason Marquis, who is just 2-8 with an ERA of 6.60 on the season. It is certainly worth noting that 7 of those 8 losses have come by at least 2 runs. The Phillies have won 8 of their last 9 games overall, and 6 of those 8 wins have come by 2 or more runs. Take the Phillies on the run line.
Pick: Cubs vs. Marlins Over 8
Florida has been a strong team over the total in the second half of the season, with a decent offense and wilting pitching. And speaking of wilting pitching, the Cubs come to town with Ryan Dempster, who has a 6.14 ERA his last three starts. The team went 2-1 over the total in those starts, including losses of 18-5 and 14-7. Alex Sanabia of the Marlins is no ace, with a 4.67 ERA his last three starts and Florida is 5-2 over the total his last 5 starts. Look for an offensive show, Play the Marlins/Cubs Over the total.
Atlanta Braves vs. New York Mets
MLB Prediction: Under 7 Runs -110 odds
On Friday the free play is on the Under in the Braves at Mets game. Rotation numbers 905/906. Wait till game time as the total will go to 7.5. In the series 12 of the 15 games have been low scoring and have gone under the total. In fact all 6 here in New York have gone under. Both pitchers have been very effective this year, T. Hanson makes the start for Atlanta an opposes Mets Lefty J. Niese. Both teams have very good Bullpens too. The Mets home bullpen era is particularly impressive at 2.77 this year. Look for another low scoring game between these 2 teams. On Thursday we swept the board in bases and Football. On Friday I have the National League Game of the Week backed with a 100% system that wins by 4 runs per game. I also have a MLB Totals system where the games average 13.7 runs per game. In college football I have a Triple Angle totals play. For the free play take the Under in the Braves at Mets game. RV
Cincinnati Reds vs. Houston Astros
MLB Pick: Houston Astros +100 odds
The Houston Astros continue to fight in the second half of the season. They have been one of the best second half teams in baseball this year. Houston is 34-23 in the second half and now just 6 games below .500. Players have it set in their minds that they want to get back to .500 for the season, which would be quite an accomplishment as they look forward to next year. Astros starter Wandy Rodriquez has been a huge part of the Astros second half resurgence.
Rodriquez sports a 3.62 ERA this season, and the left-hander has gone 4-1 with a 1.30 ERA in his last 10 starts, pitching at least seven innings eight times. He’ll be motivated to throw another solid outing against the division-leading Reds tonight. Rodriquez last faced the Reds on July 25th, pitching 7 shutout innings while striking out 7 batters and allowing just 3 base runners. The Astros won that home game 4-0. Reds starter Johnny Cueto is 1-4 with a 4.34 ERA and 1.510 WHIP in 8 career starts against Houston. Roll with the Astros Friday.
Cleveland starter Carlos Carrasco has allowed 5 runs total in his 3 starts this year. The Indians are 34-16-2 UNDER their last 52 games vs. righty starters. Cleveland is 41-18-3 UNDER off a win. The Tribe are 6-0 UNDER their 6 games vs. a team with a losing record. Kansas City starter Kyle Davies has allowed just 5 runs total in his last 3 starts. The Royals are 12-3-1 UNDER with Davies as a home underdog and they are 10-1-2 UNDER in Davies last 13 starts when their opponent allowed 2 runs or less in their last game. PLAY ON ‘UNDER’
Pick: Philadelphia Phillies -1.5 -125
I’ll back the red hot Phillies on the run line tonight with as good as Roy Oswalt has been going. The Phillies have won each of his last 8 starts, and 6 of those wins have come by at least 2 runs. In addition, Oswalt’s teams are an impressive 13-0 in home games when he gets the start vs. an NL team with an on base percentage of .325 or worse in the second half of the season over the last 3 seasons. His clubs are winning by an average score of 5.5 to 2.0 in these games. Oswalt will be opposed by Jason Marquis, who is just 2-8 with an ERA of 6.60 on the season. It is certainly worth noting that 7 of those 8 losses have come by at least 2 runs. The Phillies have won 8 of their last 9 games overall, and 6 of those 8 wins have come by 2 or more runs. Take the Phillies on the run line.
Pick: Cubs vs. Marlins Over 8
Florida has been a strong team over the total in the second half of the season, with a decent offense and wilting pitching. And speaking of wilting pitching, the Cubs come to town with Ryan Dempster, who has a 6.14 ERA his last three starts. The team went 2-1 over the total in those starts, including losses of 18-5 and 14-7. Alex Sanabia of the Marlins is no ace, with a 4.67 ERA his last three starts and Florida is 5-2 over the total his last 5 starts. Look for an offensive show, Play the Marlins/Cubs Over the total.
Atlanta Braves vs. New York Mets
MLB Prediction: Under 7 Runs -110 odds
On Friday the free play is on the Under in the Braves at Mets game. Rotation numbers 905/906. Wait till game time as the total will go to 7.5. In the series 12 of the 15 games have been low scoring and have gone under the total. In fact all 6 here in New York have gone under. Both pitchers have been very effective this year, T. Hanson makes the start for Atlanta an opposes Mets Lefty J. Niese. Both teams have very good Bullpens too. The Mets home bullpen era is particularly impressive at 2.77 this year. Look for another low scoring game between these 2 teams. On Thursday we swept the board in bases and Football. On Friday I have the National League Game of the Week backed with a 100% system that wins by 4 runs per game. I also have a MLB Totals system where the games average 13.7 runs per game. In college football I have a Triple Angle totals play. For the free play take the Under in the Braves at Mets game. RV
Cincinnati Reds vs. Houston Astros
MLB Pick: Houston Astros +100 odds
The Houston Astros continue to fight in the second half of the season. They have been one of the best second half teams in baseball this year. Houston is 34-23 in the second half and now just 6 games below .500. Players have it set in their minds that they want to get back to .500 for the season, which would be quite an accomplishment as they look forward to next year. Astros starter Wandy Rodriquez has been a huge part of the Astros second half resurgence.
Rodriquez sports a 3.62 ERA this season, and the left-hander has gone 4-1 with a 1.30 ERA in his last 10 starts, pitching at least seven innings eight times. He’ll be motivated to throw another solid outing against the division-leading Reds tonight. Rodriquez last faced the Reds on July 25th, pitching 7 shutout innings while striking out 7 batters and allowing just 3 base runners. The Astros won that home game 4-0. Reds starter Johnny Cueto is 1-4 with a 4.34 ERA and 1.510 WHIP in 8 career starts against Houston. Roll with the Astros Friday.