St Louis Cardinals at Florida Marlins - I think this is a relatively cheap price on the Cards here at -141. Chris Volstad is just bad right now. He's given up at least five runs in each of his last three starts and now carries a 5.11 era into the last two weeks of the season. Volstad has been hammered by the Cards in his two career starts to the tune of a 7.59 era and .379 baa. Meanwhile Chris Carpenter on the other side continures to do his thing. He comes in at 15-7 with a 3.21 era. He has also struggled in his last two starts but he's a guy you don't worry too much about. He always bounces back. Where Volstad has been hit around by the Cards, Carpenter has held down the fish. He holds a 2.17 era in 9 career starts vs them and holds a 1.96 era over four career starts at Sun Life Stadium. At six games back in the division with fourteen games to go, the Cardinals will give it everything they've got today whereas the Marlins can just go through the motions and play for the offseason. I like the Cardinals at -141.
Atlanta Braves at Philadelphia Phillies - Do not, I repeat, do not step in front of Cole Hamels and the Philadelphia Phillies right now. You may escape a day or two doing this but that plan is nothing but a money burner overall right now. They went from the possibility of missing the playoffs to securing themselves as the best in the National League. They are 19-4 in their last 23 games. Cole Hamels has given up a total of ONE run combined in his last four starts. Not worth it to roll the dice against this team and this pitcher right now, simple as that.
Houston Astros at Washington Nationals - Bud Norris struggles on the road. Every now and then he'll surprise with a good game but more than likely you can chalk up at least four runs to his stat line. He's given up four or more runs in seven of his eleven road starts. His overall road numbers are a 5.46 era, 1.64 whip, and .306 baa. Livan Hernandez is so unpredictable. I like the Nasty Nats team total over 4 at +105.
Cincinnati Reds at Milwaukee Brewers - Homer Bailey has a load of talent but he can't transfer it over to the big leagues. He's had a horrible major league career. After some promising starts he's back to the old Homer Bailey. He lasted just three innings in his last start after issuing five walks. In his last five starts he's allowed seventeen runs spanning just 27.1 innings. Chris Capuano is pitching decently overall but he's someone I won't be able to trust at all this year. Plus that bullpen of theirs. The Reds lit up Capuano for six hits and four runs in three innings back in late July. I like the Over 8.5 here.
Tampa Bay Rays at New York Yankees - Short price like this on a 49-25 home team vs a guy that's given up six runs in each of his last two starts failing to pitch five innings both times, sign me up. Yankees -118.
Kansas City Royals at Detroit Tigers - There's no bigger advocate of Greinke being overrated than me but he's still an above average pitcher and the better of two throwing in this one. I'll take the plus money on last years Cy Young winner vs this Tigers team that played the only night game in baseball yesterday and it went into extra innings. Then they had to travel back home. Not a long travel but travel nonetheless. Royals +106.
Baltimore Orioles at Boston Red Sox - Matusz has been pitching great throwing six quality starts in his last seven (not counting last start where he threw one scoreless inning before being forced to leave the game). He has owned Boston going 2-0 in four starts with a 2.55 era. This is a different O's team under Showalter. Dice-K has his problems. He's been consistent but consistently not good. He's given up four or more runs in six consecutive starts and seven of his last eight. He's given up at least four runs in both of his starts ve the O's this year and holds a career 5.74 era over eight starts vs them. I think the O's 1st five innings at +129 is worth a look as well as their team total over 4 at -110.
Cleveland Indians at Minnesota Twins - Not many thoughts on this game. I don't go against the twins these days and I'm not laying the juice on them. Duensing throws a quality start just about every time out and he's backed by some solid arms. If anything I would look at the Indians under the team total of 3 at +105.
Chicago White Sox at Oakland Athletics - Gavin Floyd has major ownage on the A's. He's a career 3-0 in five starts with a 1.32 era. The White Sox have major ownage on Gio Gonzalez. He's a career 0-3 in three starts with an 8.82 era vs them. Despite the late extra innings game and long travel this is still a nice number on the white sox at +135.
Texas Rangers at Los Angeles Angels - There hasn't been an over in any Jered Weaver home start this year and there hasn't been an over in any of his last 16 starts overall. I'd be crazy to think anything other than under 7 +100.
Atlanta Braves at Philadelphia Phillies - Do not, I repeat, do not step in front of Cole Hamels and the Philadelphia Phillies right now. You may escape a day or two doing this but that plan is nothing but a money burner overall right now. They went from the possibility of missing the playoffs to securing themselves as the best in the National League. They are 19-4 in their last 23 games. Cole Hamels has given up a total of ONE run combined in his last four starts. Not worth it to roll the dice against this team and this pitcher right now, simple as that.
Houston Astros at Washington Nationals - Bud Norris struggles on the road. Every now and then he'll surprise with a good game but more than likely you can chalk up at least four runs to his stat line. He's given up four or more runs in seven of his eleven road starts. His overall road numbers are a 5.46 era, 1.64 whip, and .306 baa. Livan Hernandez is so unpredictable. I like the Nasty Nats team total over 4 at +105.
Cincinnati Reds at Milwaukee Brewers - Homer Bailey has a load of talent but he can't transfer it over to the big leagues. He's had a horrible major league career. After some promising starts he's back to the old Homer Bailey. He lasted just three innings in his last start after issuing five walks. In his last five starts he's allowed seventeen runs spanning just 27.1 innings. Chris Capuano is pitching decently overall but he's someone I won't be able to trust at all this year. Plus that bullpen of theirs. The Reds lit up Capuano for six hits and four runs in three innings back in late July. I like the Over 8.5 here.
Tampa Bay Rays at New York Yankees - Short price like this on a 49-25 home team vs a guy that's given up six runs in each of his last two starts failing to pitch five innings both times, sign me up. Yankees -118.
Kansas City Royals at Detroit Tigers - There's no bigger advocate of Greinke being overrated than me but he's still an above average pitcher and the better of two throwing in this one. I'll take the plus money on last years Cy Young winner vs this Tigers team that played the only night game in baseball yesterday and it went into extra innings. Then they had to travel back home. Not a long travel but travel nonetheless. Royals +106.
Baltimore Orioles at Boston Red Sox - Matusz has been pitching great throwing six quality starts in his last seven (not counting last start where he threw one scoreless inning before being forced to leave the game). He has owned Boston going 2-0 in four starts with a 2.55 era. This is a different O's team under Showalter. Dice-K has his problems. He's been consistent but consistently not good. He's given up four or more runs in six consecutive starts and seven of his last eight. He's given up at least four runs in both of his starts ve the O's this year and holds a career 5.74 era over eight starts vs them. I think the O's 1st five innings at +129 is worth a look as well as their team total over 4 at -110.
Cleveland Indians at Minnesota Twins - Not many thoughts on this game. I don't go against the twins these days and I'm not laying the juice on them. Duensing throws a quality start just about every time out and he's backed by some solid arms. If anything I would look at the Indians under the team total of 3 at +105.
Chicago White Sox at Oakland Athletics - Gavin Floyd has major ownage on the A's. He's a career 3-0 in five starts with a 1.32 era. The White Sox have major ownage on Gio Gonzalez. He's a career 0-3 in three starts with an 8.82 era vs them. Despite the late extra innings game and long travel this is still a nice number on the white sox at +135.
Texas Rangers at Los Angeles Angels - There hasn't been an over in any Jered Weaver home start this year and there hasn't been an over in any of his last 16 starts overall. I'd be crazy to think anything other than under 7 +100.
