St. Louis Cardinals +103 (Suppan) @ Pittsburgh Pirates -123 (Burres); Total 9
Seattle Mariners -133 (Hernandez) @ Toronto Blue Jays +113 (Hill); Total 7.5
Here in a pair of really early afternoon starts, the oddsmakers have put the chalk in what seems to be unlikely places. The Pitt Pirates are getting the chalk at home, in a division finale against the team that many thought would be winning the Central when we set out this season. But here today, it’s just a matchup between two mediocre teams who have nothing left to fight for. The Reds have dwindled their magic number to 3 to clinch the Central.
The Pirates will send Brian Burres (3-3, 4.93) to the bump this afternoon, looking for their 4 consecutive win in a Burres start. He has pitched very well of late, tossing 20 innings in his last three outing and allowing only 4 earned on 16 hits and striking out 12. He did only receive the decision in one of those three, the first in a win at home against the Braves on September 6, but he definitely has given the Buccos a shot each and every time out there this month. This will be his first career start against the Red Birds.
The Cards will look to Jeff Suppan (1-7, 5.61) to get back on the winning side of things, but this team has basically nothing left but a deflated ego. I honestly don’t see any reason whatsoever here today for the Cards to even try to win this one. They have completely failed in this 2010 campaign, are out of the Wild Card hunt, and a concession is all that’s left.
Really leaning towards the Pirates today at home, behind a pitcher who has had some recent success. The Pirates are used to playing for nothing. The Cardinals are not.
In the other noon-thirty-five start, the Seattle Mariners will look to back up a victory in Toronto with another one behind their ace, Felix Hernandez (12-11, 2.35). The Mariners are 5-1 in King Felix’s last six outings, and in the month of September, he has allowed 5 earned runs in 22 innings, while striking out 22. Dating back to the first of August, Felix has been as dominant as any pitcher in the bigs, allowing only 9 earned in 66 innings (1.22 ERA since 8/1). He does get the chalk in this matchup in Toronto, and that is strictly based on his dominance, but he probably won’t have much support today. As usual. Felix is 4-7 on the road this season, and has posted a 2.65 ERA in those games. That certainly seems good enough to get more dubyas than that. We are probably looking at more of the same today.
Shawn Hill (0-2, 4.09) has a serious chance to get his team a win for the first time this season. He had pitched very well in the minors this season, recovering, leading up to his return to the majors, but he hasn’t really been able to get any of that going for the Jays in the American League. He has yet to make it out of the 5th inning so far, and that may very well be precautionary, but each time he has exited, his team has had an opportunity to get the win.
Im not really sold on either side of this game, but I think I am going to play the under for a little early action.
UNDER 7.5
Best of luck, of course, in whatever side you choose. Have a great Thursday and GO PHILLIES!
Seattle Mariners -133 (Hernandez) @ Toronto Blue Jays +113 (Hill); Total 7.5
Here in a pair of really early afternoon starts, the oddsmakers have put the chalk in what seems to be unlikely places. The Pitt Pirates are getting the chalk at home, in a division finale against the team that many thought would be winning the Central when we set out this season. But here today, it’s just a matchup between two mediocre teams who have nothing left to fight for. The Reds have dwindled their magic number to 3 to clinch the Central.
The Pirates will send Brian Burres (3-3, 4.93) to the bump this afternoon, looking for their 4 consecutive win in a Burres start. He has pitched very well of late, tossing 20 innings in his last three outing and allowing only 4 earned on 16 hits and striking out 12. He did only receive the decision in one of those three, the first in a win at home against the Braves on September 6, but he definitely has given the Buccos a shot each and every time out there this month. This will be his first career start against the Red Birds.
The Cards will look to Jeff Suppan (1-7, 5.61) to get back on the winning side of things, but this team has basically nothing left but a deflated ego. I honestly don’t see any reason whatsoever here today for the Cards to even try to win this one. They have completely failed in this 2010 campaign, are out of the Wild Card hunt, and a concession is all that’s left.
Really leaning towards the Pirates today at home, behind a pitcher who has had some recent success. The Pirates are used to playing for nothing. The Cardinals are not.
In the other noon-thirty-five start, the Seattle Mariners will look to back up a victory in Toronto with another one behind their ace, Felix Hernandez (12-11, 2.35). The Mariners are 5-1 in King Felix’s last six outings, and in the month of September, he has allowed 5 earned runs in 22 innings, while striking out 22. Dating back to the first of August, Felix has been as dominant as any pitcher in the bigs, allowing only 9 earned in 66 innings (1.22 ERA since 8/1). He does get the chalk in this matchup in Toronto, and that is strictly based on his dominance, but he probably won’t have much support today. As usual. Felix is 4-7 on the road this season, and has posted a 2.65 ERA in those games. That certainly seems good enough to get more dubyas than that. We are probably looking at more of the same today.
Shawn Hill (0-2, 4.09) has a serious chance to get his team a win for the first time this season. He had pitched very well in the minors this season, recovering, leading up to his return to the majors, but he hasn’t really been able to get any of that going for the Jays in the American League. He has yet to make it out of the 5th inning so far, and that may very well be precautionary, but each time he has exited, his team has had an opportunity to get the win.
Im not really sold on either side of this game, but I think I am going to play the under for a little early action.
UNDER 7.5
Best of luck, of course, in whatever side you choose. Have a great Thursday and GO PHILLIES!
