[Kraghen]

Pick: San Diego Padres -153
On Monday the MLB Free play is on the SD. Padres. Game 968 at 10:05 eastern. Will this be the night the Pads break the longest losing streak by a team that was over 2 games above .500 since 1932? Tonight the Padres have a solid pitching edge with Latos over Padilla. Latos has a solid 2.08 home era and has been lights out over his last few outings with a1.80 era. In his 2 starts vs the Dodgers this year has pitched 11 innings allowing just 3 runs. Padilla for the Dodgers has a hideous 6.41 road era and the Dodgers have dropped 7 of his 9 road starts this year. The Dodgers are 3-11 on the road when the total is 7 or less and 4-11 as a road dog in this range. They are averaging just 3 runs per game over the past week as well. The Padres are 9-1 as a home favorite in this range and should break their 10 game losing streak tonight. On Monday I have the AL Total of the month, a 5 unit total form a system that averages over 12 runs per game and has cashed 14 of 15 times. I also have a 44-4 Blowout Power angle and an opinion in the Boise at VA tech game. Take the Padres as the free play. RV

Pick: Houston Astros -118
There has been no better pitcher over the last two months than Houston’s Wandy Rodriguez. In his last eight starts he’s allowed a grand total of six earned runs. That’s covering 55.1 innings of work. He’s dominated the strike zone with an amazing 59 to 6 strikeout to walk ratio. The Astros have beaten Chicago 7 of his last 9 starts against them. In seven of those starts he held the Cubs to two earned runs or less. Casey Coleman takes the hill for the Cubs. Unlike Rodriguez he doesn’t have lights out stuff. In fact, in three starts since his call-up he’s struck out just six batters in 16.2 innings. Without a go-to pitch he could be in for a long day on the mound. The Astros have won 8 of the last 11 games against the Cubs and the Chicago bullpen is reeling after allowing the Mets to tee off on Sunday. Nice price with the far superior hurler.

Pick: Minnesota Twins -1.5 +104
The red hot Twins are showing solid value on the run line at home today when you consider the struggles of KC starter Sean O’Sullivan, who is carrying an ERA of 6.26 this season. KC won yesterday, but the Royals are 0-6 in their last 6 games following a win. Plus, Minnesota starter Kevin Slowey has had their number, going 5-1 lifetime with an ERA of 2.77 against the Royals. Minnesota is an impressive 11-1 vs. terrible power teams averaging 0.75 or less HR’s/game in the second half of the season this season, .defeating these teams by an average score of 5.6 to 1.7. Take the Twins on the run line.

[jackmyhoggoff]

Thoughts on the powerplay on the blue and hokies?