Front Page Picks (Sat., Jun 28)

Collapse
X
 
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • Willie Bee
    SBR Posting Legend
    • 02-14-06
    • 15726

    #1
    Front Page Picks (Sat., Jun 28)
    Pick Orioles -105 as Lannan comes back to earth for Nationals

    Game Time: 06/28/2008 07:10 PM -
    By: LT Profits Sports Group | who2beton.com

    John Lannan has pitched exceptionally well lately with no support, and the worst past is that he may not be good enough to maintain his raging form for much longer.

    John Lannan of the Washington Nationals has been pitching out of his mind over his last seven starts, but we look for him to return to earth tonight as the Baltimore Orioles look to even up the Beltway Series.

    Lannan has very modest stuff and relies solely on the location of his pitches, and he has certainly been great the last month and a half or so allowing three runs or less in each of his last seven starts. However, rather incredibly, the Nationals have lost each of his last six outings, which should give you an idea of just how pathetic the Washington offense has been!

    The Nats are batting a dismal .233 as a team at home, averaging a pathetic 3.45 runs per game here in their own stadium. Worst of all, we simply do not believe that Lannan is as good as he has looked, so if he regresses a bit and allows a few more runs tonight, Washington will really be up against it.

    While Lannan has over-performed lately, we also feel that Orioles starter Garrett Olson has underachieved in recent starts. Olson is highly regarded and he allowed three earned runs or less in seven of his first eight starts this season before suddenly going three straight outings without a Quality Start, However, facing this Nationals lineup should be the perfect remedy to get Olson back on track.

    Besides, Washington is still just 6-18 in their last 24 home games even with their win in the series opener last night, so look for Baltimore to even the series here.

    Free Pick: Orioles -105
  • Willie Bee
    SBR Posting Legend
    • 02-14-06
    • 15726

    #2
    Toronto Blue Jays -120 vs. Braves

    Game Time: 06/28/2008 01:07 PM -
    By: Stephen Nover | covers.com

    The Braves pulled off a rare road win last night and that will be tough to duplicate tonight with the injuries they have. Take the Toronto Blue Jays at home to get past Atlanta.

    The combination of the Braves having a cluster injury situation in their infield and owning one of the worst road marks at 12-27 puts me on the home underdog Blue Jays.

    The Braves probably are going to be without their starting left side of their infield with third baseman Chipper Jones and shortstop Yunel Escobar likely to miss another game. Atlanta is 4-10 when Jones doesn't start.

    Omar Infante, the Braves' top infield sub, also is injured and unlikely to play. Atlanta got away on Friday with playing rookie shortstop Brent Lillibridge, Mets reject Ruben Gotay at third base and Greg Norton at designated hitter because Jair Jurrjens threw a shutout. It's asking a lot for Tim Hudson to duplicate Jurrjens' eight-inning effort. Hudson has been terrible in interleague competition since joining the Braves in 2005. Prior to his last interleague start, Hudson was 0-10 with a 7.82 ERA versus American League clubs.

    The wildcard in this matchup is Toronto starting pitcher John Parrish. The 30-year-old left-hander does have major league experience. He had been pitching for Syracuse in Triple-A where he was 10-1 with a 2.74 ERA and a 92-to-35 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The Braves have never faced him and are 12-16 against left-handers.

    Considering the Braves' poor road mark, inability to win without leading hitter Jones and their weakness at two infield spots and DH, the underdog Blue Jays are worth a shot.

    Free Pick: Blue Jays +120
    Comment
    • Willie Bee
      SBR Posting Legend
      • 02-14-06
      • 15726

      #3
      Padilla, Texas Rangers +110 surprise Hamels & Phillies

      Game Time: 06/28/2008 08:05 PM -
      By: Scott Spreitzer | phoenixsports.com

      Texas right-hander Vicente Padilla has pitched very well in this ballpark, and that makes the Rangers solid home dogs tonight against Cole Hamels and the Phillies.

      I'm taking the price with the Texas Rangers and Vicente Padilla at home over Cole Hamels and the Philadelphia Phillies.

      We took the Over on this page in last night's matchup between these two teams, citing the hitter-friendly venue along with the current poor pitching form both Brett Myers and Kason Gabbard were in. Today, we have better hurlers on the bump, but the park is still a great team-equalizer.

      As far as the pitchers are concerned, Hamels owns a decent 4.05 road ERA. But it must be noted that those numbers have come against the NL where pitchers hit for themselves. Meanwhile, Padilla has been outstanding in this tough-to-pitch stadium, holding a sparkling 3.00 ERA against AL squads, obviously with a designated hitter.

      Considering the park, Padilla is actually much better than Hamels in tonight's situation. The wrong team opened the favorite and I'm playing Texas.

      Free Pick: Rangers +110
      Comment
      • Willie Bee
        SBR Posting Legend
        • 02-14-06
        • 15726

        #4
        Detroit Tigers -167 top the Rockies

        Game Time: 06/28/2008 07:05 PM -
        By: Al McMordie | bigal.com

        It's a simple case of two teams going in opposite directions right now. Lay the price on Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers at home when they take on the Colorado Rockies.

        Our Saturday evening MLB selection is on the Detroit Tigers at home in Comerica Park over the Colorado Rockies.

        Taking the mound for Jim Leyland's crew will be Justin Verlander, while southpaw Jeff Francis will get the ball for Colorado. And, as the old saying goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. So, we will continue to ride the Detroit Tigers when they face lefty starters, and especially when that game is vs. a National League squad.

        Detroit is an eye-popping 25-9 its last 34 vs. the senior circuit, and also 42-20 its last 62 vs. southpaws, including 14-5 this season. Look for Detroit to hand the Rockies their sixth straight loss.

        Free Pick: Tigers -167
        Comment
        • Willie Bee
          SBR Posting Legend
          • 02-14-06
          • 15726

          #5
          Oakland A's -135 vs. SF Giants

          Game Time: 06/28/2008 09:00 PM -
          By: Marc Lawrence | playbook.com

          Two solid young arms square off in this contest with Oakland's Justin Duchscherer facing San Francisco's Tim Lincecum. The Athletics get the nod to take down the Giants.

          The A's resume their Battle of the Bay with the San Francisco Giants in Oakland this evening when they send Justin Duchscherer up against Tim Lincecum in a matchup of promising young arms.

          While Lincecum has been a nice surprise for San Francisco this season the fact of the matter is he is 1-4 with a 5.53 ERA in his career team starts on the road in the month of June. Duchscherer is 8-2 at home in his career team starts, including 6-0 with a 1.52 ERA this season.

          Look for Oakland to continue its mastery over the San Francisco here tonight.

          Free Pick: Athletics -135
          Comment
          • Willie Bee
            SBR Posting Legend
            • 02-14-06
            • 15726

            #6
            Minnesota Twins -103 too hot for Milwaukee Brewers

            Game Time: 06/28/2008 07:05 PM -
            By: Jimmy the Moose | sportspic.com

            The Brewers have been playing well, but they're no match for the run the Twins are presently on. Make your play on Minnesota Saturday when they host Milwaukee.

            Milwaukee has been playing some good baseball but the Twins have been on fire having now won 10 straight.

            The Brewers are 5-13 in their last 18 games vs. a right-handed starter. In their last 52 games as a road dog they are 15-37. Milwaukee has lost their last five interleague road games.

            Minnesota has now won 12 of their last 13 games. The Twins are 10-2 in their last 12 interleague games vs. a left-handed starter and 41-12 in their last 53 interleague games.

            The Brewers are 5-12 in the last 17 meetings between the clubs and 2-6 in their last eight trips to Minnesota.

            Free Pick: Twins -103
            Comment
            • Willie Bee
              SBR Posting Legend
              • 02-14-06
              • 15726

              #7
              Diamondbacks, Marlins to go Over 8

              Game Time: 06/28/2008 07:10 PM -
              By: LT Profits Sports Group | who2beton.com

              Brandon Webb is either going through a “dead arm” period or is hiding an injury, as he has not been good for three starts. Andrew Miller also returned to his modest form last start, so look for an Over.

              There may be something physically wrong with Brandon Webb of the Arizona Diamondbacks that nobody is disclosing, and with the mediocre Andrew Miller pitching for the Florida Marlins, look for a relatively high scoring game.

              In his last three starts, Webb was taken out after just five innings while allowing three runs and nine baserunners vs. the New York Mets, and he was then much worse than that over his last two outings, surrendering 11 earned runs and 23 baserunners in just 10.1 innings. The worst part is that his velocity appears to be noticeably down.

              As for Miller, he is 5-6 with a 5.03 ERA and a poor 1.60 WHIP in 82.1 innings, and those key numbers are not any better at home (5.05 ERA, 1.56 WHIP). Granted, he had a couple of good outings recently, but he then returned to form in his last start at Oakland allowing five runs and nine baserunners in only four innings.

              Unless Webb suddenly overcomes what looks like a dead arm period, we see this game landing on double-digits.

              Free Pick: Diamondbacks, Marlins Over 8 (-120)
              Comment
              Search
              Collapse
              SBR Contests
              Collapse
              Top-Rated US Sportsbooks
              Collapse
              Working...