I did the impossible yesterday. I hit a 5 team parlay and hit 4 straight up bets. I don't think I have done that in over 5 or 6 years. So I hope to keep it going. and playing lite today
GAME 1
The Los Angeles Angels have to be close to perfect the rest of the way and they were pretty good Tuesday, scoring in double figures for the second time in three games to pull within 3 1/2 games of Boston in the American League wild card race. The Angels will send Dan Haren, looking to equal his career high with his 16th victory, to the mound to try and keep it going against the host Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday. Haren, who had 16 wins with Arizona in 2008, allowed seven runs six earned in five innings to lose his last start at Baltimore and is 2-3 since Aug. 19. Haren is 15-9 overall this season with a 3.24 ERA. The Veteran right-hander hasn't provided much help to the Angels' postseason chances, with each of his last four road games ending in Los Angeles defeats. He's been charged with the last three losses while compiling a 7.41 ERA. Some run support could be helpful to Haren, who has been backed by one run over his last three road games. He's sorely needed the help in five career visits to Toronto compiling a 6.47 ERA while receiving an average of 9.0 runs of support to win all three decisions. But that should continue as the Angels scored 10 runs in their Blue Jays defeat last night.
Even though the Angels have dropped 10 of Haren's 18 road starts he holds a desent ERA of 3.92. 6-2 in his career against the Jays with a 5.23 ERA over 62 innings. The bats have come alive for the Angels. Trumbo is 5 for 12 with two homers and five RBIs in three games. He homered for a second consecutive game and tied his career high with four RBIs on Tuesday. Vernon Wells was 4-for-28 against the Blue Jays, his former team, until delivering a solo home run and a double Tuesday. Torii Hunter is 7-for-19 his last five games.
The Jays have won eight of their last 12 games. The teams have split eight games, with two left in the series. Yhe Jays are 41-38 at home. Toronto will counter with Dustin McGowan. McGowan makes his fourth appearance and third start with Toronto since returning from two years away from the game with a right shoulder surgery. The right-hander was solid Friday, allowing three runs and three hits with four strikeouts in five innings before Jose Molina's walkoff single clinched a 5-4 win over New York. But Overall, He has stunk it up for the Blue Jays. McGowan has no decisions thus far, But the Blue Jays have won both starts and has not pitched past the 5 inning in either start. The returning right hander has not had a dependable bullpen to turn to, blowing 10 of 24 saving opportunities and posting a horrific ERA of 7.84 ERA and a WHIP of 1.84. McGowan is 1/3 with a 3.91 ERA in four starts against the Angles, but hasn't faced them since that lone victory on May 30, 2008. The Angels have a lot more to play for than the Blue Jays (Who are well out of the post season). I do see a high scoring affair here but the Angels Triump in this match-up.
1* LOS ANGELES ANGELS -134
***1 BONUS OVER 8 1/2 RUNS****
GAME 2
The Braves have seen their wild card lead shrink 10½ games on Aug. 25 to 2½ games. September has been their worst month of the season, going 8-12 thus far. Atlanta pulled away with a 4-0 victory last night, but it may be more dificult to do tonight as their former teammate, Javier Vazquez takes the hill for the Marlins. Vazquez ahs been light-out ont he hill and has a 1.96 ERA in his last 16 starts. He's allowed one run in 29 innings while winning four consecutive starts for the first time since Sept. 8-25, 2009, while with Atlanta. In the 12 games since the All-Star break, the veteran has a 2.35 ERA with 81 strikeouts and 15 walks in 80 1/3 innings. This will be his first start against Atlanta this season. Vasquez doesn't have an impressive home record here at 4-7 but he does have consistancy when he pitches.
The Atlanta Braves will counter with the struggling veteran Derek Lowe as they continue their quest to capture the National League wild card berth in the rubber game of a three-game series against the host Florida Marlins. Lowe looks to avoid losing a career high fourth straight start Wednesday night. Lowe was 5-0 with a 1.17 ERA in five September starts last season to help Atlanta win the wild card by one game over San Diego and advance to the postseason for the first time since 2005. But now has fallen completely apart and it couldn't happen at a worst time of the season, during the hunt for October. Lowe is 0-3 with a 10.13 ERA in three starts this month after lasting 2 1/3 innings his shortest start in two seasons in Friday's 12-2 loss to New York, and the stuggles have not just started here, it has been the whole season of battling with his comand at the mound. Lowe on the hill in hostile territory has been a challenge as well posting a 5-11 record away from Atlanta and the Braves have dropped 12 of his 19 starts away from Turner feild this year. With the injury list adding up the bats have went cold for the Braves avaeraging just 4.0 runs a game. Brian McCann has hit .169 (19-for-112) in 31 games since coming off the disabled list. Martin Prado, another key offensive ingredient, is 23-for-105 with one homer and seven RBIs over his last 26 games, However, The Braves are 11-3 in the last 14 meetings and 7-1down in Florida. Lowe has a splindid record against the Fish, though, is 1-0 with a 1.42 ERA in two starts against Florida this season, with both coming in Miami. But the Braves are unhealthy and out of gas. with the The bats going cold and a verteran pitcher down on his luck they drop this game in Florida tonight as their season Debacle continues.
1* FLORIDA MARLINS -120
GAME 1
The Los Angeles Angels have to be close to perfect the rest of the way and they were pretty good Tuesday, scoring in double figures for the second time in three games to pull within 3 1/2 games of Boston in the American League wild card race. The Angels will send Dan Haren, looking to equal his career high with his 16th victory, to the mound to try and keep it going against the host Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday. Haren, who had 16 wins with Arizona in 2008, allowed seven runs six earned in five innings to lose his last start at Baltimore and is 2-3 since Aug. 19. Haren is 15-9 overall this season with a 3.24 ERA. The Veteran right-hander hasn't provided much help to the Angels' postseason chances, with each of his last four road games ending in Los Angeles defeats. He's been charged with the last three losses while compiling a 7.41 ERA. Some run support could be helpful to Haren, who has been backed by one run over his last three road games. He's sorely needed the help in five career visits to Toronto compiling a 6.47 ERA while receiving an average of 9.0 runs of support to win all three decisions. But that should continue as the Angels scored 10 runs in their Blue Jays defeat last night.
Even though the Angels have dropped 10 of Haren's 18 road starts he holds a desent ERA of 3.92. 6-2 in his career against the Jays with a 5.23 ERA over 62 innings. The bats have come alive for the Angels. Trumbo is 5 for 12 with two homers and five RBIs in three games. He homered for a second consecutive game and tied his career high with four RBIs on Tuesday. Vernon Wells was 4-for-28 against the Blue Jays, his former team, until delivering a solo home run and a double Tuesday. Torii Hunter is 7-for-19 his last five games.
The Jays have won eight of their last 12 games. The teams have split eight games, with two left in the series. Yhe Jays are 41-38 at home. Toronto will counter with Dustin McGowan. McGowan makes his fourth appearance and third start with Toronto since returning from two years away from the game with a right shoulder surgery. The right-hander was solid Friday, allowing three runs and three hits with four strikeouts in five innings before Jose Molina's walkoff single clinched a 5-4 win over New York. But Overall, He has stunk it up for the Blue Jays. McGowan has no decisions thus far, But the Blue Jays have won both starts and has not pitched past the 5 inning in either start. The returning right hander has not had a dependable bullpen to turn to, blowing 10 of 24 saving opportunities and posting a horrific ERA of 7.84 ERA and a WHIP of 1.84. McGowan is 1/3 with a 3.91 ERA in four starts against the Angles, but hasn't faced them since that lone victory on May 30, 2008. The Angels have a lot more to play for than the Blue Jays (Who are well out of the post season). I do see a high scoring affair here but the Angels Triump in this match-up.
1* LOS ANGELES ANGELS -134
***1 BONUS OVER 8 1/2 RUNS****
GAME 2
The Braves have seen their wild card lead shrink 10½ games on Aug. 25 to 2½ games. September has been their worst month of the season, going 8-12 thus far. Atlanta pulled away with a 4-0 victory last night, but it may be more dificult to do tonight as their former teammate, Javier Vazquez takes the hill for the Marlins. Vazquez ahs been light-out ont he hill and has a 1.96 ERA in his last 16 starts. He's allowed one run in 29 innings while winning four consecutive starts for the first time since Sept. 8-25, 2009, while with Atlanta. In the 12 games since the All-Star break, the veteran has a 2.35 ERA with 81 strikeouts and 15 walks in 80 1/3 innings. This will be his first start against Atlanta this season. Vasquez doesn't have an impressive home record here at 4-7 but he does have consistancy when he pitches.
The Atlanta Braves will counter with the struggling veteran Derek Lowe as they continue their quest to capture the National League wild card berth in the rubber game of a three-game series against the host Florida Marlins. Lowe looks to avoid losing a career high fourth straight start Wednesday night. Lowe was 5-0 with a 1.17 ERA in five September starts last season to help Atlanta win the wild card by one game over San Diego and advance to the postseason for the first time since 2005. But now has fallen completely apart and it couldn't happen at a worst time of the season, during the hunt for October. Lowe is 0-3 with a 10.13 ERA in three starts this month after lasting 2 1/3 innings his shortest start in two seasons in Friday's 12-2 loss to New York, and the stuggles have not just started here, it has been the whole season of battling with his comand at the mound. Lowe on the hill in hostile territory has been a challenge as well posting a 5-11 record away from Atlanta and the Braves have dropped 12 of his 19 starts away from Turner feild this year. With the injury list adding up the bats have went cold for the Braves avaeraging just 4.0 runs a game. Brian McCann has hit .169 (19-for-112) in 31 games since coming off the disabled list. Martin Prado, another key offensive ingredient, is 23-for-105 with one homer and seven RBIs over his last 26 games, However, The Braves are 11-3 in the last 14 meetings and 7-1down in Florida. Lowe has a splindid record against the Fish, though, is 1-0 with a 1.42 ERA in two starts against Florida this season, with both coming in Miami. But the Braves are unhealthy and out of gas. with the The bats going cold and a verteran pitcher down on his luck they drop this game in Florida tonight as their season Debacle continues.
1* FLORIDA MARLINS -120