Front Page MLB Picks (Thu, Aug 7)

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  • Willie Bee
    SBR Posting Legend
    • 02-14-06
    • 15726

    #1
    Front Page MLB Picks (Thu, Aug 7)
    LA Dodgers +120 to deal St. Louis Cardinals upset loss in matinee

    Game Time: 08/07/2008 02:15 PM -
    By: LT Profits Sports Group | who2beton.com

    Clayton Kershaw has tossed 12 scoreless innings in his last two starts, and he posted a Quality Start vs. these Cardinals in his debut in the majors. Take the Dodgers.

    The Los Angeles Dodgers have lost the first two games of this series vs. the St. Louis Cardinals despite being favored both nights, but we look for them to turn things around and prevail as underdogs in the series finale.

    Young Clayton Kershaw has looked great in his last two outings, tossing 12 scoreless innings while allowing just eight hits. Remember also that he made his major league debut vs. these Cardinals in Los Angeles back in May, and he posted a Quality Start while allowing two runs on five hits in six innings.

    Cards starter Kyle Lohse appears to be coming back to earth after an abnormally great start. He has a 6.38 ERA in his last three starts, and he has also struggled in afternoon games all year, posting a 5.18 ERA in 11 starts under the sunshine.

    Finally, as expected, the Dodgers have perked up offensively since the acquisition of Manny Ramirez, averaging 5.75 runs in the last four games. That should be more than enough for the upset here, given the fine form Kershaw is in.

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

    #2
    Tigers +128 at Chicago White Sox

    Game Time: 08/07/2008 08:10 PM -
    By: Al McMordie | bigal.com

    Zach Miner has been under the radar lately and providing solid starts for the Tigers. Dog Detroit tonight when the Motown Cats take on the White Sox on Chicago's South Side.

    Our Thursday night MLB selection is on the Detroit Tigers in the Windy City over the Chicago White Sox.

    Back in the first month of the season, 26-year-old Tiger right-hander Zach Miner would have been one of the unlikeliest pitchers in the American League to wind up in a team's rotation. After all, by the middle of April his ERA had ballooned to over 15 after his first six relief appearances. By the end of June, Miner had worked his way to a .500 record (3-3) and had gotten his ERA down to a reasonable 4.43 – still not exactly the stuff of a major league starter on a contending team.

    But a season-ending injury to Jeremy Bonderman and the recent demotion of Dontrelle Willis opened the door for Miner, and so far the converted reliever has made the most of his opportunity. Miner has gone 2-1 as a starter and has now lowered his ERA to 3.77. This is a great opportunity to improve on this record as he faces division rival Chicago and veteran Javier Vazquez, who has really struggled lately.

    Vazquez finally got his first win since June 17, but it came against the lowly Kansas City Royals. Vazquez's last start before that was against this Tiger squad, and it was one of his worst outings of the season as he gave up 11 hits and six earned runs in seven innings in Detroit's ballpark, which is known to be pretty friendly to opposing pitchers. Vazquez has gone from looking like an early-season favorite for the Cy Young award to trying to work out the kinks so he can get his team to the postseason.

    The veteran from Puerto Rico is 1-2 with a 4.95 ERA vs. Detroit so far in 2008, and we'll take the underdog here tonite. Take the Tigers.

    Free Pick: Tigers +128
    Comment
    • Willie Bee
      SBR Posting Legend
      • 02-14-06
      • 15726

      #3
      Roy Oswalt, Astros -136 at Reds

      Game Time: 08/07/2008 07:10 PM -
      By: Marc Lawrence | playbook.com

      Houston's Roy Oswalt has beaten the Reds like a rented mule over his career, and that trend will continue Thursday night when the Astros open a four-game series in Cincinnati.

      The Houston Astros and Cincinnati Reds play the first of a four-game series in the Queen City tonight when Roy Oswalt takes on Josh Fogg in a matchup of right-handers.

      A combination of history and form comes to the forefront here as Oswalt is 19-4 in his career team starts against Cincinnati while Fogg is 5-10 against Houston. With Fogg owning an anemic 8.22 ERA at home this season, look for Oswalt to improve to 13-4 in his last 17 August team starts while Fogg drops to 5-13 during August here tonight.

      Free Pick: Astros -136
      Comment
      • Willie Bee
        SBR Posting Legend
        • 02-14-06
        • 15726

        #4
        Arizona Diamondbacks -144 vs. punchless Atlanta Braves

        Game Time: 08/07/2008 09:40 PM -
        By: Doc's Sports | 10starpicks.com

        The Braves are just going through the motions right now while the Diamondbacks are in a race for the postseason. Side with Arizona at home in Chase Field vs. Atlanta.

        The Atlanta Braves have thrown in the towel on the 2008 season with the trading away of Mark 'Tex' Teixeira and both John Smoltz and Chipper Jones being banged up.

        The Arizona Diamondbacks have been front running in the NL West for the entire season and whenever the Los Angeles Dodgers get close, they always seem to have a long homestand coming up against bad teams. They won the series against Pittsburgh and now will welcome in the Braves.

        Yusmeiro Petit will take the mound for the Snakes and he has pitched well this season currently with a 3.03 ERA. In his last seven appearances he has allowed just seven runs and should be able to overpower a weak Braves lineup on Thursday.

        Free Pick: Diamondbacks -144
        Comment
        • Willie Bee
          SBR Posting Legend
          • 02-14-06
          • 15726

          #5
          Cincinnati Reds +120 over Astros

          Game Time: 08/07/2008 07:10 PM -
          By: LT Profits Sports Group | who2beton.com

          Roy Oswalt’s 20-1 career record vs. the Reds is well chronicled, but he is having a poor year and he was not really that sharp when he beat the Reds last time. Look for Cincinnati to get some revenge.

          Roy Oswalt of the Houston Astros is having a terrible season by his standards, so the fact that he is 20-1 lifetime vs. the Cincinnati Reds actually enhances out value on the Reds here.

          Oswalt is just 8-8 with a 4.74 ERA for the season, and he has allowed eight earned runs over 11 innings in two starts since coming off of the Disabled List. His first start back was vs. these Reds, and although he got credit for the win (again), he did not pitch particularly well, allowing four earned runs and nine baserunners in five innings. Even more discouraging is the fact that he did not improve much in his next start.

          Now Josh Fogg of the Reds has been maligned quite a bit, but he has actually allowed three runs or less in four of his last five starts. He also has the support of a Cincinnati bullpen that now ranks seventh in the majors with a collective 3.54 ERA.

          The bottom line here is that Oswalt is nowhere near the pitcher that he was when he accumulated his phenomenal record vs. Cincinnati, so the Reds are in a nice position to get some revenge ob him in this spot.

          Free Pick: Reds +120
          Comment
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