Front Page MLB Picks (Mon, Aug 11)

[Willie Bee]

Brewers -1½ broom the Nationals

Game Time: 08/11/2008 02:05 PM -
By: Bob Harvey | bobharveysports.com

Clinging to the NL Wild Card lead and still close to the NL Central lead, the Brewers go for a sweep of the Washington Nationals today when they send Dave Bush to the Milwaukee bump.

It’s that time of the year that teams with something on the line, like Milwaukee, get the job done against the bottom feeders of the league.

The Brewers, who lead the Wild Card standings in the National League, go for their sixth-straight win as they take on the Nationals in the finale of a four-game series in Milwaukee. The Brew Crew will send Dave Bush to the hill in their bid for a sweep of the Nats. Bush is 6-9 with a 4.50 ERA on the year and is 2-2 with a 3.57 ERA in his last six starts. The veteran right-hander is also 2-2 with a 3.47 ERA in four lifetime games against the Nationals and has won two straight starts against them.

The Nationals send Garrett Mock to the mound in the series finale. Mock is 0-2 this season with an ERA of just under 5.00. He’s making his first start for the Nationals since June 21st. Granted the Brewers RL record is just 25-35 at home, two of those run line victories have come this weekend against Washington.

I’m not crazy about the high number with Milwaukee on the money line, but I’ll take this very reasonable price on the RL.

Free Pick: Brewers -1½ (-105)

[Willie Bee]

Play Phillies +120 at LA Dodgers

Game Time: 08/11/2008 10:10 PM -
By: Al McMordie | bigal.com

Manny Ramirez' arrival in Los Angeles was much ballyhooed, but the Dodgers still have a weak offense. Play the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday when they open a set on the Left Coast.

Our Monday night MLB selection is on the Philadelphia Phillies on the road over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

So what's the verdict so far on the trade that brought Manny Ramirez to Los Angeles in exchange for some prospects in the hopes of boosting the Dodgers' sagging offense? Well right now you'd have to say that the jury is still out. Sure, Ramirez has been on fire since coming to the west coast with 15 hits in 37 at bats, including homers and 11 RBI. So what's the problem?

Unfortunately, since arriving at the end of July, the Dodgers have only gone 4-5. Regardless of his individual achievements, if Manny can't help the Dodgers win the division, then the deadline deal has to be considered a bust. One of the problems, of course, is that the hitters around him in the lineup in Los Angeles are a far cry from those in Boston.

This will be a big series for LA as they face NL East-leading Philadelphia. Philly starter Kyle Kendrick must have heard all of the so-called experts talking about his team needing another starter prior to the trade deadline. Those sentiments could be heard loud and clear since the middle of July, and Kendrick must have taken it personally, because in his three starts since July 19, he has gone 2-1 with a 1.45 ERA and is now in double-digit wins for the season at a very surprising 10-5.

LA's right-handed veteran Derek Lowe seems to want to defend his title as baseball's "Most Inconsistent Starter" as one never knows which Lowe will show up when he takes the mound, but lately it hasn't been the good one. Take the Phillies.

Free Pick: Phillies +120

[Willie Bee]

Pirates +180 pop Pedro & NY Mets

Game Time: 08/11/2008 01:10 PM -
By: Stephen Nover | covers.com

A makeup from an earlier rainout, this line is too high in part due to Pedro Martinez' name. Play the Pittsburgh Pirates this afternoon when they take on Pedro and New York.

Considering their bullpen woes, injuries and Pedro Martinez on the mound, the Mets shouldn't be this big of a favorite.

The line is this high, in part, because New York is home and the pitching matchup is Zach Duke against Martinez. Duke hasn't been good this season, but his ERA (5.13) still is lower than Martinez's ERA (5.79).

Duke is off one of his best performances of the season. Pitching on the road against Arizona last Tuesday, Duke held the Diamondbacks to two earned runs in seven innings. He matched his season-high in strikeouts with six, while walking just one. Duke is 2-0 with a 1.77 ERA in three career starts versus the Mets.

Martinez has won once since June 15. He's 1-3 with a 6.06 ERA during his past seven starts. Martinez has yet to pitch into the eighth inning this season. He's averaged 5.2 innings in his past seven starts.

The Mets lack a true closer with Billy Wagner on the DL. Their middle relief has been terrible.

This is a one-game makeup matchup. The Mets are off a tough division series against Florida. They go on the road after this game, so they may not have their full concentration for the non-division Pirates, a team that generates little respect.

Free Pick: Pirates +180

[Willie Bee]

Shaun Marcum, Toronto Blue Jays +142 at Detroit Tigers

Game Time: 08/11/2008 07:05 PM
By: Nelly's Sportsline | playbook.com

It's been a forgettable season for both the Tigers and Justin Verlander. Take the Toronto Blue Jays tonight on the road in Detroit with Shaun Marcum on the hill.

The Detroit Tigers have lost three consecutive games that Justin Verlander has started as he has posted terrible numbers, allowing 18 runs in just over 17 innings pitched. It has been a very disappointing season for Verlander with 12 losses on the year and he does not have significantly better numbers in his home starts.

Toronto's Shaun Marcum came up with a great effort in his last start, allowing just three hits over seven innings and opposing batters are hitting just .210 against him.

The Tigers are just 3-7 in the last 10 games and there appears little fight in this team despite still being within striking distance of a playoff spot. Toronto continues to play at a solid clip with outstanding pitching and the disparity between these two bullpens is more than enough to make up for an offensive edge for the Tigers.

Free Pick: Blue Jays +142

[Willie Bee]

SF Giants +120 at Houston Astros

Game Time: 08/11/2008 08:05 PM -
By: Jimmy the Moose | sportspic.com

Both teams enter this series on nice runs, but Houston's Brandon Backe has been horrible of late and that makes the San Francisco Giants the play tonight against the Astros.

The San Francisco Giants have won three of their last four games while the Houston Astros have won four in a row.

The Giants have two things going for them in this one: First, they have been very good vs. the Astros in recent games, and secondly Jonathan Sanchez has been good on the mound on the road. The Giants are 6-2 in his last eight road starts and 4-0 in his last four road starts vs. a team with a losing record. Sanchez has struggled over his last six ,but expect a good game from him tonight in Houston.

The Astros are 2-5 in Brandon Backe's last seven starts. In his last seven starts vs. a team with a losing record, the Astros are 1-6. The Giants are 22-7 in their last 29 trips to Houston. The Astros are 19-41 in the last 60 meetings between the clubs. Play on San Fran.

Free Pick: Giants +120