Front Page MLB Picks (Tue, Aug 12)

Willie Bee · 08-12-08, 10:37 AM

New York Yankees -131 at Minnesota Twins behind Mike Mussina

Game Time: 08/12/2008 08:10 PM -
By: Al McMordie | bigal.com

Mike Mussina is having a great season for New York and has always been a thorn in the Twins' side. Back the Yankees as road favorites on Tuesday tonight in Minnesota.

Our Tuesday night MLB selection is on the New York Yankees with Mike Mussina on the road in Minnesota's Metrodome over the Twins and Nick Blackburn.

After battling injuries the last few years, the Moose is having a resurgent season, as he's gone 15-7 thus far for the Pinstripes, including a spectacular 6-1 away from home with a 2.94 ERA. In his last game, Mussina threw seven shutout innings at Texas, and the Rangers are the best offensive club in baseball. His strikeout numbers in that victory reflected his dominance, as he whiffed six batters against just one walk.

Blackburn has had a strong year as well, but struggled a bit in his last start (vs. light-hitting Seattle). Blackburn lasted just six innings, and put 10 Mariners on base, and gave up three runs. Look for the Yankees to win the second game of this series after dropping Monday night's game. Take New York.

Free Pick: Yankees -131

Willie Bee · 08-12-08, 10:38 AM

Rockies -130 skin Diamondbacks

Game Time: 08/12/2008 09:05 PM -
By: Tony George | phoenixsports.com

The Rockies have pounded left-handers for a .310 average at home this season, and that spells trouble for Randy Johnson and the Arizona Diamondbacks in Colorado Tuesday.

Randy Johnson is still around but faces a team bent on revenge after a three-game sweep at the hands of Arizona back in May. Adding to Johnson's frustrations tonight after three good outings is the fact the Rockies hit left-handers at home with a stellar team batting average of .310 this season.

Both teams have lost six out of their last 10, but Colorado at home is a different animal and sends a decent starter to the mound in Ubaldo Jimenez who has tossed out a 2-1 record in his last three games with a 3.00 ERA. Arizona is 7-1 in the last eight meetings and just like any other trend, they tend to reverse themselves, and I look for Colorado to get one at home in the series opener with some serious focus and a lot of revenge in mind.

Arizona just lost three out four at home against the Braves and are limping in here, a good spot for the Rockies.

Free Pick: Rockies -130

Willie Bee · 08-12-08, 10:40 AM

Rays -143 the play at Oakland A's

Game Time: 08/12/2008 10:05 PM -
By: Tom Stryker | 10starpicks.com

Having lost two of their best players to injury the last three days, the Tampa Bay Rays will hand the ball off to ace Scott Kazmir when they take on the Athletics in Oakland tonight.

Tampa Bay owns a surprising four-game lead in the AL East standings. If the Rays want to keep that cushion, they know they'll need to win games like this one tonight at Oakland.

In case you haven't noticed, the A's have struggled something fierce since the All-Star break posting a dismal 3-19 overall record. To stop the bleeding, Oakland will turn to rookie southpaw Gio Gonzalez. In his first start at Toronto on August 6, Gonzalez was tapped for four earned runs and four hits in 6.0 innings of work in Oakland's 5-1 loss. Things won't get any easy for Gio at McAfee Coliseum.

Gonzalez will be opposed by Tampa Bay ace Scott Kazmir. In his last start against Cleveland, Kazmir got roughed up for five earned runs and nine hits in only 4.1 innings of work. Fortunately, Scott has enjoyed his best efforts with the lights on. At night, the lefty from Houston has been tapped for only 18 earned runs and 51 hits in 71.1 innings. That adds up to a strong 7-1 record and a blistering 2.27 ERA. Equally impressive, No. 19 has dominated Oakland posting a reliable 6-1 record and a miniscule 2.63 ERA spanning 10 starts.

On a technical note, the Rays are playing good baseball right now and have cashed 10 of their last 12 and 47 of their last 65 priced as a favorite. Meanwhile, the A's have dropped 35 of their last 51 priced as an underdog and 16 of their last 21 facing teams from the AL East.

Let's ride the experienced arm in this one men. Take Tampa Bay with Kazmir.

Free Pick: Rays -143

Willie Bee · 08-12-08, 10:41 AM

Hot offenses lead to Over 9½ when Angels host Seattle Mariners

Game Time: 08/12/2008 10:05 PM -
By: Alex Smart | who2beton.com

The Angels have been on fire at the plate lately, batting .316 in their last 17 while the Mariners are batting .323 in August. Take the Over when Seattle travels to Anaheim.

The Los Angeles Angels' explosive offense prepares to tee off on a Mariners pitcher Jarrod Washburn (5-11, 4.76 ERA) that has not pitched well this season.

The veteran southpaw is 0-2 along with an ugly 7.59 ERA in his most recent outings. Washburn also owns an 0-2 record against the Halos in 2008, and is sporting a hefty 6.53 ERA in those tilts. With the Angels hitting .316 in their last 17 home games, Washburn could easily end up as cannon fodder again.

Meanwhile the Angels will return fire with Jon Garland (10-7, 4.28 ERA). The right-hander is not in good current form, recording a bloated 6.51 ERA in his last five trips to the hill. He is also 0-2 along with a hefty 6.32 ERA in his last three starts vs the Mariners . It must also be noted that the men of the Emerald City have awakened from a season-long hitting slump to average .323 in the month of August, and once again look primed to take advantage of some below average starting pitching.

Final Notes & Key Trends: The Over is 5-0 in the Mariners' last five games with the total set at 9-10½.

Free Pick: Mariners-Angels Over 9½ (-110)

Willie Bee · 08-12-08, 10:42 AM

Mike Mussina, New York Yankees -131 at Minnesota Twins

Game Time: 08/12/2008 08:10 PM -
By: Marc Lawrence | playbook.com

In a rut and coming off a shutout loss last night, the Yankees send Mike Mussina to the mound tonight with his teams 25-9 over his career against the Minnesota Twins.

It's not often you'll find the Yankees playing off a shutout loss, but such is the case here tonight. To the rescue is Twin-killer Mike Mussina who is 25-9 in his MLB career team starts against Minnesota.

He's also in solid strikeout-to-walk form with four walks and 33 strikeouts in his last six starts. With the Moose owning a super-sharp 2.94 ERA on the road, look for the Pinstripes to pull this one off here this evening.

Free Pick: Yankees -131

Willie Bee · 08-12-08, 10:43 AM

Cash the Over 9½ when the Angels host the Seattle Mariners

Game Time: 08/12/2008 10:05 PM -
By: Jimmy the Moose | sportspic.com

Both the Angels and Mariners have cashed the Over in six of their last eight games. Play it that way tonight when Seattle takes on the Halos at the Big A in Anaheim.

The Seattle Mariners have played the Over in six of their last eight games. The Over is 7-3 in their last 10 games following an off day and 7-1 in their last eight games as an underdog.

The Angels have also played over the total in six of their last eight games. The Over is 5-2 in their last seven home games and 4-0 in the Angels' last four games following an off day.

Both teams have played over the total in two of the last three games by their starting pitchers tonight. Look for both teams to score runs tonight; play the Over.

Free Pick: Mariners-Angels Over 9½ (-110)

Willie Bee · 08-12-08, 10:45 AM

Dodgers +110 at home vs. Phillies

Game Time: 08/12/2008 10:10 PM -
By: LT Profits Sports Group | who2beton.com

Even though ace Cole Hamels is starting for the Phillies, the wrong team may be favored here considering his recent slump and the raging form that Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw is in now. Take LA tonight.

Cole Hamels may be the ace of the Philadelphia Phillies staff, but he has been outpitched badly by young Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers lately.

Kershaw was called up with high expectations in May, and he is now fulfilling all of that promise, allowing a grand total of one run and 11 hits in 19 innings over his last three starts. He is also catching the Phillies at the perfect time, as they are batting a woeful .218 over the last 10 games, and the fact that Philadelphia has never seen Kershaw also helps his cause.

Meanwhile, Hamels has a bloated 5.62 ERA and 1.62 WHIP in his last three starts. It does not help matter that the Dodgers have improved offensively with the acquisition of Manny Ramirez either, especially vs. left-handed pitching. The Dodgers are hitting .291 as a team the last 10 games averaging 4.80 runs per game, while the Phillies are only averaging 3.30 runs in that same span.

We feel that the wrong team is favored in this spot, as Hamels is favored just on reputation alone.

Free Pick: Dodgers +110