**Mets at Phillies**
--Most sports books are listing first-place New York (21-10, +915) as a minus 140 favorite with a total of 7 1/2 'over' (minus 120). Bettors can dodge the expensive straight price and back the Mets on the run line (minus 1 1/2 runs) for a plus 120 payoff.
--Willie Randolph's club owns a four-game lead over second-place Philadelphia in the National League East standings. The Mets have the best record in the NL, posting a 9-4 mark on the road.
--Philadelphia (17-14, -139) has won eight consecutive games, covering the run line in seven of those eight victories. During this eight-game surge, the Phillies have averaged 6.5 runs per game with the 'over' compiling a 5-2 record.
--After warming up the vocal chords by heckling Barry Bonds all weekend, the Philly faithful get their chance to admonish former closer Billy Wagner during this three-game set. Wagner has ruffled feathers recently by telling the Philadelphia Inquirer that he felt like 'it was 24 against one' during a team meeting late last season. During the same meeting, Wagner told the Inquirer that Pat Burrell called him a 'rat.'
--Pedro Martinez (5-0, 2.72 ERA) will get the ball for the Mets, who are unbeaten in his six starts. The veteran righty has a 7-4 record and 2.85 career ERA against the Phillies.
--Brett Myers (2-1, 3.11) is 6-5 with a 5.57 ERA in 15 career appearances against the Mets.
--Burrell is 0-for-14 against Pedro, while Bobby Abreu is 3-for-20 (.150) with one homer and one double. David Bell is 3-for-26 (.115) versus Martinez. Chase Utley has enjoyed success against the righty with four hits, including two homers, in 12 lifetime ABs against the former Red Sox ace.
--The 'under' is 5-1 when Myers takes the hill this year. However, the 'over' cashed in all four of Myers' starts against the Mets last season.
--The Mets are one of only four teams in baseball showing a winning record for the 'under' (15-14). With that said, they have seen the 'over' hit in each of their last three games.
--The Phillies have seen the 'over' go 17-14 overall, 11-9 in their home games.
**Red Sox at Yankees**
--What more can you ask for? Boston and New York begin a three-game series tonight in the Bronx with both teams tied for first place in the American League East. Did we mention two of the hardest throwers in the majors, Josh Beckett and Randy Johnson?
--Most spots have installed the Yankees as minus 155 favorites with a total of 9 1/2 'under' (minus 120). They are plus 135 on the run line.
--New York (18-11, +245) has played its best baseball at home with a 9-3 record.
--Randy Johnson (5-2, 5.02) has a 13-6 record and 4.21 career ERA against the Red Sox.
--Since 2002, Boston (19-12, +332) has a 39-38 record against the Yankees.
--Terry Francona's squad is 8-7 on the road.
--Boston slugger Manny Ramirez has only seven hits in 39 at-bats (.194 average) against the Big Unit. Ramirez has two doubles and three homers among those seven hits. David Ortiz is homer-less against Johnson in 18 career ABs. The left-handed slugger has just three hits for a .167 average lifetime average.
--This is Josh Beckett's (3-1, 4.86) first regular-season appearance against the Yankees, but he's no stranger to Yankee Stadium. Remember, Beckett was brilliant against the team in pinstripes when he captured MVP honors during the 2003 World Series.
--Beckett has traditionally struggled on the road and that hasn't changed since the hard-throwing righty came to Boston in an off-season trade with Florida. Beckett is 1-1 with a 7.00 ERA in three road assignments.
--Yankees slugger Gary Sheffield is "questionable" tonight.
--The 'over' has prevailed in each of Beckett's last three starts.
--The 'over' is 15-14 overall for the Yankees, 6-6 in their home games.
--The 'over' is 16-13 overall for the Red Sox, 7-6 in their road outings.
**B.E.'s Bonus Nuggets**
--Although the 'under' has cashed in three straight games for the Indians, they have still seen the most 'overs' of any team in baseball (21-11). The 'over' is also cashing at a frenetic pace for the Marlins, who have seen it hit at a 19-8 clip.
--White Sox RHP Freddy Garcia is 12-3 with a 2.73 lifetime ERA against the Angels.
--Tampa Bay RHP Doug Waechter owns a 3-0 record and 1.89 career ERA against Seattle.
--Colorado RHP Josh Fogg will take aim at St. Louis in Tuesday's assignment. The right-hander out of the University of Florida has never fared well against the Cardinals, posting a 1-8 record and 7.95 ERA against his former division rivals from his years with the Pirates.
--The 'under' is 4-0-1 in John Thomson's five starts for the Braves. He'll get the starting nod tonight at Florida.
--I can't believe TNT allows Craig Sager to wear those ridiculous suits
--Most sports books are listing first-place New York (21-10, +915) as a minus 140 favorite with a total of 7 1/2 'over' (minus 120). Bettors can dodge the expensive straight price and back the Mets on the run line (minus 1 1/2 runs) for a plus 120 payoff.
--Willie Randolph's club owns a four-game lead over second-place Philadelphia in the National League East standings. The Mets have the best record in the NL, posting a 9-4 mark on the road.
--Philadelphia (17-14, -139) has won eight consecutive games, covering the run line in seven of those eight victories. During this eight-game surge, the Phillies have averaged 6.5 runs per game with the 'over' compiling a 5-2 record.
--After warming up the vocal chords by heckling Barry Bonds all weekend, the Philly faithful get their chance to admonish former closer Billy Wagner during this three-game set. Wagner has ruffled feathers recently by telling the Philadelphia Inquirer that he felt like 'it was 24 against one' during a team meeting late last season. During the same meeting, Wagner told the Inquirer that Pat Burrell called him a 'rat.'
--Pedro Martinez (5-0, 2.72 ERA) will get the ball for the Mets, who are unbeaten in his six starts. The veteran righty has a 7-4 record and 2.85 career ERA against the Phillies.
--Brett Myers (2-1, 3.11) is 6-5 with a 5.57 ERA in 15 career appearances against the Mets.
--Burrell is 0-for-14 against Pedro, while Bobby Abreu is 3-for-20 (.150) with one homer and one double. David Bell is 3-for-26 (.115) versus Martinez. Chase Utley has enjoyed success against the righty with four hits, including two homers, in 12 lifetime ABs against the former Red Sox ace.
--The 'under' is 5-1 when Myers takes the hill this year. However, the 'over' cashed in all four of Myers' starts against the Mets last season.
--The Mets are one of only four teams in baseball showing a winning record for the 'under' (15-14). With that said, they have seen the 'over' hit in each of their last three games.
--The Phillies have seen the 'over' go 17-14 overall, 11-9 in their home games.
**Red Sox at Yankees**
--What more can you ask for? Boston and New York begin a three-game series tonight in the Bronx with both teams tied for first place in the American League East. Did we mention two of the hardest throwers in the majors, Josh Beckett and Randy Johnson?
--Most spots have installed the Yankees as minus 155 favorites with a total of 9 1/2 'under' (minus 120). They are plus 135 on the run line.
--New York (18-11, +245) has played its best baseball at home with a 9-3 record.
--Randy Johnson (5-2, 5.02) has a 13-6 record and 4.21 career ERA against the Red Sox.
--Since 2002, Boston (19-12, +332) has a 39-38 record against the Yankees.
--Terry Francona's squad is 8-7 on the road.
--Boston slugger Manny Ramirez has only seven hits in 39 at-bats (.194 average) against the Big Unit. Ramirez has two doubles and three homers among those seven hits. David Ortiz is homer-less against Johnson in 18 career ABs. The left-handed slugger has just three hits for a .167 average lifetime average.
--This is Josh Beckett's (3-1, 4.86) first regular-season appearance against the Yankees, but he's no stranger to Yankee Stadium. Remember, Beckett was brilliant against the team in pinstripes when he captured MVP honors during the 2003 World Series.
--Beckett has traditionally struggled on the road and that hasn't changed since the hard-throwing righty came to Boston in an off-season trade with Florida. Beckett is 1-1 with a 7.00 ERA in three road assignments.
--Yankees slugger Gary Sheffield is "questionable" tonight.
--The 'over' has prevailed in each of Beckett's last three starts.
--The 'over' is 15-14 overall for the Yankees, 6-6 in their home games.
--The 'over' is 16-13 overall for the Red Sox, 7-6 in their road outings.
**B.E.'s Bonus Nuggets**
--Although the 'under' has cashed in three straight games for the Indians, they have still seen the most 'overs' of any team in baseball (21-11). The 'over' is also cashing at a frenetic pace for the Marlins, who have seen it hit at a 19-8 clip.
--White Sox RHP Freddy Garcia is 12-3 with a 2.73 lifetime ERA against the Angels.
--Tampa Bay RHP Doug Waechter owns a 3-0 record and 1.89 career ERA against Seattle.
--Colorado RHP Josh Fogg will take aim at St. Louis in Tuesday's assignment. The right-hander out of the University of Florida has never fared well against the Cardinals, posting a 1-8 record and 7.95 ERA against his former division rivals from his years with the Pirates.
--The 'under' is 4-0-1 in John Thomson's five starts for the Braves. He'll get the starting nod tonight at Florida.
--I can't believe TNT allows Craig Sager to wear those ridiculous suits