Front Page MLB Picks (Fri., Sep 26)

[Willie Bee]

Play Oakland A’s, Mariners Under 8

Game Time: 09/26/2008 10:10 PM -
By: LT Profits Sports Group | who2beton.com

Sean Gallagher is starting to fulfill the promise that Oakland saw in him when they picked him up in the Rich Harden trade, and Brandon Morrow’s great arm force Seattle to make him a starter. Go Under tonight.

The Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners begin a meaningless series to wrap up the season tonight, and do not look for many runs to be scored.

The Athletics acquired Sean Gallagher in the Rich Harden trade, and he is now showing why they were so high on him. Gallagher has been brilliant in his last three starts, posting a 2.04 ERA with a miniscule 0.96 WHIP in those outings. One of those starts was a Quality Start vs. these Mariners in Oakland in an Athletics victory last week.

Meanwhile, the Mariners have converted Brandon Morrow from a reliever into a starter because of his electric stuff. Well, all he did was allow one hit in 7.2 innings in his major league debut vs. the New York Yankees, and he has now allowed three runs or less in three of his four total starts. He too tosses a Quality Start vs. his opponent tonight in his last start, limiting Oakland to just two hits in 6.1 innings.

Look for both starters to duplicate their efforts from last week and both bullpens to keep this game Under the total.

Free Pick: Athletics, Mariners Under 8 (-110)

[Willie Bee]

San Diego Padres -130 sink the Pittsburgh Pirates

Game Time: 09/26/2008 10:05 PM -
By: Al McMordie | bigal.com

Hard to believe the Padres enter this game with a worse record than the Pirates, but it's true. Side with San Diego at home in Petco Park on Friday when they host Pittsburgh.

Our Friday night MLB selection is on the San Diego Padres at home in Petco Park over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

If someone had told you at the beginning of the season that the Pirates would finish 2008 with less than 70 wins, you certainly would not have been surprised. If that same person told you however that the Padres would be even worse than that, then you might have done a double-take. After their 89-win season in 2007, many people expected the 2008 version of the San Diego club to battle for the division title and instead they are going to wind up with their first losing campaign and worst overall record since the 2003 season.

One of the few bright spots for this team has been the performances of some of their young pitchers, including tonight's starter, 25-year-old righthander Josh Geer, who is 2-1 with an ERA of only 2.86 after four starts. Geer may not be an overpowering pitcher with a lot of strikeout potential, but he has shown that he possesses decent control and plenty of poise in his brief major league career.

Pirates veteran starter Ian Snell would probably prefer to just forget about his 2008 season. No matter how you measure it, this year has been a disaster for the 26-year-old. And it's been a disaster that pretty much comes with no explanation.

Snell was coming off a season in which all his stats, except for his wins, were outstanding and he has been healthy all season and has not switched teams, yet he's seen his ERA go up by almost two runs, his innings go down by about 50, his strikeouts go from 177 to 130, and his walks to up from 68 to 88. Snell has been at his worst on the road this season, with only three wins and an ERA close to six-and-a-half runs. Take the Padres.

Free Pick: Padres -130

[Willie Bee]

Oakland Athletics -105 the play at Seattle Mariners

Game Time: 09/26/2008 10:10 PM -
By: Jimmy the Moose | sportspic.com

The Mariners and Athletics open a three-game, season-ending set in Seattle tonight, and it's Oakland that gets the nod. Play the A's Friday at Safeco Field against the M's.

Two teams that can't wait for the season to end meet up in Seattle tonight when the Mariners host the Oakland Athletics. The A's have been the better team of late.

Oakland has won eight of their last 11 games. In their last 14 games opening a series the A's are 11-3. Oakland has won eight of their last nine games vs. a right-handed starter.

The Mariners are 20-42 in their last 62 games. They are 22-46 in their last 68 games vs. a team with a losing record. In their last 39 AL West games, Seattle is 10-29. Oakland has won four of the last five meetings and will take another one tonight. Play on Oakland.

Free Pick: Athletics -105