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

    #1
    Front Page MLB Picks (Thu., Oct 2)
    Philadelphia Phillies +125 to hand CC rare loss

    Game Time: 10/02/2008 06:05 PM -
    By: LT Profits Sports Group | who2beton.com

    C.C. Sabathia has been great for the Brewers, but Brett Myers has not allowed more than two runs in four career starts vs. the Brew Crew, including a Complete Game two-hitter a couple of weeks ago.

    C.C. Sabathia is actually getting some Cy Young Award consideration despite pitching for the Milwaukee Brewers for just half a season, but he may be vulnerable here after some overuse and his mound opponent, Brett Myers of the Philadelphia Phillies, has dominated the Brewers.

    Yes, Sabathia is 11-2 in a Brewers uniform and Milwaukee as a team is 14-3 in all of his starts. However, this is his fourth straight start on three days rest, which is unheard of in this day and age. Yes, he has been magnificent and shown no signs of wear and tear lately, but he is now coming off of an outing where he threw 122 pitches.

    That represents the second most pitches he has thrown in any game this season, and when you factor in his continual short rest lately, if there was ever a start where he figured to not be at his best, today is the day.

    The problem is that Sabathia must be near his best if Myers duplicates his past performances vs. the Brewers. Myers faced Milwaukee once this season, but that outing was a couple of weeks ago during a Phillies four-game sweep where he tossed a Complete Game two-hitter in a 6-1 victory. That marked the fourth time in four career starts vs. the Brewers that Myers allowed two run or less!

    Myers also pitched much better the second half of the year after Philadelphia gave him a reality check by ending him to the minors, and we look for he and the superior Phillies bullpen to key the upset here.

    Free Pick: Phillies +125
  • Willie Bee
    SBR Posting Legend
    • 02-14-06
    • 15726

    #2
    Tampa Bay Rays -176 over ChiSox

    Game Time: 10/02/2008 02:35 PM -
    By: Al McMordie | bigal.com

    The Rays went a remarkable 57-24 at home, and they went 15-1 in games where starter James Shields was favored by -150 or more. With the beleaguered Vazquez going for Chicago, take Tampa Bay.

    No team has been better at home this year than the Tampa Bay Rays, who won 57 of 81 games in the regular season at Tropicana Field, and look for the home fans to motivate them to victory again in Game 1.

    Rays starter James Shields just doesn't lose when he's been installed as a favorite of -150 or higher. Well, that's not entirely true, as he's lost once. But Tampa Bay is still 15-1 this year in his 16 games where he has been favored -150 or higher!

    Shields will be matched up against veteran Javier Vazquez, who has recently drawn the wrath of his manager Ozzie Guillen. Vazquez has not won any of his road underdog starts this year (Chicago is 0-8 in those eight starts), and the White Sox are 4-16 this season on artificial turf.

    Take the Tampa Bay Rays to win the first playoff game in team history.

    Free Pick: Rays -176
    Comment
    • Willie Bee
      SBR Posting Legend
      • 02-14-06
      • 15726

      #3
      Take Dodgers +155 over Cubs again

      Game Time: 10/02/2008 09:35 PM -
      By: Bob Harvey | who2beton.com

      The Cubs are feeling the pressure after losing Game 1, and an injured Zambrano has been inconsistent down the stretch. Meanwhile, Billingsley won 16 games and was among the league’s strikeout leaders.

      It is happening again to the Chicago Cubs. Call it The Jinx, the Curse, Steve Bartman, whatever, but one can only imagine what Cubs fans are thinking after their club got whacked by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the opener of their NLDS.

      Sure they can bounce back, win three straight and move on to the NLCS. Maybe I’m starting to believe in this curse thing. Enough so in fact, that I’m taking the Dodgers and Chad Billingsley in Game 2.

      Billingsley blossomed this year, winning a team and personal best 16 games. He also led the Dodgers in strikeouts and along with Derek Lowe, carried the club over the last month of the season. Granted, Billingsley didn’t have good numbers against the Cubs during the regular season (0-1, 4.91 ERA), but that was “Pre Manny”. The Dodgers are a much better club offensively and Man Ram has added a swagger to a team that appeared dead in August.

      The Cubs will counter with Carlos Zambrano, who’s had a real Jekyll and Hyde last few weeks. He no-hit Houston on September 14, but since then he’s been spanked. He’s lost twice, allowing eight runs in just under two innings against St. Louis and then tanked again in a 4.2-inning stint in which he was knocked around for five runs on three hits.

      I’m going with the hotter team and certainly the hotter pitcher in Game 2.

      Free Pick: Dodgers +155
      Comment
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