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100* Play Orlando (-14) over Charlotte (TOP NBA PLAY)
7:00 PM EST
Charlotte has lost 27 of the last 37 games against the spread when playing six or more games in ten days and they have also lost 11 of the last 14 games against the spread vs. division opponents. Charlotte has lost 18 of the last 27 games against the spread when the total posted is between 180 and 189.5 points and they have also lost 24 of the last 34 games against the spread coming off an UNDER the total.
St Louis -144 over CHICAGO: The cards have had some tough luck the last 2 games as they have lost both games in the bottom of the ninth, but I feel they will bounce back nicely here. Lance Lynn gets the ball for the Cards today and he has been amazing so far. Lance has 19 pitched 19 innings so far, allowing just 10 hits, with 17 SO's vs just 4 walks. He has a 1.42 ERA on the year with an 0.74 WHIP. Pretty impressive, plus he did allow just 1 ER in 5.1 innings of work, in a 5-1 win over the Cubs back on the 14th. The Cubs offense has been struggling of late as they have put up just 3 runs in each of their last 3 games, and while they have scored 6 runs in the first 2 of tis series, 4 of the runs have been scored in the 9th. Today they will not have an easy time getting that offense going vs Lance. The Cardinal offense has also been struggling as they have averaged just 2.6 rpg on this current trip and they have put up just 4 runs vs Cubs pitching in this series. Today that offense should get going a bit as they face Chris Volstad, who has a 4.99 ERA in 5 career starts vs the Cards and in 6 career starts at Wrigley he is 0-2 with a 5.66 ERA, including an 0-1 mark with a 7.20 ERA in two starts here this year. The Cards are the better team here and will look for a bigger lead in this one so their closer can't blow it again. They should be able to have good success vs Volstad, while Lynn will continue to pitch well. St louis gets some revenge with a solid win here.
Phillies/ Arizona Under 8: I like this pitching matchup between Hamels and Cahill and it should produce a low scoring games. The Phils offense did come alive last night, but they have rarely done it BB games this year, plus Trevor Cahill is a much tougher pitcher to face than Collmenter was. Trevor has a 2,.84 ERA in his 3 starts this year and he did struggle in his 1st home start in a D-Backs uniform, but I believe he will bounce back nicely vs this erratic Phils offense. Trevor has a 1.17 ERA in 1 start vs the Phils and a 1.23 ERA in 1 day start this year, while in 34 career day start he has a 3.31 ERA, compared to a 4.19 ERA in 65 night starts. Cole Hamels could be the Ace of many a staff in MLB , but because of Lee and Halladay he is 3rd on this staff. Cole has a 2.95 ERA to start the year and a 1.50 ERA in his lone road start. Cole does have a 3.71 ERA in this park and a 3.97 ERA in 62 career day starts, but he also has a 3.11 ERA when he starts with Ruiz behind the plate and he will be facing an Arizona team that has been erratic on offense as well and a team that has hit just .217 vs lefties on the year, compared to .241 vs righties. Both Pitchers are solid and should have good games vs these erratic offenses, which should keep this one around 6 runs at most.
1 UNIT PLAYS
Colorado -109 over PITTSBURGH (Game 1): The Rockies lost a tough one last night, but they are still the better team here. Colorado averages nearly 3 rpg more than Pittsburgh, while the Pirates have scored just 1.93 rpg and have hit just .180 at home on the year. Neither pitcher is real solid and with the advantage that the Rockies have on offense they should walk away with a good win in game 1.
Chicago/ Oakland Over 7.5: (Added) Both offenses have been sluggish in this series, but I see both offenses coming alive vs virtually unknown pitchers. Jarrod Parker has 1 career start, while Chris Sale has 3 career starts (all this year) and while that situation usually gives the advantage to the pitchers, I see both struggling vs two offenses that are looking to break out. Look for about 9 in this one.
Atlanta +108 over Los Angeles Pinnacle
Less than 20 games into the season and there are many buy low and sell high opportunities with pitchers that have posted unsustainable numbers. Both of today’s starters, Ted Lilly and Brandon Beachy, both qualify. LA’s Ted Lilly’s xERA of 4.67 is so far off his actual ERA of 0.69 that an immediate correction is likely forthcoming. Lilly has faced San Diego and Houston in his two starts and in 13 innings, he’s walked seven batters while striking out nine. A 92% unsustainable strand rate has aided Lilly greatly and if he gives the Braves the same scoring opportunities that he gave the Padres and Astros, his night could end early. At 36 years-old and with home-run and walk rates increasing every year, Lilly’s risk is getting higher every year as well. Beachy’s risk is a lot less despite an unsustainable 0.47 ERA. The kid thrived last year as a rookie and he has the skill set to support such productivity. When we look closely at Beachy, we see a high groundball rate of 50%, a high strikeout rate (14 in 19 IP) and a low walk rate. Incidentally, the Dodgers’ .722 winning percentage is also in for a correction.Play: Atlanta +107 (Risking 2 units).
Colorado -111 over PITTSBURGH (GAME 1) Pinnacle
12:35 PM EST. Game one of this DH gets underway at 12:35 PM EST so if you’re on board, take note of the early start. In three starts, James McDonald has a 3.45 ERA, which on paper looks like he deserves better than an 0-1 record but he actually deserves worse. McDonald’s GB/line-drive/FB ratio of 35%/27%/39% is troublesome and not far off from last year’s percentages. McDonald is not fooling anyone with just six K’s and a matching six walks in 16 innings. McDonald is going to put the ball in play, he’s never going to wow us and he’s a .500 pitcher on his best day. The Pirates and their .212 team batting average will face Juan Nicasio and his 6.19 ERA, which is another deceiving number. Two of those starts came at hitter friendly Coors but in his only road start, he threw a gem against the Astros. In two of his three starts he walked a combined one batter but a low 60% strand rate has hurt him and that’s a number that is sure to increase. Nicasio was outstanding in a two-month stretch last season and with a mid-90’s fastball and a solid groundball profile, he has all the tools to succeed at this level. He also dominates right-handers.Play: Colorado in game 1 (Risking 2.22 units to win 2).
WUNDERDOG
MLB 54-65 Season-to-Date +$1130
Game: Chicago White Sox at Oakland (3:35 PM Eastern)
Pick: Game Total UNDER 7.5 -130
These teams displayed their strengths and weaknesses last night, in a game that saw just two total runs scored. For the White Sox, it was the third shutout they have played in over their last four games, two in their favor and one against them. Their last four games have produced a grand total of 21 runs or just better than five a contest and with a day game after a night game, the only ones with rest are the starting pitchers. Oakland knows a little about shutouts themselves, having been blanked four times in their last 14 games. The White Sox have now topped the total in just five of their last 21 games and the A's just six times in their last 27. Combined, that is 11 of these clubs last 48 making it over the total. Play on the UNDER
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