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Strike Point Sports MLB Game of the Week
Milwaukee -135
Milwaukee -135
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401k Sports Tuesday recap 2-1 +0.60 units
2** NYY -120(L)
2** Wash Even(W)
1* Philly RL -110(W)
Shooting for the 8th straight positive day. Let's see what today brings
401k Sports Wednesday Plays
NY Yankees -150 over Boston(7pm)
Chic Cubs -120 over Houston(8pm)
Detroit/White sox under 9(-115)(8pm)
Milwaukee -140 over Atlanta(8pm)
Milwaukee -1.5 runs +160 over Atl
San Francisco -125 over Colorado(8:30pm)
SF -1.5 runs +130 over ColoradoComment
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David Banks
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Baltimore Orioles
An unexpectedly big series with huge playoff ramifications continues on
Wednesday night when the Tampa Bay Rays (77-63) visit the Baltimore Orioles
(78-62) at Camden Yards in Baltimore, MD at 7:05 ET in a game being carried on
ESPN2. The Orioles were projected to finish in last place in the American
League East before the season began, but they entered this series opener on
Tuesday in second place just one game behind the New York Yankees, and
Baltimore also held the final wild card spot in the American League by one game
over these Rays, so it is conceivable that these clubs could be tied by the
time this first pitch is thrown.
The Orioles actually tied the Yankees for first place twice while the teams
split a four-game series this past weekend, but the Bronx Bombers reclaimed
sole possession of first with an emphatic 13-3 win in the series finale on
Sunday. Baltimore now looks to start a winning streak with the promising
rookie Miguel Gonzalez on the bump. Gonzalez made his first Major League start
on July 6th, and he is 6-4 with a nice 3.62 ERA and 1.23 WHIP while allowing
three runs or less in seven of his 11 starts including surrendering two
runs or less in six of those outings. He was not as sharp in his last start vs.
the Toronto Blue Jays, allowing five runs on seven hits in 6.1 innings, but
he was not as bad as that final stat line either as he did not walk a
single batter and he departed with the game tied 2-2 after loading the bases, but
the bullpen then allowed all three of his baserunners to score. Miguel was
masterful the last time he faced the Rays in Tampa Bay, tossing seven
scoreless innings and allowing only four hits, and he is facing a Rays' lineup
that ranks just 27th out of 30 Major League teams with a 239 team batting
average.
With that putrid attack, it is obvious that the Rays are where they are
because of pitching, and they in fact lead the majors with a 3.22 team ERA.
However, Wednesday starter Alex Cobb has been a weak link going just 9-8 with a
4.28 ERA overall, although he has been better lately. In fact, he has
allowed three earned runs or less in nine of his last 10 starts, but only six of
them were official Quality Starts because he failed to go the required six
innings in the other three outings. Cobb does have an advantage here in that
this will be his first career appearance vs. the Orioles, and he is facing a
Baltimore lineup that is batting only .239 vs. right-handed pitchers over
the entire season. Because Cobb usually does not work deeply into games, the
Tampa Bay bullpen will almost certainly be brought into play here, but that
is actually to the Rays' advantage as they lead the American League in
bullpen ERA at 2.78, ranking second in the Major Leagues behind only the
Cincinnati Reds (2.67) in that category.
Something has to give here as the Orioles are 15-6 in their last 21 home
games and the Rays are 13-6 in their last 19 road games, with both of those
records pending Tuesday's result. These teams have a history of playing low
scoring affairs, as the 'under' is 7-2 in the last nine meetings this season
and 35-14-2 in the last 51 encounters overall.
Tampa BayComment
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Hoopsgooroo 9/12
103 Rutgers +8 @ 7:30p
901 Marlins +145 @ 4:05p
903 Cards -122 @ 6:35p
918 Jays -128 @ 7:05p
919 Rays -120 @ 7:05p
905 Pirates +128 @ 7:10p
907 Nationals -102 @ 7:10p
911 Braves +126 @ 8:10p
925 Tigers -136 @ 8:10p
913 Giants -121 @ 8:40p
915 Dodgers +115 @ 9:40p
930 Angels -129 @ 10:05pComment
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