8-12-13

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Larry Ness

Yankees

dbacks

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Alatex

20* MLB Runline Game of the Year

Dodgers -1.5

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Preview: Rangers at Astros
Current Conditions - Houston
M/CLOUDY 91 °F
Wind: SSE 3
5-Day Forecast
GAME: Texas Rangers (68-50) at Houston Astros (37-79)
DATE/TIME: Monday, August 12 - 2:10 PM EST
WHERE: Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas
LINE: -230, 210 TOTAL: 7


The Texas Rangers seemingly can't lose - and especially in Houston. The Rangers, who have won seven straight and 12 of 13 to take a one-game lead over Oakland in the American League West, aim for a four-game sweep of the struggling Astros on Monday. Texas has won eight straight meetings in Houston and 18 of the last 21.

The Rangers already have claimed their seventh straight series win at Minute Maid Park and lead the season series 10-2. Texas outfielder Alex Rios is 4-for-7 with two RBIs and two runs scored in his first two games since being acquired from the Chicago White Sox on Friday. The Astros hope to get a boost from the return of rookie shortstop Jonathan Villar, who is expected to be in the lineup after missing four straight starts with a sprained left thumb.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, FSN Southwest (Texas), CSN Houston

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Yu Darvish (11-5, 2.72 ERA) vs. Astros LH Brett Oberholtzer (2-0, 2.53)

Darvish has recorded four straight quality starts - and won three of them - as he continues to make a case for the AL Cy Young Award. The 26-year-old has eight double-digit strikeout games this year, including his season debut in which he fanned 14 Astros and was one out away from a perfect game. Darvish is 3-1 with a 3.03 ERA in four career starts against Houston.

Oberholtzer has yet to allow a run as a major-league starter, working seven scoreless frames over each of his first two turns since moving into the rotation. The 24-year-old has held opponents to a .143 batting average in his two starts, yielding only seven hits. Oberholtzer is making his first start versus the Rangers, but he made a relief appearance against them July 5 and permitted one run on three hits over 3 1/3 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rios is hitting .364 with eight RBIs and seven runs scored during an 11-game hitting streak.

2. Astros C Jason Castro is riding a career-best 10-game hitting streak, but is 2-for-12 with three strikeouts against Darvish.

3. The Rangers are 23-13 in games started by an opposing left-hander.

PREDICTION: Rangers 4, Astros 1

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Kelso 15 Rockies

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"Mr Chalk" 2013 MLB Season

Ben lee won on Sunday with the Cardinals -$170/Cubs.

"Mr Chalk" has Np for Monday.

"Mr Chalk" is 76-42 +$1171 for the 2013 MLB 2013 season.

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Tony Stoffo

Reds

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KYLE HUNTER


TOP PLAY =-

MLB	Aug 12 '13 2:10p	Texas Rangers vs Houston Astros Take: Texas Rangers -1½-125		in 3h
*5 Star MLB TOP Play Mismatch* The Texas Rangers have won 7 straight games. Alex Rios has been a great addition to the lineup, and I expect the him to help the team a lot moving forward. Texas has won the first 3 games in this series, and I believe they'll run away with the fourth game as well. Yu Darvish has a 2.72 ERA on the year, and he has been extremely sharp of late. Darvish strikes out more than one batter per inning, and I expect him to mow down this weak Astros lineup. Houston will start rookie Brett Oberholtzer. Oberholtzer has pitched great in his first 2 starts in the majors, but I don't see that lasting. He had an ERA above 4 both last season and this season in AAA. Houston is the worst team in baseball, and this is a major pitching mismatch. The Rangers are 7-0 in their last 7 road games. They are 9-0 in their last 9 games as a favorite. The Rangers are 5-0 in their last 5 games against a lefty. The Rangers are 12-1 in their last 13 games overall. Take Texas -1.5 big.

MLB	Aug 12 '13 8:10p	Detroit Tigers vs Chicago White Sox Take: Detroit Tigers -120		in 9h
*3 Star MLB Bookie CRUSHER* The Detroit Tigers are probably the best team in the American League. You could make a good argument that Detroit is the best team in baseball overall. On the other side, the White Sox are definitely one of the worst teams in baseball right now. Chicago is 20-48 their last 68 games overall. The White Sox have gotten rid of most of the talent in their lineup, and the offense was bad even before the team made any trades. Detroit has the best lineup in baseball, and they hit left handed starters well. Chris Sale is very good, but he has an ERA of 3.99 in his career against the Tigers. Doug Fister has been great in his last few outings, and this is a great chance for him to keep it going against a terrible offense. Take Detroit.

MLB	Aug 12 '13 8:10p	Cleveland Indians vs Minnesota Twins Take: Total 8 un+106		in 9h
*3 Star MLB 100% Angle Total* Danny Salazar and Andrew Albers will start in this game for Cleveland and Minnesota respectfully. They have a total of 3 career major league starts between the two of them. Salazar was great in his first outing, and he pitched well late time until allowing a late home run to Miguel Cabrera. Albers shutout Kansas City on the road in his first big league start last week. Albers is 27 years old and had a long track to the majors due to injuries, but he has been great in the minor leagues. These are two guys that I expect will become big names in the next couple years. The under is 7-0 in Cleveland's last 7 Monday games. The under is 4-0 in the Twins last 4 games with the total set between 7.0 and 8.5. The under is 5-0 in the Twins last 5 when scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game. The under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings between these two teams. In all a 20-0 angle backs this play. Take the under.

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Cleveland Insider

MLB
1* Phillies +1.5 (-155) 155/100
1* Phillies/Braves over 6.5 (-120) 120/100

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mr pockets
reds

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MLB Analysis by Gill Alexander

** HOUSTON ASTROS (Oberholtzer) +205 over Texas Rangers (Darvish): 2 Stars
11:10 AM Pacific Rotation: 962
The last two ballgames the Astros have won have been with Oberholtzer starting and against big offenses in the Red Sox and Orioles. Darvish, for all of his strengths, has found the Astros to be a bit of kryptonite this season, as well. Again, no doubt the Rangers should be favored here, but on getaway day in Houston, this is great value.
Play at +190 or better.

** Cleveland Indians (Salazar) -120 over MINNESOTA TWINS (Albers): 2 Stars
05:10 PM Pacific Rotation: 967
Play at -135 or better.

** Detroit Tigers (Fister) -115 over CHICAGO WHITE SOX (Sale): 2 Stars
05:10 PM Pacific Rotation: 965
Play at -130 or better.

** ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (Miley) -116 over Baltimore Orioles (Feldman): 2 Stars
06:40 PM Pacific Rotation: 972
Play at -130 or better.

** New York Mets (Mejia) +180 over LOS ANGELES DODGERS (Nolasco): 2 Stars
07:10 PM Pacific Rotation: 957
The Dodgers have won a staggering 37 of their last 45 games. As you know, we've been on them for a nice percentage of those, especially given the number of times they've had slightly inflated lines and were no-plays. But, as highlighted on my most recent MLB pod, the Mets are a solid road club (we benefited from that yesterday), and with Nolasco on the hill against the Mets under-the-radar young pitcher not names Harvey or Wheeler, this is the night to fade LAD if there ever was one. Again, with money lines, no one is suggesting the Mets should be favored here. But the price is more than right. And we don't hapahazardly throw these types of big underdog plays around.
Play at +165 or better.

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Joe Gavazzi Baseball

Philadelphia (Hamels) at Atlanta (Peheran) (-160, -1 ½ runs +140) 7:10 ET

5% Atlanta (Teheran) (-160, -1 ½ runs +140)

The linemaker continues to overrate Hamels and the Phillies as if they are a quality team. Here is the truth. The Phillies long ago tossed the towel as exemplified by their 3-17 slide. That includes 11 consecutive defeats on the road. And Hamels, despite a decent 3.81 ERA, has lost 13 games this season, the most in MLB. Don’t expect him to turn things around tonight as the Phillies have won just 3 of 12 Hamels road starts while, in his last 5 starts vs. Atlanta, Hamels has a 5.46 ERA. Far prefer Atlanta at home as they have ascended to the best record in baseball at 72-46. That comes courtesy of a recent 15-1 mark in which they have outscored the opposition 91-36 averaging 5.7 RPG with a .319 RISP. Now they return home to MLB’s strongest home field where Atlanta is 40-16 including 25-9/win. Teheran is a hot starter who keeps improving. Teheran has a 2.96 ERA for the year, 2.66 at home, and in his last 4 starts has a 1.13 ERA with 27 Ks in 24 IP. Run line players take note: 54/72 Atlanta wins including 31/40 on this field have come by 2 or more runs while 13/17 recent Philly losses have come by 2 or more runs. Consider part of your wager on the run line.


San Diego (Volquez) at Colorado (Chacin) (-160)

4% Colorado (Chacin) (-160)

As expected, without 2 big bats, Cabrera and Quentin, the Padres have gone 1-4 with a .197 BA failing to score more than 3 runs in any of those games. At the same time, Colorado returned home (recently 7-22 away) for a 3 game sweep of the Pirates in which they battered the Bucs MLB best rotation for 19 runs hitting .311. Look for that to continue in this series at this site, where Colorado has recently gone 7-2 averaging 7.2 RPG with a .321 BA. Volquez does not figure to do much about that. For the season, Volquez has a 5.44 ERA, 5.63 away. In his most recent outing from this mound, Volquez allowed 9 runs on 11 hits in 2 1/3 IP. Far prefer Chacin who has pitched well from this mound of late going 4-1 with a 2.83 ERA in his previous 6 starts. Chacin is in good current form allowing just 3 runs in 15 IP in his last 2 starts and in 7 starts vs. San Diego, Chacin has a 2.57 ERA. Colorado on the money line only!


Detroit (Fister) (-115) at Chicago White Sox (Sale) 8:10 ET

4% Detroit (Fister) (-115)

CWS entered last week on a 16-45 slide. Thanks to sweeping the Yankees on this field, CWS had a 4-3 week. Conversely, Detroit went 1-2 in the Bronx this past weekend but still enters tonight’s play on runs of 25-9, 17-3 and 13-2. That means they have a 25 game lead on CWS. Look no further than the batting dichotomy between these two. And there is no greater example than Sale, tonight’s CWS starter. Despite a 2.77 ERA, Sale is 7-11 for the year because of an MLB worst 2.5 runs/game of support. Far prefer Detroit who has won 7/10 vs. CWS and Fister who has been a major part of the Detroit hot streak. Detroit has won the last 5 starts by Fister over which time Fister has a 1.59 ERA and 26/6 KBB. We actually have the hotter pitcher and the far betting hitting at a value price.


Baltimore (Feldman) at Arizona (Miley) (-115) 9:40 ET

3% Arizona (Miley) (-115)

Each of these teams is the “Hunter” in their division race. And Baltimore has proven to be one of the most resilient teams in MLB with a record of 36-16/loss. But this means that the Birds are just 29-36/win. They acquired Feldman with the hopes of adding a veteran starter for the Playoff run. He has been a huge disappointment. In his last 2 starts, Feldman is 0-2 allowing 9 runs on 13 hits in 9 2/3 IP. In a pair of outings against Arizona, Feldman has a 5.73 ERA. At the other end of the spectrum is Miley who has been reborn after he chose to simplify his delivery. In his most recent 7 starts, Miley is 5-1 with a 1.54 ERA and .210 OBA. That includes 3-0 with an 0.86 ERA in 3 recent starts. Arizona has won 7/9 Miley home starts while, in interleague action, Miley is 4-1 with a 1.30 ERA in 6 recent starts. Make this your Hot Pitcher Play of the Day.

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Betting Line Moves

Phily +150 FH

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Bryan Leonard

MLB Total Domination Game of the Year!

UNDER - Cleveland/Minnesota

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BOB BALFE

MLB
MINNESOTA TWINS +110
(Albers/Salazar)

This Indians team is in a massive slump and just are not fresh at all right now. On the other hand Minnesota is not playing half bad and their pitcher Andrew Albers is very fresh only pitching in 8 innings this year in which he has not allowed a run. Cleveland is flat while the Twins are peaking the best they can for being a bad baseball team. Take Minnesota.

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JASON SHARPE

8 UNIT AMERICAN LEAGUE GAME OF YEAR MONDAY!
(9-2 lifetime in MLB Game of Year plays!!!)

Cleveland Indians