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Jr O'Donnell
3* Seattle -3.5
3* Seattle -3.5
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sports handicapper king aug 18
MLB
Boston Red Sox
CFL
Hamilton Tigercats +3.5
Freeloader
British Columbia +4.5Comment
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H&H Sports (MLB)
Triple Dime Miami Marlins -104Comment
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MLB Daily Line Drive: Friday's picks, betting odds and analysis
Double-Play Picks
New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox (-125, 9)
One of the biggest rivalries in sport is renewed Friday night at Fenway Park as the Red Sox host the Yankees for a three-game set and this time around there is plenty on the line.
The Yankees will look to make up some ground against their hated rivals this weekend, as they trail the Red Sox by four games in the American League East with Game 1 featuring a matchup of south paws as Jordan Montgomery gets the call for the Yanks, while Drew Pomeranz gets the nod for the BoSox.
The Red Sox enter this big series as one of the hotter teams in baseball, winners of 13 of their last 16 and are 8-1 in their last nine games at home.
Meanwhile, New York bounced back after not winning a series since late July, by sweeping a four-game home-and-home set against the cross-town rival Mets, but they’ll have their hands full with Pomeranz.
The lefty has been a welcome surprise in a Red Sox rotation that hasn’t gotten what they had hoped out of the likes of David Price and Rick Porcello. Pomeranz is 12-4 this season with a 3.39 ERA and a 1.343 WHIP. The Red Sox are 7-2 in his last nine starts, where he has pitched to a 2.48 ERA and a 1.307 WHIP.
The bigger problem for the Yanks is that they have struggled against lefties this season. New York ranks 28th in batting average, 23rd in OPS and 22nd in runs scored of lefties this season.
Plus, the Red Sox are 4-0 in Pomeranz’s last four starts versus the Yankees and personally he is 3-1 with 3.16 ERA and a 1.242 WHIP in seven career starts against New York.
The Yankees meanwhile, are 2-6 in Montgomery’s last eight starts, where he has a 4.81 ERA and a 1.246 WHIP.
Look for the Sox to strike first in the latest chapter of this storied rivalry.
Pick: Red Sox -125
Chicago White Sox at Texas Rangers (-200, 11.5)
The Rangers have scrapped and clawed their way back into the American League Wild Card race as they continue their four-game home set against the AL basement dwelling White Sox Friday night.
Texas has won four straight ball games and seven of its last eight, including Thursday night’s 9-8 victory in the opener to reach the .500 mark at 60-60.
Texas sends right-hander Andrew Cashner to toe the rubber in Game 2 and he will take on Chicago’s James Shields.
Cashner has been solid for the Rangers in 2017, posting a 7-9 record with a 3.32 ERA and a 1.325 WHIP, but his numbers at home have been outstanding. He is 4-3 in Arlington with a 2.25 ERA and a 1.268 WHIP.
Despite two quality starts in a row, “Big Game” James has been far from that this season. Shields is 2-4 with a 5.90 ERA and a 1.573 WHIP in 13 starts this season. What needs to be noted with Shields starting is his proclivity for giving up the long ball this season.
Shields has allowed a whopping 18 dingers in just 13 starts this season, including six in his last three starts and that must have the Rangers licking their chops. Texas scores most their runs via the long ball, ranking second in the Big Leagues in home runs.
But for the second time this week, -200 is too much juice.
Despite the one-run win in Game 1, the Rangers average margin of victory in their last 12 wins has been 4.2 runs per game. Additionally, prior to yesterday’s 9-8 win the Rangers have covered 1.5 runs in 11 straight wins and are 35-26 against the runline at home this season.
Expect the Rangers to win big over “Big Game” James, courtesy the long ball.
Pick: Rangers -1.5 (-113)
Yesterday's Picks: 1-1
Season To Date: 116-108-13
Streaking and Slumping Staring Pitchers
Streaking: Corey Kluber, Cleveland Indians
The race for the American League CY Young is Chris Sale, Corey Kluber and everyone else. The later takes the hill tonight in Kansas City and if recent results are any indication this is terrible news for Royals fans.
Over his last three starts, the Indians ace is 3-0 with an ERA of 1.80, a WHIP of .52, and an opponent’s on base percentage of only .163. Not only is Kluber dominating but he’s eating up innings throwing two complete games in that stretch, striking out 31 and only walking 3.
If there’s a red flag in Kluber it’s the long ball. In his last six starts he has given up at least one home run. Kluber and the Indians are a chalky -200 tonight in Kansas City.
Slumping: Sean Manaea, Oakland A's
The last seven times Sean Manaea has went to the mound the over has cashed. Not a good sign for a starting pitcher and that only scratches the surface of how terrible the Athletics starter has been.
In his last three starts he’s thrown a total of 6.2 innings and allowed 18 runs, 13 earned (17.55 ERA), and has an opponent’s on base percentage of .556. The craziest stat, he’s given up three dingers in this stretch and only struck out two batters.
Things don’t get any easier today when Manaea and the A’s travel to Houston to take on the best offence in the majors. If your think Manaea can break out of his slump the A’s are available at +189.
Friday's Top Trends
* Over is 9-0 in Cardinals last nine games vs. a right-handed starter. O/U 8.5 @ Pirates righty Trevor Williams.
* Over is 11-1 in Reds last 12 overall. O/U 9.5 @ Braves.
* Astros are 6-0 in Dallas Keuchel's last six home starts vs. Athletics. Astros -220.
* Rockies are 7-0 in German Marquez's last seven home starts. Rockies -164.
Weather To Keep An Eye On
There is lots of rain and potential thunderstorms across the majors today and will likely effect first pitch times.
Starting in Baltimore where the Angels are in town to play the Orioles. Thunderstorms are forecasted all afternoon into the evening, things clear up later in the night so they should be able to get the game in, but look for a delay to first pitch.
In Queens, thunderstorms and winds of 13-15 miles per hour are in the forecast all day and night, The Mets are scheduled to host the Marlins, but the weather might prevent that. Same thing at Fenway where the Yankees are in town for the weekend, the forecast is calling for nothing but thunderstorms, 12-15 mile per hour wind and rain all day and night in Boston.
In the mid-west, the Indians are in Kansas City to visit the Royals and there is a 40-50 percent chance of thunderstorms throughout the evening, things are expected to clear up later in the evening.
The most notable winds are in your standard spots. At Wrigley, there will be a 10-12 mile per hour hitters wind blowing out to right field. The Cubs are hosting the Blue Jays for the weekend and the total for today’s game is at 9. In San Francisco, the Giants host the Phillies and will be greeted with a 10-14 mile per hour wind blowing out to left field.
Ump Of The Day
Gary Cederstrom: Gary Cederstrom will be calling balls and strikes tonight in San Francisco where the Phillies will be in town to take on the Giants. The total for tonight’s game is set at 8 and the Under has cashed in seven of Cederstrom’s last eight games behind the plate.
Also, worth noting that the home team is 5-0 in his last five games behind home involving the Phillies. On the season home teams are 16-7 (69.6 percent) and a blind wager on the home team when Cederstrom has the gear on would have profited $817. The Giants are -155 home chalk for tonight’s game.Comment
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maximospicks
Top Play
Pittsburg +110
Best Bet
Atlanta -120
Tampa Bay over 9Comment
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11th: MLB O/Us 8u: 901 STL O 8.5. 927 LAD O 5 1st 5. LAD O 10gm. 909 WAS O 3.5 1st 5. WAS O 7gm.
11th: MLB 8u: 902 PIT+109 1st 5. PIT+114gm. 903 MIA+100 1st 5. MIA+105gm. 917 NYY+105 1st 5. NYY+110gm. 928 DET+177 1st 5. DET+182gm.
11th: 8u: 905 CIN+105 1st 5. CIN+110gm. 919 CHW+191 1st 5. CHW+196gm. 921 OAK+195. 930 MIN+105 1st 5. MIN+110gm. 910 SD+175 1st 5. SD+180gm.
11th: MLB 8u: 912 SF-.5 1st 5+100. SF-1.5gm+140. NFL 5u: 408 SEA-3.5. Good Luck - Last Release, unless there's a Late Alert Release.Comment
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Executive NFLX
PassComment
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Indian Cowboy
**8-UNIT CFL FRIDAY 10:30PM
Under Calgary-BC game.Comment
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Alan Harris
**8U CFL GOY FRI 10:30 PM**
Over in the Calgary-BC game.Comment
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11th: NOTE: MIA has just become a Favorite in MLB. Add 8u MLB: 903 MIA-.5 1st 5+145. MIA-1.5gm+185.Comment
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MVP LOCK CLUB
MLB: Colorado Rockies -165Comment
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Allen Eastman
**7-U MLB PLAY FRIDAY!**
Rangers -1.5Comment
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Indian cowboy
WNBA
5* San Antonio +9.5Comment
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Strike Point Sports
**7-U WNBA PLAY FRIDAY!**
Connecticut WNBA -6Comment
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SCOTT SPREITZER
MLB FRIDAY BEATDOWN!
Tampa Bay RaysComment
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