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Game: Tampa Bay at Oakland (10:05 PM Eastern)
Pick: Oakland +120 (moneyline)
The Rays are really struggling right now and have dropped seven of their last nine, and look nothing like the team that shocked the baseball world by making it all the way to the World Series last year. Scott Kazmir continues to have location problems which have led him to a 5.40 ERA after three starts, walking six in his last outing. The A's are a team built around on-base percentage. They will patiently wait him out, extending pitch counts for favorable hitting situations. The Rays have managed three runs or less in more than half their games already and have not gotten on track offensively yet. Trevor Cahill hasn't made a name for himself yet, but the top prospect has gotten off to an admirable start with a 2.60 ERA through three appearances. The A's are catching Kazmir and the Rays at the right time with a plus stuff pitcher on the hill. I will go with the A's here.
When the Marlins return home to host the defending World Champion Phillies at Dolphin Stadium tonight they will send Josh Johnson to the hill against Brett Myers. That in itself is a major edge for Florida considering Johnson's 4-1 career team start mark with a 3.94 ERA against Philadelphia and Myers' 1-10 career team start mark in this park with a 6.04 ERA. With Johnson in terrific KW form with 3 walks and 21 strikeouts in his last threes starts, look for Florida to improve on its 6-0 mark on Fridays here tonight.
1000 Units - Top Play - NBA Playoff Lock of the Day - Orlando minus the points over Philly
1000 Units Top Play Cleveland/Detroit OVER the total
1000 Units Top Play Dodgers/Rockies OVER the total
50 Units Yankees/Boston OVER the total
50 Units Nationals/Mets UNDER the total
50 Units Tampa Bay/Oakland UNDER the total
TRACE ADAMS.......................PAY-AFTER-YOU-WIN - 500* - Philadelphia 76ers
No doubt the Magic are the better team, but strange things happen when you are supposed to win, and have to get that win on the road - especially in that first road game of a series.
Philly now holds the home-court edge after stealing Game 1, and while they were unable to nab a second game on Orlando's floor, the Sixers did hang around long enough to get the underdog cover.
Look for the home crowd to give the 76ers some energy, and the longer they hang around in this game the stronger the chance for an outright upset.
The underdog in the series is on a 25-11 spread run the last 36 meetings, and that inlcudes the first 2 games played in Orlando.
Philly is a dangerous dog in this spot, and I like them plus the points to give the Magic a scare. Possible outright upset alert is in effect here!
Play Florida with Josh Johnson on the mound for the Marlins. Florida is off a 3 game losing streak at Pittsburgh and now gets to play at home. Johnson has pitched well at home as he has given up 0 and 1 earned runs in his two home starts. The team is 3-0 in his starts with an ERA of 2.91.
Brett Myers hurls for the Phillies and he has an ERA of 5 this year and lost last year's start at Florida by 14-8. He pitched 4 innings and allowed 10 runs. In his last five starts he has allowed 3,4,4,3 and 5 runs.
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