7-4-10

[spook]

Re: 7-4-10

TOM FREESE
Free play

Cleveland starter Fausto Carmona has won 3 of his last 4 starts. The Indians are 17-5 with Carmona in his last 22 home starts vs. a team with a losing record. The Indians are 6-1 their last 7 games overall. Cleveland is 5-0 their last 5 games vs. righty starters. Oakland starter Vin Mazzaro has pitched into the seventh inning just once this year. The Athletics are 10-23 their last 33 road games vs. righty starters and they are 3-9 their last 12 games as underdogs. Oakland is 6-13 with Mazzaro in his last 19 starts as an underdog. PLAY ON CLEVELAND -(Carmona vs. Mazzaro)

[spook]

Re: 7-4-10

GEORGE CASTILLO
Free play

Wade LeBlanc is one of those hard luck pitchers that pitches shutout baseball most of the time while still finding himself on the losing side of it all, at home he has accumulated a 2-4 record which is a real shame seeing as how he only allowed an avg. of 2 runs in each of each of his last 9 at home.

The Padres have not been able to offer their pitcher anything more than 3 runs of support in each his last 3 outings. Nothing particularly new, they happen to rank in the bottom 10 for runs scored this season.

Given LeBlanc’s terrible luck at home, I just cannot lay the type of juice that vegas has put on them. The opposite number on Houston is a little too good to ignore as well.

[spook]

Re: 7-4-10

Chuck O'Brien Comp

Sunday’s complimentary selection comes from Busch Stadium in St. Louis, as I’ll play the Brewers-Cardinals contest UNDER the total.

The starting pitching matchup here says it all: Milwaukee ace Yovani Gallardo (8-3, 2.56 ERA) is squaring off against St. Louis co-ace Adam Wainwright (11-5, 2.34 ERA). Gallardo has given up one or zero runs in six of his last nine starts, and he’s held 12 of his last 15 opponents to two runs or fewer.

Wainwright is coming off an 8-0 win over the DBacks (6 1/3 scoreless innings), which was his 14th quality start in 17 trips to the mound this season, giving up two earned runs or less in 12 of those games. Wainwright has been perfect at home this season (8-0, 1.49 ERA in 8 starts), and Gallardo has been nearly as good on the road (4-0, 2.25 ERA in 8 starts).

Gallardo has had some issues with St. Louis in his career – in fact, he’s allowed 10 runs in 10 innings in his last two starts against the Redbirds. However, the under has cashed in Gallardo’s last three contests versus St. Louis. Meanwhile, Wainwright has been brilliant in his career against the Brewers, going 6-3 with a 2.03 ERA in 19 games (12 starts). The last seven times the big right-hander faced Milwaukee, he surrendered a total of seven earned runs in 51 1/3 innings (1.23 ERA).

Even though these teams played a slugfest last night, the under is still 6-2-1 in nine head-to-head meetings this season, with the four of the last five staying low (all in St. Louis). Milwaukee is also on “under” runs of 6-2 on the road, 7-1-1 against right-handed starters, 10-5-1 in N.L. Central contests, 6-2 on getaway Sunday and 5-2-1 when Gallardo starts on Sunday, while the Cardinals carry “under” trends of 4-1 overall (all at home), 5-1-1 in divisional games, 6-1 against right-handed starters and 3-1-1 when Wainwright starts at home.
4? UNDER THE TOTAL

[spook]

Re: 7-4-10

Stephen Nover
Free play

I am on a 36-18-1 run with my free selections.

On the Sunday card, I'm going to back the Oakland Athletics against the Cleveland Indians.

The pitching matchups is right-hander Vin Mazzaro versus righty Fausto Carmona. Mazzaro has been respectable filling in for injured Brett Anderson, compiling a 2-2 mark and 3.41 ERA. The A's have been playing good ball, too. They've also owned the Indians knocking them off eight of the past nine times going into the weekend.

But this play is more a fade on Carmona and the Indians, with the second-worst record in the American League, being a favorite.

Carmona is 3-5 in his last eight starts, with two of those victories coming against the lowly Pirates and Nationals. Carmona has a 5.87 lifetime ERA against Oakland. The Indians have lost 11 times in their last 14 meetings against AL West foes when Carmona has been on the mound.

The Indians entered the weekend just 20-33 (37 percent) versus right-handed starters.
2? ATHLETICS (LISTED PITCHERS

[spook]

Re: 7-4-10

Bobby Maxwell
Free play

Tonight I have a FREE winner for you on the Rays as they are in Minnesota wrapping up a series against the Twins.

These teams finish off their four-game set in Minnesota today with the Rays sending James Shields (6-8, 4.76 ERA) to the hill opposite the Twins’ Nick Blackburn (7-5, 6.02). I’ll go with Shields in this one as Blackburn has been battered in his last few outings.

Shields hasn’t pitched great lately, but he has been solid on the road this season at 5-4 with a 4.00 ERA. Against the Twins, Shields was very good last season, including a May start when he held them to two runs in seven innings of a 5-3 victory. Last time he was in Minnesota, he allowed three runs in 6.2 innings but his team fell 4-3.

Blackburn has been just awful in his last six outings and the Twins are 1-5 to show for it. On Tuesday, he gave up four runs in seven innings but it was really his offense that did the work in the 11-4 win over the Tigers. Prior to that, he’d allowed 25 runs in his last 18.2 innings of work and failed to get through the fourth inning in four of the previous five starts.

Minnesota is on slides of 1-5 in Blackburn’s last six starts and 1-4 when they face a right-handed starter.

Look for the Rays to put up a lot of runs in this one and take care of business, getting Shields enough support to get the win. Play the Rays today.
4? TAMPA BAY

[spook]

Re: 7-4-10

Karl Garrett
Free play

Tampa held on for the wild 8-6 win last night to make it 2 of 3 at Target Field this holiday weekend, but the fireworks today will belong to the home team.

G-Man riding Minnesota and Nick Blackburn to take care of business against Tampa and James Shields.

Shields continues to struggle, as he has now lost his last 7 starts, and he has allowed an alarming 22 runs over his last 21-plus innings of work.

Nick Blackburn is coming off a 7 inning, 4 run home win over Detroit to make it a perfect 5-0 at home this year, and 7-5 now for the campaign.

Blackburn has also defeated the Rays the last 2 times he has faced them, working 13 innings of 4 run ball along the way.

The Rays appear to have straightened things out just a bit, but with the Twins still a very positive 26-16 at home this season, I will side with Minny to garner the split in this 4-game series.
3? MINNESOTA

[spook]

Re: 7-4-10

BRETT ATKINS
Free play

I'm in the National League West today for a free winner as I am backing the Dodgers on the road in Phoenix, taking on the D'Backs.

Chad Billingsley is on the hill for the Dodgers in this one and he’s been a stud on the road for them this season, going 4-1 with a 2.82 ERA. He held the Giants to two runs in six innings on Monday in San Francisco and he faced these D’Backs in Arizona on May 10 and gave up two runs in 5.1 innings of a 7-3 win.

The Dodgers are 7-2 in Billingsley's last nine starts in Phoenix and they are 24-9 in the last 33 meetings with the D’Backs.

Dan Haren goes for Arizona and he’s 0-2 in his last three starts with a 4.35 ERA and he’s allowed 14 runs in his last 20.2 innings. Arizona has lost seven of nine times Haren has faced the Dodgers, including May 11 when he gave up four runs on 10 hits in 6.1 innings of a 13-3 loss.

I’ll side with Billingsley and the Dodgers to get the win today in Arizona.

3? L.A. DODGERS (on a 1? to 5?)

[spook]

Re: 7-4-10

TRACE ADAMS

SUNDAY'S FREE PLAY - Cincinnati Reds

[spook]

Re: 7-4-10

JOEL TYSON COMP

For Sunday, why don't we play another over in the Mets-Nats contest.

Saturday looked like a sure-fire under, but the bullpens both coughed up some serious runs, and a 2-0 Mets lead late turned into a 6-5 Nats win, and a very easy over come the last out.

The recent trends point towards an under here, but with Takahashi all of the sudden losing his way - allowing 12 runs his last 10 innings pitched - I don't expect it to be long before there is a big inning up on that scoreboard, and an over to follow yesterday's over.

Stammen's track record against the Mets suggests a big inning or two for New York, as he has allowed 13 runs against New York in his last 22 innings of work against them.

I say the fireworks start before night fall in the nation's capital.

Go over in the Mets-Nats 4th of July battle.

4? OVER
(on a 1? to 5? basis)

[spook]

Re: 7-4-10

POINTSPREAD LIGHTNING

Sundays free play is the Orioles-RedSox over the total of 9.5.

[spook]

Re: 7-4-10

Consensus america

sundays free play is the tb-min game over the 9.5

[spook]

Re: 7-4-10

Hentai Sports

Game : Los Angeles Dodgers at Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB) 04:10pm EST

Prediction : Los Angeles Dodgers ML / Chad Billingsley must start.

Analysis : Haren goes for Diamondbacks but if you have not caught him this year he is nowhere near as good as last year. He has been doing the same thing all year 3-4 runs over 7 innings. On the other hand the Dodgers go to Billinglsy who is coming off his first start off the DL. He was a little rusty first time back but expect him to be much better today. Don’t be surprised if he goes 7 innings of 1 run baseball as his hamstring is back to normal.

[spook]

Re: 7-4-10

Sam Rothstein Sports Picks

Today's Free Pick

CANADIAN FOOTBALL
Sunday, July 4, 2010

BC Lions at Edmonton Eskimos
Our Pick : BC Lions +4

[spook]

Re: 7-4-10

Wunderdog Free Horse


BELMONT PARK Race #3 at 2:00 PM Eastern


Top pick: #2 (COMMON CURRENCY) - Colt is workng nicely for his first start since he debuted at Saratoga last August. Well-bet that day he was involved in a spirited pace-duel before tiring during the stretch run. Has a new trainer (Mike Hushion 29% with new arrivals) and his main rider Ramon Domingues is aloft. Trainer/jockey team is one of the tops in the business, clicking on 26 of 49 over the past 18 months. The top selection.

2nd pick: #5 (Rush to Riches) - Gelding had a poor break in his debut and after rushing-up into the pace, he predictably tired from his efforts. His trainer (Bruce Levine) is excellent second time out (31%) and lasix is added today (a 22% winning move). Look for an improved run this afternoon.

3rd pick: #3 (Zone Breaker) - Debuting son of "Value Plus" has some fine drills showing, but runs for a bran (Bruce Brown) that's 0-for its last 40 with first-time starters. May run a competitive race.

4th pick: #1 (Gold Ghost) - Finger Lakes shipper just missed when debuting June 21 and is brought back on 12 days rest for this attempt. Fine "Lakes" trainer (Mike Ferraro) adds lasix and John Velazquez is signed-on. Exotics factor.

[spook]

Re: 7-4-10

Battagliaspicks - FREE ACTION


BELMONT
8th (4:44)

Brian's Pick's 4-2-7

Song for Pupcake has a solid closing kick and there should be speed to run at in this seven furlong turf event. Maragh has been riding well.




Churchill
10th (5:26)
Firecracker H. (G2)



Battagliaspicks 4-9-2

#4 Tizdejavu- loves this course winning 4 of 5 here and is the speed of the speed today. He is the best bet of the day.

#2 Mine that Bird- has zero grass breeding and it appears Lukas has forgotten how to train a horse winning only 3 races from 55 starters.





Monmouth
7th (3:50)

Battagliaspicks 2-7-12

#2 Sky Pie- comes off a maiden win then 3 straight good runs against open company. She finds an easier spot today and will be tough at a decent price.