Post by thaikarate on Sept 20, 2006 20:20:22 GMT -5
baseball
Selected series featuring one or more contending teams.
BEGINNING FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 22
Florida at Philadelphia (3) 22nd, 23rd, 24th
The Phillies have gotten hot at just the right time, moving three full
games ahead of Florida and within one game of the NL Wildcard.
They’ve had success against the Marlins (8-5, +$145) but it’s hard to
go against the feisty visitor at this time. Florida has turned a profit in
their road games (+$395) while the Phillies have been a disaster for
their backers are at Citizens Bank Ballpark (-$1315). Josh Johnson
(+$385, 3.04 ERA and Scott Olsen (+$580, 3.98) are both likely to see
action, and will no doubt be posted as underdogs. Excellent value on
the visitor when they go. BEST BET: Jo. Johnson/Olsen.
Pittsburgh at San Diego (3) 22nd, 23rd, 24th
The Padres have been brutal here at Petco Park (-$895) and they’ll be
laying some heavy prices this weekend. But the Pirates are the worst
road team in the majors (22-53, -$2135) so there’s no way we can
back the underdog. Chris Young has been outstanding for San Diego
in 2006 (+$255,3.77) and he’s slated to make his next start this weekend.
We’ll look for him to throttle the anemic Bucs and keep the
Padres in line for another playoff berth. BEST BET: C.Young.
Arizona at L.A. Dodgers (3) 22nd, 23rd, 24th
The Diamondbacks faded from playoff contention some time ago,but
they are playing well as the season draws to a close (6-4, +$130 last
10 days with 5.3 runs per game) and they’ve been competitive with
the Dodgers all year.They’ve turned a modest profit on the road and
we like their chances as fat underdogs here, with their top moneymaker
Miguel Batista (+$880) on the mound. Grab him if the price is
right. BEST BET: Batista at +150 or better.
Seattle at Chicago W. Sox (3) 22nd, 23rd, 24th
The World Champion White Sox find themselves four games back in
the wildcard race, and five back in the AL Central, so they’ll need a
huge weekend against the Mariners to avoid missing the playoffs. But
they’ve been unsuccessful against lefthanders this year (-$835) and in
all likelihood they’ll be facing at least one of them this weekend.
BEST BET: Lefthanders vs. the White Sox.
BEGINNING MONDAY SEPTEMBER 25
San Diego at St. Louis (3) 25th, 26th, 27th
The Padres’ best hope to make the playoffs may be by playing on the
road, where they’ve been astonishingly profitable in 2006, particularly
against righthanders (+$1455). The Cardinals are tough in Busch
Stadium, but not when squaring off against southpaws (-$1165 in that
situation) and they’ll be taking on veteran David Wells, who is always
at his best in high pressure situations, and who checks in with a 3.98
ERA in three starts with San Diego. PREFERRED: D.Wells.
Chicago W. Sox at Cleveland (3) 25th, 26th, 27th
If the Sox are still alive when this series gets underway, it could prove
to be the site of their ultimate demise. The Indians have gotten the
best of Chicago in head to head play (9-7, +$310) and they’ve got
plenty of lefties in their rotation,bad news for the White Sox as we’ve
noted already (Chicago -$835 vs. southpaws). Look for the Tribe to
play the spoilers vs. the team that bounced them from the playoffs at
the end of last year. PREFERRED: Lefthanders vs. the White Sox.
BEGINNING FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 29
Philadelphia at Florida (3) 29th, 30th, 1st
This series may still have playoffs implications when it gets underway,
but we like the Marlins against righthanders in any event.
They’ve excelled in that situation in all settings (+$1285) and they’ll
have incentive just to finish above .500 even if the playoffs are no
longer within reach. PREFERRED: Marlins in all games.
L.A. Dodgers at San Francisco (3) 29th, 30th, 1st
The Dodgers have managed to dispatch their longtime rival without
much difficulty this year (10-6, +$320) and they’ve posted a healthy
5.3 runs against lefties. None of the southpaws in the Giants’ rotation
give us cause for concern. PREFERRED: Dodgers vs. lefthanders.
Chicago W. Sox at Minnesota (3) 29th, 30th, 1st
The Twins have come to far in 2006 to fail at the last minute here in
the Metrodome, where they have been utterly dominant (50-24,
+$2075). Look for them to build on their 9-7 (+$305) record vs. their
division rival. PREFERRED:White Sox in all games.
Selected series featuring one or more contending teams.
BEGINNING FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 22
Florida at Philadelphia (3) 22nd, 23rd, 24th
The Phillies have gotten hot at just the right time, moving three full
games ahead of Florida and within one game of the NL Wildcard.
They’ve had success against the Marlins (8-5, +$145) but it’s hard to
go against the feisty visitor at this time. Florida has turned a profit in
their road games (+$395) while the Phillies have been a disaster for
their backers are at Citizens Bank Ballpark (-$1315). Josh Johnson
(+$385, 3.04 ERA and Scott Olsen (+$580, 3.98) are both likely to see
action, and will no doubt be posted as underdogs. Excellent value on
the visitor when they go. BEST BET: Jo. Johnson/Olsen.
Pittsburgh at San Diego (3) 22nd, 23rd, 24th
The Padres have been brutal here at Petco Park (-$895) and they’ll be
laying some heavy prices this weekend. But the Pirates are the worst
road team in the majors (22-53, -$2135) so there’s no way we can
back the underdog. Chris Young has been outstanding for San Diego
in 2006 (+$255,3.77) and he’s slated to make his next start this weekend.
We’ll look for him to throttle the anemic Bucs and keep the
Padres in line for another playoff berth. BEST BET: C.Young.
Arizona at L.A. Dodgers (3) 22nd, 23rd, 24th
The Diamondbacks faded from playoff contention some time ago,but
they are playing well as the season draws to a close (6-4, +$130 last
10 days with 5.3 runs per game) and they’ve been competitive with
the Dodgers all year.They’ve turned a modest profit on the road and
we like their chances as fat underdogs here, with their top moneymaker
Miguel Batista (+$880) on the mound. Grab him if the price is
right. BEST BET: Batista at +150 or better.
Seattle at Chicago W. Sox (3) 22nd, 23rd, 24th
The World Champion White Sox find themselves four games back in
the wildcard race, and five back in the AL Central, so they’ll need a
huge weekend against the Mariners to avoid missing the playoffs. But
they’ve been unsuccessful against lefthanders this year (-$835) and in
all likelihood they’ll be facing at least one of them this weekend.
BEST BET: Lefthanders vs. the White Sox.
BEGINNING MONDAY SEPTEMBER 25
San Diego at St. Louis (3) 25th, 26th, 27th
The Padres’ best hope to make the playoffs may be by playing on the
road, where they’ve been astonishingly profitable in 2006, particularly
against righthanders (+$1455). The Cardinals are tough in Busch
Stadium, but not when squaring off against southpaws (-$1165 in that
situation) and they’ll be taking on veteran David Wells, who is always
at his best in high pressure situations, and who checks in with a 3.98
ERA in three starts with San Diego. PREFERRED: D.Wells.
Chicago W. Sox at Cleveland (3) 25th, 26th, 27th
If the Sox are still alive when this series gets underway, it could prove
to be the site of their ultimate demise. The Indians have gotten the
best of Chicago in head to head play (9-7, +$310) and they’ve got
plenty of lefties in their rotation,bad news for the White Sox as we’ve
noted already (Chicago -$835 vs. southpaws). Look for the Tribe to
play the spoilers vs. the team that bounced them from the playoffs at
the end of last year. PREFERRED: Lefthanders vs. the White Sox.
BEGINNING FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 29
Philadelphia at Florida (3) 29th, 30th, 1st
This series may still have playoffs implications when it gets underway,
but we like the Marlins against righthanders in any event.
They’ve excelled in that situation in all settings (+$1285) and they’ll
have incentive just to finish above .500 even if the playoffs are no
longer within reach. PREFERRED: Marlins in all games.
L.A. Dodgers at San Francisco (3) 29th, 30th, 1st
The Dodgers have managed to dispatch their longtime rival without
much difficulty this year (10-6, +$320) and they’ve posted a healthy
5.3 runs against lefties. None of the southpaws in the Giants’ rotation
give us cause for concern. PREFERRED: Dodgers vs. lefthanders.
Chicago W. Sox at Minnesota (3) 29th, 30th, 1st
The Twins have come to far in 2006 to fail at the last minute here in
the Metrodome, where they have been utterly dominant (50-24,
+$2075). Look for them to build on their 9-7 (+$305) record vs. their
division rival. PREFERRED:White Sox in all games.