Sports Picks & Predictions

7* Interleague Game of the Month on Rangers -121
The Key: Texas is showing good value at this price for a number of reasons. First off, I expect the Cubs to struggle against southpaw Derek Holland. They are 0-5 in their last 5 games versus a left-handed starter and 0-4 in their last 4 interleague home games versus a left-handed starter. The Rangers are 8-2 in Holland's last 10 starts as a road favorite. They are 13-3 in their last 16 interleague games and 4-0 in their last 4 interleague road games. The Rangers figure to handle Chicago lefty Travis Wood better as they are 5-1 in their last 6 interleague games versus a left-handed starter. The Cubs are 0-7 in Wood's last 7 starts as a home underdog and 0-6 in his last 6 home starts versus a team with a winning record. All together, we have a 26-0 angle in our favor along with a couple other convincing trends. Take Texas.

6* Monday Night Baseball *CA$H COW* on Phillies -118
The Key: The Reds are 0-5 in their last 5 games and have to be shaking their heads over blowing a 5-0 lead to Pittsburgh yesterday. I expect their struggles to continue with Cliff Lee stepping to the mound for Philly. He's 2-0 with a 1.08 ERA to start the season. The Phillies are 7-3 in his last 10 starts and 14-5 in his last 19 starts as a favorite of -110 to -150. Lee has also pitched well against Cincinnati, going 3-0 (3-1 on the ML) with a 1.67 ERA over his last four starts. Arroyo has struggled out of the gate, as evidence by his 5.25 ERA, and he has long struggled against the Phillies. In fact, his teams are 1-7 in his last 8 starts against them, including 0-4 in the last 4 at home. The Phillies have won 6 of their last 7 in Cincinnati. With Cincy's current losing streak, Lee's hot start and Arroyo's winless streak at home in the series, we have an 11-0 angle in our favor along with several other trends. Take the Phillies.

6* MLB *Run Line Rout* on Reds -1.5 +115
The Key: The Reds have the advantage with Mat Latos on the hill. They are 4-0 in his last 4 road starts, winning these by an average of 4.0 runs. His teams are also 11-0 in his last 11 starts as a favorite of -150 or higher, winning these by an average of 2.5 runs. Latos is also 4-0 (6-0 on the money line) lifetime against the Pirates with an ERA of 2.11. These 6 wins have come by an average of 3.5 runs. Take the Reds on the run line.

6* MLB *Run Line Rout* on Nationals -1.5 +146
The Key: The Nats have the edge on the mound with Gio Gonzalez. They are 8-0 all-time with him on the bump in games when they are listed as a favorite of -150 or higher. They have won these games by an average of 3.6 runs. It is also worth noting that the Nationals are 6-0 in Gonzalez's last 6 home starts with the total set at 7.0-8.5. They've won these by an average of 5.2 runs. The Braves send Paul Maholm to the hill, and he has a poor track record against Washington. He is just 1-6 (2-8 on the money line) lifetime against the Nationals with an ERA of 5.52. 4 of the 5 losses his teams have suffered against Washington have come by at least 2 runs. Take Washington on the run line.

6* AL *CA$H COW* on Royals -130
The Key: The Blue Jays have dropped each of R.A. Dickey's first two starts as he's struggled his way to an 8.43 ERA. Plus, he's just 1-3 lifetime with an ERA of 6.14 in 4 starts versus the Royals. James Shields has a respectable 3.75 ERA through two starts, and he figures to improve on it here against a team he's owned. Shields is 11-5 (15-6 on the ML) lifetime versus Toronto with an ERA of 3.24. He's 7-0 on the ML in his last 7 starts against the Jays with these wins coming by an average of 4.4 runs. Take Kansas City.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on Reds -155
The Key: The Reds hold the advantage on the mound with Johnny Cueto, who has looked good early with a 2.77 ERA through two starts. It has made sense to ride the Reds with Cueto on the mound when he's going good. In fact, the Reds are 22-6 in his last 28 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance. The Reds are also 6-1 in their last 7 games as a road favorite of -151 to -200 and 13-3 in Cueto's last 16 starts as a favorite of -151 to -200. The Pirates have lost 9 of Jeff Locke's 11 career starts, and they are 0-5 in his last 5 starts versus division opponents. Cueto is 12-4 (13-6 on the ML) lifetime versus the Pirates with an ERA of 2.54. The Reds are 5-1 in his last 6 road starts versus Pittsburgh. Bet the Reds.

6* MLB *Run Line Rout* on Cardinals -1.5 +128
The Key: Yovani Gallardo is struggling, as evidenced by his 5.73 ERA and 2.000 WHIP through two starts. Adam Wainwright has been much better with an ERA of 3.46 and a 1.385 WHIP. Gallardo has never fared well against St. Louis. He's 1-10 (3-12 on the money line) lifetime against the Cards with an ERA of 6.75. These 12 losses have come by an average of 4.7 runs. Wainwright is 8-6 (10-7 on the ML) with an ERA of 2.15 in 17 career starts against Milwaukee. He has limited the Brewers to 3 earned runs or fewer in 12 consecutive starts against them. Take St. Louis on the run line.

6* MLB Bailout on Tigers -110
The Key: The Tigers get the call at a great price with Max Scherzer on the hill. Dating back to last season, they are 11-4 in his last 15 starts. They are also 10-3 in his last 13 starts as a favorite and 5-1 in his last 6 starts as a favorite of -110 to -150. Scherzer was also terrific in 3 starts versus Oakland last season, giving up 2 earned or less in each with the Tigers winning 2 of them. Bartolo Colon was torched in his only 2012 start against the reigning AL champs and is 3-8 on the money line in his last 11 starts against them. Take the Tigers.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on Mets -108
The Key: The Mets hold a sizable advantage on the mound with Jon Niese, who has brilliant in his first two starts of the season. The Mets are 5-0 in his last 5 starts overall and he hasn't given up more than 3 earned in any of those. The Mets are 6-0 in their last 6 interleague road games versus teams that have a losing record. They are also 4-0 in their last 4 interleague games as a favorite. It's also important to note that the Mets are 4-0 in Niese's last 4 starts series-opening starts. The Twins, meanwhile, are 0-4 in their last 4 series openers. Vance Worley is 0-3 on the money line in his last 3 home starts. Plus, he has struggled against the Mets throughout his career, as evidence by his 5.30 lifetime ERA against them. He is 0-3 on the money line in his last 3 versus the Mets and was touched for at least 4 earned in each. Bet the Mets.

6* AL Central *CA$H COW* on Indians -142
The Key: The Indians hold the edge on the hill with Justin Masterson, who has already outdueled R.A. Dickey and David Price. Going back to last season, the Indians are 4-0 in his last 4 starts. Jose Quintana really struggled in his first start, giving up 5 earned in 4 innings of an 8-7 loss to Seattle. Dating back to last season, the Sox are 0-3 in his last 3 starts. Masterson is 2-0 in his last 2 versus Chicago and has limited the Sox to 3 earned runs or less in 13 of his 15 starts against them. Take the Tribe.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on Angels -130
The Key: The A's have taken the first two games of this series but haven't pulled off a three-game sweep of the Angels since 2004. Also, Oakland has won its first 5 on the road but hasn't opened 6-0 on the highway since 1990. Jason Vargas was solid in his first start of the season and has a strong track record against the A's. He's given up 2 earned runs or fewer in six of his last seven starts against them. The Angels have been hitting the snot out of the ball, recording double-digit hits in each of their last 4 games. The problem has been driving in the base runners. History is on our side here though as the Halos are on a 41-23 run after 2 straight games of stranding 10 or more runners on base. The Angels are also on a 38-23 run after 2 straight losses of 4 runs or more, a 92-55 run in home games after allowing 8 runs or more last game and a 55-34 run when out for revenge for a home loss of 6 runs or more to an opponent. Take the Angels.

6* MLB *Run Line Rout* on Diamondbacks -1.5 +115
The Key: The D-backs will be very hungry this afternoon after blowing a 4-1 lead yesterday and dropping a second straight game to the Pirates. Pittsburgh has really struggled against left-handed starters this season, scoring just 1.3 runs in 3 games against them while hitting only .114. Expect those struggles to continue against Miley, who has a 1.64 ERA against them in 2 starts. Jonathan Sanchez has been a dead fade as his teams are 0-9 in his last 9 starts, losing these by an average of 4.4 runs. Each of these 9 losses came by at least 2 runs. Take Arizona on the run line.

6* MLB *Afternoon Annihilator* on Giants -132
The Key: The Giants are showing plenty of value at this price with Barry Zito on the bump. They are 15-0 in his last 15 starts, winning them by an average of 3.0 runs. They are also 3-0 in his last 3 starts versus Colorado, winning these by a minimum of 3 runs. The Rockies are 0-4 in Jeff Francis' last 4 starts versus San Francisco with these losses coming by a minimum of 3 runs. The Giants are 8-0 in their last 8 games versus the Rockies. They are also 8-0 in their last 8 home games in the series. Take San Francisco.

6* MLB Bailout on Angels -142
The Key: It's been a disappointing start for an Angels club with huge expectations, but keep in mind that it started the season on the road against a pair of 2012 playoff teams. At home for the first time this season, and having had a day to regroup, I expect the Halos to take care of business. The Angels are 4-0 in their last 4 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days. They are also 13-3 in their last 16 games following an off day. Additionally, the Angels are 4-0 in their last 4 home games versus a team with a road winning percentage of greater than .600.

Oakland started the season with Seattle and Houston so it's record isn't all that impressive considering the competition. The A's send Parker to the mound, but they lost 3 of his 4 starts against the Angels last season. C.J. Wilson's clubs have won 6 of his last 8 starts versus the A's. The Angels are 7-2 in Wilson's last 9 starts and 10-3 in his last 13 starts when getting the ball following a team loss.

Wilson's teams are 34-11 all-time with him on the mound if they're valued as a favorite of -125 to -175. Lastly, the Athletics are just 4-9 in their last 13 games as a road underdog. Take the Halos.

7* MLB *Run Line Rout* on Braves -1.5 +106
The Key: The 6-1 Braves are showing value on the run line against the 1-6 Marlins. 5 of Atlanta's wins have come by at least 2 runs while 5 of Miami's losses have come by 2 runs or more.

The Braves are 5-0 in their last 5 games versus Miami, winning these by an average of 2.6 runs. They are also in good hands with Medlen on the mound. Atlanta is 5-0 in his 5 career starts versus the Marlins, winning these by 3.2 runs on average.

The Braves are also 11-0 in Medlen's last 11 road starts, winning these by 3.5 runs on average. The Marlins, meanwhile, are 0-5 in LeBlanc's last 5 starts as an underdog, losing these by an average of 3.2 runs. Bet the Braves on the run line.

6* MLB Bailout on Giants -1.5 +136
The Key: The Giants have the edge on the mound with Bumgarner. They are 6-0 in his last 6 starts versus the Rockies, winning these by an average of 4.0 runs. He has held the Rockies to 1 earned run or none 8 of the last 9 times he's faced them. It is also worth noting that the Giants are 12-1 in Bumgarner's last 13 starts as a home favorite of -151 to -200. De La Rosa had some success early in his career against San Francisco but has lost 3 of his last 4 starts against the Giants, including each of his last 2. He's given up 9 runs in 9 2/3 innings in those 2. The Rockies are 1-5 in De La Rosa's last 6 road starts and 9-25 in their last 34 meetings in San Francisco. Take the Giants on the run line.

6* MLB *Afternoon Annihilator* on Cardinals -110
The Key: The Cardinals have the edge on the mound with Jaime Garcia. He's 8-2 lifetime against the Reds with an ERA of 3.06. Compare that to Mat Latos, who is 2-4 lifetime with a 9.00 ERA against St. Louis. Latos has really struggled at Busch, where he is 1-3 with a 13.50 ERA in four career starts. Garcia, on the other hand, is 6-0 with a 2.11 ERA in six career starts at home versus Cincinnati. These 6 wins have come by an average of 5.0 runs. Dating back to last season, the Cardinals are 5-0 in Garcia's last 5 starts overall and 4-0 in his last 4 home starts. Take the Cards.

7* Sunday Night Baseball *HEAVY HITTER* on Angels +127
The Key: It will be tough for Yu Darvish to bounce back mentally and physically following the best outing of his major league career. He threw 111 pitches in his near-perfect game but had thrown a high of only 78 pitches during spring training so I don't expect him to have his "A" stuff here. Jered Weaver is the far more proven starter. He's 4-0 in his last 4 starts against Texas. He's held the Rangers to 3 earned runs or fewer in each of these, and the Angels won these games by an average of 5.0 runs. The Angels are 10-2 in Weaver's last 12 road starts and 6-0 in his last 6 road starts versus a team with a winning record. I believe we're getting the better pitcher and the better team at a great price. Take the Halos.

6* MLB Afternoon Annihilator on Brewers -105
The Key: Even with some big bats out of the lineup, the Brewers are showing value at this price with ace Yovani Gallardo on the hill considering how dominant he's been against Arizona. He's 7-0 (9-0 on the money line) lifetime against the D-backs with an ERA of 1.09. These 9 victories have come by an average of 4.4 runs. The D-backs have lost 3 of Ian Kennedy's last 4 starts versus Milwaukee, and they are 0-3 lifetime when he is opposed by Gallardo. Bet the Brew Crew.

6* MLB *RUN LINE ROUT* on Dodgers -1.5 +110
The Key: With Friday's 3-0 win, the Dodgers are now 7-0 in their last 7 home games versus the Pirates. They have won these by an average of 4.6 runs. Dating back to last season, the Pirates are only 1-9 in A.J. Burnett's last 10 starts. They are 0-3 in his last 3, losing those by an average of 2.3 runs. The Dodgers are 4-0 in Clayton Kershaw's last 4 starts, winning those by an average of 4.5 runs. In addition, Burnett's clubs are 0-11 all-time with him on the mound in road games when the total is 7.0 or less. They have lost these contests by an average score of 6.3 to 2.2. In other words, Burnett has lost pitching duels on the road time and time again. Take the Dodgers on the run line.

6* MLB *MAJOR MISMATCH* on Brewers -127
The Key: The Brewers hold a sizable advantage on the mound with Kyle Lohse, who went 16-3 with a 2.86 ERA in 33 starts for St. Louis last season. He was sharp in his lone spring training outing, which tells me he was working hard despite dealing with contract negotiations that weren't resolved until last week. Lohse dominated the D-backs last season, going 1-0 with a 0.77 ERA in two starts. Wade Miley didn't have the same success against the Brew Crew. While he had a nice rookie campaign, the southpaw posted a 10.24 ERA in two starts against Milwaukee. He gave up a career-high eight runs in 3 2-3 innings of a 10-2 loss at Miller Park on June 30. He struggled in spring training, as evidenced by the 7.43 ERA he posted. The Diamondbacks are only 1-6 in the last 7 games in Milwaukee, which doesn't come as much of a surprise considering just about every team has had trouble winning there. The Brewers are 112-60 at home since the start of the 2011 season and are 97-44 as a home favorite of -110 or higher during this span. It's also worth noting that the Brewers are 11-3 in their last 14 games following a loss, 11-4 in their last 15 series openers and 13-6 in their last 19 home games versus a left-handed starter. Bet the Beermakers.

6* MLB Run Line Rout on Blue Jays -1.5 +126
The Key: The Blue Jays enter the season with huge expectations but have disappointed in their first two games. I expect them to show up hungry and focused here as a result. They have a definite edge on the mound with Mark Buehrle, who was solid in spring training. Brett Myers, not so much. He posted a 9.00 ERA in the spring while Buehrle posted a 4.50 ERA. Buehrle's clubs are 73-33 all-time with him on the hill as a home favorite of -125 to -175. Also, the Tribe is a soft 4-10 in its last 14 games versus southpaw starters. The Indians are also 16-36 in their last 52 games as a road underdog, and the Blue Jays are 7-2 in their last 9 in the third game of a series. Take Toronto showing good value on the run line.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on Yankees -120
The Key: After losing the first two games of the series, I expect the Yankees to be very focused this evening. Keep in mind that they are 39-13 in their last 52 games after losing the first two games of a series. The Yankees have struggled at the plate in the first two games, but I like their chances against Ryan Dempster. Fading Dempster versus the Yankees has never lost as he's 0-4 (0-5 on the money line) with an ERA of 7.63 and a WHIP of 2.048 in 5 career starts against them. The Yankees are in better hands with Andy Pettitte, who has a proven track record against the Red Sox. The Yankees have won 24 of his last 36 starts against them, including 5 of his last 6. Plus, they Yankees are an impressive 97-43 in Pettitte's last 140 starts as a home favorite. New York is showing great value at this price.

6* MLB *MAJOR MISMATCH* on Nationals -1.5 -110
The Key: The Nationals hold major mismatches all over the field, but especially on the mound. Gio Gonzalez was fantastic in the spring, and his teams are 46-18 all-time when listed as a favorite of -110 or higher with him on the mound. They have won these games by an average score of 5.1 to 3.0. The Marlins have struggled on the road against southpaws. In fact, they are 0-7 in their last 7 road games versus a left-handed starter and have lost these by 2.9 runs on average. Take Washington on the run line.

6* MLB *CA$H COW* on A's -139
The Key: I went against the A's yesterday, but Felix Hernandez was on the hill for Seattle. Today, I'm backing Oakland as I believe it has the edge on the mound with Jarrod Parker, who went 13-8 with a 3.47 ERA a year ago. The Athletics are a terrific 20-6 in their last 26 in the 2nd game of a series. They are also an impressive 40-15 in their last 55 games as a home favorite of -110 to -150. The A's are 4-0 in Parker's last 4 starts as a favorite and 7-1 in the last 8 meetings with Seattle. In addition, you want to back teams with a money line of +100 to -150 in the first 12 games of the season if they had a winning record last season and closed out the season strong with 26 wins or more in their last 40 games. Doing so has produced a 37-11 mark the last 5 seasons. Take the A's.

6* MLB *CA$H COW* on Mariners +102
The Key: The Mariners are showing value at this price with ace Feliz Hernandez on the hill. He has a 2.82 ERA in 26 starts against the A's. The Mariners are 16-6 in his last 22 starts in the series, including 9-3 at Oakland during this span. Judging by the low 6.5-run total, the books are expecting a pitcher's duel, which I feel favors Hernandez - the more proven pitcher. The Mariners are 7-3 in Hernandez's last 10 road starts when the total is set at 6.5 or lower. The Athletics are 3-9 in their last 12 home games with the total set at 6.5 or lower. Oakland came out of nowhere to win the AL West a year ago, but I expect it to take a step back in 2013. Take Seattle.

6* MLB *CA$H COW* on Astros +1.5 -119
The Key: The Astros are showing value catching 1.5 runs at this price with Bud Norris on the bump. He went 4-1 with a 1.71 ERA and 0.964 WHIP in 11 home outings last season. His success was certainly no fluke as he has a solid 3.51 ERA in 48 starts at Minute Maid Park. The Rangers are 1-5 in their last 6 road games and 0-4 in their last 4 road games versus a right-handed starter. They are also 1-4 in Matt Harrison's last 5 road starts. Harrison was shelled in his only start at Minute Made Park in 2011, giving up 5 earned in a 7-0 defeat. It's also worth noting that the Rangers are 1-4 in their last 5 series openers and 0-4 in their last 4 games with the total set at 7.0-8.5. The Astros have won or lost by a single run in each of Norris' last 3 starts. Take Houston on the run line.

6* World Series Game 2 *CA$H COW* on Tigers -122
The Key: I missed with the Tigers last night as Verlander threw his first dud in quite some time, but I'll come right back with them tonight with Fister on the bump. The Tigers are 7-2 in his last 9 starts, including a perfect 2-0 in his playoff starts (1.35 ERA in the postseason). The Giants, meanwhile, are 0-3 in Bumgarner's last 3 starts (10.50 ERA in these games). Plus, the Tigers are 4-0 in their last 4 playoff games as a favorite of -110 to -150. The Giants are 1-4 in their last 5 games as a home underdog of +110 to +150 and 2-8 in Bumgarner's last 10 starts as an underdog. Bet Detroit.

7* World Series Game 1 *HEAVY HITTER* on Tigers -163
The Key: Zito is pitching better than he has in years, but he's still no Verlander. The Detroit ace is 7-0 in his last 7 starts and has allowed more than 1 run only once during this stretch. He allowed 2 runs in the lone exception. The Tigers are 4-0 in Verlander's last 4 starts vs. teams from the National League West and 5-0 in his last 5 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game. The Tigers are 5-0 in their last 5 overall, 6-0 in their last 6 playoff games as a favorite and 4-0 in their last 4 playoff games as a favorite of -151 to -200. Verlander has a WHIP of 1.017 while Zito's WHIP is 1.392. That should be a concern for the Giants as the Tigers are 7-0 in their last 7 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30. Take the Tigers.

6* NLCS Game 7 *CA$H COW* on Giants -132
The Key: The Giants get the call at home in Game 7 as they have the momentum on their side following back-to-back dominant performances. Kyle Lohse has had a great season but the Cards can't be trusted with him on the hill tonight as they are just 8-18 in his last 26 road starts against teams with a winning record. The Giants have won each of Cain's last 2 and 3 of his last 4 home starts against the Cardinals. The Giants lost to Lohse with Cain on the mound in Game 3 but that was in St. Louis. Now, Cain's at home where he has an ERA of 2.18 this season. Lohse's 3.27 road ERA pales in comparison. Take the Giants.

6* NLCS Game 6 *CA$H COW* on Giants -120
The Key: The Giants have the edge at home with Vogelsong on the hill. They are 14-4 in his last 18 starts as a favorite, 11-3 in his last 14 home starts and 10-2 in his last 12 starts as a home favorite. The Cardinals are 1-4 in Carpenter's last 5 starts, 1-4 in his last 5 road starts and 1-6 in his last 7 starts as a road underdog of +110 to +150. Take the Giants.

6* NLCS Game 5 *CA$H COW* on Giants +147
The Key: The Giants are 12-0 in Zito's last 12 starts, 7-0 in his last 7 starts as an underdog, 6-0 in his last 6 road starts, 6-0 in his last 6 starts versus a team with a winning record, 9-0 in his last 9 starts with the total set at 7.0-8.5 and 4-0 in his last 4 starts versus the National League Central. Look for the Giants to stave off elimination behind a strong performance from Zito.

6* ALCS Game 4 *CA$H COW* on Yankees -115
The Key: The Yankees are too good of a team to lose four in a row to the Tigers. They've only loss four straight games twice all season. Last night's rainout has allowed them to refocus, and I fully expect them to bounce back here behind a dominant performance from Sabathia. The Yankee are 5-0 in Sabathia's last 5 starts and have won those by an average of 4.4 runs as he has held the opposition to 2 earned runs or fewer in each. The Yankees are also 3-0 in Sabathia's starts against the Tigers this season and have won each of those by at least 4 runs as he has held them to 3 earned runs or less in each.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on Cardinals -120
The Key: Expect the Cardinals to bounce back strong this afternoon as the series shifts to St. Louis where they have won 35 of their last 52 games. Lohse has a lower ERA then Cain on the season (2.82 compared to 2.90), a lower ERA at home than Cain has on the road (2.33 compared to 3.62), a lower ERA over their last 3 starts (3.37 compared to 4.59) and a lower career ERA against the Giants/Cardinals (3.78 compared to 4.94). The Cardinals are 7-0 in their last 7 games following a loss and 15-5 in Lohse's last 20 starts as a home favorite. The Giants are 3-7 in Cain's last 10 starts versus a team with a winning record. Take St. Louis.

6* ALCS Game 3 *CA$H COW* on Tigers -1.5 +125
The Key: It's Verlander time. Detroit is 6-0 in his last 6 starts and has won those by 3.7 runs on average. It is 10-0 in his last 10 home starts and has won those by 2.9 runs on average. The Tigers are also 15-0 in his last 15 home starts in the second half of the season versus teams with a winning mark. They have won these games by an average of 3.5 runs. They are also 14-0 in his last 14 home starts against teams that have won 54-62% of their games. They have won these games by an average of 2.7 runs. Bet Detroit on the run line.

6* NLCS Game 2 *CA$H COW* on Giants -111
The Key: The Giants dropped Game 1 but have been resilient. We saw that last series when they won 3 in a row in Cincy after dropping the first 2 at home. While this San Francisco club never counts itself out, it would prefer not to have to do all its damage on the road again. The Giants are 14-5 in their last 19 games following a loss, 19-9 in Vogelsong's last 28 starts, 13-4 in his last 17 starts as a favorite, 10-3 in his last 13 home starts and 9-2 in his last 11 starts as a home favorite.

6* MLB Playoffs *CA$H COW* on Giants -130
The Key: Lynn has had a nice season but Bumgarner is more proven. Plus, Bumgarner has a lower ERA than Lynn on the season. His 2.61 home ERA is far superior to the 3.92 ERA Lynn has posted on the road. Lynn has had no success against the Giants. He's 0-2 lifetime with an ERA of 7.15 against them. Bumgarner is 2-2 with a 3.62 ERA against St. Louis. The Giants are 20-6 in Bumgarner's last 26 home starts, 29-11 in his last 40 starts as a favorite and 21-6 in his last 27 starts as a home favorite. Take San Francisco.

6* MLB Playoffs *CA$H COW* on Nationals -132
The Key: The Nats are 3-0 in Gonzalez's last 3 starts, 4-0 in his last 4 starts as a home favorite and 6-0 in his last 6 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game. Washington is also 11-0 in his 11 starts against the NL Central this season (2 of those wins came against the Cards). The Cardinals are 0-5 in Wainwright's last 5 starts as a road underdog and 2-9 in their last 11 meetings at Washington. Nats advance.

6* MLB Playoffs *CA$H COW* on Tigers -140
The Key: The A's have been a great story this season, but their inability to solve Verlander ends their season tonight. The Tigers are 5-0 in Verlander's last 5 starts and 4-0 in his last 4 starts against the A's. The Athletics are 0-5 in Parker's last 5 starts with the total set at 6.5 or lower. The Tigers are 4-0 in their last 4 playoff games as a favorite while the Athletics are 0-4 in their last 4 playoff games as an underdog. Bet Detroit.

7* MLB Playoffs *HEAVY HITTER* on Orioles +1.5 -130
The Key: Really like the Orioles catching 1.5 runs at an affordable price with Gonzalez on the bump. Baltimore is 11-4 in his starts this season and 7-2 in his starts as a road underdog on the year. The Orioles are a perfect 4-0 in his last 4 starts, and he is 2-0 in 2 career starts at Yankee Stadium with an ERA of 2.63. He outdueled Kuroda in his most recent start there Aug. 31, giving up no runs on 4 hits in 7 innings of work while striking out 9 and walking 1 in a 6-1 victory. Take the Orioles on the run line.

7* MLB Playoffs *HEAVY HITTER* on A's -132
The Key: The Tigers got loose for 5 runs in their game 2 win, but the Athletics are 4-0 in their last 4 when their opponent enters off a game in which it scored 5 runs or more. The Tigers are 0-4 in their last 4 playoff games as an underdog of +110 to +150 and 0-4 in Sanchez's last 4 starts against a team with a winning record. The Athletics are 4-0 in Anderson's last 4 starts in the favorite role. The Tigers have dropped 7 of their last 9 playoffs games on the road, and I expect their postseason road struggles to continue against an Oakland club that has won 39 of its last 54 at home.

6* MLB Playoffs *CA$H COW* on Cardinals -111
The Key: I expect the Cards to bounce back this afternoon. They haven't lost consecutive games in nearly a month and are 5-0 in their last 5 games following defeat. St. Louis' Garcia enters the postseason on top of his game, as evidenced by the 2.29 ERA he's posted over his last 3 starts. He poses some major problems for a Washington club that is 0-5 in its last 5 road contests vs. southpaw starters. The Nats' Zimmerman has had a great season but he has a 9.12 ERA in 5 career starts against St. Louis. Garcia has a 3.74 ERA in 4 career starts against Washington. Bet the Red Birds.

7* MLB Playoffs *HEAVY HITTER* on Giants -149
The Key: The Reds are 0-4 in Arroyo's last 4 starts, 0-6 in his last 6 starts as an underdog of +110 to +150, 0-5 in his last 5 starts vs. a team with a winning record, 0-4 in his last 4 road starts vs. the Giants and 0-4 in his last 4 starts with the total set at 7.0-8.5. The Giants are 11-0 in Bumgarner's last 11 home starts with the total set at 7.0-8.5 and 6-0 in his last 6 starts on 7 or more days' rest. The Giants bounce back strong.

6* MLB Playoffs *CA$H COW* on Tigers -1.5 +120
The Key: Verlander is 4-0 in his last 4 starts with those wins coming by an average of 3.5 runs. The Tigers are 9-0 in his last 9 home starts with those wins coming by an average of 3.0 runs. Verlander is also 3-0 in his last 3 starts against Oakland with those wins coming by an average of 3.0 runs. He's given up just 1 run in his last 21 innings against the A's. Expect another dominant performance here. Take the Tigers on the run line.

7* MLB Wild Card *HEAVY HITTER* on Braves -165
The Key: The Braves are 23-0 in Medlen's last 23 starts, 13-0 in his last 13 home starts, 9-0 in his last 9 starts versus clubs with a winning mark and 6-0 in his last 6 starts when valued as a favorite of -151 to -200. Plus, the command Medlen has shown lately is a great sign. The Braves are 11-0 in his starts over the last 3 seasons when he enters a start following back-to-back outings with 1 walk or none. The Braves are also 12-0 in his starts over the last 3 seasons when he enters a start following an outing in which he gave up 1 earned run or none. Take Atlanta.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on D-backs -1.5 +100
The Key: The D-backs have never lost to the Rockies at home with ace Ian Kennedy on the mound. They are 6-0 lifetime in this spot and have won these by an average of 2.83 runs. The D-backs are 7-0 in Kennedy's last 7 starts versus the Rockies overall and have won these by an average of 2.86 runs. Kennedy enters this contest pitching his best ball of the season, and Arizona is 6-0 in his last 6 starts as a result. It has won these by 2.33 runs on average. The Rockies, on the other hand, are 0-5 in Francis' last 5 starts and have lost those by an average of 4.0 runs per game. With their ace on the hill and a chance to notch a winning season, I'll take the Snakes on the run line.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on Mets -145
The Key: The Mets are 5-0 in their last 5 games as a favorite, and I expect this trend to continue with Dickey on the hill. The Mets 9-0 in Dickey

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on D-backs -1.5 +106
The Key: The Rockies 0-9 in their last 9 on the road and have lost those by an an average of 4.0 runs. Pomeranz has struggled against the NL West all season (0-7 with a 7.24 ERA in 10 starts), and the Rockies are 0-4 in his last 4 starts vs. the division. They have dropped these by 4.75 runs on average. They are also 0-2 in his 2 career starts versus Arizona, losing these by 6.5 runs on average. The D-backs, on the other hand, are 4-0 lifetime in Miley's starts against the Rockies and have won these by an average of 5.75 runs. Take the Snakes on the run line.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on Braves -1.5
The Key: The Braves are 22-0 in Medlen's last 22 starts and have won them by an average of 3.4 runs. They are also 4-0 lifetime in his starts against the Mets and have won those by an average of 5.0 runs. Bet the Braves on the run line.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on Tigers -1.5 -140
The Key: The Tigers are 3-0 in Verlander's last 3 starts, winning each of those by 4 runs while he has posted a 0.86 ERA. The Tigers are 4-0 in Verlander's last 4 starts as a road favorite of -200 or greater, winning these by an average of 2.3 runs. They are also also 6-0 in their last 6 games as a road favorite of -200 or greater, winning these by an average of 2.0 runs. Detroit is 7-0 in Verlander's last 7 starts against the Twins and has won these by an average of 4.3 runs. He has held the Twins to 1 earned run or fewer in 4 of his last 5 starts against them. Lastly, the Twins are 0-4 in Walters' last 4 starts as a home underdog and have lost these by 2.0 runs on average. Take the Tigers on the run line.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on Brewers -1.5 -125
The Key: The Brewers are 11-0 in Gallardo's last 11 starts, winning them by an average of 3.9 runs. Gallardo is 10-0 in his last 10 starts versus Houston, and the Brew Crew have won these by an average of 5.7 runs. Milwaukee is 13-0 in Gallardo's starts in the 2nd half of the season over the last 3 seasons versus teams that are outscored by an average of 0.5 or more runs/game. It has won these by an average of 4.6 runs. The Brewers are 15-0 as a favorite of -200 or more over the last 2 seasons, winning these games by an average of 4.9 runs, and 13-0 in home games in the 2nd half of the season versus NL teams allowing 4.8 or more runs/game over the last 2 seasons, winning these by an average of 3.2 runs. Bet Milwaukee on the run line.

6* MLB *CA$H COW* on Giants -114
The Key: The Giants have clinched but are showing no signs of slowing down. And the last thing Zito wants to do is enter the postseason with a poor start to put some doubt in the mind of Bruce Bochy. I expect Zito to be very focused here. The Giants are 9-0 in his last 9 starts, 5-0 in his last 5 home starts, 4-0 in his last 4 starts as a favorite, 6-0 in Zitos last 6 starts vs. the National League West and 5-0 in his last 5 starts vs. Diamondbacks.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on Cardinals -1.5 -117
The Key: The Cardinals are 4-0 in their last 4 games and have won these by an average of 3.25 runs. The Astros, meanwhile, are 0-3 in their last 3 games and have lost these by an average of 5.33 runs. The Astros are 0-10 in their last 10 versus St. Louis and have dropped these by 4.8 runs on average. They are also 0-6 in Norris' last 6 starts with an average losing margin of 2.5 runs in these games. Further bolstering this situation is the fact that Houston hasn't been able to manufacture runs by playing small ball when matched up against teams with good defensive catchers. In fact, it is 0-13 in the second half of this season versus teams with good defensive catchers that hold opponents to 0.5 or less stolen bases per game. It has lost to these teams by an average of 5.2 runs. Bet St. Louis on the run line.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on Braves -1.5 -117
The Key: The Marlins are 0-4 in their last 4 overall (2.25-run avg losing margin) and 0-6 in their last 6 on the road (2.00-run avg losing margin). The Braves are 21-0 in Medlen's last 21 starts (3.5-run avg winning margin), 19-0 in his last 19 night starts (3.0-run avg winning margin), 12-0 in his last 12 home outings (3.4-run avg winning margin), 13-0 in his last 13 starts against division opponents (3.8-run avg winning margin), 11-0 in his last 11 starts after giving up 1 or less earned runs last outing (3.9-run avg winning margin) and 10-0 in his last 10 starts when working on 5 or 6 days' rest (2.7-run avg winning margin). The Braves are also 4-0 in his 4 career starts against the Marlins (3.75-run avg winning margin. Take Atlanta on the run line.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on Tigers -1.5 -119
The Key: The Tigers are badly in need of a win after getting swept by the Twins in a double header yesterday. Fortunately, they have their ace on the mound. The Tigers are 8-0 in Verlander's last 8 home starts and have won those by an average of 2.9 runs. Verlander is 14-2 with a 2.76 ERA lifetime against KC. I expect him to shut down the Royals and for the sticks to take care of the rest. Take Detroit on the run line.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on Rangers -138
The Key: The Rangers have dropped the first two in this series, but that won't keep me off them here as they are 11-3 in their last 14 following defeats in the first two games of a series. Plus, the Mariners are 0-4 in their last four during the third game of a series. The Mariners are 0-5 in Vargas' last 5 starts as a home underdog and 0-4 in his last 4 home starts vs. a team with a winning record. The Rangers are 6-0 in Dempster's last 6 starts as a favorite and 4-0 in his last 4 starts vs. a team with a losing record. Bet the Rangers.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on Rangers -165
The Key: The Rangers went down Friday, but they are an awesome 11-0 in their last 11 games following a loss. I expect them to bounce back strong behind Harrison, who is 9-0 in his last 9 starts against the Mariners. He is 5-0 all-time in his starts in Seattle. The Mariners are 0-4 in Beavan's last 4 starts versus a team with a winning record. Take Texas.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on Giants -150
The Key: The Giants are 5-0 in their last 5 home games, 7-0 in their last 7 games as a favorite, 6-0 in their last 6 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game and 6-0 in their last 6 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game. They are also 4-0 in their last 4 home games vs. a right-handed starter and 11-0 in home games vs. a starting pitcher who lasts less than 5 innings per start over the last 3 seasons. Bet the Giants.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on Giants -150
The Key: The Rockies are 0-5 in their last 5 overall, 0-4 in their last 4 games after losing the first 3 games of a series, 0-5 in their last 5 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game, 0-4 in their last 4 games as a road underdog of +110 to +150, 0-4 in De La Rosa's last 4 road starts vs. a team with a winning record and 0-5 in their last 5 road games vs. a left-handed starter. The Giants are 6-0 in their last 6 games as a favorite, 5-0 in their last 5 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game, 4-0 in their last 4 home games, 5-0 in Zito's last 5 starts vs. a team with a losing record, 5-0 in his last 5 starts vs. the National League West, 5-0 in his last 5 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game, 4-0 in his last 4 home starts and 8-0 in his last 8 starts. The Giants are also 5-0 in the last 5 meetings in this series.

7* MLB Game of the Month on Braves -135
The Key: The Braves are a perfect 20-0 in Medlen's last 20 starts, 12-0 in his last 12 starts against division opponents, 12-0 in his last 12 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance, 10-0 in his last 10 starts after giving up 1 or less earned runs in his last outing and 12-0 in his last 12 starts following a team loss the previous game. The Braves are also 12-0 in his last 12 starts in the 2nd half of the season versus NL teams with an on base percentage .325 or worse and 11-0 in his last 11 starts in the 2nd half of the season versus teams that strike out 7 or more times per game. Plus, the Braves are a perfect 3-0 in his 3 career starts versus the Marlins. The Marlins 0-4 Johnson

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on Orioles -120
The Key: The Orioles are 3-0 in Tillman's last 3 starts, during which he has posted an ERA of 2.70. They are also 4-0 in his last 4 road starts, and he is 3-0 lifetime against Seattle with an ERA of 0.83. The Mariners are 0-5 in Noesi's last 5 starts, 0-5 in his last 5 home starts and 0-5 in his last 5 starts as a home underdog. The Mariners are 0-6 in their last 6 games as a home underdog of +110 to +150 and 0-5 in their last 5 games against the Orioles. Bet Baltimore.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on D-backs -116
The Key: The D-backs have lost the first two games of this series and they're favored with Corbin on the hill, who has lost his last 3 decisions? This really speaks to how poorly Vogelsong has pitched. He has been hit hard in his last 3 (8.79 ERA L3 starts), and nobody hit him harder than Arizona in this stretch. The Snakes tagged him for 6 runs and knocked him out in 3 1-3 innings. Corbin has a solid 3.60 home ERA. I expect a solid performance from him and for the D-back sticks to take care of the rest.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on Phillies -159
The Key: The Astros are 14-56 in their last 70 overall and 6-23 in their last 29 home games. They are 0-4 in Keuchel's last 4 starts and 1-10 in his last 11 starts. They are 0-5 in Keuchel's last 5 starts vs. a team with a winning record, 0-8 in his last 8 starts following a team loss in their previous game and 0-7 in his last 7 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game. The Phillies are 4-0 in Kendrick's last 4 starts vs. a team with a losing record, and I expect him to outduel Keuchel here.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on Braves -162
The Key: I've been riding Medlen since he broke into the starting lineup this season, and I'm not going to stop riding him now. The Braves are 19-0 in his last 19 starts. Atlanta enters off a loss, but it is 11-0 in Medlen's last 11 starts following a team loss. The Braves are also 9-0 in his last 9 starts versus team with a winning record, 11-0 in his last 11 starts in the second half of the team versus NL team with an on base percentage .325 or worse and 10-0 in his last 10 starts in the second half of the season versus team that strike out 7 or more times/game. The Braves are 10-0 in his last 10 starts vs. the National League East and 6-0 in his last 6 starts as a favorite of -151 to -200. The Nationals are 0-4 in Detwiler's last 4 starts as a road underdog of +151 to +200. Braves money line.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on Rangers -1.5 -108
The Key: The Indians are 0-5 in their last 5 games (2.8-run avg. losing margin), 0-5 in McAllister's last 5 starts (3.8-run avg. losing margin) and 0-4 in McAllister's last 4 road starts (2.5-run avg. losing margin). The Rangers are 3-0 in Holland's last 3 home starts (3.7-run avg. winning margin) and 5-0 in his 5 career starts against the Tribe (4.2-run avg. winning margin). Texas is also 6-0 in its last 6 at home against Cleveland (4.0-run avg. winning margin. Take Texas on the run line.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on Brewers -133
The Key: The Braves are 0-5 in their last 5 meetings in Milwaukee. The Brewers are 8-0 in Gallardo's last 8 starts, 5-0 in his last 5 starts on regular rest (4 days), 8-0 in his last 8 starts in the third game of a series and 11-0 in his last 11 home starts in the second half of the season versus an an NL team with a batting average of .255 or worse. Maholm is 0-6 on the money line in his last 6 starts against teh Brewers. Take Milwaukee.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on Rangers -1.5 -120
The Key: The Indians are 0-5 in Jimenez's last 5 starts (3.0-run avg. losing margin) and 0-8 in his last 8 road starts (3.6-run avg. losing margin). They are also 0-4 in their last 4 in Arlington (4.8-run avg. losing margin). The Rangers are 5-0 in Harrison's last 5 starts as a favorite of -200 or greater (4.2-run avg. winning margin). Bet the Rangers on the run line.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on Nationals -144
The Key: The Nats have won 16 of their last 21 versus the Mets and are 5-0 in their last 5 against them in New York. The Mets are just 6-21 in their last 27 home games, 1-10 in their last 11 games as a home underdog and 0-4 in their last 4 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15. The Nationals are 21-7 in Gonzalez's last 28 starts, 10-2 in his last 12 road starts, 5-0 in his last 5 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance and 4-0 in his last 4 starts as a favorite.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on Cardinals -119
The Key: Despite losing the first 2 games of this series, the Cards are still 21-8 in their last 29 at home, 18-8 in their last 26 vs. Milwaukee and 9-3 in their last 12 at home against the Brewers. Milwaukee is just 6-14 in Marcum's lst 20 starts, 2-7 in his last 9 road starts and 1-4 in his last 5 starts vs. the Cardinals. It's also important to note that the Brewers are 0-4 in Marcum's last 4 starts as an underdog of +110 to +150 and 0-4 in his last 4 starts falling in the third game of a series.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on Braves -160
The Key: The Braves are 18-0 in Medlen's last 18 starts, and they are a perfect 3-0 all-time in his starts against the Mets. Medlen has a 0.54 ERA in 7 starts this season and a 0.00 ERA over his last 3 starts.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on Cardinals -133
The Key: Gallardo has pitched much better over the last 5 weeks, but he just got rocked his last time out, and he has never fared well against St. Louis. He's 1-10 with an ERA of 7.06 in 14 career starts against the Cards. He's 0-6 in his last 6 starts versus the Cardinals, and the Brewers have dropped those contests by an average of 4.7 runs. Lohse (14-2, 2.81) has won both of his starts versus Milwaukee this season in impressive fashion. Bet St. Louis.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on Nationals -1.5 -106
The Key: The Cubs are 0-5 in their last 5 games with an average losing margin of 4.0 runs in these contests. They are also 0-7 in their last 7 road games losing those by an average of 3.4 runs. The Cubs are 0-9 this season in road games following 5 or more straight defeats, losing in this situation by an average of 2.6 runs. Germano is 0-3 on the money in his last 3 starts and those losses have come by 6.0 runs on average. He's also 0-8 on the money line in his last 8 road starts with those losses coming by 3.4 runs on average. Lastly, the Nats are 4-0 in their last 4 games with an average winning margin of 4.0 runs. Nats on the run line.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on Nationals -1.5 -113
The Key: Gio Gonzalez has been tough on everyone this season, but he's especially been tough on the NL Central. The Nationals are 8-0 in his starts against NL Central foes this season, and they have won these games by an average of 3.0 runs. The Cubs, meanwhile, are 0-6 in Chris Volstad's 6 road starts this season, and they have lost these by an average of 3.7 runs. Bet Washington on the run line.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on Pirates -1.5 +105
The Key: Fading the Pirates with Lyles on the mound as a road underdog of +151 to +200 has produced a 9-0 mark all-time that has won by an average of 3.4 runs. The Astros are also 0-4 this season in Lyle's road starts in the 2nd game of a series. They have dropped these by an average of 4.3 runs. Houston is even 0-11 in Lyle's road starts vs. an NL team with an on base percentage .315 or worse over the last 2 seasons. It has lost these by an average score of 7.5 to 3.1. Pound Pittsburgh on the run line.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on Braves -1.5 -108
The Key: The Braves are a perfect 17-0 in Kris Medlen's last 17 starts, winning those by an average of 3.4 runs. 6 of those wins have come this season, and he has posted an ERA of just 0.66 in those outings. He has a 0.00 over his last 3 starts and the Braves have won his last 10 starts by 2 runs or more. Bet the Braves on the run line.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on Angels -166
The Key: The Angels are 5-0 in their last 5 overall and 8-0 in their last 8 games as a favorite. They are 8-0 in Weaver's last 8 road starts and 4-0 in his last 4 starts as a road favorite of -151 to -200. The Mariners are 0-5 in their last 5 vs. a team with a winning record. This 30-0 angle is strengthened by the fact the Angels have won 38 of the last 53 meetings overall and 35 of the last 52 in Seattle. The Angels are also 9-2 in Weaver's last 11 starts vs. the Mariners.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on Giants -155
The Key: Love the Giants today with a rested Lincecum on the bump. He has been lights out on the road of late, allowing 2 runs or less in each of his last 3 road starts. Plus, the Giants are 4-0 in his last 4 starts coming on 5 days' rest. The Cubs are 0-4 in Germano's last 4 starts as an underdog, and he has been rocked in each of his last 2 outings. The Cubs are 8-22 in their last 30 overall and 5-17 when playing on Saturday this season. The Giants are 8-3 in their last 11 overall, 6-1 in their last 7 road games and 5-1 in the last 6 against the Cubs.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on Rangers -153
The Key: The Indians are 0-14 this season after hitting .225 or worse over a 10-game span. They are also 0-4 in their last 4 series openers, 0-5 in their last 5 home contests and 0-6 in their last 6 Friday matchups. The Tribe is 0-3 in Jimenez's last 3 starts, during which he has posted an ERA of 8.59. The Rangers have won 22 of 28 versus the Indians, including 12 of their last 15 in Cleveland. They are 4-1 in Dempster's starts since he joined the club.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on Giants -176
The Key: I don't play favorites this large often in baseball, but I believe the Giants are well worth it here. The Astros are 8-47 in their last 55 overall, 0-6 in their last 6 Thursday games, 0-5 in Lyles' last 5 home starts, 0-6 in his last 6 starts as a home underdog, 0-5 in his last 5 starts as a home underdog of +151 to +200 and 0-5 in his last 5 starts in the 3rd game of a series. The Astros are also 0-5 in their last 5 against the Giants.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on Braves -127
The Key: The Braves are 11-2 in Tommy Hanson's last 13 starts and 17-5 in his last 22 road starts. Plus, the Braves have never lost to the Padres in San Diego with Hanson on the hill. They are 3-0 all-time in his starts at Petco and have won those by an average of 5.3 runs. Hanson has never given up more than 2 runs to the Padres in 5 career starts against them. Bet the Braves.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on Braves -154
The Key: The Braves are 16-0 in Medlen's last 16 starts, 8-0 in his last 8 road starts, 11-0 in his last 11 starts as a favorite, 4-0 in his last 4 starts as a road favorite, 4-0 in his last 4 starts as a favorite of -151 to -200 and 7-0 in his last 7 starts on 5 days' rest. Atlanta lost yesterday, but they are 10-0 in Medlen's last 10 starts when he gets the ball following a team loss. The Braves have won by an average score of 6.0 to 2.6 in this situation. Take Atlanta.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on Mariners -158
The Key: The Mariners are at a major advantage with Hernandez on the hill. They are 7-1 in his last 8 starts and 5-0 in his last 5 starts as a favorite. The Twins, who have lost 7 of 8 at home, are 0-4 in their last 4 games as an underdog of +110 to +150, 0-7 in their last 7 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days, 0-4 in their last 4 vs. a team with a losing record, 0-4 in Hendriks' last 4 starts vs. the American League West, 0-5 in Hendriks' last 5 starts as an underdog of +110 to +150 and 0-6 in his last 6 home starts. Lastly, the Mariners are 5-0 in the last 5 meetings with Minnesota. Bet Seattle.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on Dodgers -159
The Key: The Marlins are 0-4 in their last 4, and they've lost the first 2 games of this series by 7 and 6 runs, respectively. The Marlins are also 0-4 in Buehrle's last 4 road starts with the total set at 7.0-8.5. The Fish have lost 8 of his 12 road starts on the season so he clearly isn't winning pitching duels away from home. The Dodgers are 4-0 in their last 4 vs. the NL East and 5-0 in their last 5 Sunday games. LA has won 5 of its last 6 vs. Miami, and it should continue its dominance here.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on Pirates -103
The Key: The Brewers won yesterday, but I'm not hesitating in fading them today. They are still only 17-38 in their last 55 road games, 4-13 in their last 17 games as an underdog and 0-7 in their last 7 Saturday games. Plus, I'm expecting Marcum to struggle as he makes his first start in over 2 months. The Brewers are 5-12 in Marcum's last 17 starts and 1-5 in his last 6 road starts. He'll likely be on a pitch count, which means the Pirates will get to see plenty of a bullpen that carries a high 4.76 ERA. Lastly, the Pirates are a perfect 5-0 in Karstens' starts vs. the National League Central this season, and he has a lights out 2.53 ERA in these games.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on Cubs -155
The Key: Colorado has been playing better baseball lately, but it can't be trusted on the road with the southpaw Drew Pomeranz on the mound. The Rockies are 0-4 in Pomeranz's last 4 starts vs. the National League Central and 0-4 in his last 4 road starts vs. a team with a losing record. Plus, the Cubs are 5-0 in their last 5 home games vs. a left-handed starter. In addition, the Cubs are 10-2 in their last 12 home games vs. a team with a losing record, 7-2 in their last 9 games as a home favorite, 7-3 in Samardzija's 10 home starts this season and 20-8 in their last 28 home games against the Rockies. Take the Cubbies.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on Phillies -110
The Key: Plain and simple, Cole Hamels has absolutely owned the Reds. He have never lost to them, going 10-0 on the money line in 10 career starts with an ERA of only 1.26. Johnny Cueto hasn't enjoyed as much success against the Phillies. He's 2-4 on the money line in 6 career starts against them with an ERA of 5.08. Bet Philly.

7* NL *HEAVY HITTER* on Braves -110
The Key: The Braves are 15-0 in Medlen's last 15 starts, 11-0 in his last 11 starts as a favorite, 7-0 in his last 7 road starts, 8-0 in his last 8 starts vs. the National League East, 7-0 in his last 7 starts vs. a team with a winning record and 6-0 in his last 6 starts on 5 days' rest. Bet the Braves.

6* AL *CA$H COW* on Angels -122
The Key: Weaver was hit hard his last time out, but the chances of it happening again tonight are slim to none. Consider that the Angels are 8-0 in Weaver's last 8 starts following an outing of less than 4 innings in his last appearance and 7-0 in his last 7 road starts. Plus, the Angels are 8-0 in their last 8 road games vs. a team with a losing record. Bet the Halos.

7* NL West Game of the Month on Dodgers -113
The Key: I'm fading the Giants with Lincecum on the mound. The Giants are 9-22 in Lincecum's last 31 starts and 4-11 in his last 15 road starts. They are 2-12 in his starts when the money line is +125 to -125 this season and 3-12 in his starts following a win this season. San Francisco is even 3-10 in Lincecum's last 13 starts vs. the National League West, 2-9 in his last 11 starts as an underdog, 1-6 in hi last 7 starts vs. a team with a winning record, 0-4 in his last 4 road starts vs. a team with a winning record and 1-4 in his last 5 starts vs. the Dodgers. Bet LA.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on A's -160
The Key: The Twins are 0-5 in their last 5 overall, 0-4 in their last 4 road games and 0-4 in their last 4 games vs. a right-handed starter. They are even 0-8 in Duensing's last 8 starts when the total is set at 7.0-8.5, 0-4 in his last 4 starts vs. a team with a winning record and 0-6 in his last 6 starts as an underdog of +110 to +150. The Athletics are 4-0 in their last 4 overall and 3-0 in McCarthy's last 3 home starts. McCarthy has an ERA of only 1.62 at home while Duensing has an ERA of 5.31 on the road. Bet Oakland.

6* MLB *CA$H COW* on Marlins -124
The Key: Josh Johnson has never lost to the Rockies. He's 2-0 (4-0 on the money line) with an ERA of 1.26 against them. It's also worth noting that Colorado's Drew Pomeranz is 0-7 this season when the money line is +125 to -125. The Rockies have lost by an average score of 6.1 to 2.9 in this situation. Bet Miami.

7* American League Game of the Month on White Sox -143
The Key: The White Sox went down yesterday, but they are 5-1 in their last 6 games following a loss. They are also a reliable 37-18 in their last 55 road games vs. a team with a losing record. Chicago has had plenty of success against left-handed starters lately, and I expect that success to continue with KC bringing Bruce Chen (5.56 ERA) to the mound. The White Sox are 10-4 in their last 14 games vs. a left-handed starter and 4-0 in their last 4 road games vs. a left-handed starter. The Royals are 1-5 in Chen's last 6 home starts vs. a team with a winning record. Jake Peavy, a former Cy Young with a 3.04 ERA, is the far better investment. Bet Chicago.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on Angels -165
The Key: After getting shut out Thursday, there's no one the Angels would rather hand the ball to than ace Jered Weaver. In fact, they are 8-0 in Weaver's last 8 starts after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game. They are also a perfect 7-0 in Weaver's last 7 starts vs. the tough American League East. It's also worth mentioning that the Rays are just 1-10 in Shields' last 11 starts as an underdog of +151 to +200. Take LAA.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on Braves -1.5 +111
The Key: I'm going to continue to ride the Braves with Kris Medlen on the mound. They are a perfect 14-0 in his last 14 starts and have won those by an average of 3.2 runs. They have won each of his last 7 starts by at least 2 runs. Bet the Braves on the run line.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on Braves -161
The Key: I'm sticking with the Braves today. They have won 25 of their last 35, and I love the chances with Maholm on the mound. He is 7-1 on the money line in his last 8 starts and has allowed 1 run or none in each of those 7 victories. Volquez has had a decent season, but he has been roughed up lately (13.50 ERA last 3 starts). Consider that plays against all underdogs with a money line of +125 to +175 (SAN DIEGO) - bad offensive team (<=4.1 runs/game) against a good NL starting pitcher (ERA <=3.70) - and provided their starting pitcher (Volquez) gives up 5.5 or less hits/start, are 74-19 the last 5 seasons. This system has produced an 18-6 record already this season. Take Atlanta.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on Braves -163
The Key: The Padres can't be trusted with Richard on the hill outside pitcher-friendly Petco. The Padres have lost 10 of his 13 road starts this season, and they are 0-6 in his last 6 road starts versus a team with a winning record. Plus, the Braves have never lost to Richard, who is 0-4 lifetime with an ERA of 7.36 in 4 career starts against them. Also, the Braves 7-0 Hudson

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on Giants -115
The Key: The Giants have the advantage at home tonight with Vogelsong on the hill. They are 9-0 in Vogelsong's last 9 starts as a favorite, 7-0 in his last 7 starts as a home favorite, 6-0 in his last 6 starts as a favorite of -110 to -150 and 7-0 in his last 7 series-opening starts. The Nats have lost 9 of their last 12 in San Francisco and should fall again here as Vogelsong outduels Gonzalez.

7* MLB *HEAVY HITTER* on D-backs -113
The Key: Washington rallied to win yesterday thanks to two Arizona errors and a wild pitch in the 5th, but I expect its luck to run out here. The Diamondbacks are 14-6 in their last 20 games vs. a left-handed starter and 13-3 in their last 16 home games vs. a left-handed starter. The Nationals are 5-14 in Detwiler's last 19 starts as a road underdog and 1-11 in his last 12 road starts with the total set at 9.0-10.5. The total is high given Detwiler's 2.99 as it reflects Arizona's ability to hit lefties well (4.8 runs/game, 0.264 average against southpaw starters this season). The fact the D-backs are favored against one of the hottest teams in the league and the team with the best overall record tells us the odds makers are expecting them to win. I couldn't agree more with their assessment today. Take Arizona.

6* MLB *CA$H COW* on D-backs -130
The Key: By installing the Nationals, who have the best record in baseball, as this large of an underdog, the books are clearly looking to trap the public. We're not falling for it and here's why. The D-backs are 9-3 in Miley's last 12 home starts, 8-2 in his last 10 starts as a home favorite and 5-0 in his last 5 starts as a favorite of -110 to -150. Also, keep in mind the Nationals are 3-7 in their last 10 games as an underdog of +110 to +150.

6* MLB *CA$H COW* on Braves -103
The Key: I expect the Braves, who are 23-8 in their last 31 overall, to stay hot against a New York club they have defeated 6 straight times. The Braves are 15-1 in Medlen's last 16 starts and 6-0 in his last 6 road starts. The Mets are 1-10 in their last 11 home games, 1-4 in Santana's last 5 starts and 4-9 in his last 13 starts vs. the Braves.