MLB Picks: May 21st 2011
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Pick: Chicago White Sox -142
I’m laying the price with the White Sox on Saturday afternoon. I had the Sox yesterday and unfortunately, they blew a 9th inning lead and then lost in extra innings. But I expect the Southsiders to get right back in the win column in this one. The Sox have been tremendous in IL play over the last three seasons, including a 15-3 mark in 2010. And now they’ll take on one of their former pitchers when Jon Garland takes the bump. Garland looked all but done just a few seasons ago. But he pitched pretty well for the Angels and threw well as a Padre last season. But then again, that was at PETCO. Now, as a Dodger, he pitches in yet another pitcher-friendly park. I do believe that Garland is going to have some problems away from home as the season progresses. And I also believe he’ll be out-pitched by Mark Buehrle on Saturday. The lefty has pitched well in his last four starts, and especially in his last three where he’s allowed just 5 earned runs in 21 innings. The Dodgers’ anemic lineup broke loose (for them) last night, but I expect Buehrle to shut them down today. Ozzie Guillen’s troops were starting to make some noise, winning three straght and nine of 12 before last night’s tough loss. I expect a return to the win column in this one. I’m laying the price with the White Sox. Thanks! GL! Scott Spreitzer

Pick: Philadelphia Phillies -155
On Saturday the free MLB System Play is on the Phillies. Game 970 at 7:10 eastern. The Phillies fit a solid system here tonight that plays on certain home favorites with a total of 8 or less that are off a 1 run home favorite win at -140 or higher vs an opponent off a road dog loss scoring 2 or less runs with 4 or less men left on base. The Philles have Cliff Lee making his first start since leaving his former mates in Texas. Lee has allowed just 2 runs in his last 2 starts, spanning 16 innings vs Texas. The Rangers are hitting just .235 on the road while averaging 3.6 runs per game. Look for Lee and the Philles to win this one. On Saturday its a Huge card backed with twp 19-1 System Plays in the NBA + 2 MLB Power system plays. The Dog of the week from a system that is 17 games over .500 for underdogs + a big Blowout side. I also have a top tier NHL Historical system and the Preakness analysis. Fridays big Totals Play Cashed big. Jump on for Saturday and Cash big. For the free Play take the Phillies. -Rob Vinciletti

Pick: Minnesota Twins +108
The Minnesota Twins are showing solid value Saturday as an underdog to the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Twins have won three of their last four overall to get back on track and it’s only a matter of time before they make a run in the AL Central division. Scott Baker has been a bright spot on what has been a frustrating season for the Twins. Baker is 2-3 with a 3.99 ERA in eight starts this season, including 2-2 with a 2.90 ERA and 1.116 WHIP in six road starts. Micah Owings will be making his season debut for Arizona tonight. He has not gotten off to a very good start to his career. Owings is 24-31 with a 5.11 ERA and 1.423 WHIP in 64 starts and 35 relief appearances. The Twins are 62-30 in their last 92 interleague games. Minnesota is 21-8 in Baker’s last 29 starts with 4 days of rest. The Diamondbacks are 5-21 in their last 26 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400. Arizona is 0-5 in Owings’ last 5 starts. Roll with the Twins Saturday. -Jack Jones (Handicapperspicks.com)

MLB Picks: May 13th 2011
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Pick: White Sox vs. Athletics Under 7.5
Despite the final two games of their series vs. Texas each producing nine runs, the A’s have still seen six of their last six games stay below the total. Tonight’s series opener vs. Chicago has the potential to be another low-scoring affair. Humber has been excellent lately. Indeed, his last three starts have seen him record a 1.71 ERA and 0.619 WHIP. For the season, he has a stellar 2.65 ERA and 0.884 WHIP. That’s led to the “under” going a perfect 6-0 in his six starts. Manager Ozzie Guillen had this to say of Humber earning a spot in the Sox rotation: “Humber has good stuff and we like what we’ve seen from the first day. He earned what he is right now. He worked so hard to be what he could be. We didn’t give it to him … He did it all by himself. He should be proud of that.” Meanwhile, McCarthy has yet to allow a single earned run in two home starts. For the season, he has a solid 3.26 ERA and 1.248 WHIP. While McCarthy has a 1.80 ERA and 0.60 WHIP in his lone start against the Chisox, (1 run on 3 hits and 0 walks, in 5 innings) Humber will have the advantage of making his first start vs. Oakland. Consider the Under. -Ben Burns

Pick: San Francisco Giants +101
The surging San Francisco Giants have won six in a row and eight of nine to jump into first place in the National League West. The Chicago Cubs are moving in the opposite direction. The Giants and their pitching staff are probably the last thing the Cubs and their struggling offense need to see right now. Chicago will be looking to salvage its homestand when it opens a three-game series against Madison Bumgarner and San Francisco on Friday. The calendar’s turn to May has altered San Francisco’s fortunes. After an inconsistent first month, the Giants have taken off in the last 10 days, allowing an average of 2.3 runs per game over the last nine games. They are coming off consecutive sweeps of the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks that launched them into first place in the NL West. Matt Cain was the latest San Francisco hurler to put together a strong outing, allowing two runs in 7 2/3 innings to pick up a win over the Diamondbacks on Thursday. TAKE SAN FRANCISCO HERE. -Bob Wingerter (Handicapperspicks.com)

Our Monday night MLB betting predictions take us to Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio where the Chicago White Sox will look to embark on that final push of the regular season against the putrid Cleveland Indians.
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The weekend was one filled with excitement and frustration for Palehose fans, as they dropped two of three to the hated New York Yankees, but picked up Manny Ramirez from the Dodgers in the hopes that he’ll fill the void left at the DH position.

Manager Ozzie Guillen’s squad now sits 4.5-games off the pace set by the Minnesota Twins in the AL Central.

For them to even get back into the playoff discussion, the Twins are going to have to slump while the Sox are going to have to go on another winning streak similar to the one they rattled off around the All Star Break.

Though Cleveland has been putrid overall, it’s been a nemesis to divisional opponents scratching out wins in 24 of the 50 meetings this season ($410). Most of those victories have come against the White Sox, as they’ve won eight of the 12 MLB predictions meetings this season; that mark includes a 4-1 tally at home.

Chicago White Sox (70-60, $627) vs. Cleveland Indians (53-77, -$642)
Game Date/Time: Monday, August 30th, 7:05 ET
Game Location: Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH
TV/Radio Broadcast: WGN, SportsTime Ohio, XM

MLB Odds: Chicago White Sox -1.5 +120 -140 (Mark Buehrle – L) vs. Cleveland Indians +1.5 -140 +120 (Mitch Talbot – R): Total 9 O -105 9 U -115

The last time Mark Buehrle toed the Progressive Field bump, he was given the heave-ho after arguing a pair of balk calls against him. He had his two game winning streak snapped his last time out at home against Baltimore.

What bothered him most about the defeat was walking a pair of leadoff hitters; both came around to score and Chicago ended up losing by two.

He’s been pretty solid throughout the month of August allowing just 33 hits and 12 ER’s with a K/BB ratio of 12/9. He’s 3-2 during that stretch with a 3.09 ERA. Though his record doesn’t reflect it, he’s been at his best away from US. Cellular Field where his ERA is a run+ lower than his home ERA (3.33).

He has had problems with the Tribe in the past however, but Chicago’s won three of his four outings against them this season.

Mitch Talbot has had a rough go of it since returning from the DL. The righty has allowed 22 hits and 15 runs (12 ER) over his L/3 starts. He was just plastered by the Oakland A’s his last time out allowing five ER’s in the first inning.

In 13 overall home starts, Talbot has allowed 86 hits and 47 ER’s in just under 73 total innings pitched.

Cleveland has secured MLB predictions victories in only three of his L/10 overall starts and just five of his 13 Progressive Field outings. He has however experienced great success against Chicago throughout his career going 3-0 with a 1.57 ERA & 0.91 WHIP.

MLB Insider Tip: If the White Sox are truly serious about making a run at the Twins, they have to start winning every series played from this point forward. Times a ticking, but lucky for them, they get to start off with the Tribe before heading to Boston and Detroit to close out this 10-game road trip.

I expect Chicago to come out 110% motivated to take it to the Tribe in this series. They’ve won each of the L/4 times Buehrle toed the bump in a series opener, and have treated MLB wagering fans kindly in the first game of a series winning 17 of the L/22 times.

The Tribe has come out on the short end of the scoreboard each of the L/5 times they opposed a lefty, and my MLB predictions have them keeping that trend intact in this spot.

Talbot is tossing batting practice right now, and if the Palehose can’t make him pay with the game being served up on a silver platter, their 2010 future looks bleak at best.

My MLB Prediction: Chicago White Sox (Buehrle)

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Our Tuesday night MLB predictions take us to US Cellular Field where the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim will look to bounce back from the thrashing they absorbed in the series opener against the Chicago White Sox.
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The defeat saw manager Mike Scioscia’s club drop its fourth game in its L/6 tries after dropping two of three at Kansas City in its previous stop. Because of it, they now stand 22-19 on the road where they’ve put upwards of $650 in their baseball betting backer’s pockets. Since Texas shockingly lost its home opener in its series against the Cleveland Indians last night, the Halos deficit in the AL West standings remains at 3.5-games and they sit 4.5-games in back of the AL Wild Card leading Tampa Bay Rays.

After dropping its road series at Kansas City, manager Ozzie Guillen’s White Sox stormed the Ball Park in Arlington and took two of three from the 1st place Rangers. They then returned home and took it to another AL West opponent last night after the offense erupted for nine runs on nine hits to win for the sixth time in their L/10 tries ($275). The clubs recent run of success now finds them just one-game in back of the AL Central leading Detroit Tigers and 5.5-games out in the AL Wild Card chase.

Los Angeles Angels (46-39, $446) vs. Chicago White Sox (43-38, $347)
Game Date/Time: Tuesday, July 6th, 8:10 ET
Game Location: US Cellular Field, Chicago, IL
TV/Radio Broadcast: FOX-West, WCIU, XM

MLB Odds: Los Angeles Angels +1.5 -230 -115 (Jered Weaver – R) vs. Chicago White Sox -1.5 +190 -105 (Jake Peavy – R): Total 7.5 O -105 7.5 U -115

Jered Weaver has been nothing short of exceptional throughout his L/4 starts having gone 3-0 during that stretch and allowing only 14 hits and five ER’s while churning out an incredible K/BB ratio of 35/4; he’s tossed seven innings in each of his L/3 starts. He’s 5-2 with a 3.56 ERA & 1.13 WHIP in nine road starts this season; Anaheim is 5-4 with him leading its charge as a visitor. He’s been at his best under the lights (5-1, 3.09 ERA), and has flourished immensely against the White Sox going 4-0 with a 0.52 ERA & 0.72 WHIP in five career starts.

Though he ended up putting forth his fifth straight quality start, Palehose righty Jake Peavy saw his winning streak get snapped at three in a row his last time out at Kansas City. The Royals got to him for seven hits and three ER’s through his six innings of work to hand him his sixth loss of the 2010 baseball betting season. The defeat dropped him to 2-1 with a 1.23 ERA & 0.86 WHIP his L/3 outings, but now he returns home to “The Cell” where he’ll look to match the effort he exhibited against the Cubs his last time there. Chicago’s 3-4 in his seven 2010 home starts, and in two career outings against the Halos, Peavy stands 0-2 with a bloated 5.79 ERA & 1.14 WHIP.

MLB Insider Tip: Very interested to see how the Angels rebound from last night’s drubbing; in short, I don’t believe they will. Chicago is playing some outstanding ball right now in all facets of the game, and I just feel they’re way too hot to get in front of right now; especially at home. LA got back into the AL West race with an outstanding road trip at the beginning of June, but prior to that, they were pretty much left for dead. I believe the injuries are finally starting to catch up to them, and the adrenaline they’ve been running on is starting to taper off. Chicago got off to a tremendously slow start to the season, but they’ve been firing on all cylinders ever since Interleague play picked back up in the middle of June.

They’ve defeated each of the L/6 +.500 opponents that invaded US Cellular Field, and my MLB predictions for Game 2 of this series have them keeping that mark perfectly intact!

My MLB Prediction: Chicago White Sox (Peavy)
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The brooms could potentially be busted out at PNC Park on Thursday night, as the Chicago White Sox look to secure the clubs first road sweep of the season against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

After pulling away in the later innings of the series opener to secure a 6-4 win, Chicago busted out the lumber early and crushed the Pirates in Game 2 en route to securing the dominating 7-2 road victory. John Danks climbed above the .500 mark with his sixth win of the season, and the White Sox won for the sixth time in their L/7 games played (+$541).
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Manager Ozzie Guillen’s men come into tonight’s finale winners in 15 of their 31 overall road games (+$133).The defeat only added to the Buccos miserable 2010 baseball betting campaign that’s seen them manage only 23 wins on the year; the loss was manager John Russell’s clubs 10th in a row and dropped them to 14-17 in their own house (+$116).

Chicago White Sox (33-27, +$1,025) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (39-20, +$932)
Game Date/Time: Thursday, June 17th, 7:05 ET
Game Location: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
TV/Radio Broadcast: WGN, FOX-Pittsburgh, XM

MLB Odds: Chicago White Sox -1.5 +130 -130 (Mark Buehrle – L) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates +1.5 -150 +110(Ross Ohlendorf – R): Total 8.5 O -105 8.5 U -115

If only Mark Buehrle could pitch against the Chicago Cubs for all of his remaining 2010 starts. After getting throttled by both the Cleveland Indians and Texas Rangers in his previous two starts, the lefty dominated the Cubs en route to throwing 6.2 innings of shutout ball to win for just the fourth time this season. He struck out a season high seven batters and issued not a walk. The victory improved him to 4-6 on the year and lowered his ERA to 4.93 and WHIP to 1.46. Chicago is 6-7 in his 13 starts overall, but they’ve managed to win only two of his six road starts where he’s 1-4 with a 4.68 ERA and a has allowed 42 hits and 21 runs (17 ER) through 32.2 total innings of work. He’s fared very well against the Pirates throughout his career, and it was only until last season that Pittsburgh managed to win a game he started against them. He’s 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA & 1.20 WHIP in four career starts vs. the Buccos, and Chicago’s won each of his L/4 starts against NL Central opposition.

RHP Ross Ohlendorf is yet to pick up a victory in eight 2010 MLB betting outings. After earning a pair of no decisions in his previous two starts, the righty took the loss against Detroit his last time out after allowing 10 hits and six ER’s through six innings of work. Pittsburgh is 2-6 with him leading their charge and opponents are batting .278 against him on the year. He’s been somewhat better at PNC Park where his ERA drops to 4.56 allowing 25 hits through 25.2 total IP. His lone appearance against the White Sox came last season where he held Chicago in check to the tune of six hits (2 HR) and three ER’s through 7.2 innings of work. The Pirates have dropped each of his L/3 Game 3 starts of a series, but they’re a $$$-making 6-1 the L/7 times he was installed a home underdog up to +150.

MLB Insider Tip: Chicago’s been a major disappointment throughout the early stages of the 2010 baseball betting season, but they’re currently playing some decent ball of late. Granted, it’s against less than stellar opposition, but why look to fade them now; especially against a team that hasn’t won a game since June 5th.

The Palehose have dominated this Interleague betting rivalry winning seven of the L/8 meetings dating back to the 2008 season. They missed out on their chance of sweeping the Cubs at Wrigley Field in the series before this, and my MLB predictions for the finale don’t foresee them letting the opportunity slip through their fingers once again.

My MLB Prediction: Chicago White Sox (Buehrle)
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Toronto Blue Jays vs. Chicago White Sox
Free Pick: Chicago White Sox -170 (Danks)
Courtesy of Mike Rose (Handicapperspicks.com)
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The Blue Jays continued to be one of the best road teams in baseball yesterday afternoon at Progressive Field rallying for three runs in the top of the 9th to steal the series finale and pull off the sweep of the Cleveland Indians; the victory improved manager Cito Gaston’s club to 9-3 (+$924) as a visitor on the year.

The White Sox clawed over the .500 mark at home last night after it jumped on Royals starter Brian Bannister early with four runs in the 1st inning and cruised to the 9-2 home victory. They’re 8-7 (-$65) at “The Cell” to date.

Lefty Dana Eveland made a solid impression on his new teammates throughout his first three starts of the season. Each was a dominating effort where he allowed two ER’s or less. However, in his L/2 outings, the burly lefty has labored.

Toronto has dropped both after he allowed seven ER’s through three IP vs. the Red Sox and four ER’s through 6.2 IP vs. the A’s. All in all, Eveland stands 2-1 on the year with a 4.76 ERA & 1.59 WHIP. He’s allowed 32 hits and 15 earned runs through 28.1 IP and owns an unimpressive K/BB ratio of 13/13.

John Danks has been the one consistent hurler on manager Ozzie Guillen’s staff this season. The lefty enters his fifth start a perfect 3-0 with a 1.85 ERA & 1.00 WHIP. He’s allowed just 25 hits and seven ER’s through 34 total innings of work and boasts a rock solid K/BB ratio of 27/9.

This will be his first career start against the Blue Jays at home. In four outings at Rogers Centre, the lefty stands 1-2 with a 5.03 ERA & 1.53 WHIP. He toyed with the BJ’s offense back in mid April of this season allowing just two hits and an ER through seven IP of Chicago’s dominating 11-1 road victory.

Not a big fan of laying this type of chalk at all, but it looks to be well warranted in this spot.

Though Toronto is one of the best road teams in the game, I believe the baseball gods will punish them for pulling that win out of their behinds yesterday afternoon; the Tribe had them dead to rights and blew it.

I’m also of the belief that Eveland will continue his downward trend and get rocked by a Palehose outfit he made look foolish last month. Danks will continue to be Danks against Toronto who’s allowed two ER’s or less in 3/4 career stars vs. the BJ’s.

After getting off to a slow start, Chicago’s snagged victories in five of its L/6 home games, and its 7-1 in Danks’ L/8 outings vs. the AL East. As for Toronto, it may have taken six of its L/8 games played in Chicago, but it’s also failed to tally a “W” against each of the L/5 southpaws it’s faced.