MLB Picks: September 27th 2011
CLICK HERE FOR TODAY’S PREMIUM MLB PICKS

Pick: Philadelphia Phillies -104
The Phillies 4-2 win over Atlanta on Monday showed me that this team isn’t going to just roll over the final three games of the season and let the Braves walk into the playoffs. I actually think Philadelphia would prefer that the Braves don’t make it. They figure to have a great shot at winning game 2 of the series with Roy Oswalt on the mound against Derek Lowe. Oswalt has dominated the Braves since joining the Phillies, he is 1-0 with a 1.71 ERA in four starts with three of those starts resulting in Phillies wins. Lowe has not had much success of late against Philadelphia, allowing 9 ER on 18 hits over 11 innings in his last two starts. Lowe is also 0-3 with a 7.98 ERA and 1.978 WHIP in his last three starts. Philadelphia is 10-2 in their last 12 road games vs. a team with a winning record and 12-4 in their last 16 games following a win. BET THE PHILLIES! -Steve Janus

Pick: Florida Marlins -152
I like the Marlins with Vazquez on the mound tonight. The Marlins have won each of his last 6 starts, during which he has only allowed a total of 4 earned runs in 43 innings. He has been nearly unhittable recently, not allowing a run in his last 3 starts spanning 22 innings. He’s also won his last 2 starts against the Nats, giving up only 1 run in 16 innings of work. Lannan hasn’t been as good for Washington, and the Nationals are 2-6 in his last 8 starts as a result. They are 1-4 in his last 5 starts vs. the Marlins. The Nationals are 20-51 in the last 71 meetings in this series and 17-35 in the last 52 meetings in Florida. We’ll take the Marlins. -Jimmy Boyd

Pick: Yankees vs. Rays Under 8.5
The Rays are now tied with the BoSox for the wildcard and for Tampa Bay’s part, this is a playoff series. Hellickson is 3-2 with a 2.03 ERA in his L7 starts for the homies. Bartolo Colon was lit by the Ray at the Stadium just five days ago but has good numbers at the Trop and July 19th lost this same matchup with Hellickson 3-2. The Yankees are resting their regualrs and the series is 6-2 to the under in L8. Further, Ray home games are 49-25 Low. Runs will be tough to come in this playoff atmosphere. Play the Under. -Dennis Macklin (Handicapperspicks.com)

MLB Picks: September 7th 2011
CLICK HERE FOR TODAY’S EXPERT MLB PICKS

Pick: Atlanta Braves +122
Off back-to-back losses, I like the Atlanta Braves to bounce back in a big way Wednesday against the NL East-leading Philadelphia Phillies. Atlanta has not lost three straight games since 7/31-8/2, so this has been a very resilient bunch. The Braves have the edge on the mound tonight with Brandon Beachy over Roy Oswalt. Beachy is 7-2 with a 3.37 ERA and 1.155 WHIP in 21 starts this season, striking out a whopping 135 batters in 120 1/3 innings. Oswalt has been the weak link on Philly’s staff in 2011. The veteran righty is 7-8 with a 3.80 ERA and 1.409 WHIP in 19 starts, striking out only 69 batters in 104 1/3 innings. He just hasn’t been quite right all season as he deals with various injuries. Oswalt is 3-3 with a 4.70 ERA and 1.451 WHIP in 12 career starts against Atlanta. Atlanta is 19-5 after 2 or more consecutive losses this season. The Braves are a very profitable 15-8 as a road underdog of +100 to +150 this season. The Braves are a perfect 8-0 in their last 8 games after losing the first 2 games of a series. The Phillies are 0-6 in Oswalt’s last 6 starts vs. a team with a winning record. Bet Atlanta Wednesday. -Jack Jones

Pick: San Francisco Giants -138
On Wednesday The Free MLB System play is on the SF. Giants. Game 951 at 6:35 eastern. The Giants fit a nice system here tonight that plays on road favorites with a total of 8 or less off a road favored win by 2 or more runs with a total that was 8 or less, if they scored 5+ runs and had 10+ hits and 5+ men left on base, vs an opponent off a home dog loss of 2 or more scored 4 or less runs with 5+ men left on base and no more than 1 error. This long winded system has cashed 16 of 19 times. The Giants have won 15 of 21 on Wednesday their best day of the week. The Padres have lost 4 of 5 as a home dog in this range and are hitting just .217 the past week. They have lost 17 of 24 in the second half vs Winning teams. The Giants have won 6 of 8 here this season and have M. Cain on the mound. Cain has a superb 2.81 road era which trumps the 3.79 home era of Pare starter A. Harang. Look for the Giants to get the win. On Wednesday the 3 game power Pack will get you over the hump led by the NL Total of the Month from a 100% Totals system + 14-1, and 16-2 system plays. All games are evening plays. Tuesday bases swept the board. Jump on and be on the giving end of Hump day. For the free play take the Giants. -Rob Vinciletti

Pick: Chicago White Sox -128
The Twins are pure fade material right now as they have more or less packed it in. They are just 16-36 in their last 52 overall and 6-22 in their last 28 home games. The White Sox, meanwhile, are 14-6 in their last 20 road games, and they have especially been dangerous in the road chalk. The Sox are 10-1 in their last 11 games as a road favorite and 9-0 in their last 9 games as a road favorite of -110 to -150. Chicago is 8-1 in Danks’ last 9 starts as a favorite and 4-0 in his last 4 starts as a favorite of -110 to -150. The Twins, meanwhile, are 0-4 in Pavano’s last 4 home starts and 1-6 in his last 7 starts as a home underdog. The White Sox are 8-1 in the last 9 meetings in this series and 6-0 in the last 6 meetings in Minnesota. Take the South Siders. -Jimmy Boyd (Handicapperspicks.com)

MLB Picks: May 17th 2011
CLICK HERE FOR TODAY’S PREMIUM MLB PICKS

Pick: Philadelphia Phillies +133
On Tuesday the Free MLB System Play is on the Philles. Game 961 at 8:15 eastern as we look to take free plays to 11-1. The Cardinals fit a system that plays against favorites and has cashed for the dog 70% of the time. The Philles are 9-1 vs leftys and 8-3 on the road when the total is 7 or less. They come in off 3 losses and take on the Cardinal team that has lost both times in game 2 of a home series when winning the first game. Oswalt make his first start in over 3 weeks for the Phils and he has a fine 3.15 era vs the Cards. The Phillies also have a solid bullpen that has a 1.98 era. Look for the Phillies to give St. Louis starter all he can handle here tonight. The Phillies are a live dog. On Tuesday I have a Rare 19-1 6* NL Divisional Goy that has 4 angles. I also have a Triple System NBA Play. Jump on and cash Big tonight. For the free play take the Phillies. -Rob Vinciletti

Pick: Florida Marlins -117
The close wins keep piling up for the Florida Marlins, who are within one game of division-leading Philadelphia in the National League East after Monday’s 2-1 win in 11 innings over the Mets. The Marlins will look to finish a two-game sweep of their division rival at New York on Tuesday. The Marlins improved to 12-4 in one-run games, while the Mets dropped to 3-9 in games decided by that margin. By virtue of their 11 inning 2-1 victory over the Mets combined with Philadelphia’s loss to St Louis, the Marlins have climbed to within one game of the top spot in the National League East. Florida has won three of four while the Phillies have dropped three straight for the first time this season. The Marlins drive for first place has much to do with their success away from home where they are a national League best 12- on the road and are currently 3-1 on their five game road swing. TAKE FLORIDA MINUS -Bob Wingerter (Handicapperspicks.com)

Our Wednesday night MLB predictions take us to Citizens Bank Park for the second game of the non-divisional NL series battle between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies; first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 ET.
CLICK HERE TO OPEN A BETTING ACCOUNT AT BETUS

Tuesday night’s series opener was a slugfest right from the onset as both clubs managed to combine for 11 runs through the first five innings of play. Unfortunately for Philly, it was the Dodgers that tallied seven of those runs, and they ultimately cruised to the impressive 15-9 road victory to increase their winning streak to three in a row.

The triumph also halted Manager Joe Torre’s clubs road losing streak at five in a row to move them to 23-30 (-$797) as a visitor to date. With Tim Lincecum and the Giants falling as hefty favorites to the Chicago Cubs, LA now trails the NL Wild Card leaders by five-games.

The defeat was only the Phillies second in their L/8 overall games played ($385), but with the Braves scoring the 4-2 home victory against the Houston Astros, Manager Charlie Manuel’s defending NL Champs fell 2.5-games back in the NL East standings.

Los Angeles Dodgers (59-54, -$564) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (62-50, -$183)
Game Date/Time: Wednesday, August 11th, 7:05 ET
Game Location: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
TV/Radio Broadcast: FOX – Prime Ticket, Comcast (Philadelphia) XM

Chad Billingsley has been stuck on win #9 since the end of July as the righty just hasn’t gotten any run support to complement his fine pitching. He’s allowed just nine hits and three ER’s through his L/12.2 innings of work, but his teammates managed to plate him a grand total of one run during that stretch. He’s been at his best away from Dodgers Stadium where he stands 5-2 with a stellar 2.95 ERA & K/BB ratio of 53/21.

Los Angeles Dodgers is 6-2 in his L/8 road starts and he’s fared well at ‘CBP’ throughout his career going 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA while K’ing 19 through 20 IP and allowing zero long balls.

Roy Oswalt’s arm picked a heck of a time to die out on him. In a pair of starts since coming over from the Houston Astros at the trade deadline, the righty is 0-1 with a no decision and has allowed 10 hits and six ER’s with a K/BB ratio of 9/6 through 12.1 total IP. He says he goes through this “dead arm” period every season.

If ever a team presented him with a chance to tally his first career victory as a member of the Phillies, it would be the Dodgers. The Astros won each of his L/4 starts against them dating back to 2007, and in his career, he’s 6-2 with a 3.39 ERA & 1.13 WHIP in nine overall appearances.

MLB Insider Tip : The City of Brotherly Love has waited patiently for Roy-O to show them why they traded a number of solid prospects for him a couple weeks ago. I feel with the weather being of the hot and sticky variety, it will loosen the righty’s arm up and help him toss some of his nastiest stuff in weeks.

Billingsley’s been locked in ever since he got bludgeoned for seven runs on 10 hits in St. Louis back on July 16 th, and he’s churned out quality outings three of the four times he’s pitched in the Philadelphia Phillies.

Seven of his 11 road outings have come in under the closing ‘total’ while 13 of Oswalt’s 21 ‘total’ decisions have stayed on the low side of the number. My MLB predictions have the starters ruling the night with the bullpens keeping things in order to cash this ‘under’ ticket.

My MLB Prediction: Los Angeles/Philadelphia Under (Billingsley/Oswalt)
Source: BetUS Locker Room Featured on: Handicapperspicks.com

Chicago Cubs vs. New York Mets
Free Pick: New York Mets +119
Courtesy of Mike Rose (Handicapperspicks.com)
Click here for expert baseball picks from Mike Rose

The Monday night MLB slate takes us to Citi Field where the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets will partake in the first of three battles with both clubs looking to turn the page on very disappointing weekends.

The Cubs took the first of their three-game weekend set with the Houston Astros on Friday, but Roy Oswalt shut them down on Saturday and then Carlos Marmol blew his first save of the year on Sunday which set Houston up for the extra innings win yesterday afternoon.

The Mets played a ton of baseball in St. Louis over the weekend having played in the 7+ hour 20 inning game on Saturday. With the series tied at a game apiece heading into last night’s game, the Mets failed to hold onto a 3-0 lead and dropped the fourth straight betting series to start their 2010 campaign.

The Cubs have won each of RHP Randy Wells first two starts of the season; he gets his third call to the bump 1-0 with a 2.92 ERA & 1.54 WHIP along with an 8/3 K/BB ratio. He has however allowed 16 hits in just 12.1 total innings of work, and opponents are batting .327 against him.

Niese has gotten off to quite a rocky start his season. He enters his third outing of the year 0-1 with a bloated 6.55 ERA having given up 17 hits and eight ER’s through 11 total innings of work.

I simply do not believe in the Cubs enough to back them as short road chalk in this spot. The offense is way too inconsistent, and the bullpen has been a freaking nightmare; just ask Ryan Dempster how he feels about the guys backing him up.

The Cubs have tallied victories in just six of their L/19 trips to the Big Apple, and they’re eight-games under .500 on the road the L/3 seasons (79-87).

Niese may not have the endurance needed to go deep against better than average offensive attacks, but the Cubs are hardly that, and he’s got the second best ranked bullpen backing him up.

Because of that, I’m backing Niese and the Mets as short home dowgs in this one.