Sport: MLBPick Selection: UNDER in sea vs bal, SFG @ sdg, PHI @ stl
UNDER mariners ? With Garrett Olson?s 5.90 ERA and Jarrod Washburn?s 5-9 record and 4.50 ERA, it is highly unlikely that people will be lining up to throw down big bucks on the under here! However, that?s just how we like it as that means there should be line value all day long with this one as the total should stay up around at least a nine! Even though Seattle is coming off of some very high-scoring games, this had a whole lot to do with playing in Texas and much less to do with the potency of the Mariners offense. In other words, now that the M?s have returned to Safeco Field look for a return to their normal, low-scoring ways! Facing Olson could prove to be quite a challenge. The Orioles left-hander may not impress with his overall full-season numbers but he?s coming off of a solid outing against the Angels. That was the second time in his last three starts that Olson has allowed just seven innings in a six inning stint. Keep in mind that those two outings we?re referencing came against the LA Angels and the Detroit Tigers. That?s a pair of very strong offenses and the Mariners aren?t in the ?same league? as those clubs. In other words, look for a strong start from Olson tonight. As for the Mariners Washburn, he has allowed two earned runs or less in eight of his last nine starts! Like Olson, this southpaw is an example of where you will get burned if you rely too heavily on full season numbers. Washburn has been throwing very well since early June and he should absolutely dominate in this game tonight. Like the Mariners, the Orioles lineup has also produced some big numbers recently but there?s a big difference between playing on the East Coast and playing in a pitcher-friendly ballpark out west. Grab the value as this one should stay well UNDER!GIANTS ? The Giants actually have a better record on the road than at home this season. While San Francisco?s 24-29 road record certainly may not impress note that it is still better than the Padres ridiculous 24-32 record at home this season. Indeed, Petco Park has not been kind to San Diego this season and, overall, the Padres have lost 11 of their last 16 games! The Pads have averaged just 4.25 runs per game during this rough stretch and this is nothing new as San Diego continues to be one of the weakest teams in baseball. They?ll be doing battle tonight with a Giants club that has won five of the eight meetings between the teams this season. Also, San Francisco is a perfect 2-0 in their two games at Petco Park this season. The Padres scored just two runs combined in those two games and more offensive futility is likely today! That?s because San Diego will be dealing with Tim Lincecum of the Giants. The young right-hander has simply been phenomenal this season. The 24 year-old is 11-3 this year with a 2.78 ERA. He?s only getting hit at a .243 clip this season and a .235 batting average in his career! Lincecum is 1-1 in his career against the Padres but in his five starts against them he?s compiled a 1.38 ERA and they?ve hit just .210 against him. Also, Lincecum has struck out an amazing 61 in his last 45 innings on the mound! This guy is simply dominating and we see no reason for that to come to a stop tonight. As for the Padres, they send Josh Banks to the mound. After an impressive start to this season, Banks is starting to fade. Overall, he?s allowed ten homers in his last eight appearances. He did have a very strong start against San Francisco but that was much earlier this season. More recently, Banks has only lasted six innings in one of his last seven starts! The right-hander has allowed four runs or more in four of his last five starts! This is a case of two pitchers going in opposite directions and the line value with the Giants and Lincecum as a small favorite is what made this a definite play! PHILLIES ? The Phillies come into this series with the Cardinals red hot. They have won five straight games and they?ve averaged eight runs per game in those wins! Worried about the Phillies because they?re on the road here? Don?t be! The Phillies road record of 30-25 is a mirror image of the Cards home record. Also, the Cardinals are just 4-7 their last eleven games and their lineup has recently been weakened because of missing the bat of Rick Ankiel. A weakened lineup is bad news when facing the Phillies because their lineup is devastating when it?s clicking on all cylinders and that certainly is the case right now! The Phillies are unlikely to slow down against Kyle Loshe of the Cardinals. The St Louis right-hander did have a strong start against the Phillies earlier this season but he got hammered at Shea Stadium in his most recent outings as the Mets got to him for seven runs on eleven hits in five innings! Even though the Cardinals scored quite well in their series at Atlanta there is still no denying that they would like to have a healthy Ankiel again. Runs could be tough to come by for the Cards tonight because they face Cole Hamels of the Phils. The Philadelphia southpaw is capable of dominating and, although he is coming off of a rough start, he had previously gone at least seven innings in 18 of his 21 starts! That type of effort hands the ball over to the ?best of the best? in the Phils bullpen and that is a key to the Phils overall success with Hamels on the mound. One of Hamels dominating starts came on July 8th when he held the Cardinals to just two earned runs while striking out eight! Opponents are hitting just .215 against Hamels this season and, in five career starts against the Cardinals, the left-hander has held them to a .226 batting average. Ride the hot team here and, while doing so, you?ll also be riding one of the best left-handed pitchers in the majors! Good value offered here with the Phillies and Hamels at a low price!
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