We're
back for another edition of our baseball picks of the day. What kinds of value are on offer from the sportsbooks today and how can we take advantage?
It was a split for us yesterday as Johan Santana got into
trouble early and the Mets couldn't bail him out despite a late rally.
Fortunately, the Athletics came through with another home win
over the Yankees. Tommy Milone pitched a stellar game but didn't get the win
because Oakland's bullpen surrendered two solo shots late in the ballgame.
Still, the As did manage to win in the bottom of the ninth on an RBI single
from Brandon Moss.
With another hefty slate of baseball in store for us on
Saturday, we're hoping to sweep the board with two sizable home favorites on
the run line. Here we go.
Cleveland Indians vs. Baltimore Orioles
The Indians aim to bounce back tonight after getting
hammered 10-2 last night in the opener against Baltimore. The Orioles have now
won three straight, but we're picking their little run to come to an end
against Zach McAllister and company.
McAllister is pitching the best he has all season right now,
lowering his ERA from 4.34 to 3.17 over his last six starts.
The 6-6, 240 pound monster is 2-0 with a 3.03 ERA in five
starts at Progressive Field and has already faced the Orioles once this season,
going nearly six innings while allowing two earned runs in a 7-2 victory.
This play may be more of a fade on Baltimore pitcher Chris
Tillman, though.
Tillman had electric stuff in his first start of the season, but then couldn't even get out of the first inning the other day against
Minnesota. That pretty much sums up Tillman's short three-year MLB career so
far – inconsistency has prevented him from stamping out a regular place on this
pitching staff.
The Indians' bats may have gone a little dormant over the
past couple of games; however, we think this could be the night where that changes.
Play the Cleveland Indians -1.5 (+130)
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Houston Astros
We like the Diamondbacks tonight at home as they try to
build on a 13-8 opening win against the lowly Astros.
Houston has lost 17 of their last 19 and are a dreadful
10-39 on the road, the worst mark in the majors.
The Astros originally had J.A. Happ scheduled to start, but
he was recently traded, meaning Dallas Keuchel will get the call. The lefty is
1-1 with a 2.45 ERA in four starts this season, but owns a 4.22 ERA on the road
so far.
He'll be pitching at Chase Field in Phoenix, one of the most
hitter-friendly parks in the bigs. That definitely favors the Diamondbacks and
not the Astros, who rank in the bottom five in essentially every offensive
category imaginable.
Meanwhile, Arizona's bats have woken up as the team's scored
at least seven runs in three straight games.
We're also digging the fact Wade Miley's on the mound
tonight considering he's 6-2 with a 2.72 ERA in nine appearances at home this
season. We'll be taking Miley and the Diamondbacks on the run line here in the
second game of the series.
Play
the Arizona Diamondbacks -1.5 (+105)