Record 30 - 36
Bank Account +174
Padres at Cubs - Why bet on a game with these two pathetic teams? Good question, but now that the Cubs are hitting I will take my chances with Ryan Dempster who is win less in his last 17 starts, but has an ERA of 3.61 while the Cubs have averaged only 2.2 runs a game for Dempster. Anthony Bass who will duel with Dempster today is coming off a beating by the Mets in which he gave up six runs in 5 1/3 innings. However, Bass has been pretty solid this year in total with a 3.55 ERA. This is more of a gut play than a numbers play I will admit as the Cubs look for the sweep.
TV's Take: Cubs -130/Bet $130 to win $100
Nats at Marlins - Another gut play says the Nats avoid the sweep as they face a struggling Josh Johnson today. I am a huge Johnson fan, but something is not right. This guy is a legit Top 5 pitcher when healthy. Johnson enters the game with a 4.87 ERA which is so not Johnson like. He will face Chien-Ming Wang who will be making his first start of the year. Wang was effective in his first appearance of the year coming out of the pen on Friday to get the win vs the Braves. I am betting on Bryce Harper to remain hot and the Nats to avoid the sweep.
TV's Take: Nats +155/Bet $100 to win $155
Orioles at Blue Jays - Another game that is more of a gut feeling. I like Brandon Morrow a lot to bounce back from his worst start of his career and considering Toronto has won six of their last seven home games. Is Brett Lawrie ready to go nuts? Morrow allowed 4 ER in 7 innings back in April vs the Orioles. Toronto has scored 14 runs in the first two games of this series. The Orioles will counter with Jason Hammel who already who is 4-0 with a 2.93 ERA in four career starts vs the Blue Jays. Here is the kicker...Morrow is awesome during day games as he has a 0.32 ERA in four starts during the day compared with a 6.03 ERA in six night starts. I'm backing Morrow to bounce back and a Toronto sweep. Note just noticed this is a 6:05 start, but I am going to stick with Morrow.
TV's Take: Blue Jays -140/Bet $140 to win $100
Mariners at Rangers - The pesky Mariners are going down hard today! Both Derek Holland (6-1, 3.07 ERA) and Blake Beaven (1-2, 1.71 ERA) have solid track records against each opponent, but the Rangers coming off a 10-3 loss sounds like a perfect spot to wager. Holland has been excellent in May with a 2.70 ERA and just 8 walks in 26 2/3 innings. When Holland is not walking a bunch of hitters he is excellent. This is my play of the day using the Run Line at -1.5 -120 as the Money Line is an insane -240.
TV's Take: Rangers -1.5 -120/Bet $240 to win $200