It's only Tuesday! There's plenty more time in the week to rack up some winners, so let's jump right in.
Todays Free Pick is the Chicago White Sox over the Cleveland Indians @ -115 (1.86).
There is one or two stats that needed no explaining. Since being sent to the Chicago White Sox from Arizona in a mid season trade, Chicago's hurler Edwin Jackson has a 2-0 record with a tiny 0.96 ERA, while Cleveland's Justin Masterson is 2-2 in his last 5 games with a moderate ERA of 3.68. The stat that really did it for me (besides Jacksons 8-10 record 4.44 ERA and Mastersons 5-12 record 5.23 ERA) was that in his lifetime, Edwin Jackson is 5-1 with a minuscule 2.56 ERA while Masterson is at 1-2. Jackson seems to really have Cleveland's number and has dominated them for 5 wins and Cleveland has been held to a batting average of just over .200.
Putting the pitchers aside for a second, is the simple fact that Manny Ramirez is available for the White Sox tonight. He is assumed to be put in the DH spot, so you don't have to worry about his laughable fielding abilities. However, Ozzie Guillen also made is clear that Manny may not start in tonight's game, but he will be available to call on as a designated hitter in any tight situation. Manny being Manny, he excels at these tight, game altering situations. Look for the Chicago White Sox who are clawing for that playoff spot to sneak a win out of the basement dwelling Cleveland Indians.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Today's Free Play - Mike
I'm off to another solid start this week winning last night with the Chicago White Sox. Tonight we look to remain perfect as we head to the west coast for todays free play with...
Colorado Rockies vs San Francisco Giants over 8.0 @ -115 (1.86)
In this game the odds makers are putting a ton of faith in rookie pitcher Madison Bumgarner of the Giants. Bumgarner is a great up and coming pitcher but the problem for him this season is the pressure of the home crowd. Rather then using the crowd to pitch better its been negative results for him thus far. In 5 home starts he is 0-2 with a 6.04 ERA, yet on the road he sports an impressive 2.62 ERA with a 5-2 record. With the pressure building for the Giants in the division and wild card race expect Bumgarner to have another tough time at home.
For the Rockies we have Esmil Rogers who hasn't really shown any signs of being a solid major league pitcher. In his last three starts Rogers is 0-0 with a 7.90 ERA. Rogers would have an abysmal record but he gets a ton of run support from the Rockies offense thus keeping his record at 2-2 even at a 5.66 ERA.
There should be a ton of runs in this one. Take the over.
Colorado Rockies vs San Francisco Giants over 8.0 @ -115 (1.86)
In this game the odds makers are putting a ton of faith in rookie pitcher Madison Bumgarner of the Giants. Bumgarner is a great up and coming pitcher but the problem for him this season is the pressure of the home crowd. Rather then using the crowd to pitch better its been negative results for him thus far. In 5 home starts he is 0-2 with a 6.04 ERA, yet on the road he sports an impressive 2.62 ERA with a 5-2 record. With the pressure building for the Giants in the division and wild card race expect Bumgarner to have another tough time at home.
For the Rockies we have Esmil Rogers who hasn't really shown any signs of being a solid major league pitcher. In his last three starts Rogers is 0-0 with a 7.90 ERA. Rogers would have an abysmal record but he gets a ton of run support from the Rockies offense thus keeping his record at 2-2 even at a 5.66 ERA.
There should be a ton of runs in this one. Take the over.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Today's Free Pick - Simon
A new week has started, which means a new round of betting madness begins. Let's be ambitious and go undefeated this week! After taking a glance at the lines for tonight, there was one that simply blew my mind!
Oakland Athletics and New York Yankees under 9.5 @ -105 (1.95).
It's always tough to pick the under with the Yankees as they have such dominating power. However tonight, Oakland puts Trevor Cahill at 14-5 with a 2.43 ERA and the Yankees counter with Dustin Moseley at 4-2 with a 4.53 ERA. Even with Cahill on the mound, it's still going to be a tough, hard working start, but Cahill has a couple bonuses his way. A-Rod is still on the disabled list for this game, as well as Teixeira! As much talent and power as the Yankees have, these are two of the Yankees most accomplished power hitters. Cahill has been rather untouchable lately, and has recently added in a very solid curve ball to his plethora of pitches. He's a very dangerous guy who holds batters to a minuscule .202 batting average which leads the league. The Yankees have also not been their usual dangerous selves only scoring more then 4 runs in two of their last 6 games. Oakland is not a huge threat of hitting up bombs, as they literally have the worst home run total in the entire MLB. Look for the game to be a low scoring affair.
Oakland Athletics and New York Yankees under 9.5 @ -105 (1.95).
It's always tough to pick the under with the Yankees as they have such dominating power. However tonight, Oakland puts Trevor Cahill at 14-5 with a 2.43 ERA and the Yankees counter with Dustin Moseley at 4-2 with a 4.53 ERA. Even with Cahill on the mound, it's still going to be a tough, hard working start, but Cahill has a couple bonuses his way. A-Rod is still on the disabled list for this game, as well as Teixeira! As much talent and power as the Yankees have, these are two of the Yankees most accomplished power hitters. Cahill has been rather untouchable lately, and has recently added in a very solid curve ball to his plethora of pitches. He's a very dangerous guy who holds batters to a minuscule .202 batting average which leads the league. The Yankees have also not been their usual dangerous selves only scoring more then 4 runs in two of their last 6 games. Oakland is not a huge threat of hitting up bombs, as they literally have the worst home run total in the entire MLB. Look for the game to be a low scoring affair.
Today's Free Play - Mike
A new week is upon us and we kick things off with a solid free play on a tight board tonight. There isn't too much out there too nibble at, but its worth laying the juice tonight on...
Chicago White Sox over Cleveland Indians @ -135 (1.74)
With Manny Ramirez now on the horizon expect the borderline Chicago players to be digging deep in hopes of maintaining playing time. If Chicago is gonna make a run for the division which they are now poised to do with the Manny acquisition, it needs to start now. Mark Beuhrle is having a decent season with the Sox going 12-10 with a 3.93 ERA but in the midst of a playoff race his veteran presence will prove valuable on the mound tonight.
For the Indians, Mitch Talbot is battling to get back on track this season. He has not gone past the 6th inning of a game since June 26th which also happened to be his last victory. Thats a stretch of 8 games. Too add to the struggles he is 0-2 with a 7.36 ERA in August. Talbot cant wait for September to turn a new page, but unfortunately for him August isn`t quite over and Talbot will struggle as he has.
Take the White Sox on the money line.
Chicago White Sox over Cleveland Indians @ -135 (1.74)
With Manny Ramirez now on the horizon expect the borderline Chicago players to be digging deep in hopes of maintaining playing time. If Chicago is gonna make a run for the division which they are now poised to do with the Manny acquisition, it needs to start now. Mark Beuhrle is having a decent season with the Sox going 12-10 with a 3.93 ERA but in the midst of a playoff race his veteran presence will prove valuable on the mound tonight.
For the Indians, Mitch Talbot is battling to get back on track this season. He has not gone past the 6th inning of a game since June 26th which also happened to be his last victory. Thats a stretch of 8 games. Too add to the struggles he is 0-2 with a 7.36 ERA in August. Talbot cant wait for September to turn a new page, but unfortunately for him August isn`t quite over and Talbot will struggle as he has.
Take the White Sox on the money line.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Today's Free Play - Mike
Looking at the board tonight, a juicy dog has caught my eye. This is going to be a great game to watch in the 3 team race in the AL East, between the Red Sox, Rays and Yankees.
Todays free play is...
Boston Red Sox over the Tampa Bay Rays @ +129 (2.29)
The Red Sox are 5.5 games back of both the Rays and the Yankees for both the wild card and the division. Coming off a loss last night expect the Red Sox bounce back and not lose 2 games to the Rays in a row at such a key point in the season. John Lackey, pitching for the Sox, is coming off one of his best performances of the season against Seattle.
Shields is the Rays starter in the contest tonight and he's one win away from being the franchise leader in wins. This combined with the intensity and importance of the upcoming game is going to be overwhelming for the pitcher who's going to be a little more nervous then usual. Shields has struggled against the Red Sox over the years with a 4-9 record and a 5.25 ERA. This a great spot for the Red Sox who need to find a way to get a win in what may be the difference maker for them this season.
The Red Sox will come through, take them on the money line.
Todays free play is...
Boston Red Sox over the Tampa Bay Rays @ +129 (2.29)
The Red Sox are 5.5 games back of both the Rays and the Yankees for both the wild card and the division. Coming off a loss last night expect the Red Sox bounce back and not lose 2 games to the Rays in a row at such a key point in the season. John Lackey, pitching for the Sox, is coming off one of his best performances of the season against Seattle.
Shields is the Rays starter in the contest tonight and he's one win away from being the franchise leader in wins. This combined with the intensity and importance of the upcoming game is going to be overwhelming for the pitcher who's going to be a little more nervous then usual. Shields has struggled against the Red Sox over the years with a 4-9 record and a 5.25 ERA. This a great spot for the Red Sox who need to find a way to get a win in what may be the difference maker for them this season.
The Red Sox will come through, take them on the money line.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Today's Free Play - Simon
After I took a thumping yesterday, I'm still sitting pretty at 3-1 and looking to rebound on tonight's UFC fights. I took a decent underdog in Kansas City last night, but in tonight's UFC match ups, I'm taking an even bigger underdog. We're taking Amilcar Alves over Mike Pierce @ +240 (3.4).
The odds makers continuously undervalue debut fighters to the UFC. I guess they don't understand that there are plenty of other Associations around the world that also have legit, world class fighters. Mike Pierce is a very good fighter, but at a record of 10-3, every SINGLE fighter Pierce has fought has been an American specialising in wrestling. Pierce, also specialising in wrestling, has often matched up well and used his ability to win by waiting for the judges decision. Too bad he has to face up against a hardcore Brazilian excelling in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo and Muay Thai in Amilcar Alves. Even if Pierce uses his wrestling to get Alves on the ground, he will never be safe as Alves is just as dangerous on his back as he is on his feet. Pierce was recently dominated by Jon Fitch who excels in Jiu-Jitsu, and look for Amilcar Alves to use his Jiu-Jitsu and striking to overwhelm Pierce to win the fight and advance to 12-1 in his career.
The odds makers continuously undervalue debut fighters to the UFC. I guess they don't understand that there are plenty of other Associations around the world that also have legit, world class fighters. Mike Pierce is a very good fighter, but at a record of 10-3, every SINGLE fighter Pierce has fought has been an American specialising in wrestling. Pierce, also specialising in wrestling, has often matched up well and used his ability to win by waiting for the judges decision. Too bad he has to face up against a hardcore Brazilian excelling in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo and Muay Thai in Amilcar Alves. Even if Pierce uses his wrestling to get Alves on the ground, he will never be safe as Alves is just as dangerous on his back as he is on his feet. Pierce was recently dominated by Jon Fitch who excels in Jiu-Jitsu, and look for Amilcar Alves to use his Jiu-Jitsu and striking to overwhelm Pierce to win the fight and advance to 12-1 in his career.
Today's Free Play - Mike
There is no dwelling on losses here at Handicapping Vegas and after a dissapointing loss two nights ago, I rebounded yesterday and delivered with the Stampeders, improving my free play record to 3-1 on the week. Tonight we look to start a new streak with...
The Saskatchewan Roughriders over Edmonton Eskimos by -6.5 @ -110 (1.90)
The CFL was good to us last night so were gonna roll with it again tonight. The Roughriders have been in the same breath as Calgary so far this season as the best teams in the league. Coming into the game today Edmonton has scored the least points in the CFL after being overtaken by BC last night. Simply, the Eskimos offence has been inept. Ray is doing everything he can but his receiving core have hands slabbed with butter. Nobody can step up and make that big catch. Sitting at 1-6 lots of changes have come over the last two weeks for Edmonton and they are not ready to start winning games quite yet.
The Roughriders are a contender for the Grey Cup. They boast the 3rd best offence and defense in the league and can match-up to any team on any given down. They have a strong running game to drive into the weaknesses of the Edmonton defense, and can also bomb it down field at a whim. Edmonton is going to have to be on there toes all game long.
With the number being under a touchdown its hard to ignore the Roughriders plus the 6.5 points.
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