MLB Betting – Rays vs Red Sox Preview & Pick
Many series over a team’s season qualify as “make or break” but the expression doesn’t apply much better than it does to Tampa’s four-game set with Boston this weekend.
Tag: free mlb pick
MLB Betting – Blue Jays vs Red Sox Preview & Pick
The Toronto Blue Jays deserve credit for somehow staying above .500 this season despite sharing a division with the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays.
MLB Betting – Phillies vs Astros Preview & Pick
The Philadelphia Phillies have the National League East all but locked up. However, they still have something to play for against last-place Houston Tuesday.
MLB Betting – Dodgers vs Giants Preview & Pick
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ playoff dream ended long ago. But It’s nice to write about them for a change since they have two very important items on their agenda.
MLB Betting – Red Sox vs Rays Preview & Pick
Though they’re comfortably in position for a playoff berth of some sort, the Boston Red Sox still need to be at their best every game in September if they want to retake the American League East from the New York Yankees.
MLB Betting – Phillies vs Brewers Preview & Pick
Date: Thursday, September 8, 2011
Venue: Miller Park, Milwaukee, WI
Broadcast: CSN, FSWI
Philadelphia Phillies at Milwaukee Brewers Betting Lines from Sportsbook.com
Money Line: OFF
Over/Under: 8
Philadelphia Phillies (90-48 through September 6)
Cole Hamels (13-7, 2.63)
There wasn’t much to say about the Phillies’ chances at the National League East when the season started; the team was so stacked that it was almost a foregone conclusion. Now, a week into September, nothing’s changed. Through Tuesday, the Phils had widened their lead over Atlanta to 9.5 games and gone 7-2 over their last nine.
Thursday will mark Cole Hamels’ second start since returning from the 15-day DL last week. Most people around the game agree that 2011 has been his finest season yet. He’s maintained his outstanding control and strikeout rate but has cut his homer rate in half. Last week, he did serve up two taters, however, so the Phillies only hope it was a blip on the radar.
Hamels is 4-2 against the Brewers in his career but he’s had some trouble at Miller Park, where the Brewers happen to be 50-19 this season. Hamels has a 5.00 ERA with six homers allowed over 27 innings there.
Milwaukee Brewers (85-58 through September 6)
Chris Narveson (10-6, 4.26)
The only other team in baseball with a division lead as comfortable as Philadelphia’s is Milwaukee. The Brewers are in cruise control. The Cardinals swept them last week but they bounced back to take three of four from lowly Houston.
Is Chris Narveson up to the task of stopping the Phillies? The innings eater has lost once in his last 10 starts. He’s 6-2 with a 3.76 ERA at home this season.
Though Narveson turned in a quality start his last time out against the Phillies (6 IP, 3 ER), they rocked him the time before that, so he’s somewhat of a wild card.
The pick:
Hamels is twice as talented as Narveson but his two homers allowed in his last start are troubling. The Brewers have a proven track record of power-hitting success against him. Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder have four homers in 39 combined at-bats versus Hamels. Narveson seems comfortable at home, just like the whole Brewer team, and the Phillies didn’t faze him the last time out.
Take the Brewers and you may even get home dog value because Hamels is pitching.
Phillies vs Brewers prediction: Brewers 6, Phillies 5
MLB Betting – Braves vs Phillies Preview & Pick
The Atlanta Braves are firmly entrenched in the National League Wildcard spot. If they want any shot at the NL East crown, however, they need a strong showing at Philadelphia this week.
MLB Betting – Rangers vs Red Sox Preview & Pick
The Texas Rangers are fighting to hold off the Los Angeles Angels in for the American League West lead and got a little shot in the arm this week with Adrian Beltre’s return from the DL.
MLB Betting – Diamondbacks vs Giants Preview & Pick
The D-Backs can see the light! Six games up on the Giants and set to play them three straight times, they have a chance to essentially lock up the National League West with a good series this weekend.
MLB Betting – Cardinals vs Brewers Preview & Pick
Nine and a half games back of Milwaukee through Tuesday, it’s an understatement to stay the St. Louis Cardinals are on the ropes. They’re more like on the canvas with the referee’s count up to eight seconds.
Categories
MLB Betting – N.Y. vs. Boston Preview & Pick
MLB Betting – Rays vs Rangers Preview & Pick
To me, Wednesday’s matchup with Boston represents the New York Yankees’ season in a nutshell. They’re major contenders, narrowly behind Boston, and they need Phil Hughes to step up if they want to close the gap.
MLB Betting – Rays vs Rangers Preview & Pick
After pummelling the Toronto Blue Jays over the weekend, the Rays have sent a clear message to the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox in the American League East: we’re not ready to quit just yet.
MLB Betting – Rockies vs Dodgers Preview & Pick
The Colorado Rockies are out of the National League West hunt. Right? Right!?
MLB Betting – Rays vs Blue Jays Preview & Pick
Is there still a glimmer of hope for the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East race?
MLB Betting – Pirates vs Cardinals Preview & Pick
Oh, how the Pittsburgh Pirates long for the good old days of…six weeks ago. Around the All-Star break, they were in the thick of the National League Central race, jockeying for the division lead with Milwaukee and St. Louis.
MLB Betting – Red Sox vs Rangers Preview & Pick
After the pack was tight for the first two thirds of the season, the American League Central is finally crystallizing.
