*3 Star Cards/Cubs Winner* Chris Carpenter and Carlos Zambrano square off in Game One of this huge MLB rivalry. Carlos Zambrano has a terrific history against the Cardinals. In fact, the Cubs are 17-5 in Zambrano's last 22 starts against St. Louis. The Cardinals are just 1-7 in Carpenter's last 8 road starts overall. The Cubs are 14-3 in Zambrano's last 17 starts overall. The last five times Zambrano and Carpenter have matched up against one another it has been the Cubs who have come out victorious. I'll take the Cubs in a mild upset.

*3 Star Moneyline Value Play* I'll be the first to admit that fading Seattle has cost me quite a bit of cash this year, but I still think this Mariners team is much worse than they have been playing. Pineda is a very good young pitcher, but it seems strange to the Mariners barely an underdog against an improving Orioles team on the road. Jake Arrieta is a very solid young pitcher as well. Arrieta had one bad start this year, but in 6 of his 7 starts he has allowed three earned runs or less. The Orioles have a much better lineup. I'll take the Orioles at home.

*3 Star MLB Runline ROUT* The first time the Colorado Rockies faced Chris Capuano this year they scored seven runs off him in less than six innings. This time he will be pitching in Coors Field (with the wind blowing out). I think the Rockies will tee off in this game. Chacin has been consistently good for the Rockies of late, and I think he gives them a solid pitching edge in this game. I think this one has the potential to get ugly. Take the Rockies on the runline here.

*3 Star MLB Totals Takedown* Trevor Cahill is one of the most underrated pitchers in baseball.Cahill has a great sinker and he keeps the ball down well. The Rangers are missing Hamilton and Nelson Cruz, and Cahill has pitched extremely well against Texas in the past. A couple of weeks ago Cahill blanked the Rangers over seven innings. C.J. Wilson is turning into a legitimate ace, and I don't like this Oakland offense much at all. Expect both starting pitchers to put forth a solid effort here. Take the under.

*3 Star MLB Total DOMINATION* Javier Vazquez just hasn't had his "A Game" at all this year. Vazquez has an ERA of 6.39 for the year. The Phillies may be without Utley, but they still have Rollins, Victorino, Howard, Polanco, Ibanez, and plenty of pop in the lineup. Joe Blanton is pitching for the Phillies. Blanton has a 5.92 ERA this year overall, and he is nursing a minor elbow injury as well. The over is 21-7 in Blanton's last 28 starts. The over is also 7-2-2 in the Marlins last 11 games overall. I expect a high scoring affair. Take the over.

*3 Star MLB MISMATCH Special* Josh Beckett has looked like the Josh Beckett of old this year. The Minnesota Twins lineup is extremely short-handed right now. No Joe Mauer, Delmon Young, and no Jim Thome. The Red Sox have hit the ball very well in two straight games, and they appear to be trying to come out of their offensive slump. Boston is too good offensively to slump for too much longer. Nick Blackburn simply hasn't been good, and I expect Boston to hit him pretty hard here. The Twins are 1-4 in Blackburn's last 5 starts. The Red Sox are 19-9 in Beckett's last 28 home starts. Take the Red Sox -1.5.

*3 Star Moneyline Cash* The Colorado Rockies have lost two straight very difficult decisions to the Giants in San Francisco. I think this will be the Rockies chance to exact some revenge. De La Rosa has been a good pitcher on the road, and he has great numbers against the Giants. The Rockies are 9-1 in his last 10 starts against San Francisco. Vogelsong simply isn't a very good starting pitcher at this point, and I think Colorado can knock him out of this game fairly early. I like the Rockies avoid getting swept. Take Colorado.

*3 Star MLB Total DOMINATION* I was very surprised to see this number come out at 7.5. Dan Haren is one of baseball's best pitchers, especially in the first half of the year. Fausto Carmona has been a little inconsistent, but he has pitched well against the Angels in the past. Paul Nauert is the umpire here, and he is a solid under umpire. How about some impressive trends? The under is 9-1-1 in Haren's last 11 home starts. The under is 9-1-1 in the last 11 meetings between these two in LA. The under is 4-0 in Carmona's last 4 against the Angels. This is my play of the day. Take the under.

*3 Star Bring Out the Broom ML* The Tampa Bay Rays have been playing some terrific baseball of late. The Baltimore Orioles are an improving team, but they often go on long streaks and slumps. Tampa Bay has won seven in a row on the road. Wade Davis has had a quality start in every one of his starts this year. The Orioles are 0-7 in Bergesen's last 7 starts overall. The Orioles are also a horrific 33-72 in their last 105 Sunday games. The Rays have the better team all around. I like Tampa Bay on the moneyline.

*3 Star MLB Early Bird Special* Livan Hernandez has quietly been a very solid pitcher the last couple years. He has been an 'under' bettors best friend. The under is 34-15-2 in his last 51 starts overall. The under is 15-5-1 in his last 21 road starts. Anibal Sanchez has been in great form of late as well. The under is 5-1 in his last 6 home starts. The under is 5-1 in Hernandez's last 6 against the Marlins. The under is 5-1 in Sanchez's last 6 against the Nationals. I like the under a lot in this one!

*3 Star MLB Road Warrior* Clayton Kershaw is a very good pitcher, and I think he is really starting to mature. R.A. Dickey is erratic and I don't like to back him very often. Knuckleballers tend to run hot and cold and Dickey has been pitching poorly of late. Ethier and Kemp are in the middle of the Dodgers order, and I think the Dodgers have a huge edge in the pitching department here. The Mets bullpen is a problem area as well. The Mets are 0-6 in Dickey's last 6 home starts. Take the Dodgers here.

*3 Star MLB Totals Terrorizer* The under is 9-1-3 in the Yankees last 13 games, and I actually think that is why we are getting this line at 10 instead of 11. Derek Holland has a 8.10 ERA in his four games against the Yankees. Bartolo Colon has pitched well so far this year, but the Texas heat and this ballpark should be tough on him. This park is notorius for a wind tunnel that pushes the ball out toward center with a south wind, and that is what is expected on Saturday night. Both pitchers are very capable of giving up the long ball, and I think the over is the way to go here.

*3 Star MLB Total DOMINATION* The Oakland Athletics have one of the weakest offenses in all of baseball. Oakland does have a very good pitching staff though. Brandon McCarthy is largely flying under the radar, but he has been very good this year. Luke Hochevar hasn't been good so far this year, but history tells us he is generally solid at home. Bill Miller is the home plate umpire in this one, and he is a huge under umpire. Miller has a large strike zone and both of these pitchers should use that to their advantage. I expect a low scoring affair here. Take the under.

*3 Star MLB Moneyline CASH* The St. Louis Cardinals are playing just as well as anyone in the National League right now. Albert Pujols is having a down year at this point, and they are still leading the league in offense. Lance Berkman is absolutely hitting the cover off the ball, and Matt Holliday has been terrific as well. Pujols will heat up and this offense has the chance to be something special. Lohse is a very good pitcher at home, while Yovani Gallardo has been struggling all year. Gallardo has an ERA of 8.44 in his last three games. The Brewers are 0-4 in Gallardo's last 4 starts against the Cardinals. Take St. Louis.

*3 Star MLB Early Bird Special* Jeremy Hellickson is one of the best young pitchers in the game right now in my opinion. He has good command and high quality stuff. The Rays are a great 'under' team, partially because they play terrific defense. Tampa Bay has committed the least errors in baseball. Jeremy Guthrie is on the mound for Baltimore, and he has been solid all year. Guthrie has a great track record against the Rays. The under is 6-1 in his last 7 starts against the Rays. The under is 5-2 in his last 7 starts. The under is 20-7-1 the last 28 meetings between these two. Take the under.

*3 Star MLB Total Value* The Boston Red Sox continue to struggle, but I do believe their bats will wake up very soon. Boston is hitting left-handers better than righties so far this year, and I think Brian Duensing is the type of guy that Boston can hit. Clay Buchholz doesn't pitch well during the day (4.68 ERA in his career) and he hasn't fared well against the Twins (6.57 ERA). The over is 4-0 in Buchholz's last 4 games at home. I think the Red Sox are due for a breakout game, and the Twins offense is playing with some confidence in the last three contests. Paul Schrieber is behind the dish, and he has a very small strike zone. Take the over.

*3 Star MLB Late Night BAILOUT* Matt Cain hasn't pitched that well in his last three starts, but I think he'll get it back going here. Cain has had success in the past against the Rockies. The Giants are 25-9 in Cain's last 34 home starts. Ubaldo Jimenez simply hasn't had it thus far this season. Jimenez is walking for too many batters and his ERA is 7.20 so far this year. The Rockies have the better lineup, but Cain is pitching much better than Jimenez right now. At this short price I like the Giants moneyline.

*3 Star Moneyline CASH* The Cleveland Indians continue to get very little respect from the books. The Indians didn't have far to travel after winning at Oakland on Thursday. On the other hand, Los Angeles played until 3 am Thursday morning, then played again until late Thursday afternoon in Boston. I think this is a bad spot for the Angels who are bound to be a little tired. Justin Masterson has been terrific this year. Masterson has an ERA of 2.25 this season. I consider the Indians and Angels lineups to be pretty even, and I think the Indians have a clear edge in this pitching matchup. The Indians are 8-0 in Masterson's last 8 starts. Take the Indians here.

*3 Star MLB Runline ROUT* Jaime Garcia is a very solid left-handed pitcher. Garcia has a 0.64 ERA at home so far this year. The Brewers have been terrible against lefties this year. Milwaukee is scoring just 2.73 runs per game against lefties. Randy Wolf has pitched well of late, but I think he'll have trouble against this terrific Cardinals lineup. Lance Berkman and Matt Holiday are both absolutely crushing the ball, and it is only a matter of time until Pujols gets it going again. I like the Cardinals -1.5 here.

*3 Star Dog of the Day* The Oakland Athletics lost a tough extra innings game to the Cleveland Indians on Thursday afternoon. Oakland has a very good starting pitching staff, but their defense isn't very good and the offense isn't very powerful at all. Kansas City hasn't lost a series at home all year, and I think the books are still undervaluing this Royals. Gio Gonzalez is a very good pitcher, but he hasn't fared well at all pitching in Kansas City. Gonzalez has an ERA of 7.62 in his three starts in Kansas City. O'Sullivan hasn't given up more than two earned runs in three straight starts. The Royals average 6.41 runs per game against a lefty. I'll take the Royals as underdogs here.

*3 Star MLB Value Bet* The New York Yankees are rarely underdogs, but they have lost three straight and the books have gotten a little lower on them. I know the Rangers are a very good home team, but the Rangers are injury depleted right now. Josh Hamilton is out and Nelson Cruz will miss this one as well. Matt Harrison has an ERA of 11.12 in his last three starts. Harrison gives up the home run far too often, and the Yankees have plenty of guys who can take him deep. Nova has pitched decent for the Yankees of late. The Yankees are 8-3 in Nova's last 11 starts. At plus money against a mediocre starting pitcher I'll take the Yankees ML.

*3 Star Totals Terrorizer* James Shields has been pitching as well as anyone in baseball over the last few games. Britton is a tremendous young lefty for the Orioles. Both teams have proven to be nice 'under' teams thus far this year. The under is 38-15-1 in the Rays last 54. The under is 5-1 in Shields' last 6 starts against the Orioles. The under is 20-7 in the last 27 meetings between these two. Mark Carlson is an under umpire behind the dish as well. Take the under here.

*3 Star MLB Late Night BAILOUT* I continue to believe that the Seattle Mariners are much worse than their record shows. The Mariners are 14-17, but I think they could end up the season with the worst record in the American League. This Mariners lineup is not a good one at all. The Mariners are 0-7 in Vargas' last 7 home starts and 2-12 in his last 14 starts overall. The Rangers start Colby Lewis, who isn't a great pitcher, but he actually pitches better on the road. Getting almost even money on a team with a much better lineup seems like a good value. Take the Rangers ML.

*3 Star MLB Totals Terrorizer* Brandon Beachy is a very good young pitcher for the Braves, and he has pitched well in three straight games. The Brewers offense has been scuffling a bit of late. Marcum is pitching for the Brewers, and I think he is one of the most underrates pitchers in baseball today. Marcum has allowed 0 earned runs in three of his last four starts. Marcum allowed just one run earlier this year against the Braves. I think this one has the makings of a 3-2 type game. Take the under.

*3 Star MLB MISMATCH Special* Roy Halladay is the best pitcher in the majors right now. Halladay has amazing control of the strike zone. Halladay is 9-1 in his career against the Nationals. On the other side, John Lannan will be starting for the Nationals. How about this for an amazing statistic? The Nationals are 0-11 in Lannan's last 11 starts against the Phillies. The Phillies hit .271 as a team against lefties, and they score about five runs per game. Getting plus money on the runline seems like a terrific value in this mismatch special. Take the Phillies -1.5.

*3 Star MLB Moneyline CASH* Josh Johnson has been the best pitcher in the majors thus far this year. In his last four starts he has allowed one earned run! Jake Westbrook has been erratic this year, and this Marlins continues to hit the ball pretty well. I like the Cardinals team pretty well, but I think the pitching matchup goes so strongly to the Marlins here that this short price on the moneyline is well worth it. I expect Johnson to pitch another very good game. Take the Marlins moneyline here.

*3 Star Runline ROUT* The Los Angeles Angels and the Boston Red Sox played late into the night last night, now they must turnaround and play less than 12 hours later in this afternoon series finale. John Lackey has pitched well at home of late, and he has pitched extremely well in matchups against his former team (the Angels). Last time against the Angels Lackey pitched a shutout in Los Angeles. Joel Piniero is pitching for the Angels, and he has been hit hard by most of the Red Sox regulars. The Angels are just 3-7 in Piniero's last 10 road starts. The Red Sox are 4-0 in Lackey's last 4 starts against the Angels. I think Boston finishes off this series with a big win. Take Boston -1.5.

*3 Star MLB Total Domination* A.J. Burnett has an ERA of over 9 in his starts at Comerica. The Tigers offense got a much needed boost when Victor Martinez returned to the lineup on Wednesday night. The Yankees were shutout by Scherzer on Wednesday, but they should have much better luck against Rick Porcello. The Yankees have hit Porcello hard in the past. The over is 6-2-1 in Burnett's last 9 starts. The over is 6-1 in Porcello's last 7 home starts. The over is 6-1-1 in the last 8 meetings. Tschida is behind the dish here, and he is a solid over umpire. I like the over in this Thursday afternoon game.

*3 Star Early Bird Special* Homer Bailey will make his first start of the season on Thursday afternoon. In his three rehab starts he was tremendous. Bailey had an ERA of 0.54 in his three starts in AAA. Brett Myers has historically pithched well on the road and he has pitched well against the Reds as well. In his last two starts against the Reds he has allowed a total of two runs. Tom Hallion is behind the dish here and I consider him a bit of an under umpire. The cool temperatures in Cincinnati should keep the ball from flying out of GABP too often. I like the under.

*3 Star Late Night Totals Winner* Josh Tomlin has been very good so far this year, and the Oakland offense is not very impressive. Trevor Cahill has been absolutely dominant at home over the last couple years. The under is 16-5-1 in his last 22 home starts. While the Indians do have the best record in baseball, I don't think this Cleveland offense is all that terrific either. Ron Kulpa is behind the dish here and he is a solid under umpire. I think both pitchers will pitch well here, and I wouldn't be surprised to see a 2-1 type of game. Take the under.

*3 Star Totals Terrorizer* The Colorado Rockies are a very good offensive team and Carlos Gonzalez is getting it going now. The Diamondbacks are solid offensively as well. Chase Field is expected to be open tonight and the temperature will be around 94 degrees. The humidity level is expected to be extremely low, which should mean the ball will be jumping off the bats tonight. Enright is pitching for the DBacks and the over is 5-0-1 in his last 6 home starts. I expect a high scoring affair. Take the over.

*3 Star MLB Runline ROUT* The Cardinals are 50-17 in Chris Carpenter's last 67 starts at home. Javier Vazquez has just one quality start so far this year. Remember when everyone was saying the Cardinals couldn't hit? St. Louis now has the highest team batting average, .293, in all of baseball. They have been able to do that without Pujols contributing much at all. The Cardinals have a huge advantage here in the pitching matchup, and they also have the better lineup. No pitcher wants to see Pujols, Holliday, and Berkman in the middle of the opponent's order. Take the Cardinals -1.5.

*5 Star Top Play Total* Kyle Davies is one of my favorite pitchers to fade or play an 'over' with, and Jake Arrieta hasn't been good on the road either. Arrieta has some hip pain that could give him some trouble during this game. The weather conditions should help a lot in this one. The wind is expected to be blowing out to center at about 20 mph during this game. Davies has given up five runs in three of his six starts, and he gave up eight earned runs in his last outing. The Orioles bats are slowly coming to life of late. The over is 4-1 in Arrieta's last 5 starts. The over is 4-1 in Davies' last 5 home starts. The over is 31-13 in the last 44 meetings in Kansas City between these two. I'm making this my first five star top play of the MLB season. Take the over in a big way.

*3 Star Under the Radar Total* I don't normally like to bet the 'under' with the Yankees, but I think this is a good spot. Freddy Garcia has been surprisingly good this year, and the Tigers offense isn't that great. Max Scherzer is terrific at Comerica in his career. Scherzer has an ERA of 2.7 in Detroit. Garcia also has a solid 3.7 ERA in his starts at Detroit. The under is 5-0-1 in the last 6 meetings between these two teams at Detroit. I think the line gives us a solid value on the under.

*3 Star MLB Early Bird Special* Travis Wood has an ERA of 6.00 at home. Rodriguez will be making the first start of his career for Houston in this game. Both teams have been hitting the ball very well of late. The wind is expected to be pushing out at about 10 to 15 mph in this game. The over is 3-0-1 in the Reds last 4 home games. The over is 9-4 in the Astros last 13 road games. The pitching matchup points to an over and I think this number is a solid value on the over. Expect both starting pitchers to get knocked out fairly early in this one. Take the over.

*3 Star MLB Moneyline CASH* The Texas Rangers have been absolutely tremendous this year against left-handed pitchers. As a team they are hitting .292 against lefties, and they are averaging 6.51 runs per game. Erik Bedard is a lefty who has been struggling most of the year. The Rangers knocked him out of the game pretty early in their first meeting against him this year, and I expect that again. Ogando is a legitimate solid young pitcher with good stuff. The Mariners are hitting .211 against right-handed pitchers this year. Texas has a much better lineup than Seattle, and they also have the pitching advantage here. Take the Rangers.

*3 Star MLB Late Night BAILOUT* I'm no fan of taking an 'over' at PetCo Park in San Diego, but this number is definitely set too low based on the trends and data. Mat Latos was terrific last year, but he has been bad this year. Latos has an ERA of 4.98 this year, and he has allowed at least three runs in every outing this year. Jeff Karstens is pitching for the Pirates, and the over is 5-1 in his last 6 starts. Karstens doesn't have overpowering stuff, and I think the Padres will be able to score some runs off him. With a number set this low, a 3-3 game will result in a win. I like the value on the over.

*3 Star MLB Terrific Total* I've written about it before, and I've not changed my mind about Chase Field when the roof is open. Chase Field with the roof open is a hitters paradise, especially when the weather is hot and dry like it is expected to be today. A temperature of around 90 with almost no humidity should mean the ball will be coming off the bat extremely quickly tonight. Joe Saunders has struggled in the past with the roof open, and De La Rosa gives up too many fly balls to be good in these conditions. Take the over in this one.

*3 Star MLB Total DOMINATIION* The Florida Marlins have Anibal Sanchez on the hill in this one. Sanchez has been brilliant of late, and historically he has been very good on the road. The under is 27-11-2 in Sanchez's last 40 starts on the road. Kyle McClellan has been solid this year for the Cardinals, and I think he'll fare well in this one. Jerry Layne is the home plate umpire, and the under is 17-8-1 in his last 26 games behind the plate. I think this total is set a little too high. I like the value on the under in this one.

*3 Star MLB Runline ROUT* The San Francisco Giants are pretty short-handed offensively right now. Without Sandoval in the middle of the lineup they lose quite a bit of their pop. The New York Mets are playing much better baseball right now, and they certainly have a better lineup than the Giants at this point. Beltran, Wright, Bay, and Reyes give them four very solid hitters. R.A. Dickey has historically been very good at home, and I don't see the Giants scoring many runs here. Ryan Vogelsong is pitching for the Giants, and I don't he has the stuff to shut down the Mets. Take the Mets -1.5.

*3 Star MLB Totals TKO* John Hirschbeck is the umpire in this game, and he is one of the best 'under' umpires in the business. Hirschbeck has a wide strike zone, and that should be perfect for both Dan Haren and Jon Lester. Dan Haren has allowed a total of six earned runs in his seven starts this year. Jon Lester allowed five earned runs in his first start of the year, but he has allowed just six earned runs in his last five starts overall. I think both starting pitchers will pitch deep into the game here. Take the under.

*3 Star MLB Sides Special* The Baltimore Orioles have taken the first three games in this four-game series from the White Sox. Chicago is struggling mightily right now, and the Orioles are a much better team this year than they were in 2010. Jeremy Guthrie is on the mound for the Orioles here, and he is better on the road than he is at home. Guthrie has had four quality starts this year and just one poor outing. Buerhle is pitching for the Sox, and he has two quality starts and four bad ones. Markakis, Lee, Guerrero, and Wieters all hit .350 or higher against Buerhle in their career. The Orioles are 5-2 in their last 7 against the White Sox when Buerhle is on the hill. I'll take the Orioles to finish off the sweep here.

*3 Star MLB Totals TAKEDOWN* The San Diego Padres may have the worst offense in all of baseball. They managed to score five runs last night, but I don't think they'll be able to repeat that against a solid sinker-ball pitcher in Jon Garland. On the other side, Dustin Mosely has been terrific for the Padres. The Dodgers are short-handed without Furcal and Blake right now. The under is 20-6 in the last 26 meetings between these two. I expect both starters to pitch well in this one. Take under 7.5 here.

*3 Star MLB Total DOMINATION* Doug Eddings is the home plate umpire in this one and he is probably the single biggest 'under' umpire in all of baseball. Eddings has a big strike zone, and historically he has been an under bettors dream. The under is 12-4-2 in Eddings last 18 games. The under is also 38-16-5 in his last 59 Sunday games. Gio Gonzalez is a very good lefty who can work the corners, and I think the Rangers will have a difficult time against him. Matt Harrison has been much improved this year, and this Oakland offense is very bad. Take the under.

*3 Star Sunday Sweep* The Baltimore Orioles are an improving team. The offense has been holding them back most of the year, but they have lots of talent offensively. The offense has finally started to get it going the last few days, and I think they are a better team than the White Sox right now. Britton is a terrific young pitcher, and the White Sox are struggling in a big way at the plate. The White Sox are averaging just 3.2 runs per game against a left-hander. Chicago is 3-14 in their last 17 games. The Orioles are 5-2 in the last 7 meetings. Take Baltimore.

*3 Star Over Play of the Day* Chris Narveson hasn't looked good in his last couple outings, and the Houston Astros are scoring about 5 runs per game on lefties this year. Bud Norris is solid at home, but this Brewers lineup is very good now with Weeks, Braun, Fielder, McGhee, and Hart back and healthy. The wind is projected to be blowing out at about 15 mph. The home plate umpire is Adrian Johnson who tends to have a small strike zone. This one sets up nicely for an 'over' play. Take over 8.5 in this matchup.

*3 Star Surprise Streak* The Cleveland Indians weren't supposed to be good this year, but they have now won 12 straight games at home. Justin Masterson is pitching on Sunday, and Masterson has an ERA of 3.06 at home in his career. The Indians are 7-0 in his last 7 home starts. Phil Coke starts for the Tigers. Coke has been wild in his last couple starts, and the Indians have teed off on lefties so far this year. I think the Indians keep the streak going. I think this is a fair price for the Indians moneyline. Take Cleveland.

*3 Star Runline ROUT* The Yankees are a much better hitting team than the Blue Jays. Toronto has thrown a couple very good young pitchers in the first two games of this series, which has held the Yankees offense down a bit. Litsch will be pitching in this one, and I think the Yankees can get to him. Ivan Nova isn't great for the Yankees, but he holds his own at home. Don't forget these Yankees rarely lose at home. The Yankees are 106-47 in their last 153 home games. The Yankees are 5-1 in their last 6 against the Blue Jays with Litsch pitching. Take the Yankees -1.5.

*3 Star MLB Tasty Total* Chase Field is a hitter's paradise when the roof is open, and the roof should be open for this one. Last night I lost on the 'over' play, but there were still four home runs. In two games in this series there have been eight home runs. I expect several more in this game. Matt Garza hasn't pitched in Arizona before, and Ian Kennedy has a 5.24 ERA in April in his career. The line has been adjusted slightly lower than yesterday's total, which is plenty for me to jump on the over again here. The over is 10-2 in the last 12 meetings between these two in Arizona. Take the over.

*3 Star Bounceback Big Bet* The Colorado Rockies were shutout by the Pirates on Friday night. I'm going to bet that won't happen again on Saturday night. The numbers are backing the Rockies in a strong way in this game. The Rockies are 23-8 in Hammel's last 31 home starts. The Pirates are 16-56 in their last 72 road games. Paul Maholm has been terrible at Coors Field, and against the Rockies in general in his career. Maholm has an ERA of 6.84 against Colorado overall, and in Coors Field his ERA is 7.53. Not surprisingly, the Pirates are 0-7 in Maholm's last 7 starts against Colorado. I think the Rockies bounce back here. Colorado -1.5 is the play.

*3 Star MLB MISMATCH Special* The Seattle Mariners have won four straight games on the road, and the books are getting a little higher on them. I think this is a good chance to fade Seattle. The Mariners offense is terrible. John Lackey has looked pretty good this year, and I think he matches up pretty well here. The Red Sox lineup is tremendous, and I think they will have no trouble putting up several runs against Doug Fister. The Mariners are 3-14 in Fister's last 17 road starts. Boston is 13-4 in Lackey's last 17 home starts. Take Boston -1.5.

*3 Star Dog of the Day* Wandy Rodriguez hasn't started the season out quite as well as some expected, but I think the books are too down on him right now. This is a pitcher who has dominated at home for several straight years, and I don't think that domination is over just yet. On the other side, Randy Wolf has pitched well of late, but he has been extremely inconsistent in the past couple years and I think he is due for a poor outing. Wandy getting this kind of money is worth a play. I'll take the Astros in this one.

*3 Star MLB Total DOMINATION* The Oakland Athletics have one of the worst offenses in all of baseball, and Colby Lewis is a much better pitcher on the road. The under is 21-6 in Lewis' last 27 road starts. Brett Anderson is one of my favorite pitchers in the American League. He has tremendous stuff and he is absolutely dominant at home. Anderson has a tremendous ERA of 0.64 in two starts at home so far this year. Paul Nauert is behind the dish here and he is a solid under umpire. The under is 5-1 in Lewis' last 6 road starts against Oakland. I expect a well pitched game on both sides. Take the under.

*3 Star MLB Early Bird Special* Roy Halladay is the best pitcher in the National League right now, primarily because of his consistent dominance. The New York Mets are getting a little bit too much credit from the books right now because of their recent six game winning streak. Earlier this year Jon Niese and Roy Halladay squared off against each other. The Phillies won the game 11-0. I don't expect Philadelphia to win that easily in this one, but I do think the runline is a very good value here. Take the Phillies -1.5.

*3 Star Late Night BAILOUT* The Los Angeles Dodgers will be a little short-handed tonight, but I still think they have a much better lineup than the San Diego Padres. Casey Blake is expected to miss the game and Juan Uribe is questionable. Still, the Dodgers have Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp, who are better than anyone in the Padres lineup. Ted Lilly is a pretty good left-hander, and his splits have shown he can pitch quite well in Dodger Stadium. Clayton Richard is a pretty good pitcher as well, but he has been better at home. I think this is a very good value on the Dodgers moneyline.

*3 Star MLB Total Domination* Chase Field is a completely different park when the roof is open, and it is expected to be open tonight. The ball carries in a huge way, especially when it is hot with low humidity. Today's weather report shows a lot of heat and almost no humidity. Carlos Zambrano certainly allows plenty of home runs, and I think Arizona will get to him tonight. The Cubs should have no problem scoring quite a few on Armando Galarraga, who is a fly ball pitcher in what will be a hitter's paradise. The over is 10-1 in the last 11 meetings in Arizona. Take the over.

*3 Star MLB Runline ROUT* The Pittsburgh Pirates may have started the season with some decent wins on the road, but don't let that fool you. This is still the same Pirates team that is terrible on the road. Pittsburgh is 15-56 in their last 71 road games. They are 10-41 in their last 51 road games against a team with a winning record. The Rockies are 16-6 in their last 22 games overall. They are also 7-3 in Chacin's last 10 home starts. The Pirates are just 3-10 in their last 13 games at Coors Field. I like the Rockies to win this one easily.

*3 Star Totals Takedown* It would be easy to look at the pitching matchup in this one and think the 'under' should be an automatic play. A longer look at the statistics tells me that the 'over' is the better way to go. Chris Carpenter and Tim Hudson are both very good pitchers, but their opponent in this game have hit them very well in the past. The over is 7-0 in Carpenter's last 7 starts against the Braves. The over is 5-1-2 in Hudson's last 8 starts against the Cardinals. Both teams have seen their offense come to life over the last few days. I think the over is a solid play here.

*3 Star Selection* The Tampa Bay Rays took it to the Twins twice yesterday in Minnesota. Tampa Bay is playing some very good baseball right now. Los Angeles is a team that I believe is a little bit overrated right now. I don't see the Angels lineup as very good at all. David Price is a dominant left-handed starter, and the Angels are 3-12 in their last 15 road games against a lefty. Ervin Santana has a terrible 7.36 ERA in seven starts at Tampa Bay. The Angels are 0-5 in Santana's last 5 starts in Tampa Bay. The Rays are 20-9 in Price's last 29 home games. I like the value on the runline here.

*3 Star Doubleheader Delight* The Tampa Bay Rays took it to the Twins in the first game of the Doubleheader on Thursday, and I expect them to win the second game as well. The Twins lineup is severely short-handed right now. They don't have Joe Mauer, Delmon Young, Jim Thome, or Jason Repko. The Rays are hitting the ball well right now, and Jeff Niemann has pitched well against Minnesota in his career. In fact, Tampa Bay is 4-0 in Niemann's last 4 starts against the Twins. Minnesota will start Anthony Swarzak, and the Twins are 0-5 in his last 5 home starts. I like the Rays to finish off the sweep on Thursday.

*3 Star MLB Runline ROUT* The Houston Astros aren't a very good team this year. Earlier this year some people were talking about how bad the Cardinals lineup was, but now with a healthy Pujols, Holliday, and Berkman in the middle of the order, they look much better. Nelson Figueroa had an 8.55 ERA this year, and I really don't think he will stay in the Astros rotation much longer. On the other hand, Kyle McClellan hasn't given up more than two runs in any start this year. I think the Cardinals have the edge in every category here. I like the Cardinals -1.5 here.

*3 Star MLB Moneyline Cash* The New York Mets benefited from a Washington Nationals bullpen meltdown yesterday night. The Mets have now won six straight games overall. While the Mets are cetainly better now, I'm not convinced they are any better than a decent team. Livan Hernandez has been very good at home the last couple years, and Chris Capuano is not a very good pitcher at this point in his career. The Nationals hit Capuano well the first time they saw him earlier this year. Hernandez has four straight quality starts against the Mets. I think the Mets recent success has the line skewed in their favor. I think Washington will end their streak in this one. Take Washington.

*3 Star MLB Early Bird Special* The Seattle Mariners have scored 17 runs in the last two days. I have played against Seattle in both of those games, and they have definitely hurt me. I still am going to stick with the fact that this Seattle offense is absolutely terrible. Ichiro is very good, but after that no one on this team is scary. Miguel Olivo is hitting cleanup for them right now. Pineda is a great young pitcher for the Mariners, and the Tigers lineup is struggling quite a bit without Victor Martinez. I think the best way to play this one is the under. This is an instance where I believe recent trends (the Mariners hitting very well) give us a very generous line on the under. Take the under here.

*3 Star MLB Total DOMINATION* The Toronto Blue Jays have been smashing the baseball in a big way in this series so far, and I expect them to keep it going on Wednesday. At the same time, Texas should be able to put up several runs with JoJo Reyes on the hill for the Blue Jays. Reyes is a not dominant pitcher, and I don't think he'll fare well in a hitter's park like Texas. Derek Holland is on the mound for Texas, and his career ERA at home is 5.68. Holland gives up too many fly balls, and I think the Blue Jays will take him deep a couple times. The over is 6-2 in Holland's last 8 home starts. The over is 4-1 in Toronto's last five games. Take the over.

*3 Star MLB Runline ROUT* The Seattle Mariners might have gotten the best of the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night, but I don't think it will happen on Wednesday. Erik Bedard just hasn't looked good at all this year, and the Detroit Tigers have a decent lineup with Ordonez and Cabrera in the middle of the order. Justin Verlander is great at home, and the Mariners have a terrible lineup. The Tigers are 43-18 in Verlander's last 61 home starts. I think Detroit will take this one comfortable. Take the Tigers -1.5.

*3 Star MLB MISMATCH* The Oakland Athletics have a pretty good pitching staff, but at this point Tyson Ross is the weak link in their rotation. Dan Haren is absolutely dominant in the first half of the year, and Oakland's offense is not good at all. I honestly think Haren could completely shut down this Oakland offense. The Angels are 5-2 in Haren's last 7 starts. Los Angeles is 8-0 in their last 8 home meetings with the Oakland A's. Oakland is just 1-5 in their last 6 against a right-handed starter. I like the Angels to win this one easily. Take the Angels -1.5.

*3 Star MLB Totals TKO* The New York Mets offense has been much better since Jason Bay came back into the lineup. The Washington Nationals are a decent hitting team now with Jayson Werth in the middle of the lineup. R.A. Dickey and Tom Gorzelanny are two pitchers that I fade fairly often. The wind is expected to be blowing out at about 15 mph during the game tonight. The over is 4-1 in the Mets last 5. The over is 5-2 in the Nationals last 7. The over is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings between these two. I think the 'over' is a good value here.

*3 Star Revenge Special* The Phillies have dropped the first two of this series, but I think this is a great revenge spot for the Phillies. Cole Hamels has been absolutely dealing of late. While many pitchers have struggled at Chase Field, Hamels has a 3.66 ERA in his career there. Joe Saunders does not have dominating pitches like Ian Kennedy and Daniel Hudson. I think this will be a nice chance for the Phillies hitters to get back in a groove against a hittable lefty. The Phillies are 23-9 in their last 32 games against a lefty. The DBacks are just 3-7 in their last 10 against a lefty. I think the Phillies win easily here. Take Philadelphia -1.5.

*3 Star MLB Early Bird Special* The Braves and Padres will square off Wednesday afternoon in the rubber match of this three-game set. I think the Padres offense that was pretty bad last year has turned into the worst in the National League. Mat Latos is on the hill for San Diego, and he just doesn't seem to have his confidence or control right now. Tommy Hanson has been pitching well, and in his career he has a 2.45 ERA against San Diego. The Padres are 1-10 in Latos' last 11 starts overall. The Braves are 13-5 in their last 18 games in San Diego. Take Atlanta.

*3 Star MLB Late Night BAILOUT* The Oakland A's have a very good pitching staff, but they don't have a good lineup at all this year. The Angels lineup has been scuffling badly of late, and I think that is likely to continue against Brandon McCarthy. McCarthy was a top prospect a few years ago, and he is finally realizing his potential after years of arm problems. Chatwood has a solid start to his career as well. Chatwood sometimes has trouble with walks, but Carlson is the umpire behind the dish here and he has a large strike zone. Two bad offenses and a nice 'under' umpire equals a play on the under for me.

*3 Star MLB Total Domination* Mike Leake has struggled in his short major league career on the road, and I think the Brewers are the type of team that can make him pay for his mistakes. The Brewers are hungry to payback the Reds for Cincinnati's 4-0 record against them already this year. At the same time, the Reds have a solid lineup and Estrada is not a proven pitcher at this point. Tim Tschida is behind the dish and he has typically been a decent 'over' umpire. I think the total is set too low here. Take the over!

*3 Star Dog of the Day* Bud Norris has been terrific in his career against the St. Louis Cardinals. He has pitched six times against the Cardinals and he has an ERA of just 2.27 in those six starts. The Astros are 5-1 in those six games. Garcia is a solid starter as well, but the Cardinals will likely be without their star hitter in this one. Albert Pujols was injured in Sunday's game and he will likely be out of the lineup. The Astros are 12-5 in Norris' last 17 starts. They are also 7-2 in his last 9 home starts. Take the healthy underdog here.

*3 Star Hidden Gem* I don't like betting against King Felix, but Seattle is a terrible baseball team. They have one of the worst lineups in baseball, and they are miserable on the road. Hernandez is excellent, but not quite as dominant on the road. The Mariners are only 6-13 in his last 19 starts on the road. The Tigers are a very good home team. Detroit is 21-8 in their last 29 home games. The Mariners are just 5-11 in their last 16 games in Detroit. Phil Coke has allowed just four earned runs in three starts. I'll take the Tigers at plus money on their home field.

*3 Star Runline ROUT* I think the Kansas City Royals are due for a bit of a correction in the coming weeks. Justin Masterson has always had very good stuff, and this year it seems like he has figured out how to locate his pitches. Masterson has fared well against the Royals in the past, and he is a much better pitcher at home. Masterson has an ERA of about 3.6 at home in his career, and it is around 5 on the road. Luke Hochevar isn't a good pitcher on the road, and the Royals aren't a good road team. The Indians are 14-3 in their last 17 home games. The Royals are 17-38 in their last 55 road games. Cleveland -1.5 is the play.

*3 Star MLB Total DOMINATION* It might seem strange to play an 'over' with Cliff Lee on the mound, but I feel this is a strong play. Chase Field is a hitter's paradise with the roof open, and the roof is expected to be open tonight. Hot weather with low humidity makes the ball fly much farther, and multiple home runs are likely tonight. Ian Kennedy is a solid pitcher, but he has struggled mightily when the roof is open in Arizona. In his last outing with the roof open in Arizona he allowed nine runs in three innings against St. Louis. Both of these offenses are good, and I think this is a great value on the over.

*3 Star MLB Totals TKO* The Texas Rangers are without Josh Hamilton, but they can definitely still hit the baseball. Kyle Drabek has solid numbers this year, but Texas is no pitchers ballpark, and I think he'll struggle there. The weather conditions are good for an 'over' tonight, with a wind tunnel effect pushing the ball out. The over is 46-22-3 in Toronto's last 71 opening games of a series. The over is 5-2-2 in Colby Lewis' last 9 home starts. I expect both teams to put up several runs in this one. I like the value on the over.

*3 Star MLB Total KNOCKOUT* The New York Yankees come home to host an ice cold White Sox team. Humber is the starter for Chicago, and though his numbers look decent this year, I'm not convinced it will stay that way. Humber has three starts this year, two against the Rays and one against the Angels. Obviously the Rays and the Angels don't have the lineup that the Yankees have. I think New York will hit him hard in this one. Burnett is on the hill for New York, and in his last two games against the White Sox, Chicago has teed off on him. The over is 6-1 in Burnett's last 7 home games. Take the over here.

*3 Star Moneyline CASH* Brett Anderson is quickly becoming one of the best left-handed pithers in baseball. The Seattle Mariners do not have a good offense, and Anderson has pitched very well against them in the past. Anderson has a career ERA of 1.97 against Seattle, which is extremely impressive since that is in 68 and 2/3 innings. Doug Fister is not a bad a pitcher at home, but the Mariners don't often give him much run support. The Mariners are 8-21 in Fister's last 29 starts overall. The A's are 6-2 in their last 8 games at Seattle. I'll take the team with the better pitcher and the slightly better lineup. Take Oakland.

*3 Star MLB Hidden GEM* The Minnesota Twins had a long road trip, and it didn't go well at all. Justin Morneau missed a lot of action, but now he is back in the middle of the order. The Twins are a much better team at home, and I expect them to show that again on Sunday. Carl Pavano had a poor outing in Baltimore last time out, but I think he bounces back against a subpar Indians lineup in this one. Carlos Carrasco is on the hill for Cleveland. Carrasco has talent, but he still struggles with control, especially on the road. The Indians are just 5-11 in his lats 16 starts. The Indians are 0-6 in their last 6 games at Minnesota. Take the Twins.

*3 Star MLB Total Domination* Freddy Garcia has pitched well so far this year, but I still don't think he can be trusted too much. Jake Arrieta has the potential to be very good in the future, but right now he is definitely hittable. Angel Campos is the home plate umpire in this one, and he is one of the biggest 'over' umpires in the league. The over is 8-3-1 in his last 12 games behind the plate. The wind is expected to be blowing out to center at about 10 miles per hour in this one. The over is 7-3 in the Orioles last 10. The over is 20-9-1 in the Yankees last 30. Take the over in this one.

*3 Star MLB Total Knockout* I think John Danks is an underrated pitcher. Danks is one of those rare pitchers who actually has a better ERA (3.64) on the road in his career. On the other side, Max Scherzer has been tremendous in Detroit. At home, Scherzer has an ERA of just 2.92 as a Tiger. The under is 9-3 in Scherzer's last 12 home starts. The under is 7-3 in Danks' last 10 starts against Detroit. Detroit's lineup isn't nearly as good without Victor Martinez in the middle of the lineup. I think both pitchers will fare well in this one. Take the under.

*3 Star Runline ROUT* I successfully won with the Tampa Bay Rays yesterday, but that was a completely different pitching matchup. James Shields has a career ERA over 5 on the road, and Ricky Romero is a very good young pitcher. Shields' ERA in Toronto is 5.87, while Romero has an ERA of just 3.62 at home, and 3.37 during the daytime. The Rays are just 10-25 when Shields starts and they are the underdog. While Tampa Bay has been much better of late, they still don't have that great of a lineup, and I think Romero will shut them down nicely. I think the Blue Jays have enough pop to get to Shields. Take the Blue Jays -1.5 here.

*3 Star Dog of the Day* I understand that DiceK isn't really completely trustworthy right now, but I think getting the Boston Red Sox as an underdog to this Angels team is a great value. Boston has a huge advantage in the lineup category, and they have played extremely well at Los Angeles in the past. The Red Sox are 6-0 in their last 6 at Los Angeles. They are also 13-1 in their last 14 meetings with the Angels. The Sox are 4-1 in DiceK's last five starts against the Angels. I think this is too good of a value to pass up. Take Boston.

*3 Star MLB Top Total* Anytime I see a game that Joe Blanton is pitching in lined at seven runs for the over/under, I'm going to take a long look at the over. I know the Padres are terrible offensively, but Blanton is a much different pitcher than Oswalt or Hamels. The Phillies are very good offensively, and I expect them to get to Tim Stauffer some as well. We've got the best 'over' umpire in the business behind the plate here. The over is 11-5-1 in Jim Reynolds' last 17 behind the dish, and he has a nice track record of overs in past years. The over is 21-6 in Blanton's last 27 starts. Take the over.

*3 Star MLB Runline Rout* Kyle Davies is a pitcher I look to fade whenever possible, and I think this is a really good opportunity. Ogandi is a very solid young pitcher, and the Royals have struggled quite a bit against right-handed pitchers this year. The Rangers are 8-2 in their last ten home games, and they have been very good at home over the last couple years. The Royals are 0-6 in their last 6 games at Texas. The Royals are also 0-6 in Davies' last 6 starts against the Rangers. I think this has the makings of a big win for Texas. Texas -1.5 is the play here.

*3 Star Bounceback Big Bet* The Colorado Rockies picked up one hit on Friday night against Anibal Sanchez. I expect them to bounce back in a big way against Javier Vazquez and the Marlins on Saturday night. The Rockies are 7-2 on the road this year, and they have one of the best lineups in all of baseball. Vazquez has struggled mightily so far this year, and this Rockies lineup isn't a team you want to be facing when you are having control problems. I expect a focused Rockies team to take it to the Marlins on Saturday.

*3 Star MLB Total Domination* Jason Hammel has an ERA of above 6 in Florida, and Javier Vazquez has an ERA above 8 this year. The Rockies should be fired up to get back on track offensively after getting one hit by Sanchez on Friday. At the same time, Hammel doesn't have the kind of stuff to shut down the Marlins on the road. This is the type of game where I think both bullpens will be used for quite a while. I expect this one to be a high scoring affair. Take the over in this game.

*3 Star MLB Early Bird Special* David Price has not lost to the Toronto Blue Jays in his career. In fact, the Tampa Bay Rays are 7-0 in his last 7 starts against the Blue Jays. Tampa Bay lost to the Blue Jays yesterday, but the Rays are playing much better baseball of late. Brandon Morrow is a pitcher with plenty of ability, but he is making his first start coming off the DL and I think he'll be a little rusty here. The Rays are 21-5 in Price's last 26 starts against an AL East foe. The Blue Jays struggle against lefties, and I think Price will quiet this Toronto lineup. Take Tampa Bay.

*3 Star MLB Late Night BAILOUT* Jon Lester vs. Dan Haren is a terrific pitching matchup. I think both pitchers will pitch extremely well on Friday night. Lester has shut down the Angels in the past. Vernon Wells is just 5 for 28 against Lester, and Bobby Abreu is just 4 for 17. Dan Haren has consistently been one of the best pitchers in the league before the All-Star break. Haren rarely gets run support from the Angels, but he generally eats up innings and shuts down the opposition. How about some impressive 100% winning angles here? The under is 5-0 in Lester's last 5 starts against the Angels. The under is 7-0 in Haren's last 7 games with a total set between 7 and 8.5. Overall, the under is 13-2-2 in Haren's last 17 outings. I like the under in this one.

*3 Star MLB Bookie BASHER* I believe the Brewers are a much better team than the Houston Astros. Yovani Gallardo is the ace for Milwaukee, and Nelson Figueroa is the weakest starter for the Astros. I believe this is a pitching mismatch. Additionally, the Brewers have Braun, Fielder, Weeks, and others offensively. The Astros have one of the worst lineups in the National League. The Brewers are 4-0 in Gallardo's last 4 starts against the Astros overall. The Brewers are 5-0 in Gallardo's last 5 home starts against the Astros. Houston is 5-13 in their last 18 road games. I expect Milwaukee to win comfortably here.

*3 Star MLB Total DOMINATION* Mike Pelfrey has gotten off to a very rocky start this year. I don't think it will help him to pitch against the Diamondbacks. Pelfrey has an ERA of 7.09 in his career against Arizona. Last year in Pelfrey's two starts against Arizona, the Mets lost 9-6 and 13-2. Joe Saunders is the type of pitcher who pitches to contact, and I think this Mets lineup can get to him. With Wright, Beltran, and now Bay in the middle of the lineup, the Mets should improve offensively. Both teams have a bad bullpen, so if it gets to the pen early that is a great sign for the over. I like the over in this one.

*3 Star Moneyline Cash Play* It is Roy Oswalt vs. Matt Latos in this one. Latos was terrific last year, but he hasn't had his "A" Game so far this year. Latos lost both meetings against the Phillies last year, including one against Oswalt. Roy Oswalt has been great this year, and I think he'll fare well against a below average lineup in San Diego. What about the trends? The Phillies are 14-3 in Oswalt's last 17 starts. The Phillies are 20-6 in their last 26 in San Diego. The Padres are 0-7 in Latos' last 7 starts overall. The Phillies have the better pitcher here and they have a much better lineup. The Phillies are the play here.

*3 Star MLB Runline Rout* The Florida Marlins have spanked the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first two games of this series, and I think it will happen again in the final game of the series. James McDonald is pitching for Pittsburgh, and his ERA on the road in his career is 4.82. He also has an ERA of 5.68 in the first half of the season. Chris Volstad has improved as a pitcher this year, and the Marlins are a pretty good team at home. Don't forget, these are the same Pirates that are horrible on the road. Pittsburgh is 15-55 in their last 70 road games. Getting huge plus money on the run line is a great value here. Take Florida -1.5.

*3 Star MLB Dog of the Day* The New York Mets just aren't a very good baseball team right now. Jason Bay will probably be back in the lineup on Thursday, but he will likely be rusty. The Mets aren't getting any production out of the bottom of their order right now. Chris Capuano has an ERA of 8.53 and he simply doesn't have a dominant pitch at this point in his career. J.A. Happ is a bit inconsistent, but he is fully capable of being dominating. The Astros have a heavy right-handed lineup, and they are hitting .313 against lefties so far this year. The Mets are hitting just .197 against left-handers. I really like the underdog in this one. Take the Astros.

*3 Star MLB Total Domination* The Minnesota Twins offense has been terrible this year. Minnesota has yet to put up more than 5 runs in a single game all year. It looks as if they'll be without Morneau and Young again on Thursday and Mauer is still on the DL. Jeremy Guthrie is a solid pitcher, especially at home. Scott Baker has been great against the Orioles in his career. Baker is 5-0 with an ERA under 3 against Baltimore. The under is 10-3 in the Twins last 13 games. The under is 7-3 in Guthrie's last 10 home starts. I expect a good performance from both pitchers here. Take the under.

*3 Star MLB Early Bird Special* Clayton Kershaw had a bad outing last time out, but I don't expect two bad outings in a row from him. Kershaw is one of the best pitchers in the National League, and he is terrific at home. Jair Jurrjens made his first start of the year last week against the Mets, and he pitched a shutout. The Mets are terrible right now, and I think he may be getting a little too much credit for that shutout. The Dodgers are 5-2 in Kershaw's last 7 home starts. I think this is a very fair price for Kershaw and the Dodgers at home against a Braves team that is bad on the road. Take the Dodgers.

*3 Star Late Night BAILOUT* It's no secret that Dodger Stadium isn't exactly a hitter's park, especially at night. Derek Lowe is a solid sinker ball pitcher, and he should keep the ball in the park against an ordinary Dodgers lineup. Jon Garland was poor in his first start this year, but I think he should have a pretty good year in a pitcher's ballpark like Dodger Stadium. John Hirschbeck is the umpire behind the dish in this one, and he is one of the best 'under' umpires in the game today. The under 18-7-1 in Lowe's last 26 starts. Take the under here.

*3 Star MLB Totals Takedown* R.A. Dickey hasn't been pitching very well so far this year. Knuckleballers tend to run in streaks, and I think he is having trouble locating his pitches right now. On the other side, Bud Norris has been terrible on the road over his career. Norris has an ERA of 5.42 on the road in his career. Norris also usually doesn't get very deep into the game and this Astros bullpen is bad. The Mets bullpen is equally bad. If the bullpens are in this game much at all, I like the chances for the over here. Take the over.

*3 Star Dog of the Day* Brett Cecil was 5-0 last year against the New York Yankees. While the Yankees do have a better lineup, it will be the Blue Jays with the better pitcher on the mound Wednesday night. Bartolo Colon is on the hill for the Yankees, and I'm not convinced that he can be effective as a starter anymore. The Yankees haven't been that good on the road, and I don't understand why they are favored in this game. The Yankees are 1-3 on the road so far this year, and the Blue Jays are 5-2 at home. ARod is questionable and he may well miss this game. Take the underdog. Toronto is the play.

*3 Star Moneyline Cash Play* Gio Gonzalez is quietly becoming a dominant pitcher for the Oakland Athletics. At the same time, Clay Buchholz is struggling mightily this year. Buchholz has an ERA of 18 in his career at Oakland, and he also pitches poorly in day games. The Athletics are 7-2 in Gonzalez's last 9 home starts. The Red Sox are now 1-11 in their last 12 road games overall. Oakland is an improved team and I believe this is a very fair value on a pitcher like Gonzalez at home against a scuffling lineup. Take Oakland.