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Tuesday, June 19
Minnesota Twins vs. New York Mets (+125, 7)
The Mets could use a game against a lefty pitcher right now. Johan Santana probably wouldn't be their first choice, but he throws with his left and catches with his right and that could be just what it takes to help New York win two games in a row for the first time since May 27 and 29.
Nobody beats southpaws around like the Mets, who carry a .309 average against lefties and have racked up 24 runs in their last four games against left-handed starters. It helps that four Mets batters hit from the right side and three are switch hitters when you look at the 10 guys on the roster who have at least 100 at bats this season.
The three left-handed hitters among that group are Carlos Delgado (11 HRs, 41 RBIs), Shawn Green (.297 average) and Endy Chavez (.297 average).
That doesn’t exactly guarantee a win. Santana has only allowed more than three earned runs in two of his last 10 starts and he gave up only four runs in those two outings. But it does give the Mets some great home value with Jorge Sosa (6-2) also taking the mound.
Pick: Mets +125
Boston Red Sox vs. Atlanta Braves (+110, 8 ½)
Chipper Jones is still liking his team’s grueling interleague schedule about as much as he likes stepping on a nail with bare feet. But there is one factor even he has to love when it comes to playing the top team in the American League: they put butts in the seats.
Atlanta ranks a dismal 16th of 30 teams in the majors in home attendance with just over 30,000 per game on average. A little visit from the Red Sox is doing wonders to change all that, though. BoSox watchers are like dandelions these days, popping up everywhere, and it’s made them the biggest road draw in baseball with an average of over 37,000 per game.
Game 1 of this series saw 47,562 fans pile into Turner Field and the Braves have already sold more than 40,000 tickets for each game in this set. Atlanta responded with a 9-4 thumping over Boston as a +132 underdog on Monday to even this season series at two games apiece.
Atlanta could desperately use the extra support after coming off an ugly 2-4 road trip heading into this series and prior to that, the Braves went 3-5 in their last home stand.
Pick: Braves +110
Baltimore Orioles vs. San Diego Padres (-240, 7)
When you look at the numbers for the Orioles, it’s kind of tough to see any justification for them winning this game. Nevermind the fact they fired manager Sam Perlozzo yesterday.
The O’s are in last place in the AL East at 29-40. They are 0-8 in interleague play this season. They’re on an eight-game losing streak. And they happen to be facing the best ERA pitcher in the National League, Jake Peavy.
We’re not sure we need to say a whole lot more.
Pick: Padres -1 ½ (-115)
Hot Lines
Tuesday, June 19
Minnesota Twins vs. New York Mets (+125, 7)
The Mets could use a game against a lefty pitcher right now. Johan Santana probably wouldn't be their first choice, but he throws with his left and catches with his right and that could be just what it takes to help New York win two games in a row for the first time since May 27 and 29.
Nobody beats southpaws around like the Mets, who carry a .309 average against lefties and have racked up 24 runs in their last four games against left-handed starters. It helps that four Mets batters hit from the right side and three are switch hitters when you look at the 10 guys on the roster who have at least 100 at bats this season.
The three left-handed hitters among that group are Carlos Delgado (11 HRs, 41 RBIs), Shawn Green (.297 average) and Endy Chavez (.297 average).
That doesn’t exactly guarantee a win. Santana has only allowed more than three earned runs in two of his last 10 starts and he gave up only four runs in those two outings. But it does give the Mets some great home value with Jorge Sosa (6-2) also taking the mound.
Pick: Mets +125
Boston Red Sox vs. Atlanta Braves (+110, 8 ½)
Chipper Jones is still liking his team’s grueling interleague schedule about as much as he likes stepping on a nail with bare feet. But there is one factor even he has to love when it comes to playing the top team in the American League: they put butts in the seats.
Atlanta ranks a dismal 16th of 30 teams in the majors in home attendance with just over 30,000 per game on average. A little visit from the Red Sox is doing wonders to change all that, though. BoSox watchers are like dandelions these days, popping up everywhere, and it’s made them the biggest road draw in baseball with an average of over 37,000 per game.
Game 1 of this series saw 47,562 fans pile into Turner Field and the Braves have already sold more than 40,000 tickets for each game in this set. Atlanta responded with a 9-4 thumping over Boston as a +132 underdog on Monday to even this season series at two games apiece.
Atlanta could desperately use the extra support after coming off an ugly 2-4 road trip heading into this series and prior to that, the Braves went 3-5 in their last home stand.
Pick: Braves +110
Baltimore Orioles vs. San Diego Padres (-240, 7)
When you look at the numbers for the Orioles, it’s kind of tough to see any justification for them winning this game. Nevermind the fact they fired manager Sam Perlozzo yesterday.
The O’s are in last place in the AL East at 29-40. They are 0-8 in interleague play this season. They’re on an eight-game losing streak. And they happen to be facing the best ERA pitcher in the National League, Jake Peavy.
We’re not sure we need to say a whole lot more.
Pick: Padres -1 ½ (-115)
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