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Thursday, June 28
Oakland Athletics at Cleveland Indians (-113, 9½)
The Oakland Athletics won for the first time in six games last night, beating the Cleveland Indians 13-7. Tonight they look to split the series after dropping the first two, as Joe Blanton (7-4, 3.19 ERA) takes the mound.
Blanton is 3-1 in his last five starts and went eight scoreless innings against the New York Mets in his last outing. Unfortunately for him, he received no run supported and ended up with a no decision.
It seems that after a major slump the Oakland bats are finally coming alive after smacking a season-high 18 hits last night. Cleveland sends right-hander Paul Byrd (6-3, 4.74 ERA) to the mound. He is 0-2 with a 7.89 ERA this month.
Pick: Oakland +104
Los Angeles Dodgers at Arizona Diamondbacks (-135, 8½)
Randy Johnson will take the mound for the first time since June 10 tonight, readily admitting that he is not sure how his back will hold up to the start. Johnson received the green light to start after he threw 41 pitches in a simulated game on Monday.
"He's got a bulging disk in there, but I'll tell you what I saw (in the simulated game) was pretty good," Manager Bob Melvin told reporters. "It just depends on how he feels. In the past it's bothered him sometimes and he's pitched through it, and other times he's felt good."
The 43-year-old lefty was in good form before he picked up the injury, going 4-2 with a 3.52 ERA, but the Diamondbacks will be keeping a close eye on him now that his back has flared up again.
Tonight the Dodgers will counter with Randy Wolf (8-6, 4.32) as he aims to bounce back from two losses in a row. In his last start on Saturday, Wolf allowed four runs and 10 hits in a 4-3 loss to Tampa Bay.
Pick: Dodgers +127
Chicago White Sox at Tampa Bay Devils Rays (-128, 8½)
After a three-game sweep against the Chicago Cubs last weekend, few would have expected the White Sox to bounce back with three straight wins. That’s exactly what they did and tonight they have a chance to record a sweep of their own, in four games against Tampa Bay.
The White Sox will send Javier Vazquez (3-5, 4.15 ERA) to the mound as they look for their first four-game sweep since September 2005. Vazquez has had a frustrating season, getting six no decisions in his 14 starts. He allowed only one run over seven innings in his most recent outing, but again received a no decision in a 2-1 loss to the Cubs.
With the White Sox offense managing 16 runs in the last three games, he should get the run support he deserves tonight.
Pick: White Sox +117
Hot Lines
Thursday, June 28
Oakland Athletics at Cleveland Indians (-113, 9½)
The Oakland Athletics won for the first time in six games last night, beating the Cleveland Indians 13-7. Tonight they look to split the series after dropping the first two, as Joe Blanton (7-4, 3.19 ERA) takes the mound.
Blanton is 3-1 in his last five starts and went eight scoreless innings against the New York Mets in his last outing. Unfortunately for him, he received no run supported and ended up with a no decision.
It seems that after a major slump the Oakland bats are finally coming alive after smacking a season-high 18 hits last night. Cleveland sends right-hander Paul Byrd (6-3, 4.74 ERA) to the mound. He is 0-2 with a 7.89 ERA this month.
Pick: Oakland +104
Los Angeles Dodgers at Arizona Diamondbacks (-135, 8½)
Randy Johnson will take the mound for the first time since June 10 tonight, readily admitting that he is not sure how his back will hold up to the start. Johnson received the green light to start after he threw 41 pitches in a simulated game on Monday.
"He's got a bulging disk in there, but I'll tell you what I saw (in the simulated game) was pretty good," Manager Bob Melvin told reporters. "It just depends on how he feels. In the past it's bothered him sometimes and he's pitched through it, and other times he's felt good."
The 43-year-old lefty was in good form before he picked up the injury, going 4-2 with a 3.52 ERA, but the Diamondbacks will be keeping a close eye on him now that his back has flared up again.
Tonight the Dodgers will counter with Randy Wolf (8-6, 4.32) as he aims to bounce back from two losses in a row. In his last start on Saturday, Wolf allowed four runs and 10 hits in a 4-3 loss to Tampa Bay.
Pick: Dodgers +127
Chicago White Sox at Tampa Bay Devils Rays (-128, 8½)
After a three-game sweep against the Chicago Cubs last weekend, few would have expected the White Sox to bounce back with three straight wins. That’s exactly what they did and tonight they have a chance to record a sweep of their own, in four games against Tampa Bay.
The White Sox will send Javier Vazquez (3-5, 4.15 ERA) to the mound as they look for their first four-game sweep since September 2005. Vazquez has had a frustrating season, getting six no decisions in his 14 starts. He allowed only one run over seven innings in his most recent outing, but again received a no decision in a 2-1 loss to the Cubs.
With the White Sox offense managing 16 runs in the last three games, he should get the run support he deserves tonight.
Pick: White Sox +117
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