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Friday, August 3
Houston Astros at Florida Marlins (+100, 8 ½)
The Houston Astros avoided the sweep against Atlanta last night with a 12-11 win that took 14 innings. Today, they send ace Roy Oswalt (10-6, 3.63) to the mound against Florida, hoping for a strong outing that will allow them to rest a beleaguered bullpen.
Oswalt returns to the rotation after missing his last start due to soreness in his chest. He is looking for his third straight win and has a 4-2 record with a 1.92 ERA in eight career starts against the Marlins. Oswalt has gone more than six innings in five of his last seven outings.
Florida counters with Dontrelle Willis (7-10, 4.95), who has lost seven straight and is without a win since May 29.
Pick: Houston -108
Boston Red Sox at Seattle Mariners (+101, 9 ½)
The blistering pace that the Boston Red Sox set through the first half of the season shows no signs of slowing and they have won 10 of the last 13 games heading into today’s action.
Boston’s hitters have posted a .286 average with 19 homers and 113 RBIs since the All-Star break – the third best record in the majors over that time. Their already nasty pitching staff received a boost with the addition of closer Eric Gagne, but it’s the return of Jon Lester (1-0, 4.26) from illness that will have the biggest impact on today’s game.
Lester is making his third start of the season. He won his return to the big leagues on July 23, but did not get the decision in his second game against Baltimore, despite a strong start. Seattle sends Horacio Ramirez (6-3, 6.52) to the mound, but the Red Sox bats are hot enough to deal with his stuff.
Pick: Boston -109
Los Angeles Angels at Oakland Athletics (-105, 9)
The Angels managed to trudge through July with a 12-12 record, even though the club wasn't playing the kind of baseball that had them tied with Boston for the best record in the majors through the first half of the season.
Los Angeles hit just 10 home runs last month, but they started August with a lot more power in their bats and have already gone deep four times in just two games. That’s largely down to Vladimir Guerrero, who broke out of his recent slump with two homers in last night’s 6-4 series-opening victory over the A’s.
Guerrero is hitting .429 against Oakland this season, and with the solid Dustin Moseley (4-1, 4.37) filling in for Bartolo Colon on the mound, he can lead the Angels to a second straight victory over the A’s tonight.
Pick: Angels -103
Hot Lines
Friday, August 3
Houston Astros at Florida Marlins (+100, 8 ½)
The Houston Astros avoided the sweep against Atlanta last night with a 12-11 win that took 14 innings. Today, they send ace Roy Oswalt (10-6, 3.63) to the mound against Florida, hoping for a strong outing that will allow them to rest a beleaguered bullpen.
Oswalt returns to the rotation after missing his last start due to soreness in his chest. He is looking for his third straight win and has a 4-2 record with a 1.92 ERA in eight career starts against the Marlins. Oswalt has gone more than six innings in five of his last seven outings.
Florida counters with Dontrelle Willis (7-10, 4.95), who has lost seven straight and is without a win since May 29.
Pick: Houston -108
Boston Red Sox at Seattle Mariners (+101, 9 ½)
The blistering pace that the Boston Red Sox set through the first half of the season shows no signs of slowing and they have won 10 of the last 13 games heading into today’s action.
Boston’s hitters have posted a .286 average with 19 homers and 113 RBIs since the All-Star break – the third best record in the majors over that time. Their already nasty pitching staff received a boost with the addition of closer Eric Gagne, but it’s the return of Jon Lester (1-0, 4.26) from illness that will have the biggest impact on today’s game.
Lester is making his third start of the season. He won his return to the big leagues on July 23, but did not get the decision in his second game against Baltimore, despite a strong start. Seattle sends Horacio Ramirez (6-3, 6.52) to the mound, but the Red Sox bats are hot enough to deal with his stuff.
Pick: Boston -109
Los Angeles Angels at Oakland Athletics (-105, 9)
The Angels managed to trudge through July with a 12-12 record, even though the club wasn't playing the kind of baseball that had them tied with Boston for the best record in the majors through the first half of the season.
Los Angeles hit just 10 home runs last month, but they started August with a lot more power in their bats and have already gone deep four times in just two games. That’s largely down to Vladimir Guerrero, who broke out of his recent slump with two homers in last night’s 6-4 series-opening victory over the A’s.
Guerrero is hitting .429 against Oakland this season, and with the solid Dustin Moseley (4-1, 4.37) filling in for Bartolo Colon on the mound, he can lead the Angels to a second straight victory over the A’s tonight.
Pick: Angels -103
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