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**bryce** · 09-08-2010, 06:35 PM

Gl Bum!!

**StarDust Bum** · 09-08-2010, 06:48 PM

AL Central takes center stage

After focusing on the NL West yesterday, we will venture into the junior circuit today and look at two of the hottest teams in baseball involved in a fight for the AL Central.
The Twins own the majors' best record in the second half of the season at 36-15, while the White Sox had their seven-game win streak snapped last night. Their opponents today have the worst (Royals) and third-worst (Tigers) records in the AL since the break. Minnesota is 4.5 games ahead in the division entering play today. But the White Sox still have a shot at the postseason. The Twins were 6.5 games back on this date in 2009 and rallied to win the division.

Kansas City (57-81) at Minnesota (82-57), 8:10 p.m. EDT
Sports.com Line: Minnesota –155, Kansas City +145 Total: 7.5
The Royals and Twins complete their three-game series at Target Field tonight. The Twins have won five straight and 10 of their past 12 games. Minnesota is also 11-3 against Kansas City this season. The Royals have lost five of their last six games.

Kansas City will throw 2009 AL Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke (8-11, 3.87 ERA). Greinke has pitched well in his last five starts (1-0, 2.72 ERA), but the Royals have lost three of those five starts. The Twins have pounded on him this season as Greinke is 0-3 with a 10.29 ERA (14 IP, 16 ER) in his three starts vs. Minnesota.

The Twins counter with Brian Duensing (7-2, 2.09 ERA). Since becoming a starter, Duensing has been wonderful, going 4-1 with a 2.33 ERA in his eight starts.Duensing is 2-0 with a 3.27 ERA in his two career starts against the Royals.

Considering the Twins domination of Greinke this season and Duensing’s excellent performance as a starter so far, Minnesota is the play today.

FoxSheets says: MINNESOTA is 38-14 (+17.6 Units) against the money line as a favorite of -125 to -175 this season. The average score was MINNESOTA 5.2, OPPONENT 3.3 - (Rating = 2*).

Chicago White Sox (77-61) at Detroit (69-70), 7:05 p.m. EDT
Sports.com Line: Chicago –127, Detroit +117 Total: 9
The White Sox and Tigers continue their four-game series tonight in Detroit. The Tigers 9-1 victory last night snapped the White Sox seven-game win streak and put them 4.5 games behind Minnesota. The Tigers have been an absolute mess since the All-Star break posting a 20-32 record over that span.

John Danks (13-9, 3.56 ERA) starts for Chicago. Danks is 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA over his last seven starts. The White Sox have lost five of those seven games. Danks pitched excellent in his only start against the Tigers this season (June 10), throwing seven shutout innings and allowing just one hit in a 3-0 victory.

The Tigers will send Jeremy Bonderman (7-9, 5.25 ERA) to the mound. Bonderman has struggled mightily in his last five starts going 1-3 with a 6.91 ERA. He has not fared well in his career against the White Sox either, going 6-11 with a 4.81 ERA in his 18 starts.

The White Sox should take advantage of Bonderman’s recent struggles and jump on him early.

FoxSheets says: CHI WHITE SOX are 11-1 (+10.3 Units) against the money line vs. an AL starting pitcher whose ERA is 5.20 to 5.70 this season. The average score was CHI WHITE SOX 7.5, OPPONENT 3.0 - (Rating = 2*).

**StarDust Bum** · 09-08-2010, 07:01 PM

MLB Odds: D-Backs clash with Giants

The San Francisco Giants will have four cracks at the San Diego Padres beginning Thursday at Chase Field. But the Giants can hardly afford to look past Wednesday night’s series finale against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.

The Giants held off the suddenly scrappy Snakes in the series opener on Labor Day to remain one length behind the Friars in the National League West. The win extended their winning streak to nine against teams with a losing home record and to 13-3 against clubs on the minus side of the ledger.

Arizona had dropped three straight prior to Game 2 on Tuesday, but the Diamondbacks have been playing like they would like to see interim manager Kirk Gibson return in 2011.

Arizona’s rotation has turned in a quality start in 10 of the past 11 games, including the last seven. The bullpen had a 7.98 ERA on May 18 but is significantly improved. The unit has a 3.71 ERA since August 1.

The Diamondbacks took two of three at AT&T Park on August 27-29, then turned around and did the Giants a favor by going home and completing a three-game sweep of the Padres.

San Francisco leads the season series 9-4 and has cashed five of seven baseball betting slips at Chase Field.

However, the Giants may have a tough time getting out of town with a win Wednesday.

There’s no disputing the fact that Barry Zito has been San Francisco’s weakest link lately. The veteran left-hander’s struggles continued Friday when he lost his seventh consecutive decision after allowing four runs in four innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers. In his last six appearances, Zito’s strikeout-to-walk ratio sits at an ugly 13:14 in 23 2/3 innings.

Daniel Hudson arrived in the desert on August 1 in a trade with the Chicago White Sox and has morphed from an afterthought into Cinderella after some mechanical tweaks.

Hudson has turned in seven straight quality starts for the D-Backs and none have been of the namby-pamby three earned runs or less in six innings variety. He has pitched at least seven innings in seven of the eight starts and allowed two earned runs or less in seven of eight.

It was a total mismatch when Zito and Hudson faced off August 28 at San Francisco. Hudson limited the Giants to two runs and four hits in seven innings while Zito was soaping up in the shower after getting chased in the fourth inning.

Zito has lost seven of his past 10 career decisions against Arizona with a 5.33 ERA. He is 2-7 on the road with a 5.07 ERA.

Hudson has started five games at Chase Field, splitting two decisions with a 3.13 ERA while striking out 33 and walking just eight in 31 2/3 innings.

San Francisco is 2-6 in Zito’s last eight starts versus division competition and 1-4 in his past five road outings.

Arizona has knuckled ‘under’ in eight of its last 10 home games and the Giants have ended on the low side in six of seven contests and in eight of Zito’s last 10 versus division foes.

Bill Hohn will be behind the plate in the series finale. He has rewarded ‘under’ bettors at a 17-8-1 clip in his last 26 officiating behind the dish.

**Dat Boi E** · 09-08-2010, 07:36 PM

good luck tonight, Bum!

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