Announcement

**Spark** · 09-14-2010, 06:50 PM

Good Luck Bum

**StarDust Bum** · 09-14-2010, 06:54 PM

correction on the WNBA game tonight:

Tuesday, September 14Game Score Status Pick Amount

Atlanta - 9:05 PM ET Atlanta +7 500 *****
Seattle - Under 164 500 *****

**bryce** · 09-14-2010, 07:07 PM

Good luck Bum!

**StarDust Bum** · 09-14-2010, 07:09 PM

Marquee matchups in American League

While the playoff picture in the American League isn’t quite as dramatic as the National League, a pair of marquee AL divisional matchups highlight the MLB card tonight. The Yankees and Rays continue their three-game series after giving us a taste of the postseason in Monday night’s 1-0 Tampa Bay win. With the victory, the Rays moved into first place in the East. Meanwhile, the White Sox hope to cut into Minnesota’s six-game Central lead when the two teams open a three-game set on Chicago’s South Side.
NEW YORK YANKEES (87-57)
at TAMPA BAY RAYS (87-56)

First pitch: 7:10 p.m. EDT
Sports.com Line: Tampa Bay -148, New York +138 Total: 9
The Yankees hope their time as a second-place team will be short-lived as they meet the Rays in the middle game of their three-game series at the Trop. Ivan Nova (1-0, 2.92 ERA) makes just his fifth start of the season but has been a welcome addition to the Yankee rotation. Even though he has only one win, Nova has yet to give up more than three runs in any start and the Yankees are 3-1 in his four starts this year.

Tampa Bay counters with Matt Garza (14-8, 3.68 ERA). Garza has been sensational at home this year, going 7-2 with a 3.27 ERA in 13 games. He’s coming off a tough outing in Boston that saw him give up six runs on four Red Sox home runs. Garza had won his previous three decisions and the Rays had won his previous four starts. However, the Yankees aren’t exactly the team he wants to see. While Garza totes a respectable 3.62 ERA in nine starts against New York, Tampa Bay is just 1-8 in those games, including seven straight losses.

Given that trend, the FoxSheets like the Yankees tonight:

Play Against - All favorites with a money line of -110 or higher (TAMPA BAY) - a good team (54% to 62%) playing a team with a winning record, in September games. (136-113 over the last 5 seasons.) (54.6%, +68 units. Rating = 3*).

MINNESOTA TWINS (85-58)
at CHICAGO WHITE SOX (79-64)

First pitch: 8:10 p.m. EDT
Sports.com Line: Chicago -110, Minnesota EVEN Total: 7.5
Time is quickly running out for the White Sox to make a final playoff push. If they want to see October, they’ll have to make up six games on the Twins over the final three weeks of the season. Step one would be a win Tuesday night when John Danks (13-10, 3.54 ERA) takes the mound opposite Francisco Liriano (13-7, 3.24 ERA).

Danks took the loss last time out against Detroit, giving up five runs (two earned) on eight hits in six innings. The southpaw has struggled lately going 1-2 with a 5.71 ERA and 1.73 WHIP over his last three starts. In 18 career starts against the Twins, Danks is 6-6 with an ERA of 5.05.

On the other hand, Liriano has been sensational recently, going 2-0 with a 1.71 ERA over his last three starts. He hasn’t lost since July 9 and has won his last seven decisions. The Twins have had tremendous success with Liriano on the hill, winning his last five starts and nine of his last 10. He’s encountered some trouble with the White Sox, however. In seven career starts against Chicago, Liriano is just 2-3 with a 6.23 ERA.

The Twins are streaking, but according to FoxSheets, that’s right where Chicago wants them:

Play Against - Road teams (MINNESOTA) - having won 12 or more of their last 15 games, with a winning record on the season playing another winning team. (78-35 over the last 5 seasons.) (69%, +40.1 units. Rating = 3*).

**StarDust Bum** · 09-14-2010, 07:11 PM

Diamond Trends - Tuesday

Brewers at Astros – The Astros are 7-0 since July 06, 2010 at home vs a divisional foe that is behind them in the divisional standings for a net profit of $700.

Nationals at Braves – The Braves are 0-4 since June 29, 2010 as a home favorite vs a team that has lost at least their last three games and it is not the first game of a series for a net profit of $595 when playing against.

Cubs at Cardinals – The Cubs are 0-6 since May 20, 2010 as a dog after a win in which their opponent left 18+ men on base for a net profit of $600 when playing against. The Cardinals are 0-6 since August 15, 2010 as a 140+ favorite after a loss in which they had a higher team-left-on-base than their opponent for a net profit of $940 when playing against.

Dodgers at Giants – The Dodgers are 0-6 since July 29, 2010 after a loss in which they used 5+ pitchers for a net profit of $615 when playing against. The Giants are 7-0 since July 10, 2010 within 20 cents of pickem when they won the last time they faced this starting pitcher for a net profit of $710.

Angels at Indians – The Indians are 0-7 since July 25, 2010 at home after a loss in which they were shut out in the last 6 innings for a net profit of $730 when playing against.

Red Sox at Mariners – The Red Sox are 0-5 since July 20, 2010 after a win in which they allowed 6 or fewer hits and it is not the first game of a series for a net profit of $690 when playing against.

Phillies at Marlins – The Phillies are 9-0 since July 22, 2010 on the road when they won the last two games their starter started for a net profit of $1000.

Pirates at Mets – The Pirates are 0-9 since May 17, 2010 on the road after a loss in which they were shut out in the last 6 innings for a net profit of $900 when playing against. The Mets are 0-12 since July 01, 2010 after a one run win for a net profit of $1345 when playing against.

Blue Jays at Orioles – The Blue Jays are 0-7 since May 22, 2010 on the road after a loss in which their opponent left 18+ men on base and it is not the first game of a series for a net profit of $705 when playing against.

Tigers at Rangers – The Rangers are 7-0 since July 22, 2010 at home and it is the first game of the series for a net profit of $700.

Yankees at Rays – The Yankees are 11-0 since May 12, 2010 after a loss in which they were shut out in the last 6 innings and it is not the first game of a series for a net profit of $1105. The Rays are 7-0 since August 16, 2010 after a one run win for a net profit of $720.

Diamondbacks at Reds – The Diamondbacks are 0-8 since June 16, 2010 as a 140+ dog after a loss in which they had a higher team-left-on-base than their opponent as a dog for a net profit of $800 when playing against. The Reds are 11-0 since June 06, 2010 as a favorite when they blew a lead in their starter's last start and lost for a net profit of $1100.

Padres at Rockies – The Rockies are 8-0 since June 07, 2010 as a home favorite when they won by one run in their starter's last start for a net profit of $800.

Athletics at Royals – The Athletics are 0-6 since May 07, 2010 as a dog when they won by one run in their starter's last start for a net profit of $600 when playing against. The Royals are 0-7 since August 30, 2010 when they lost the last time they faced this starting pitcher for a net profit of $755 when playing against.

Twins at White Sox – The Twins are 0-7 since April 28, 2010 as a road dog after a win in which they allowed 1 or fewer walks for a net profit of $700 when playing against. The White Sox are 7-0 since June 25, 2010 as a home favorite and it is the first game of the series for a net profit of $700.

**StarDust Bum** · 09-14-2010, 07:13 PM

MLB Odds: Giants taking big steps

Since the NL West cellar-dwelling Los Angeles Dodgers will not be participating in postseason play this season, preventing their hated rivals in San Francisco from capturing the division title would be the next best thing.

The Dodgers will get the first opportunity at accomplishing that goal Tuesday when they meet the Giants in the first game of a three-game set at AT&T Park.

The Giants moved less than one percentage point behind the NL West Division-leading Padres on Sunday when Tim Lincecum got the better of San Diego ace Mat Latos, 6-1.

The Giants defeated the Padres three times during the four-game weekend series after having lost nine of their first 11 against the Padres this year.

The Giants have won 10 of their last 14 games, including a fine 7-3 mark on a recently completed 10-game road excursion against the Dodgers, Diamondbacks and Padres.

When the Giants began that trip by taking two of three against the Dodgers, it raised their record against their heated rivals to 8-7 this season. The ‘under' is 9-6 during that span, including 4-2 in the six games at AT&T park.

The Dodgers, off Sunday's 7-4 loss at Houston, have dropped seven of their last nine overall outings and are now 30-42 on the road. This will be final stop on the Dodgers' current 10-game road trip.

Barry Zito (8-12, 4.14 ERA) will get the ball for the Giants looking to stop a skid that has seen him go 0-8 in his last 11 starts. The 32-year-old southpaw has not won since July 16 when he blanked the Mets, 1-0.

The Las Vegas native is 0-2 in four starts against the Dodgers this season, with all four assignments dipping ‘under' the closing total. The ‘under' is now 11-2-3 in Zito's last 16 starts against the Dodgers and 16-11-2 in his first 29 overall starts this season.

Zito did not allow the Dodgers to score more than two runs in any of those starts, while pitching into the seventh inning on each occasion. He has limited the Dodgers to seven runs on 19 hits spanning 27 1/3 innings during that stretch.

The Giants have provided Zito with three or fewer runs of support in 10 of his last 12 starts.

The Dodgers will counter with a southpaw of their own in Clayton Kershaw (11-10, 2.99 ERA). The 22-year-old Texas native is having his own problems winning lately, going 0-3 in his last four starts despite not allowing more than three runs in any of those efforts.

Kershaw is 0-1 in two starts against the Giants, while the Dodgers lost both games. The first matchup on July 20 saw Kershaw allow four runs (two earned) on six hits through 6 1/3 innings spanning 104 pitches. The Dodgers lost 7-5 as 120 home favorites, with the combined 12 runs soaring ‘over' the 6 ½-run closing total. Kershaw was not involved in the decision.

The rematch on Aug. 1 saw Kershaw limit the Giants to two runs on six hits through seven innings spanning 117 pitches. Unfortunately, Kershaw suffered the 2-0 loss as a 105 road underdog. The combined two runs dipped ‘under' the 6 ½-run total.

Kershaw has now tossed 100 pitches or more in each of his last 10 starting assignments.

The Dodgers are 8-4 in extra innings, 22-22 in one-run affairs and have a minus-four run differential (606-610). The Giants are 11-7 in extra innings, 25-21 in one-run efforts and have a plus-83 run differential (626-543).

Don't forget to check the weather forecast and umpire reports for all of Tuesday's MLB action.

**StarDust Bum** · 09-14-2010, 07:14 PM

MLB Odds: White Sox need sweep versus Twins

The Chicago White Sox are in desperate need of a sweep when they host the Minnesota Twins for a three-game series beginning Tuesday night.

Chicago (79-64) is six games behind Minnesota (85-58) in the AL Central with both teams idle on Monday. There are only 19 games remaining for both squads and this is the last head-to-head series.

The White Sox made a mini-run after acquiring slugger Manny Ramirez on Aug 30. They ripped off seven straight wins after the waiver claim was announced and trailed Minnesota by 3 ½-games on Sept. 6.

Chicago has slumped some its last six games (going 2-4). That’s even after winning a weekend home series with Kansas City. The ChiSox are 21-5 in their last 26 opening games of a series.

Ramirez is 10-of-34 (.294) with a .709 OPS since joining the team. He’s a threat in the lineup and causes hitters ahead of him to see better pitches. However, Chicago has averaged 4.27 runs in the 11 games he’s played, versus 4.73 for the year.

Minnesota has built its division lead by going 13-3 in its last 16 games. The schedule has been pretty easy with Seattle, Kansas City and Cleveland three of the opponents. Team ERA is just 2.80 in September, ranked second in the AL.

Francisco Liriano (13-7, 3.24 ERA) will start for Minnesota. The team has won his last five starts and nine out of 10. His ERA is 2.21 in those 10 games and he’s gotten great run support (7.3 runs per game).

The 26-year-old lefty from the Dominican Republic is already at a career high for innings (172 1/3). However, he’s completely healthy this year and isn’t fading down the stretch. He’s lasted seven innings in each of his last three starts.

Liriano is 2-0 with a 4.07 ERA in four starts against the White Sox this year. Minnesota has won all four. He’s 1-0 with a 3.09 ERA in the two starts in Chicago. The ‘under’ is 4-1 at the MLB betting window in Liriano’s last five road starts at U.S. Cellular Field.

John Danks (13-10, 3.54 ERA) will be making his most important start of the season. He leads team starters in wins and quality starts (19), although neither by a large margin.

The White Sox are just 2-6 in his last eight outings (5.35 ERA). However, five were quality starts, including his last two at Detroit and Boston. His run support hasn’t been good, just 3.75 runs per game over the last eight.

Danks has made five starts against Minnesota this year (2-1, 4.24 ERA). He’s 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA in the two home starts. Liriano and Danks squared off in an April duel in Chicago, with Minnesota winning 4-3.

The Twins lead the season series 10-5. They’re 4-2 in the games in Chicago and 8-2 in their 10 overall there.

Minnesota has been doing all its damage with slugger Justin Morneau (concussion) out since early July. Pitcher Scott Baker (elbow) is out until late September and Carl Pavano (neck) is probable to pitch Thursday.

Chicago closer Bobby Jenks (forearm) is questionable for this series. Matt Thornton and 21-year-old Chris Sale are two capable guys who can close.

First pitch on Tuesday night is 5:10 p.m. (PT). Weather should be in the 60s with some showers.

**jt4545** · 09-14-2010, 07:14 PM

Thanks and good luck star

Announcement

The Bum's Tuesday's Best Bets MLB-WNBA !

The Bum's Tuesday's Best Bets MLB-WNBA !

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment