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**bryce** · 09-16-2010, 06:32 PM

Good luck bum!

**Udog** · 09-16-2010, 07:23 PM

I like that Padres/Cards under, too. Good luck tonight, Bum!

I can't get a feel for this WNBA Final. I'm going with you!

**StarDust Bum** · 09-16-2010, 07:27 PM

Underdogs worth playing in Thursday's key MLB games

With a light slate of games set for Thursday, we’ll focus on two that could potentially influence the playoff race. Perhaps the biggest game of the day takes place in St. Louis where the Cardinals are quickly running out of time to catch the Reds in the Central. They’ll welcome the Padres to town who are hoping to edge clear of both the Giants and Rockies in the West. Meanwhile, in the American League, the Twins look to shut the door on the White Sox and solidify their spot in the postseason.
SAN DIEGO PADRES (82-63)
at ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (74-70)

First pitch: 8:15 p.m. EDT, Sports.com Line: St Louis -120, San Diego +110 Total: 7.5

After taking two of three in Colorado, the Padres head to St. Louis Thursday to continue their playoff push. Tim Stauffer (4-3, 1.54 ERA) gets the start for San Diego while Jake Westbrook (7-10, 4.41 ERA) takes the hill for the Cardinals. St. Louis is in dire need of a winning streak as the Cards sit eight games behind Cincinnati with less than three weeks remaining in the season.

Stauffer has been magnificent for the Padres this year, doing the bulk of his work out of the bullpen. Thursday marks his fourth start of the season (1-0, 0.60 ERA as a starter) and he exits a terrific outing against San Francisco that saw him throw six shutout innings, giving up three hits while striking out five. He’s been terrific on the road this year too, allowing only two earned runs in 28 innings, which works out to a miniscule ERA of 0.64.

Jake Westbrook hopes to right the St. Louis ship after the Cards dropped were swept by the Cubs. He’s pitched well as of late, but has only win since July 16 to show for it. He’s 0-1 with a 3.32 ERA over his last three starts. Last time out, Westbrook threw six innings, allowing two runs on seven hits and five walks. He’s given the Cardinals some innings, going at least six in his last 10 starts. The Cardinals, however, are just 2-8 in those games.

The FoxSheets like the value offered by the Padres:

Play On - All underdogs with a money line of +100 to +150 (SAN DIEGO) - with a winning record on the season, in September games. (254-204 over the last 5 seasons.) (55.5%, +96.5 units. Rating = 3*).

MINNESOTA TWINS (87-58)
at CHICAGO WHITE SOX (79-66)

First pitch: 8:10 p.m. EDT, Sports.com Line: Minnesota -109, Chicago -101 Total: 8.5

The Twins hope to put away the White Sox for good when they meet in the final game of a three-game series Thursday at U.S. Cellular Field. Minnesota leads Chicago by a healthy eight games in the AL Central standings. Carl Pavano (16-11, 3.47 ERA) takes the mound for Minnesota while Mark Buehrle (12-10, 3.99 ERA) gets the nod for the ChiSox.

Pavano suffered a complete-game loss at Cleveland his last start where he went eight innings, giving up two runs on six hits. Thursday marks the third time this year Pavano will face Buehrle. The Twins got the best of Buehrle on July 17, where Pavano went the distance, surrendering two runs on seven hits while striking out six. It was quite a different story on August 19, when Pavano was rocked for seven runs on 15 hits in an 11-0 White Sox victory.

Buehrle is certainly no stranger to the Minnesota Twins. He’ll make his 45th career start against the Twins on Thursday and has had a fair amount of success, going 25-17 with a 3.92 ERA in those games. He was brilliant in that August 19 game, throwing seven shutout innings. Despite not factoring into the decision, his last start was a good one, allowing three runs over seven innings in a 4-3 win over Kansas City. The White Sox have won Buehrle’s last three starts and five of his last six.

The FoxSheets have some strong trends favoring Chicago in this matchup:

Play On - Home underdogs with a money line of +100 or higher (CHI WHITE SOX) - with a winning record on the season, in September games. (81-44 over the last 5 seasons.) (64.8%, +49.8 units. Rating = 4*).

Play Against - Road favorites with a money line of -110 or higher (MINNESOTA) - with a winning record on the season playing another winning team, in September games. (66-37 over the last 5 seasons.) (64.1%, +40.1 units. Rating = 3*).

**StarDust Bum** · 09-16-2010, 07:29 PM

Diamond Trends - Thursday

Padres at Cardinals – The Padres are 7-0 since April 06, 2010 on the road after a loss in which they had fewer than five team-left-on-base as a dog for a net profit of $895. The Padres are 6-0 since April 10, 2010 as a dog after a loss in which they allowed 12+ hits for a net profit of $755.

Dodgers at Giants – The Dodgers are 0-9 since April 28, 2010 after a loss in which they had 6 or fewer hits and it is the last game of a series for a net profit of $950 when playing against. The Dodgers are 0-7 since July 16, 2010 on the road when they are off a loss in which they had at least three times as many hits as runs and it is not the first game of a series for a net profit of $700 when playing against. The Giants are 12-0 since May 29, 2010 as a favorite after a win in which they allowed 6 or fewer hits for a net profit of $1200.

Angels at Indians – The Angels are 0-10 since June 20, 2010 on the road after scoring 6+ runs for a net profit of $1065 when playing against. The Angels are 0-6 since July 21, 2010 after a 5+ run win for a net profit of $665 when playing against. The Indians are 0-7 since June 03, 2010 after a loss in which they were shut out in the last 6 innings and it is the last game of a series for a net profit of $700 when playing against.

Pirates at Mets – The Pirates are 0-6 since May 29, 2010 as a road dog vs a team that has won at least their last three games for a net profit of $600 when playing against. The Mets are 11-0 since June 08, 2010 at home after allowing 6+ runs for a net profit of $1145. The Mets are 0-9 since April 18, 2010 after a one run win and it is the last game of a series for a net profit of $955 when playing against.

Diamondbacks at Reds – The Diamondbacks are 0-12 since May 29, 2010 as a road 140+ dog when they lost the last two games their starter started for a net profit of $1200 when playing against. The Reds are 8-0 since August 02, 2010 as a favorite after a win in which they used 5+ pitchers for a net profit of $800.

Twins at White Sox – The Twins are 6-0 since June 30, 2010 after a 5+ run win and it is the last game of a series for a net profit of $615.

**StarDust Bum** · 09-16-2010, 07:30 PM

Well i sure hope am on the right sides.......all a gut feeling......GOOD LUCK to anyone one else on the victory train...........

**StarDust Bum** · 09-16-2010, 07:39 PM

MLB Odds: Dodgers, Giants finish season series

Joe Torre may very well be a lame duck and his Los Angeles Dodgers are buried behind the first place San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants (1 ½-games behind) and Colorado Rockies (3 ½ back). Yet the Dodgers are going to have a major impact down the stretch in the National League West.

Knocking the Giants out of the playoffs would be the next best thing to advancing to the postseason for Los Angeles. However after these two bitter rivals meet for the final time this season on Thursday at AT&T Park, San Francisco will be rooting for the Dodgers, who return home Friday to begin a six-game stand against the Rockies and Padres.

Southpaws Ted Lilly (8-10, 3.58) and Jonathan Sanchez (10-8, 3.29) match pitches on Thursday in what shapes up as another low-scoring affair.

Sanchez has been on a roll, recording a 1.95 ERA over his past five starts. He has surrendered just 17 hits in 32 1/3 innings in that span, helping lower his opponents’ batting average to .208.

Sanchez had been shaky against the Dodgers in the past until Sept. 5 when he tossed seven innings of three-hit ball and fanned nine en route to a 3-0 victory. That was his first career victory against Los Angeles after five straight losses and lowered his ERA to 5.27.

Lilly, despite not picking up a win in his last three starts, has been excellent since joining the Dodgers in August. The former Chicago Cubs pitcher is 5-2 with a 3.33 ERA since escaping the Windy City.

Lilly faced the Giants on Sept. 4 at Dodger Stadium and fared well, yielding two runs and three hits (two homers) in seven innings. The veteran southpaw is 3-6 on the highway with a 3.63 ERA and he’s been touched for nine homers in 72 innings.

Los Angeles has cashed four of its last five against lefties overall and won six of eight on the road, while San Francisco is 1-4 in its last five against southpaws.

The Dodgers had lost seven of their last 10 on the road prior to Wednesday and five of six against division foes. Conversely, the Giants had passed seven of their past 10 division tests.

Sanchez will be pitching with an extra day of rest and he is 5-1 in his last six under those circumstances. However, the Giants are 2-7 in his last nine starts versus Los Angeles and 0-5 in his last five home outings against the Dodgers.

Five of the past six series scuffles have ended on the low side of the MLB betting number, as have five of the last seven meetings in the Bay Area.

Los Angeles has strayed ‘under’ in its last five division battles and in five of six against lefties. San Francisco has followed suit in 10 of its last 14 games, both overall and against Western enemies. The Giants have also knuckled ‘under’ in seven of Sanchez’ last 10 starts on five days rest and in five of his last six outings overall.

Home plate umpire Marty Foster has put the freeze on opposing hitters, with the ‘under’ cashing at a 16-7-1 clip when he’s behind the dish on Thursday.

**StarDust Bum** · 09-16-2010, 07:41 PM

MLB Betting: Padres putrid in St. Louis

A four-game series in St. Louis beginning Thursday night may not be the ideal way for the San Diego Padres to stay atop the NL West standings. After all, the Padres are a putrid 8-31 in their last 39 trips to Busch Stadium.

After Wednesday afternoon's 9-6 loss at Colorado, the Padres were limping to the finish line with a 6-14 record in their last 20 efforts. The late-season slump has seen San Diego's lead in the NL West Division standings dwindle to one game over the San Francisco Giants.

The Padres began this 10-game road excursion by capturing the first two games against the Rockies at Coors Field, 6-4 and 7-6. That was a welcome beginning to the road trip considering the Padres had just lost three of four at home to the second-place Giants.

Taking two of three at Colorado raised San Diego's road record to a National League-best 40-31. In fact, only Tampa Bay (43-30) owns a better road record.

St. Louis entered Wednesday's game against the Cubs seven games behind the NL Central Division-leading Reds and 7 ½ games out of a wild card spot. Though the Cards dropped the first two games of this seven-game homestand, 5-1 and 7-2, they still own a fine 43-26 home record.

The Cardinals played without three-time NL MVP Albert Pujols in Tuesday's loss to the Cubs and managed just six hits. Pujols missed only his second game of the season after getting a cortisone injection on Monday for a left elbow injury. Pujols said before the game that he anticipated he would be back in the lineup on Wednesday.

San Diego will send Tim Stauffer (4-3, 1.54 ERA) to the mound in Thursday's opener. The 28-year-old right-hander will be making just his fourth start of the season compared to 25 relief appearances. The Padres are 2-1 in Stauffer's three starts, with the ‘under' cashing on each occasion.

Stauffer registered his best and longest outing of the season last Saturday when he defeated the San Francisco Giants, 1-0, as a 115 home favorite. Stauffer blanked the Giants on just three hits through six innings spanning a season-high 85 pitches. He walked two and fanned five.

Though Stafford has tossed 58 1/3 innings in his 28 appearances for the Padres this season, he has yet to pitch an inning against St. Louis.

The Cardinals will counter with Jake Westbrook, who they acquired from Cleveland on July 26. The 32-year-old veteran right-hander is 1-3 with a 3.78 ERA in eight starts for the Red Birds.

Though the record isn't overly impressive, the innings-eater has saved the Cardinals' bullpen by going six innings or more in each of his first eight starts.

Westbrook is off Saturday's no-decision against the Atlanta Braves where he allowed two runs on seven hits through six innings spanning 105 pitches. The Cardinals eventually suffered a 6-3 setback as 130 road underdogs. The combined nine runs skipped above the closing total, leaving the ‘over' 5-2-1 in Westbrook's eight starts.

St. Louis is 51-42 against right-handed starters, 5-8 in extra innings and 18-22 in one-run affairs. The squad has a plus-74 run differential by outscoring the opposition 644-570.

San Diego is 54-46 against right-handed starters, 7-7 in extra innings and 26-20 in one-run contests. The Padres have a plus-100 run differential after outscoring the opposition 617-517.

Most offshore sports books monitored by the Don Best odds product opened the Cardinals as 125 home favorites for Thursday's opener, with the 'total' set at 7 1/2 runs.

Don't forget to check the weather report and the umpire rotation for all of Thursday's MLB action.

**StarDust Bum** · 09-16-2010, 08:00 PM

A Fun Parlay Tonight:

09/16/2010 by ONLINE at 03:48 PM
[Ticket #: 82026949]
PARLAY (9 TEAMS)

09/16/2010 @ 04:45 PM CFB [102] NC STATE -2 1.91

09/16/2010 @ 04:45 PM CFB [102] TOTAL u54½ 1.91
(CINCINNATI U vrs NC STATE)

09/16/2010 @ 05:15 PM MLB [955] SDG PADRES +1½ 1.50
( T STAUFFER-R / WESTBROOK-R )

09/16/2010 @ 05:15 PM MLB [956] TOTAL u7½ 1.95 (SDG PADRES vrs STL CARDINALS)
( T STAUFFER-R / WESTBROOK-R )

09/16/2010 @ 07:15 PM MLB [957] TOTAL o6½ 1.95 (LA DODGERS vrs SFO GIANTS)
( T LILLY-L / J SANCHEZ-L )

09/16/2010 @ 07:15 PM MLB [958] SFO GIANTS -1½ 2.60
( T LILLY-L / J SANCHEZ-L )

09/16/2010 @ 04:05 PM MLB [960] TOTAL u7½ 1.95 (LA ANGELS vrs CLE INDIANS)
( E SANTANA-R / F CARMONA-R )

09/16/2010 @ 06:05 PM NBA [655] SEA STORM GM3 +3 1.91

09/16/2010 @ 06:05 PM NBA [656] TOTAL u166 1.91
(SEA STORM GM3 vrs ATL DREAM GM3)

**Dat Boi E** · 09-16-2010, 08:52 PM

good luck tonight, Bum! i like Sea!

**Udog** · 09-16-2010, 10:43 PM

The Padres/Cards total is looking great in the sixth, Bum!

**StarDust Bum** · 09-16-2010, 10:47 PM

yep they sure are...and so is the total on the angels and indians game.....

**StarDust Bum** · 09-16-2010, 10:49 PM

Loving that football side and total right now.......com on St.

**Udog** · 09-16-2010, 10:50 PM

Did you see the Seattle Storm just went on a 9-0 run to regain the lead?

**Udog** · 09-16-2010, 10:50 PM

Originally posted by StarDust Bum View Post

Loving that football side and total right now.......com on St.

No kiddin'! Here's hoping it holds up! NCSt. looks real good!

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