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**bryce** · 09-27-2010, 06:50 PM

Good luck Bum!

**Kaptain** · 09-27-2010, 07:01 PM

Keep er going BUM....as always, gl

**shoeman530** · 09-27-2010, 07:02 PM

good luck sdb

**StarDust Bum** · 09-27-2010, 07:56 PM

Favorites worth playing in key NL Wild Card action

With just one week to go in the regular season, the NL Wild Card race looks like it will come right down to the wire. Entering Monday, the Braves have a narrow half-game lead over the Padres, who are also a half-game behind San Francisco in the NL West. Atlanta welcomes Florida to town to start a three-game series while the Padres open a four-game set with the Cubs.
FLORIDA MARLINS (77-78)
at ATLANTA BRAVES (87-69)

First pitch: 7:10 p.m. EDT
Line: Atlanta -180, Florida +170 Total: 8

The Braves hope to improve on their league-best home record when Tommy Hanson (10-11, 3.51 ERA) takes the mound Monday night against the Marlins. Atlanta totes a 52-23 record at Turner Field this year and has its final six games of the season at home. Ironically for Hanson, he has a better ERA on the road (3.22) than at home (3.79). The right-hander exits a stellar performance where he gave up just two hits over six shutout innings against Philadelphia, but the Braves lost the game 1-0. Hanson was knocked around the last time he faced Florida, giving up six earned runs over five innings while taking the loss in a 7-1 defeat on August 27.

Rookie Alex Sanabia (5-3, 3.99 ERA) gets the start for the Marlins. The 22-year-old has had a bit of an up-and-down year since joining the rotation in July but has seemed to figure things out lately, going 2-1 with a 2.60 ERA over his last three starts. He was roughed up a bit by the Braves on September 5, yielding five runs on six hits in five innings, but did strike out a season high six batters. The Marlins are 2-0 in Sanabia’s two career starts against Atlanta.

The FoxSheets side with Hanson and Atlanta here:

Play Against - Road teams (FLORIDA) - cold hitting team - batting .250 or worse over their last 20 games against opponent with a hot starting pitcher- WHIP <= 1.000 over his last 5 starts. (145-70 over the last 5 seasons.) (67.4%, +39.5 units. Rating = 1*).

CHICAGO CUBS (70-85)
at SAN DIEGO PADRES (87-68)

First pitch: 10:05 p.m. EDT
Line: San Diego -140, Chicago +130 Total: 6.5

After taking two-of-three from both the Dodgers and the Reds, San Diego looks to gain ground on the idle Giants when it plays host to Chicago Monday night. Tim Stauffer (5-4, 1.95 ERA) takes on Carlos Zambrano (9-6, 3.56 ERA) in the series opener.

Stauffer is making just his sixth start of the year after spending the majority of the season in the Padres’ vaunted bullpen. He was superb last time out in L.A., limiting the Dodgers to just one run and three hits over six innings en route to a 3-1 win. Stauffer is 1-0 in two home starts this year, giving up one run over 10 innings.

Zambrano continued his recent dominance last start, throwing six shutout innings against the Giants, but was a victim of no run support as the Cubs dropped the game 1-0. The right-hander is 2-0 with a miniscule 0.44 ERA over his last three starts. He has won his last six decisions and the Cubs have won five of his last six starts. Zambrano has solid career numbers against the Padres, going 6-2 with a 2.61 ERA in 11 starts.

Despite Zambrano’s new-found success, the FoxSheets like San Diego:

Play On - Home teams (SAN DIEGO) - below average hitting team (AVG <=.255) against a good starting pitcher (ERA <=3.70) -NL, with an excellent bullpen whose ERA is 3.00 or better on the season. (106-60 since 1997.) (63.9%, +49.1 units. Rating = 3*).

**StarDust Bum** · 09-27-2010, 07:58 PM

MLB Odds: Wild-card or bust for Braves

It's a wild-card berth or bust for the Atlanta Braves as they begin a three-game home series Monday night against the Florida Marlins. The Braves broke a four-game losing streak with Saturday's 5-0 win at Washington.

Atlanta's chances of capturing the NL East title are essentially over, as the club trails Philadelphia by six games with seven to play. Atlanta led Philly by three games on Sept. 1, but has gone just 10-13 this month. Meanwhile, the Phillies have been red-hot at 19-4, including a recent 11-game winning streak.

The Braves are tied with San Francisco for the wild-card. They will play their last six games at home where they're a National League-best 52-23. However, Atlanta is just 3-5 in its last eight home games.

It would be a huge letdown for legendary manager Bobby Cox to miss the playoffs in his final baseball betting year.

Top MLB Betting Action at 5Dimes.com

Injuries have played a big rule in Atlanta's struggles. Starter Jair Jurrjens (knee) has missed a couple of starts and Kris Medlen (elbow) is out for the season. Chipper Jones (knee) went out for the year on Aug. 10 and the offense has struggled in September (14th in the NL in runs scored).

Rookie Mike Minor was scheduled to start Monday, but he's been struggling with fatigue. Cox will likely start Tommy Hanson on regular rest, then finish the series with Tim Hudson and Derek Lowe on short rest.

Hanson (10-11, 3.51 ERA) allowed no earned runs at Philly last Wednesday over six innings, and still lost 1-0. He's only 2-6 since the All-Star break despite a 2.77 ERA. Atlanta has won just five of his last 14 starts.

The 24-year-old righty is 2-1 with a 4.08 ERA in three starts against the Marlins this year. He struggled in a home start against them on Aug. 27, six earned runs over five innings (four homers). He won the other two starts (1.42 ERA).

Florida continues to battle despite its playoff hopes dashed amid a myriad of injuries. Starters Josh Johnson and Ricky Nolasco have already shut it down for the year and star shortstop Hanley Ramirez (elbow) is questionable for this series.

The Marlins have played pretty well on the road this season, going 39-38 overall and 18-15 in the second half.

Florida's Alex Sanabia (5-3, 3.99 ERA) is the opposing pitcher. He's made 14 appearances in his rookie season, starting 11. Florida has won eight of those 11 starts, including going 3-1 in September.

The 22-year-old righty doesn't strikeout a ton of guys (5.79 rate), but has a respectable OPS (.707). He's thrown over 160 innings this year, including a stint in the minors. Florida will be careful with his pitch count the rest of the way.

Top MLB Betting Action at 5Dimes.com

Sanabia is 0-0 with a 5.79 ERA in two starts against the Braves this year (both at home). His away ERA (3.62) is surprisingly better than at home (4.36).

These teams have been very even this season, with Atlanta winning eight of 15 games. Atlanta took two of three at home in late August, and is 4-2 at home this year. The ‘over' is 6-2-1 in the last nine meetings overall.

Monday's first pitch is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. (PT). The weather forecast calls for temperatures in the 70s with rain ending earlier in the day.

**StarDust Bum** · 09-27-2010, 08:00 PM

MLB Betting: The final week begins

The marathon 162-game baseball betting regular season is down to the final week, and there are still some loose strings that need to be resolved before the playoffs begin.

Sure we've known since April or May that teams like Seattle, Pittsburgh and Arizona were going to be terrible, but there are still a handful of teams vying for a shot at the World Series.

With roughly six or seven games remaining for all major league teams, we have plenty of trends to dissect as September comes to a close. There are two great divisional races remaining, but the American League East and National League West face different circumstances.

New York and Tampa Bay continue to battle atop the AL East, but the loser of this race will capture the American League wild-card slot baring a historic collapse. The wild-card hasn't produced a World Series winner since the 2004 Boston Red Sox, but it beats planning offseason excursions.

The Yankees, the reigning World Series champions, have advanced to the postseason three times as a wild card (1995, 1997 and 2007). However, the Bronx Bombers have never won the title as a wild-card entrant.

Top MLB Betting Action at 5Dimes.com

New York's recent four-game losing skid has this historic franchise chasing the Rays in the standings. The Yankees conclude the regular season with a six-game road trip versus Toronto and Boston, hoping to improve on their 41-34 road record.

Tampa Bay has the enviable situation of playing Baltimore and Kansas the last seven games of the season. The Orioles and Royals currently reside in last place in their respective divisions, a combined 61 games out of first place.

The Rays have advanced to the postseason just once in franchise history, winning the 2008 AL East before eventually losing to Philadelphia in the World Series.

Tampa Bay, 48-29 at Tropicana Field, hosts Baltimore for a three-game set before traveling to Kansas City for a season-ending four-game series. The Rays are a solid 48-29 away from home, the best road record in baseball.

Things are much more interesting in the NL West where San Diego and San Francisco continue to battle for the divisional crown. These two teams conclude the regular season with a three-game series in the Bay Area, while the second-place team will have to deal with Atlanta.

Top MLB Betting Action at 5Dimes.com

The Braves and Giants have identical records after 155 games, but Atlanta appears to have an advantage by playing weaker teams down the stretch.

The Braves wrap up the regular season with a six-game homestand against Florida and a Philadelphia team resting its players for another postseason push. Atlanta maintains a solid 52-23 record at Turner Field, while the Marlins are a pedestrian 39-38 on the road.

San Diego, searching for its first postseason appearance since 2006, has gone 11-4 versus the Giants this season. San Francisco, 45-30 at home, concludes the regular season with a six-game homestand versus Arizona and San Diego.

Minnesota and Texas are the only teams that have currently punched a playoff ticket, but Philadelphia and Cincinnati are quickly closing in on the postseason party. The Phillies have taken a hold of the NL East due to their 9-1 record the past 10 games.

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