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**Dat Boi E** · 09-30-2010, 06:54 PM

good luck tonight, Bum!

**StarDust Bum** · 09-30-2010, 07:04 PM

NL West hopefuls are heavy favorites Thursday

After wins for both clubs on Wednesday, the Giants remain two games up on the Padres entering Thursday. San Francisco wraps up its series with a matinee against the Diamondbacks, while the Padres close out their four-game series with the Cubs. San Diego enters the day 1.5 games behind idle Atlanta for the Wild Card.
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (64-94)
at SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (90-68)

First pitch 3:45 p.m. EDT
Line: San Francisco -175, Arizona +165 Total: 7.5

The Giants hope to widen the gap between themselves and the Padres when they send Madison Bumgarner (6-6, 3.06 ERA) to the mound Thursday. Bumgarner has been impressive lately, carrying a 1.37 ERA over his past three starts into this matchup. Unfortunately for San Francisco, the Giants are just 1-2 in those games. His most recent effort was a seven inning performance where he allowed no runs and seven hits while striking out nine in a 13-0 win. In two career starts against the Diamondbacks, Bumgarner is 1-0 with a 1.26 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP.

Arizona will counter with Barry Enright (6-6, 3.73 ERA). Enright has been knocked around lately, going 0-3 with a 7.98 ERA in his last three outings. The Diamondbacks have lost his last four starts. His most recent outing was encouraging, going eight innings and allowing two runs on five hits but taking the loss nonetheless. The Giants touched Enright for six runs on three home runs back on September 7. The Diamondbacks are 1-2 against the Giants when Enright is on the mound. Interestingly, this will be the first time he’s not opposed by Tim Lincecum.

The FoxSheets give the edge to San Francisco:

Play Against - Any team (ARIZONA) - below average NL hitting team (AVG <=.255) against a team with a very good bullpen (ERA <=3.33), with a starting pitcher who gives up 1 or more HR's/start. (73-23 over the last 5 seasons.) (76%, +45 units. Rating = 4*).

CHICAGO CUBS (72-86)
at SAN DIEGO PADRES (88-70)

First pitch: 6:35 p.m. EDT
Line: San Diego -160, Chicago +150 Total: 7.5

After keeping pace on Wednesday, the Padres look to gain ground on both the Giants and Braves Thursday. Jon Garland (14-12, 3.58 ERA) will toe the rubber for San Diego. Garland is coming off a no-decision against Cincinnati where he went six innings, giving up three runs on seven hits. He hasn’t been very effective of late, dropping four of his past five decisions. He has pitched well in day games this year, however. Garland is 6-4 with a 2.87 ERA in matinees this season.

The Cubs will send left-hander Tom Gorzelanny (7-9, 4.28 ERA) to the mound to oppose Garland. Gorzelanny was roughed up last time out against St. Louis, lasting just 3.1 innings and giving up seven runs on seven hits. He also walked five. He’s 0-2 with a 10.64 ERA over his last three starts. The Cubs have lost six of the last eight games Gorzelanny has started. His numbers against the Padres aren’t great either. The southpaw is 1-3 with a 5.02 ERA and 1.80 WHIP in four career starts.

Given Gorzelanny’s struggles, the FoxSheets side with San Diego:

Play Against - Road underdogs with a money line of +125 to +175 (CHICAGO CUBS) - with an on base percentage of .300 or worse over their last 10 games, with a rested bullpen - threw <= 2 innings in each of the last 2 games. (100-36 over the last 5 seasons.) (73.5%, +44.3 units. Rating = 3*).

**StarDust Bum** · 09-30-2010, 07:12 PM

MLB Odds: Reds prepare for playoffs

The Cincinnati Reds ended a 15-year playoff drought Tuesday by defeating the Houston Astros 3-2 in the first game of this three-game series. While Thursday's series finale does not have any playoff significance, baseball bettors should still be on the lookout for any edge that will help cash a ticket.
Tuesday's victory lifted Cincinnati's home record to 46-30 and lowered Houston's road ledger to 33-46. The Reds improved to 20-7 in their last 27 series meetings against the Astros, including taking nine of the first 13 meetings this season.

The combined five runs in Tuesday's opener ducked below the 7 ½-run closing total, enabling the ‘under' to improve to 84-66-7 in Houston's first 157 contests this season and to 6-2-1 in the Reds' last nine home outings.

The Astros have now failed to score more than four runs in 11 of their 13 meetings with the Reds.

Top MLB Betting Odds at 5Dimes.

Brett Myers will toe the rubber for the Astros in Thursday's finale trying to improve on a fine season that has seen the right-hander go 14-7 with a nifty 2.89 ERA. The Astros are 20-12 in his 32 starts this season, with the ‘under' going 19-10-3.

The 30-year-old Myers defeated the Reds 4-3 in his lone start against them this season (Sept. 19) as a 108 home favorite. Myers blanked the Reds on six hits through seven innings spanning 106 pitches before leaving for a pinch-hitter. He walked one and fanned five.

Prior to last Friday's start against Pittsburgh where he was tagged for five earned runs, Myers had not allowed more than three earned runs in eight straight assignments. Amazingly, Myers has tossed six innings or more in each of his 32 starts this season.

The Reds will counter with Bronson Arroyo (16-10, 3.97 ERA) as they attempt to set their postseason pitching rotation. Cincinnati is 19-13 in Arroyo's 32 starts this year, with the ‘under' going 16-11-5. Additionally, the ‘under' is 7-1 in Arroyo's last eight starts against the Astros.

Top MLB Betting Odds at 5Dimes.

Arroyo registered the victory in both starts against the Astros this season, with both occurring on the road.

The first meeting (April 29) saw Arroyo limit the Astros to two runs on six hits through 6 2/3 innings spanning 101 pitches. He walked three and fanned seven en route to a 4-2 victory as a 150 road underdog.

The most recent meeting (Sept. 18) wasn't as close, as the Reds ripped the Astros 11-1. Arroyo yielded just one run on four hits through six innings spanning 98 pitches. He walked one and fanned five as a 130 road favorite.

Entering Wednesday's action, the Astros were 47-65 against right-handed starters, 7-6 in extra innings and 21-18 in one-run games. The club had a run differential of minus-109, as it was getting outscored, 710-601.

The Reds were 57-47 against right-handed starters, 11-7 in extra innings and 26-26 in one-run affairs. Cincinnati had a run differential of plus-96 thanks to outscoring the opposition, 768-672.

Jerry Meals will be calling balls and strikes in Thursday's finale. The ‘under' is 17-14 in his 31 home plate assignments thanks to an average of 8.6 runs per game being scored.

Don't forget to check the weather forecast for all of Thursday's baseball action.

**StarDust Bum** · 09-30-2010, 07:13 PM

MLB Betting: Texas Rangers host LA Angels

The Texas Rangers are preparing for the playoffs, but they’ll have a fight on their hands when the Los Angeles Angels pay a visit beginning Thursday night.

The Rangers (87-70) clinched the AL West title last Saturday in Oakland and their first playoff berth since 1999. They returned home on Monday and dropped the first two games of their series to Seattle. The Wednesday result is still pending.

Texas is the only current MLB franchise never to win a playoff series. Its main objectives these final four games are getting players healthy and the playoff rotation set.

Thursday’s starter Cliff Lee (12-9, 3.29 ERA) has been pushed back a couple of days, so he’ll be set to pitch Game 1 of the ALDS. He last pitched Thursday in Oakland, allowing four earned runs over five innings in a 5-0 loss.

Top MLB Betting Odds at 5Dimes.

The 32-year-old lefty hasn’t been as dominate as expected since being acquired from Seattle in July. He’s 4-6 with a 4.25 ERA in 14 starts, with Texas going 5-9. He has been better in three September starts (2-1, 2.57 ERA).

Lee will certainly leave the team as a free agent at season’s end, but Texas won’t care as long as he performs in October.

Lee has faced the Angels twice since being acquired. He got a loss in L.A. on August 1, allowing four earned runs over eight innings. He got a July 22 home win, two earned runs over 8 1/3 innings. L.A. is just 1-7 in its last eight road games against a left-handed starter.

Texas has a couple of significant injuries. Slugger Josh Hamilton (ribs) has been out since Sept. 4, but will try to play one game over the weekend. Reliever Frank Francisco (back) hasn’t pitched since Aug. 27 and will likely be off the playoff roster. The Rangers may also rest some position players over the next few days.

The Angels (77-80) are wrapping up a disappointing season, but can avoid finishing under .500 for the first time since 2003. They’re going for a three-game home sweep over Oakland on Wednesday and are 8-1 in their last nine games against the AL West.

L.A.’s is 13-11 this month, leading the AL in ERA (2.81), but only ranked 13th in runs scored (3.50 per game). The ‘under’ has gone 20-6-3 in its last 29 games.

Top MLB Betting Odds at 5Dimes.

Scott Kazmir (9-15, 6.03 ERA) will get the call for Los Angeles. He only lasted three innings at home against the White Sox last Saturday, allowing five earned runs in a 6-2 loss. L.A. is just 3-11 in his last 14 starts.

The 26-year-old lefty still has time to turn his career around, but his 5.66 strikeout rate is worrisome as its far below his career mark (8.79). He’s 2-6 with a 4.47 ERA since coming off the disabled list in August with ‘shoulder fatigue.’

Kazmir’s is 0-2 with a 6.94 ERA in two starts against Texas this year. Both were before he went on the DL. He surrendered four earned runs over seven innings at Texas back in May. He’s 3-2 with a 2.61 ERA in six lifetime starts at Texas.

Texas is 8-7 against Los Angles this year, 5-1 at home. The MLB odds ‘under’ is 8-2-1 in the last 11 meetings overall.

First pitch on Thursday night is 5:05 p.m. (PT). Weather should clear and in the 70s.

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