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**StarDust Bum** · 06-03-2011, 06:37 PM

LA Dodgers open MLB betting series at Reds

A tough 10-game road trip begins Friday for the Los Angeles Dodgers when they take on the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. First pitch is slated for 4:10 p.m. (PT) as the weekend set starts with a battle of struggling right-handers.

The Dodgers are scheduled to send Hiroki Kuroda to the mound opposite Cincinnati's Bronson Arroyo. Opening lines on the Don Best odds screen listed the Reds -130 with 8½ runs for the scoreboard.

Friday's contest starts a stretch of 13 consecutive days on the diamond for the Dodgers, a string that will conclude in a couple of weeks when the Reds come to LA for their only visit this season. The Dodgers will have three games in Philly and four in Colorado between the two series with Cincinnati.

Los Angeles just completed a 4-2 homestand that left the club in fourth place in the NL West, 5.5 games out before play on Thursday. The Dodgers have dumped 8.3 units of their backers' money in fashioning a 26-31 record.

Cincinnati is in the middle of a 9-game run at home and just completed a series win over the Brewers. The Reds are third in the NL Central standings, 29-28 on the season and down nearly $4.50 at the MLB betting window.

Kuroda (5-6, 3.50) is off two consecutive losses and was hit hard in both defeats at the White Sox and to the Marlins. His 2011 ledger was charged with 11 runs, nine of them earned, in a combined 11 innings. The two rough outings followed a pair of brilliant efforts, Kuroda totaling 14 2/3 scoreless innings in wins against the Pirates and Brewers.

This will be his fourth career start vs. Cincinnati, and third at Great American Ball Park. Kuroda registered wins in the previous three. Last season saw him triumph twice in Cincinnati, a combined 10 2/3 innings while surrendering three earned runs.

Arroyo (4-7, 5.74) exits a terrible month of May with the Reds dropping five of his six starts and the veteran right-hander posting up a 7.64 ERA. The club is 2-4 in his six home assignments where Arroyo has allowed nine long balls in 37 1/3 innings.

He won his two assignments vs. the Dodgers a season ago, tossing seven frames in each start and allowing just three earned runs combined. Cincinnati had lost Arroyo's previous four starts against Los Angeles and several Dodgers batters have enjoyed facing him, including Matt Kemp (7-for-16, 2 HR) and James Loney (8-for-22, HR).

The Reds won five of the nine head-to-head meetings last season with the six games at Great American halved. Four of the six battles in Cincinnati went 'over' the total with the teams averaging nearly 12 runs per contest, including two games that reached the 20-run mark.

There is a chance that Cincinnati reliever Aroldis Chapman could be activated from the disabled list at some point in this series. The lefty made three appearances during May and recorded just one out while allowing eight runs and walking nine.

Los Angeles will reportedly activate Vicente Padilla before Friday's series opener. That would be great news for the Dodgers who have a long list of relievers on the DL.

Friday's first pitch should find the thermometer in the low-80s on what should be a muggy evening in Porkopolis. A light ESE breeze is forecast (in from left-center).

Clayton Kershaw will be on the hill for LA when the series continues Saturday afternoon. Cincinnati counters with Johnny Cueto.

**StarDust Bum** · 06-03-2011, 06:38 PM

MLB Betting: Detroit Tigers at White Sox

Justin Verlander served up three solo shots the last time he faced the ChiSox.
American League Central Division rivals collide in the second of a three-game set at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago on Saturday when the White Sox host the Detroit Tigers. Game time is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. (PT) with television coverage provided by WGN and Fox Sports Detroit.

The Tigers dominated Chicago at home back in April, outscoring the White Sox 21-3 in three games. Detroit also entered this series with four-straight wins after going 2-3 in the first five games of a nine-game homestand. All three losses came against the Boston Red Sox, who Chicago in turn swept three from on the road just before returning home for Friday's series opener.

Detroit sends ace Justin Verlander (5-3, 3.12 ERA) to the mound, and he beat the White Sox in the April meeting as a 170 favorite despite giving up three home runs. The Tigers won that game 9-3, and fortunately for them all of the homers were solo shots.

Nine of the previous 11 meetings had gone ‘over’ the total before Friday's contest that was still pending.

Verlander moved to 8-9 lifetime against Chicago with the victory, with a 4.51 ERA. He is 2-1 in five road starts this season with a 2.92 ERA and coming off a brilliant outing at home against the Red Sox on Sunday. The victory stopped a three-game slide for Verlander who worked 7 2/3 scoreless innings with two walks and three strikeouts.

Detroit won that game 3-0 and is 4-1 in his past five starts. In his previous two outings, Verlander had surrendered nine runs and 15 hits in 14 innings, walking away with no-decisions both times.

The White Sox will counter with Edwin Jackson (4-5, 4.63), who got shelled in his last meeting with the Tigers back on April 23. Jackson gave up eight runs – seven earned – and 12 hits in 5 2/3 innings with four walks and three strikeouts.

His teammates did not help him out either, getting only one hit through the first seven innings and finishing with five in a 9-0 loss.

Jackson has been much better at home this season with a 2.84 ERA, going 2-2 in five starts. He was solid in earning a win in his last start at U.S. Cellular on May 22 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, allowing one run and five hits in 5 2/3 innings with two walks and seven strikeouts.

Chicago needs to improve at home in order to have any hopes of making a run at the division title. The Sox entered this series just 10-13 at home compared to a 17-18 road record.

Meanwhile, Detroit has enjoyed more success at home with a 17-11 mark, which is a lot better than the team’s 12-15 road mark heading into the series.

The weatherman is reporting a 40 percent chance of scattered thunderstorms in the Chicago area on Saturday. Look for the upper-70s on the thermometer for much of the game with a WSW wind 10-14 mph.

**StarDust Bum** · 06-03-2011, 06:41 PM

MLB Odds: Chicago Cubs at St. Louis Cardinals

Kyle Lohse and Randy Wells will oppose each other in Saturday’s contest.
We have another great edition of FOX Saturday Baseball this weekend with a three-pack of MLB betting battles for you to dive right into. In the main event of the threesome, archrivals lock horns at Busch Stadium where the St. Louis Cardinals will play host to the Chicago Cubs. The first pitch is slated for 1:10 p.m. (PT).

The Cubs are probably thrilled that they are traveling away from Wrigley Field after a disastrous 9-game homestand that featured three losses to the Houston Astros and two to the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates. The offense has been brutal over these last six games coming into play on Friday. Chicago has scored more than three runs just once in that time frame, lowering its runs per game average down to 4.26.

For a team that ranks second to last in the majors in pitching, this is terrible news. With Matt Garza on the disabled list, Randy Wells has stepped in to try to pick up the slack for the boys in blue. The right-hander hasn’t really had much of an MLB career – just 61 starts, and he is already 28 years old. Wells started 32 games last year and went just 8-14 with a 4.26 ERA, but this year, things have been significantly worse.

Wells has allowed six runs in just 10 innings of work in two spot starts this year, and he was awful in his most recent effort against the Pittsburgh Pirates, surrendering five runs in four frames before getting the hook in a 10-0 blanking on that aforementioned homestand.

Meanwhile, the other man toeing the rubber on Saturday, Kyle Lohse, has had himself a career season. Save for a bad first start of the season and an awful three-start stretch in which he lost three straight at the start of May, Lohse has literally been unhittable.

The 32-year-old right-hander has gone 7-2 this year and has a stunning 2.13 ERA. Lohse literally has half the WHIP that he had last year at 0.92 (it was 1.78 last season), and batters are hitting just .205 against him now, whereas they were at .336 in 2010.

Lohse had better hope that this continues this season, because he has been atrocious over his career against the Cubs. Lohse has allowed the Cubs to bat .311 against him in 10 career starts. He’s just 1-4 with a stunningly bad 6.52 ERA.

The Cards went to Wrigley Field earlier this campaign and take two out of three games. St. Louis has now won four of the last six in this series coming into Friday night. The road team has won nine of the last 11.

The ‘over’ has cashed in five straight and seven out of eight, and there hasn’t been an ‘under’ in a game with a ‘total’ less than 11 ½ since last August, nine meetings ago.

The weather in St. Louis is expected to be brutally hot, with high temperatures in approaching 100 degrees. Winds are expected to be light at less than 10 mph, and aside from the heat, the weather should be perfect.

These two bitter rivals finish up this 3-game set on Sunday right back here at Busch Stadium.

**StarDust Bum** · 06-03-2011, 06:43 PM

Diamond Trends - Friday

June 3, 2011

SU TREND OF THE DAY:

The Nationals are 0-10 since May 25, 2010 after a win in which they left 18+ men on base for a net profit of $1000 when playing against.

OU TREND OF THE DAY:

The Reds are 0-8 OU since August 01, 2010 at home when their starter went less than four innings in his last start for a net profit of $800 when playing the under.

STARTER TREND OF THE DAY:

The White Sox are 9-0 OU since May 11, 2004 when Mark Buehrle starts vs a team that has won at least their last three games and it is the first game of a series for a net profit of $905 when playing the over.

MLB BIBLE TREND OF THE DAY:

The Mariners are 0-15 (-4.2 rpg) since 2009 when their starter went less than four innings in his last start.

TODAY’S TRENDS:

The Giants are 6-0 since May 01, 2010 when Matt Cain starts at home after his team scored a total of fewer than three runs in his last start for a net profit of $600.

The Tigers are 0-6 since May 03, 2010 on the road after a win in which they allowed 6 or fewer hits and it is the first game of a series for a net profit of $620 when playing against.

The Cardinals are 0-6 since August 17, 2010 as a 140+ favorite after a loss and it is the first game of the series for a net profit of $895 when playing against.

**StarDust Bum** · 06-03-2011, 06:45 PM

Friday Late Tips

June 2, 2011

The first Friday baseball card of June showcases just four games involving two teams each above the .500 mark. The late-night action is highlighted by a pair of American League contests, while the Rockies and Giants hook up in San Francisco. We'll begin in Southern California with the streaking Yankees looking to keep their winning ways going against the Halos.

Yankees at Angels - 10:05 PM EST

Following Boston's latest swoon, New York is back atop the AL East after sweeping Oakland as the Bombers travel to Orange County for a three-game set with the Angels. Los Angeles split six games on its recent road trip at Minnesota and Kansas City, while attempting to snap a two-game skid after losing a pair of games to the Royals. The Halos send out their coldest pitcher, who coincidentally is the team leader in wins.

Jered Weaver (6-4, 2.10 ERA) has won just one start since April 25 following a 5-0 mark through his first five outings. The tall right-hander tossed nine scoreless innings and allowed two hits in a 1-0 loss in extra innings to the Twins, L.A.'s fifth defeat in his last six starts. A majority of Weaver's starts have come on the road as the former Long Beach State star is making only his fifth home outing of the season (2-1, 1.82 ERA). Weaver is facing the Bombers for the first time since the 2009 ALCS, as the Angels are 3-0 in his three home career starts against New York.

The Yankees counter with Ivan Nova (4-3, 4.67 ERA), who lasted just 3.2 innings in an extra-innings defeat at Seattle last Saturday, his third non-quality start in the previous four trips to the hill. Nova is known for letting batters put the ball in play, as the right-hander has compiled road victories over Tampa Bay, Texas, and Boston this season. The 24-year old is making his first career start against the Angels, while making his fourth career appearance against an AL West foe.

The two teams split eight meetings last season, as the Angels won two of three matchups in Anaheim. The 'over' is cashed five times in 2010, while the winning team scored six or more runs in seven of those contests.

Rays at Mariners - 10:10 PM EST

Tampa Bay continues its 11-game road swing in Seattle as the Rays look to make up ground in the loaded AL East. Joe Maddon's club is just 6-11 the previous 17 games to fall behind the Yankees and Red Sox in the division, while the M's are rolling with 11 victories in the last 14 contests. After seeing a strong pitching matchup in Thursday's series opener between James Shields and Felix Hernandez, Friday's meeting will likely see more offense.

The Rays send out the struggling Andy Sonnanstine (0-1, 4.39 ERA) to the hill as the Ohio native looks for his first win since last August against Baltimore. Sonnanstine has failed to put together a quality outing in three starts this season, while picking up a pair of no-decisions on the highway. The right-hander is seeking his first victory against Seattle since 2007, as the Rays are 0-3 in his last three starts in the series.

Jason Vargas (3-3, 4.50 ERA) has been lit up his last two starts by allowing 11 earned runs and 12 hits against the Twins and Yankees. The Mariners' southpaw is making his eighth home start of the season, but home isn't where the wins are for Vargas as Seattle is 2-5 in his seven outings at Safeco Field. Vargas is winless in three career starts against the Rays with all three defeats coming last season, all games that finished 'under' the total.

Since the start of the 2010 season, the Rays have dominated the Mariners with seven victories in nine tries. Tampa Bay is 3-0 the last three meetings at Safeco Field, while limiting the M's to five total runs in those games.

Rockies at Giants - 10:15 PM EST

The home team has won each of the last six meetings as these two NL West rivals meet up at AT&T Park. The Rockies are just 2-7 the previous nine games, but finally picked up a victory from Ubaldo Jimenez in Wednesday's shutout of the Dodgers. San Francisco returns to the Bay Area following a seven-game road swing through Milwaukee and St. Louis, as Bruce Bochy's team looks to snap a three-game home skid.

The Giants send out their second ace Matt Cain (3-4, 3.88 ERA) to the hill, as he looks to rebound after consecutive subpar starts against the Brewers and Marlins. San Francisco was outscored, 11-1 in those two defeats, both games that finished 'under' the total. Cain has only one home win on his record this season, but San Francisco owns a 3-1 record when the righty starts at AT&T Park this season. The Giants are 1-1 in Cain's two starts against the Rockies through the first two months, while San Francisco is 4-1 in his last five home outings in the series.

Rookie Juan Nicasio (1-0, 0.00 ERA) won his Major League debut over the NL Central-leading Cardinals in a 15-4 blowout. The 24-year old Dominican pitcher allowed one unearned run in seven innings of work, as the Rockies scored six first-inning runs en route to a 12-0 lead after four innings. The Rockies have dropped five straight series openers on the road, while attempting to avenge a three-game sweep by the Giants at AT&T Park in early May.

**StarDust Bum** · 06-03-2011, 06:46 PM

Weaver tries to snap winless drought vs. Yankees

NEW YORK YANKEES (31-23)

at LOS ANGELES ANGELS (29-29)

First Pitch: Friday, 10:05 p.m. EDT
Line: Los Angeles -150, New York +140, Total: 7.5

After losing their first two games on their current nine-game road trip, the Yankees have now won four straight after taking the final game in Seattle and sweeping the Athletics. On Friday, New York tries to extend the streak against another AL West opponent, the Angels, in the first of a three-game series at Angel Stadium of Anaheim.

The Yankees offense has come alive, as they have averaged 6.0 runs per game during their four-game win streak. They have also received outstanding starting pitching with each of their past four starters going at least seven innings and combining for an ERA of 1.74 in that span. Ivan Nova (4-3, 4.67 ERA) who has been perhaps the worst starter on New York’s staff this season, gets the start on Friday. Nova has struggled in his past four starts, going 1-2 with a 5.79 ERA, allowing 30 hits in just 18.2 innings. Nova has never faced the Angels.

L.A. will throw hard-luck starter Jered Weaver (6-4, 2.10 ERA) who hasn’t won since April 25. Weaver won his first six starts, posting an ERA of just 0.99 and WHIP of 0.78. Since then, he is 0-4 with a 3.38 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. Weaver’s six straight starts without a win match a career-high. Weaver has been the victim of poor run support in those starts, as the Angels have scored just seven runs while Weaver factored in the decision. Weaver has been especially good in June for his career, going 15-5 with a 2.84 ERA. He'll try to extend his streak of pitching at least six innings to 21 in his first matchup with the Yankees since posting a 4.26 ERA in three appearances (one start) during the 2009 AL Championship Series. Weaver is 4-2 with a 5.88 ERA in seven regular-season starts against New York, including victories in two outings in Anaheim.

Since 2005, the Angels are 20-8 at home against the Yankees, winning eight series and losing one. Despite the Yankees recent hot streak, I like Weaver to quiet their bats and finally get some run support with the Angels getting to Nova early. I’m taking Los Angeles.

The FoxSheets show two trends that side with the Angels:

Play On - Home teams (LA ANGELS) - poor AL hitting team (AVG <=.260) against a team with a very good bullpen (ERA <=3.33), with an on base percentage of .285 or worse over their last 5 games. (57-20 over the last 5 seasons.) (74%, +38.8 units. Rating = 4*).

Play Against - Road teams (NY YANKEES) - excellent power team (>=1.5 HR's/game) vs. a starting pitcher who gives up 0.5 or less HR's/start, starting a well rested pitcher who is working on 5 or 6 days rest. (71-32 since 1997.) (68.9%, +37.6 units. Rating = 3*).

**StarDust Bum** · 06-03-2011, 06:47 PM

Braves-Mets open three-game series in Flushing

ATLANTA BRAVES (31-26)

at NEW YORK METS (26-30)

First Pitch: Friday, 7:10 p.m. EDT
Line: Atlanta -110, New York +100, Total: 7.5

The Mets and Braves start a three-game series at Citifield on Friday with Derek Lowe (3-4, 4.03 ERA) taking the mound against Jon Niese (4-5, 3.92 ERA).

Lowe is coming off one of his worst starts this season, giving up five runs and seven hits while walking five before getting pulled with one out in the fourth inning of a 7-6, 12-inning win over Cincinnati on Saturday. Lowe defeated the Mets earlier this season, allowing two runs and five hits in the first game of a double-header at Atlanta on April 16. Lowe is 5-4 with a 5.46 ERA in 12 career starts against the Mets, but has suffered two of the worst outings in his career against them. On August 19, 2007 while pitching for the Dodgers, Lowe allowed nine runs (8 ER) and 10 hits in just 3 IP in a loss at Dodger Stadium. On August 18, 2009 at Citifield, Lowe allowed 8 ER and 11 hits in just 3.2 innings.

Since reaching the .500 mark two weeks ago with a win over the Yankees, the Mets have lost eight of 12. Things have been even more frustrating during their current 10-game homestand. In all of the Mets four losses since the homestand started last Friday, they have held the lead entering the seventh inning. New York enjoyed a bit of a reprieve on Thursday, rallying from down 7-0 to defeat the Pirates in the final game of their four-game series. On Friday, they will send Jon Niese to the mound, who has finally learned how to use Citifield to his advantage. Niese is 3-0 with a 1.73 ERA in his past four starts at home, after going 0-6 with a 6.33 ERA in his previous eight, with all of them resulting in Mets defeats. That stretch included a 6-4 loss to Atlanta on Sept. 17, during which Niese allowed all of the Braves' scoring in unearned fashion in four innings.

The Mets have not had much success against the Braves at Citifield since it opened in 2009. If you take away the Mets three-game sweep of the Braves last April, the Mets have lost 12 of 15 against them there. The Braves have a current three-game win streak and have won five of six at Citifield entering Friday. Without Ike Davis and David Wright, the Mets have not been able to consistently score runs lately. Add to that the current state of their bullpen that hasn’t been able to hold leads lately, and I’m taking Atlanta.

The FoxSheets support this pick with this four-star trend:

Play On - Road teams (ATLANTA) - below average hitting team (AVG <=.255) against a decent starting pitcher (ERA=3.70 to 4.20) -NL, with a starting pitcher whose gives up 5.5 or less hits/start. (41-19 over the last 5 seasons.) (68.3%, +32 units. Rating = 4*).

**StarDust Bum** · 06-03-2011, 06:48 PM

Ogando tries to stay unbeaten facing Indians

TEXAS RANGERS (31-26)

at CLEVELAND INDIANS (33-21)

First Pitch: Friday, 7:05 p.m. EDT
Line: Texas -120, Cleveland +110, Total: 8

The Rangers and Indians play the second game of their four-game series on Friday. Texas won Thursday’s opener for its fifth win in its past six games. The Rangers have now won eight of their past nine games at Progressive Field.

Alexi Ogando (5-0, 2.33 ERA) will look to continue his undefeated season when he faces the Indians on Friday. Ogando was roughed up for five runs in his last start Sunday, but the Rangers rallied to defeat Kansas City. This marked just the second time he has allowed five runs this season, as he has only surrendered 2 ER or fewer in all eight of his other starts. That was the fourth straight win for Texas in Ogando’s starts. In his six previous starts, Ogando was 3-0 with a 1.56 ERA and 0.94 WHIP. He currently leads the majors with a 0.91 WHIP on the season.

After winning 19 of 21 games at home, the Indians have now lost three straight at Progressive Field. On Friday they will send Justin Masterson (5-3, 3.07 ERA) to the mound. The Indians won six of Masterson’s first seven starts this season, with him getting the win in five of them and allowing 2 ER or fewer in six of those seven starts. Masterson has struggled since then, going 0-3 with a 4.78 ERA in his past four starts with the Indians going 1-3 in those games. Masterson made two starts against the Rangers last season, losing both and allowing 11 runs (9 ER) and 18 hits in 11.1 IP.

Texas has picked up the offense since the return of Josh Hamilton, averaging 6.1 runs per game and hitting .284 over that span. That’s a bad matchup for the Indians’ starters who are 3-6 with a 7.64 ERA and allowing opponents to hit .336 over their past nine games. I like the Rangers to continue Ogando’s perfect season and defeat Masterson again. I’m taking Texas, which is 13-3 against Cleveland spanning the past three seasons.

The FoxSheets support the pick with these two trends:

TEXAS is 27-17 (61.4%, +14.4 Units) against the money line in road games vs. a starting pitcher whose gives up 0.5 or less HR's/start over the last 3 seasons. The average score was TEXAS 4.5, OPPONENT 3.3 - (Rating = 1*).

CLEVELAND is 3-12 (20.0%, -10.2 Units) against the money line in home games after allowing 7 runs or more 2 straight games over the last 3 seasons. The average score was CLEVELAND 3.9, OPPONENT 5.8 - (Rating = 0*).

**StarDust Bum** · 06-03-2011, 06:49 PM

Tigers try to beat White Sox for 10th straight time

DETROIT TIGERS (29-26)

at CHICAGO WHITE SOX (27-31)

First Pitch: Friday, 8:10 p.m. EDT
Line: Chicago -140, Detroit +130, Total: 9

The White Sox host the Tigers on Friday in the first of a three-game series at U.S. Cellular Field. Detroit has won nine straight games against the White Sox, and looks to tie a team record with its 10th straight win against them, that was set back in 1923.

The Tigers enter winners of four in a row overall and five straight victories at Chicago. Andy Oliver (0-0, 4.50) is scheduled to make a second straight start in place of the injured Phil Coke. The left-hander pitched six innings and gave up three runs in his season debut Sunday, a 4-3 home defeat to the Red Sox. Oliver, who made five starts in 2010, hasn't faced the White Sox.

Chicago enters on a three-game win streak after impressively sweeping the scalding-hot Red Sox at Fenway Park. But the White Sox were outscored 21-3 in getting swept at Comerica Park in April. They will trot out lefty Mark Buehrle (4-4. 3.91 ERA) to the mound on Friday. Buehrle allowed three runs in seven innings of a 4-2 loss to Toronto last Friday that snapped his three-game winning streak. He is 16-9 with a 3.18 ERA against the Tigers, but he struggled versus Detroit on April 22, surrendering six runs in 5.2 innings of a 9-3 defeat. Buehrle though, is 8-3 with a 2.93 ERA in the series at home.

It’s going to be tough for Detroit to continue its win streak against the White Sox with the pitching mismatch of Oliver on the mound facing Buehrle. I’m taking Chicago to win on Friday.

The FoxSheets also like the White Sox, based on this trend:

CHICAGO WHITE SOX are 33-21 (61.1%, +13.4 Units) against the money line after 2 or more consecutive wins over the last 2 seasons. The average score was CHICAGO WHITE SOX 4.4, OPPONENT 3.8 - (Rating = 1*).

**StarDust Bum** · 06-03-2011, 06:50 PM

Marlins begin 11-game homestand Friday vs. Brewers

MILWAUKEE BREWERS (30-26)

at FLORIDA MARLINS (31-23)

First pitch: Friday, 7:10 p.m. EDT
Line: Florida -130, Milwaukee +120, Total: 7.5

After a successful road trip, Florida is hoping to break out of its home slump when it hosts Milwaukee on Friday night. The Marlins have dropped eight of their past 12 at Sun Life Stadium, but they've dominated at home versus Milwaukee, winning 30 of 41 (.732) in Miami.

Florida will send Ricky Nolasco (4-1, 3.82 ERA) to the mound on Friday night. The right-hander is coming off his worst effort of the season in an 8-0 loss at the Dodgers on Sunday. In that game, Nolasco allowed a whopping 15 hits and eight runs in five innings. Prior to that setback, he had pitched at least six innings in nine of his 10 starts and allowed three runs or less in eight of those games. Nolasco is 1-1 with an 8.66 ERA and 1.81 WHIP in four career starts versus Milwaukee, but his lone start against the Brewers in 2010 was a good one, as he allowed three runs in seven innings with eight strikeouts, picking up a 6-4 win last June 1. He's been much more effective at home in 2011 (1-0 in six starts, 2.72 ERA, 1.19 WHIP).

Randy Wolf (4-4, 3.43 ERA) will look to continue his string of strong starts. After allowing 11 combined runs against San Diego and St. Louis in May, the left-hander has rebounded in his past three trips to the mound, allowing four earned runs in 19.2 innings (1.83 ERA). In his most recent outing versus San Francisco on Saturday, a 3-2 Milwaukee win, he got a no-decision despite pitching 7.1 innings and allowing three hits and two runs (one earned). Wolf did not surrender a hit until the fifth inning and took a shutout into the eighth against the Giants. He has made 20 career starts against Florida, but hasn't enjoyed much success. His team is just 7-13 in these starts, as Wolf is 4-12 with a 5.93 ERA. Wolf has made 10 career starts at Sun Life Stadium and is 2-5 with a 6.48 ERA and .322 opponents’ BA. But the last time he faced the Marlins was in 2008 when he pitched for San Diego, and he hasn’t taken the mound in Florida since 2006 with the Phillies.

Milwaukee has won 17 of its past 24 games, but is only 9-19 on the road this season. The Marlins are coming off a 5-4 road trip and begin an 11-game homestand on Friday. With the Brewers playing so well and Nolasco coming off his worst outing of the season, I like underdog Milwaukee to beat the Hanley Ramirez-less (back injury) Marlins. This three-star FoxSheets trend likes Wolf and the Brewers to pick up the road win.

Play On - Road teams when the money line is +125 to -125 (MILWAUKEE) - with a very good bullpen whose ERA is 3.33 or better on the season, after a game where their bullpen blew a save. (162-99 since 1997.) (62.1%, +67.2 units. Rating = 3*).

**StarDust Bum** · 06-03-2011, 06:51 PM

Red Sox try to snap 4-game skid hosting Oakland

OAKLAND ATHLETICS (27-30)

at BOSTON RED SOX (30-26)

First pitch: Friday, 7:10 p.m. EDT
Line: Boston -190, Oakland +180, Total: 8.5

Boston looks to avoid a five-game losing streak when it begins a three-game series on Friday night by hosting Oakland at Fenway Park.

Clay Buchholz (4-3, 3.41 ERA), who was 3-0 with a 2.08 ERA in six May outings, will make his 12th start of the season for the Red Sox. The right-hander has pitched at least six innings and allowed three earned runs or less in four straight appearances, going 1-0 with a 2.30 ERA in these quality starts. For the season, he's allowed three runs or less in eight of his 11 starts, giving up four runs in the other three appearances. In his most recent outing on Sunday at Detroit, a 4-3 Red Sox win, Buchholz surrendered three runs and six hits in six innings, battling through a stiff back which he says has bothered him in many of his starts, according to The Boston Herald. He is 1-0 against the Athletics this season, picking up a victory at Oakland on April 20 after pitching 5.1 innings and giving up six hits and one run. Buchholz is 1-2 with a 7.31 ERA and frightening 2.44 WHIP (26 H, 13 BB in 16 IP) in four career starts versus the A's, but he's 2-1 with a 2.96 ERA in five starts at Fenway Park this season.

The Athletics will send Josh Outman (1-0, 2.08 ERA) to the mound. Outman has made two strong starts this season after being recalled from Triple-A. He pitched six innings and allowed six hits and two runs in a 4-2 home victory versus Baltimore on Saturday. In his season debut on May 23 at the L.A. Angels, he allowed one run in seven innings, but got a no-decision in a 4-1 loss. Friday's game will be his first career start against Boston. Oakland is coming off getting swept in three games by the Yankees. The A's scored five runs in that series, and have averaged 2.8 runs per game with just eight total homers in losing 10 of their past 15 contests.

Oakland is 13-15 on the road, while Boston is 16-13 at Fenway. The A's, who are averaging 3.1 runs and hitting .228 away from home this season, have lost 12 of their past 16 games in Boston. The lopsided money line makes Oakland a tempting play, but the slumping Red Sox are due to bust out, and Buchholz should have little trouble handling this poor lineup, despite what his past numbers would say.

This FoxSheets managerial trend also likes Boston to win on Friday.

TERRY FRANCONA is 47-18 (72.3%, +23.9 Units) against the money line in home games vs. a very good bullpen whose WHIP is 1.250 or better as the manager of BOSTON. The average score was BOSTON 6.2, OPPONENT 4.8 - (Rating = 2*).

**StarDust Bum** · 06-03-2011, 07:36 PM

Date WLT Pct Net Units Record

06/02/11 8-*3-*1 72.73% +*2485 Detail
06/01/11 15-*13-*1 53.57% +*1345 Detail

Totals 23-*16-*2 58.97% +3830

MLB

Friday, June 3

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Toronto - 7:05 PM ET Toronto +116 500
Baltimore - Over 8.5 500

Texas - 7:05 PM ET Texas -119 500
Cleveland - Over 8 500

Philadelphia - 7:05 PM ET Pittsburgh +142 500
Pittsburgh - Over 7.5 500

Oakland - 7:10 PM ET Oakland +173 500
Boston - Over 8.5 500

Atlanta - 7:10 PM ET Atlanta -103 500
NY Mets - Under 7.5 500

Milwaukee - 7:10 PM ET Florida -118 500
Florida - Over 7.5 500

LA Dodgers - 7:10 PM ET Cincinnati -126 500
Cincinnati - Under 8.5 500

Detroit - 8:10 PM ET Detroit +131 500
Chi. White Sox - Over 9 500

Minnesota - 8:10 PM ET Minnesota +131 500
Kansas City - Over 9.5 500

Chi. Cubs - 8:15 PM ET Chi. Cubs +161 500
St. Louis - Over 7.5 500

Washington - 9:40 PM ET Washington +161 500
Arizona - Over 9 500

NY Yankees - 10:05 PM ET NY Yankees +149 500
LA Angels - Over 7.5 500

Houston - 10:05 PM ET Houston +117 500
San Diego - Over 6.5 500

Tampa Bay - 10:10 PM ET Seattle -116 500
Seattle - Over 7.5 500

Colorado - 10:15 PM ET San Francisco -133 500
San Francisco - Over 7 500

Announcement

The Bum's Friday's MLB Best Bets !

The Bum's Friday's MLB Best Bets !

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