Five of the last six meetings in the series between Texas and Seattle have produced a minimum of nine runs. This total looks rather low to "The Animal". There have been at least nine runs scored in 14 of the last 18 games involving Texas. Nick Bierbrodt has allowed three home runs and seven walks in his two starts this year. Meanwhile the Rangers beat up Ryan Franklin last week in Arlington with six earned runs and eight hits in 5 1/3rd innings. Franklin is 1-4 against Texas in his career with a 6.81 ERA. In his last three starts against Texas there has been nine, 14, and nine runs scored in those games. The fact that both of these pitchers faced this opponent in their last start should be a huge advantage for the hitters. I know Seattle is 24-10 'UNDER' at home this year and Texas is 23-10 'UNDER' on the road. But that is reflected in the price of this low total. Texas is averaging 5.6 runs per game in the 50 starts they have made against right-handed starters this year. The Rangers are 6-0 recently with Seattle. But the Mariners are 6-0 at home since '97 when revenging six consecutive defeats to the same opponent. In those six games they have averaged 7.8 runs per game. I'll go 'OVER' as the Rangers should have the bats going after getting blanked by Oswalt and Houston yesterday.
Plays for Monday, June 28th
6:00 Eastern Update
2*Montreal/Kim - Philadelphia/Millwood OVER 9 runs EVEN ($200 to win $200)
The opposition has scored 4 or more total runs in 5 of Kim's 6 starts, 5 or more total runs in 4 of his 6 starts and 5 or more total runs in his last 4 starts. The opposition has scored 4 or more total runs in Millwood's last 5 home starts, 4 or more total runs in 11 of his last 12 starts overall, 5 or more total runs in 7 of his last 12 starts and 5 or more total runs in 3 of his last 4 starts.
2*St Louis/Suppan -142 over Pittsburgh/Benson ($284 to win $200)
St Louis is 26-12 road while Pittsburgh is 11-22 home. The Cardinals are 6-0 road behind Suppan (2.09 road ERA, 9.30 MOB) as the opposition has scored 4 or less total runs in 5 of his 6 road starts. The Pirates are 1-4 at home behind Benson (5.76 home ERA, 16.36 MOB) as the opposition has scored 5 or more total runs in 4 of his 5 home starts. Pittsburgh is 2-7 in Benson's last 9 starts overall as the opposition has scored 5 or more total runs in 8 of those 9 starts and 6 or more total runs in 6 of those 9 starts.
Todays Free Pick: Monday, June 28th
Tampa Bay/Zambrano over Toronto/Halladay
7:15 Eastern
Tampa Bay/Zambrano over Toronto/Halladay
Percentage play on Tampa Bay as a home underdog in this pitching rematch from last Wednesday in which Halladay beat Zambrano 2-1 at Toronto. The Blue Jays are 13-22 road and 2-5 road behind Halladay. The DRays are hot having won 8 of their last 10, 15 of their last 17 and 26 of their last 34 games. Tampa Bay is 7-1 at home behind Zambrano as the opposition has scored 4 or less total runs in 6 of those 8 starts and the DRays are 6-1 in Zambrano's last 7 starts overall.
Baseball releases 135-124 +2317 thru Sunday, June 27th.
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