Our biggest bet on Monday was cancelled - we move on. NFL going great - MLB sweep Sunday but certainly not the 1H, although I didn't expect it COULD be - free play:
924 BAL / 923 NYMUNDER 7.5 Greek
Mets-Orioles: If the season ended Monday the Orioles would be a wild card team, and they're only two games behind Toronto in the loss column. The Mets have a LITTLE breathing room but of course must win the NL East because in all likelihood both WC teams in the NL come out of the Central. New York hasn't had a great IL record this season, but the one team they did beat twice was these Orioles. A lot has changed since May. Hard to fade DeGrom and his 0.89 WHIP on the season - Mets haven't been scoring for him - Duda questionble - Gausman has been good (great) at home, but in limited starts and against lesser teams. Not sure how either team scores a ton - both pens solid.
Twins-Yankees: New York gets healthy finally, but headed into Monday had only had more than 8 hits in a game twice in the last eleven games. NOW Sabathia is going to pitch against Pelfrey, and if I thought the Twins would score Monday, I think they will Tuesday. Not sure I can get behind Pelfrey as easily as I could have got behind Gibson. If the total came to 8.5 (it may) I'd give it some serious thought. We'll see what happens Monday night.
Toronto-Phillies: Seems cheap at -175 for the Jays here - but we know Beurhle can struggle. Nola - good, bad, or indifferent, isn't going to pitch deep and no chance of getting behind the Philadelphia pen with it's 5.24 ERA over the last week. Because the Jays haven't seen Nola I could make a case at that price for the Phillies F5 - don't forget Buerlhe has to hit.
Pirates-Arizona: We'll see how the Monday game goes - but if I am ever going to back the D-Backs it's against a left handed pitcher. Liriano looked a little shaky his last three starts and Anderson might fare better in the bigger park at Pittsburgh. Put it this way, -190 isn't happening.
Cleveland-Boston: Automatically not taking the Indians against a LHP - Boston or nothing.
Royals-Reds: What's not to like about the Royals facing a RHP in a small park? Well, they don't get to use the DH and Volquez faces a former team. As hard as it is to look at a Reds game, the Royals pen hasn't been lights-out lately and the Reds never has been - so perhaps the over, money already forced it to 7.5 at Bookmaker.
Tigers-Cubs: I suppose the instinctive thing to do would be to take the Cubs. Maybe - but Hammel has given up a HR in each of his last four starts and hasn't pitched through the sixth inning. Now go to the fact that many of the Cubs have seen Sanchez from his days with the Fish - and the Tigers bullpen isn't existing - so I am interested in that total - but the Tigers will likely sit V-Mart (or perhaps play him at first, but I doubt it) and lets' not forget who IS back for Detroit. Cubs may not be a slam dunk here.
Seattle-Texas: Is Iwakuma over valued off of the no hitter? Certainly not at -125, even to the Rangers who have been hitting. Tough to take Gonzalez now that teams are getting more looks at him, and impossible for me to take the Rangers bullpen. The heat could very well be a factor, especially in the second game, for Seattle. MAYBE the over.
Rays-Astros: The Rays are not far off the Wild Card pace at all, and Houston is obviously trying to fight off the Angels. I think the 'Stros might have overcome the "jitters" of actually playing for something - it seemed like that hit them a couple of weeks ago. Odorizzi was roughed up by the Falcons Braves last time out and isn't the same on the road as he is in the Trop. Have to think this is Houstons' game to lose.
Giants-Cardinals: San Francisco is only two back of the Dodgers in the loss column, while the Cardinals are four clear of the Pirates. Leake just pitched against the Cardinals in St. Louis and shut them out on four hits. Conventional wisdom says St. Louis makes the adjustments - Giants pen is finally performing like they usually do, very well. Perhaps a futures bet on the Giants here. Lynns' last two home starts have not gone well at all, and in fact the last seven games his WHIP is 1.51, which surprised me - throwing conventional wisdom out the window here.
Finishing when I finish -