Dropped one we really wanted (Seattle) on Sunday - giving back a nice day on Saturday. We move on - and we'll put the free play here: 970 COL (+100) Pinnacle vs 969 TOR
Mets/Nats: So we know that Mets aren't hitting, nor are the Nats - who has lost seven straight games before squeaking out a 3-2 win on Sunday. That means it'd be tough to take the over here, for sure. They've split the season series so far, each winning two of three in the others' park. It's the first game back from a long (to the West Coast) road trip, which puts them at a slight disadvantage, looking at the situation. The Mets rested Granderson and Cabrera Sunday - possibly thinking they'd beat Atlanta without them, which obviously didn't happen. So, both teams come in limping. Ross has been very, very good - and Syndergaard is who he is - I worry somewhat about the short leash after leaving the last game with an elbow injury. This has all the earmarks of a low scoring, one run game, that comes down to the bullpens - and I see no clear advantage there, either. So, fundamentals - if Ross has a weakness it's against left handed hitters - which the Mets have plenty of. The Nats rested Zimmerman, Espinosa, and Ramos on Sunday. In the end, at -110 or even better, it's hard not to take Washington here at home.
Arizona/Philadelphia: We like Velasquez, but we like him much better in Philadelphia and not coming off the DL, albeit a short stint. The D-backs haven't seen him (much) but neither had Miami or Atlanta and they both put up runs, and his inability to pitch deep most likely bring the Philadelphia bullpen into play sooner rather than later. The Phillies DID hit Cueto hard on Sunday but their bullpen let them down, and with a 6.33 ERA over the last week it makes it very tough to take them on the road. You can paint almost an identical picture of Arizona, losing late at Colorado but managing to score runs. Arizona has been playing real well the last two weeks (for them) but they are 13-25 at home, and swept the Phillies in a four-game series in Philadelphia last week, which could clearly motivate the Phillies. Ray has not been very good at home, and he held the Philles to two runs in the aforementioned series - so a very recent look at him by the Phillies - and three straight 100+ pitch count games for Ray. Phillies and/or over, especially if we can get 8.5.
Texas/Yankees: As well as the Rangers are playing, I was a little surprised to see Bookmaker open the Yankees at -115, which is now -130 in most places - especially with Chi Chi Rodriguez being recalled from AAA to start this game for Texas. He hadn't been great at Round Rock, a 1.40 WHIP in 80 +/- innings. But, of course the Yankees haven't seen him, and the Rangers pen has been great the last ten days or so, and much, much better on the road this season. But, if the Yankees let Tyler Duffy two-hit them through eight innings, at home - it surely makes it tough to take them. Nova has been very pedestrian, or worse, for the last month - but, nobody in the Rangers' lineup has done anything with him with any amount of at bats. For all the bitching I've done about the New York bullpen, at home they've been pretty solid. New York lost two of three at Texas earlier this season, and for as abysmal as they appear to be, in the AL East they are only six game out of first place. I haven't looked at the weather and don't know the umpire crew, but at 9.5 I might consider the under here. Probably better games.
Boston/Tampa Bay: Boston clearly comes in limping to face a division opponent - and it'd be real easy to fade the Rays, losers of eleven straight and allowing five or more runs in every single one of them. They turn to Blake Snell, who pitched well in April at Yankee Stadium, was recalled and was hammered by Seattle, but only one of those runs was earned, something to keep in mind seeing as how in his next outing he pitched well enough to win at Cleveland, and still hasn't allowed a home run this season. I know, only three starts. I get it. What I worry about is the fact that he hasn't pitched very deep and we know the Rays' pen has an ERA in the double-digits in the last stretch of games. That makes me think that the early bettors taking under 8.5 might be wrong, so at 8 I may look at the over. The same can be said about E-Rod in terms of not pitching deep and having a less-than-great bullpen behind him. The Rays have seen E-Rod - but with so many good players on the DL it might still make them a "stay away" for the time being, and at some point a play on when they start to get these guys back. Boston has just been getting murdered by Texas and the White Sox - giving up a ton of hits and a ton of long balls - which also makes it tough to back them. Let's see what the lineups look like, first.