Philadelphia Phillies vs. Milwaukee Brewers
MLB Baseball Pick: Over 6.5 (September 9th 2011)
At 8:10 pm, our complimentary selection is on the Philadelphia Phillies and the Milwaukee Brewers ‘over’ the total. In what could very well be a preview of the NLCS, the Phillies and Brewers face off at Miller Park, and there should be substantially more people in the local viewing area tuning into game two than there were for game one on Thursday. And that’s not because the pitching match-up features the two teams’ aces, righthanders Roy Halladay and Shaun Marcum. Last night the Brewers had to compete with the Packers and the opening game of the NFL season, but tonight it should be all baseball for this town that has been supporting their team very well this year as they march towards their first division title since they came over to the National League. It looked like Halladay might be on track for 20 wins this season when he left his last start after six innings and the Phillies then took the lead with two runs in the top of the seventh, making Halladay the pitcher of record for his 17th victory if the Phils could just hold on. But their one weakness – their bullpen – showed themselves again and the Marlins came back to win the game leaving Halladay at 16-5 on the year and putting the 20-win mark in serious jeopardy. There have been no shortage of runs when he takes the mound as the over is now 7-1 in Halladay’s last eight outings. The over is also 10-4 in the last 14 meetings of these two. Take the ‘over.’ Get more MLB baseball picks from Big Al McMordie at Touthouse.com
Toronto Blue Jays vs. Oakland Athletics
Baseball Pick: Over 7.5 -110 odds (August 19th 2011)
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At 10:05 pm, our complimentary selection is on the Toronto Blue Jays and Oakland Athletics ‘over’ the total. Perhaps when the Oakland A’s signed free agent righthander Rich Harden to a contract last December, they figured that a return to the Bay Area would mean that the A’s would see the Rich Harden who pitched for them in the first five years of his Major League career from 2003 to 2007. During that time – as he was in his early twenties – Harden looked like he could be one of the most dominating pitchers in the American League until injuries ultimately limited his starts and the A’s finally gave up on him at just 25 years old. Unfortunately, now at 29, Harden has not captured that old Oakland magic in 2011 and he has again fought through injury at the start of the season and after only eight starts the hard-throwing strikeout artist has a 3-2 record and 4.50 ERA. The Red Sox had all but completed a deal for Harden at the trade deadline, but ended up changing their mind at the last minute with concerns about Harden’s health. Harden has been susceptible to both walks and homers this season, a sign that perhaps he is still battling various ailments. The amazing string of Oakland games going over the total in the second half of the season continues as the over is now 24-2-5 in the last 31 A’s games heading into Friday. Take the ‘over.’ As always, good luck…Al McMordie. And don’t miss our 5 NFL Winners or our Baseball plays, as we look to extend our streak of winning days!
Chicago Cubs vs. Atlanta Braves
MLB Baseball Pick: Atlanta Braves -135 odds (August 12th 2011)
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At 7:35 pm, our complimentary selection is on the Atlanta Braves over the Chicago Cubs. With their best pitcher, Jair Jurrjens on the DL with a knee injury and Tommy Hanson’s shoulder apparently bothering him as well, the Braves really need their other starters to step up right now, and young Mike Minor has an opportunity to do just that tonight. He will go to the hill for his eighth start of the season and his second since being recalled from the minors and with Tim Hudson and Derek Lowe not getting any younger, this is a great opportunity for Minor to prove that he belongs in this rotation permanently, not to mention a chance to help his team keep pace with the Phillies. All-Star catcher Brian McCann has been on the DL for a while but he is eligible to come off this weekend and that should give this team a lift, but meanwhile guys like second baseman Dan Uggla have been on fire and leading this offense to 10 wins in their last 15 games heading into Tonight’s game. Minor has one start against the Cubs in his career, and it was a good one as he fanned 12 Chicago hitters and walked just one on his way to a victory. Righthander Carlos Zambrano will get his 24th start of the season tonight and he has not fared well against the Braves in his career, going 2-4 with a 5.43 ERA in just under 70 innings against them and the Cubs are 1-7 in his last eight starts vs. Atlanta. The Braves have won six of their last seven games and are 16-5 in their last 21 home games. Take the Braves. As always, good luck…Al McMordie.
Colorado Rockies vs. Philadelphia Phillies
MLB Baseball Pick: Philadelphia Phillies -109 odds (August 2nd 2011)
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At 8:40 pm, our complimentary selection is on the Philadelphia Phillies over the Colorado Rockies. Kyle Kendrick gets his 11th start of the season for the Phillies tonight and it could be his last with the team this season – at least for a while – as Roy Oswalt is scheduled to return to the club very soon. Kendrick is a righthanded pitcher who is very versatile as he can serve as a starter or eat plenty of innings in the middle of a game and he’s been more than adequate in his rotation duties this season as Kendrick is 5-5 with a 3.52 ERA and 1.31 WHIP overall, but he does have a better ERA in relief than he does as a starter, although his winning percentage is the same in each instance. Kendrick has a little extra offensive help tonight in the form of new outfielder Hunter Pence, who the Phils acquired from the Astros for two prospects and two players to be named later. Starting for the Rockies will be veteran righthander Aaron Cook and although Cook has struggled mightily this season with a 2-5 record and 5.05 ERA those numbers are actually considerably better than he’s done lifetime vs. the Phillies. In his career, Cook is 1-6 with a 6.05 ERA in 11 appearances (10 starts) against Philadelphia. Heading into this game, the Phillies are 20-7 in the last 27 meetings. Take Philadelphia. As always, good luck…Al McMordie.
