Before heading out for the holiday weekend, I hope to make a dent in my losses staying closer to home.
Oakland Athletics at Los Angeles Angels
Los Angeles Angels +102
Under 7 +100
A's 4, Angels 3
Rationale: Since joining the Angels at the start of last season, Joel Pineiro was 1-0 with a 0.56 ERA in 2 starts versus the A's in Anaheim. That included a 4 hitter in a 4-0 victory last May. Brett Anderson, who faced Pineiro earlier in the month, was 0-3 with a 5.04 ERA in 5 starts since defeating Seattle on April 24, and 0-1 with a 5.84 ERA in 2 career starts at Angel Stadium. Oakland was in the bottom third of the majors with a .237 batting average, and Anderson had been the victim of poor run support, as the A's had only scored 7 runs for him. Oakland was 1-7 in their last 8 games, while Los Angeles was 10-2 in Pineiro's last 12 home starts. The Under was 32-14-5 in the Angels last 51 home games.
Reality: The A's finally got offense, with every player getting a hit against the Angels. Anderson tossed 3 hit ball over 8 scoreless innings, walking 3 and striking out 4, and Andy LaRoche drove in 3 runs to lead Oakland. Pineiro gave up 11 hits and 4 runs in 6 1/3 innings -- the exact same line score he had in his previous start against Atlanta. With Oakland quickly out in front with a 4-0 lead, I knew that at best I could split my wagers. But, Mark Trumbo's 3 run homer off Grant Balfour with 2 outs in the ninth, created a push on my Under.
SEASON RECORD: 10-13-1 (44|PERCENT|), - 420
Hoping everyone has safe holiday weekend. Also hoping it is enjoyable by winning the following:
Philadelphia Phillies - 131
Philadelphia (31-19, 12-9 A); Roy Oswalt (3-2, 2.77, 1.18)
New York (23-26, 10-12 H); Chris Capuano (3-5, 5.36, 1.52)
Rationale: Philadelphia is 4-2 against New York this season and will be making its first 2011 appearance at Citi Field. The Phillies were shut out in the first four meetings there last year before winning 4 of the final 5. Oswalt, who is 0-2 with a 4.20 ERA in his last 3 starts, allowed 1 one run over 7 innings in Sunday's 2-0 loss to Texas. He is 4-2 with a 3.22 ERA in his last 7 starts against New York, and he pitched a 4 hitter in his only career outing at Citi Field last September (a 3-0 win). The Mets, who are without Ike Davis and David Wright, send Capuano to the mound against a Phillies team with a major league best 12-3 mark against left-handers. Capuano is 0-2 with a 3.38 ERA in 4 starts against Philadelphia. He had allowed 2 runs in 3 straight outings before he gave up 6 over 5+ innings in a 7-3 loss to the Yankees on Saturday. Philadelphia is 35-16 in their last 51 road games.
New York Yankees +106
New York (27-21, 10-8 A); A.J. Burnett (5-3, 4.02, 1.20)
Seattle (24-25, 11-12 H); Michael Pineda (6-2, 2.16, 0.94)
Rationale: I must admit I was on the fence with this wager, but the favorable money line (which opened at -110 and is still -105 in some cases) made it an attractive pick. No team has played fewer road games than New York, which is beginning a 9 game West Coast trip. The Yankees have won 5 of their last 7 on the road, and 7 of 9 overall following a season-worst 6 game losing streak. They'll face Pineda, who has thrown 14 consecutive scoreless innings heading into his first start against the Yankees. He has struck out 16 over 2 straight 7 inning scoreless efforts in victories, and struck out a season-high 9 for the third time in his last 5 outings Saturday in a 4-0 victory at San Diego. Pineda has allowed just 3 HR this season, and leads the AL in strikeouts per 9 innings at 9.41, but faces a team that leads the majors with 75 HR. The Yankees hope Burnett, who held the Mets to 3 runs over 6+ innings in a 7-3 win on Saturday, can put together back-to-back wins. He is 0-5 with a 5.82 ERA in his last 10 road starts, but 2-2 with a 3.83 ERA in 6 outings against Seattle. The Mariners, winners of 7 of their last 8 games, have a hit a major league low 27 HR this season. New York has won 6 of the last 8 games between these teams.