Now I would like to turn my venom toward a group of people for whom my patience has completely run out. The culprit: MLB bullpens. These guys are killing me on a nightly basis. I'm losing a good 2-3 wins every night because these slap-dicks that couldn't make it as starters can't get a few more outs to close out games that should already be decided. Last night it was Ryan Franklin in Houston and Dan Wheeler in Chicago that couldn't get the job done. They took the Locks from an impressive 10-5 evening to a mediocre 8-7. This is another reminder of just how tough it is to hit baseball games consistently. Regardless, we will carry on and continue to deliver you winners.
We did manage to bring in $14 from last night's 8-7 effort. It brings our BAT back up into the 90s and we currently sit at +$94. Our overall record checks in at 110-101. Since we're only attacking today's night games, we're limited to a total of five contests plus a bonus game (see below). Maybe this is a good thing as we can really drill down on these battles.
Upon review, we have come to one conclusion regarding these games. We love the favorites and don't expect any of these games to be close. Tonight we'll finally nudge that BAT into triple digits. Here's what you need to know:
Oakland @ NYY - The Athletic Supporters should have stayed out West. They are not going to enjoy the new Yankee Stadium. CC is gonna set em up and sit em down. This won't be like beating up on an inept Minnesota pitching staff for the A's. I don't expect the Yanks to have any difficulty figuring out my cousin Vinny Mazzaro even though they struggle against pitchers they haven't faced before. The Bombers are in the zone and will stay there. Give Oakland the 1.5 and take the Yanks (-130). Final score is 8-2. LOCK IT UP
San Diego @ Philadelphia - This is about as lopsided of a ML game as you can get these days. Not sure they should even play this one. Look for Philly to light up the scoreboard. Take them minus 1.5 runs (-135) in a 9-4 beatdown. LOCK IT UP
St. Louis @ Washington - The Cards need someone to take their frustration out on following that sweep in Houston. This doesn't look good for Washington, especially since Jordan Zimmermann can't make his scheduled start. Do you think Collin Balester is psyched to face Fat Albert? Look to the Cards to bounce back in a big way tonight. Give the Nats the 1.5 runs and take St. Louie (-115). They will prevail 7-2. LOCK IT UP
Pittsburgh @ Arizona - At least we can get excited about the DBacks every 5 days. Dan Harren will do that for a team. This will not be fun for Pittsburgh. They go from facing the Brewers AAA pitching staff to a guy with a sub-2.00 ERA. Poor Charlie Morton can throw a gem and still get beat. Take the DBacks and give the 1.5 runs to Pitt (EVEN). Harren gets another step closer to his Cy Young award, 4-0. LOCK IT UP
Minnesota @ LAA - We're not jumping off the Angels money train anytime soon, certainly not with the road weary Twinkies blowing into town - and we mean "blowing." Seriously, this team is nearly unbeatable at home but unbelievably Met-like on the road. What did they just do in Oakland? Embarrassing. Things only get worse for them in Southern California. The Angels will continue to batter inferior opponents. Take them and give the 1.5 runs (+140). This one will not be much of a game. Halos win 6-2. LOCK IT UP
THURSDAY BONUS GAME
Blue Donkeys @ 70s Style Bush - Here's a big matchup that is going down tonight in the Pleasant Hill D League softball. The Bush is coming off a 15-4 drubbing of the Salty Dogs in a game that wasn't even that close. It was the team's first victory since taking home the title last season. Meanwhile, the Donkeys are smarting from a 14-14 tie in last week's late game. The Bush remains shorthanded with two key starters AWOL for tonight's game but looks to build some serious momentum in their charge for a D-League repeat. In keeping with the trend in our MLB picks, we don't think this one is that competitive. We're taking the Bush from the 70s minus 1.5 runs (+120) to win this one going away behind the crafty pitching of Kevin Pollock and an offensive explosion anchored by John Yannuzzi and Tim Crvarich. Bush is victorious 13-6. LOCK IT UP
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