Boston Red Sox (105) MLB Odds – Wed August 27th ’08 7:05p
The Boston Red Sox hurt the New York Yankees playoff chances even more by winning the first game of this crucial series last night, and we look for the Sox to put the Yankees in an even deeper hole tonight. Sidney Ponson pitched over his head in his first month since returning to the Yankees, but we fear the real Sir Sidney emerged in his last start vs. the Toronto Blue Jays, where he was torched for seven earned runs on eight hits in only two innings by a Jays offense that had struggled most of the season. Even more important here is that Ponson has failed to record a Quality Start in his last four outings vs. he Red Sox, including an awful appearance this year where he surrendered seven earned runs and 10 hits in four frames. Paul Byrd has been at least serviceable in two starts for Boston, allowing four runs on each occasion, and he did allow three runs or less in each of his last five starts for the Cleveland Indians prior to that. It is also worth noting that the Boston bullpen has now cracked the top 10 in the majors with a 3.84 ERA, which gives Byrd some nice support here. The primary reason that most experts predict that the Yankees incredible playoff run will come to an end this season is their lack of quality starting pitching, and we feel that Ponson personifies that here. MLB Free Pick: Red Sox +105 Courtesy of LT Profits – Click Here for More Baseball Betting Picks
 
Oakland Athletics (220) – Wed August 27th ’08 10:05p
While we are not at all surprised by this enormous price on the Oakland Athletics vs. the Los Angeles Angels, Joe Saunders has seemed much more hittable lately while Gio Gonzalez should have success his first time through the Angel lineup, giving Oakland some value here. In fact, the Angels have lost the last two games that Saunders has started, but it is his last start that may be some cause for concern. He was roughed up for six earned runs on nine hits while lasting just 5.1 innings vs. the Minnesota Twins with no strikeouts. Granted, the Athletics have struggled offensively, but they did manage to score four runs on six hits in 6.1 innings off of Saunders when he last faced them last month. Now Gonzalez has a 6.52 ERA in four starts, but that figure is greatly skewed by one awful outing vs. the Chicago White Sox. He actually pitched reasonably well in his other three starts, and he is coming off of an outing in Seattle where he allowed two earned runs in five inning with seven strikeouts. The fact that he has yet to go more than six innings in the majors is not a bad thing here, considering that the Oakland bullpen ranks fifth in the major leagues with a 3.52 ERA. Remember that the Angels have never faced Gonzalez before, so if he has success his first time through the lineup as we expect, the Athletics bullpen could then bail him out at the first sign of trouble and key a big upset. MLB Free Pick: Athletics +220 Courtesy of LT Profits

Cleveland Indians (154) – Wed August 27th ’08 7:05p
The Cleveland Indians are not in the playoff race (unless they keep playing like this) but they are going for their tenth win in a row today in Detroit. Cleveland has won nine of their last 10 games and looked dominant in doing so. Both the Tigers and Indians have been major disappointments this season but it appears that Cleveland is set on salvaging their miserable beginning.  The Indians will send Fausto Carmona to the hill tonight, and his season — like Cleveland’s — has been a mixed bag. At times Carmona has resembled the overpowering pitcher he was in 2007 and on other occasions he has been absolutely awful. In his defense, he was battling injuries early and, more recently, is still working his way back to form since coming off the DL in July. It appears Carmona is getting his stuff together though, and that could be bad for Detroit who he has usually pitched well against. Fausto has allowed just two earned runs in his last two outings (Rangers and Angels). Also, the Indians are 4-1 in Carmona’s last five starts against the Tigers. He allowed eleven earned runs in 34.2 innings and struck out 25 while walking just four in those games. Detroit counters with Justin Verlander who has had an up and down season too. His last two starts have been excellent but it is hard to say what he will do today. He is 3-3 at home against the Indians and has allowed almost three earned runs per game. In his last 10 outings against Cleveland, at any location, the Tigers are just 2-8 and he has allowed 4.9 earned runs per game. Take the value here with a hot Indians team. Cleveland is averaging 6.7 runs per game over their last 10 and 6.6 runs per game over their last five road games. Play: Indians +154 Courtesy of Matt Foust

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