Minnesota Twins -1.5 MLB Odds - Friday August 15th ‘08 8:10p
Francisco Liriano the Minnesota Twins starting pitcher tonight against the Seattle Mariners, is on my watch list, for under rated MLB pitchers. In 2006 the southpaw, showed the pundits some very nasty stuff, while garnering a 12-3 record along with a stingy 2.16 ERA. Health issues have side lined him , but gradually he is getting back on track, as he makes his 3rd start since returning from the minors. In his first two outings since returning to the big leagues he has recorded a 2.31 ERA, including 10 strike outs in 11 2/3 innings of work , allowing opponents a stunted .209 batting average. I expect , after getting comfortable, and working out any delivery hitches he might have had and those above mentioned outings, he will now be ready to reach his top form in this spot. The Twins hurler, will be backed by a hot hitting team that is 25-8 in their L/33 home games. Meanwhile , the Mariners will return fire with the struggling Carlos Silva ( 4-13, 5.93 ERA). The Emerald City right hander has been smashed on a consistent basis this season, and is on a 1-13 run , after giving up five runs in six innings in a 5-3 loss to Tampa Bay, last time out . The native of Venezuela has looked particularly vulnerable on the road, allowing 104 hits in just 74 innings of work, and I expect nothing will change tonight, as he gets blasted . Play on Minnesota -1.5

St. Louis Cardinals @ Cincinnati Reds u9.5 (-105) MLB Odds - Friday August 15th ‘08 7:10p
The Cincinnati Reds have already called it a year this season, but their starter Bronson Arroyo has had good success vs. the St. Louis Cardinals, suggesting that both sides will have trouble scoring tonight. Arroyo has faced the Cardinals twice this season, and has allowed a grand total of three runs and eight hits in 12 innings. This runs his streak to five consecutive Quality Starts vs. St. Louis going back to last season, and seven Quality Starts in his last eight career outings against them. Arroyo is also in nice current form, as he has four Quality Starts in his last five starts overall and six such outings in his last eight appearances. While he still has a dismal 5.44 ERA for the year due to a dreadful start, he has pitched much better at home where he has a 3.91 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in 13 home starts. Meanwhile, Brad Thompson of the Cardinals has been solid whenever called upon the last couple of years. He has made three spot starts this year and he yet to allow more than three runs in any start. It certainly helps that the Reds have given up and are not hitting a lick right now, batting .224 as a team vs. right-handed pitchers the last 10 games. The Under is 8-2 in the last 10 head-to-head meetings between these clubs and we see no reason why tonight should be any different. MLB Free Pick: Cardinals, Reds Under 9.5 (-105)
 
Philadelphia Phillies (-125) MLB Odds - Friday August 15th ‘08 10:05p
The ageless Jamie Moyer of the Philadelphia Phillies and Greg Maddux of the San Diego Padres are putting away their AARP cards in order to oppose each other at Petco Park tonight. Yes, Maddux has excellent numbers at home, but that is true of most Padres pitchers due to the spaciousness of this ball park. Keep in mind that Moyer pitches in a bandbox in Philadelphia yet he has still managed to post a 3.81 ERA while going 10-7 this season. He too will appreciate the dimensions here, and he has a much better team behind him. The Phillies have not minded visiting this stadium, as they swept the Padres while scoring 28 runs in three games their last trip in. Now Maddux does have a 2.73 home ERA, but he has become a six-inning pitcher at most and the San Diego bullpen ranks third from the bottom in the National League with a 4.33 ERA. The Phillies are now 12-3 in the last 15 head-to-head meetings in Southern California, and look for them to improve on that further tonight. MLB Free Pick: Phillies -125 - Baseball Picks

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