MLB Playoff Weekend Picks
MLB Update: Two Friday Games Could Be Good Ones and Dodgers on the Cusp of a Series Upset
The chances of a Freeway Series got better on Thursday night when both the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Los Angeles Angels brought home victories to the City of Angels.
Joe Torre, who used six pitchers in Game 1 of the Dodgers’ series against the Cardinals, managed another perfect game on Thursday night against a St. Louis team that had everything going for it up until the 9th inning when Matt Holliday committed an atrocious error on a line drive hit from James Loney leading to a 3 to 2 victory for the Dodgers.
This could indeed be the Dodgers’ year. In Game 1 they beat the almost unbeatable Chris Carpenter. In Game 2 they outlasted a phenomenal game from pitcher Adam Wainwright and got the error that they needed in order to secure the victory.
Going back to St. Louis, the Cardinals have to be somewhat shell-shocked. Because of the 5 game format, the Cardinals must shake off that tough loss in Game 2 and come up with three straight victories. The quest starts on Saturday when they throw Joel Pineiro onto the diamond to face Dodger pitcher Vicente Padilla.
Pineiro shouldn’t have a problem coming up big for the Cards, but what strange occurrence will happen in the 9th inning to secure a Dodgers’ victory in this game? Hey, when you are a team of destiny, things just seem to happen. Red Sox ’04 anyone?
In any case, my money will be on Pineiro and the Cardinals. Give me the right baseball odds and I’d put money on the Cards to come back to win the series. Pineiro, Carpenter and Wainwright could definitely put together a string of victories for the Cards and the Dodgers are winning with luck and because St. Louis hasn’t been focused. That should change on Saturday.
Angels Look Great on Thursday but Have to Show up on Friday
The L.A. Angels were awesome on Thursday night, especially John Lackey. He shut down the Boston Red Sox, but that doesn’t mean that they can just kick it with their heels up on Friday night. John Lester, as good as he usually is during the regular season, can be beaten in the post-season. It showed on Thursday night as the Angels rocked Boston for a 5 to 0 victory.
Now the Angels have to do it with 16 and 8, 3.76 ERA and 1.24 WHIP Jered Weaver. Weaver’s stats aren’t bad but the man he’ll be facing, Josh Beckett, is an absolute beast on the mound. What’s scary, he gets even better come post-season time.
Give up the 1 ½ runs in the sportsbook and take Beckett and the Red Sox. That’s my advice in regards to this game which starts at 9:37 pm EST time tonight.
Yankees vs. Twins Should be More Competitive on Friday Night
The New York Yankees host the Minnesota Twins tonight in a game that has to be more competitive than the 7 to 2 Yankees victory on Wednesday night. The game starts at 6:05 pm EST with Nick Blackburn suiting up for the Twins while A.J. Burnett goes for the Yanks in his first post-season appearance. Blackburn’s stats, 4.03 ERA and 1.37 WHIP, aren’t great, but Burnett’s aren’t much better at 4.04 and 1.40.
Pitching won’t rule on Friday night which is one of the reasons that baseball bettors might want to take a stab on the Twins on the money line. Why not? Minnesota has been super hot this entire month and a lone loss against the Yanks, after a marathon game against the Detroit Tigers the day before, shouldn’t take away from that.
+260 in the sportsbook? I’m willing to take a stab.
Colorado Says, “Were Back!”
The Rockies took down Cole Hamels and the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday in a game that means more than any Philly fan wants to believe. The truth about Philadelphia is that they needed both Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels to get hot in these playoffs. Lee was when retiring 16 straight batters in Game 1. Hamels was not in Game 2.
Cole was rocked for 5 runs before rushing off to be his wife who was in labor. Congratulations, Cole, but the timing couldn’t be worse. Without Hamels dominating the way he did during the 2008 post-season, the chances of Philly making it back into the World Series just isn’t very good.
Colorado has a good shot of winning this series now that they can launch homers and triples from the comfy confines of Coors Field in the next two games. Phillies run looks over.
Quick Weekend Picks
I like the Twins to upset the Yankees at Friday night at +260 on the money line. I’m giving up the 1 ½ runs on Josh Beckett and the Red Sox.
On Saturday, my money will be on Joel Pineiro and the Cardinals over the Dodgers. I believe Pedro Martinez gets spanked on the mound by the Colorado Rockies.
It doesn’t matter who is pitching on Sunday for St. Louis. The Dodgers’ Chad Billingsley is going to have a tough time and the Cardinals should roll to a victory to tie the series. Andy Petite will handle Carl Pavano and the Minnesota Twins with ease, that’s a run line baseball bet, and Scott Kazmir gets rocked by the BoSox on the road.
Enjoy the weekend!
