--+:+-- WiLdCaRd's MLB Thursday Selections + Writeups ((( 8/20 ))) --+:+--

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15-10 +9.37 Units

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MLB Thursday Selections:


**POD**  Los Angeles Angels -145  2.90 : 2.00
-  I'm going to ride the red hot Angels team tonight on the road catching minimal juice versus the Cleveland Indians.  The Angels are looking for their 6th straight win and a sweep of the Indians tonight.  Getting the start for the Angels is right-hander John Lackey.  Lackey is looking to win his 4th straight start against the Indians.  He is 6-5 with a 3.31 ERA in 13 starts versus Cleveland in his career.  He has looked great as of late too -- 5-1 with a 1.89 ERA in his last 7 starts overall.  Lackey should be able to contain an Indians team that relies on their offense to keep them in most games.  Countering for the Indians is Justin Masterson.  This will be his 3rd start since being traded from the Boston Red Sox.  He has struggled with his new team though, going 0-1 with an ERA of 8.59 in 2 starts.  The red hot Angels lineup should overwhelm Masterson tonight.  I look for them to score a lot of runs here.  This is a really good spot for the Angels.  At a price like this you really can't afford not to take them tonight.
Trends to Consider:
Angels are 22-6 in their last 28 road games.
Angels are 37-14 in their last 51 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
Angels are 4-1 in Lackeys last 5 starts as a road favorite of -151 to -200.
Indians are 2-5 in their last 7 games as a home underdog of +110 to +150.
Indians are 0-4 in their last 4 home games.


**POD**  St. Louis Cardinals -148  2.96 : 2.00
-  The Cardinals is the only other play I liked on tonight's card.  They will try to extend their NL Central lead over the San Diego Padres -- a team they swept last weekend.  Getting the start tonight for St. Louis is right-hander Joel Pineiro.  Pineiro has played a big role in the Cardinal's recent success.  He is 5-0 in his last 8 starts (all of which the Cardinals went on to win).  Pineiro has an ERA of 2.91 during this stretch.  His dominance should continue tonight against a weak offensive lineup in the Padres.  Pineiro is 4-1 with an ERA of 3.52 in his career against San Diego.  Countering for the Padres is Tim Stauffer.  Stauffer has lost his last 3 straight outings and his only lasted to the 5th inning in each of these games.  This will put extra pressure on a bullpen that has really struggled lately.  Stauffer has an ERA of 4.80 and a WHIP of 1.80 during this stretch.  It shouldn't be easy for Stauffer up against a team that has won their last 8 out of 8 games versus the Padres and  8 out of their last 10 games overall.  I was really surprised at the price I'm getting with St. Louis.  I'm going to roll with it.
Trends to Consider:
Cardinals are 4-0 in their last 4 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
Cardinals are 23-4 in their last 27 games as a road favorite of -151 to -200.
Cardinals are 8-0 in Pineiros last 8 starts.
Padres are 3-14 in their last 17 games as a home underdog of +110 to +150.
Padres are 1-5 in Stauffers last 6 home starts.

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Expecting 2-0 tonight fellas.

Confidence Cram, CONFIDENCE!

like em both, but im playing cubs/marlins..

good luck!!

Was actually thinking about adding the Dodgers...

gl wildcard

Thanks for the support fellas...
Going out for a few...
Will pop back in later.

BEST OF LUCK 

great write-ups..  i changed my mind, im gonna make a small play on both of your picks.. 

i have a strong feeling about the cubs tonight..  (i have been wrong before!!), but they are officially on pacific time, so the travel really isn't a factor, and the same way that the marlins were looking forward to the phillies in philly, i truly believe that the cubs are looking forward to getting revenge for last year in the NLDS...  Remember the Marlins looked like crap against the Nats, then put a hurtin on my phils..  well, im expecting the same..  no life against the padres, while they got used to the time change and now an explosion against a reeling dodgers team..   i think they catch them at just the right time...

not trying to sway you by any means, just telling you my logic..  i like playing on motivational trends like that...

but good luck if you decide to play LA..  and thanks for taking the time to research your plays, i enjoy reading your threads...

Add:

**POD**  Los Angeles Dodgers -135  2.70 : 2.00

 

 

I think this is a very dangerous spot for the Angels.

 

 

A weak offensive lineup that got 7 hits and 3 runs off of him last Saturday.