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BOSTON (Wakefield) @ TAMPA BAY (Price)
PICK: RUN LINE RAYS -1.5 +120
Boston mustered only 2 runs tonight against Niemann and the Rays in a trend that I expect to continue for the next 4-6 weeks. My thesis is that the Red Sox will struggle to consistently score runs with Pedroia and Martinez and Varitek all out with injuries. The situation doesn't look much better as they face David Price. The Rays Ace sports a nifty 2.42 ERA and 1.20 ERA and is even better at home with a 5-1 record and 1.99 ERA. Opponents are hitting only 0.220 against him for the season. While Wakefield is coming off a string of good results, he faces a Rays team that is batting 0.281 against him in 199 AB. As with any knuckleballer, you always have the chance that the ball won't dance . . . I think that it can fly (out of the park) tomorrow. I can't lay -180 on the Rays given the possibility that Wakefield is unhittable, but if the Rays do win, I expect a solid margin, hence the run line.
PITTSBURGH (McCutchen) @ HOUSTON (Moehler)
PICK: RUN LINE ASTROS -1.5 +165
McCutchen earned his first win in his last start but I think that he likely to get pounded tomorrow by the Astros. In just 23 IP, he has given up 32 hits and 7 HR and he has issued 9 walks. While the Astros offense has struggled mightily this season, they have plenty of big bats and they unload on a pitcher who can't get hitters to swing and miss. Moehler's season hasn't been great at all, but he has shown improvement lately, including a big dog win against Texas not too long ago (had that pick). I also played Moehler last start at San Diego (+220) and he came through again, but also showed me that he can pitch with a lead. So I am not only taking Moehler and the Astros, but also juicing it up by risking the run line in search of a big +165 payoff.
NEW YORK YANKEES (Burnett) @ OAKLAND (Gonzalez)
PICK: RUN LINE YANKEES -1.5 +145
You can't put a line on mental composure and the play tomorrow is play on the return on Yankee pitching coach Eiland and his profound impact on A.J. Burnett. Admittedly, I had Burnett in his last start against Toronto, and he looked great. Apparently, Eiland was able to tweak Burnett's delivery and results were immediate. Unfortunately, the Yankees pen blew that for me, but I definitely took away the thought that I wanted to bet Burnett again his next start. Yankees will face Gio Gonzalez who has really found his groove. Gonzalez is pitching to his potential: his career K/9 rate is above 9, so he has the stuff to get hitters out. I also have to mention that GG has been great at home this year with a 4-2 record and 2.32 ERA with hitters scratching out a meager 0.168 average. Those caveats aside, the Yankees are always tough and they are finally getting some production of out Tex, which gives Yankees backers an added boost.
UNDERDOG SPECIAL
CLEVELAND (Talbot) @ TEXAS (Lewis)
PICK: INDIANS +220
Texas looks vulnerable. The Indians have been playing some good ball lately winning 7 of their last 9 (admittedly they had lost 11 of 12 before that) and I am willing to take a chance on the belief that winnings begets winning. For Indians, Talbot (3.86 ERA 1.36 WHIP) has been pretty decent this season, and he is coming off a few good starts in a row -- I think that we have a reasonable chance of a quality start out of him, which meets my Condition #1 for playing an undergod. Colby Lewis . . . his stats say one thing (3.35 ERA 1.11 WHIP) but I have seen his last two starts and they show me something else, as I didn't see a pitcher able to command his game as his numbers would suggest. Like I said earlier, the Indians are playing well (Condition #3) and Texas is struggling (Condition #4) and this big dog looks like it could bark.
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Like the plays tom... Best of Luck sir 
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