MLB: May 17th picks

[blackcrow]

AFTERNOON PICKS

Chicago Cubs -2.5
Zambrano allowed three runs and six hits in seven innings of Chicago's 12-3 victory over San Diego on Monday to improve to 4-0 with a 1.98 ERA in six starts at Wrigley. He also went 2-for-4 with a double in that contest, giving him five hits in his last 11 at-bats. Zambrano is 9-5 with a 3.40 ERA in 18 career starts against the Pirates.

Duke is 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA in two starts against the Cubs this season.

Cubs are 7-1 in their last 8 overall.
Cubs are 22-8 in their last 30 home games.
Cubs are 20-6 in their last 26 games as a favorite.
Cubs are 44-21 in their last 65 games as a home favorite.
Cubs are 7-3 in their last 10 games vs. a left-handed starter.
Cubs are 9-1 in their last 10 home games vs. a left-handed starter.
Cubs are 15-4 in their last 19 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.

Cubs are 5-1 in Zambranos last 6 starts.
Cubs are 4-1 in Zambranos last 5 home starts.
Cubs are 5-1 in Zambranos last 6 starts as a favorite.
Cubs are 4-1 in Zambranos last 5 starts as a home favorite.

Pirates are 5-22 in Dukes last 27 road starts.
Pirates are 4-23 in Dukes last 27 starts as a road underdog.

Pirates are 1-5 in Dukes last 6 starts vs. Cubs.
Pirates are 1-11 in the last 12 meetings.
Pirates are 0-7 in the last 7 meetings in Chicago.
Pirates are 0-4 in Dukes last 4 road starts vs. Cubs.

Boston -1.5 (Game 1)
Matsuzaka is 2-0, with a 1.42 ERA in his last three starts. Boston is 8-0 in his starts this season. On Saturday, Matsuzaka allowed two runs, struck out seven and walked three in seven innings of a 5-2 victory at Minnesota. He went 3-1 with a 2.00 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 27 innings in four interleague starts last year. Boston was 12-6 in interleague play last season and is 16-3 in its last 19 interleague games at Fenway Park, hitting .312 with 23 homers.

Suppan was 1-1 with a 10.13 ERA in three interleague starts last season

Red Sox are 41-10 in their last 51 interleague games.
Red Sox are 41-10 in their last 51 interleague games as a favorite.
Red Sox are 38-13 in their last 51 interleague home games.
Red Sox are 37-14 in their last 51 games as a home favorite.
Red Sox are 23-6 in their last 29 interleague home games vs. a team with a losing record.
Red Sox are 43-9 in their last 52 interleague games vs. a right-handed starter.

Red Sox are 14-3 in Matsuzakas last 17 starts.
Red Sox are 7-0 in Matsuzakas last 7 home starts.
Red Sox are 14-2 in Matsuzakas last 16 starts as a favorite.
Red Sox are 15-3 in Matsuzakas last 18 starts as a home favorite.
Red Sox are 4-1 in Matsuzakas last 5 interleague starts.
Red Sox are 4-0 in Matsuzakas last 4 home starts vs. a team with a losing record.
Red Sox are 5-0 in Matsuzakas last 5 starts when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Red Sox are 7-0 in Matsuzakas last 7 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.

Brewers are 3-7 in their last 10 interleague games as an underdog.
Brewers are 4-9 in their last 13 overall.
Brewers are 0-6 in their last 6 road games
Brewers are 17-39 in their last 56 games as a road underdog.
Brewers are 1-4 in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
Brewers are 0-4 in their last 4 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Brewers are 2-5 in their last 7 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.

Cleveland -1.5
Carmona is in search of his fourth straight win. He is 3-0 with a 2.51 ERA over his last five starts. He pitched second career shutout Monday against Toronto, scattering five hits and four walks as Cleveland won 3-0 at home.

Harang struggled somewhat against Florida Monday, allowing four runs and seven hits (including three homers) over seven innings. However, he got credit for Cincinnati's 8-7 win - his first victory since April 10 at Milwaukee.

Indians are 6-2 in their last 8 overall.
Indians are 5-2 in their last 7 road games
Indians are 5-2 in their last 7 games vs. a right-handed starter.

Indians are 6-2 in Carmonas last 8 road starts.
Indians are 20-8 in Carmonas last 28 starts.

Reds are 1-4 in their last 5 interleague games vs. a right-handed starter.
Reds are 1-4 in their last 5 interleague home games vs. a right-handed starter.

LA Angels -2.5
Santana was 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA in two Freeway Series starts last season, winning at home and losing on the road. That's been a trend with Santana throughout his career - the right-hander is 27-9 with a 3.01 ERA at Angel Stadium.

Park is 1-1 with a 12.91 ERA in his last two starts in Anaheim.

Angels are 5-2 in their last 7 home games.
Angels are 5-1 in their last 6 games as a home favorite.
Angels are 6-1 in their last 7 games as a favorite.
Angels are 8-3 in their last 11 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
Angels are 21-8 in their last 29 interleague games.
Angels are 11-1 in their last 12 interleague home games.
Angels are 16-5 in their last 21 interleague games as a favorite.
Angels are 4-1 in their last 5 interleague games vs. a right-handed starter.
Angels are 6-1 in their last 7 interleague home games vs. a right-handed starter.

Angels are 5-1 in Santanas last 6 starts.
Angels are 28-10 in Santanas last 38 home starts.
Angels are 17-5 in Santanas last 22 starts as a favorite.
Angels are 20-6 in Santanas last 26 starts as a home favorite.
Angels are 4-1 in Santanas last 5 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Angels are 5-2 in Santanas last 7 interleague starts.

Dodgers are 2-6 in their last 8 overall.
Dodgers are 7-3 in their last 10 road games.
Dodgers are 18-41 in their last 59 games as an underdog.
Dodgers are 9-23 in their last 32 games as a road underdog.
Dodgers are 3-7 in their last 10 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Dodgers are 17-35 in their last 52 interleague games.
Dodgers are 16-35 in their last 51 interleague road games.
Dodgers are 14-38 in their last 52 interleague games as an underdog.
Dodgers are 10-23 in their last 33 interleague games vs. a right-handed starter.
Dodgers are 6-20 in their last 26 interleague road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Dodgers are 5-17 in their last 22 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Dodgers are 1-5 in their last 6 games vs. a right-handed starter.

Dodgers are 1-8 in the last 9 meetings.
Dodgers are 7-19 in the last 26 meetings in Los Angeles.

Record: 22-29

[hobbies.hubber]

Soccer's yet to end but it was 1W-1L for today so far. Unto MLB now. I am looking at the following favorably,

Chicago Cubs -1.5
Los Angeles Angels -1.5
Boston Red Sox -1.5 (Matsuzaka vs Suppan)

Matsuzaka is of course the hope for Boston. Both teams are not doing so well at the moment but I reckon Matsu could just make the difference between 2 struggling sides. Cubs needs less of an explanation with Zambrano taking the mound. While the Dodgers cannot bat if their lives depended on it at the moment and furthermore Angel's pitcher is a decent one in the likes of Santana.

[blackcrow]

EVENING PICKS

Atlanta -2.5
Former Athletic Hudson is 3-0, 1.17 in his last three starts. He has dominated in his last three starts, winning each while yielding just two earned runs in 23 innings. Hudson gave up just one unearned run in seven innings Monday in an 8-1 win in the second game of a doubleheader in Pittsburgh.

Braves are 21-5 in their last 26 home games.
Braves are 8-2 in their last 10 games as a favorite.
Braves are 62-30 in their last 92 games as a home favorite.
Braves are 6-2 in their last 8 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Braves are 15-3 in their last 18 home games vs. a right-handed starter

Braves are 4-1 in Hudsons last 5 starts.
Braves are 19-7 in Hudsons last 26 home starts.
Braves are 20-7 in Hudsons last 27 starts as a favorite
Braves are 19-7 in Hudsons last 26 starts as a home favorite.

Athletics are 0-4 in their last 4 overall.
Athletics are 0-4 in their last 4 road games.
Athletics are 0-4 in their last 4 games as an underdog.
Athletics are 0-4 in their last 4 games as a road underdog.
Athletics are 0-4 in their last 4 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Athletics are 0-4 in their last 4 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Athletics are 1-4 in their last 5 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Athletics are 1-4 in their last 5 road games vs. a right-handed starter.

Athletics are 0-4 in their last 4 interleague games.
Athletics are 0-4 in their last 4 interleague road games.
Athletics are 0-5 in their last 5 interleague games as an underdog.
Athletics are 1-4 in their last 5 interleague games vs. a right-handed starter.
Athletics are 1-4 in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
Athletics are 1-5 in their last 6 interleague road games vs. a team with a winning record.
Athletics are 1-5 in their last 6 interleague games vs. a team with a winning record.

Athletics are 4-10 in Hardens last 14 starts as an underdog.
Athletics are 3-9 in Hardens last 12 starts as a road underdog.

Houston -2.5
Astros won five of last six Oswalt starts. Oswalt is 4-0 with a 3.51 ERA since mid-April, and went a season-high eight innings in his last start, allowing three runs and five hits while striking out eight in a 7-3 win at San Francisco on Monday.

Padilla is 3-0, 3.04 in his last four starts. He struggled in his last outing, allowing six runs in five innings on Monday, but didn't pick up a decision as Texas beat Seattle 13-12. Padilla is 1-3 with a 5.09 ERA in six career starts against Houston.

Astros are 11-3 in their last 14 overall.
Astros are 7-1 in their last 8 games as a favorite.
Astros are 6-2 in their last 8 games as a road favorite.
Astros are 6-2 in their last 8 road games.
Astros are 8-2 in their last 10 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Astros are 5-2 in their last 7 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Astros are 21-7 in their last 28 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.

Astros are 5-1 in Oswalts last 6 starts.
Astros are 4-1 in Oswalts last 5 starts as a road favorite.
Astros are 13-5 in Oswalts last 18 interleague starts.

Seattle - San Diego over 8.5
Bedard is 0-2, 6.19 in his last three starts. He was pounded for six runs in just two innings Monday, blowing a 5-0 lead and matching the shortest start of his career in Seattle's 10-inning, 13-12 loss at Texas.

Wolf is 0-3, 8.55 in his last four starts.

Over is 34-15-2 in Padres last 51 road games.
Over is 21-8-1 in Padres last 30 games vs. a left-handed starter.
Over is 15-5-1 in Padres last 21 road games vs. a left-handed starter.
Over is 5-2 in Padres last 7 interleague road games.

Over is 13-3 in the last 16 meetings.
Over is 6-1 in the last 7 meetings in Seattle.

San Francisco - Chicago White Sox over 9.5
Zito is 0-7, 7.94 in eight starts (0-1, 4.09 in last two). He allowed three runs over six innings and was not charged with the loss in a 7-3 defeat to Houston on Monday. Zito is 0-5 with a 6.67 ERA in his last five interleague starts.

Buehrle is 0-5, 6.18 in his last six starts. He has been especially bad in his last two outings, allowing a total of 15 runs over 11 1-3 innings. He gave up a season-high eight runs over 5 2-3 innings in Monday's 10-7 loss to the Los Angeles Angels.

Over is 5-2-1 in Giants last 8 games as an underdog.
Over is 5-0 in Giants last 5 games vs. a left-handed starter.
Over is 5-2-1 in Giants last 8 interleague games.

Over is 4-1 in Zitos last 5 home starts.
Over is 4-1 in Zitos last 5 starts a home underdog.

Over is 7-3 in Buehrles last 10 starts overall.

[blackcrow]

AFTERNOON PICKS

Chicago Cubs -2.5
Boston -2.5 (Game 1)
Cleveland -1.5
LA Angels -2.5

EVENING PICKS

Atlanta -2.5
Houston -2.5
Seattle - San Diego over 8.5
San Francisco - Chicago White Sox over 9.5

I hate interleague games.

Record: 22-37