WEDNESDAY FIRST 5 INNINGS PLAYS (YTD 9-10)

jimmythegreek

The opening odds start here
Seatlle/Tampa Bay over 4.5 even:
The Mariners (58-50) look to sweep the Rays (64-44) this afternoon in a matinee tilt at the Trop. Coming into today's action, the Rays continue to hold onto a one game lead over Boston in the AL East, while Seattle trails Oakland by 2 games for the second AL Wildcard. Last night, Jarred Kelenic hit a solo HR, his 4th of the season, and Cal Raleigh drove in 2 runs with a ground out and a sac fly despite going 0 for 3 as the M's beat Tampa 4-2. Abraham Toro Hernandez went 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored and an RBI as Luis Patino fell to 2-3 despite 5 decent innings allowing 3 runs on 5 hits walking 2 and striking out 3. Yusei Kikuchi gave up just 2 runs on 6 hits walking one and striking out 5 improving his seasonal mark to 7-6. Randy Arzonrena jumped on Kikuchi's first pitch and sent it over the fence for his 16th HR going 3 for 4 overall, but the Rays offense couldn't muster much more. Austin Meadows went 2 for 4 with a run scored but it wasn't enough. Diego Castillo pitched a scoreless 9th for his 15th save overall.

The Rays will look to salvage one game of this 3 game set when they send Josh Fleming (8-5 4.15) to the hill this afternoon. Fleming at times has looked like he's had his best stuff as of recent but others looks entirely that much more vulnerable in opposing scoring opportunities. He did beat Boston in his last outing which was relatively shaky 7-3allowing 3 runs on 8 hits over 5 innings walking 2 and striking out 7. He faces a Mariners lineup hitting a anemic .221 overall averaging about 4.3 runs per contest hitting but crushing 136 HR overall which is good for 6th in the AL. Ty France (.277 11 48) leads the M's in hitting and is batting .308 over his last 7 games with 2 HR. JP Crawford (.267 5 33) is doing well at the top of the lineup and has now batted safely in 5 of his last 7 games (.263). Mitch Haniger (.260 25 63) just saw a 4 game hitting streak come to an end but is still the cornerstone of power and production on the team. Kyle Seager (.220 22 66) just saw his 9 game hitting streak come to an end but is tops on the Mariners in RBI and second in HR overall. Jake Fraley (.248 7 25), who had an RBI last night has hit safely in his last 3 games (.400).

Countering Fleming this afternoon is Logan Gilbert (5-2 4.04). Like Fleming, Gilbert has remained relatively efficient but has shown signs at times of not being his usual confident self on the mound. Gilbert has won his last 3 decisions, but over those outings has given up 9 ER on 15 hits over his last 13 2/3 IP (5.16) not lasting more than 6 innings in any of those starts. He faces a Rays lineup batting a lethargic .233 and the team among the leaders in leaving RISP. Still, the small ballish type Rays are averaging nearly 5 runs per contest and have unmistakable power with 138 HR, just above Seattle. Joey Wendle (.274 7 36) lead TB in batting and is hitting .292 over his last 8 games. Arozarena (.266 16 50) was the only bat making noise in yesterday's loss, but is hitting .423 with 3 HR and 9 RBI over his last 8 games. Austin Meadows (.245 20 76) has a 3 game hitting streak (.333) and is 7for 19 (.368) over his last 5 games. Brandon Lowe (.218 23 55) leads the Rays in HR and second in RBI despite slumping at just .143 over his last 10 contest.

We get another reasonable price this afternoon at the domed, eyesore they call in Tampa the Trop. One of the older venues in the AL, the Rays hope to get some catwalk breaks trying to avoid the sweep., While easy to launch corner fly balls and line drives over the wall due to it being 315 and 318,respectably at the corners, we are hoping it will be relatively easy for both of these clubs, which have some pop in their lineup, able to avert the tilts and slants of the aging Trop. Both teams are squarely in contention of their respective divisions, and currently while at best we've been splitting as of late, hope to at least throw one on the left side and attempt to provide some cushion in the win column.
 

jimmythegreek

The opening odds start here
Anaheim/Texas over 4 -120:
The long road ahead may look bleak for Anaheim (53-54) with expectations pointing to falling just short of a wildcard spot. But 6.5 games behind the second wildcard spot seems still fairly reachable given the surroundings around Albert Pujols being released earlier this season and the overall state of the pitching which holds onto a glimmer of hope. Yesterday at Globe Life Field, the Angels evened up their 4 game set with Texas (39-68) with a much needed 11-3 laugher. Jack McNeil hit his 5th HR of the season, a 2 run shot, top prospect Jo Adell went 3 for 4 and drove in 3 runs with 2 doubles, Phil Gosselin also collected 3 hits, all singles, scored 2 runs and also drive in 3, and Jose Iglesias drove in 2 with an RBI single and a sac fly. The halos exposed Texas pitching for 14 hits and took control early against Jordan Lyles (5-8) scoring 6 runs on 9 hits. Lyles also had some control problems walking 4 and striking out 6. Jose Suarez limited the Rangers to one run on 6 hits walking one and striking out 6 to improve to 5-2 overall. Andy Ibanez hit a 2 run HR, his 4th of the season, but the only other offense for the Rangers was an RBI single by Chase Terry. Shohei Ohtani, tonight's starter, went 2 for 5 with 2 runs scored as Texas saw a 3 game winning streak come to a halt.

Ohtani (5-1 3.04) has won his last 4 decisions and has shown no signs of slowing down despite 9 no decisions in 15 starts this season. He has struck out 100 batters in just 80 innings this season and has given up just 7 HR overall while walking 36 batters. Ohtani faces a Rangers lineup hitting near the very bottom the AL with a paltry .229 average. Averaging just 3.9 runs per contest and 119 HR, only the White Sox and Royals have fewer long balls collectively to date. Adolis Garcia (.254 23 63) leads Texas in RBI, and sadly overall hitting. Garcia is batting just .222 over his last 8 games. Isiah Kiner Falefa (.253 6 35) has also struggled going 5 for his last 27 (.185) and sports just a .279 OBP this far. Nate Lowe (.249 12 50) recently saw a 5 game hitting streak (.364) go by the waistside and now is hitless over his last plate appearances. Nick Solak (.225 9 34) was just 3 for his last 18 (.167) before being demoted to AAA Round Rock several weeks back. With Joey Gallo (.223 25 55) being traded to the Yankees last week, the Rangers will need to look long and hard for a spark consistently if they are going to play the spoiler's role against AL contenders when it comes to the postseason.

Kolby Allard (2-9 5.23) will oppose Ohtani this evening, and like Texas has had offensive woes all season, their starting pitching situation is also a big mess. With a team ERA just under 4.80, Allard, who is a sophomore lefty, is looking to stop a personal 7 game losing streak. Allard has allowed 18 ER on 20 hits over his last 12 1/3 IP (13.17) walking 5 and striking out 9. He faces a fairly ferocious Angels lineup hitting .255 overall averaging 4.7 runs per contest and 139 HR ranking 4th in the AL. Dealing with virtually no timetable for Mike Trout (.333 8 18) still sidelined with a calf injury, the offense has shown to stay intact from a consistent supporting cast. David Fletcher (.305 3 38) leads the team in hitting and has been relatively efficient all season at the top of the lineup. Gosselin broke a 1 for 17 slump with 3 hits yesterday. Clear cut MVP Ohtani is the leader in all power and production categories (.274 37 82) and on pace to put up historic Ruth like numbers in addition to his dominating pitching. Jared Walsh (.266 22 67) and should be returning to the lineup after a chest injury.

We get a fairly pricy amount this evening at Globe Life. Despite the retractable roof under the heated summer temperatures in Arlington, the dimensions divide hitting and pitching a little more towards even despite one of the league's launching pads from yesteryear. Despite being only 329 in the corners and a respectable 410 straight away, the outfield fences stand 8 feet high. Ohtani just keeps rolling along and provides historic offense that will stand in season as one for the ages. Fletcher continues to hit well atop the lineup and while there is some noticeable balance in the lineup, expect the Angels to make a couple of more runs attempting to clinch a second wildcard to extend on paper an otherwise satisfactory season at best. Allard will be looking for a quality start, much less a win, and that could be wishful thinking against the versatile Ohtani.
 

jimmythegreek

The opening odds start here
Atlanta/St Louis over 5 even:
In what was considered by many an insurmountable lead for the first place Mets about a week ago, suddenly the Braves (53-54) have thoroughly cut into it. Yesterday at Busch, the Braves took the opener with ease against the fading St Louis Cardinals (53-53) 6-1. Jorge Soler unloaded his 1`4th HR of the season, a 2 run shot while Freddie Freeman launched his 24th of 2021, a solo shit in going 3 for 4 with 2 runs scored. Joc Pederson added a 2 for 4 evening driving in a run, knocking out recently traded Jon Lester from Washington. Lester fell to 3-6 and coughed up 6 runs on 9 hits in 5 innings walking 2 and striking out 4. The Cardinal bullpen gave up only one hit in the final 4 innings but by then the damage was already done. Max Fried improved to 7-6 and scattered 4 hits over 6 scoreless innings, walking only one and striking out 7. Tyler O Neil had 3 hits in as many plate appearances and scored the only one for the punchless Cardinals, who now trail the Brewers as well as the NL second wildcard by 10 full games.

This evening the Cardinals look to get back to their winning ways and even the series by sending out the recently traded J A Happ (5-6 6.77). Happ got crushed in his last start by Detroit when he was with Minnesota, lasting just 3 innings and was torched for 9 runs on 10 hits walking 4 and striking out 2. In Happ's ;last 3 outings, he's 1-2 with an 11.25 ERA, yielding 20 ER on 28 hits with 6 walks and 10 strikeouts. Happ faces an Atlanta lineup batting .243 overall averaging a robust 4.9 runs per contest and 150 HR which ranks second in the NL only behind San Francisco. Freeman (.293 24 60) brings in a 4 game hitting streak (.438) and leads Atlanta in HR while third in RBI. Ronald Acuna (.283 24 52) also has as many HR as Freeman but is out for the season with a torn ACL. Austin Riley (.291 22 63) is second on the club in HR and RBI in this, just his sophomore season. Riley has hit safely in 7 of his last 8 (.357). Ozzie Albies (.262 17 69) leads the Bravos in RBI and has hit safely in 8 of his last 9 (.300). Dansby Swanson (.245 20 58) has belted 3 Hr last week, hit safely in 7 of 8 (.333) and drove in a career high 7 RBI in an 8-1 win over Atlanta Sunday where he had 2 HR.

The Braves counter with Drew Smyly (7-3 4.40) who has won his last 3 decisions despite not looking like his dominating self as of late. The 32 year old 9 year southpaw has allowed 6 earned on 16 hits over his last 13.7 IP (3.94) with 6 walks and 15 strikeouts but remains one of the Atlanta aces currently in the rotation. St Louis hasn't done much as of late to push the acceleration button with fading wildcard hopes. The Cardinals are batting just .234 overall averaging a shade under 4 runs and are middle of the pack with 115 HR. Tyler O' Neil (.271 17 40) has been a pleasant surprise thus far to manager Mike Shidlt, but Paul Goldschmidt (.266 17 57) has looked like a shell of himself from his best days in Arizona, which has shown holes in the Cardinal offense. The 10 year veteran has been relatively quiet at the plate going just 5 for his last 30 (.167). Nolan Arenado (..261 20 62) was hitting .438 over his previous 5 games but has since gone hitless in his last 10 at bats. The Cardinals are going to have to continue to ride his coattails with each progressing game. Molina (.258 8 43) is still getting it done 20 years into the league, and the future HOF'er is 8 for his last 18 (.4440 with a current 3 game hitting streak. Dylan Carson (.255 11 44) has 5 hits in his last 9 appearances (.556) looking to stay hot.

We get another bargain of a price this evening overlooking the Gateway Arch. Busch is one of those ballparks where seemingly the advantage is rather neutral, but most have argued that despite 335 to the corners and 400 straight away, the swirling winds on clearer cool nights give the slight advantage to the pitcher, which is clearly skewed during early daytime hotter days. Happ has maintained his struggles over the last few seasons in Minnesota, and Smyly while getting away with no decisions and a solid record, must rely on a Braves offense that has plenty of pop up and down their lineup .As time runs out for the Cards, the Braves are in a lot better shape especially when it comes to the division. They should have their way over Happ early who once finds himself in a jam, makes it a lot more difficult on himself to find his way out of it.
 

jimmythegreek

The opening odds start here
San Francisco/Arizona over 4.5 -115:
Last night at Chase Field, the D Backs (34-74), certainly did not look like worst team in the majors as they defeated San Francisco (67-40) 3-1. Asdrubal Cabrera hit a 2 run double in a 3 run second which was all Madison Bumgarner needed. Nick Ahmed went 2 for 4 and drove in a run with another double as Bumgarner shut down his former team with ease. Mad bum evened his record to 6-6 scattering a run on 6 hits over 7 innings walking one and striking out 4. Tyler Clippard earned his second save giving up just one hit and no runs in the 9th. Johnny Cueto suffered one bad inning but was otherwise sharp in an unfortunate losing effort in falling to 7-6 despite giving up 2 runs on 6 hits over 5 walking 4 and striking out 7. Curt Casali provided the only offense for the Giants with a solo HR, his 5th. Game 3 of this 4 game series goes at 9:40 EST.

The Snakes go with Zach Gallen (1-5 4.61) this evening. The second year righty has lost his last 4 decisions although is coming off a quality effort against the Dodgers despite the no-decision in which SF took 6-5. Gallen gave up just 2 runs on 5 hits over 6 innings, walking 1 and striking out 8. Gallen faces a SF lineup batting .245 overall averaging 4.9 runs per contest along with an NL leading 162 HR despite playing their home games at one of the league's most pitcher friendly ballparks. Buster Posey (.329 13 34) experienced a ton of time on the IL, and unfortunately doesn't have enough at bats to be considered among the leaders. Posey is 4 for 10 hitting safely in his last 3 games (.400). Brandon Crawford (.289 18 63) leads the Giants in batting, power, and production and has a 5 game hitting streak (.333). Wilmer Flores (.254 14 39) has hit safely in 6 of his last 8 games (.333). Lamonte Wade (.255 13 30) is back in the lineup tonight after missing 3 games with lower back tightness. Donovan Solano (.278 4 24) has a 6 game hitting streak (.417), as its clearly to be seen that there is plenty of balance and support in this lineup.

The Giants counter with Kevin Gausman (9-5 2.35), whom after winning his first 8 starts has since lost 5 of his last 6, not completely his fault but due to a lack of run support as indicated by his ERA. Still, Gausman has given up 11 earned and 17 hits over 11.7 IP (8.46) walking 9 and striking out 16. He faces an Arizona lineup batting just .233 overall but averaging 4.2 runs per contest though near the bottom of the NL pack with 97 HR. Pavin Smith (.269 9 32) was batting .375 over his last 8 games but was recently placed on the COVID 19 injured list. Josh Rojas (.268 10 28) looks to return this weekend after being out 2 weeks due to complications from his pinky finger. Rojas has hit in 7 straight games (.500) and has been one of the team's few pleasant surprises. Cabrera (.250 6 36) has been limited all season due to injuries. Eduardo Escobar (.246 22 65) is far and away the leader in power and production, and has since come on strong hitting .320 over his last 7 games.

We get a respectable price this evening, in yet another retractable roof in the hottest city in baseball overall. Triple digits rul the roost right in the heart of the summertime, and temps don't fall much lower than 90 when the sun goes down. Arizona for sure has suffered some painful losses due to poor defense and starting pitching, but for what they have, they also put up plenty of effort despite the misfortunes. Gausman has been certainly ineffective over the last month and a half. Gallen has pitched better than his record indicates, but could use a win to help boost his confidence. The Giants have been putting up some huge numbers all season, and have the lineup to show plenty of versatility.

YTD before game 1: 9-10 .474 -1.70
 

jimmythegreek

The opening odds start here
I think if all we did is tailed Jimmy's plays for two weeks at some Colorado books they'd remove all the limits they have imposed on us and reinstate our eligibility to receive bonuses again.
If it seemingly makes you money Billy, by all means start the petitions.
 
3 selections, two dogs so far. Time for new glasses Cuca :cool:
You really are brain dead. I'll be a little more clear.

When it comes to sides you love favorites when it comes to totals you love overs you're the squarest of the square.

Four selections all four overs. 0-2-1 so far haha
 

jimmythegreek

The opening odds start here
You guys aren't going to believe this but with Jimmy's massive favorite in the BB thread losing he ends up going 0-4-1.
You really are brain dead. I'll be a little more clear.

When it comes to sides you love favorites when it comes to totals you love overs you're the squarest of the square.

Four selections all four overs. 0-2-1 so far haha
It's a bad day cuca, everybody has them. We all bounce back. And speaking of your brain dead and cluelessness I do take dogs as advertised, but you're so stupid you fail to notice because you're too busy bashing. Enjoy it while it lasts.
 
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