Wednesday Service Plays

[Thor]

Ben Burns Personal Favorite

GIANTS

Game: Washington Nationals vs. San Francisco Giants Game Time: 8/8/2007 10:10:00 PM Prediction: San Francisco Giants Reason: I'm laying the price with SAN FRANCISCO. Cain has been a hard-luck loser this entire year. Indeed, how else can one explain the fact that he has a highly respectable 3.93 ERA but that he also has a dismal 3-12 record? Facing the lowest scoring team in the majors, I expect Cain to earn a rare victory this evening. Regardless of whether or not Bonds plays (I won't be surprised if he doesn't) I feel that there has been a great deal of pressure lifted from the entire team after "the record" finally got broken last night. Although he has pitched well since being recalled from the minors, the Giants should be able to hit Redding, as he has really struggled in three career starts against them. In fact, Redding is 0-2 (team is 0-3) with an absolutely awful 11.58 ERA and 2.572 WHIP in three career starts vs. the Giants. Redding failed to pitch past the fourth inning in any of those starts and his team lost by scores of 10-3, 13-9 and 11-8. Despite yesterday's victory, the Nationals remain a dismal 7-27 when playing a game with an over/under line of either eight or 8.5. Look for Cain to rise to the occasion with a big effort as he outpitches Redding with the Giants improving to 6-2 their last eight at home. *Personal Favorite

[Thor]

Michael Cannon Money Train:
Wednesday's Plays-

15 Dime – BRAVES (With Smoltz as listed pitcher)
Take the Braves at this near even price tonight over the Mets.
Atlanta has owned the Mets this year, winning seven of the 10 meetings. In fact, the only games the Mets have won were games started by Oliver Perez, who took the loss last night.
If their best couldn’t get it done against Atlanta last night, I don’t like their chances against John Smoltz tonight.
Smoltz checks in with a 10-6 record and a 3.04 ERA this year. He’s 2-0 with a 3.86 ERA in three starts against the Mets this season.
His mound opponent, Orlando Hernandez, is going to find the sledding rough against a Braves lineup that has been bolstered by the acquisition of first-baseman Mark Teixeira. The slugger has homered three times in his first six games with the Braves and his presence makes it that much tougher to pitch around the likes of Chipper and Andruw Jones.
Take the Braves as they grab the road win.

5 Dime – PADRES (With Maddux and Wells as listed pitchers)
Take the Padres as the cheap road chalk for the win over the Cardinals.
Greg Maddux will get the start for San Diego and if he can’t out pitch his mound opponent Kip Wells, I’ll be shocked.
Maddux is showing his age a bit this year, but he still has the capability of shutting down a weak Cardinals lineup.
The same can’t be said for Wells. He’s pitched better recently, but he had nowhere to go but up after the way he started the season. Still, the right-hander is just 4-13 with a 5.58 ERA on the year and he hasn’t shown the ability to keep the Cards in the game in his starts.
Take San Diego for the road win.

5 Dime – YANKEES (With Wang as listed pitcher)
Take the Yankees for the road win tonight over the Blue Jays.
I know it’s a tough matchup, but the Yankees are sending Chien-Ming Wang to the hill and he’s proven to be New York’s most reliable pitcher over the past two seasons.
Wang has won six of seven starts since July 3 and hasn’t allowed more than four runs in any of those outings. The right-hander is 3-1 with a 3.06 ERA in five career games against the Blue Jays.
Toronto will send Roy Halladay to the mound, but the way the Yankees are swinging the bats right now his best may not be enough.
Take the Yankees for the win as they get it done again over Toronto.