My busy season has finally passed me by. With that being said last posted pick was horrendous.... Moving forward....
KC -102
Yes Oaktown has the experience especially with Lester on the bump. However there are other factors that I'm looking at, one specifically is the game is suppose to be a tight low scoring one. Speed and agility on the bases may just win the game. KC led the majors with 87 bags grabbed oak posted 40 less, looking at the pitchers Lester was nabbed 16 times while shields only gave away 6. Down the stretch oak was hitting much of anything, shields was almost untouchable. Oaks road numbers are even worse. KC had the A's # all year grabbing 5 out of 7. More than likely if the game is tight late you're going to see the pens which I'll give KC the advantage. Experience doesn't necessarily equate to a win.
Was planning on playing the total but I like this one a bit more even though I'm juiced an extra .20. Tough to pick a side here IMO. Last night was a wild one, tonight I don't think you'll see the same thing. Volquez has been lights out but it's not easy to forget his past and wonder if the pressure will get to him. Control has been his downfall, however he's a ground ball pitcher and the infield of the buccos has erased many of the free bags he gave up. On the plus for him SF doesn't walk all that often and they haven't been hitting much of anything. Bum is the real deal, lights out down the stretch and he loves getting ahead in the count throwing first pitch strikes. This should be a pitchers duel with runs at a minimum. Also should note it's incredibly hard to steal off of the country bumpkin. Either team grabs a lead they should be able to hold it tonight.
Momentum, momentum, momentum....verlander isn't what he once was and that pen is about as ugly as it comes. Cheap number to lay IMO. Still looking over the rest of the card.
I'm sure all the halos backers last night had an itchy trigger finger waiting for this line to come out today, so they could double down. Line opens LAA -147 no one bats an eye and it's quickly bet up 8 cents. I'm thinking holy **** that's a generous tag on KC! Fact is this game should be right around a pick em' maybe LAA -20, anything more is absurd. Small ball and speed is manufacturing wins and a great deal of confidence for this club. These young guns aren't scared of anything and have their eye on the prize. Ventura serves up some serious heat and that's going to be a problem for a lot of the halos that are prone to the strikeout ie Trout who struck out more than anyone in the AL. Throw in a lights out BP and you really got something working. Shoemaker just back from the oblique injury has no business with a tag that hefty. Add in the pressure of needing to pitch well to even the series and the fact that the royals are one of the best at making contact and the tag seems even worse on the angels. Books set this line looking to bait fish.....fish on
I'm a big fan of the wheels fall off sweep angle in MLB playoffs as you can see yesterday with the backing of the O's & Royals. The difference with those two games and this one is quite different though. Tigers and Angels have been known as great choke artists and big money can't compete with the hunger of a young club that has their eyes on the prize. This line is begging for SF action IMO, the true line on this game should be around -60. Some will say momentum is on the Giants side but both previous games could have went either way. Bum is no doubt a incredible pitcher yet his home starts are nothing to write to the press about. His ERA is over a full point higher at home, WHIP is .25 higher and he lost you almost a nickel if you backed him a dollar a game at home. Fister in a spot like this usually produces a gem, however he is hittable as a contact pitcher. With that being said Giants bats have won them games but they aren't doing anything special. I don't see the nats rolling over and playing dead here, the series goes on. Sorry Ralph
LAD/STL u 7 +100
Looking for a similar result of game 2, tight hard fought game where pitching wins the game.
I hear you. The numbers point to the Nats. No question.....but, what Hudson said about huevos, I can't imagine anyone having bigger than these guys. I can assure you they're not taking this game as a gimme, since they know firsthand about facing elimination games. Orange October!! IF we can get past this, what would be better than BEAT LA!
Cards would be a better matchup, but come on, Giants vs Dodgers in the NLCS? How awesome would that be?!!!
2014 MLB Contest 1st Place
2016 NBA Contest 1st Place