Baseball - July 21st

[Tinfish]

last nite (4-3) up $198

YTD (202-174) up $2,454

today:

Nationals +114
Oswalt has been hot but his numbers"might" be misleading. First he previious road wins were agaisnt KC and Colorado before STL nicked him up a bit last time out. Second he is just 3-7 in 10 road starts while Loaiza is 7-2 in 9 starts @ RFK. Oswalt has allowed a hit per inning on the road quite different from home and Loaiza sports a 2.36 ERA in 9 starts while both starters avg about 6 2/3 innings in there respective situations. Houstons road play is still questionable as they couldnt hit or win @ Busch but then beat up on lowly Pitt ina 4 game sweep.

Twins -145
Lets see if something really clicks in Johan after the ALL Star break. Last year we know he dominated the 2nd Half and in his 1st start this year he looked pretty good. Santana faced Det three times last year with solid results while JJ has faced Minny 7 times past 2 seasons and won just twice but for the most part pitched okay vs them. Really riding Johan here as DET might have some pen issues now that Percival injury shakes it up and Urbina isnt there to step in.

WSox -123
Buerhle is 8-2 @ home with a 1.82 ERA and sub 1 WHIP! Boston has struggled at times vs LHP and on the road. Clement looks like he is struggling in recent starts with command . Boston shad lost 4 straight vs LH starters before defeating Fossum and Hendrickson....I think Buehrle is above them. Also Boston didnt look so good vs Balt and NYY in recent weeks. They replaced Paytons bat vs RHP with Graffanino's.

NYY -105
LAA is a major offensive slump and even with RJ slumping do you really want to face him when your in a funk?? Last 11 games they have scored 5 runs ONCE and 4 runs on 3 occassions with the other 7 three runs or less. Colon has been beat up in his last 2 starts vs this NYY lineup and looking at Zito last nite LAA really struggles vs LHP{obviously totally different LHP}. Yanks have won 7 of 9 in LAA past 2 years and LAA batting .256 off LHP. They have Finley, Garrett, Kennedy hitting well off LHP with little pop and this is still RJ while a slumping Vlad and hot Bengie hit Lefties well. The rest Figgins, Erstad, Rivera , Cabrera have combined fo 375 abs and just 3hrs and 27rbi with a near .200BAA! We all know how HOT the YANKEE bats are.....6Hrs last nite and Benoit looked real filthy at times!