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Ben Burns MLB Baseball Past Picks
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Tampa Bay Rays @ Philadelphia Phillies Monday October 27, 2008 8:20 pm
I'm laying the price with PHILADELPHIA. Normally, I don't like to lay this kind of price on a baseball game. However, Game 5 of the World Series isn't a "normal" situation and Cole Hamels is currently not throwing like a "normal" pitcher. Indeed, the Phillies ... read more
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Philadelphia Phillies @ Tampa Bay Rays Thursday October 23, 2008 8:20 pm
I'm laying the price with TAMPA BAY. I passed on yesterday's opener. I really didn't want to play against Cole Hamels but I also respected Kazmir and didn't want to play against the Rays in this park. Tonight's matchup is significantly more favorable for the Rays. Myers goes for ... read more
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Boston Red Sox @ Tampa Bay Rays Sunday October 19, 2008 8:07 pm
I'm laying the price with BOSTON. One could make a case for the Rays here, as Garza was better than Lester last time out. That was just one start though and Lester has been consistently better for a much longer period of time. Lester has really developed into a "great" ... read more
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Boston Red Sox @ Tampa Bay Rays Saturday October 18, 2008 8:07 pm
I'm playing on the Red Sox and Rays to finish UNDER the total. As you know, Game 5 was a thriller which produced 15 runs. I'm expecting a much lower final score on Saturday though. Shields was great in his lone LCS appearance (Game 1) allowing two runs in 7 1/3 innings. He didn't ... read more
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Tampa Bay Rays @ Boston Red Sox Thursday October 16, 2008 8:07 pm
I'm laying the price with BOSTON. The Rays have proven that they weren't just happy to be here and that their excellent regular season wasn't a fluke. That being said, I expect the Red Sox to have the advantage this evening. Tampa sends Kazmir to the mound and he hasn't been the ... read more
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Philadelphia Phillies @ Los Angeles Dodgers Wednesday October 15, 2008 8:22 pm
I'm playing on the Phillies and Dodgers to finish UNDER the total. Since the first game of this series finished below the total, we've seen three consecutive games finish above the number. Game 1 starter Cole Hamels is back on the mound for the Phillies tonight though and I expect ... read more
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Philadelphia Phillies @ Los Angeles Dodgers Sunday October 12, 2008 8:22 pm
I'm laying the price with the LA DODGERS. Down 0-2, naturally this is a massive game for the Dodgers. Indeed, no National League team has ever recovered from an 0-3 deficit in a playoff series. Of course, "must win" games don't always win. However, in this case, I do expect ... read more
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Los Angeles Dodgers @ Philadelphia Phillies Thursday October 9, 2008 8:22 pm
I'm laying the price with PHILADELPHIA. Both clubs were impressive in getting here and both tonight's starting pitchers have been excellent of late. Lowe pitched very well in his playoff start at Chicago, limiting the Cubs to just seven hits and two runs through six innings. He had ... read more
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Tampa Bay Rays @ Chicago White Sox Monday October 6, 2008 5:05 pm
I'm playing on CHICAGO. The fact that the Rays won both games in Florida and that the White Sox responded with a win here at Chicago shouldn't come as any surprise, as both these teams have been far better when playing at home. With today's game coming at Chicago, I expect the home ... read more
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Tampa Bay Rays @ Chicago White Sox Sunday October 5, 2008 4:05 pm
I'm laying the price with the CHICAGO WHITE SOX. The Rays have been a great story and they've been terrific at home all season. They haven't been nearly as good on the road though, while the White Sox have been outstanding at home. Indeed, the Rays were 40-41 on the road while the ... read more
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Chicago Cubs @ Los Angeles Dodgers Saturday October 4, 2008 10:05 pm
I'm laying the price with the CHICAGO CUBS. I'll start by acknowledging that the Cubs have already cost me in this series. I really didn't expect them to be in this position. That being said, with Harden on the mound, I expect them to avoid the sweep. I've always maintained that ... read more
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Boston Red Sox @ Los Angeles Angels Friday October 3, 2008 9:35 pm
I'm laying the price with the LA ANGELS. After dropping Game 1, this is an absolutely critical game for the Angels. While the Cubs didn't respond too well in a similar situation yesterday, I fully expect the Angels to bounce back with a victory. Note that the Angels were an excellent ... read more
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Los Angeles Dodgers @ Chicago Cubs Thursday October 2, 2008 9:35 pm
I'm laying the price with CHICAGO. The price on the Cubs is higher than I normally like to lay. That being said, the Cubs have been so strong at home this season that I really don't expect them to lose both games here at Wrigley to start this series. I also feel that the price is ... read more
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Chicago White Sox @ Tampa Bay Rays Thursday October 2, 2008 2:35 pm
I'm playing on the UNDER in this afternoon's White Sox/Rays series opener. The postseason often brings excellent pitching and we've already had a taste of that the past couple of days. Two of three games finished below the total on "Opening Day" yesterday. Those three games ... read more
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Boston Red Sox @ Los Angeles Angels Wednesday October 1, 2008 10:05 pm
I'm playing on the Angels and Red Sox to finish UNDER the total. The Red Sox have long dominated the Angels in the postseason. This is a much better Angels team now though, one which dominated Boston during the regular season. John Lackey was among the Angels to elevate his game ... read more
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Los Angeles Dodgers @ Chicago Cubs Wednesday October 1, 2008 6:35 pm
I'm laying the price with CHICAGO. I respect both Derek Lowe and the Dodgers. That being said, I feel that the Cubs have enough advantages to more than justify the current price. Lowe was great at home and he was admittedly very tough down the stretch. However, he was still just ... read more
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Los Angeles Dodgers @ San Francisco Giants Saturday September 27, 2008 9:05 pm
I'm laying the price with the SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS. I expect this game to mean more to the Giants than it does to the Dodgers. While the Dodgers are already looking ahead to the playoffs and assured of starting the playoffs on the road, the Giants are playing their second last game ... read more
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Florida Marlins @ New York Mets Friday September 26, 2008 7:10 pm
I'm laying the price with the NEW YORK METS. The line has fallen to the point where I now believe we are getting excellent value with the Mets. While I look at it slightly differently for each of the different sports, I believe that "momentum" is an important factor which ... read more
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New York Yankees @ Toronto Blue Jays Thursday September 25, 2008 7:07 pm
I'm laying the price with TORONTO. This price is higher than I normally like to lay. However, this isn't a 'normal' situation. In addition to the fact that they're playing at home, I believe that the Jays will have both the far better pitcher on the mound and also that they'll be ... read more
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Los Angeles Angels @ Seattle Mariners Wednesday September 24, 2008 10:10 pm
I'm laying the price with SEATTLE. As you know, the Angels have had a much better season than the Mariners. The Angels locked up a playoff berth long ago while the Mariners have been out of playoff contention for months. I like the situation here though. I say that because the Mariners ... read more
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Oakland Athletics @ Texas Rangers Monday September 22, 2008 8:05 pm
I'm laying the price with TEXAS. Oakland comes in as the hotter team. However, let's keep in mind that's at's least partly due to the fact that the A's just faced the team with the weakest record in the league (Mariners) while the Rangers just faced the team (Angels) with the best ... read more
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Milwaukee Brewers @ Cincinnati Reds Sunday September 21, 2008 1:15 pm
I'm laying the price with CINCINNATI. Although the Reds should enjoy a significant edge on the mound, the fact that the Brewers have so much to play for is keeping this line very reasonable. However, just because the Brewers "have to win" doesnt mean that they will win. ... read more
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Boston Red Sox @ Toronto Blue Jays Friday September 19, 2008 7:07 pm
I'm laying the price with TORONTO. The Red Sox recently took three of four games from the Jays. That was at Boston though, where the defending champs are very tough to beat. Tonight's game is being played in Canada though, where the Jays have won seven of the past nine meetings in ... read more
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Minnesota Twins @ Tampa Bay Rays Thursday September 18, 2008 7:10 pm
I'm laying the price with TAMPA BAY. The Rays have been better than the Twins this season. They also come in as the hotter team. Additionally, they've been exceptional at home all year long AND they should have a significant advantage on the mound. Shields gets the call for the Rays ... read more
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Boston Red Sox @ Tampa Bay Rays Wednesday September 17, 2008 7:10 pm
I'm laying the price with TAMPA BAY. After getting blown out in the series opener with Kazmir on the mound and having lost three straight, it was extremely important for the Rays to bounce back with a victory last night. That task wasn't going to be easy though, as Beckett was going ... read more
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Baltimore Orioles @ Toronto Blue Jays Wednesday September 17, 2008 7:07 pm
I'm laying the price with TORONTO. It wasn't that long ago that these teams were neck and neck in the AL East standings. However, yesterday's result notwithstanding, the Jays have played really well in recent weeks while the Orioles have fallen on hard times. Even with yesterday's ... read more
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San Diego Padres @ Colorado Rockies Monday September 15, 2008 8:35 pm
I'm laying the price with COLORADO. It appears that Reynolds will now get the call for the Rockies. Whether that turns out to be the case, or whether it's Jimenez going on three days rest, this will still be a play on Colorado. While Reynolds' numbers aren't as good as Jimenez's, ... read more
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Texas Rangers @ Oakland Athletics Friday September 12, 2008 10:05 pm
I'm playing on OAKLAND. While the Rangers grabbed the series opener, I feel that tonight's matchup of rookie southpaws favors the home team. Harrison has the better record. However, Smith has been the better pitcher. Harrison has a poor 5.76 ERA and 1.583 WHIP on the season, including ... read more
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St. Louis Cardinals @ Pittsburgh Pirates Friday September 12, 2008 7:05 pm
I'm playing on PITTSBURGH. Its true that the Cardinals have the much better record and that they've got significantly more to play for. However, with a chance to do some 'spoiling' at the expense of a division rival, I expect the Pirates to step up and grab tonight's series opener. ... read more
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Toronto Blue Jays @ Chicago White Sox Thursday September 11, 2008 8:11 pm
I'm playing on CHICAGO. The Jays had been on a real 'emotional high' recently, as they entered yesterday's game having won 10 straight games. That streak came to an end yesterday though, as the White Sox roughed up Jays' ace Roy Halladay. The Jays attempted to rally late but fell ... read more
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