Ben Burns Available Picks
May, 11 2008 2:10pm EST
MONEYLINE: Kansas City Royals -140
WIN for +2.14 unit(s)
Baltimore Orioles at Kansas City Royals
I'm laying the price with KANSAS CITY. It's true that the Orioles have the better record and it's also true that they have dominated this series. Indeed, last night's 6-5 win brought them to 12-0 their last 12 games against the Royals. However, there are several reasons why I believe that the Royals will snap that streak and avoid getting swept.
While the Orioles have been the much better team underneath the lights, the Royals have been significantly better during the afternoon. KC is 7-6 (+3.4) in day games. Baltimore is 3-9 (-5.6) in day games this season and a money-burning 42-68 (-21.5) since 2006.
Speaking of the difference between night and day, Bannister is 3-0 with a 0.86 ERA in three daytime starts. He has averaged seven complete innings per start in those games while holding opposing hitters to a mere .143 average. In his four nighttime starts, however, he has gone 0-4 with a 8.02 ERA. He's averaged less than 5 1/2 innings in those starts and opposing hitters are batting .344.
Unlike Bannister, Burres has been much better when pitching at night than he has been during the day, as he ERA is more than a run higher when he's pitched in the afternoon. Burres won three of his first four starts, but they all came with extra rest. Now that he is pitching on regular rest, he hasn't been as sharp and has lost each of his last two starts. While the Royals have won three of their five Sunday games this season, the Orioles are 0-4 the last four times they played on a Sunday and 2-10 their last 12. Playing the final game of a 10-game road trip, look for the Orioles' "Sunday woes" to continue for another week. *Personal Favorite
Ben Burns Past Picks
MLB Baseball
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San Diego Padres @ Colorado Rockies Wednesday July 2, 2008 9:05 pm
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Philadelphia Phillies @ Atlanta Braves Wednesday July 2, 2008 7:10 pm
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Chicago Cubs @ San Francisco Giants Tuesday July 1, 2008 10:15 pm
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Pittsburgh Pirates @ Cincinnati Reds Tuesday July 1, 2008 7:10 pm
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Boston Red Sox @ Tampa Bay Rays Tuesday July 1, 2008 7:10 pm
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Toronto Blue Jays @ Seattle Mariners Monday June 30, 2008 10:10 pm
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San Diego Padres @ Colorado Rockies Monday June 30, 2008 9:05 pm
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Boston Red Sox @ Tampa Bay Rays Monday June 30, 2008 7:10 pm
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Chicago Cubs @ Chicago White Sox Sunday June 29, 2008 8:05 pm
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