Free Sports Picks – Friday, August 21
I didn’t have a winning day yesterday, but I didn’t have a losing day either, as a I posted a 2-2 mark with Thursday’s picks. It’s no secret that the Phillies can bash the ball around the yard on any given night, but I was expecting Doug Davis to shut them down better than he did (or didn’t do, rather), and in hindsight, I’d have taken the Indians over the Angels instead of the Nationals over the Rockies.
I’m back with another quartet of picks today, and I’ll be looking to get back to my winning ways and head into the weekend on a high note. Make sure you stay updated with the latest lines on the games picked below with our betting odds section, and as always, good luck and wager responsibly!
MUST SEE MATCHUPS
BOSTON RED SOX v. New York Yankees
Pitching Matchup: Brad Penny v. Andy Pettitte
Penny has won only once in his last 10 starts and just twice in his last 14 starts, but his best effort in that forgettable span came against the Yankees at Fenway, when he tossed six shutout innings on June 11, but he wound up getting a no-decision in a game that the Red Sox won 4-3.
Though he has only one win to show for it in six starts, Pettitte has pitched very well since the All-Star break, and that includes seven shutout innings at home against the Red Sox 12 days ago. He’s been right at home on the road as well, going 5-2 with a 3.17 ERA away from Yankee Stadium (and 4-4 with a 4.83 ERA at home).
This isn’t one to bet the house on, but I’m going with the Red Sox. If Boston can get six quality innings out of Penny, they’ll be on the right track, and I think he can do that and hand the ball over to the bullpen with the Red Sox in position for a win.
TODAY’S SURE BETS
CHICAGO WHITE SOX v. Baltimore Orioles
Pitching Matchup: Gavin Floyd v. Jeremy Guthrie
After losing his first two home starts this season, Floyd is 5-0 in his last nine home starts, and the White Sox have won each of those nine starts.
Guthrie actually had quite the gem against the White Sox in Chicago last month, giving up just two runs on three hits in eight innings in a 10-2 Orioles win. But he’s 0-4 with a 7.54 ERA in his last five starts, and he’s been particularly hammered in his last two starts, allowing five runs on 11 hits against Oakland and seven runs on 10 hits against the Angels.
White Sox all the way in this one.
ATLANTA BRAVES v. Florida Marlins
Pitching Matchup: Javier Vazquez (10-8, 2.99 ERA) v. Anibal Sanchez (1-4, 5.55 ERA)
Vazquez had won five straight decisions before Sunday, when he was done in by Phillies slugger Ryan Howard and two home runs that accounted for all four of Philadelphia’s runs in a 4-1 win. But he’s been one of the best in the biz over the last few months, and I like him to bounce back against the Marlins tonight.
Vazquez is 0-1 in two starts against Florida this season, but for what it’s worth for fantasy owners, Vazquez has 20 strikeouts in 13.1 innings in those two starts, so if you’ve got him, start him.
Back to the betting though, I’m going with the Braves here. The Braves are 8-2 in Vazquez’s last 10 starts, and Sanchez is making his first start in the majors since going on the DL with a shoulder injury two and a half months ago. Sanchez’s lone win of the season came against the Braves in Atlanta (6 IP, 8 hits, 2 runs in a 6-2 win on 4/16), but he hadn’t pitched all that well in his last few starts before he went out.
UPSET SPECIALS
SAN DIEGO PADRES v. St. Louis Cardinals
Pitching Matchup: Clayton Richard v. Kyle Lohse
Richard didn’t fare too well in his start in St. Louis on Sunday, giving up three runs on six hits and walking six in 3.2 innings. But he’s 2-0 in four starts as a Padre and 3-0 in his last six starts overall, and he’s back in the friendly confines of PETCO Park.
Lohse also struggled in that game on Sunday, allowing five runs on nine hits in 5.1 innings, and he would’ve been saddled with a loss had San Diego closer Heath Bell not given up three runs in the bottom of the ninth. Lohse is 0-4 with a 6.56 ERA in seven road starts this season, and the Cardinals are 0-7 in those starts. Dating back to July of last season, he’s 1-7 on the road in 13 road starts, with the Cardinals posting a 1-12 mark in those games. Yeah, I think I’m making the right choice here by going with the Padres, I’ll say.
Dont Agree? Let us Know. We love hearing your thoughts and picks!
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