Wed Baseball

[Raji]

New York Yankees at Toronto Blue Jays (+124, 11)

Tyler Clippard was good in his first career start, and OK in his second, but he shouldn’t be influencing this line. That means the Blue Jays’ home underdog status is almost entirely due to the Yankees’ reputation.

Reputation is just about all New York has to go on these days. The Yankees have lost five straight games, all as favorites, and their usually potent offense is beginning to sputter. They have scored just eight runs in their last four games and are hitting just .243 over the last week.

Another young starter, Jesse Litsch, will pitch for Toronto. He has a 4.24 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP in three career starts, but allowed just one run and four hits in 8 2/3 innings in his only home start.

Pick: Blue Jays +124

San Francisco Giants at New York Mets (-144, 8)

New York has absolutely destroyed left-handed pitching this season. Not good news for San Francisco with the unsteady Barry Zito on the mound.

The Giants left-hander has been as up-and-down as it gets in 2007, going 4-5 and allowing 21 of his 32 earned runs in three starts. Most of his struggles have taken place away from home where he is 1-3 with a 6.26 ERA and a 1.61 WHIP.

The Mets are hitting a major league best .333 against lefties. They are also tops in baseball in on-base percentage (.393) and OPS (.886) against southpaws.

Tom Glavine will pitch for New York.

Pick: Mets -144

Baltimore Orioles at Kansas City Royals (+121, 8 ½)

The Royals have been ice cold since ending a streak that saw them win eight of 10 games. They are 0-6 and have lost by a combined total of 51-13.

Starter Gil Meche is also starting to lag after a great start to the season. He has allowed 19 hits and 12 earned runs in his last two starts after allowing 13 earned runs in his first nine starts.

Baltimore also has a bit of a streak going. The Orioles have won four straight games and seven of their last 11 and bring their top starter to the hill tonight.

Erik Bedard has shown his dominance at times this season, with 83 strikeouts in 68 innings. Poor run support has plagued him lately – the Orioles have managed just 12 runs in his last five starts – but that shouldn’t be a problem considering the struggles of Meche and the Royals.

Pick: Orioles -129


Raji