Free Pick: Michigan +3

What is better than when the two winningest programs in college football history tee it up for glory and a chance at 2009 redemption? If you’re a college football bettor, nothing is better because this game represents the best chance to get on top of your man this weekend. Notre Dame beat up on Michigan in South Bend last year, but so did everyone else. This year’s a different story, as Rich Rodriguez has more of his players in place, and has a quarterback capable of running his system.
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Free Pick: San Diego Moneyline

Lately, it seems like the Arizona Diamondbacks have been the perfect team to cure all ills for opposing pitchers. Just ask Barry Zito, who spun a gem against the Snakes a few weeks back, or Manny Parra, who dusted through their lineup last week. On Wednesday, the Diamondbacks will face off against a guy who has been one of the most dominant pitchers in the National League during the last few seasons.
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Free Pick: Los Angeles Moneyline

Dodger Stadium has been kind to the home team in 2009, with the boys in blue winning each of their first 11 home games. There seems to be a certain comfort level there for both Dodger hitters and pitchers, who have allowed just under 2 runs per game at home this season. On Thursday, the Dodgers will take on the Washington Nationals and rookie Jordan Zimmermann, who gets to experience his first cross-country road trip as a professional.
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Free Pick: Tampa Bay Moneyline

The Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox have developed a nice little rivalry over the last couple of years, and some might find it hard to believe that Tampa has actually had Boston’s number a little bit during that time. On Thursday, they will go at it again, with a matchup of two pretty good pitchers.
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Free Pick: Kansas City Moneyline

We rode the Zach Greinke train to a win last week and I see no reason why we should hop off at this point. The young right hander has truly been the best pitcher in the Major Leagues in 2009, and it’s not even really close. The big news in his complete game win over the White Sox last week was the he finally gave up a run. Should we be surprised, though, that the run was unearned? Greinke has now pitched 41 consecutive innings without surrendering an earned run, a streak that dates back to his last two starts of 2008.
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Free Pick: Seattle Moneyline

Quietly and without much notice Seattle’s Eric Bedard has become his old self again. Sure, he might break down later in the year, but we are just trying to win some money for right now. Through 26 innings this year, Bedard has 29 strikeouts, a sign that shows that his good stuff might just be back. Bedard’s resurgence has everything to do with the improvements that he has made on his fastball, getting the velocity back up into the high-90s where it used to be. In addition, the left hander worked hard on his curveball during spring training, and that is paying dividends.
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Free Pick: Milwaukee Moneyline

When the Pirates roll into Miller Park to take on the Milwaukee Brewers, the pitching matchup will be one of the most interesting of this week in baseball. The Pirates have come up with some strong pitching performances in the first month of the season, and a couple of those are the work of right hander Ian Snell. Snell flashed brilliance in 2007, but came crashing down to earth in 2008. He has good stuff, with a mid-90s fastball and good slider, but Snell’s bugaboo has been control in the last couple of years. After going seven scoreless innings against Atlanta two starts ago, Snell was roughed up in San Diego of all places last time out.
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Free Pick: Boston Moneyline

On Friday night at Fenway Park, the Yankees and Red Sox will get together for the first time in 2009, and the game will feature two of the AL’s best young arms. Boston’s Jon Lester came on in 2008, proving himself as a top of the rotation type of arm with his dominating three-pitch repertoire. The Yankees will counter with righty Joba Chamberlain, a guy who can sometimes be overpowering, but is often erratic.
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Free Pick: Kansas City Moneyline

Don’t look now, but Kansas City’s Zack Greinke is the owner of a 34 inning scoreless streak, which stands as baseball’s longest since Diamondbacks ace Brandon Webb went for 42 in 2007. Greinke might be the best pitcher that no one has ever seen right now, but it won’t be that way for long. With a dominating fastball that runs into the upper 90s, a plus curveball, and a deceptive changeup, Greinke has been able to both keep hitters off balance and overpower them in the early going.
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Free Pick: New York Moneyline

The Cardinals have been getting just what they expected out of Todd Wellemeyer, but it looks like it is just a matter of time before the right hander runs off of the tracks. Standing at 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA through two starts, Wellemeyer is the definition of league average. On Tuesday, Wellemeyer will return home – the place where he surrendered five earned runs and twelve hits in only five innings of work against the Pittsburgh Pirates on opening week.

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Free Pick: Los Angeles -1.5
The Los Angeles Dodgers ride into Houston fresh off of a perfect six-game home stand and the owners of an eight-game winning streak. They lead all of baseball in run differential, posting a +42 through their first 13 games. The amazing thing is that they’ve done the majority of their damage without much help from Manny Ramirez, who until a two home run performance Saturday was homerless to start the year.
The Dodgers will start youngster Clayton Kershaw, who hopes to build upon a great performance in his last time out. He used a live fastball and strong changeup to limit San Francisco to only one hit and one run in seven innings of work. Kershaw struck out 13 Giants, but was left with a no-decision after the bullpen temporarily relinquished the lead.
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