Both clubs enter tonight’s game after getting swept at home in their two-game mini series against Toronto and Oakland. The Orioles have gotten off to a fast start to their ‘07 campaign as they come into this evening’s match-up with the Red Sox 11-9 overall and 7-4 in Camden Yards. If there was ever a team that Baltimore wanted to take a season’s worth of frustration out on, it’s these Boston Red Sox. Big Papi and Manny’s club beat the O’s in 16 of their 19 match-ups a season ago, so expect the O’s to come out in search of some respect in this two-game set. Daniel Cabrera looks like a completely different pitcher, and this will be his biggest test of the young season. Sure, he has given up quite a few hits (28 in 26 innings of work), but he’s fanned 26 and most importantly, only issued 7 free passes. That’s been the recipe to his success early on, and the main reason Baltimore has won three of the four games he’s started this season. He’s expected to put forth an “A+” effort here tonight against a Boston club that’s found it hard to score runs unless they were matched up against the Yanks their L/8 games. The Orioles have won 6 of their L/8 home games, look for that mark to increase by one after this evening.

Bet on the Baltimore Orioles !!

The money train just keeps chugging along as we get a chance to back the Brewers at plus money once again against the woeful Cubs. Seriously! How can you lay any type of chalk with this beleaguered Cubs team right now? They are flat out putrid, and it doesn’t matter what they do because they’ll find a way to blow it in the end. They overslide 2nd base and get tagged out when the batter was issued a free pass in the bottom of the 9th, and they blow 4-0 leads with their ace on the mound like its going out of style. Not even Rich Hill and his 0.41 ERA could stand up to the pathetic baseball that this team played last night. The Cubs had a number of opportunities to cash in, and they just couldn’t. Ted Lilly has pitched exceptionally well for this team in his first four starts, and what do the Cubs have to show for it….a 1-3 mark in the game’s he’s pitched. It seriously is pathetic and it’s turning into a joke to watch. My goodness, even Piniella’s looking like he’s starting to believe this franchise is seriously cursed. It doesn’t matter whether they are or whether they’re not. The bottom line is the Brewers sit atop the NL Central and their underdogs to the Cubs with Ben Sheets on the mound. The same Ben Sheets the Cubs pounded earlier this year for one of their 7 wins on the year. Redemption will be sought, and it will be granted.

Bet on the Brewers tonight !!

Mark Buehrle, LHP (1-0, 2.08) of the Chicago White Sox starting pitcher here today against the Kansas City Royals, off pitching a no hitter his last time out . The southpaw hurler has allowed just 1 hit in his L/15 innings of work, and looks to be at the top of his game . Look for Buehrles streek to continue against a KC team that he has had success against in the past. Buehrle is a noted fast starter, recording a 27-8 L/35 mark against the money line in the first half of the season over the past few years.

Bet on the Chicago White Sox

Both of these teams are struggling offensively, and with a couple of capable starting pitchers in the game, runs should be hard to come by.

Jon Garland tossed a gem at Oakland in his last start for the White Sox, pitching seven scoreless innings and allowing only three hits. He also pitched another masterpiece the last time he faced the Rangers, allowing only six hits in 8.1 scoreless innings last July. His task should be made even easier by the fact that Texas is batting a woeful .217 vs. right-handed pitching in the early going.

Robinson Tejada showed enormous potential after getting called up by the Rangers last season, and he certainly started this season with a bang by allowing just two hits in seven shutout innings vs. Boston. Granted he was promptly bombed in his next start, but Tejada has the stuff to bounce back strong tonight, especially vs. a White Sox lineup that is batting a dismal .222 as a team. This will also be the first time that Chicago has ever faced Tejada, which is generally an advantage for the pitcher.

The Under is now 7-1-1 in the last nine White Sox games overall, as well as 6-2 the last eight times Garland has started against Texas, so look for both of those streaks to continue tomorrow night.

Bet on the Texas Rangers/ Chicago White Sox U 9

The San Deigo Padres starting pitcher Greg Maddux looked fantastic against the Giants in his last outing, allowing six hits over six scoreless innings while striking out six batters for the win. Wade Miller, his Cubs right handed opponent (0-1, 13.50) looked shaky in his opening assignment giving up 6 runs on 9 hits in just 4 innings of work. Considering the pitching matchup, betting on the Padres here looks like a viable bet. San Diego has won 7 of the Last 8 meetings in this series. Cubs are 9-23 in the last 31 as underdogs.

Bet the Padres!!

When analizing how all the teams stack up in the standings, it’s totally unbelievable that a Tim Marcum coached AFL team has yet to notch the win column heading into the sixth week of play. Actually, it’s even more unbelievable that the team knows it. I’m really expecting them to put forth one of their best efforts of the young season here this evening against a New Orleans squad that’s a much lesser version than VooDoo teams from the past. QB Stony Case put forth an admirable effort against San Jose last week in his first ever AFL start. He completed 22 of 36 passes for 271 yards 3 TDs and a pick, and he should come into this game more confident with some starting time under his belt. New Orleans notched a victory they shouldn’t have last week against an Orlando club that’s been decimated by injuries. The Forum will no doubt be rocking here as the Storm faithful are desperate for a win, and will do whatever necessary to help their beloved team grab its first victory of the year. Tampa is 2-0 at home vs. the VooDoo overall, and I’m expecting that number to increase in the win column by one game tonight. Grab the points or play the $$$-line as the Storm party like its 1999 after securing their first “W” of the young season.

Click here to bet on Tampa Bay Storm +3.5

The Wranglers return home with their tails between their legs after letting their in-state rivals off the leash last week. At one point they led the #1 ranked Dallas Desperados 30-7, but CHOKED, only to lose on a returned on-side kick for a TD in the last minute of play. The Wranglers came out of nowhere a season ago and posted a 10-6 mark. They reached the post-season for the first time, and the ’07 season was looked at as the season they would convert doubters to believers . Well, things haven’t gone as planned as the Wranglers come into this game with a woeful 1-4 SU mark. The Austin faithful is starting to make their displeasure be known with the new coaching staff, and that doesn’t bode well for things to come. With all this being said, we’re expecting them to pull through in the clutch with this being their third home game of the season. Utah won a game they shouldn’t have last week, and we’re expecting that to come up and bite them in the rear end in this game. The Blaze’s offensiuve team is phenomenol , but the defense leaves plenty to be desired. If QB Adrian McPherson limits his mistakes and doesn’t allow the Blaze offense on the field due to INTs or fumbles, I believe HC Partlow and his staff will get back in the good graces of their fans with a solid win over the #5 ranked Blaze. The ‘Total’ for this game has been posted at 120, so we’re sure to see some fireworks. If that’s the case, I’m backing Austin’s defense. It will be able to come up with that one critical stop to win this game, so lay the short chalk as Austin rebounds from a tough Week 5 loss.

Click here to bet on the Austin Wranglers -1