Practice Pick 6: PHI (-170) vs. SAC

Zack Wheeler is back from thoracic outlet surgery and looks to be as strong as ever.  The Phillies, winners of three in a row, look to make it four in a 4:40 CDT start at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA.

Wheeler (1-0) is one of the games best and it is great to see him pitching well early this season.  He underwent thoracic outlet surgery last season and is making his second start since the procedure.  Thoracic outlet removes a rib from the rib cage to ease pressure on nerves and blood vessels that have become impinged by the repetitive movements required to throw a baseball.  Wheeler has lost some velocity on the heater early but has compensated well utilizing a six-pitch mix that gets a lot of swing-and-miss from opposing hitters.  I like Wheeler to throw six today as he presses on in search of the Cy Young award that has elluded him over what is certain to be a Hall of Fame career.

Jeffrey Springs (3-2) starts for the Athletics.  Springs is throwing the ball well.  The lefty has posted a 1.09 WHIP in 38.2 innings and has a 2.92 K/BB ratio.  Racking K's and limiting walks is a recipe for wins.  It isn't Tarik Skubal good but his numbers are better than league average.  The Phillies can hit with the A's and have some big bats in their lineup but their power is from the left-hand side.  Springs should have favorable matchups against this Phillies' lineup but if you check his career splits, lefties have slugged just as well against him as righties.  The long ball has been an issue for Springs this season.  He allowed four homers against the White Sox in his start on April 19th.  I like the Phillies to do what they do best and hit a couple dingers today off of the lefty Springs.

The Phillies bullpen has been pitching well of late and is well rested.  The Athletics bullpen isn't all that reliable and hasn't been all that effective in keeping runs off the board.  A's will be without slugging catcher Shea Langeliers and his absence is noticeable on the lineup card.  Langeliers has been absolutely crushing the ball this season.  Without Langeliers in the lineup, the A's offense doesn't look to be nearly as formidable.

Wheeler has a tough matchup today with lefty sluggers Kurtz, Soderstrom and Cortes but I like Wheeler to solve the A's and get it to the bullpen late with a lead.  If he doesn't, the A's bullpen is ripe and ready to be picked.  I like the Phillies today at (-170).

------------------Sunday, April 19--------------------

Today's Pick: CLE (-120) @ KCR ML

Opening Account Balance: xxxxxxxxxx
Current Account Balance: xxxxxxxxxxx
Bank Balance: xxxxxxxxxx

Units in Play: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Amount Wagered: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Ticket Pays: xxxxxxxxxxxx

---------------------Cash Ticket-------------------------

I've been rushed all morning.  Staying up late to get my posts in has me stressed some and it's difficult to pull together all the information.  It's difficult to write the posts when I am feeling the pressure.  I think that is and always has been the difficulty of being a daily news writer.  I do enjoy the challenge of it but my primary concern is and always will be peace of mind and mental and physical health.  In a way, it is those objectives that led me to writing in the first place.  Managing the stress and maintaining consistent quality is the biggest challenge of this blogging gig.  I don't mind reducing the workload if necessary.  My aim with the writing is to post everyday without sacrificing the quality of my posts and my picks.  

If I have a losing season, and the odds say it is more likely to lose than it is to win, the house builds an edge into every wager on the board, but if I put in the effort to do the research and to write the posts without "winging it" I can feel good about the season win or lose.  I'm not gambling.  I am working hard everyday.  The picks and the bets and beating the bookies is an entirely different challenge.  It is as important to me as the writing, not so much in the way of making money, but in the way of having the ability to navigate the complex market of MLB odds.  To win consistently because of the skills that I have developed from putting in hundreds of hours of work. 

Practice pick six, 2-3 on the preseason in straight wagers and 0-1 on the parlays.  Stay Tuned.




Popular posts from this blog

Today's Pick: CIN (-165) over MIA

The Reds and the Marlins conclude a four game series at The Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati, OH, it's a 4:10 CDT first pitch.  The Marlins took the first two games of the series but the Reds battled back in game three, winning 7-2 on another quality start from lefty Andrew Abbott.   It's lefty Nick Lodolo starting for the Reds this afternoon.  Lodolo has been prone to giving up the long ball and leads the league in hit batsman.  Oddly, he doesn't walk that many hitters.  Strikeouts are his game, he has averaged nearly a strikeout per inning this season.  It's Lodolo's last start before the All Star break, he'll be charged up and should let it rip today.   Cal Quantrill starts for Miami.  I like Cal Quantrill.  He has pitched well this season and should be under consideration for a trade at the end of July.  Miami's management has been closely watching his pitch count and does everything in their power to keep him from get...
Read more

Today's Pick: A 2 Team Parlay

I have 1.56 units in play after yesterday's quasi-disappointment.   I'm going to rack a unit, and play a two team parlay tonight.  I've been stuck on 32 units banked for two weeks now.   I can't stand the number 32.  It has everything to do with Magic Johnson.  I don't like magic and I don't like Johnson.   Anyhow, now that we have 33 units in the bank, I feel better. Jose Canseco wore number 33.  Still one of my favorite players of all time.   No analysis today, I'm just making a pick.  My season for the most part is over.  I have 0.56 units in play, 4.0 units in my account, and 33 units in the bank.   The pick is a parlay on the Astros (-350) ML / Blue Jays (-175) ML for a (+105) payout. I like the pick.  Im happy with the plus money.  Have to win them both to cash a ticket but I like the play.   Today's Pick:  PAR:  TOR (-180) ML / HOU (-350) ML over Units in Play:  0.56...
Read more

Wednesday, August 6th: No Pick Today

No pick today, there isn't much on the board that I liked.  I didn't dig into any games but the Giants and the Pirates early this morning.  I liked the Giants but they don't hit left handed pitching all that well and Pirates had a well rested bullpen.  The Giants won that game 4-2.   I had thought about putting on my three dogs play with the Rangers, Reds and the Royals.  The Reds are down 6-0.  That would have been a loser.   There are some games later this afternoon and some late games too but I am going to take a pass on the action today and see if I can find a good spot tomorrow.   I'm sitting at 5.36 units in play and have a four game Pickstreak on the line.  We'll look to make it five in a row tomorrow.  
Read more