The Phillies will be statring 24-year old left-hander Cole Hamels against Rays ace Scott Kazmir tonight at Tropicana Field.  Hamels has been dominant throughout the playoffs and the key to the Phillies winning the NCLS, but it was Kazmir who gave Tampa Bay home-field advantage in this matchup.  Kazmir was the winning pitcher in the All-Star game after working a scoreless 15th inning.  Phillies closer Brad Lidge then gave up the winning run giving the American League home field advantage.  Lidge has converted all 46 of his save opportunities – five in the postseason…the All-Star game was his only blown save this year.

Both teams have stacked line-ups and were among the leaders in “Runs Scored” this year.  In addition, both teams are young, have speed and great starting rotations.

There are two Rays players to watch in this Series…Evan Longoria and BJ Upton.  Longoria had 4 homers and 8 RBIs during the ALCS and Upton has hit 7 homers and driven in 15 runs in 11 playoff games.  Only 4 Rays starters have faced Hamels (3-0, 1.23 ERA in postseason) in their carrer and Longoria and Upton aren’t on that list.

Kazmir (1-0, 4.02 in postseason) hasn’t been as dominant as Hamels in the postseason, but a strong Game 5 performance prompted Skipper Maddon to start him in Game 1 of the World Series instead of Shields.  Left-handed batters are 3-for-19 (.158) against Kazmir in the playoffs, but lefty-hitting stars Ryan Howard and Chase Utley plan to change that percentage.

So who wins Game 1 of the 2008 World Series?  Look no further for the answer.  FiveStarPick has been on fire with their American and National League Playoff Picks and the 2008 World Series will be no different.  It is so inexpensive to become a member, what are you waiting for?  Now is the time to join our family of more than 2000 members and start winning for a change.  Join today and start winning tonight?

Jimmy the Geek – FiveStarPick.com

Coming off a ‘run total’ win last night for its members, FiveStarPick.com will be giving out the ‘run total’ winner of tonight’s game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Los Angeles Dodgers.  Las Vegas sportsbooks have favored the Phillies at -118 on the money line (risk $118 to win $100) while the Dodgers are listed at +108 (risk $100 to win $108.)  The ‘run total’ is set at 7.5.  Vegas obviously is not sure of the outcome of this game, but FiveStarPick.com is certainly confident about the ‘run total’. 

Chad Billingsley 1-1, 8.00 Postseason ERA) will get the start tonight for the Dodgers on 4 days rest.  Billingsly was pulled after 2 1/2 innings when he gave up 8 hits and 8 runs on just 59 pitches.  In tonight’s game he will definately need to watch out for Philly’s left-handed hitters, Howard, Utley and Rollins.

Cole Hamels (2-0, 1.20 Postseason ERA) will get the start tonight for the Phillies.  Hamels has recorded 17 strikeouts and only 3 walks.  He beat the Dodgers in Game 1 after only giving up 6 hits and 2 runs on 105 pitches.

Now let’s look at some trends.  L.A. has gone 9-2 in its last 11 games following a defeat.  Philadelphia is 7-1 in their last 8 head-to-head meetings with L.A.. The Phillies are 12-3 in their last 15 games following a day of rest. The Dodgers are 1-10 in their last 11 versus National League East opponents.

So do you want the ‘Totals’ winner in tonight’s game?  It’s real easy to get it.  At www.fivestarpick.com you can monitor our daily plays from our homepage and see for yourself if our talent for picking MLB winners exceeds your expectations.  NLCS playoff picks are not easy, but FiveStarPick.com’s proprietary sports handicapping software program coupled with two of the top sports handicappers in the business have proven a winning combination at nearly 65% against the spread.  You owe it to yourself to become a member of our family.  Join today and start winning tonight.

Jimmy the Geek – FiveStarPick.com

Tim Wakefield (10-11, 4.13 ERA) will get the start tonight against some very hot bats.  Wakefield has made 16 playoff appearances and most of them haven’t gone well. He earned 2 complete game victories in the NLCS when he was with the Pirates, but has gone 3-6 with a 7.54 ERA in the postseason with Boston.  Wakefield is 0-2 with a 9.22 ERA in three playoff starts since the 2004 World Series.  In 2008 he got the start against the Rays 3 times and went 0-2 with a 5.87 ERA.  In addition, he gave up 3 home runs in his last start against Tampa Bay in a 10-3 loss.

Andy Sonnanstine (1-0, 3.18 ERA) will get the start in Game 4 for the Rays.  Sonnanstine allowed 2 runs and 3 hits in 5 2/3 innings to clinch the series over the White Sox and seems to be beaming with confidence.  In the 13 innings he pitched against the Red Sox this year he limited their staff to only 2 unearned runs.  

He had two starts against Boston, both of which were no-decisions, but he limited the Red Sox to only two unearned runs in 13 innings.  And now Sonnenstine won’t have to face Mike Lowell or Jason Varitek tonight because of injury.  If Boston is to pull out a win they will definately need a team effort.

So do you want the ‘Totals’ winner in tonight’s game?  It’s real easy to get it.  At www.fivestarpick.com you can monitor our daily plays from our homepage and see for yourself if our talent for picking MLB winners exceeds your expectations.  NLCS playoff picks are not easy, but FiveStarPick.com’s proprietary sports handicapping software program coupled with two of the top sports handicappers in the business have proven a winning combination at nearly 65% against the spread.  You owe it to yourself to become a member of our family.  Join today and start winning tonight.

Jimmy the Geek – FiveStarPick.com

It’s October and baseball is finally worth watching.  It’s not that we don’t love the game, but the season seems 2 years long.  The stage is set in both leagues, but tonight the betting public will have all eyes on the NLCS.  The Phillies will be hosting Manny, Joe Torre and the streaking Los Angeles Dodgers.  There are a lot of distractions when the Dodgers come to town and couple that with Philadelphia’s classic ability to tank in the postseason and you got yourself a series. 

The Dodgers aren’t scoring a lot of runs, but there’s no question that Manny Ramirez makes the entire lineup beyond good. Philly has the pitching to keep these games to low scoring duels, but it’s the Dodgers that will probably squeeze out a Game 7 win. The Phillies are hoping that Utley, Howard and Burrell will finally find a groove that lasts more then one or two games. If not, we won’t see the Phillies again until March.

So do you want the Money Line Winner in tonight’s game?  It’s real easy to get it.  At www.fivestarpick.com you can monitor our daily plays from our homepage and see for yourself if our talent for picking MLB winners exceeds your expectations.  NLCS playoff picks are not easy, but FiveStarPick.com’s proprietary sports handicapping software program coupled with two of the top sports handicappers in the business have proven a winning combination at nearly 65% against the spread.  You owe it to yourself to become a member of our family.  Join today and start winning tonight.

Jimmy the Geek – FiveStarPick.com

Associated Press, October 3, 2008

The Los Angeles Angels had the best record in baseball during the regular season, winning 100 games for the first time in franchise history.

Without winning their next game, however, they would have a very tough time avoiding a familiar result — a quick first-round exit at the hands of the Boston Red Sox.

The Red Sox will seek their 11th consecutive postseason victory over the Angels on Friday, as the defending World Series champions look to leave Anaheim with a 2-0 lead in this AL division series.

The Angels felt things could be different this season, having bolstered their lineup by acquiring Torii Hunter and Mark Teixeira in the past year and winning eight straight games against the Red Sox in the regular season.

But the Game 1 result on Wednesday was nothing new for manager Mike Scioscia’s club, as the Red Sox emerged from Angel Stadium with a 4-1 win. Since trailing 3-1 in the 1986 AL championship series, Boston has won 10 straight playoff games against Los Angeles, including first-round sweeps in 2004 and 2007 en route to World Series championships.

“A lot of guys have to have amnesia and let that go,” Hunter said.

A victory Friday would give the Red Sox the longest postseason winning streak against one opponent in baseball history, surpassing Oakland’s run against Boston from 1988-2003. In 2003, the Red Sox fell behind the A’s 2-0 in the division series only to come back and win the series.

Jon Lester pitched seven strong innings for Boston on Wednesday and the big hit came from Jason Bay, who was making his first postseason appearance after coming over from Pittsburgh in the Manny Ramirez trade on July 31. Bay struck out in his first two at-bats, but his two-run homer off Los Angeles’ John Lackey in the sixth inning erased a 1-0 deficit.

The win was especially meaningful for the Red Sox, who looked like underdogs as they limped into the series with ace Josh Beckett, Mike Lowell and J.D. Drew all uncertain due to injuries.

Lowell and Drew both played and went 0-for-4 on Wednesday, but Jacoby Ellsbury had three hits and two stolen bases to help put Boston in position to return to Fenway Park with a commanding lead.

“I think it’s very important anytime that you can come out and get a win in somebody else’s ballpark, I think it’s a huge win and momentum for us and confidence boost,” Lester said. “I think we can go now into Game 2 a little more relaxed and comfortable. And hopefully Dice (Daisuke Matsuzaka) can go out there and do a good job like he’s done all season.”

With Beckett still slated to pitch Game 3 on Sunday in Boston despite an oblique injury, the Red Sox will entrust Friday’s start to Matsuzaka (18-3, 2.90 ERA). He went 9-0 in 13 road starts this season, compiling a 2.37 ERA and .178 opponent batting average.

Still, the right-hander struggled with efficiency all year, failing to complete six innings in 14 of his 29 starts and leading the AL with 94 walks. He pitched fewer than six innings in each of his four postseason starts last year.

While the Angels’ typically aggressive approach at the plate may figure to help him, it hasn’t in the past. In two career starts against Los Angeles — one on July 28 and the other in last year’s division series — he has allowed nine runs and 14 hits in 9 2-3 innings, going 0-1.

“He has to throw you a strike, and being patient and letting him work a little bit is going to be huge for us,” Angels infielder Howie Kendrick said.

The three runs the Angels scored against Matsuzaka in 4 2-3 innings of a 6-3 Boston win in Game 2 last year were among just five they have against the Red Sox in the last four postseason matchups.

On Wednesday, Los Angeles had no extra-base hits and its only run came after Red Sox shortstop Jed Lowrie extended an inning with an error.

A loss Friday would mean the Angels will face the unenviable task of having to erase a two-game deficit by winning twice at Fenway Park, where the Red Sox went 56-25 this year.

Ervin Santana (16-7, 3.49) will be hoping to make sure the Angels don’t fall into such a hole. The right-hander had easily his best season this year, but he may have a bad taste in his mouth after allowing eight runs in 5 2-3 innings of an 8-4 loss to Texas on Saturday.

The Red Sox did not see Santana this season, but he’s 1-2 with a 5.73 ERA against them in four career starts. David Ortiz is 5-for-9 with two doubles and a home run off Santana.

Santana wasn’t at his best at home this season, going 5-5 with a 4.03 ERA in 15 starts, but the Angels are still eager to give him the ball after he finished in the AL’s top five in innings, strikeouts and opponent batting average.

“He’s an All-Star. He has pitched well all season. He was second in the league in strikeouts,” Hunter told the Angels’ official Web site. “He can pitch, definitely. We just have to score some runs for him.”

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

So do you want the Money Line Winner in tonight’s game?  It’s real easy to get it.  At www.fivestarpick.com you can monitor our daily plays on our homepage and see for yourself if our talent for picking MLB winners exceeds your expectations.  MLB Playoff picks are not easy, but FiveStarPick.com’s proprietary sports handicapping software program coupled with two of the top sports handicappers in the business have proven a winning combination at nearly 65% against the spread.  You owe it to yourself to become a member of our family.  Join today and start winning tonight.

Jimmy the Geek – FiveStarPick.com