Thank goodness the playoffs are here.  Are we the only ones who think the regular season is too long?  Tonight is the first night of postseason baseball and our focus for today’s preview is the Red Sox/Angels matchup.  The MLB divisional series will follow a 2-2-1 format. 

Los Angeles currently listed as a -130 favorite (lay $130 to win $100) and Boston is listed as a +110 underdog (lay $100 to win $110). The Angels outscored the Red Sox, 22-9, during a 3-game series at Fenway Park back in July.  The next day Boston shipped Manny Ramirez to the Los Angeles Dodgers.  During the nine-game season series between these squads, the Angels scored an average of 6.8 runs, while Boston averaged just 3.7 runs. 

Boston enters this series with injuries.  Star pitcher Josh Beckett has an elbow injury and strained his oblique muscle during Friday’s workout. The right-hander is scheduled to pitch Game 3, but the question is will he be effective?  Third-baseman Mike Lowell has a sore left hip and his health will play a major part in Boston’s chances this year.  Everyone knows that once you break a hip it’s straight to the nursing home…

The Angels have a terrible postseason history against Boston, but Los Angeles has dominated the Red Sox this season in nine meetings. The Angels are 8-1 in their last 9 contests with the Sox and swept Boston in both a 3-game home series and a 3-game road series during the month of July.  The Angels finished the season with the best record in baseball (100-62), 21 games ahead of second-place Texas.

So does the ‘over’ or the ‘under’ cash in tonight’s game?  It’s real easy to get the answer.  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

Chicago (86-70) and Minnesota (85-72) have been battling for 1st place in the AL Central all season long and this three game series could determine the division champion.  Minnesota, seeking its fifth division title in seven years, is coming home after a 10 game road trip in which they finished 4-6.

Mark Buehrle (14-11, 3.87 ERA) will get the start tonight for the Sox.  In his last 9 starts, Buehrle is 6-1 with a 3.36 ERA. In his last outing against the Royals, he gave up 3 runs on 6 hits and got his 14th victory of the year.  Buehrle is 21-12 with a 3.85 ERA in 36 career games against the Twins.

Nick Blackburn (10-10, 4.15 ERA) will get the nod for the Twins.  The right-hander is coming off two terrible outings posting a 20.25 ERA in his last two starts. In his last start against the Rays he was ripped for 6 runs on 6 hits in 1 and a third innings.  The Twins eventually lost to Tampa Bay in that outing 11-1.

So does the ‘over’ or the ‘under’ cash in tonight’s game?  It’s real easy to get the answer.  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 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

If there is a silver lining in this it’s that the Marlins get to play the Nationals over the next 3 games who are nearing their 100th loss of the season.  On September 9th, Florida (81-75) was 10 games out of the wild card.  The Marlins then won 9 straight to pull within 4.5 games of the Phillies. The Marlins went to Philadelphia and lost 2 of 3…not good.  Philadelphia’s wins vaulted them ahead of New York in the NL East and brought the Brewers and the Astros further into the chase.

The Marlins start a 3-game series against the league-worst Nationals (58-98) tonight before heading to take on the Mets for their final 3 regular-season games at Shea Stadium.  As bad as Washington has been this season, they have been their worst against the Marlins.  They are 2-13 against the Marlins this year and have been outscored 47-21 at Nationals Park. 

Scott Olsen (8-10, 4.20 ERA) will get the start for Florida tonight.  Olsen has won his last 2 starts after going 0-6 with a 5.74 ERA in his last 9 outings.  Olsen is 3-0 with a 3.04 ERA in 4 starts against Washington this season.

Rookie Shairon Martis (0-3, 6.23) will get the start tonight for the Nationals. Martis gave up 6 runs in 3 innings Wednesday losing to the Mets 9-7. 

So who covers the spread in tonight’s game?  It’s real easy to get the answer.  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.  MLB 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

FiveStarPick.com is looking hard at tonight’s matchup between the Houston Astros and the Florida Marlins.  Hurricane Ike forced the relocation of their last two games from Chicago to Milwaukee, both of which were lacluster to say the least.  Houston got no-hit by Carlos Zambrano in the opener and lost 5-0, then lost 6-1 on Monday.

The Astros hope to right the ship as hurler Roy Oswalt tries to extend his scoreless innings streak tonight at Dolphin Stadium.  The Astros (80-69) have won 34 of their last 46 games, including 14 of 15 as of last weekend.

Roy Oswalt (15-9, 3.54 ERA) will take the mound tonight for the Stros. The right-hander, who has lasted at least 8 innings in 5 of his last 6 starts, hasn’t allowed a run in 32.33 innings.  Oswalt is 5-3 with a 2.85 ERA in 10 career starts against the Marlins.

The Marlins (77-72) have been on a roller coaster ride most of the second half of the season, but they are still only 5.5 games back in the wild-card race.  Chris Volstad (4-3, 3.31 ERA) will get the start for the Marlins.  In his last outing, the rookie allowed 1 run in 3 innings for a 10-8 win over Philadelphia.  He was hit in the shoulder with a ground ball up the middle and left the game. He has never faced Houston.

So who covers the spread in tonight’s game?  It’s real easy to get the answer.  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.  MLB 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

FiveStarPick.com is hot on another run total as we preview tonight’s matchup between the streaking Toronto Blue Jays and the weary Chicago White Sox.  Chicago will face Toronto hurler Roy Halladay (18-5, 2.69 ERA) as they continue a 4-game series tonight at 8:10PM.  Halladay, a right-hander, has a 2.25 ERA in his last five starts. He pitched 7 innings against Tampa Bay last Friday, allowing only 3 runs.

The White Sox (80-64) lead in the AL Central was cut to one game over Minnesota when they were swept in Tuesday’s double header against the Blue Jays (78-66).  The 2 wins capped off 10 straight for Toronto which equals an all-time high and they are now only 7 games behind the Red Sox for a spot as the AL wild card. The Blue Jays haven’t lost a game against the White Sox this season and have outscored them 23-8.

Chicago has dropped three straight and to add insult to serious injury, they lost of Paul Konerko Tuesday night with a sprained MCL in his right knee.  Konerko’s leg failed when he tried to throw hard toward home plate in the 5th inning.  Konerko is quoted as saying the injury is not serious and feels he should return to play soon.

The White Sox will start Mark Buehrle (12-11, 3.98 ERA) tonight.  Buehrle has won 4 of his last 5 and pitched 6 scoreless innings Friday against the Angels.  He is 9-3 with a 2.85 ERA in 15 home starts.

So does the ‘over’ or the ‘under’ cash in tonight’s game?  It’s real easy to get the answer.  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 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 70% 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