posted April 18, 2008 at 14:29 EST in MLB Free Picks

Online baseball betting faithful saw the White Sox get their two-game winning streak snapped Thursday night when they let a three-run lead get away from them in the late innings only to lose 6-5 in extras. Righty Gavin Floyd put forth another gritty effort throwing two-hit ball over six innings and allowing two earned runs. However, the back end of the pen and the Pale Hose defense let them down late allowing Baltimore to push the tying runs across to send it into extras. Closer Bobby Janks blew his first save of the season, and the Orioles parlayed the gaff into their 9th win of the season when Adam Jones singled in the winning run in the bottom of the 10th. Baltimore got another six inning start from Jeremy Guthrie where he allowed four runs (3 earned) and six hits, and the O’s bullpen managed to keep Chicago’s offense in check only allowing one run in four innings of relief.

Since getting beat up in his initial start of the season against Cleveland, Javier Vazquez has been brilliant. He’s 2-0 his last two starts beating both Detroit and Minnesota going a combined 14 innings and allowing 12 hits and three earned runs with a K/BB ratio of 17/1. His ERA is a respectable 3.32, and he was simply untouchable in his last start against Detroit where he bedazzled the Tigers bats all afternoon. Tonight’s start against the Rays will be his first of the year against a non-divisional opponent. He’s 4-2 with a 4.66 ERA against Tampa in his career splitting both starts against them last season. One of his best starts in ’07 came in this ballpark where he shut the then Devil Rays down allowing just seven hits and one earned run in seven innings of work in Chicago’s 5-1 road victory.

Jeff Niemann made a fantastic debut in his first career start in the big leagues against Baltimore last Sunday. He threw six-hit ball through six innings allowing one earned run while striking out five and walking just one in the Rays 6-2 home win. Niemann’s a big burly looking kid that could have a lot of success against the White Sox line-up if his sinking fastball is on.

Vazquez and the White Sox opened up short –110 road favorites, but that line was bet the other way immediately and Tampa currently sits as a –115 choice. The ‘total’ has been set at 9.5 under –120 and can be wagered upon at BetUS.com along with the ‘side’. Chicago is 3-7 its L/10 games against the American League East, and 3-7 SU its L/10 ballgames on field turf. However, they’re 5-0 the L/5 times they were installed a road underdog and 4-0 the L/4 meetings in Tampa. Of late, his has been a lower scoring series of late with the under cashing in five straight meetings.

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