Thursday - Boston -295 @ Texas +250, 10.5

BOS - The Red Sox have averaged more than nine runs over the course of their seven-game winning streak against the Rangers, which dates back to July 2007. Matsuzaka (13-2, 2.90) is coming off his longest outing of the season, as he gave up four hits and a run in eight innings of a 6-2 win over the Chicago White Sox on Saturday. Opposing hitters are batting just .206 against Daisuke Matsuzaka, meanwhile, and the right-hander has been particularly good lately. He's 5-1 with a 2.17 ERA in his last eight starts, allowing two or fewer runs in seven of those outings. Matsuzaka has been far from great against Texas, but he's beaten them the only two times he has faced them. In 10 1-3 innings in the two starts, he allowed eight runs and 12 hits, but the Red Sox have scored in double digits in both games. The Red Sox have won nine of 12 overall and are seeking their first four-game winning streak since a seven-game run from May 17-22. They've also won five straight at Fenway Park to improve to 42-16 there.

TEX - Tommy Hunter (0-1, 10.61 ERA) doesn't seem like the best candidate to reverse the trend, as the right-hander makes his third major league start Thursday after struggling in the first two. Both teams are likely to be missing some offense Thursday. Boston placed third baseman Mike Lowell on the 15-day disabled list with a strained oblique muscle, while Texas' Josh Hamilton left Wednesday's game and headed home to his wife, who gave birth to the couple's third child.

Over is 7-2 in TEX last 9 road games.
Over is 13-6-1 in TEX last 20 overall.

PICK – OVER 10.5

pj20

Thursday - Chicago -150@ Atlanta +135, 9.5

CHC - Chicago, which has won 13 of 16 overall, is outscoring its opponents 59-19 during its road winning streak. The Cubs last won seven straight on the road June 12-22, 2004, and have not won eight consecutive away from Wrigley since reeling off 12 straight from July 1-Aug. 3, 1945. Chicago's Ted Lilly (11-6, 4.26 ERA) takes the ball Thursday, and he has been at his best away from Wrigley lately, going 3-1 with a 2.53 ERA in his last seven road starts. Lilly has just one loss in his last 12 starts, and is 2-0 with a 2.76 ERA in five outings since the All-Star break. On Friday, the left-hander allowed two runs and seven hits in 7 1-3 innings of a 3-2, 11-inning win over St. Louis. In his only start against the Braves this season on June 10, Lilly allowed three runs and four hits with eight strikeouts in 6 2-3 innings to earn a 10-5 win.

ATL - The Braves (55-65), meanwhile, have lost nine of their last 11 at Turner Field, and have scored just three runs in losing their last three games overall. Glavine has been throwing for the past month, and has not had any further discomfort. In two minor league rehab starts, the 42-year-old left-hander allowed four runs and seven hits in nine innings. The two-time NL Cy Young Award winner is 15-14 with a 3.72 ERA in 36 career starts against the Cubs, but is 1-3 with a 6.08 ERA in five starts versus them since 2006.
The Braves are 3-9 in Glavine's starts this season, and the 10-time All-Star has not won since May 20.

CHC are 13-3 in their last 16 overall.
Over is 8-0 in CHC last 8 road games.
Over is 10-3 in ATL last 13 home games.
Over is 15-10 in Lilly’s starts this year.
Under is 14-7 in games Bucknor is behind the plate (7.96 rpg).

PICK - CHICAGO CUBS RUNLINE +110, and OVER 9.5

pj20

Thursday - Cinncinnati +105 @ Pittsburgh -120, 9.0

CIN - Lately, most of Cueto's issues have come in the first inning. Of the 11 earned runs he's allowed in his last three starts, eight of those have come in his first trip to the mound. Cueto is 1-1 with a 5.73 ERA against Pittsburgh, and hasn't allowed a run in the first.

PIT - Snell (4-9, 6.06) won 14 games for the Pirates (55-65) in 2006, and had an impressive 3.76 ERA last season despite only winning nine games. But he's been abysmal in 2008, winning just twice in his last 20 starts. Like Cueto, Snell's primary problems of late have come in the first inning. He's given up nine earned runs in the first frame in his five starts since the All-Star break, going 1-2 with a 6.58 ERA in those outings.In his last four starts against the Reds, Snell is 1-3 with a 9.55 ERA, allowing seven runs in the first. Pittsburgh has scored just 23 in its last eight, though the lineup should get a boost Wednesday. That's when first baseman Adam LaRoche, who was hitting .413 with eight homers and 21 RBIs since June 30, is expected to come off the disabled list. LaRoche will join his brother, third baseman Andy, in the infield for the first time since Andy was acquired as part of the Bay trade on July 31. The Reds lineup is hitting .348 against Ian Snell as well.

PICK - OVER 5.0 first 5 innings.
Under is 7-1 in PIT last 8 overall. (getting Laroche back today though)
Over is 65-48 for PIT on the season.
Over is 13-10 in Snell starts this season.

pj20