Kuzul

You don’t need money and pending wagers to gamble.  It’s pride, competition, and knowing you are right. Tonight, the Minnesota Twins visit the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park for the opening game of an  inter-league series between the two clubs.  Three reasons to take the over for the consensus Las Vegas casinos line of nine.

8:10 ET: Minnesota at Milwaukee

Scott Baker (6-5, 4.41 ERA)

Chistopher Narverson (5-4, 5.79 ERA)

1. Both teams had yesterday off. A day’s rest is always more valuable for hitters, and for relief pitching.  Statistics have shown the drop in a team’s batting average during the final games of a long road trip.  The Brewers are coming off a six-game road trip, in which they went 3-3. Minnesota went 2-1 and scored 21 runs in a three game series at Philadelphia over the weekend.  

2. Baker and Naverson during 2010. Both pitchers have combined for 9.4 in run support, and 10.1 runs against during the season.  They also have a combined 10.2 ERA in 24 starts. With a day’s rest, look for Naverson to receive additional run support, compared to the 3.7 he has been given by his teammates during his last three starts.

3. No HOOK, and the Brewers are home. Milwaukee hasn’t played at home since June 12, and this is the Wisconsin-Minnesota state rivalry.  The absence of a hook (0.5) gives you a better chance of pushing, and getting your money back at nine runs scored between the two.  

Over/Under lines provided by the Las Vegas Hilton at 3:30 ET. 

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

This is all fun and games, as I have given up sports gambling since moving from Las Vegas. If you are going to gamble, remember a few things:

1. Don’t pick your own team to win (we are all homers.)

2. Watch out for hooks (a push is better then a loss)

3. Five picks should be your maximum for any parlay.

Here are five MLB picks for Friday, June 11th 2010.

1005 ET: Seattle Mariners (+131) @ San Diego Padres (-141)

Over/Under: 6.5

The opening games of an inter-league match-up between the two west coast clubs. Seattle (23-37) has lost three straight and gave up 31 runs during those defeats to Texas.

San Diego (35-25) returns home after a cross-country flight Thursday night after losing to the Mets 0-3.  Lefty Jason Vargas (4-2, 3.06 ERA) will meet right-handed pitcher Kevin Correia (5-4, 5.03 ERA).  

Seattle has gone 10-1 in their last eleven meetings with the Padres in San Diego and lost two of three to the Padres earlier in the 2010 season.  

Correia is 3-0 with a 6.59 ERA during his last three starts, including 8.7 in run support. 

Free Pick: Seattle to win as an underdog. The Mariners don’t want to lose four straight and who doesn’t want to be in San Diego? 

7:05: Pittsburgh Pirates (+225) @ Detroit Tigers (-245)

Over/Under: Eight

The Detroit Tigers return home after a six game road trip for an inter-league contest with Pittsburgh.  

The Pirates have lost five straight , and will send Ross Ohlendorf (0-3, 4.30 ERA) to the mound.  With Ohlendorf starting, the club is 1-10 on the road. Right handed veteran Justin Verlander (6-4, 3.65 ERA) gets the start for Detroit which are 11-4 during his last fifteen starts.  

During there last three starts, Ohlendorf has received 2.3 in run supports, and Verlander has been backed with 2.7.  

The Pirates are 9-22 on the road in 2010, and 23-37 overall. 

Free Pick: Even though it doesn’t pay well, I am going with the Tigers and Verlander.

9:10 ET: Toronto Blue Jays (+175) @ Colorado Rockies (-190)

Over/Under: Seven

The Blue Jays travel west to Coors Field in what should be the best pitching match-up of the day. Lefty Ricky Romero (5-2, 3.06 ERA) will face Colorado ace Ubaldo Jiminez (11-1, 0.93 ERA).

Colorado has lost three straight and Toronto defeated Tampa Bay yesterday.  

The under is 7-2 in Toronto’s last nine on grass and the under is 7-1 in Colorado’s last eight as the favorite.

The Rockies totaled nine runs in there last three games, and Toronto scored four over there last three.

Toronto is 34-27 in 2010, and 17-13 on the road. Colorado is 16-12 at home and 30-30 on the season.

Free Pick: A low over/under at seven, but great pitching will keep the game under.

10:10 ET: Los Angeles Angles (+153) @ Los Angeles Dodgers (-163)

Over/Under: Eight

The Angels return to Los Angeles for a road game after spending the last 11 days away.

Chad Billingsley (6-3, 3.80 ERA) will start for the Dodgers against Joel Pineiro (46, 5.23 ERA) of the Angels. Over the last three games, Pineiro is 1-1 with a 5.85 ERA and an average of six runs in support.  

Billingsley’s has gone 1-1 with a 4.19 ERA and an average of 5.3 in run support. The over is 4-1 during the teams last five meetings. The Angels are 7-2 during there last nine games and the Dodgers are 23-7 in there last thirty overall. 

Free Pick: Both teams are playing well, and both pitchers get run support. The over.

7:05 ET: New York Mets (+105) @ Baltimore Orioles (-115)

Over/Under: Nine 

The Mets follow a victory over San Diego to meet the Orioles for the opening game of the inter-league series.  

The Mets have won seven of their last 10, and the Orioles are 6-25 at home with an overall record of 17-43.

Two right handed pitchers will meet as the Mets R.A. Dickey (3-0, 3.20 ERA) takes on Jeremy Guthrie (3-6, 3.71 ERA).  Dickey has received an average of 7.3 in run support over the past three games with a 3-0 record.  

Baltimore is 2-6 in their last eight as the favorite, and the under is 6-1-1 in the Mets last eight overall. 

Free Pick: The Orioles as the favorite, go with the Mets. 

Odds are due to change and courtesy of Las Vegas Hilton

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

In 2010, Major League Baseball welcomed Target Field in Minnesota to the family of new, exciting ballparks in the leagues portfolio of stadiums. Personally, I miss the history, and simplicity of the stadiums of the past. I have included ten historical ballparks that are missed dearly that any true fan would love to see.

Begin Slideshow