Sunday, May 28, 2017 Baltimore Orioles vs. Houston Astros (MLB) - 2:10 PM EDT Premium Pick Pick: Money Line: -195 Houston Astros Pick Title: Rare 10 Star Momentum Grabber (WIN) It hurts to be an Orioles' fan since this team is clearly in a funk losing their last 6 coming in. Manager Bucky Showalter has sent the in-effective Ubaldo Jimenez (1-2, 7.17 ERA) to the bullpen & taking his place out of the pen & into the Baltimore rotation is RHP Alec "Big Cat" Asher (1-2, 2.17 ERA) who is 0-2 as a starter. Asher came over from the Phillies where he went an unimpressive 2-7 over the past 2 seasons. He'll now face a killer lineup that's hitting .271 versus RHP & has mastered them to the tune of a 27-10 record to date. Look for George Springer (belted a 2-run homer) & Jose Altuve (went 3-for-4 with a RBI) to continue to be Houston's X-Factors in this series after aiding return starter Dallas Keuchel yesterday. My bottom line points to the Orioles' recent productivity. They currently hit RHP @ .248 & are pitiful versus the AL West (7-19 their last 26) as well as struggling @ Houston (dropped their last 5). With key CF Adam Jones being withheld from the lineup today (nursing a sore left ankle) & 1B Chris Davis (.233) along with 3B Manny Machado (.225) under-achieving, the Birds will be hard-pressed to generate enough runs versus a red-hot starter. That red-hot starter I speak of is RHP Lance McCullers (5-1, 2.43 ERA) who is 3-0 with a 0.00 ERA over his last 3 starts. His scoreless innings streak now sits @ 27 over 5 outings with 29 strikeouts. McCullers won both of his career starts versus the Orioles (gave up 2 runs with 21 strikeouts) & the Astros are 5-0 the last 5 in Houston when McCullers takes to the hill. Another disparaging stat has to be in run differential where the Astros are a hefty +62 compared to Baltimore's -3. The dagger for us has to be how Houston has under-achieved during their 10-game homestand. They were 3-4 to start this series & I can't see them leaving town with a 5-5. Look for them to continue their assault on the AL East (6-1 their last 7) & versus RHP (27-10) against Inner Harbor's Finest whose still searching for a good rotation @ best. Let's go to Minute Maid Park in Texas to play the HOUSTON ASTROS as my Rare 10 Star MOMENTUM GRABBER! Saturday, May 27, 2017 San Diego Padres vs. Washington Nationals (MLB) - 4:05 PM EDT Premium Pick Pick: Money Line: -230 Washington Nationals Pick Title: 10 Star MLB Saturday Solidifier (WIN) This is a game of irony. Washington sends Stephen Strasburg (3-0 his last 3 starts) to the hill for Game 2 of this series. Strasburg grew up being a Padres' fan. He also went on to San Diego State before becoming the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 MLB draft taken by the Nationals. For those of you who are looking for just a sentimental effort here, forget it! Strasburg has won his last 5 career starts versus the San Diego while giving Washington 39 wins @ home in 52 starts. This season, Strasburg has given his team 7 wins in the last 9 starts & has a 2-1, 3.03 ERA in day games. He's well-equipped with the book on SD's weaknesses inside their very weak .224 & dropping batting average versus RHP. There's also the matter of evening the score as the Nationals actually come in with a 2-4 record their last 6 versus the Padres. I also feel that bench coach Chris Speier (ex-Giants' SS) will cease the moment while subbing for manager Dusty Baker who'll be attending his son Darren's (played 2B in HS) graduation from Jesuit HS in Carmichael, CA.. My bottom line points to opposing LHP Clayton Richard (3-5, 4.31 ERA). Even though Richard is coming off his 4th career complete game versus the Diamondbacks last Sunday, he's struggled versus Washington being winless the past 5 of the series. The dagger for us has to be the way the Nationals are hitting RHP to the tune of .282 & have posted an NL-best 26 victories against them this season. In addition, expect a focused Jayson Werth whose itching to break out of a 1-for-11 slump against Richard. I also feel Washington is solid & will be motivated enough to erase past losses to SD & will look to sweep all 3 here. Let's revisit Nationals Park in D.C. to play the WASHINGTON NATIONALS as my 10 Star MLB Saturday Solidifier! NOTES: Our Super System has paid off big dividends as we've hit 14 of our last 15 heading in. Have faith & forget lines & odds as we concentrate on picking winners when the situations (that means passing sometimes) permits. Lines-makers don't frequently make mistakes daily. Our up to date records in all active sports are as follows: Late game April 18th thru May 30th: 31-7-----82% (6 weeks)----- 2017 MLB Overall Record: 14-2-----88%----- 2016-17 NHL Overall Record: 29-23-----56%----- 2016-17 NBA Overall Record: 13-2-----87%----- Last 2 Seasons Combined NBA Overall Record: 26-5-----84%----- Let's utilize our system to the fullest! Mike Handzelek
 

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