[G-men]

Chris Jordan

Friday night winner ...

400♦ TAMPA BAY RAYS RUN LINE (WITH Price over Ponson) - Though David Price received a no-decision in his last start, he will be looking to avenge the dismal start, against Toronto, which rocked him for six runs on nine hits over three innings. Difference is, the Jays can hit the ball; the Royals can’t. And since the 23-year-old's biggest issues revolve around inconsistency with his fastball, I believe he’ll make the right adjustment in a comfort zone at Tropicana Field, where he is 3-1 with a 2.96 ERA in six career appearances.

I know he often leaves his pitches in undesirable locations, which essentially weakens the effectiveness of his slider and changeup, but need I remind everyone he looked like the best pitcher on the field at times in the postseason last year? The left-hander is 1-2 with a 9.37 ERA in his last four outings, and this is the best opportunity to shake that funk and enjoy a successful outing.

The Royals, who are mired in ruts of 3-10 as an underdog and 14-37 on Friday nights, will be playing their fifth straight road game in as many days. Plus, they’re sending one of my favorite go-against pitchers to the hill … Sidney Ponson. Kansas City has lost 12 of the 13 appearances by Ponson, who is 1-6 with a 6.79 ERA.

Tampa Bay - which has won 22 of its last 29 meetings with the Royals, including all six meetings this season – is coming in steamed after losing two of three to the Yankees in what turned out to be an emotional series.

The Royals stumble into this one on a myriad of losing streaks, including 15-36 off a loss, 2-5 on the road, 1-8 against southpaws, 7-19 against winning teams and 6-22 after giving up five or more runs their last time out (they lost 7-3 in Baltimore yesterday). And when Ponson takes the mound, Kansas City is on losing streaks of 1-4 when he’s pitching on four days rest, 0-7 as an underdog and 1-7 overall.

With Tampa Bay, the winning runs include 7-3 versus the American League Central, 28-9 on Friday nights, 89-37 at the Trop and 4-1 when Price toes the home slab.

Lay the run line here, as Tampa Bay rolls to a blowout win over the road-weary Royals.

[G-men]

Chris Jordan

FREE PLAY

The Red Sox are concentrating on one thing today, and that is the trading deadline.


Boston has notoriously been known as a team that comes in at the 11th hour, in terms of last-minute trades, so you never know who will be in or out of the lineup; plus, you never know where the mindset of manager Terry Francona will be tonight.


Add in the whole Manny-Papi performance-enhancing drug issue, and this is an all-around distraction day for the crimson hose.


Thus, it’s certainly worth a shot in taking Jeremy Guthrie, who is the Orioles’ most experienced starter, rather than John Smoltz, who is 1-4 with a 7.04 ERA this season.


Baltimore tagged Smoltz in his latest start, drilling the former Cy Young Award winner for six runs and nine hits over five innings last Sunday in a 6-2 win. It marked the fourth time in six outings he’s allowed at least five runs, and with all intangibles involved with this Boston team right now, I see the Orioles getting to him and the BoSox once again.

1♦ ORIOLES (LIST Guthrie and Smoltz)