[mp5070]

100♦ MILWAUKEE BREWERS (WITH Gallardo and Rodriguez) - I must be absolutely nuts to take the Brewers in this contest. After all, Wandy Rodriguez, his sixth consecutive decision on Sunday against the Brewers to improve to 11-6 and set a career high for wins. He is 6-0 with a 1.35 ERA in his last nine starts and comes in after holding Milwaukee to five hits in seven scoreless innings. He was the National League's Pitcher of the Month for July after posting a 4-0 record and 0.75 ERA, and has held the Brewers to 11 hits and one run in 14 innings this year. So why even bother with this pitching matchup?

Well, on the other side of that Sunday clash was Yovani Gallardo, who has competed in most his starts this season and comes in with a competitive 3.54 ERA on the season. And the fact he’s faced them three times already this season, and this is the first time he’s getting them at home, something tells me the due theory kicks in today. Hey, the right-hander allowed two runs on five hits April 24 in his only complete game this season, so it’s not as if he cannot challenge this lineup. He took the tough-luck loss on Sunday, allowing just two runs on six hits, and was simply out-dueled by Rodriguez. This one is about revenge with these two hurlers.

Delving into the numbers of this one, Houston is mired in losing streaks of 2-7 on the road, 4-13 in Milwaukee and 6-13 overall. On the flipside, the Brewers are on winning streaks of 5-1 when Gallardo starts on Fridays and 6-1 against Rodriguez at home. Take the home team.

100♦ TEXAS RANGERS (WITH Millwood and Lester) - Here come the Red Sox, off a somewhat bounce back series that saw them win three of four from Detroit after getting swatted around in the Bronx. But, with this one being in Arlington, I have to side with the Rangers in the series-opener. If this particular game was to take place in Beantown I’d either stay away from it or side with Boston, but not in the Ballpark. And especially not with the Wild Card race heating up between these two.

Boston has one-half game lead on the Rangers for the extra playoff spot, but it also carries a six-game road losing streak into this one after its winless road trip to Tampa Bay and New York last week. And let’s not forget the Crimson Hose lost three straight at Texas from July 20-22. They displayed offensive problems in that series, scoring six total runs against the Rangers; remember last week the Sox suffered through 31 scoreless innings, and now, after last night’s 2-0 loss to the Tigers, they’ve been held scoreless for 12 straight innings.

I’m listing Kevin Millwood, who returned from a 13-day layoff due to a strained glut and allowed just two earned runs over six innings against a red-hot Angels team on Saturday. Though he allowed nine hits, he also struck out five on 101 pitches. He comes in sporting a 6-4 mark and 3.99 ERA over 85-2/3 innings in 14 career starts against the Red Sox. He’s also 27-15 over 343-1/3 innings in 57 career starts at home. Now I know we have our hands full with Jon Lester pitching for Boston, but understand as brilliant as he’s been for the Sox, he is 4-4 with a 3.99 ERA with a suitcase in hand. Take the Rangers in this one.

100♦ S.F. 49ERS - There were a number of factors in making this call, and it was a tough one … especially when I have an acquaintance that plays for Denver and have a sentimental nod for the Broncos at times. But the fact is, my No. 1 intangible in the preseason has everything to do with this game, and that’s coaching. Mike Singletary begins his first full season tonight with this team, and I think his no-nonsense approach will have this team ready to crack helmets immediately. Singletary is not the type of coach that is going to wait ‘til Week 3 of the preseason or Week 1 of the regular season; right down to the last guy expected to make the team and survive the first set of cuts, everyone on this roster will come strong tonight.

Put it this way, Singletary has been running a grueling camp and has had his team in full pads since Day 1; yesterday the 49ers received a rare afternoon off after he canceled a scheduled practice session. This team will be eager to take the field tonight, trust me.

Moving on, the next intangible is the quarterback rotation, and let’s be real: Shaun Hill, Alex Smith, Damon Huard and Nate Davis is a quartet that is much better than the likes of Kyle Orton, Chris Simms and Tom Brandstater (who?!?!?). But forget about that for a moment; let’s talk about Hill, who has faced questions, perhaps unfairly, about whether he can be a legitimate NFL starter who can execute big plays under pressure. One of those critics could very well of been former coach Mike Nolan, who returns to Candlestick Park tonight as Denver's defensive coordinator. If you don’t think Hill is taking his critics to heart, and would love nothing more than to shine against Denver’s defense tonight, you better think again. And when Smith comes in, you can expect to see his best, as he’ll be looking to gain Singletary’s respect in this quarterback competition.

With Denver, the growing pains continue tonight under new coach Josh McDaniels, who’s been received in the Mile High City with mixed reaction. I’m not necessarily sold on this team’s progress just yet, despite what I’m being told … and that is the coach is earning his respect. Tonight might change that perspective. Take the Niners.

[G-men]

Chris Jordan

Your free pick tonight is on the Oakland Athletics, and I am listing both Jose Contreras and Brett Anderson.

I am more impressed with Anderson than I am in going against Contreras, as the Oakland southpaw comes in after notching his first win of August in his last start, against the Royals, allowing three runs in six-plus innings of work. Oakland's young southpaw appeared to be untouchable for most of the day, scattering three hits through six frames, he simply ran out of gas late and allowed three runs in the seventh. He still earned his third straight quality start. He’s been rock solid lately, as he allowed just two runs over 6-2/3 innings on Aug. 3 against Texas, he drew a win over Boston on July 29 after giving up three runs over six innings and most importantly the A’s are 3-0 in those last three outings. He’s got a 3.66 ERA in those games.

With Contreras, I’m looking at the fact he’s 0-2 in his last three outings with an inflated 6.92 ERA. For the season, the power right-hander is 4-11 on the year, while the Pale Hose have lost 12 of his 17 starts. He has a rather high 5.09 ERA and hasn’t won a game since July 8. He’s struggling terribly in plating runs, as he’s allowed seven runs in his last 7-1/3 innings. Most recently, Contreras couldn't even make it out of the fifth inning against lowly Cleveland, which tagged him for four runs on six hits in 4-2/3 innings in an 8-4 loss. With a 6.00 ERA lifetime against the A's, I like my chances with the home team.

1♦ ATHLETICS (LIST Anderson and Contreras)