ANGELS
NOTE: List only Weaver as Los Angeles' starting pitcher
The Angels have been crushing the ball for more than a month. They've scored six runs or more in 24 of their last 34 games, and have 10 or more hits in 30 of their last 43 contests.
And they have owned the Orioles, winning five of six meetings this year and eight of the last 11 at Baltimore.
Angels right-hander Jered Weaver (12-3, 3.73) has not been as sharp as he was in the first half of the season, but he has won five straight decisions and recorded 11 strikeouts in each of his last two starts. Weaver allowed two runs and five hits in 7 1/3 innings Saturday in a 3-2 victory over Texas.
In three career outings vs. Baltimore, Weaver is 2-1 with a 1.71 ERA.
Rookie Chris Tillman (0-0, 5.19) gets the start for the Orioles. The 21-year-old right-hander gave up two runs and four hits in 6 2/3 innings Saturday in Toronto in the best of his three major league starts.
Tillman hasn't faced an offense like the one he's facing tonight. Los Angeles is leading the majors with a .289 batting average, and is hitting .314 against the Orioles, who have the third-worst ERA in the majors at 5.02.
Baltimore has lost 10 of its last 13 games, and today's game might be out of hand by the fifth inning. Take the Angels on the run line.
JETS
The Jets have all the elements in play here for a win in their exhibition opener.
They have a fiery first-year head coach in Rex Ryan, who wants to create a winning environment immediately with his team. They will be playing in front of a fired-up home crowd that is looking for a reason to get excited about the team. And they have two quarterbacks battling for a starting job.
Ryan said both Kellen Clemens and rookie Mark Sanchez will take snaps with the first-string offense tonight, so I expect New York to pile up some points in the first half. Rookie Erik Ainge is expected to play the majority of the second half, and he should be capable enough against St. Louis' second- and third-teamers.
The Rams will likely stick with starting QB Marc Bulger for at least the entire first quarter, then play Kyle Boller, rookie Keith Null and Brock Berlin the rest of the game.
St. Louis has lost 12 of its last 14 exhibition road games, going 4-10 against the spread. New York has gone 3-1 straight-up in four of the last five preseasons. With Ryan getting his first shot at directing his own team, the Jets will cover the spread in this one.
The Yankees hammered the Mariners 11-1 on Thursday night, pushing me to 10-3 in my last 13 complimentary selections, including five straight wins! Time to keep it rolling into the weekend!
Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw (8-6, 2.73 ERA) has been as good as any pitcher over his last 11 starts, holding opposing teams scoreless in seven of those outings. He is 5-1 with a 1.06 ERA over those 11 starts.
Kershaw allowed just two hits in seven scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts Saturday against Atlanta, but left with a no-decision.
Arizona ace Dan Haren (11-7, 2.57) has struggled in his last four starts, going 1-2 with a 6.26 ERA, and allowed five runs and seven hits in six innings Saturday at Washington. His career ERA after the All-Star break is 4.17, which is more than half a run higher than his lifetime ERA of 3.56.
Haren also is 0-3 with a 5.09 ERA in his last four starts against Los Angeles, with all of those coming since the Dodgers acquired Manny Ramirez, who is 10-for-20 with two homers lifetime against Haren.
L.A. is 6-2 against Arizona this year and should improve that mark today. Take the Dodgers in this one.
Dominic Fazzini 8/14
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