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MLB MIDWEEK MAJORS

On a full card there is plenty enough on offer to satisfy anybody looking for some value in today's baseball betting. We take a look to the matches at Pittsburgh, Miami and Houston for my recommendations today.

Colorado Rockies (Cook 13-6, 3.46) @ Pittsburgh Pirates (Duke 4-8, 5.04)

00:05am UK Time Thursday 31st July 2008

Series presently led by Pittsburgh 2-0 with 1 match remaining.

Having blown four run leads in both of the opening games of the series it is clear that the Rockies have struggled from a pitching perspective, this in the main because the pitchers that have started these said games have not been regular starters. Tonight we return to the extremely reliable all star pitcher Aaron Cook and we should have a completely different game on our hands.

On the whole, despite the last two defeats the Rockies have won nine out of their last twelve matches and are in terrific batting form. A solid performance by Cook needs to be ably supported by his bullpen, and with the likes of Matt Holliday, Brad Hawpe and Garrett Atkins amongst the Rockies hitting staff it could be an extremely tough night for the solid, if unspectacular Zach Duke.

The Pirates have offensive capabilities of their own for sure and this cannot be denied but they are usually a team that likes to unload on poor pitchers and bullpens rather than high quality starting pitchers so Mr Cook is very definitely the key tonight, and judging by his extremely impressive performance in the all star game we can tell he is a man that can handle pressure.

The Rockies really need a win here to keep the NL West pacesetters within striking distance and I fully expect them to deliver here.

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Jeff Baker (.290, 9 HR, 37 RBI, 4 SB) Colorado Rockies

Jason Bay (.284, 22 HR, 62 RBI, 7 SB) Pittsburgh Pirates

RECOMMENDATION - 4 Points stake on Colorado Rockies @ 1.7 (Sportingbet)

New York Mets (Pelfrey 9-6, 3.67) @ Florida Marlins (Johnson 0-0, 3.71)

00:10am UK Time Thursday 31st July 2008

Series presently tied 1-1 with 1 match remaining.

The Mets will be looking to extend their lead in NL east by gaining a victory here against a Marlins side that keeps defying belief and sticking in there with a hope of getting either a wildcard or actually winning the division, so this will be a huge match tonight.

Having been on a terrific run of form recently Mike Pelfrey proved that he was human on his start at Cincinnati recently where he coughed up five runs in his seven innings start and it is signs like these that keep me believing that he is really overachieving right now and is surely unable to maintain such a terrific run bearing the erratic start to his career on the whole and this season.

Josh Johnson is a real prospect for the Marlins. In his short career to date he has a winning record (12-10, 3.52) compared with a losing record for his counterpart Pelfrey (14-15, 4.49) and is considerably more proficient at gaining strikeouts than Pelfrey. Having had time to settle into the rotation again throwing reasonably well in his last two outings (both being no decisions) it would be an ideal time for him to throw a gem of a game.

The enthusiastic way in which the Marlins have played this season has been one of the real delights to see, and it is precisely this that I believe will see them through a tough game tonight. Home advantage factored in a contest between two pretty even pitchers. Add to the mix the fact that the Mets are slight favourites for a contest that should be priced up as opposite.

Take the value and follow the Fish!!

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Carlos Beltran (.267, 15 HR, 72 RBI, 16 SB) NY Mets

Jorge Cantu (.289, 18 HR, 60 RBI, 4 SB) Florida Marlins

RECOMMENDATION - 2 Points stake on Florida Marlins @ 2.12 (Bet365)

Cincinnati Reds (Volquez 12-4, 2.77) @ Houston Astros (Rodriguez 6-3, 3.18)

01:05am UK Time Thursday 31st July 2008

Series presently led by Houston 2-0 with 1 match remaining.

Both of the teams playing this match are pretty much certain to be out of contention for the post-season honours if we are being completely honest so a lot of the remainder of the season should be about building for the future. What we have tonight is a brilliant young pitcher in Edinson Volquez starting for the out of form Reds against a journeyman pitcher in Rodriguez for the Astros who is pretty lucky to find himself in a starting rotation.

With comparable hitting statistics of these two teams, the Astros are heavily reliant on Lance Berkman and need to start building a team. The Astros line up has a very mediocre feel to it, almost like a set of journeyman happy to collect their pay and turn up with regularity, whereas the Reds seem like a team that could really do with two more quality pitchers.

The recent form of the two teams is what has made this contest priced up so closely. The Reds have lost five in a row and the Astros have won four on the spin, and the fact that such dramatic form fortunes still result in close betting suggests how much more of an impressive starter Volquez is, and I think that you should accept a generous price on the Reds. My reasoning is that the Reds usually put at least a few runs up so therefore a top class starter should be able to see you through under those circumstances through restricting the opposition. Word of caution though, watch out for Berkman.

This is one of those rare occasions where I am basing my recommendation solely on the back of the pitcher. Expect the all star Volquez to help your finances.

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Adam Dunn (.238, 30 HR, 72, 1 SB) Cincinnati Reds

Lance Berkman (.344, 22 HR, 76 RBI, 15 SB) Houston Astros

RECOMMENDATION - 2.5 Points Stake Cincinnati Reds @ 2.1 (WBX)

Happy punting.

P.S - Do not miss my fortnightly special piece up on Priceform this Friday.