MIDWEEK MAJORS

A full card this Wednesday throws up two matches of interest to me; Oakland Athletics @ Detroit Tigers and Tampa Bay Rays @ Boston Red Sox.

OAKLAND ATHLETICS (Gallagher 4-6, 5.23) @ DETROIT TIGERS (Galarraga 12-5, 3.39)
September 10th 18:05PM GMT

Two teams that have pretty much nothing to play for except pride, two young pitchers going against each other and one eye on the future. This contest is a dead rubber in every sense, so why punt on it? Well, even in dead rubbers you can still make money so long as you do enough research.
Funnily enough despite neither team going on to Post-season here we do have two teams that have gone in completely different directions. The Tigers started their season abysmally and as such fell behind the eight ball way to early in the season to stand too much of a hope, whereas the A's were very much on top of their game early doors and seemed to be a genuine chance of a Wild card if they were to keep up their standards (they were always up against it in terms of winning AL West when they had the Angels in their division), but then the change came.
The Tigers have actually been much better in the second half of this season and as such should see any games between now and the end of the season and chances to build momentum. The A's have been in free-fall and will consider this season a terrible one. Trading Rich Harden to the Cubs was a massive, massive blow to their slim hopes of post season and when you consider that they traded in their ace Dan Haren before the season and Barry Zito the season before you can see why fans may start to become a bit listless.
If we switch our focus back to this contest it should be won or lost on two levels quite simply, pitching and hitting. Detroit are much more accomplished offensively with the likes of Cabrera, Thames and Ordonez in their ranks, whereas Oakland lack power hitters. In the pitching match up we have Armando Galarraga who has been terrific all year for Detroit gong against Sean Gallagher who has converted from the bullpen this season and had a big struggle and been pounded way too often for anyone's liking.
If you ask me who will win, it is a simple answer from me, Detroit Tigers. However the price is too low to recommend so I suggest you look to an alternative market in terms of 'Highest Scoring Innings' and take the Tigers at a frankly huge 1.8.
On a separate note, dead games can equal carnage on occasion due to the lack of pressure applied. Have a small back on overs.
 
MEN TO WATCH
Bobby Crosby (.245, 7 HR, 57 RBI, 6 SB) Oakland Athletics
Miguel Cabrera (.291, 33 HR, 116 RBI, 1 SB) Detroit Tigers
 
RECOMMENDATION - 4 Points on Detroit Tigers 'Highest Scoring Innings' @ 1.8 (Bet365)
1.5 Points Liability LAY Under 9.5 Runs @ 1.77 (Betfair ) (i.e if there are at least 10 runs, we win)
 

TAMPA BAY RAYS (Sonnanstine 13-7, 4.66) @ BOSTON RED SOX (Beckett 12-9, 4.20)
September 11th 00:05 AM GMT

This match is easily the biggest of the season for the Red Sox and the Rays. If the Rays win it, they move two and a half games clear of Boston knowing full well that they have a home series against them coming up next week. If the Red Sox win, they go within half a game of the Rays going into the closing stages of the season and having the much greater pedigree of the two teams. In my honest opinion, if the Red Sox win tonight's game, I see them going on to win the AL East. That is how huge I see this game as being.
Just think, if Jonathan Papelbon would have been able to obtain the save last night and give the Red Sox the win that had seemed likely, then the Boston unit would be in the lead of AL East and looking to take control. I think that the steel shown by the Tampa side to grind out the 5-4 victory will give them a massive psychological boost going into tonight's match and could well make a mockery of the pre-match odds.
It is fair to say that the two sides are extremely evenly matched. The Red Sox are a more explosive hitting unit whereas the Rays are a better defensive unit, both teams have come through in clutch situations when it has been required this season and we have two pitchers going up against each other tonight with extremely comparable season to date statistics. It seems just that close and yet still, we have Boston at a best priced 1.52.
Go with the value and have a small bet on the Rays. With the momentum gained from last night and a slender AL East lead to protect, they could well shock the Fenway crowd again.
 
MEN TO WATCH
Carlos Pena (.245, 27 HR, 85 RBI, 1 SB) Tampa Bay Rays
David Ortiz (.268, 18 HR, 73 RBI, 1 SB) Boston Red Sox
 
RECOMMENDATION - 1.5 Points on Tampa Bay Rays @ 2.8 (Canbet)
 
Good luck and enjoy the games!