Follow @cimini

Delving into Friday’s major league baseball action features three picks available. Today’s free play is focused on the total in the Cleveland Indians vs Miami Marlins. Ubaldo Jimenez has quelled the storm after starting the year rocky in Cleveland. He had a decent July, and is coming off two rock solid performances. One in Seattle where he allowed two home runs on five hits, and an eight inning gem in his last outing in which he gave up just two hits and zero runs. Cleveland’s travel could be a bit of a concern as they did play at Seattle a few series ago, and now they are in Miami. I don’t believe a veteran pitcher like Jimenez will have issues in that department.

Miami has put together some impressive wins over the last couple of weeks since the All-Star break. They’ve been producing runs when runners are in scoring position. Yesterday against Matt Harvey they scored just three runs, but those were timely runs when they had opportunities with runners on base. Jimenez is the type of pitcher that can clamp down against a lineup as the Marlins. He’ll get out of jams.

Home starting pitcher, Jose Fernandez, has not given up more than three runs dating back to June 1st. If Jimenez can control his walks and pitch through six innings, this should be an easy under.

Take the under of seven runs as Friday’s free play.

Follow @cimini

David Price has been pitching lights out after a shaky start to the season. As a team the Rays have enjoyed a winning streak of eight games. It has been done with outstanding pitching and timely runs. This streak was against teams in the Chicago White Sox, Minnesota, and the tail end of a series against their opponent now in the Houston Astros.

The Astros we know are not a juggernaut, but a team on such a high game winning streak is going to hit a bump when you least expect it. Facing the Houston Astros they should be good for five to six runs. David Price should be fine on the mound, but a rough half inning or two is due, even with his resurgence. He did shut them out on July 2nd, but I expect the Astros to get three runs.

Take the over of 7.5

Follow on Twitter @cimini

Everyone has loved the Houston Astros and runs galore given up in pitcher, Erik Bedard. Bedard is on the steep decline side of his career, and is likely making his last stop in Houston. He is the type of pitcher that can’t go beyond five innings. That type of stat may bode to be acceptable with a good bullpen, but the Astros obviously do not have that.

The rise of runs will continue on Bedard and the bullpen tonight. Take the over of 10.5

Follow on Twitter @cimini

Texas lineup is built to produce runs, and they have not let down in that department. Just on Sunday their offense was enough to overcome three Miguel Cabrera home runs against Detroit.

Jarrod Parker heads to the mound for Oakland tonight, and has had recent success. Outings against Kansas City, Cleveland, and Seattle have been decent but look for his fortune to get back near his current ERA over six.

Take the over on ten runs tonight.

Follow @cimini

Atlanta is off to a sterling start that has people changing their tune for playoff favorite already. At 13-2 and the way their pitching and bats are complimenting each other, it’s hard not to blame people. But in baseball unlike any other sport, opportunity knocks quite often against the elite teams. Tim Hudson has been awfully consistent and pitching likely won’t be the main issue in the matchup vs Pittsburgh.

Look for the bats on both sides to struggle to develop base runners on, and also to advance. Atlanta’s bats have been unbelievably hot that it has caused a whole lineup to gravitate to hitting the ball out of the park.

Wandy Rodriguez will need to get himself off to a solid first three innings. Those innings will be vital. If Rodriguez does his job and the Atlanta lineup keeps trying to power the ball out, it should have a trickle affect for the extension of the baseball game.

Expect a low scoring game that will hit the under as well, but take Pittsburgh overall.