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premium picks example: 5/17

(what actually resulted in blue not in premium email)

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Take Milwaukee Brewers (+120) over Cleveland Indians

Brewers have beaten Indians 6 straight. The Brewers are batting .355 with eight extra-base hits in the first two games of this series. Prince Fielder is batting .381 (24 for 63) with five homers and 18 RBIs in his last 17 games. Jeff Suppan is 2-0 w a 2.12 ERA in his last 3 outings. Expect Cleveland rookie David Huff (2-2, 7.39) to get roughed up by hot Brewers bats. It makes absolutely no sense why the Brewers are dogs and not favorites here. And it's a generous dog too.

This is what my write-up for this game was going to be: "Jeff Suppan (6IP, 3ER, 7H) had a quality start for the Brewers, but Indians starter David Huff (5IP, 3ER, 5H) had Cleveland right in this ballgame. But the lethal combination of Brewers bats and the Indians pen put this one to bed, as a 3 run rally in the Brewers half of the 7th (Hall HR, Fielder 2B, Hart 2B were the big blows) sent Milwaukee on their way. Brewers have now beaten the Indians in 7 straight." Instead, I was forced to write: Brewers led, 3-0, then 7-3, the 8-4, ‘til the Indians rallied for 4 in the 9th, giving us a coronary. Thankfully, a bases loaded sac fly in the 11th made the difference for Milwaukee.

WIN (Mil 9 Cle 8, 11)

MLB Free Play Today: 1-0 (+1.20 units)

Premium Plays:

Take LA Angels (+160) over SF Giants

Going against Timmy Lincecum and his 6-1, 2.66 ERA mark in '09. He's also 2-0 w a 1.64 ERA in his last 3. But, Angels have plated 17 runs on 31 hits in the first two games of their series at AT&T Park. Los Angeles has averaged 8.6 runs during its five-game winning streak, and its 7-1 interleague record is the best in the majors. Matt Palmer is 6-0 in '09 w a 2.57 ERA in his last 3 starts. Were this +130 I might not do it, but at +160, you best believe I am. Our day was off to a phenomenal start w this one. It was a nip-tuck game most of the way w reigning Cy Young award-winner Tim Lincecum (8IP, 3ER, 8H, 9SO, 0BB) and Matt Palmer (6 1/3IP, 3ER, 6H, 5SO, 2BB) both pitching well, but w the Giants ahead 3-1 in the 8th the Angles went to work. Pinch-hitters Torii Hunter and Vladimir Guerrero (how bout those pinch hitters?) opened Los Angeles' three-run rally with consecutive singles in the eighth off Lincecum. Chone Figgins then drove home Hunter and scored the go-ahead run on Juan Rivera’s groundout when third baseman Pablo Sandoval bobbled it just long enough to ruin his chance for a play at the plate.

WIN (LAA 4 SF 3)

Take NY Mets (+145) over Baltimore Orioles

As you know, I have a lot of respect for Koji Uehara and expect him to pitch well in his 2nd appearance since being on the DL. Tim Redding has pitched very well in his last 2 starts for NY w a 2.77 ERA. The Birds have lost 11 of 15. The Mets have won eight of 12 all-time at Camden Yards. Again, can you make the case that the Mets could be a slight fave or slight dog here? Yup. But +145? Grab!

This one didn’t quite work out for us. Koji Uehara went 5 innings giving up just 2 runs, and Tim Redding went 5 1/3 giving up 4 runs. The Mets played from behind all night and actually caught the O’s at 4-4 in the 6th off O‘s reliever Brian Bass. But an Aubrey Huff 2 run HR in the 7th off Pedro Feliciano put Baltimore ahead to stay. Still, a worthwhile play.

LOSS (Bal 6 NYM 4)

Take Washington Nationals (+185) over NY Yankees

My only regret is that I didn't get this email out to you earlier in the morning when I got the Nats at +200. but, even at +185, this is one of the more ridiculously generous lines of 2009. In fact, if you do not back the Washington Nationals today, I'd venture that you should never back them. Chien-Ming Wang is 0-4 w a 14.34 ERA. John Lannan has a 1.80 ERA in his last 3 outings. Wang's wife just gave birth to the couple's first child Tuesday. Just throw that in as another possible distraction factor. You talk about star alignment! Wait, there's more. Alex Rodriguez is 3 for 27 with six strikeouts over his last eight games. Derek Jeter is questionable and may not play, leaving yesterday's game with left ankle soreness. You get it. Grab the Nationals before more value drops out of it. This line makes no sense. Only the public perception of Nats/Yanks is keeping this line where it is.

One of the more satisfying wins we’ll have all season. Called it. No way this line should’ve been what it was. John Lannan (8 1/3IP, 2ER, 4H, 4SO, 1BB, 2HR) was sensational, and that was more than enough to overcome a pretty good performance from Chien-Ming Wang (5IP, 3ER, 6H, 4SO, 2BB). Adam Dunn (solo HR) and Nick Johnson (2 RBI triple) had the big hits for the Nats, but the Yankees still manages to get it to 3-2 w runners on the corners w just 1 down in the 9th. But Mike MacDougal got Robinson Cano to hit into a game-ending double play, sending us through the roof.

WIN (Was 3 NYY 2)

Take Seattle Mariners (+110) over San Diego Padres

Our safest play of the day according to the line, and it's not even a favorite. Padres have lost ML record 12 in a row in interleague play. San Diego is 4-23 in its last 27 games versus the AL. The Padres have also lost six consecutive games against the Mariners (31-33) and nine straight against them at Petco. They haven't scored more than two runs in their last six games in the series. Garrett Olson (4.26 ERA in '09) of Seattle has a 2.70 ERA in his last 3 starts. Chad Gaudin (6.16 ERA in '09) of SD is 0-2 w a 11.70 ERA in his last 3. Trend bet, y'all!!

And the trend continues. Padres have now lost a MLB record 13 in a row in interleague play. San Diego is 4-24 in its last 28 games versus the AL. The Padres have also lost 7 consecutive games against the Mariners (32-33) and 10 straight against them at Petco. They did score more than two runs (3) for the first time in their last 7 games in the series. Both Garrett Olson (6IP, 3ER, 2H, 4SO, 1BB, 2HR) and Chad Gaudin (6IP, 3ER, 6H, 8SO, 2BB, 1HR) had quality starts. The difference? A Nick Hundley throwing error in the 5th, trying to get Franklin Gutierrez attempting to steal 3rd. The throw was low, hit Gutierrez, and squirted into the outfield to allow the game winning run.

WIN (Sea 4 SD 3)

MLB Premium Plays Today: 3-1 (+3.55 units)

Updated: 5/17/09

Season MLB Free Plays: 29-30 (-2.30 units)
Season MLB Premium Plays: 87-73 (+11.05 units)
Overall beatingthebook MLB Plays: 116-103 (+8.75 units) 

Beating The Book was the first-ever honest, daily take on sports gambling. "Antitout" Gill Alexander took an entertaining and in-depth look at sports wagering and provided your sports betting edge, helping listeners turn big profits in the 2005 NCAA Mens College Basketball Tournament and 2005 NBA playoffs, and reap huge paydays in the 2005-2006 NFL season, including a major windfall in Super Bowl XL.  Plus, the 2005-2006 NBA regular season finished in major positive net unit territory.The 2006 MLB, NFL, College Football, and English Premier League seasons did the same.  And the winning continued in 2007.  Every pick was free and stated in advance, so records couldn't be fudged. Now, on Twitter, we cater to both serious and casual gamblers alike and include features such as a "Gambling Tip Of The Week".  Don't miss out on what you need to know to increase your bankroll. Premium picks are available for purchase on the home page.  And click through to easily open accounts at your book of choice.