Two top sports service picks for Friday. The first comes from ScoresOddsPicks of OffshoreInsiders.com
MLB odds
Florida Marlins at Philadelphia Phillies – Friday at 7:05 p.m. ET
Anibal Sanchez vs. Roy Halladay
Since moving south of the border and joining the NL champions, Roy Halladay (2-0, 0.56 ERA) is finally getting the attention he deserves—and is becoming a can't-miss pitcher for sports betting fans to watch. His transition to the National League has been smooth; "Doc" was sharp in his opener against Washington, but he was downright brilliant last weekend against Houston. The right-hander threw a complete-game and allowed just one run—unearned—while striking out eight Astros. Halladay has faced the Marlins twice in interleague play, going 0-1 with a 5.00 ERA.
Anibal Sanchez (0-0, 6.00 ERA) should make his second start of the season, and Florida is hoping for a big improvement this week. Sanchez had a rock-solid 3.87 ERA in 16 starts last year, but 2010 started on the wrong foot in a 6-5 loss to the Dodgers. The young righty allowed seven hits and five runs (four earned) over six innings. Sanchez has struggled against Philly in the past, going 2-4 with a 5.40 ERA in seven career starts.
This is a tough mismatch on MLB odds for Florida. Not only has Sanchez been lit up by the Phillies in the past, but the team faces the NL leader for the Cy Young award. Go with Halladay and the Phillies.
Free sports pick: Philadelphia
Now to Matt Rivers, Senior Handicapper of OffshoreInsiders.com has a comp on the Houston Astros at the Chicago Cubs.
I know the Astros have struggled and hadn't won a game until yesterday but Carlos Silva is laying what? Seriously? The guy hardly belongs on a major league roster anymore no less can be laying such a price to any team. Yes I know he had a positive first start in Cincinnati only allowing a run in six innings, I don't care. The guy is just not good and certainly not trustworthy.
It's not a secret that the Astros are scuffling right now without Lance Berkman but it's not like there isn't any talent. Carlos Lee, Hunter Pence, Michael Bourn and a few others have potential and finally just got in the win column yesterday so a little bit of pressure should be off of them here and maybe they can just go out and relax and play some ball. I'm not saying that Felipe Paulino is very good or the team overall will win many games this season but the Cubs are just not worthy of this price and can lose this game.
Chicago may be alright this season and finish second in the division behind St. Louis but Lou's crew is certainly lacking a lot. Soriano, Lee and Ramirez can be very good but we have just not seen this often enough to believe they will be.
There's no sugarcoating this thing, Houston is not good but Chicago is mediocre at best and has the downside to wet the bed with the best of them and lay an egg here in front of the faithful at Wrigley.
The pick: Houston +170 at Bodog
