Scott Rickenbach

***NOTE: Rick Porcello is now the starting pitcher instead of David Price for the Red Sox. This is just as strong of a play with Porcello now getting the nod to start this game. The right-hander is 4-13 this season and opponents are hitting .293 against him. Porcello was hit at a .329 clip in May and .323 clip in June. I know he has been better in July but he still gave up 9 hits in 6 innings in his only home start and he allowed 3 homers in his most recent road start! Fade the Red Sox here and go with the Royals on the Run Line. The original full write-up follows.*** Game of the Month Run Line: Rickenbach Friday MLB 10* Top Play Kansas City Royals Run Line (+1.5) @ Boston Red Sox @ 7:10 ET - The Royals have won 8 straight games and yet they're getting absolutely no respect here. Yes, I know that Jason Vargas has struggled recently on the mound but he bounced back in his most recent start for a win. That will help him get his confidence back up as he allowed just 2 earned runs to a White Sox team that hits lefties very well. Now Vargas faces a Red Sox team that has lost 3 of its last 4 against left-handed starters and the lone win came by just a single run for Boston. That is significant here because the Royals are available at a very low price on the run line at +1.5 runs and that is a huge value. The Red Sox are only 1-4 in their last 5 games and they've averaged just 2.8 runs per game during this stretch. Kansas City has averaged 7.9 runs per game during their current 8-game winning streak. David Price gets the start for Boston here and, though he had been pitching well, he gave up 5 earned runs in 5 innings in his most recent start. That was on the West Coast and, even though the Red Sox were off yesterday, the first game at home for an East Coast team after a trip out west always seems to be the toughest. Tremendous line value with the red hot Royals here especially when you are able to grab the extra insurance at such a fair price! 10* KANSAS CITY ROYALS Run Line +1.5 runs

ESPN Smash Pass CFL Friday 10* Top Play Edmonton Eskimos (-) vs BC Lions @ 9:30 ET - Even though this is a revenge game for the Lions, the Eskimos should hold the upper hand here! BC has had to go with Travis Lulay at QB due to the Jonathan Jennings injury. Even though they have won back to back games with Lulay at the pivot, the Lions benefited from first facing a Hamilton team that is still winless and then BC had to rally in the 4th quarter to knock off Winnipeg at home. The Lions were down 15 points entering the 4th quarter last week. Lulay has thrown almost as any picks as TDs. Edmonton is the healthier team at the all-important QB position and they have won 4 of the last 5 meetings meetings between these bitter rivals. I am happy to test that 4-1 SU run with a money line play here on Edmonton. The line on the Eskimos is such a small spread that we can get even more value by taking them on the money line here and laying a small price. Keep in mind, BC is 0-2 ATS in divisional games this season. Also, the Lions went only 9-14 ATS the past two seasons combined when playing with revenge. Prior to the road win for the Eskimos at BC to open up this season, the home team had won 6 straight meetings between these teams. Couple that with the healthy QB edge factor here (Jennings hurting) and I like my chances with the Eskimos at a very affordable price here! 10* EDMONTON

Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach Free Pick for MLB Friday OVER the total in New York Yankees vs Tampa Bay Rays @ 7:05 ET - With this total dropping from a 9.5 to a 9 we are now seeing additional line value with the over in this match-up. The Rays are sending Austin Pruitt to the mound and he has been working out of the bullpen. He has not impressed as opponents are hitting .333 against him. Pruitt has compiled a 6.25 ERA in his 18 appearances (1 start) in this, his rookie, season. He has faced the Yankees twice out of the bullpen already this season and he was hit quite hard. The Yanks will have pitching issues of their own here as they hand the ball to Masahiro Tanaka for this one. The right-hander is winless in his last 3 starts and has compiled a 6.00 ERA during this stretch. He's facing a Rays team that has scored 5 runs in 4 of their last 5 games. As for the Yankees offensive machine, they've produced 5.6 runs per game in going 6-1 in their last 7 games. Look for more hot hitting from the Yanks here as they take advantage of facing an inexperienced rookie starter. As for the Rays lineup, they've pounded Tanaka to the tune of 13 earned runs in 5 and 2/3 innings spanning his two starts against Tampa Bay this season. More of the same in this one! Free Pick on OVER the total in the New York Yankees game early Friday evening. Best of luck, Scott "The Bulldog" Rickenbach

Rickenbach Friday MLB 8* OVER the total in Detroit Tigers vs Houston Astros @ 7:10 ET - Dallas Keuchel has phenomenal numbers on the season but I don't expect him to be ultra effective in his first start back after a long stint on the disabled list. Keep in mind, the last time he faced the Tigers at Detroit he was rocked for 7 earned runs in 5 innings and that was nearly a year ago to the day. Making his first start since June 2nd and against a Tigers team that has averaged 5.8 runs per game in their last 12 games, Keuchel struggles here. The good news for Astros fans is that the Houston southpaw should benefit from plenty of run support in this one. Houston will be facing a struggling Jordan Zimmerman in this one. The Tigers right-hander has a 7.42 ERA and 2.17 WHIP in his last 3 starts. The over is 12-5-1 in Zimmerman's last 18 starts! He has allowed 4 earned runs or more in 4 of those 5 starts. The over is 11-2 in the Astros last 13 games against teams with a losing record. In road games with a posted total of 9 or 9.5 runs Houston has gone 33-13 to the over the past 3 seasons. The Tigers have lost three straight games and that is a situation that has resulted in them going 8-1 to the over this season and 34-17 to the over the past 3 seasons combined. Look for these trends to continue on Friday evening. 8* OVER the total in Detroit

Rickenbach Friday MLB 8* OVER the total in Miami Marlins vs Cincinnati Reds @ 7:10 ET - Yesterday's match-up stayed under the total but I just don't see either one of these pitchers enjoying success today. Vance Worley gets the start for the Marlins but that is only because Tom Koehler was sent to Triple-A due to ineffectiveness. Worley has been working out of the bullpen but his long relief role truly hasn't gone well. Worley got hit at a .356 clip in June and opponents are hitting a ridiculous .407 against him in July! As for Reds starter Sal Romano, he did pitch well against the Marlins last week but now the Miami hitters get another look at him in his very next start and that generally doesn't bode well for young pitchers. Keep in mind Romano had given up 12 hits and 6 walks in 9 innings for a 2.00 WHIP in his first two starts in July before he had some success versus the Marlins in that start Sunday. Romano's only night start so far at the big league level saw him get rocked at home by Arizona on the 18th. Look for more of the same on Friday evening. Even with yesterday's under, the over is a solid 37-24 this season Marlins night games. 8* OVER the total in Miami

Game of the Month Run Line: Rickenbach Friday MLB 10* Top Play Kansas City Royals Run Line (+1.5) @ Boston Red Sox @ 7:10 ET - The Royals have won 8 straight games and yet they're getting absolutely no respect here. Yes, I know that Jason Vargas has struggled recently on the mound but he bounced back in his most recent start for a win. That will help him get his confidence back up as he allowed just 2 earned runs to a White Sox team that hits lefties very well. Now Vargas faces a Red Sox team that has lost 3 of its last 4 against left-handed starters and the lone win came by just a single run for Boston. That is significant here because the Royals are available at a very low price on the run line at +1.5 runs and that is a huge value. The Red Sox are only 1-4 in their last 5 games and they've averaged just 2.8 runs per game during this stretch. Kansas City has averaged 7.9 runs per game during their current 8-game winning streak. David Price gets the start for Boston here and, though he had been pitching well, he gave up 5 earned runs in 5 innings in his most recent start. That was on the West Coast and, even though the Red Sox were off yesterday, the first game at home for an East Coast team after a trip out west always seems to be the toughest. Tremendous line value with the red hot Royals here especially when you are able to grab the extra insurance at such a fair price! 10* KANSAS CITY ROYALS Run Line +1.5 runs