102-50 (68%) +135.57 units of profit! (+$135.57)
We have not been winning these POD's like we should and our profit has taken a hit. I'm like tonight's play a lot with Niemann on the hill going up against Ryan Rowland Smith partly because we are getting a lot of value with Niemann who is coming off possibly his worst start of his career. He must now come out and prove that he is the rookie of the year and I think he gets it done at home against the Mariners.
Off a 5 ER or more performance from Niemann as a starter this year he has a 2.60 ERA in his next start. He rebounds well and those stats are some what misleading considering one of the starts was against the Yankees where he pitched just 3.2 IP giving up 2 ER. He is coming off back to back road starts and now is happy to be home where he posts a 2.48 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. Actually the Rays are happy to be back home after that long road trip they had when they were eliminated from the Wild Card race. Rays are 20 games over .500 at home and one of the best home teams. Niemann does have two quality starts vs. the Mariners or close to. His worse start was 6.1 IP 4 ER and three of those ER came in the 7th inning where he gave up 2 HR, (Griffey, Branyan). Branyan won't be in this game and Niemann has only given up 6 HR all year at home. The Rays will face Ryan Rowland Smith who has been on a roll, but he will have his work cut out for him on the road.
Smith who has the 2.74 ERA is also giving this match up value because he has pitched well in his last three starts. Ont he road however he has a 4.88 ERA. Smith has faced the Rays twice in his career once in 08 and once in 09. This will be his first visit to Tropican Field. He's been hit hard by the Rays in the past 12.1 IP 13H 6 ER, and he'll have to prove that he can pitch on the road against the Rays who have a .277 average with 5.49 runs per 9 vs. LHP. Rays are 7-0 in their last 7 with Niemann as a home favorite and 6-2 in their last 8 home vs. LH starter!
