My exclusive 5 Star Club offers the most powerful investment advice on the market, bar none. Indeed, the 5 Star Club improved to a remarkable 13-5 (72.2%) over its last 18 releases following Saturday’s 2-0 sweep on the Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers. More importantly, the 5 Star Club is a documented 194-121-9 (62%) since 2007, including receiving 23 distinguished awards from The Sports Monitor of Oklahoma.
SATURDAY’S 5 STAR CLUB PERFECTION:
Chicago White Sox (-149) over Washington Nationals
Investment Advice: Please list both Tom Gorzelanny and John Danks
Analysis: Chicago is a profitable 21-7 (+14.0 units) in interleague play over the last three seasons (33-13; +21.1 units last three years) and, in fact, the White Sox have won seventeen consecutive interleague series. Meanwhile, Washington arrives in town as one of the hottest teams in baseball, although the Nationals just lost their emotional leader in manager Jim Riggleman, who resigned on Thursday because Washington’s management had shown no interest in picking up the option year on his contract. “It was an extremely festive, upbeat locker room,” General Manager Mike Rizzo said at a hastily arranged news conference, his hands trembling slightly and his voice stern, moments after breaking the stunning news to the players. “It became somber quickly.” Washington Post reporter Dave Sheinin captured the Nationals’ state-of-mind following Thursday’s win over Seattle. “The juxtaposition of on-field fulfillment and off-field turmoil created a surreal scene in the Nationals’ clubhouse. Normally, music would be blaring and players beaming following a win such as Thursday’s, the Nationals’ 11th in their past 12 games. Instead, the music was abruptly shut off, leaving players to dress somberly at their lockers as the buses idled outside, casting glances at the center of the room, where a man who was no longer a part of their tight-knit unit, Riggleman, took questions from the media.”
From a fundamental standpoint, Washington takes the field with an anemic offense that is batting .237 with a .300 on base percentage this season (4.0 runs per game), including hitting .226 with a .290 on base percentage on the road (3.9 runs per game), .220 with a .292 on base percentage versus left-handed starters (3.4 runs per game) and .230 with a .297 on base percentage in day games (3.5 runs per game). Moreover, Washington demonstrates little to no patience at the plate as evidenced by the fact that the Nationals have struck out 605 times this season, while drawing a mere 230 walks in 2,546 at-bats. In contrast, Chicago’s offense has performed at a much higher level at home this season as evidenced by its .751 OPS, which is considerably higher than the .696 mark they exhibit on the road.
Washington left-hander Tom Gorzelanny will be making his second start since coming off the disabled list on June 19 with inflammation in his left elbow. Gorzelanny is a money-burning 1-4 with a 5.79 ERA and 1.429 WHIP on the road this season, while garnering a pedestrian 4.35 ERA and 1.379 WHIP over his last seven starts. Prior to landing on the disabled list, Gorzelanny found himself in terrible form as he allowed a combined 18 runs and 34 hits over twenty innings pitched. Conversely, Chicago starter John Danks is enjoying a spectacular June as evidenced by his 1.23 ERA this month, including garnering 17 strikeouts to just 3 walks in 22 innings pitched. In addition, Danks is significantly more comfortable at home where he has compiled an impressive 3.10 ERA and 1.257 WHIP this season, which is two-and-a-half runs better than his road mark of 5.65. I also like the fact that Danks is supported by a streaking Chicago bullpen that boasts a 3.77 ERA and 1.344 WHIP at home, a 2.22 ERA and 1.110 WHIP versus National League opponents and a 0.00 ERA and 0.647 WHIP over the last seven games. Finally, Chicago is 61-41 (60%) in June since 2008, which is the third-best winning percentage in baseball behind the Red Sox and the Yankees.
Important Trends: Chicago is a money-making 8-2 (+6.8 units versus National League East opponents, while starter John Danks is a 71.4% winning proposition in interleague play since 2007. Let’s also note that Washington southpaw Tom Gorzelanny is a terrible 18-32 (-8.3 units) as a road underdog and 12-29 (-17.7 units) when working on a full rest. Today’s home plate umpire, Mike Estabrook, is a 56% winning proposition for home teams in his career.
Rating: 5*
Detroit Tigers (-171) over Arizona Diamondbacks
Investment Advice: Please list both Josh Collmenter and Justin Verlander
Analysis: Detroit starter Justin Verlander is the best pitcher in baseball as he is 9-3 with a 2.54 ERA and 0.854 WHIP this season, including garnering a 2.56 ERA and 0.900 WHIP at home, a 2.87 ERA and 0.953 WHIP at night, a 1.00 ERA and 0.444 WHIP in interleague play and a 0.69 ERA and 0.500 WHIP over his last three starts. The 28-year-old right-hander has pitched at least eight innings in each of his last four starts, including going the distance in his past two outings. “You just don’t find stuff like that,” Tigers manager Jim Leyland said of Verlander. “You don’t find a combination of fastball, curve, changeup and slider. Three of them are well above average and one of them’s average [the slider]. That’s pretty tough. When he locates his fastball, he can be unhittable.” And, unhittable is the best way to describe Verlander lately as he has posted a 0.86 ERA over his last five starts, while limiting opponents to a .156 batting average. I should also note that Verlander is 13-2 with a 3.24 ERA in 18 interleague starts.
Verlander’s success is based upon outstanding command and control as he has compiled 110 strikeouts in 120 innings pitched, including 89 strikeouts in 87 innings pitched at night and 27 strikeouts over his last 26 innings of work. And, Verlander’s dominance on the mound is extremely relevant in tonight’s game as Arizona is ranked second in the National League in strikeouts, while the Diamondbacks take the field with a below-average .694 OPS on the road this season (.786 OPS at home). Let’s also note that the American League strikeout leader (Verlander) is a reliable 28-6 (+16.2 units) as a large favorite, 10-1 (+8.4 units) as a large home favorite, 32-9 (+17.2 units) at home, 14-2 (+10.8 units) with a total of 7.5 runs or less and 14-6 (+6.3 units) in interleague play. I should also note that Verlander is supported by a solid bullpen that has garnered a 3.27 ERA and 1.293 WHIP at home in 2011, including yielding 87 hits and 41 walks in 99 innings pitched.
Verlander should continue his domination against a pedestrian Arizona lineup that is hitting .252 with a .317 on base percentage this season, including batting .242 with a .303 on base percentage on the road and .249 with a .283 on base percentage over the last seven games. Meanwhile, Verlander’s counterpart, right-hander Josh Collmenter, has been the beneficiary of an extremely fortuitous hit rate (22%) and strand rate (83%) this season, which have effectively concealed his below-average skill set. Collmenter was selected in the 15th round of the 2007 draft and relies exclusively on deception to generate strikeouts, although he does not possess over-powering stuff. In fact, Collmenter only has 39 strikeouts in 61 innings pitched this season, while allowing eight runs over his last twelve innings of work (two starts). Collmenter is also hindered by an imploding Arizona bullpen that has a 4.56 ERA in interleague play and a 4.07 ERA over its last seven games. Finally, the counting report on Collmenter makes it clear that he is a flyball pitcher, which is a recipe for disater against a healthy Detroit lineup that is batting .279 over the last ten games.
Umpire Report: Tonight’s home plate umpire, Mike Muchlinski, is a 68.3% winning proposition for home teams in his career, including a 68% winning investment over the last three seasons. In fact, home teams are averaging 5.4 runs per game with Muchlinski behind the plate, whereas visiting squads are averaging just 3.9 runs per game.
Rating: 5*
PROFIT/LOSS STATEMENT:
My sports investment firm has generated a net profit of 37.1 stars over the last 86 days, which is an annual Rate of Return exceeding 125%. In addition, Oskeim Sports is currently Ranked #1 in MLB at The Sports Monitor of Oklahoma so now is a great time to build your bankroll for the upcoming football season.