When "pro handicappers" offer free tips, it's safe to assume they're as close to a sure-bet as you can come. After all, they want you to be impressed by their intelligence enough to pay for the service!

That's why it might not be a bad idea to go with Jay Diamond from Locksmith Sports Picks who picked the Houston Astros at the San Diego Padres tonight, July 3 at 8:35 PM.
Jay says the Astros are in line to upset the Padres after dropping last night's game 3-0, and he offers up some pretty good reasons:

1. The Padre's projected starter, Kevin Correia, has an ERA that's approaching 8.0 for the month of June in just five starts. In his last three home starts, he's given up 24 hits and 14 runs in a mere 16 innings.
2. The Astro's projected starter Bud Norris is starting just his second game after coming off the DL but had a solid outing in his return against the Milwaukee Brewers with six strikeouts to one walk. Over 48 innings this season, Norris has rung up 60 batters.
3. Despite the goose egg yesterday, the Astro's bats had been alive in their previous four games scoring five, five, six and nine runs. Considering the Padre's lineup is fairly week, something along these lines from Houston should be enough.

They might be the underdog in the lines, but as Jay pointed out the numbers favor the Astros for this match up. Trust Jay's research on this one???

Pick: Astros

MLB Picks [via Locksmith Sports Picks]