Los Angeles Angels at New York Yankees
Angels +160
Yankees -180

There is a logical reason for the heavy line here -- the Yankees just devour right-handed starters at home, and while the Angels are 8-0 in Joel Piniero’s last 8 starts, it makes no sense at all to take LA even with the inflated +160 number. The Angels don’t have an easy game (Yankees, Rangers, Red Sox litter the schedule) for the rest of the month, and LA is a below-.500 road team this season. They could be is deep hole in the American League West by the time August rolls around. The Yankees have the look and feel of another 100-win team, and that should be more than enough in the AL East. When you can throw out Javier Vazquez at the bottom of your rotation, you know you don’t have too many concerns. NEW YORK here, even at the bad price.  

Boston Red Sox at Oakland Athletics
Red Sox -110
Athletics -110  

Oddsmakers are just playing for the vig here, but the value is with the home team. Boston’s Clay Buccholz is coming off a rehab Triple A start in which he didn’t get out of the fourth inning, and he hasn’t pitched into the 8th inning in any start since June 4. His overall numbers are good (10-4, 2.44), but he might not have enough stamina to go deep in this one. The Red Sox are gradually getting back players after a rash of injuries knocked them back a pace or two in the American League East, and they’re counting on their starting pitching to carry them to a wild card spot. Gio Gonzalez has been solid of late for the Athletics, going 2-1 in his last three starts and giving up only 6 earned runs in his last 17 2/3 innings. OAKLAND is the play here.  

Washington Nationals at Cincinnati Reds
Nationals -125
Reds +105

Hard to imagine the Nationals, who have scored a total of 8 runs in the last 5 games (including 4 in one game), being favored in any game in which Stephen Strasburg pitches. Strasburg (4-2, 2.04) is coming off six shutout innings in his last start, and should dominate this one since Reds hitters haven’t yet set eyes on him. Cincy is catching Strasburg at a bad time -- the Reds have been shut out 4 times in July, and 3 of those have been by 1-0 scores in the last 11 days. Ouch. Best bet here is WASHINGTON if you can get the Nats for the first 5 innings only. DC is reluctant to burn out Strasburg and is keeping him on a tight pitch count, but all bets are off after he leaves, and Washington’s offense is so bad it’s doubtful he’ll pick up any cheap wins.