Free MLB Baseball Betting Picks: June 24th 2009: ATS Consultants

Below are Free MLB Picks for June 24th from ATS Consultants. Do you want to receive more free expert MLB predictions on a daily basis, be sure to sign-up for the ATS Consultants Newsletter.

Detroit -125 over Chicago Cubs:
Heartbreaking loss for the Cubs last night as Ryan Raburn’s 2 run homer in the bottom of the ninth won it for the Tigers. Can the Cubbies bounce back today? We say no, not against Tigers rookie righty Rick Porcello (8-4.3.54). Porcello looks to be the early favorite for American League Rookie of the Year and has been a vital cog in Detroit’s run to the top of the AL Central. Along with Justin Verlander and Edwin Jackson, Porcello’s emergence has made the Tigers one of the favorites for the AL Pennant. Rich Harden (4-3, 5.27) has struggled for the Cubs so far in 2009. At least he’s not injured, as has become tradition in Harden’s brief career. He was awful in his last start, Friday against the Indians, allowing 7 runs on 7 hits in just 5 innings. He was bailed out by his teammates who rallied from 7-0 down to defeat the Tribe 8-7. For whatever reason, Harden and the Cubs have not found that consistency that most expected when the season began. We think Porcello continues to surprise and the Tigers take game 2 of this series.

UNDER 9 Boston/Washington:
Good pitching matchup tonight at Nationals Park between Jon Lester (5-6, 4.69) taking on Craig Stammen (1-2 4.76) as the Red Sox take on the Nats in game 2 of a three game set. Boston took game one 11-3 last night, breaking open a close game late. Looking at both starter’s ERA isn’t telling the whole story here. Both have really been terrific of late after slow starts. Lester has allowed only 5 runs in his last 27 innings pitched, and is 3-1 in that time. He has really stepped it up after a rough April, and has joined Josh Beckett anchoring the Sox rotation. The hot pitching has taken the Red Sox to a 5 game lead over the Yankees in the American League East. Rookie Stammen is expected to be a future ace for the Nats and is showing signs already of becoming a pretty good starter sooner than later. After three rough outings, he has only allowed 2 runs in his last 12 innings pitched. His last start he pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings at Yankee Stadium in a win over New York. The kid has a lot of potential and tonight is a good test against a potent Boston lineup.

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