Baseball Picks - October 18, 2008

It took a historic comeback by the Red Sox to topple our pick in the last ALCS game. Today the Rays are at home and look to punch their ticket to their first-ever World Series appearance and we have a pair of picks.

Today's MLB Baseball Picks:

Game: Boston at Tampa Bay (8:05 PM Eastern)
Pick: 3 units on Tampa Bay -140 (moneyline) (risk 3 to win 2.1)
Pick: 3 units on Game Total UNDER 9 -120 (risk 3 to win 2.5)

The Red Sox made the second biggest comeback in postseason history by wiping out a 7-0 lead to win game five and stay alive in the playoffs. As they say in baseball, "momentum is only as good as your next day's starting pitcher." Josh Beckett has had nowhere near the season he had a year ago. Beckett finished this season nursing injuries and has been pitching even worse since. The Rays will have their "home" stopper on the mound in James Shields. The Rays have been 14-3 in his home starts on the season where he has posted a 2.59 ERA. The last two season at home Shields has posted an 18-7 mark with a 3.01 ERA. Beckett has provided better results on the road this season, with an ERA of 2.85 against his home mark of 5.65. The Rays have dominated at home all season, and under the circumstances have a better pitching matchup. I also like this one to go UNDER the posted total with this a pair of aces getting the ball.

Results: 1-1

MLB Baseball Picks Resources:

• Don't forget to read our blog baseball here.
• Check out our updated 2008 MLB baseball season picks.
• View our updated Baseball Game-of-Day Analysis.
• Updated today: baseball sportsbook.
• View our updated MLB sports handicapping philosophy.
• View our MLB Baseball odds here.
• Take a look at our baseball against-the-spread records here.
• View our MLB record here.
• Updated today: free mlb predictions.
• Hop over to our 2008 MLB baseball gambling preview here.

Check out the last five MLB Baseball Picks Newsletters:

MLB-Baseball-Picks-October-16-2008
After falling behind 1-0, the Rays have put it to the Red Sox as Tampa Bay has now won three straight. The Sox have their backs to the wall and will send Dice-K Matsuzaka to the rescue. Although the R...

MLB-Baseball-Picks-October-15-2008
The Dodgers have their backs to the wall and will face the Phillies top pitcher at home in a do-or-die situation. Cole Hamels has had a big year, pitching to a 3.09 ERA, but he and the Phillies have n...

MLB-Baseball-Picks-October-14-2008
The Red Sox have now dropped two straight games and trail the series to the Rays 2-1. This is a huge game for Boston, especially at home and a loss would be devastating. They will send Tampa killer Ti...

MLB-Baseball-Picks-October-13-2008
The Tampa Bay Rays will head to Boston with the series tied at one game apiece. The Red Sox will send Jon Lester to the mound who has been money at Fenway this season as he is 11-1 with a 2.49 ERA. Ov...

MLB-Baseball-Picks-October-12-2008
The Dodgers have their work cut-out for them as they head back to LA trailing the Phillies two games to none. They will send Hiroki Kuroda to the mound and he has been a hot pitcher of late. In his fi...