Has there ever been a manager in baseball like Felipe Alou who can get results while playing with less then a full deck? With all the swirling controversy in San Francisco, Alou has been able to keep his players focused long enough to post a 49-47 record, good enough for second place and just 1 ? games out of first.

Tonight, they host the division leading Padres and unfortunately for the Bay area team, Jake Peavy will be standing on the hill. When the ace pitcher toes the rubber, if you're into making some money sports betting, it's a good idea to place your bets on the Padres.

Peavy (4-9, 4.78 ERA) hasn't won since May 28th, but will look to defeat San Francisco for the fourth straight time when he takes the mound Friday in the second game of the club's four-game series at AT&T Park. Peavy is 8-3 with a 3.07 ERA in 15 career starts against San Francisco including 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA in two starts this season. He is 2-9 with a 5.23 ERA this season in his 16 outings versus all other opponents including 0-4 in his last seven starts.

The 25-year-old right-hander hasn't lost to the Giants since September 17, 2004 when he gave up Barry Bonds 700th career home run. Bonds is 6-for-25 (.240) in his career against Peavy with three homers, 11 walks and five strikeouts. He went 0-for-2 in a 10-4 loss to Peavy and the Padres on May 1.

Will Peavy turn his season around against his usual victims or will the Giants find success against the struggling Padre? Pick-em is the line. Bet it at your favorite sportsbook.

The hungry Tigers host the dangerous Oakland A's who are always making noise annually after the All-Star break. Oakland is 289-162 (.641) after the All-Star break since the 2000 season. Before this season's break, the A's dropped three of four to the Los Angeles Angels, but rebounded to take three of four from AL-East leading Boston last weekend.

A very interesting player may return to the lineup on Friday as Dmitri Young resurfaces from the minors. This guy has a tendency to run his mouth a bit too much and has had some serious personal issues this season. Tigers skipper Jim Leyland will run his butt out of town if Young falls off the wagon once more. There is no doubting Young's potential, but it remains to be seen if he can abide by the boss' rules!

If you like A. J. Burnett, then tonight is the night to bet him as he is a lukewarm -121 to beat the Yankees. New York once again got a shoddy fielding performance from A Rod and the pinstripers lost to the Jays. The reigning AL MVP made his 17th error in the series opener, a 5-4, 11-inning loss Thursday for New York that ended with a walk-off home run by Toronto's Vernon Wells.

On Friday, the Yankees hand the ball to Jaret Wright (6-4, 4.29 ERA) who looks to win three consecutive starts for the first time since 2004. Wright's starts haven't been spectacular or particularly effective this season, but he's been backed by solid run support and a strong bullpen.

In his last start on Sunday against the Chicago White Sox Wright pitched 5 1-3 innings giving up three runs and eight hits in the 6-4 win.

Wright is 1-5 with a 9.17 ERA in nine starts against the Blue Jays. He gave up four runs in five innings in his last start against them on April 28th walking four in a 7-2 loss.

Toronto will counter with A.J. Burnett (1-3, 4.25), who is trying to regain his form since coming off the disabled list on June 22. The right-hander has been inconsistent since rejoining the team, but is coming off one of his better starts from Sunday, when he held the Seattle Mariners to two runs in seven innings while striking out seven.

Burnett, who is 1-2 with a 3.62 ERA in five starts since coming off the disabled list, did not get a decision in Toronto's 4-3, 11-inning win.

Bob Acton

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