SPORTS N STUFF

When Milwaukee Brewers slugger Prince Fielder was chosen as the captain for the National League All Star home run team, he made sure that he brought along one of his own by selecting Rickie Weeks. While it didnt turn out for him in Arizona, both will hope to demonstrate some power and build on their 29 combined home runs as the second half of their MLB betting season gets underway on the road against the Colorado Rockies.

Milwaukee Brewers @ Colorado Rockies

Thursday, 8:40 PM ET

With Fielder, Weeks, and Ryan Braun all hitting around the .300 mark, the Brewers rode their powerful offense to the top of the NL Central this season. However, if Milwaukee is going to have any long term success this season they will need their pitching staff to step up on a more consistent basis, as their combined ERA ranked 20th in the majors through the first half of 2011. The Brewers will open their series with Yovani Gollardo looking to build on his 10 wins, and while he has been pretty solid so far this season management still feels as though he is yet to reach his potential. The good news is that the Rockies will counter with another starter that hasnt come close to reaching his potential in Ubaldo Jimenez, and that they havent been very good at home this season regardless of who is on the mound.

MLB Betting Pick: Milwaukee Brewers

Milwaukee Brewers @ Colorado Rockies

Friday, 8:40 PM ET

It wont get any easier for a Colorado team that hit the All Star break five games below .500 on Friday when they send 24-year old Juan Nicasio to the mound. Nicasio allowed five earned runs in just 2.1 innings of work in his last start, a 6-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves. Its hard to project what Milwaukee will get out of Chris Narveson on any given night, but as long as he can avoid getting shaken early the offense should be able to provide him with enough help to get the job done.

MLB Betting Pick: Milwaukee Brewers

Milwaukee Brewers @ Colorado Rockies

Saturday, 8:10 PM ET

Colorados best chance to break up a potential sweep could come on Saturday with Jhoulys Chacin on the mound against Zach Grienke. Chacin finished the first half of the season with an 8-7 record and 3.16 ERA, and while that is much better than Grienkes 5.45 mark it is surprising that the Brewers starter actually has a better record at 7-3. The thinking here is that just makes Grienke that much more overdue for a loss, allowing the Rockies to finally get back in the sports betting win column.

MLB Betting Pick: Colorado Rockies

Milwaukee Brewers @ Colorado Rockies

Sunday, 3:10 PM ET

The biggest key to the Brewers second half chances is Shaun Marcum, which is fitting considering that he has been the teams best starter all year. Marcum needed the break to rest a nagging hip injury that had been causing him sports betting bonus problems, and could bounce back with his best start of the season against the winless Aaron Cook.

MLB Betting Pick: Milwaukee Brewers