This is an 8* play on the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Phillies have just signed veteran Kevin Correia to a contract and he'll make his first start for them today. While Jeff Locke has had his struggles this year, this is a spot in which both he and the Pirates will be able to take advantage of. Philadelphia is one of the league's softest hitting teams, which is bad news for Correia, who was 0-1 with a pedestrian 3.58 ERA in six starts with the Giants' Triple-A team in Sacramento (note that Correia was 7-17 with a 5.44 ERA last year). Counterpart Locke is 3-3 with a 5.37 ERA and is a highly respectable 2-1 with a 3.52 ERA in front of the home town crowd. As a situational handicapper, these are exactly the types of contests that I keep my eyes open for. While Locke has been anything but a "lock" this year, he's certainly looked better of late and has a clear advantage in facing the Phillies who continue to struggle with the stick. Correia is a confirmed "gas can" and faces a tough test in his first start back in the bigs. I'm laying the price and backing the PIRATES.

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