The Indians are playing solid baseball right now on a 5 game win streak. Starting pitchers have been performing well, and the tribe has some real live bats right now. Travis Hafner has turned his career around so far this season and is pounding the ball and putting up huge stats .375 average 2 homers and 6 RBI's. Orlando Cabrera has been an important addition to the Indians this season hitting for a .360 average so far. Most importantly the bullpen has been clutch and they have 3 rested key bullpen pitchers who are ready for tonight after getting the night off with the Indians destroying the mariners last night. Tony Sipp has performed well in his 7th inning relief role, and set up man Rafael Perez has been lights out in clutch situations. Closer Chris Perez has been shaky in his 3 appearances, but has gotten the job done and finished games off. The bullpen will be rested coming off their 3 game series sweep of the Red Sox earlier this week, and Justin Masterson should put together another solid outing of 6-7 innings.
Justin Masterson is pitching very well right now and will start the game tonight vs. the Seattle Mariners. He is (1-0, 1.29 ERA) on the season thus far, and gave up one run in seven innings of a 7-1 win over the White Sox last Sunday during his first start of the year. Masterson is 2-0 with a 1.16 ERA in three starts and three relief appearances against the Mariners. He faced them once last season, giving up one hit in six scoreless innings of a 9-1 home win Aug. 15.
The Mariners are trying to stop a 5 game losing streak, the starting pitcher for the M'S tonight is
Doug Fister (0-1, 3.18). Fister lasted 5 2/3 innings at Oakland in his first start last Sunday, giving up three runs and eight hits in a 7-1 defeat. Fister is 0-1 with a 4.63 ERA in two starts against Cleveland. He gave up four runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings of a 6-3 home loss against the Indians Sept. 2. last season.
For all of these reasons I am going against all of my common sense and betting 7 units on the Moneyline for the Indians tonight, to beat the Mariners. But....follow with caution, I am currently down 5 units on the season and hold a 8-12 betting record so far, maybe you should fade my pick