Today’s Picks
Toronto Blue Jays -125
Chicago Cubs +135
KC/Philadelphia Under 7 (+106)
Seattle/CWS Under 7.5
LA Dodgers -155
Boston Red Sox at Toronto Blue Jays
Jon Lester vs R.A. Dickey
Odds: Tor -125 Bos +115 , O/U: 8
R.A. Dickey needed some apparent time with Arencibia. R.A. Dickey and Arencibia both were a little nervous in the home opener and the results were a little shaky. However, they did settle in and I look for a Cy Young performance here. His knuckle was ranging around 80 mph’s and his velocity on his fastball was in the mid 80’s as it has always been. He’s always like the indoors and against a Boston lineup that has hit an offensive funk, this is not the right time to bounce out of it. For Toronto on the offensive side, they are on the up and up averaging 6.3 runs in their last 3 games and a lot of the Jays hitters see the ball well off of Lester, lead the AL now in HR’s with 11. JP has gone deep twice, Joey Bats 4 times, Rajai, Derosa, and Encarnacion have also homered off Lester and I expect some more fireworks today. Toronto at this price is legit and look to win their 3rd game in 4 days.
Washington Nationals at Cincinnati Reds
Stephen Strasburg vs Johnny Cueto
Odds: Was -115 Cin -105, O/U: 7
• Over is 9-1 in Washington’s last 10 road games
• Washington is 6-2 in Strasburg’s last 8 starts
• Reds are 4-0 in last 4 games as a dog
• Over is 5-1 in last 6 meetings
• Strasburg hasn’t given up a HR to Reds hitters
• Reds are 4-1 in Cueto’s last 5 starts vs Nationals and is coming off a start giving up 1 ER in 7 IP
Miami Marlins at NY Mets
Jose Fernandez vs Aaron Laffey
Odds: NYM -155 Mia +135, O/U: 8
• Mets are 9-3 in last 12 as a favorite
• Marlins are 3-9 overall in last 12 meetings
• Over is 5-1-1 last 7 games in NY
• Both pitchers make their MLB debut
• Fernandez is the youngest pitcher in team history at 20 years old
Seattle Mariners at Chicago White Sox
Hisashi Iwakuma vs Chris Sale
Odds: CWS -170 Sea +150, O/U: 7.5
Iwakuma looked impressive in his 1st start of the year walking none and striking out seven. The Mariners are 4-0 in his last 4 starts and Sale, who also looked great in his 1st start, and the Sox are 7-1 in his 8 starts at home. Sale is 2-0 with a 2.55 in his career against Seattle and after watching them play yesterday, both offenses should be kept in check and off balance again today. Under 7.5
Oakland Athletics at Houston Astros
Brett Anderson vs Lucas Harrell
Odds: Oak -155 Hou +135, O/U: 7.5
• Oakland looks for 3-0 to sweep series
• A’s are 8-0 in last 8 as a road favorite
• Under is 4-0 in Harrell’s last 4 starts overall
• Over is 3-1-1 in Anderson’s last 5 starts as a road favorite
LA Angels at Texas Rangers
Jered Weaver vs Yu Darvish
Odds: Tex -145 LAA +125, O/U: 8.5
• Texas has won the last 2 of 3 in the series
• The Angels are 10-2 in overs in their last 12
• Texas is 6-2 in overs in their last 8 home games
• LAA are 4-0 in Weaver’s last 4 starts vs Rangers
Kansas City Royals at Philadelphia Phillies
James Shields vs Cole Hamels
Odds: Phi -140 KC +120, O/U: 7.5
KC was stunned as all of us were too. We had a comfortable win coming as we backed the Royals yesterday to only have Holland enter the 9th up 3-1 and walk the bases loaded. He found it somehow, struck out the next two which provided up hope, but then served a 3 run double up to pinch hitter Frandsen. Mendoza looked brilliant throwing 6IP and only surrendering 2 hits and I expect the same today with Shields. He threw solid in his season debut and will face Hamels who wasn’t so hot in his 1st start, giving up 3 jacks in 5 IP mostly due to falling behind in the count. Hamels had a tremendous spring in which is command was there and should bounce back today against KC who couldn’t even really sniff an inferior lefty to Hamels in John Lannan. Hamels owned a 2.73 ERA last year in April and looks like a solid outing is in the making. The over/under is on the move now, by the time you read this it’ll be at 7, I like it there as well, Under 7 (+106) as of press time.
Cleveland Indians at Tampa Bay Rays
Justin Masterson vs Jason Hammel
Odds: TB -200 Cle +170, O/U: 7
• TB is 5-0 in Price’s last 5 starts vs Indians
• Under is 6-1 in the series, last 7 in TB
• TB has won 4 of 5 in the series
Pittsburgh Pirates at LA Dodgers
Jeff Locke vs Hyun-Jin Ryu
Odds: LAD -155 Pit +145, O/U: 7.5
Ryu threw well in his MLB debut against the Giants last time out, pitching himself out of jams. The Dodgers have won 9 of 10 in the series. This is a great price, Dodgers win big.
Arizona Dbacks at Milwaukee Brewers
Ian Kennedy vs Yovani Gallardo
Odds: Mil -120 Ari +100, O/U: 7.5
• Gallardo is 7-0, 1.09 ERA career against Dbacks
• Arizona is 7-1 in Kennedy’s last 8 starts
• Under is 4-0 in Gallardo’s last 4 home starts vs Dbacks
• Under is 4-1 in Kennedy’s last 5 starts vs Brewers
Chicago Cubs at Atlanta Braves
Jeff Samardzija vs Tim Hudson
Odds: Atl -150 ChC +135, O/U: 7
The 28 year old Samardzija was dominant in his 1st outing representing his mid 90’s heater and that nasty split that he uses to upset the hitter’s timing. He’ll face an Atlanta offense only averaging 3.3 runs in their last 3 games and has a great chance to keep them fishing at the plate again today. Tim Hudson toes the rubber for Atlanta and has looked average thus far in the spring and in his first outing. He’s a sinker/slider guy who intends to induce hitters to be out in front or late on pitches, but it appears he doesn’t quite have his legs yet. But at 37, it could take longer than in years past. The Cubs are a live dog at Turner Field today and look to win this one before heading back to Chicago for a 7 game home stand beginning with the Brewers on Monday.
San Diego Padres at Colorado Rockies
Edinson Volquez vs Jhoulys Chacin
Odds: Col -165 SD +145, O/U: 10
• Over is 9-4 in Colorado’s last 13 home games
• The home team has won 6 of 7 in the series
• Colorado is 2-0 at home this year
NY Yankees at Detroit Tigers
CC Sabathia vs Justin Verlander
Odds: Det -190 NYY +165, O/U: 7
• Detroit is 2-0 at home this year
• NYY have played in 4 overs out of 5 games
• Detroit has won 6 straight games against NYY
• Detroit is 39-13 in last 52 home games
• Over is 6-2 between these 2 teams last 8 meetings in Detroit
Minnesota Twins at Baltimore Orioles
Pedro Hernandez vs Jason Hammel
Odds: Bal -180 Min +160, O/U: 9
• Baltimore is 5-0 in overs this year
• Baltimore has won 3 or last 4
• Min is 3-7 in last 10 as a dog
• Baltimore is 21-5 in last 26 following a loss
• Over is 4-1-1 in Hammel’s last 6 starts overall
St. Louis Cardinals at San Francisco Giants
Adam Wainwright vs Matt Cain
Odds: SF -145 STL +125, O/U: 7
• Over is 6-1 in last 7 meeting in SF
• Giants are 6-1 in last 7 home games
• Giants are 9-1 in last 10 games vs right handed starter
• Giants are 4-1 in Cain’s last 5 home starts vs. Cardinals
• Wainwright posted a 7.32 ERA last April and gave up 3 ER in 6 IP in his last outing
Toronto Blue Jays -125
Chicago Cubs +135
KC/Philadelphia Under 7 (+106)
Seattle/CWS Under 7.5
LA Dodgers -155
Boston Red Sox at Toronto Blue Jays
Jon Lester vs R.A. Dickey
Odds: Tor -125 Bos +115 , O/U: 8
R.A. Dickey needed some apparent time with Arencibia. R.A. Dickey and Arencibia both were a little nervous in the home opener and the results were a little shaky. However, they did settle in and I look for a Cy Young performance here. His knuckle was ranging around 80 mph’s and his velocity on his fastball was in the mid 80’s as it has always been. He’s always like the indoors and against a Boston lineup that has hit an offensive funk, this is not the right time to bounce out of it. For Toronto on the offensive side, they are on the up and up averaging 6.3 runs in their last 3 games and a lot of the Jays hitters see the ball well off of Lester, lead the AL now in HR’s with 11. JP has gone deep twice, Joey Bats 4 times, Rajai, Derosa, and Encarnacion have also homered off Lester and I expect some more fireworks today. Toronto at this price is legit and look to win their 3rd game in 4 days.
Washington Nationals at Cincinnati Reds
Stephen Strasburg vs Johnny Cueto
Odds: Was -115 Cin -105, O/U: 7
• Over is 9-1 in Washington’s last 10 road games
• Washington is 6-2 in Strasburg’s last 8 starts
• Reds are 4-0 in last 4 games as a dog
• Over is 5-1 in last 6 meetings
• Strasburg hasn’t given up a HR to Reds hitters
• Reds are 4-1 in Cueto’s last 5 starts vs Nationals and is coming off a start giving up 1 ER in 7 IP
Miami Marlins at NY Mets
Jose Fernandez vs Aaron Laffey
Odds: NYM -155 Mia +135, O/U: 8
• Mets are 9-3 in last 12 as a favorite
• Marlins are 3-9 overall in last 12 meetings
• Over is 5-1-1 last 7 games in NY
• Both pitchers make their MLB debut
• Fernandez is the youngest pitcher in team history at 20 years old
Seattle Mariners at Chicago White Sox
Hisashi Iwakuma vs Chris Sale
Odds: CWS -170 Sea +150, O/U: 7.5
Iwakuma looked impressive in his 1st start of the year walking none and striking out seven. The Mariners are 4-0 in his last 4 starts and Sale, who also looked great in his 1st start, and the Sox are 7-1 in his 8 starts at home. Sale is 2-0 with a 2.55 in his career against Seattle and after watching them play yesterday, both offenses should be kept in check and off balance again today. Under 7.5
Oakland Athletics at Houston Astros
Brett Anderson vs Lucas Harrell
Odds: Oak -155 Hou +135, O/U: 7.5
• Oakland looks for 3-0 to sweep series
• A’s are 8-0 in last 8 as a road favorite
• Under is 4-0 in Harrell’s last 4 starts overall
• Over is 3-1-1 in Anderson’s last 5 starts as a road favorite
LA Angels at Texas Rangers
Jered Weaver vs Yu Darvish
Odds: Tex -145 LAA +125, O/U: 8.5
• Texas has won the last 2 of 3 in the series
• The Angels are 10-2 in overs in their last 12
• Texas is 6-2 in overs in their last 8 home games
• LAA are 4-0 in Weaver’s last 4 starts vs Rangers
Kansas City Royals at Philadelphia Phillies
James Shields vs Cole Hamels
Odds: Phi -140 KC +120, O/U: 7.5
KC was stunned as all of us were too. We had a comfortable win coming as we backed the Royals yesterday to only have Holland enter the 9th up 3-1 and walk the bases loaded. He found it somehow, struck out the next two which provided up hope, but then served a 3 run double up to pinch hitter Frandsen. Mendoza looked brilliant throwing 6IP and only surrendering 2 hits and I expect the same today with Shields. He threw solid in his season debut and will face Hamels who wasn’t so hot in his 1st start, giving up 3 jacks in 5 IP mostly due to falling behind in the count. Hamels had a tremendous spring in which is command was there and should bounce back today against KC who couldn’t even really sniff an inferior lefty to Hamels in John Lannan. Hamels owned a 2.73 ERA last year in April and looks like a solid outing is in the making. The over/under is on the move now, by the time you read this it’ll be at 7, I like it there as well, Under 7 (+106) as of press time.
Cleveland Indians at Tampa Bay Rays
Justin Masterson vs Jason Hammel
Odds: TB -200 Cle +170, O/U: 7
• TB is 5-0 in Price’s last 5 starts vs Indians
• Under is 6-1 in the series, last 7 in TB
• TB has won 4 of 5 in the series
Pittsburgh Pirates at LA Dodgers
Jeff Locke vs Hyun-Jin Ryu
Odds: LAD -155 Pit +145, O/U: 7.5
Ryu threw well in his MLB debut against the Giants last time out, pitching himself out of jams. The Dodgers have won 9 of 10 in the series. This is a great price, Dodgers win big.
Arizona Dbacks at Milwaukee Brewers
Ian Kennedy vs Yovani Gallardo
Odds: Mil -120 Ari +100, O/U: 7.5
• Gallardo is 7-0, 1.09 ERA career against Dbacks
• Arizona is 7-1 in Kennedy’s last 8 starts
• Under is 4-0 in Gallardo’s last 4 home starts vs Dbacks
• Under is 4-1 in Kennedy’s last 5 starts vs Brewers
Chicago Cubs at Atlanta Braves
Jeff Samardzija vs Tim Hudson
Odds: Atl -150 ChC +135, O/U: 7
The 28 year old Samardzija was dominant in his 1st outing representing his mid 90’s heater and that nasty split that he uses to upset the hitter’s timing. He’ll face an Atlanta offense only averaging 3.3 runs in their last 3 games and has a great chance to keep them fishing at the plate again today. Tim Hudson toes the rubber for Atlanta and has looked average thus far in the spring and in his first outing. He’s a sinker/slider guy who intends to induce hitters to be out in front or late on pitches, but it appears he doesn’t quite have his legs yet. But at 37, it could take longer than in years past. The Cubs are a live dog at Turner Field today and look to win this one before heading back to Chicago for a 7 game home stand beginning with the Brewers on Monday.
San Diego Padres at Colorado Rockies
Edinson Volquez vs Jhoulys Chacin
Odds: Col -165 SD +145, O/U: 10
• Over is 9-4 in Colorado’s last 13 home games
• The home team has won 6 of 7 in the series
• Colorado is 2-0 at home this year
NY Yankees at Detroit Tigers
CC Sabathia vs Justin Verlander
Odds: Det -190 NYY +165, O/U: 7
• Detroit is 2-0 at home this year
• NYY have played in 4 overs out of 5 games
• Detroit has won 6 straight games against NYY
• Detroit is 39-13 in last 52 home games
• Over is 6-2 between these 2 teams last 8 meetings in Detroit
Minnesota Twins at Baltimore Orioles
Pedro Hernandez vs Jason Hammel
Odds: Bal -180 Min +160, O/U: 9
• Baltimore is 5-0 in overs this year
• Baltimore has won 3 or last 4
• Min is 3-7 in last 10 as a dog
• Baltimore is 21-5 in last 26 following a loss
• Over is 4-1-1 in Hammel’s last 6 starts overall
St. Louis Cardinals at San Francisco Giants
Adam Wainwright vs Matt Cain
Odds: SF -145 STL +125, O/U: 7
• Over is 6-1 in last 7 meeting in SF
• Giants are 6-1 in last 7 home games
• Giants are 9-1 in last 10 games vs right handed starter
• Giants are 4-1 in Cain’s last 5 home starts vs. Cardinals
• Wainwright posted a 7.32 ERA last April and gave up 3 ER in 6 IP in his last outing