New York Yankees look to keep rolling vs. Twins
New York Yankees look to keep rolling vs. Twins
New York hopes to stop a recent trend Thursday in Minnesota when the Yanks and Twins conclude their three-game set. Alex Rodriguez and the Bronx Bombers have won 12 of their last 14, with the only two losses coming in series finales against the Mariners and Jays. A shift in Minnesota's rotation has moved Francisco Liriano up a day for this one with New York sending alfredo Aceves to the mound for his first start of 2009.
Don’t look now, but the New York Yankees are finally putting their mammoth payroll to good use. After stumbling out of the gate by their standards, the Yankees (50-34, -1.95 units) have reeled off moneyline victories in 12 of their last 14 contests to sit only one game behind the AL East-leading Boston Red Sox. Having all the momentum in the world behind them, New York looks to keep the good times rolling when it takes on the Minnesota Twins in the finale of a three-game series on Thursday at the Metrodome.
With a weekend series in Anaheim against the Los Angeles Angels on the horizon, you could hardly blame the Yankees for looking past the Twins (43-42, -2.42 units) on Thursday. Disinterest is about the only reason you’d fade the Bronx Bombers, who have cashed all six games against Minnesota this season.
Oddsmakers opened New York as -125 road chalk when the line was released on Wednesday afternoon, but that was when call-up Anthony Swarzak was scheduled to start for the Twins. Swarzak got the ball in last night’s 4-3 win by the Yanks (-147) instead, because scheduled starter Glen Perkins was scratched with a low-grade fever. Swarzak was tagged for four runs over 4 1-3 innings to take the loss for Minnesota, while winning pitcher A.J. Burnett allowed two runs over 6 1-3 innings to cash his third straight outing for New York.
It was announced late Wednesday night the Twins would move up lefthander Francisco Liriano (4-8, 5.49 ERA) from his scheduled start on Friday against the Chicago White Sox to pitch the getaway game. Good thing for Minny backers – Liriano is 0-3 with an 8.00 ERA in his three career starts against the White Sox. He’s fared better against the Yankees, including a strong performance in a no-decision on May 15 at Yankee Stadium. Liriano gave up only one run over six innings of work that day, striking out six, as the Yankees went on to clip the Twins (+119) 5-4.
Liriano and Minnesota were on the baseball betting odds board as +105 underdogs as of press time early on Thursday morning, but I’ll remind bettors to check the line for adjustments. Most Las Vegas and offshore outlets had not yet accounted for the change in starting pitchers, so the line and the 10-run total are likely on the move.
New York turns control of its current tear over to reliever Alfredo Aceves (5-1, 2.02 ERA) on Thursday, instead of triple AAA veteran Sergio Mitre. This is Aceves’ first start of the season, and it was precipitated by Chien-Ming Wang’s most recent trip to the 15-day disabled list because of shoulder trouble. The righthander is 1-0 with a 2.74 ERA in four career starts, all with the Yankees last season. Aceves last saw action in New York’s 10-8 payday as -191 home faves over the Toronto Blue Jays last Sunday, when he tossed four scoreless innings of relief to get ready for Thursday’s start.
The Yanks (-128) slammed the Twins 10-2 in the series opener on Tuesday, with CC Sabathia picking up the victory for New York. Sabathia held Minnesota to only one run over seven innings, while the Yankees’ bottom three in the batting order ate the Twins’ pitching alive. Robinson Cano, Brett Gardner, and backup catcher Francisco Cervelli combined to go 7-for-14 with six runs batted in for New York, which chased losing pitcher Scott Baker from the game after only three innings. Baker was rocked for five runs and nine hits for Minny, which had only four hits on the night.
The anemic showing at the dish in the opener is exhibit A of how the Twins have been extremely profitable for under bettors lately. Minnesota has played under the number in nine of its last 11 games in large part because of an offense that has failed to surround Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau with enough support. The case for the under is also strengthened by the Twins’ 2.63 bullpen ERA (exhibit B) over their last 10 contests, second only to the Yankees’ 1.60 ERA out of the ‘pen over the same span.
New York hopes to stop a recent trend Thursday in Minnesota when the Yanks and Twins conclude their three-game set. Alex Rodriguez and the Bronx Bombers have won 12 of their last 14, with the only two losses coming in series finales against the Mariners and Jays. A shift in Minnesota's rotation has moved Francisco Liriano up a day for this one with New York sending alfredo Aceves to the mound for his first start of 2009.
Don’t look now, but the New York Yankees are finally putting their mammoth payroll to good use. After stumbling out of the gate by their standards, the Yankees (50-34, -1.95 units) have reeled off moneyline victories in 12 of their last 14 contests to sit only one game behind the AL East-leading Boston Red Sox. Having all the momentum in the world behind them, New York looks to keep the good times rolling when it takes on the Minnesota Twins in the finale of a three-game series on Thursday at the Metrodome.
With a weekend series in Anaheim against the Los Angeles Angels on the horizon, you could hardly blame the Yankees for looking past the Twins (43-42, -2.42 units) on Thursday. Disinterest is about the only reason you’d fade the Bronx Bombers, who have cashed all six games against Minnesota this season.
Oddsmakers opened New York as -125 road chalk when the line was released on Wednesday afternoon, but that was when call-up Anthony Swarzak was scheduled to start for the Twins. Swarzak got the ball in last night’s 4-3 win by the Yanks (-147) instead, because scheduled starter Glen Perkins was scratched with a low-grade fever. Swarzak was tagged for four runs over 4 1-3 innings to take the loss for Minnesota, while winning pitcher A.J. Burnett allowed two runs over 6 1-3 innings to cash his third straight outing for New York.
It was announced late Wednesday night the Twins would move up lefthander Francisco Liriano (4-8, 5.49 ERA) from his scheduled start on Friday against the Chicago White Sox to pitch the getaway game. Good thing for Minny backers – Liriano is 0-3 with an 8.00 ERA in his three career starts against the White Sox. He’s fared better against the Yankees, including a strong performance in a no-decision on May 15 at Yankee Stadium. Liriano gave up only one run over six innings of work that day, striking out six, as the Yankees went on to clip the Twins (+119) 5-4.
Liriano and Minnesota were on the baseball betting odds board as +105 underdogs as of press time early on Thursday morning, but I’ll remind bettors to check the line for adjustments. Most Las Vegas and offshore outlets had not yet accounted for the change in starting pitchers, so the line and the 10-run total are likely on the move.
New York turns control of its current tear over to reliever Alfredo Aceves (5-1, 2.02 ERA) on Thursday, instead of triple AAA veteran Sergio Mitre. This is Aceves’ first start of the season, and it was precipitated by Chien-Ming Wang’s most recent trip to the 15-day disabled list because of shoulder trouble. The righthander is 1-0 with a 2.74 ERA in four career starts, all with the Yankees last season. Aceves last saw action in New York’s 10-8 payday as -191 home faves over the Toronto Blue Jays last Sunday, when he tossed four scoreless innings of relief to get ready for Thursday’s start.
The Yanks (-128) slammed the Twins 10-2 in the series opener on Tuesday, with CC Sabathia picking up the victory for New York. Sabathia held Minnesota to only one run over seven innings, while the Yankees’ bottom three in the batting order ate the Twins’ pitching alive. Robinson Cano, Brett Gardner, and backup catcher Francisco Cervelli combined to go 7-for-14 with six runs batted in for New York, which chased losing pitcher Scott Baker from the game after only three innings. Baker was rocked for five runs and nine hits for Minny, which had only four hits on the night.
The anemic showing at the dish in the opener is exhibit A of how the Twins have been extremely profitable for under bettors lately. Minnesota has played under the number in nine of its last 11 games in large part because of an offense that has failed to surround Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau with enough support. The case for the under is also strengthened by the Twins’ 2.63 bullpen ERA (exhibit B) over their last 10 contests, second only to the Yankees’ 1.60 ERA out of the ‘pen over the same span.