The rays have started the season in winning fashion. Tampa Bay has been perfect on the road, this season, posting a 7-0 record thus far and now are on an 8-0 winning streak dating back to last year. The Rays have dominated opponenets with the bats. These power hitters have hit 11 homeruns, 17 doubles, and have averaged 6.6rpg. over the course of 7 straight wins on the road. Pretty impressive to day the least. David Price gets the start for the Rays. The young lefty was outstanding in his last start pitching 7 innings and giving up only 1 earnd run in the game against the Orioles on Wednesday. Price has mounted up 14 Ks in 14 2/3 innings and has gotten 9 runs o work with in each ofhis last 2 starts. But facing the White Sox has been no walk in te park. Price in his first ad only start against Chicago he surrendered 4 runs of 8 hits in 6 innings. he is 0-1 with an even 6.00 era lifetime against the Sox. Chicago will counter with John Danks. He is 1-0 with a 1.38 era thus far. It appears he is on the tracks for another strong season, yeilding 1 earned run in each of his last 2 starts. The lefthander shut down Toronto Wednesday giving up only 2 hits and 6 Ks in 7 innings leading the Sox to an 11-1 routing of th Bluejays, Chicago's line-up isn't doing well at all going 2-13 with risp vs the Indians and hitting .222 this season including Carlos Quentin on a 3 for 27 slump. He is batting 1.60 (4-25) in his last 7 games against the Rays at Cellular Feild. Chicago has posted a 5.63 era during a 4 games losing streak and is in a desperate need of a boost from Danks tonight who is 4-1 lifetime against the Rays with 31 Ks in 30 innings. Chicago went 6-2 against the Rays last year. Look for Dank to make it 5-1 as he will roll up the dank and pour the drank against the Rays.
CHICAGO WHITE SOX +103
GAME 2
New York is off to a great start going 9-3. It is their best start since the 2003opening season, but it is only good enough for 2nd place right now as the red hot Rays are in control at first. Jeter left early in Saturday's game with flu-like symptoms, should return to the Yankees line-up tonight. This should be a good thing for New York as The Yankees Capitan has a bavg of .463 with 2 homers and 9 RBIs thus far. he has hit safely in last 11 games vs the Athletics and has hit safely in every start this season so far also adding he has 3 hrs and 7 RBIS during a 5 game multi-hit effort. Javier Vasquez had a great season with the Braves, last year, but it has been less than average thus far as a Yankee. His last 2 starts have been rough ones posting an 0-2 record and an era of almost 10. Things could not get any better for him knowing that he will face the Athletics tonight. He has not be a dominant pitcher against this Oakland team posting a 2-3 lifetime record an an er of almost 5. Oakland has an AL-best 2.90 era, will give Gio Gonzales the start tongiht for his first home start of the season. For most pitchers this is a comfort zone to pitch at home, However, it has been a nightmare for Gonzales as he has a 3-6 record with an elevated era over 7, in his 12 career starts at Oakland-Alameda Colisium. Dispite a terrible record in Oakland he has had a great start for Gonzales posting a 1-0 record with an era under 3.40 in his last 3 starts. and I can see both pitchers hurling to make an improvement for their situations. Chavez, Sweeney and Gross should be a concern for Rivera if he has to close this game as Chavez is 5 of 14, Sweeney is 3 of 5, and Gross is 3 of 9 against the closer. and on the other side A-Rod, Jeter, Posoda are all 0-3 against Gonzales. Texiera is only 1 of 4.
Oakland has not had a good history against New York but With Vasquez struggling and 1/3 on the Oakland line up hitting Rivera good I look for Oakland to steal one here.
OAKLAND ATHLETICS +149
CHICAGO WHITE SOX +103
GAME 2
New York is off to a great start going 9-3. It is their best start since the 2003opening season, but it is only good enough for 2nd place right now as the red hot Rays are in control at first. Jeter left early in Saturday's game with flu-like symptoms, should return to the Yankees line-up tonight. This should be a good thing for New York as The Yankees Capitan has a bavg of .463 with 2 homers and 9 RBIs thus far. he has hit safely in last 11 games vs the Athletics and has hit safely in every start this season so far also adding he has 3 hrs and 7 RBIS during a 5 game multi-hit effort. Javier Vasquez had a great season with the Braves, last year, but it has been less than average thus far as a Yankee. His last 2 starts have been rough ones posting an 0-2 record and an era of almost 10. Things could not get any better for him knowing that he will face the Athletics tonight. He has not be a dominant pitcher against this Oakland team posting a 2-3 lifetime record an an er of almost 5. Oakland has an AL-best 2.90 era, will give Gio Gonzales the start tongiht for his first home start of the season. For most pitchers this is a comfort zone to pitch at home, However, it has been a nightmare for Gonzales as he has a 3-6 record with an elevated era over 7, in his 12 career starts at Oakland-Alameda Colisium. Dispite a terrible record in Oakland he has had a great start for Gonzales posting a 1-0 record with an era under 3.40 in his last 3 starts. and I can see both pitchers hurling to make an improvement for their situations. Chavez, Sweeney and Gross should be a concern for Rivera if he has to close this game as Chavez is 5 of 14, Sweeney is 3 of 5, and Gross is 3 of 9 against the closer. and on the other side A-Rod, Jeter, Posoda are all 0-3 against Gonzales. Texiera is only 1 of 4.
Oakland has not had a good history against New York but With Vasquez struggling and 1/3 on the Oakland line up hitting Rivera good I look for Oakland to steal one here.
OAKLAND ATHLETICS +149