**Blue Jays at Red Sox**
--Boston (5-1, +400) storms into Fenway Park for its home opener following a successful season-starting road trip. The Red Sox are minus 200 favorites with a total of 9 1/2 'under' (minus 115). Bettors can avoid the expensive straight price by going the run-line route (minus 1 1/2 runs) for an even-money wager.
--Josh Becket (1-0, 1.29 ERA) will be making his second start since coming over from Florida in an off-season trade. The hard-throwing Texan will be opposed by Josh Towers (0-1, 7.71).
--Beckett was sharp in his American League debut, working seven innings and allowing just one run in a 2-1 win at Texas. He has never pitched at Fenway, nor has he faced the Blue Jays.
--Toronto (3-3) won two out of three games against Minnesota, but the Blue Jays had to be disappointed with losing two of three over the weekend against Tampa Bay. Now they go on the road for the first time with a trip to Chicago on deck following this three-game series.
--Towers owns a 3-3 record and 6.75 lifetime ERA against Boston.
--Boston's Trot Nixon feasts on Towers, hitting .500 (9-for-18) with two doubles and two homers.
--Red Sox slugger David Ortiz, who signed a monster contract extension Monday, is 2-for-6 versus Towers with both hits leaving the yard.
--The 'under' is 3-2-1 for the Red Sox. On the other hand, the 'over' is 4-1-1 for Toronto.
--Get your bets in early for this 2:05 p.m. Eastern start.
**Astros at Giants**
--Most spots are listing San Francisco (4-2, +210) as a minus 165 favorite with a total of 8 1/2 'over' (minus 120). The Giants are plus 120 on the run line.
--Houston (5-2, +116) hits the road after a solid home stand to start the year. The Astros are in a three-way tie for first place in the NL Central with the Brewers and Cubs.
--The Giants are tied for first place in the NL West with the Rockies, one-half game in front of the Dodgers.
--San Francisco RHP Matt Morris (1-0, 1.42) is 9-10 with a 3.53 career ERA against the Astros. Morris was sharp in his Giants debut, a 3-1 win against the Padres.
--Lance Berkman is 20-for-56 (.357) against Morris with three doubles and two homers. Mike Lamb is 5-for-14 (.357) off the veteran right-hander with three homers.
--Houston will give the ball to Taylor Bucholz for his first major league start. Bucholz earned the No. 5 spot in the rotation with a 1.50 ERA in 30 spring training innings.
--The 'over' has hit in four straight San Francisco games.
--The 'over' is 4-2 for the Astros, 4-1-1 for the Giants.
**B.E.'s Bonus Nuggets**
--Atlanta placed Chipper Jones on the 15-day disabled list Monday. However, gamblers shouldn't be too concerned about the Braves, who will plug Wilson Betemit into the lineup. Remember, Betemit played extremely well when Jones was injured last season.
--KC's Joe Mays is 1-7 with a 5.54 ERA in nine career starts against the Yankees, who play host to the Royals at 1:05 p.m. Eastern.
--Cleveland LHP Cliff Lee is 4-0 with a 3.94 ERA in five career starts against Seattle.
--Tampa Bay will give Jason Hammel his MLB debut against Baltimore tonight. Hammel was called up from Triple-A Durham on Monday because Mark Hendrickson went on the 15-day disabled list.
--Mets slugger Carlos Delgado is 12-for-30 (.400) against Washington RHP Ramon Ortiz, belting four doubles and five homers.
--Dodgers closer Eric Gagne is out 6-8 weeks. In other L.A. news, Derek Lowe will throw on three days' rest Thursday against Pittsburgh.
--More Dodgers: Since 2001, they own a 16-3 record at Pittsburgh.
--The 'over' is 7-1 for the Braves.
--Boston (5-1, +400) storms into Fenway Park for its home opener following a successful season-starting road trip. The Red Sox are minus 200 favorites with a total of 9 1/2 'under' (minus 115). Bettors can avoid the expensive straight price by going the run-line route (minus 1 1/2 runs) for an even-money wager.
--Josh Becket (1-0, 1.29 ERA) will be making his second start since coming over from Florida in an off-season trade. The hard-throwing Texan will be opposed by Josh Towers (0-1, 7.71).
--Beckett was sharp in his American League debut, working seven innings and allowing just one run in a 2-1 win at Texas. He has never pitched at Fenway, nor has he faced the Blue Jays.
--Toronto (3-3) won two out of three games against Minnesota, but the Blue Jays had to be disappointed with losing two of three over the weekend against Tampa Bay. Now they go on the road for the first time with a trip to Chicago on deck following this three-game series.
--Towers owns a 3-3 record and 6.75 lifetime ERA against Boston.
--Boston's Trot Nixon feasts on Towers, hitting .500 (9-for-18) with two doubles and two homers.
--Red Sox slugger David Ortiz, who signed a monster contract extension Monday, is 2-for-6 versus Towers with both hits leaving the yard.
--The 'under' is 3-2-1 for the Red Sox. On the other hand, the 'over' is 4-1-1 for Toronto.
--Get your bets in early for this 2:05 p.m. Eastern start.
**Astros at Giants**
--Most spots are listing San Francisco (4-2, +210) as a minus 165 favorite with a total of 8 1/2 'over' (minus 120). The Giants are plus 120 on the run line.
--Houston (5-2, +116) hits the road after a solid home stand to start the year. The Astros are in a three-way tie for first place in the NL Central with the Brewers and Cubs.
--The Giants are tied for first place in the NL West with the Rockies, one-half game in front of the Dodgers.
--San Francisco RHP Matt Morris (1-0, 1.42) is 9-10 with a 3.53 career ERA against the Astros. Morris was sharp in his Giants debut, a 3-1 win against the Padres.
--Lance Berkman is 20-for-56 (.357) against Morris with three doubles and two homers. Mike Lamb is 5-for-14 (.357) off the veteran right-hander with three homers.
--Houston will give the ball to Taylor Bucholz for his first major league start. Bucholz earned the No. 5 spot in the rotation with a 1.50 ERA in 30 spring training innings.
--The 'over' has hit in four straight San Francisco games.
--The 'over' is 4-2 for the Astros, 4-1-1 for the Giants.
**B.E.'s Bonus Nuggets**
--Atlanta placed Chipper Jones on the 15-day disabled list Monday. However, gamblers shouldn't be too concerned about the Braves, who will plug Wilson Betemit into the lineup. Remember, Betemit played extremely well when Jones was injured last season.
--KC's Joe Mays is 1-7 with a 5.54 ERA in nine career starts against the Yankees, who play host to the Royals at 1:05 p.m. Eastern.
--Cleveland LHP Cliff Lee is 4-0 with a 3.94 ERA in five career starts against Seattle.
--Tampa Bay will give Jason Hammel his MLB debut against Baltimore tonight. Hammel was called up from Triple-A Durham on Monday because Mark Hendrickson went on the 15-day disabled list.
--Mets slugger Carlos Delgado is 12-for-30 (.400) against Washington RHP Ramon Ortiz, belting four doubles and five homers.
--Dodgers closer Eric Gagne is out 6-8 weeks. In other L.A. news, Derek Lowe will throw on three days' rest Thursday against Pittsburgh.
--More Dodgers: Since 2001, they own a 16-3 record at Pittsburgh.
--The 'over' is 7-1 for the Braves.