****Have a great Day****
3-Unit Play. Take #926 Los Angeles Angels (-135) over Oakland (9 p.m.)
I know that the Angels’ rotation has taken some hits. But that’s the type of thing that’s going to wear on them a bit over the long haul. As for Opening Day, I’m a Joe Saunders fan. The kid is 7-0 in his career in April with a 2.04 ERA. Solid. He’s also been very good against the A’s in his career, going 5-2 with a 3.33 ERA against them. And that highlights what has been an issue for the A’s for several years now – they aren’t very good against left-handed pitching. Matt Holiday will surely help that, and Orlando Cabrera isn’t too shabby. But that’s not enough to offset the fact that they finished last year just 8-17 against lefties. Also, the Halos are 38-15 in Saunders’ last 53 starts and 25-10 in his last 35 home starts.
The Angels, on the other hand, chew up lefties. And Dallas Braden isn’t even a good lefty. The Halos are 17-8 against left-handed starters and have been one of the best teams against lefties over the last three years. Braden wasn’t that impressive this spring and I don’t think he’s up to the task here. I think that the Angels want to make a statement in this game. I’m not big on a carryover from Spring Training, but the Angels were absolutely outstanding this Spring. Atlanta was very good this spring as well, which is partially why I backed them last night, and it looked like the winning did carry over. I’m looking for a similar effect here.
2.5-Unit Play. Take #901 New York Mets (-155) over Cincinnati (1 p.m.)
1-Unit Play. Take #901 New York Mets (-1.5, +110) over Cincinnati (1 p.m.)
The Mets have been money on Opening Day, posting the most wins of any club on MLB’s first day. New York has a load more experience and they have a lot of guys that played in the WBC this year, both of which I feel gives them an advantage in this game. It shows me that they have played in big games, they have dealt with the anxiety and pressure and excitement of many Opening Days and they know how to deal with it. It also shows me that a majority of these Mets played in the WBC and have already been taking meaningful at-bats this spring. Was a coincidence last night that Brian McCann and Jeff Franceour – two guys that played for Team USA in the WBC – were the two guys doing the most damage? I think not.
I’m a big Aaron Harang guy. I think he’s going to have a nice bounceback year. But the Mets have a huge edge here because they have lefty sticks that can get to Harang, while our lefty, Johan Santana, will be able to carve up the lefties for the Reds. The Mets are 13-3 in Johan’s last 16 starts and 9-1 when he is a favorite. The Mets were exceptional on the road last year and I expect that to carry over.
2.5-Unit Play. Take 'Over' 9.5 Cleveland at Texas (2 p.m.)
Ah, another season in Arlington. The wind is blowing out today - I mean straight out - at 19 miles per hour. As if either one of these lineups needed any help putting runs on the board they will be getting a little boost from Mother Nature. By now we all know what Kevin Millwood is and Cliff Lee has been a wreck this spring. He looks a bit too much like the 2007 Lee for my liking. We have two of the best lineups in the A.L., with the wind at their backs, going up against two iffy arms with not-so-strong bullpens waiting in the wings. We'll roll the bones here.
1.5-Unit Play. Take #904 Arizona (-160) over Colorado (3:40 p.m.)
It’s Brandon Webb in April. Sometimes its best not to complicate things. Webb is 17-2 in his career in April and the D-Backs are 37-14 in his last 51 home starts. The Rockies aren’t a great road team and aren’t a great underdog. Arizona is 15-3 in the last 18 meetings overall and 8-2 in their last 10 against Aaron Cook.
1-Unit Play. Take #921 Detroit (+135) over Toronto (7 p.m.)
Call me crazy, but I actually like the Tigers out of the box this season. I'm intent to work a chase on them similar to the one I worked on Atlanta - and hopefully with the same results. It's crazy to go against Doc Halladay at home. Crazy. But if there is a month to get on Doc it's in April. He has a career 20-16 mark in the opening month and is 111-50 in all the other months combined. I like the value here on the Tigers, as I don't think that the Jays have enough offense (again) this year.
1-Unit Play. Take #909 L.A. Dodgers (+115) over San Diego (7 p.m.)
Going against Peavy and Halladay - at home - on the same day? Yeah, I gotta do it. The Dodgers are the best in the West and Hiroki Kuroda is one of the few decent arms they have in that lineup. I just think that the Dodgers have enough offense to scratch out a couple runs against Peavy. I'm still very unsteady when it comes to the lineup that the Dads are trotting out there. If we lose to Peavy and Halladay then it cost us -200 to find out what we already knew. If we can just earn a split out of these two picks that's a profit from the pair and that fits into the rest of today's lineup.
1.5-Unit Play. Take #924 Minnesota (-140) over Seattle (8 p.m.)
No Ichiro for this one has the M’s scrambling to piece together a lineup that is strong at the top. The Mariners are not a great road team and haven’t been a great turf team. In fact, King Felix is just 8-13 with a 4.77 ERA on turf in his career. The Twins are going to ride that homefield advantage. And what they have lost with Mauer they have picked up with guys like Cuddyer, Crede, and Kubel. I like that Liriano is starting over Baker today and as long as Francisco stays away from Adrian Beltre I think the Twins can get to King Felix.
That's it for today. Good luck.
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Originally Posted by jellobiafra
The Blue Jays are 25-7 on opening day now