Randall the Handle

FLORIDA +1.01 over Atlanta PINNACLE
The Marlins and Braves virtually have the same record and they’re in a big battle for the wildcard. In other words, this is a big series with the Marlins being at home and facing a guy that hasn’t thrown a major-league pitch in 13 months. That’s a long time and after Tommy John surgery, Tim Hudson will very likely be on a strict pitch count and it’s also likely that he won’t be even close to sharp. It’s not like he hasn’t pitched in 13 months and is making his return in April or May. He’s making his return six months into the season and that means he’s even further behind then it appears. Hudson is a huge risk in this situation. Anibal Sanchez is inconsistent and risky too but what we all know is that he can throw a gem at any time, as he has throughout his injury-plagued career. He can be brilliant one day and brutally awful the very next. He faced these same Braves just two starts back and went six full against them and surrendered just two hits and one earned run. The next start he was hammered by the Mets. So, with Hudson going for the Braves and with 13 months between starts, I’ll take my chances on the Fish because there’s some value playing them as a pooch in their own barn under these circumstances. Play: Florida +1.01 (Risking 2 units).

SEATTLE +1.19 over L.A. Angels (1st 5 innings) PINNACLE
Doug Fister has made just four starts on the year but watching this guy pitch you would never know that he’s so green. This guy is good, he’s poised and he throws strikes. In those four starts the league is hitting just .214 off him and that includes a solid outing against the Yanks and a one-hit gem against the South Side. In addition, the Angels have never seen him and that is an edge to the pitcher. Fister pitches like a seasoned-vet and I’ve personally watched all of his starts and he’s impressive. Earvin Santana seems to be getting sharper after a rough start but the jury is still out on him. His last three starts were against the Jay’s, A’s and O’s and that trio just might have the worst combined record in the majors since June. Prior to that Santana was hit very hard in four previous starts against the Twins twice, the White Sox and the Royals, going a combined 21.2 frames and allowing 20 runs. The Angels pen is strong and they know how to manufacture late runs if they’re down a run or two and it’s for that reason that this wager is in the first five frames. Play: Seattle +1.19 in the first five innings (Risking 2 units).