Off to a great start... 27-14 +16.3 Units
- Blue Jays -140 (2 Units)
Romero dominates the Rays lineup (hitting .163 as a team in 141 at bats). At home last year, he was a great 8-3, with a 2.93 ERA and went 3-2 with an ERA of 2.02 vs. the Rays. He's in top form right now with the win last week vs. the Sox, and I think he pitches another gem tonight. Niemann is a solid backend starter for the Rays, but he's been nothing more then average in his career on the road. Toronto has hit him hard over the years, with an ERA over 5 and an OBP up near .370 as a lineup versus him. Good spot for the Blue Jays for a straight forward win vs. a team who struggles vs. big time pitchers.
- Pirates/Diamondbacks Under 8.5 (1.5 Units)
Pirates offense is off to a horrible start, and now they are facing one of the top pitchers in the majors. Pirates have scored 2 runs or less in 7 out of the 10 games they have played so far this year. Tonight they have to face Ian Kennedy, who will no doubt in my mind shut them down completely. Last September, he gave up 1 hit in 8 innings vs. Pitt. On the other side, Jeff Karstens is probably the best pitcher on Pittsburgh, and he has been very solid on the road as a starter. Last year, he faced this same Arizona lineup twice, and gave up just 1 ER in 13 IP, including a 1-0 loss to them in September in this same exact pitching matchup. I see a similar score to what the game ended last night.
- Red Sox/Rangers Over 9 (1.5 Units)
Two of the better offensive teams in the league traditionally and they have actually lived up to the hype in there matchups. Texas managed to score 5 runs or more in all but 3 games last year between the two teams, and Boston scored 5 or more in all but 4 games last year. As usual, Red Sox are killing the ball at home to start the year.. In the 4 game series vs. one of the best pitching staffs in the league, the Red Sox scored 31 runs and killed the ball. Tonight, they get to hit against a flyball pitcher in Colby Lewis... a bad matchup for him. In 6 starts vs. the Sox in the last two years, 5 have gone over the total. The Red Sox scored a total of 42 runs in those 6 starts... while Lewis as always got great run support: Rangers scored 39. Lester is the Sox ace, but he has been average in his lifetime vs. the Rangers.... In 8 career starts, he has given up 3 or more in 6 of them. Gonzalez is 6-7 vs. Lewis with 2 HRs, and Ortiz is 5-15 vs. Lewis with 3 HRs...... Cruz is 6-12 vs. Lester.. Beltre is 5-14 vs. Lester... Young is 9-26 vs. Lester. Dont' see this game staying under 9...
- Blue Jays -140 (2 Units)
Romero dominates the Rays lineup (hitting .163 as a team in 141 at bats). At home last year, he was a great 8-3, with a 2.93 ERA and went 3-2 with an ERA of 2.02 vs. the Rays. He's in top form right now with the win last week vs. the Sox, and I think he pitches another gem tonight. Niemann is a solid backend starter for the Rays, but he's been nothing more then average in his career on the road. Toronto has hit him hard over the years, with an ERA over 5 and an OBP up near .370 as a lineup versus him. Good spot for the Blue Jays for a straight forward win vs. a team who struggles vs. big time pitchers.
- Pirates/Diamondbacks Under 8.5 (1.5 Units)
Pirates offense is off to a horrible start, and now they are facing one of the top pitchers in the majors. Pirates have scored 2 runs or less in 7 out of the 10 games they have played so far this year. Tonight they have to face Ian Kennedy, who will no doubt in my mind shut them down completely. Last September, he gave up 1 hit in 8 innings vs. Pitt. On the other side, Jeff Karstens is probably the best pitcher on Pittsburgh, and he has been very solid on the road as a starter. Last year, he faced this same Arizona lineup twice, and gave up just 1 ER in 13 IP, including a 1-0 loss to them in September in this same exact pitching matchup. I see a similar score to what the game ended last night.
- Red Sox/Rangers Over 9 (1.5 Units)
Two of the better offensive teams in the league traditionally and they have actually lived up to the hype in there matchups. Texas managed to score 5 runs or more in all but 3 games last year between the two teams, and Boston scored 5 or more in all but 4 games last year. As usual, Red Sox are killing the ball at home to start the year.. In the 4 game series vs. one of the best pitching staffs in the league, the Red Sox scored 31 runs and killed the ball. Tonight, they get to hit against a flyball pitcher in Colby Lewis... a bad matchup for him. In 6 starts vs. the Sox in the last two years, 5 have gone over the total. The Red Sox scored a total of 42 runs in those 6 starts... while Lewis as always got great run support: Rangers scored 39. Lester is the Sox ace, but he has been average in his lifetime vs. the Rangers.... In 8 career starts, he has given up 3 or more in 6 of them. Gonzalez is 6-7 vs. Lewis with 2 HRs, and Ortiz is 5-15 vs. Lewis with 3 HRs...... Cruz is 6-12 vs. Lester.. Beltre is 5-14 vs. Lester... Young is 9-26 vs. Lester. Dont' see this game staying under 9...
