<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 width=500 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=left width="50%">Season To Date </TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">3</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">5</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%"></TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="20%">-2.36 Units</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Kansas City +1.35 over DETROIT
If you weren’t familiar with Zack Greinke last year you will be this year. He’s outstanding. Greinke led AL rookie hurlers with at least 100 innings in ERA. His losing record was mostly a function of lack of run support, including being shut out four times. Greinke has outstanding command of a wide repertoire. Although he can hurl his four-seam fastball in the mid-90s, he prefers to take a little off to disrupt a hitter's timing, or induce movement by varying his grip. His two-seam fastball has great late sinking action and his slider breaks hard and late. However, Greinke's mid-60s curveball is the pitch that draws the most attention, as it freezes even the most seasoned hitters. Greinke varies speed and grip on each pitch such that he never throws the same pitch to the same batter in a game and will even try an occasional quick-pitch. The kid can flat out pitch. Jason Johnson gets the call for the Tigers. Johnson seems to be getting worse each year. Last season, his first full in a Tigers uniform, he had an ERA of 5.13. That’s an alarming number when you consider he pitches half his games at pitcher friendly Comerica Park. He went 8-15 last year and his career mark is now 44-73 in 166 career starts. Anytime we can get a take-back against a guy that has a history of winning once every four starts you can pencil us in. This line is way out of whack. Play: Kansas City +1.35 (Risking 1.5 units). <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
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Cleveland +1.05 over CHICAGO<o></o>
Déjà vu for the Indians as last year the bullpen couldn’t get anyone out and yesterday the pen blew a three run lead in the ninth. However, we’re still going right back to this Indian well one more time. What we do know is that the White Sox, despite being 2-0, are a weak group that is going to lose plenty more than they win. They’ve scored in just two innings of the 18 they’ve played and that’s going to the story of this team all year long. The Indians will score runs, there’s too much talent on the roster not to. Lefthander Cliff Lee will make his season debut and we like this guy. Lee had an outstanding start last year with 10 wins in his first 11 decisions but labored big time after the all-star break. Lee just ran out of gas, end of story. He has great stuff and he also struck out 161 batters in 187 innings. He’ll face Jose Contreras here. Contreras has one effective pitch, that being his split-finger, his other pitchers are way below average and now players are just sitting on that pitch. There has not been a single case of a pitcher being successful at this level with just one pitch and Jose Contreras is certainly not going to be the first. Play Cleveland +1.05 (Risking 1.5 units). <o></o>
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Los Angeles +1.15 over SAN FRANCISCO<o></o>
Have to wonder which Brett Tomko will show up this year. This guy has been on four teams in the last four years and was literally booed off Pac-Bell field in April last year. However, in the second half he was among the best pitchers in the N.L., compiling a 7-3 record and a 3.15 ERA. So, which way do we go? We’ll side with the former, that being, the Brett Tomko that has labored for seven years in this league. He’s never had much success against the Dodgers, or anyone else for that matter, and he’s also prone to giving up the long ball. April is not a good month for Tomko. As long as Jeff Weaver isn’t pitching at Yankee Stadium he’s alright. His slider is hard and tight, and Weaver will mix in a sweeping breaking ball. When he gets ahead in the count against some right-handed hitters, he will drop down to a sidearm delivery and try to catch them off guard. Weaver has a full arsenal of pitches and looked real comfortable in Dodger Blue last year with 13 wins and a respectable 4.01 ERA. Lastly, the Giants are a collection of aging veterans that look like aging veterans. Play: Los Angeles +1.15 (Risking 1.5 units). <o></o>
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Washington +1.45 over PHILADELPHIA<o></o>
Randy Wolf started in only 23 games last year due to elbow problems and didn’t look particularly sharp in the spring either. He pitched just 13 innings in spring training and chances are he’ll be on a strict pitch count today. That leaves the Phillies bullpen to pitch a good portion of this game and that increases our chances dramatically. Estaban Loaiza was awful in a White Sox uniform but a new team and a change of scenery can only help him. Loaiza is guilty of falling in love with his cut fastball. At times he relies almost exclusively on this 86-88 MPH pitch. This is regrettable because his 89-91 MPH fastball, slider and changeup comprise a workable repertoire. Loaiza excelled in 2003 when he used all of his pitches and hopefully he’ll utilize that information today. The Nationals are a feisty bunch and will be a very live dog all year long. No exception here. Play Washington +1.45 (Risking 1.5 units).
Kansas City +1.35 over DETROIT
If you weren’t familiar with Zack Greinke last year you will be this year. He’s outstanding. Greinke led AL rookie hurlers with at least 100 innings in ERA. His losing record was mostly a function of lack of run support, including being shut out four times. Greinke has outstanding command of a wide repertoire. Although he can hurl his four-seam fastball in the mid-90s, he prefers to take a little off to disrupt a hitter's timing, or induce movement by varying his grip. His two-seam fastball has great late sinking action and his slider breaks hard and late. However, Greinke's mid-60s curveball is the pitch that draws the most attention, as it freezes even the most seasoned hitters. Greinke varies speed and grip on each pitch such that he never throws the same pitch to the same batter in a game and will even try an occasional quick-pitch. The kid can flat out pitch. Jason Johnson gets the call for the Tigers. Johnson seems to be getting worse each year. Last season, his first full in a Tigers uniform, he had an ERA of 5.13. That’s an alarming number when you consider he pitches half his games at pitcher friendly Comerica Park. He went 8-15 last year and his career mark is now 44-73 in 166 career starts. Anytime we can get a take-back against a guy that has a history of winning once every four starts you can pencil us in. This line is way out of whack. Play: Kansas City +1.35 (Risking 1.5 units). <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
fficeffice" /><o></o><o
></o>Cleveland +1.05 over CHICAGO<o
></o>Déjà vu for the Indians as last year the bullpen couldn’t get anyone out and yesterday the pen blew a three run lead in the ninth. However, we’re still going right back to this Indian well one more time. What we do know is that the White Sox, despite being 2-0, are a weak group that is going to lose plenty more than they win. They’ve scored in just two innings of the 18 they’ve played and that’s going to the story of this team all year long. The Indians will score runs, there’s too much talent on the roster not to. Lefthander Cliff Lee will make his season debut and we like this guy. Lee had an outstanding start last year with 10 wins in his first 11 decisions but labored big time after the all-star break. Lee just ran out of gas, end of story. He has great stuff and he also struck out 161 batters in 187 innings. He’ll face Jose Contreras here. Contreras has one effective pitch, that being his split-finger, his other pitchers are way below average and now players are just sitting on that pitch. There has not been a single case of a pitcher being successful at this level with just one pitch and Jose Contreras is certainly not going to be the first. Play Cleveland +1.05 (Risking 1.5 units). <o
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></o>Los Angeles +1.15 over SAN FRANCISCO<o
></o>Have to wonder which Brett Tomko will show up this year. This guy has been on four teams in the last four years and was literally booed off Pac-Bell field in April last year. However, in the second half he was among the best pitchers in the N.L., compiling a 7-3 record and a 3.15 ERA. So, which way do we go? We’ll side with the former, that being, the Brett Tomko that has labored for seven years in this league. He’s never had much success against the Dodgers, or anyone else for that matter, and he’s also prone to giving up the long ball. April is not a good month for Tomko. As long as Jeff Weaver isn’t pitching at Yankee Stadium he’s alright. His slider is hard and tight, and Weaver will mix in a sweeping breaking ball. When he gets ahead in the count against some right-handed hitters, he will drop down to a sidearm delivery and try to catch them off guard. Weaver has a full arsenal of pitches and looked real comfortable in Dodger Blue last year with 13 wins and a respectable 4.01 ERA. Lastly, the Giants are a collection of aging veterans that look like aging veterans. Play: Los Angeles +1.15 (Risking 1.5 units). <o
></o><o
></o>Washington +1.45 over PHILADELPHIA<o
></o>Randy Wolf started in only 23 games last year due to elbow problems and didn’t look particularly sharp in the spring either. He pitched just 13 innings in spring training and chances are he’ll be on a strict pitch count today. That leaves the Phillies bullpen to pitch a good portion of this game and that increases our chances dramatically. Estaban Loaiza was awful in a White Sox uniform but a new team and a change of scenery can only help him. Loaiza is guilty of falling in love with his cut fastball. At times he relies almost exclusively on this 86-88 MPH pitch. This is regrettable because his 89-91 MPH fastball, slider and changeup comprise a workable repertoire. Loaiza excelled in 2003 when he used all of his pitches and hopefully he’ll utilize that information today. The Nationals are a feisty bunch and will be a very live dog all year long. No exception here. Play Washington +1.45 (Risking 1.5 units).
