Detroit +1.11 over OAKLAND
A little early for Tigers manager Jim Leyland to blow a gasket but that’s what happened yesterday after the Tigers got blown away by the Indians. Not sure how the players will react to all the F-bombs Leyland was throwing around but we’re not going to concern ourselves with that. Both these teams are in a minor funk and with the Tigers embarking on a long nine-game trip here, we’ll look for them to get off the mattress. Detroit played brilliantly on the road to open the year and Justin Verlander was even more brilliant in a 7-0 win in Texas. Esteban Loaiza will make his third start for Oakland after being signed as a free agent in the off-season.. Loaiza has struggled in two outings thus far, allowing five earned runs in 4 2-3 innings of a 6-2 loss to Seattle on April 6 and six runs in four innings of a 6-5 defeat to Minnesota last Wednesday. Play: Detroit +1.11 (Risking 1.5 units). <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
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Tampa Bay +2.10 over BOSTON
The Red Sox are off to a fast 9-4 start and that’s due largely to their consistent starting pitching, mainly at the top with Beckett and Schilling going a combined 6-0, and not their offense. In fact, the Red Sox rank near the bottom of the AL in runs scored and are betting just .245 collectively at Fenway. Meanwhile, the Devil Rays are 7-6 and have scored 29 runs in their past four games. They’re an aggressive and speedy team that will lead the league in steals when it’s all said and done. In addition, the Rays are 5-2 against right-handers and will face a struggling Matt Clement here while the Red Sox are just 2-2 against lefties and will face southpaw Casey Fossum. Lastly, the price here is significant enough for us to take this risk. Play: Tampa Bay +2.10 (Risking 1.5 units). <o></o>
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Texas +1.63 over SEATTLE
Texas will send John Koronka to the mound in the opener of this three-game series. The 25-year-old left-hander earned his second major league victory by allowing two runs and six hits over six innings in an 11-3 win over the Angels last Wednesday. The Rangers, after winning just two of their first nine games, have won three of their past four and scoring runs is seldom an issue with this intruder. The Mariners are 0-2 against southpaws and collectively they’re hitting .182 against lefties. Felix Hernandez is having trouble finding the strike zone. He’s walked eight batters in 9.2 innings, covering two starts and that’s a huge concern. Lastly, the Rangers bullpen is doing an excellent job thus far and the bottom line here is value and we certainly find some here against the Mariners, who have dropped three of four. Play: Texas +1.63 (Risking 1.5 units). <o></o>
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Chicago –1 +1.07 over LOS ANGELES
Carlos Zambrano of the Cubs remains one of the most difficult pitchers to hit in the majors and we’re not going to put too much emphasis on his 0-1 record in three starts. The opposition is hitting just .238 against him and as long as he throws strikes his chances of winning are tremendous. The Cubs are off to a decent 8-4 start after winning the opener last night. For the struggling Dodgers it’ll be Derek Lowe, who was smoked at Chavez Ravine in his first start of the year. Lowe is a one-pitch pitcher and when he’s on with that one pitch he’s tough as shoe leather, however, when he’s missing it’s batting practice out there. Regardless of whether Lowe is on or off we still like the Cubbies chances here because at the moment they’re doing everything better than the Dodgers. Play: Chicago –1 +1.07 (Risking 1.5 units).
A little early for Tigers manager Jim Leyland to blow a gasket but that’s what happened yesterday after the Tigers got blown away by the Indians. Not sure how the players will react to all the F-bombs Leyland was throwing around but we’re not going to concern ourselves with that. Both these teams are in a minor funk and with the Tigers embarking on a long nine-game trip here, we’ll look for them to get off the mattress. Detroit played brilliantly on the road to open the year and Justin Verlander was even more brilliant in a 7-0 win in Texas. Esteban Loaiza will make his third start for Oakland after being signed as a free agent in the off-season.. Loaiza has struggled in two outings thus far, allowing five earned runs in 4 2-3 innings of a 6-2 loss to Seattle on April 6 and six runs in four innings of a 6-5 defeat to Minnesota last Wednesday. Play: Detroit +1.11 (Risking 1.5 units). <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
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></o>Tampa Bay +2.10 over BOSTON
The Red Sox are off to a fast 9-4 start and that’s due largely to their consistent starting pitching, mainly at the top with Beckett and Schilling going a combined 6-0, and not their offense. In fact, the Red Sox rank near the bottom of the AL in runs scored and are betting just .245 collectively at Fenway. Meanwhile, the Devil Rays are 7-6 and have scored 29 runs in their past four games. They’re an aggressive and speedy team that will lead the league in steals when it’s all said and done. In addition, the Rays are 5-2 against right-handers and will face a struggling Matt Clement here while the Red Sox are just 2-2 against lefties and will face southpaw Casey Fossum. Lastly, the price here is significant enough for us to take this risk. Play: Tampa Bay +2.10 (Risking 1.5 units). <o
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></o>Texas +1.63 over SEATTLE
Texas will send John Koronka to the mound in the opener of this three-game series. The 25-year-old left-hander earned his second major league victory by allowing two runs and six hits over six innings in an 11-3 win over the Angels last Wednesday. The Rangers, after winning just two of their first nine games, have won three of their past four and scoring runs is seldom an issue with this intruder. The Mariners are 0-2 against southpaws and collectively they’re hitting .182 against lefties. Felix Hernandez is having trouble finding the strike zone. He’s walked eight batters in 9.2 innings, covering two starts and that’s a huge concern. Lastly, the Rangers bullpen is doing an excellent job thus far and the bottom line here is value and we certainly find some here against the Mariners, who have dropped three of four. Play: Texas +1.63 (Risking 1.5 units). <o
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></o>Chicago –1 +1.07 over LOS ANGELES
Carlos Zambrano of the Cubs remains one of the most difficult pitchers to hit in the majors and we’re not going to put too much emphasis on his 0-1 record in three starts. The opposition is hitting just .238 against him and as long as he throws strikes his chances of winning are tremendous. The Cubs are off to a decent 8-4 start after winning the opener last night. For the struggling Dodgers it’ll be Derek Lowe, who was smoked at Chavez Ravine in his first start of the year. Lowe is a one-pitch pitcher and when he’s on with that one pitch he’s tough as shoe leather, however, when he’s missing it’s batting practice out there. Regardless of whether Lowe is on or off we still like the Cubbies chances here because at the moment they’re doing everything better than the Dodgers. Play: Chicago –1 +1.07 (Risking 1.5 units).
