<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 width=500 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=left width="50%">Yesterday</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">1</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">0</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">0</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="20%">+2.68 Units</TD></TR><TR><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=left width="50%">Last 30 Days</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">1</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">0</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">0</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="20%">+2.68 Units</TD></TR><TR><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=left width="50%">Season To Date (Since March 2008)</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">1</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">0</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="10%">0</TD><TD class=rs_value vAlign=top align=right width="20%">+2.68 Units</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
HOME TEAM IN CAPS
All games are listed pitchers unless stated otherwise.
Toronto +1.51 over NY YANKEES
Well, some things never change and right off the bat the Yanks are overpriced again. This one is pretty much a no-brainer, as Roy Halliday remains one of the the most consistent winners in baseball. Once or twice a year, you’re going to get a take-back like this on him and never will you get a take-back on him against an inferior pitcher unless that pitcher is wearing pinstripes. The Yanks are a pitching mess, especially in the bullpen and we’ll get into that a little bit later in the year. For now, win or lose, a take-back on Halliday is rare and it’s also incorrect in this spot. Yesterday the Blue Jays were +1.42 and today they’re +1.51. I guess Wang got a pretty good night’s sleep. Play: Toronto +1.42 (Risking 2 units). <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
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></o>San Francisco +1.46 over LOS ANGELES
Matt Cain ‘s 7-16 record from a year ago was the most misleading W/L record in all of baseball. This guy pitched well enough to be 16-7. Cain allowed a stingy 173 hits and just 14 homers in 200 innings pitched. The league hit just .235 off him and he also whiffed 163 batters. The Giants have plenty holes and they’re not a good team. However, they’ll still win 70 games or more and it looks like they resolved their closer woes from last season with the promotion of Brian Wilson. The flame-throwing righty performed well when given a chance to finish games late last season, converting 6-of-7 save opportunities and holding right-handed batters to a minuscule .145 average. Derek Lowe is pretty consistent but this is not about betting against him. It’s about taking back a very nice tag on one of the NL’s most reliable starters. However, it should be noted that Lowe is 0-3 vs the Giants at Dodger Stadium with an ERA of 6.17. Play: San Francisco +1.46 (Risking 2 units). <o
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></o>MINNESOTA +1.16 over L.A. Angels
John Garland will make his Angel debut after a very mediocre season for the South Side last year. The league hit .270 off him, he lost 13 games and he only struck out 98 batters in 208 innings. This spring, Garland didn’t get a lot of work in, throwing just 14 innings and over that span he struck out just 3 batters. A sure sign that a pitcher is on the decline is his strikeout numbers and Garland’s lack of K’s is a definite concern. It means the opposition is seeing the ball well off him and this venue is not so kind so pitchers who put the ball in play. Aside from that, the Angels may be a team on the decline. They have a lot of aging vets and were very inactive in the off-season. Boof Bonser is inconsistent but when he’s on he’s very effective. The Twins are an exciting, young team and the addition of prospect Chris Gomez (in the Santana trade) paid immediate dividends yesterday. Gomez is a pitcher’s worst nightmare when he gets on because it looks like he’s going to be a base-stealing machine. The Twins opened with a nice win yesterday and we’ll come right back on the enthusiastic Twinkies today. Play: Minnesota +1.16 (Risking 2 units). <o
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