3-1, +5.0 units
2* Boston Red Sox -1.5 +145
Mostly anytime I play 2 games on the board and they are both favorites, I am going to take the run line so I can get into a + money situation on a split.
Starting with the Sox, they showed the ability to fight back from behind against the Yankees, they come into this game with confidence. They face Burnett, who they have had very good success against. Burnett also has his issues with Posada, and pitchers never like being uncomfortable in a game, and not on the same page with their catcher. They focus on pitch selection, rather than executing their pitches with conviction. And for a mental case like Burnett, to be on the road, vs. the team that shells him, in a tough environment on a big stage with a catcher he isn't comfortable with, is going to be tough sledding for Burnett tonight.
Now you've got whispers that Girardi may sit Granderson today in favor of Thames because of Granderson's major struggles vs. lefties last year. Yankees don't know what they are doing right now, and they are primed to get hammered today by a Boston team that has a better bullpen minus Rivera.
2* Tampa Bay Rays -1.5 +105
James Shields is arguably the best home pitcher in baseball, his ERA over the last 3 years is a run and a half lower at home than on the road, batting average against, hits, etc all lower at home than on the road. He makes his 3rd opening day start, so plenty of experience doing that. After the Rays let down year last year, and Shields let down year, expect him to bounceback this year and post numbers similar to what he did during their AL Championship year. Starts today vs a very beatable Orioles team with a very average lineup playing in the dome.
Millwood is not only on the wrong side of 30, but he is on the wrong side of 35. He had a great year last year where he pitched over his head considering the fact that he is aging, but he has been on a slow decline since leaving Atlanta years ago. He has become more hittable since leaving ATL, and I think he suffers a poor season by his standards this year with an ERA in the upper 4.00s. He faces a loaded Rays lineup, opening up at home in their dome where they are comfortable swinging it.
2* Boston Red Sox -1.5 +145
Mostly anytime I play 2 games on the board and they are both favorites, I am going to take the run line so I can get into a + money situation on a split.
Starting with the Sox, they showed the ability to fight back from behind against the Yankees, they come into this game with confidence. They face Burnett, who they have had very good success against. Burnett also has his issues with Posada, and pitchers never like being uncomfortable in a game, and not on the same page with their catcher. They focus on pitch selection, rather than executing their pitches with conviction. And for a mental case like Burnett, to be on the road, vs. the team that shells him, in a tough environment on a big stage with a catcher he isn't comfortable with, is going to be tough sledding for Burnett tonight.
Now you've got whispers that Girardi may sit Granderson today in favor of Thames because of Granderson's major struggles vs. lefties last year. Yankees don't know what they are doing right now, and they are primed to get hammered today by a Boston team that has a better bullpen minus Rivera.
2* Tampa Bay Rays -1.5 +105
James Shields is arguably the best home pitcher in baseball, his ERA over the last 3 years is a run and a half lower at home than on the road, batting average against, hits, etc all lower at home than on the road. He makes his 3rd opening day start, so plenty of experience doing that. After the Rays let down year last year, and Shields let down year, expect him to bounceback this year and post numbers similar to what he did during their AL Championship year. Starts today vs a very beatable Orioles team with a very average lineup playing in the dome.
Millwood is not only on the wrong side of 30, but he is on the wrong side of 35. He had a great year last year where he pitched over his head considering the fact that he is aging, but he has been on a slow decline since leaving Atlanta years ago. He has become more hittable since leaving ATL, and I think he suffers a poor season by his standards this year with an ERA in the upper 4.00s. He faces a loaded Rays lineup, opening up at home in their dome where they are comfortable swinging it.
