Friday Tips
March 31, 2011
The Major League Baseball season is underway following Thursday's six-pack of games as the Friday card unveils 11 matchups. The American League card is loaded with six games as the Yankees and Tigers will be the only teams not participating on Friday. The Rays try to move forward after several key offseason departures as Tampa Bay hosts re-tooled Baltimore, while the Rangers start their defense of the AL pennant against the Red Sox. We'll start in northern Ohio with the Indians looking to knock off the upstart White Sox.
White Sox at Indians - 3:05 PM EST
These AL Central rivals start the April action in the junior circuit as Chicago attempts to return to the postseason for the first time since winning the division in 2008. The Indians try to bounce back from a 69-win campaign in 2010, while going for their first .500 season in four years. The key for Cleveland is its ace keeping up a fantastic run against Chicago.
The Tribe was 3-0 in Fausto Carmona's three outings against the Sox last season, while delivering a quality start each time. Carmona beat Chicago last April in the opening series of the season with one of the odder lines in recent memory by allowing one hit in six innings, but walking six and giving up three runs in a 5-3 win. The right-hander received an average of only three runs support in his 19 starts at Progressive Field, while hitting the 'under' 13 times.
Mark Buehrle takes the mound for the Sox, as he looks to duplicate his success against the Indians from last season. Chicago was 5-1 in the southpaw's six starts in this series in 2010, even though Buehrle was ejected from a May 26 game after arguing a balk call. Buehrle tossed a gem in last season's opener against the Indians, pitching seven scoreless innings in a 6-0 shutout. His numbers weren't so stellar on the highway with a 6-8 mark away from U.S. Cellular Field, while yielding 11 home runs on the road.
Red Sox at Rangers - 4:05 PM EST
Boston looks to be the favorite to represent the American League in the World Series this October, but first the Red Sox have to get past the team holding the crown. The Rangers' surge to the franchise's first-ever World Series last season brings plenty of confidence into this season, as Texas looks to move forward after Cliff Lee and Vladimir Guerrero departed in free agency.
The Sox send out star lefty Jon Lester to open the season, trying to capitalize off a career-best 19 wins in 2010. Lester dominated away from Fenway Park with an 11-4 record and 2.88 ERA, including a 6-1 mark in his final seven road starts. Boston is 5-1 in Lester's last six outings against Texas since 2008, as the southpaw tossed eight scoreless innings of five-hit ball in a 3-1 victory in Arlington last August.
With Lee's short stay in Texas now finished, C.J. Wilson is the new ace of this Rangers' staff. The left-hander silenced the Red Sox in three starts last season by allowing two earned runs and striking out 20 in three victories. Wilson picked up a pair of underdog victories at Fenway Park, including a win over Lester on August 18 in a 4-2 triumph.
The Rangers grabbed six of 10 meetings last season from the Red Sox, while going 2-1 in Arlington in mid-August. Since 2009, Texas is 7-2 in nine home matchups with Boston, as the 'under' has cashed six times.
Orioles at Rays - 7:05 PM EST
Tampa Bay is coming off its second division title in three seasons as the Rays battle the Orioles at Tropicana Field. The Rays have moved forward with the signings of Manny Ramirez and Johnny Damon, while losing Carl Crawford, Carlos Pena, and Matt Garza in the offseason. Meanwhile, the Orioles have plenty of old faces wearing the Black and Orange with Derrek Lee, Mark Reynolds, J.J. Hardy, and Vladimir Guerrero with the team this season.
Baltimore played extremely well over the final two months of last season after Buck Showalter took over as manager, compiling a 34-23 record. Jeremy Guthrie takes the mound for the O's, coming off an 11-14 campaign in 2010, even though the righty finished with a 3.83 ERA. The Orioles were 5-11 in Guthrie's 16 road starts, while he pitched one of his best games of the season at the Trop with a 5-0 shutout of the Rays on August 13.
David Price comes off his best season in his short career with a 19-6 record, while narrowly missing out on the AL Cy Young Award. The Rays' southpaw put together a 2.26 ERA at home last season, as Price went 9-4 at Tropicana Field. Price handled his business against the Orioles in 2010 with two victories in two starts, while allowing just one earned run in 15 innings of work.
Tampa Bay won 11 of 18 meetings last season, even though Baltimore found a way to win four of nine games at Tropicana Field. One angle to consider is the 'under,' which cashed in eight of nine matchups at Tampa Bay last season.
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