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#1
Today’s Picks
Toronto Blue Jays -125
Chicago Cubs +135
KC/Philadelphia Under 7 (+106)
Seattle/CWS Under 7.5
LA Dodgers -155
Boston Red Sox at Toronto Blue Jays
Jon Lester vs R.A. Dickey
Odds: Tor -125 Bos +115 , O/U: 8
R.A. Dickey needed some apparent time with Arencibia. R.A. Dickey and Arencibia both were a little nervous in the home opener and the results were a little shaky. However, they did settle in and I look for a Cy Young performance here. His knuckle was ranging around 80 mph’s and his velocity on his fastball was in the mid 80’s as it has always been. He’s always like the indoors and against a Boston lineup that has hit an offensive funk, this is not the right time to bounce out of it. For Toronto on the offensive side, they are on the up and up averaging 6.3 runs in their last 3 games and a lot of the Jays hitters see the ball well off of Lester, lead the AL now in HR’s with 11. JP has gone deep twice, Joey Bats 4 times, Rajai, Derosa, and Encarnacion have also homered off Lester and I expect some more fireworks today. Toronto at this price is legit and look to win their 3rd game in 4 days.
Seattle Mariners at Chicago White Sox
Hisashi Iwakuma vs Chris Sale
Odds: CWS -170 Sea +150, O/U: 7.5
Iwakuma looked impressive in his 1st start of the year walking none and striking out seven. The Mariners are 4-0 in his last 4 starts and Sale, who also looked great in his 1st start, and the Sox are 7-1 in his 8 starts at home. Sale is 2-0 with a 2.55 in his career against Seattle and after watching them play yesterday, both offenses should be kept in check and off balance again today. Under 7.5.
Kansas City Royals at Philadelphia Phillies
James Shields vs Cole Hamels
Odds: Phi -140 KC +120, O/U: 7.5
KC was stunned as all of us were too. We had a comfortable win coming as we backed the Royals yesterday to only have Holland enter the 9th up 3-1 and walk the bases loaded. He found it somehow, struck out the next two which provided up hope, but then served a 3 run double up to pinch hitter Frandsen. Mendoza looked brilliant throwing 6IP and only surrendering 2 hits and I expect the same today with Shields. He threw solid in his season debut and will face Hamels who wasn’t so hot in his 1st start, giving up 3 jacks in 5 IP mostly due to falling behind in the count. Hamels had a tremendous spring in which is command was there and should bounce back today against KC who couldn’t even really sniff an inferior lefty to Hamels in John Lannan. Hamels owned a 2.73 ERA last year in April and looks like a solid outing is in the making. The over/under is on the move now, by the time you read this it’ll be at 7, I like it there as well, Under 7 (+106) as of press time.
Pittsburgh Pirates at LA Dodgers
Jeff Locke vs Hyun-Jin Ryu
Odds: LAD -155 Pit +145, O/U: 7.5
Ryu threw well in his MLB debut against the Giants last time out, pitching himself out of jams. The Dodgers have won 9 of 10 in the series. This is a great price, Dodgers win big.
Chicago Cubs at Atlanta Braves
Jeff Samardzija vs Tim Hudson
Odds: Atl -150 ChC +135, O/U: 7
The 28 year old Samardzija was dominant in his 1st outing representing his mid 90’s heater and that nasty split that he uses to upset the hitter’s timing. He’ll face an Atlanta offense only averaging 3.3 runs in their last 3 games and has a great chance to keep them fishing at the plate again today. Tim Hudson toes the rubber for Atlanta and has looked average thus far in the spring and in his first outing. He’s a sinker/slider guy who intends to induce hitters to be out in front or late on pitches, but it appears he doesn’t quite have his legs yet. But at 37, it could take longer than in years past. The Cubs are a live dog at Turner Field today and look to win this one before heading back to Chicago for a 7 game home stand beginning with the Brewers on Monday.
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