POD: under 7.5 -110 - Seattle Mariners vrs Oakland Athletics (Paxton/Valdez) 10:05 PM ET
Paxton has been the best pitcher in MLB (not allowed a run in 21.0 innings this season), and that is no fluke as he's been just outstanding since the final several starts of last season. We
read here how he finally got healthy, and then made adjustments in his delivery, and his command has since been, well, commanding...
Paxton's mound opponent is a 32-year-old journeyman minor leaguer Cesar Valdez, with mediocre results in his last MLB starts and pen appearances (twenty innings from 2010: 13 Ks, 10 BB). He then bounced around AAA for a while...but
I read here he turned the corner a few years back, dominating the offense-happy Mexican League and Pacific Coast League. He even won MVP in championship run for his team in the Dominican winter league!...He's been very good in AAA so far this season...His 1st MLB start in 2010 he gave up 1 run in 5 innings (so he is used to pitching well in 1st start after called up), I expect similar results today, but with better peripherals than that start as he's clearly a candidate for a breakout season - but punters today are just looking at his MLB numbers and his bouncing around leagues, few aware of these details, and that gives us an inflated line to bet into....The Mover notes "Mariners...four of their last six games stayed under. Oakland...under is 6-4 in its last ten games.
My record this thread since May 1: 170-166-10, -12.63 units (if risked 1 unit on each pick)...2-1 this week.. 26-34 last 60 (!)