BEGINNING THURSDAY APRIL 12
Kansas City at Baltimore (4) 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th
The Royals opened the season with a respectable 3-3 record, but could be in a tough spot here at Camden Yards, taking on a team they only beat once last year in six tries (-$405). We?re not wildly enthusiastic about the O?s, who showed considerable pitching woes opening week despite taking 2 out of 3 from the Yankees. Their best shot looks like Eric Bedard (3.76 ERA in 33 starts last year), who outlasted the Bombers in his second start, and who matches up well against this visitor (KC 13-36, -$1405 vs. lefties in ?o6). BEST BET: Bedard.
Detroit at Toronto (4) 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th
These teams split six contests in 2006 and split a pair at Comerica to open the season. They also ended the first week of the 2007 campaign with identical 2-3 records. Last season the Tigers were one of the biggest money-making teams in road games (+$1700) while the Blue Jays racked up fat profits here at the Rogers Centre (+$1060). Obviously this series is way to close to call, we?ll take a closer look as game day draws near. BEST BET: None.
Tampa Bay at Minnesota (4) 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th
The Devil Rays proved to be no match for this team last season (only 1-6, -$480), and the Twins are dominant here at the Metrodome (54-27, +$1980 in 2006). Tampa Bay was a terrible road team, posting a truly dismal 20-61 mark last year (-$2880). Prices on this series will no doubt be prohibitively high, but if we see anything reasonable we won?t hesitate to jump in. BEST BET: Twins at -170 or less.
BEGINNING FRIDAY APRIL 13
Cincinnati at Chicago Cubs (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Reds have looked sharp so far, starting the season by taking 2 of 3 from these Cubs and then from the Pirates. They?ve gotten a pair of solid outings from ace Aaron Harang (+$330, 3.78 ERA in 35 starts last year), while Brandon Arroyo (+$455, 3.29 ERA in 35 starts) pitched well in a losing cause in his first outing. The Reds made money on the road vs. righties last year (+$660) and should catch some nice prices here at Wrigley, where the Cubs tend to be overpriced (Chicago -$1445 at home in ?06). BEST BET: Harang/Arroyo.
Houston at Philadelphia (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
These teams are off to very rocky starts, both winning only once in six tries on opening week. The Astros are having a very tough time scoring runs, averaging under 2.7 per game so far, and they did drop 4 out of 6 to the Phillies last year (-$200). Nevertheless, they?ve got one of the best hurlers in the majors slated to make his third start of the season tonight. Roy Oswalt posted Cy Young quality numbers in 2006 (+$330, 2.95 ERA in 32 starts) and has a 1.08 ERA after logging 16 2/3 innings in his first two outings. The Phillies are nothing special at home (-$1195). BEST BET: Oswalt.
San Francisco at Pittsburgh (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Pirates engineered an unlikely sweep at MinuteMaid Park to start the season, ending the first week with a solid 4-2 (+$390). They were very formidable in night games vs. righthanders at PNC Park last year (+$2190 with 5.2 runs per game). The GIants were only 5-15 vs. lefties on the road in 2006 (-$1065) and they?ll be facing a rotation loaded with southpaws. BEST BET: Lefthanders vs. the Giants.
Washington at N.Y. Mets (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
It looks like the Nationals really are just as awful as everyone said they would be. A seven game homestand to open the new season yielded a 1-6 record, during which they gave up 38 runs. Now they go into Shea to take on the Mets, a team that took 12 of 18 hookups last year (+$345), and who check in with the lowest team ERA in the majors. Lay the prices on this one. BEST BET: Mets in all games.
Florida at Atlanta (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Braves look very solid at 5-1, having swept the Phillies at Citizens Bank, then taking 2 out of 3 from the Mets at Turner Field. But the Marlins are getting some timely hitting (6.7 runs per game so far), and they did make money against righthanders in 2006 (+$900). The Braves would like to avoid a repeat of 2006, when they lost a fortune for their backers at home (-$1335), but we?ll look for the visiting Florida team to make life difficult in this NL East showdown. BEST BET: Marlins vs. righthanders.
Milwaukee at St. Louis (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
Big test for the improved Brewers, who need to do much better outside of Miller Park than they did last year if they hope to seriously compete in the NL Central (27-54, -$2300 in ?06). We?ll try our luck with Chris Capuano (+$200), who has led Milwaukee to a pair of victories already this year (Cardinals -$2515 vs. lefthanders in 2006), but we?ll stick with the World Series champions when the visitor sends a righthander to the hill (St. Louis 36-15, +$1265 in that situation at home). BEST BET: Capuano/Cardinals vs. righthanders.
Colorado at Arizona (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Rockies took 2 out of 3 at Coors Field last week, but the Diamondbacks did dominate in head to head play last year (12-7, +$470) and the Rockies did not exactly distinguish themselves on the road in 2006, particularly in night games against righthanders (only 15-34, -$1480 with 3.8 runs per game). Arizona is loaded with righthanders, most notably CY Young champ Brandon Webb (3.14 ERA in 33 starts last year), who looked very sharp against the Nationals in his last outing. BEST BET: Webb.
San Diego at L.A. Dodgers (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Dodgers had no success against the Padres whatsoever in ?06 (only 5-13, -$1065 in head to head play). If they had, the NL West would not have wound up in a dead heat. Both teams are off to solid 4-2 starts, but we remember all the money we made last year taking San Diego on the road against righthanders (+$1835) and can?t resist going to the well again here. But the Dodgers are very tough at home (+$755 in 2006), so only jump in if the price on the visiting underdog is high. BEST BET: Padres at +135 or better.
L.A. Angels at Boston (4) 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th
The Angels looked sharp both at the plate and on the mound this past week, opening the season at 5-2 against division rivals Texas & Oakland in Anaheim. The Red Sox have yet to hit their stride, but they are much too tough against righthanders (+$995) to go against here at Fenway park. LA does have one lefthander currently in their starting rotation, and Joe Saunders is slated to make a start in this series. He posted a fat profit (+$780) in 13 starts last year, and Boston was only 25-31 (-$1440) vs. southpaws in 2006. BEST BET: Saunders.
Chicago W. Sox at Cleveland (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The White Sox dropped 2 of 3 to the Tribe at US Cellular to open the season, having dropped 11 of 19 to them in 2006 (-$500). The Indians are were hitting well before snow knocked them out of action for the entire weekend, and they?ve got a pair of outstanding southpaws in Sabathia (3.32 ERA in 28 starts) and Sowers (3.57 in 14 starts), both of whom may be available this weekend. Bad news for a shaky Chicago team that that was a big money-burner against lefthanders one year ago (-$1255). BEST BET: Sabathia/Sowers.
N.Y. Yankees at Oakland (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
All is not well with the Bronx Bombers one week into the new season. They surrendered a fat 31 runs in their first five starts, with no hurler making it past the fifth inning. The A?s pitching has looked very sharp (2.59 team ERA in seven games) and they did take 6 of 9 from New York last year (+$560). The Yankees lost money vs. righthanders overall (-$950) so they could easily drop 2 out of 3 vs. this difficult west coast foe. BEST BET: Righthanders vs. the Yankees.
Texas at Seattle (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Rangers dropped their first three road games of the season, and their offense up to this point has been anemic, averaging only 3.0 runs per game). They were especially ineffective against righthanders in day games last year (only 9-19, -$1185) and they?ve got a pair of afternoon affairs on tap at Safeco Field this weekend. The Mariners had a lengthy four day layoff thanks to snow in Cleveland, so Felix Hernandez will no doubt see action here. His ERA at home was 3.38 in 13 starts last year, and he looked sensational on opening day vs. Oakland. Lay the price when he goes. BEST BET: F. Hernandez.
Kansas City at Baltimore (4) 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th
The Royals opened the season with a respectable 3-3 record, but could be in a tough spot here at Camden Yards, taking on a team they only beat once last year in six tries (-$405). We?re not wildly enthusiastic about the O?s, who showed considerable pitching woes opening week despite taking 2 out of 3 from the Yankees. Their best shot looks like Eric Bedard (3.76 ERA in 33 starts last year), who outlasted the Bombers in his second start, and who matches up well against this visitor (KC 13-36, -$1405 vs. lefties in ?o6). BEST BET: Bedard.
Detroit at Toronto (4) 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th
These teams split six contests in 2006 and split a pair at Comerica to open the season. They also ended the first week of the 2007 campaign with identical 2-3 records. Last season the Tigers were one of the biggest money-making teams in road games (+$1700) while the Blue Jays racked up fat profits here at the Rogers Centre (+$1060). Obviously this series is way to close to call, we?ll take a closer look as game day draws near. BEST BET: None.
Tampa Bay at Minnesota (4) 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th
The Devil Rays proved to be no match for this team last season (only 1-6, -$480), and the Twins are dominant here at the Metrodome (54-27, +$1980 in 2006). Tampa Bay was a terrible road team, posting a truly dismal 20-61 mark last year (-$2880). Prices on this series will no doubt be prohibitively high, but if we see anything reasonable we won?t hesitate to jump in. BEST BET: Twins at -170 or less.
BEGINNING FRIDAY APRIL 13
Cincinnati at Chicago Cubs (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Reds have looked sharp so far, starting the season by taking 2 of 3 from these Cubs and then from the Pirates. They?ve gotten a pair of solid outings from ace Aaron Harang (+$330, 3.78 ERA in 35 starts last year), while Brandon Arroyo (+$455, 3.29 ERA in 35 starts) pitched well in a losing cause in his first outing. The Reds made money on the road vs. righties last year (+$660) and should catch some nice prices here at Wrigley, where the Cubs tend to be overpriced (Chicago -$1445 at home in ?06). BEST BET: Harang/Arroyo.
Houston at Philadelphia (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
These teams are off to very rocky starts, both winning only once in six tries on opening week. The Astros are having a very tough time scoring runs, averaging under 2.7 per game so far, and they did drop 4 out of 6 to the Phillies last year (-$200). Nevertheless, they?ve got one of the best hurlers in the majors slated to make his third start of the season tonight. Roy Oswalt posted Cy Young quality numbers in 2006 (+$330, 2.95 ERA in 32 starts) and has a 1.08 ERA after logging 16 2/3 innings in his first two outings. The Phillies are nothing special at home (-$1195). BEST BET: Oswalt.
San Francisco at Pittsburgh (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Pirates engineered an unlikely sweep at MinuteMaid Park to start the season, ending the first week with a solid 4-2 (+$390). They were very formidable in night games vs. righthanders at PNC Park last year (+$2190 with 5.2 runs per game). The GIants were only 5-15 vs. lefties on the road in 2006 (-$1065) and they?ll be facing a rotation loaded with southpaws. BEST BET: Lefthanders vs. the Giants.
Washington at N.Y. Mets (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
It looks like the Nationals really are just as awful as everyone said they would be. A seven game homestand to open the new season yielded a 1-6 record, during which they gave up 38 runs. Now they go into Shea to take on the Mets, a team that took 12 of 18 hookups last year (+$345), and who check in with the lowest team ERA in the majors. Lay the prices on this one. BEST BET: Mets in all games.
Florida at Atlanta (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Braves look very solid at 5-1, having swept the Phillies at Citizens Bank, then taking 2 out of 3 from the Mets at Turner Field. But the Marlins are getting some timely hitting (6.7 runs per game so far), and they did make money against righthanders in 2006 (+$900). The Braves would like to avoid a repeat of 2006, when they lost a fortune for their backers at home (-$1335), but we?ll look for the visiting Florida team to make life difficult in this NL East showdown. BEST BET: Marlins vs. righthanders.
Milwaukee at St. Louis (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
Big test for the improved Brewers, who need to do much better outside of Miller Park than they did last year if they hope to seriously compete in the NL Central (27-54, -$2300 in ?06). We?ll try our luck with Chris Capuano (+$200), who has led Milwaukee to a pair of victories already this year (Cardinals -$2515 vs. lefthanders in 2006), but we?ll stick with the World Series champions when the visitor sends a righthander to the hill (St. Louis 36-15, +$1265 in that situation at home). BEST BET: Capuano/Cardinals vs. righthanders.
Colorado at Arizona (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Rockies took 2 out of 3 at Coors Field last week, but the Diamondbacks did dominate in head to head play last year (12-7, +$470) and the Rockies did not exactly distinguish themselves on the road in 2006, particularly in night games against righthanders (only 15-34, -$1480 with 3.8 runs per game). Arizona is loaded with righthanders, most notably CY Young champ Brandon Webb (3.14 ERA in 33 starts last year), who looked very sharp against the Nationals in his last outing. BEST BET: Webb.
San Diego at L.A. Dodgers (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Dodgers had no success against the Padres whatsoever in ?06 (only 5-13, -$1065 in head to head play). If they had, the NL West would not have wound up in a dead heat. Both teams are off to solid 4-2 starts, but we remember all the money we made last year taking San Diego on the road against righthanders (+$1835) and can?t resist going to the well again here. But the Dodgers are very tough at home (+$755 in 2006), so only jump in if the price on the visiting underdog is high. BEST BET: Padres at +135 or better.
L.A. Angels at Boston (4) 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th
The Angels looked sharp both at the plate and on the mound this past week, opening the season at 5-2 against division rivals Texas & Oakland in Anaheim. The Red Sox have yet to hit their stride, but they are much too tough against righthanders (+$995) to go against here at Fenway park. LA does have one lefthander currently in their starting rotation, and Joe Saunders is slated to make a start in this series. He posted a fat profit (+$780) in 13 starts last year, and Boston was only 25-31 (-$1440) vs. southpaws in 2006. BEST BET: Saunders.
Chicago W. Sox at Cleveland (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The White Sox dropped 2 of 3 to the Tribe at US Cellular to open the season, having dropped 11 of 19 to them in 2006 (-$500). The Indians are were hitting well before snow knocked them out of action for the entire weekend, and they?ve got a pair of outstanding southpaws in Sabathia (3.32 ERA in 28 starts) and Sowers (3.57 in 14 starts), both of whom may be available this weekend. Bad news for a shaky Chicago team that that was a big money-burner against lefthanders one year ago (-$1255). BEST BET: Sabathia/Sowers.
N.Y. Yankees at Oakland (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
All is not well with the Bronx Bombers one week into the new season. They surrendered a fat 31 runs in their first five starts, with no hurler making it past the fifth inning. The A?s pitching has looked very sharp (2.59 team ERA in seven games) and they did take 6 of 9 from New York last year (+$560). The Yankees lost money vs. righthanders overall (-$950) so they could easily drop 2 out of 3 vs. this difficult west coast foe. BEST BET: Righthanders vs. the Yankees.
Texas at Seattle (3) 13th, 14th, 15th
The Rangers dropped their first three road games of the season, and their offense up to this point has been anemic, averaging only 3.0 runs per game). They were especially ineffective against righthanders in day games last year (only 9-19, -$1185) and they?ve got a pair of afternoon affairs on tap at Safeco Field this weekend. The Mariners had a lengthy four day layoff thanks to snow in Cleveland, so Felix Hernandez will no doubt see action here. His ERA at home was 3.38 in 13 starts last year, and he looked sensational on opening day vs. Oakland. Lay the price when he goes. BEST BET: F. Hernandez.
