Hey there Pregamers!
Bullpens, Bullpens, Bullpens.... that's what made the difference for me last night, giving me a loss by the Angels. Finished the night 1-2 for -1.19 units. That brings me to 33-27 for +4.64 units on the season. April is always so up and down, but a profit in April sets up success for a season. Lets make tonight a winning one. Going with 3 plays again tonight. Go get 'em Pregamers!
(Lines were taken last night)
Bal +101 : Hoping the weather stays ok enough to play. It will be bad prior to game time, but could possibly clear up enough to play. The Rays still can't find their swing, batting a horrid .208 over their last 10 games (averaging just over 2.5 runs per game). While Gonzalez hasn't looked stellar in his two starts this season he was much better in his last outing against NY than he was in his first. He shouldn't help the Tampa bats come to life tonight as he has held current Rays hitters to a .219 avg over 114 at bats. On the other side Tampa is countering with Odorizzi. He didn't look bad in his second start against KC, but unraveled in his last inning of work. There isn't much familiarity here for Baltimore, but they are swinging the bats well against RHP lately. The Orioles broke out of their slump last night and I look for some of that to carry over to tonight. I just can't see Tampa hitting with runners on which would be a killer tonight. Give me the O's!
StL +107 : Brewers were winners of 9 straight... lose at home last night... so go back to them in the 2nd game of the series, right? I don't think so. The Cardinals are winners of 3 straight and swinging the bats well over that time, hitting .264 and averaging over 4.5 runs per game (but hitting .290 and averaging almost 5.5 runs per game against RHP). While I do like Estrada most times, I do not like him in this matchup. St Louis is swinging the bats well and they hit Estrada particularly well too (.338 Avg and .914 OPS). He faced the Cards 5 times last season going 0-1 with a 6+ ERA... needless to say they see the ball well against him. On the other side Miller goes for St Louis. He hasn't looked great in his first 2 starts, but did look better last time out against the Reds (though he has walked 3 batters in each of his 2 starts). Facing the Brewers should help him take another step forward. He is holding Milwaukee hitters to a .218 avg and a .552 OPS. He started 5 games against them last year and the Cardinals went 5-0 in those games.... only giving up more than 2 runs once. It will also help that the Brewers bats have started to really cool off over their last few games (hitting .214 over their last 5... .194 against RHP over that same span). I see the Brew Crew dropping a 2nd straight. Give me the Cards!
Tor -120 : Toronto hitters know Hughes and know him well. They are hitting .295 against him with 24 of their 57 hits going for extra bases (14 doubles and 10 home runs). The Blue Jays bats had really been struggling, but came to life to the tune of 17 hits and 11 runs in the series finale against Baltimore. Facing Hughes should help them carry that over, especially when Hughes has struggled so much in his first 2 starts with the Twins. The fact that Toronto holds a 20-7 record over their last 27 games in Minnesota should definitely boost their confidence as well. Morrow will be on the mound against the Twins, and while you never really know what you're going to get from him he has had success vs the Twins in the past. The Twins have also struggled at the plate lately hitting .226 over their last 5 games... .211 vs RHP. I see the Jays getting to Hughes early and taking home the win. Give me Toronto!