MLB Picks & Predictions for Sunday, April 3, 2011
By Nate Steele
(The Spread) -Coming into the season, many had the Milwaukee Brewers pegged as a possible surprise team but two games into the season and they are still looking for their first win going into Sunday's series final at the Cincinnati Reds.
Oddsmakers from online sports book SBGGLOBAL.com have made the Reds -130 favorites in the contest and the over-under is set at 8.5.
Left-hander Randy Wolf (13-12, 4.17 ERA in 2010) takes his turn in the rotation for Milwaukee, while Cincinnati's Bronson Arroyo (17-10, 3.88 ERA).
In the season opener on Thursday, the Reds used a four-run ninth inning against Brewers closer John Axford to register a 7-6 victory on a walkoff three-run home run by Ramon Hernandez. That was followed by Saturday's 4-2 Cincinnati victory as it scored all four of its runs in the first two innings and held on from there.
According to the latest trends, Wolf is 10-3 when starting against Cincinnati with an ERA of 3.13 and a WHIP of 1.106. His team's record is 13-7 in these starts and the over is 12-8. Arroyo is 9-6 when starting against Milwaukee with an ERA of 3.74 and a WHIP of 1.265. His team's record is 11-7 in these starts and the over is 7-9.
MLB Free Pick: Milwaukee is licking its wounds going into today's series finale and certainly the third game of the season is not a must-win situation, but I think the Brewers are in a good spot here. Aside from the fact that posting that first victory is huge to get some momentum going, the Brewers have Wolf going and he has posted great career numbers versus the Reds. Arroyo has battled mononucleosis recently and might not be at full-strength. Expect the potent one through five hitters in Milwaukee's lineup to have a solid day, leading the Brew Crew to the win. I'm taking Milwaukee +120 here.
SUNDAY MLB FREE PICK: MILWAUKEE BREWERS +120