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Denver vs. UtahFOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
Pick: Utah -135FOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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This series has been dominated by the home team (5-1 SU last six meetings) since the start of last season, and I fully expect to see that trend continue on Wednesday night.
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As good as the Nuggets have been this season, they've been nothing more than average on the road - perhaps even a little worse - having gone 17-21 SU. They suffered a narrow two-point loss in their lone previous trip to Utah, where the Jazz have posted a stellar 28-9 SU mark.
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Of course, it's the Jazz that are in desparation mode right now. With only a couple of weeks remaining in the regular season, they're in a battle with the Lakers for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. With L.A. winning last night, the pressure shifts back to Utah.
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I like the fact that the Jazz will get to stay home for a third straight game, knowing that they'll get one more date on their current homestand, with the Hornets on Friday. Meanwhile, the Nuggets play on the road for the third time in their last four games, and will have to return home to host the Mavericks tomorrow night.
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Denver isn't at full strength right now, forced to go without starting PG Ty Lawson for an indefinite period as he deals with a heel injury. Lawson is essentially the engine that makes this offense go, averaging 16.7 points and 6.9 assists per game. The Nuggets were +17 with Lawson on the floor in their most recent meeting with the Jazz.
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Utah isn't the better team in this matchup, but it is playing with a great deal of positive momentum right now, on the heels of five straight wins. By contrast, Denver has dropped two of its last three games following that lengthy winning streak.
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While the Nuggets are a little banged-up, the Jazz have gotten healthier of late, with Mo Williams returning and making a sizable contribution. This is a different Utah team than we saw the last time these two squads met in early January - a game the Nuggets won by 19 points. I do have the utmost respect for George Karl's team, so rather than lay the points with the Jazz in this spot, I'll back them at a very reasonable price on the moneyline.
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Orlando +14FOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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What are the odds of a sixth straight San Antonio game being decided by two points or fewer? The answer is not very good when the opponent is Orlando.
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Still, there are numerous reasons for backing the Magic to stay within this big number.
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First is the situation. The Spurs just got through playing extremely tight games against the Nuggets, Clippers, Heat and Grizzlies. After this matchup, the Spurs have a Western Conference showdown with Oklahoma City on Thursday. This, of course, leaves the backdoor open for Orlando because Spurs coach Gregg Popovich will want to rest his veteran stars if his team builds up a big lead in anticipation of tomorrow's much more important matchup.
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Manu Ginobili is out for anther couple of weeks with a strained right hamstring. The Spurs haven't been very good covering big numbers failing to get the money the past five times when laying nine or more points. San Antonio also is just 4-11-1 ATS the last 16 times when going against foes with a winning percentage of less than .400.
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Orlando hasn't quit on first-year head coach Jacque Vaughn. The youthful Magic actually have covered eight of their last 11 road contests. They came from 25 points down in their last game, this past Monday at Houston, to pull within five late in the fourth quarter before losing 111-103. The Magic are going with rookies and some of them are playing well. Maurice Harkness had a season-high 28 points versus Houston.
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It's doubtful Popovich will want to blow out and embarrass Vaughn. The two are close. Vaughn coached under Popovich at San Antonio from 2010 until getting the Orlando head coaching job this past summer.
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Orlando +14.5FOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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Despite dropping 10 of their last 11 games in straight up fashion the Magic actually have been playing pretty decent ball. They have cashed 9 of the last 14 games remaining competitive even in losing causes. This is clearly a team who hasn't thrown in the towel on the season. In fact, Orlando was once an easy go against team when facing an opponent off a loss but that's no longer the case. Once sitting at 5-12 ATS in that situation Orlando has gone 9-6 ATS since when facing an opponent off a defeat, and the Spurs have dropped two straight.
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San Antonio isn't playing very well right now either because of age, injuries or coaching decisions on playing time. They have lost 3 of 5 games in straight up fashion as of late and have been on a poor 2-10 spread run. Coming off high profile games with Denver, the Clippers, Miami and Memphis with a showdown at Oklahoma City tomorrow. We can't see Pop running up the score here against one of his former assistants with such an important game on deck. We step in and take the big points with a Magic team still showing signs of life.
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Toronto Blue Jays -165FOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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Opening Day did not go as planned for the Blue Jays. Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey pitched six innings, giving up three earned runs, including a home run, while striking out only four hitters. Blue Jays catch J.P. Arencibia didn't help much, as he failed to get a handle on the knuckle ball, allowing three passed balls.
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The Blue Jays will try again on Wednesday in front of their fans at home in Toronto, and this time they send 28 year old Brandon Morrow to the hill. Morrow was having a break out year before going down with an injury last season, and he's worked his way into the number two spot in a very good Jays rotation.
The Indians haven't seen a lot of Morrow, with just four players in the lineup having 10 or more at bats versus the right-hander. None of those four have had much success, and as a team Cleveland is hitting below .200 versus Morrow. Nick Swisher has seen the most of him, hitting just .160 with eight strikeouts in 25 career at bats.
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The Tribe will send Ubaldo Jiminez to the hill, and he was a bit of a gas can last year. He was 0-1 with a 9.64 ERA in two starts versus the Blue Jays last season, and he was just 4-12 on the road all year. Colby Rasmus has seen more of Jiminez than anyone else in the Toronto lineup, and he's liked what he's seen. Rasmus has hit .368 with three extra-base hits in 19 career at bats versus the right-hander.
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His only start at Rogers Center in 2012 didn't last long, as he allowed eight runs on 10 hits, including a pair of homers in just over two innings.
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The Blue Jays have a favorable matchup here, and they should get their first win of the season at home tonight, after a disappointing home opener.
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Red Sox/Yankees Under 8FOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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The Yankees were crushed by Boston on opening day but today’s game should be much closer and have a much lower score. Hiroki Kuroda takes the mound for New York and he brings with him a 3.32 ERA from last season. Kuroda was a 16 game winner last year with a 1.17 WHIP. He is also one of the most experienced pitchers in the New York lineup. The Yankees bullpen should look a little better for tonight’s game too now that the first game jitters are out of the way.
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Boston will start Clay Buchholz for today’s game. Buchholz did not have an all-star season in 2012, but if spring training is any indication the 2013 season could be big for this right-hander. His last outing in spring training came against the Twins in which he pitched four scoreless innings and gave up only one hit. Boston’s bullpen looked sharp giving up no runs in four innings and a .750 WHIP in the first game of the season.
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Charlotte Bobcats +5½FOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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Neither the Philadelphia 76ers nor the Charlotte Bobcats have anything to play for the rest of the way. With that in mind, you have to try and find reasons for both teams to be motivated heading into their game Wednesday night.
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While Philadelphia will have a hard time getting motivated to face a team that it just beat 100-92 at home on Saturday, March 30th, Charlotte will be out for revenge as it gets its chance at payback just four days later.
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The Bobcats have been playing their best basketball of the season at home of late. The are 3-1 SU & 3-1 ATS in their last three home games overall with their only loss coming by a single point in a 91-92 setback against Detroit.
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Philadelphia is just 8-26 on the road this season where it is only scoring 91.2 points/game. The Bobcats are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400. Bet Charlotte Wednesday.
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Chicago White Sox -135FOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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The White Sox are showing great value as a small home favorite this afternoon against the Royals. Chicago's Jake Peavy is being extremely undervalued due to his 11-12 record in 2012. His 3.37 ERA was the 9th best mark in the AL, which clearly shows he was much better than his record would indicate. I'll gladly take my chances at this price against the Royals Ervin Santana, who is just 5-5 with a 4.36 ERA in 15 career starts against the White Sox. There's a lot of hype surrounding this Royals team early in the season, as many projected Kansas City to finish 2nd in the AL Central behind the Tigers. That definitely isn't sitting well with Chicago, who gave the division away to Detroit in the final month of the season.
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Kansas City/CHICAGO over 7½ -103 over .
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U.S. Cellular Field is a tightly-packed park that is good for power hitters. The 330 and 335 corners in left and right are common enough but the 375 power alleys and 400 foot center field fence receive nice boosts from prevailing winds and no wall in the park is higher than eight feet. Narrow foul areas also work to help hitters remain in the game. It’s no secret that this is a hitter’s park and that’s especially troubling for Earvin Santana. Pitchers that give up two home runs per game don't last long. Those bombs plus poor command caused a first half mess. Santana’s control returned in the second half, giving hitters even juicier pitches, resulting in a nearly identical mess. Santana’s fly-ball/ground-ball rate in in the second last season was 40%/40%. That’s reason for more concern and an eye-opening 19% of those left the yard.
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Jake Peavy is a reliable starter with solid skills. He posted a 3.10 ERA at The Cell last season and even if he duplicates that here, this one is still likely to go over. What’s even more interesting is that he went 0-3 against the Royals last year with a 5.68 ERA. Current Royals have 55 hits in 177 career AB’s (.322) against Peavy with a .474 slugging percentage and a .836 on-base percentage. The posted total in the opener with Chris Sale and James Shields starting was 7. Yeah, the final was 1-0 but this is a new day with different pitchers and the posted total is a half run more with at least one pitcher that is on a serious decline and another one with a poor history against the opponent. It’s also worth noting that Peavy threw just eight innings this spring and allowed 12 hits and seven runs for an ERA of 7.88.
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Chicago +120 over PITTSBURGHFREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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Wandy Rodriguez seems like a pretty steady 3.50-3.75 ERA, 1.25-1.30 WHIP target. He has been right around those levels for each of the last five seasons. That said, there are reasons to be concerned. His strikeout rate has trended the wrong way for five seasons running. His swinging strike rate the last four years has also declined from 9.2% to 8.8% to 8.5% and to 7.0% last year. One should never ignore a skills decline over a lengthy period and that’s precisely what we see with Rodriguez. There's significant downside here and it’s worth noting that Rodriguez threw just five innings the entire spring, making him a prime fade candidate.
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Edwin Jackson is healthy and ready to go. He had a productive spring, throwing 24 innings while striking out 20 batters and walking just six. His ERA in the spring was 5.25 but don’t put too much weight on that, as he was experimenting with some new pitches. For the most part he looked strong and sharp. Jackson has been consistently good for years. His low win total from last season was the result of poor run support. Jackson’s skills in the second half were elite with a 51% ground-ball rate and the best strikeout and walk rates of his career. Jackson’s 12.2% swinging strike rate was among the MLB elite in 2012 and it increased by 2.9% vs. 2011. Jackson is just 29 years old and has the goods to duplicate the 3.62 ERA, 1.26 WHIP breakout season he had in 2009.
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Baltimore +126 over TAMPA BAYFREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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The Rays have been contenders for years, parlaying some outstanding scouting, a strong pitching staff and the will to win into three playoff appearances in the past five seasons. They have the pitching once again to compete but you simply can’t keep losing high end talent and expect positive results every year. The Rays were 11th in runs scored, 13th in hits, 12th in batting average and 11th in slugging percentage among American League teams last season. Now they’re without B.J. Upton, who went off for 51 home runs, 159 runs batted in and 67 stolen bases in the last two years. Jeremy Hellickson is considered to be one of the cornerstones of the Rays staff but we’re not buyers. For the second straight season, Hellickson flipped average skills into a stellar final product, out-pitching his xERA by more than a run. Hellickson’s groundball/line-drive/fly-ball rate over the past two years has been a pedestrian 39%/20%/41%. Those are similar numbers to some pitchers that keep getting sent back down to the minors. Hellickson has become adept at disaster avoidance with a very lucky 82% strand rate over his last 50 starts covering nearly two years. We may be missing something here because luck usually doesn’t hold out for this long but we are suggesting that he’s overvalued again and some regression is forthcoming. You simply can’t keep outpitching your xERA.
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The Orioles opening day bashing of David Price gives us plenty of optimism that this team was no fluke last year. Wei-Yin Chen is a workhorse that didn't miss a beat in his transition from Japan to the U.S. There were a lot of interesting baseball stories coming out of Baltimore last year but the quiet breakout performance of Wei-Yin Chen is one that continues to fly under the radar. Chen's numbers in Japan suggested he would be a finesse lefty with low MLB upside but he proved to be a sturdy anchor in the Orioles rotation during their improbable pennant chase and subsequent appearance in the playoffs. Chen demonstrated solid skills all season but his control, strikeout rate and command all dramatically improved across the board in the second half. It must be noted that Chen never fanned hitters at this rate in Japan, but unlike other products of the JPL, his strong command of the strike zone has translated quite well to MLB action. Chen's ability to continue to miss bats will be critical to his long term value but right now he looks like one of the breakout sleepers of the 2012 season and we’ll ride him unless he shows us something different.
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St. Louis +104 over ARIZONAFREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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The Cardinals rebounded from an ugly opening day loss with a solid 6-1 victory last night. We now get the benefit of a bad line in our favor. A scary line drive off Brandon McCarthy’s head ended his season in September but the shoulder problem that put him on the DL in June is the long-term worry. His control is elite, but MacCarthy doesn't miss many bats and a lucky first half strand % helped mask his xERA issues. In addition, his GB% dipped from 43% in the first half to 35% in the second half. Moving from Oakland to the unforgiving confines of Chase Field could cause gopheritis to be a problem for him again. McCarthy has been a reliable profit producer during the last two seasons, posting a sub-3.50 ERA and sub-1.25 WHIP in both of them. Problem is, his 2012 skills didn't support that level of production. McCarthy can thank the Oakland Coliseum for that but for a pitcher that puts the ball in play, he won’t be thanking Chase Field when he sees his outfielders chasing balls in the gap all night long. McCarthy is serious fade material. Take advantage now.
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Lance Lynn transitioned from relief to rotation without a hitch. A 6+ ERA and 1.91 WHIP in August might leave a bad taste but it’s not a concern. Lynn rebounded with elite September. His strikeout rate and good command trends confirm that there's plenty more growth on the horizon. With consistency, addition of a third pitch and a 49% groundball rate, Lynn looks legit as a starter. Life is good when you can take back a tag with Lynn against McCarthy. When you look deep into the numbers, it suggests this is a pitching mismatch and it’s not in Arizona’s favor.
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San Francisco/LOS ANGELES over 7 +102FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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7 is commonly a total you see when guys like Felix Hernandez, Stephen Strasburg and Clayton Kershaw are pitching. To match the total of 7 when those guys are throwing to the two stiffs throwing here is something we can take full advantage of. It’s a bad number, pure and simple. The Dodgers spent loads of cash between August of last season and the beginning of this year and part of their spending included the $34M Josh Beckett is owed over the next two seasons. You can be excused if you just choked on your yogurt. Beckett went 7-14 last season with an ERA of 4.65. His paltry win total was not a case of bad luck either, as Beckett’s health and skills has been on a steady decline for years. Beckett finished the spring with a 7.79 ERA and five home runs allowed in 17.1 innings His base skills support a very mild rebound and even that’s a bit of a leap considering he’s a year older and has more miles on his arm.
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Then there’s Tim Lincecum. Lincecum's 2012 metamorphosis from elite ace to a struggling back-of-the-rotation starter was sudden and somewhat puzzling but sometimes pitchers lose it and never get it back. Lincecum has showed us nothing that suggests a return to form. Lincecum's rising walk rate finally caught up to him in 2012. Putting more runners on base than usual was the start of his troubles. Batters certainly got better looks at Lincecum in two related ways. First, a high BAA (batting average against) was not the result of a wacky hit rate; second, his average fastball velocity dipped from 92.2 in 2011 to 90.4 in 2012. Lincecum’s spring puts even more doubt in our minds. In his final spring start, Lincecum surrendered five earned runs on five hits and a walk in 4.2 innings against the A's. However, the ugly day actually lowered his spring ERA to 10.57 through 15.1 frames. Chances are one or both of these starters will get lit up here. Of course Dodger Stadium has a way of making bad pitchers look good but both are going to have to be good to keep this one under and the racing form suggests that’s highly unlikely.
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Braves -125 over Phillies
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It is not secret that the Phillies struggled with runs last year and were especially bad against left handed pitching. I think they will be a better offensive team this year due to the fact there is no way they can possibly get him with the injury bug as much as they did last year. My concern is with superstar pitcher Roy Halladay. Halladay struggled dating back to last year and has been pretty bad this spring. Sometimes its hard to admit it, but golden days pass us all over. He is 36 years old and clearly he is on the backend of a marvelous career. Don’t get me wrong at all, he still is a fantastic pitcher, but just not as scary. Atlanta is great at home and very good against right handed pitching. The Braves also have the better bullpen and I expect them to take this game tonight. Take Atlanta.
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Sixers -4 over BobcatsFOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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The Sixers have dominated the Bobcats who are the worst team in the NBA and who just cant stay healthy. Philadelphia is playing with a purpose right now. If they could have won at least half their road games this year this would be a playoff team. This Sixers team is a lot more advanced in their scheme compared to Charlotte who is just as bad as they come. The Sixers have a slim outside chance of making the playoffs, but would need a lot of help. They are looking for their first 4 game win streak of the year and what better or a team to be playing to try to accomplish that. Take Philly.
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Kansas City at Chicago White SoxFREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
Pick: Kansas City +125FOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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The Chicago White Sox took a chance on oft injured Jake Peavy, with modest success. Peavy did well for awhile, but in the end he showed why he has become a journeyman pitcher. The Sox went 6-14 over his last 20 starts. One team that got a good look at him in those 20 games was Kansas City. The Royals pounded him, winning all three games he faced them. The total was 12 runs in 19 innings of work. The Royals will go with Ervin Santana, who has won 28 games over the last two seasons. Santana has a winning record against the White Sox in his career, while Peavy is just 4-7 vs. the Royals with an ERA of 4.85. Play the dog, and go with KC.
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Memphis vs. PortlandFOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
Pick: MemphisFOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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Portland appears to be running low on petrol and has looked tired in the past couple of weeks, just as the Blazers did before the All-Star break when their depth problems last surfaced. With a thin bench to begin with, Blazers have been susceptible to wear-and-tear issues, and recent absence of star F LaMarcus Aldridge (ankle and doubtful for this one vs. Memphis) has proven especially harmful as Portland had lost and failed to cover four on the trot heading into Utah on Monday, with all of those defeats by DDs and loss margin a whopping 18.7 ppg. Blazers also allowing a hefty 111 ppg during recent slump, suggesting that defensive effort is not there for HC Terry Stotts’ troops, either. We can usually count on some “D” from Memphis side that has buttered its bread on the stop end all season (allowing mere 90 ppg, behind only Indiana in scoring defense) and is still jockeying with Denver and the Clippers for improved playoff seeding and desired homecourt edge in first-round postseason action. Earlier three meetings all competitive, with Blazers even winning as a 9-point dog at FedEx Forum back on Jan. 4, but Grizzlies won two subsequent clashes, including a 102-97 decision on March 12 at Rose Garden when Memphis shot 51.3% from floor and survived 28-point onslaught by now-hurting Aldridge.
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Philadelphia vs. AtlantaFOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
Pick: AtlantaFOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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The Philadelphia Phillies are hoping Roy Halladay will rebound in 2013, off one of his worst seasons. I, for one, am NOT optimistic. Halladay goes for career win No. 200 on Wednesday night in Atlanta with the Braves trying to build off an impressive season-opening victory. Freddie Freeman, Dan Uggla and newcomer Justin Upton all homered in the Braves' 7-5 victory Monday, as Atlanta picked up where it left off in spring training, during which it hit a major league-best 49 HRs. Major questions abound over how Halladay will perform in 2013, after he went 11-8 with a 4.49 ERA in 2012 over just 25 starts (team was 14-11), while missing seven weeks with a strained right lat muscle.
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Paul Maholm will go for the Braves, coming off a 13-11 season (3.67) in which he went 4-5 with a 3.54 ERA in 11 starts after being acquired from the Chicago Cubs on July 30. Maholm will a Philly lineup which was just 8-17 on the road last year vs lefties, including 4-10 in night games, where the Phils averaged a woeful 2.5 RPG.
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Halladay is off a rough spring training in which he posted a 6.06 ERA in six outings plus is 0-3 with a 7.44 ERA in his last six starts against Atlanta, including going 0-2 with an 11.21 ERA versus the Braves last year (Phils were 1-2). I NEVER though I'd say this but I'm taking Maholm over Halladay!
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ANAHEIM -1½ +165 over DallasFREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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The Stars have traded away the present for the future and by the time the puck drops tonight, a couple more players may be on the move, leaving this intruder with even more holes. Over the past several days, Dallas has dealt Derek Roy, Jaromir Jagr and Brenden Morrow for several young players and draft picks but that’s not going to help them tonight. In some disarray and having to deal without some monster NHL presence in the locker room, this is not the right time to bet on the Stars. Dallas has dropped three of its last four games while allowing 17 goals over that span. One also has to wonder what state of mind the players will be in.
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The Ducks have lost three straight at home and five of their past seven games overall so they figure to be in a foul mood here. The Ducks will have no sympathy for the Stars. The Ducks have a huge edge in every department. Sheldon Souray, said to have been done a couple years ago, leads all NHL defensemen with a plus-25 rating. Offensively, these Ducks can bury an unprepared group and Dallas does not figure to be well-prepared for this one. Said Bobby Ryan,” This is an opportunity for us to really try and bury a division rival. ... I don't think you want to let Dallas off the hook." Off three straight home losses we have to agree with Ryan and therefore we’ll take our chances laying 1½ pucks with a juicy return.
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Minnesota +120 over SAN JOSEFREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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OT included. This isn’t about fading the Sharks, although we’re still not convinced that they’re among the elite teams in the league. San Jose has an incredible record at HP Pavilion but they will now play the dreaded fifth straight game at home. Playing at home for an extended period has never been beneficial, as players don’t “hang around together” after practice like they do on the road and the togetherness is said to suffer. Regardless, the Sharks are just not good enough to maintain this current pace at home. They’re coming off four home wins over Anaheim Detroit, Phoenix and Vancouver and five straight victories overall.
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The Wild have dropped two of their past three but so what. Minnesota has still won 15 of its past 21 games and they figure to push a little extra here in order to get back on track. Offensively, no team in the NHL has scored more goals over the past 21-game stretch than the Wild. This visitor is more than capable of defeating the Sharks on any given night. With a nice take-back on still one of the hottest clubs in the league, and when we see that the Sharks were just -125 over Vancouver and just -108 over Anaheim, it confirms to us that the Wild are still undervalued.
Teddy CoversFOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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Colorado vs. MilwaukeeFREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
Pick: OverFREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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The roof will be closed at Miller Park again tonight – there’s no need to worry about the gametime temperatures hovering around the freezing mark. And if we’re not worried about cold weather deflating production, this game has all the makings of another high scoring slugfest in a series that has already seen the first two games fly Over the total!
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Colorado’s totals are still somewhat deflated following their anemic level of offensive production for most of the season last year. But last year’s team was an injury riddled mess. This year’s team has a healthy Troy Tulowitzki, a healthy Carlos Gonzalez and a healthy and rejuvenated Todd Helton, all three of whom were essentially non-factors for this team last year.
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Rockies manager Walt Weiss, following last night’s eight run outburst: “We really had some good at-bats tonight. We did a little bit of everything out there. I know that if the game is close, our offense will do something. Tulowitzki looks great. Having him and Carlos in the three and four hole is very nice.” Gonzalez, after homering in each of his first two games: “So far, I feel really good at the plate and it is paying off.”
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The Brewers, too, have a high octane lineup poised to beat up mediocre opposing pitchers. Key middle of the order bats Ricky Weeks and Aramis Ramirez are both hitting better than .400 through two games, and former MVP Ryan Braun is just one of six different Brewers to drive in a run already.
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Even if the starters excel today, neither bullpen is the slightest bit trustworthy. The Rockies bullpen blew the save opportunity on Monday and took the loss in extra innings. The Brewers bullpen blew the save opportunity on Monday and took the loss yesterday. And neither pen is fresh already, combining for 8.2 innings of work last night following eight innings of work on Monday. Put it all together and you can understand why the sharp money has been pouring in on the Over in early betting action today. Take the Over.
Jeff AlexanderFOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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Pittsburgh Pirates -130FOR FREE SERVICE PLAYS VISIT THESPREAD.COM
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Cubs took the series opener but are 0-4 in their last 4 following a win and 11-41 in their last 52 in the 2nd game of a series. They are also 18-48 in their last 66 road games, 17-46 in their last 63 games as a road underdog and 11-31 in their last 42 road games versus a left-handed starter. Look for the Cubs to struggle against Wandy Rodriguez, who went 2-1 with a 2.25 ERA in three starts versus them last season and went 1-0 with a 0.96 ERA in two starts for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic.