ASA
ASA's 8* MLB DIAMOND CLUB OPENING DAY DOMINATOR
PLAY ON: @Los Angeles Angels (Weaver) -130 over Minnesota Twins (Baker) 10:05 PM ET
The Angels have had a lot of recent success against Minnesota including winning six of the final seven meetings of the 2009 season, winning three of the four games in Anaheim last year. While a few familiar names have left the Angels this is still a quality team that won 97 games in 2009. Last year the Angels were 49-32 at home and this could be a difficult spot for Minnesota, facing long travel out west following the highly anticipated preview series with St. Louis at the new Target Field over the weekend. The Angels won both games that Jered Weaver started against Minnesota last season, including the game he matched up against Minnesota starter Scott Baker. While Weaver does not get a lot of attention, he quietly won 16 games with a respectable 3.71 ERA last season and he featured a strikeout to walk ratio of over 2.6. The Angels were 15-5 in home games that Weaver started and historically Weaver has been a solid early season pitcher. In his first start of 2009 Weaver did not allow an earned run in nearly seven innings of work while striking out eight. Scott Baker deserved better numbers than his 4.37 ERA last season but he did struggle early in the year. In three April starts Baker allowed 16 earned runs, eventually starting the year 0-4 in his first four starts. Baker had a 1.31 WHIP in road games last season compared with 1.09 at home even those some of his other statistics were stronger in road games. Baker is the ultimate control pitcher but his fly ball tendencies could be dangerous against the powerful Angels lineup. Minnesota also has serious question marks in the bullpen with Joe Nathan out for the year and Jon Rauch tabbed to be the closer. Weaver was an over -200 favorite in three of his final four home starts last season so this appears to be a cheap price on the ace for the Angels and while the Twins are a likable team, the Angels did fare ten-games better in the regular season last year while also winning a playoff series. Minnesota will be a team to back in some underdog situations but this is still a team that has generally struggled in road games against quality competition. While some question marks are present early in the season for Los Angeles, the Angels should be priced very reasonably and still should be considered a team with a lot of potential for success.
ASA's 8* MLB DIAMOND CLUB OPENING DAY DOMINATOR
PLAY ON: @Los Angeles Angels (Weaver) -130 over Minnesota Twins (Baker) 10:05 PM ET
The Angels have had a lot of recent success against Minnesota including winning six of the final seven meetings of the 2009 season, winning three of the four games in Anaheim last year. While a few familiar names have left the Angels this is still a quality team that won 97 games in 2009. Last year the Angels were 49-32 at home and this could be a difficult spot for Minnesota, facing long travel out west following the highly anticipated preview series with St. Louis at the new Target Field over the weekend. The Angels won both games that Jered Weaver started against Minnesota last season, including the game he matched up against Minnesota starter Scott Baker. While Weaver does not get a lot of attention, he quietly won 16 games with a respectable 3.71 ERA last season and he featured a strikeout to walk ratio of over 2.6. The Angels were 15-5 in home games that Weaver started and historically Weaver has been a solid early season pitcher. In his first start of 2009 Weaver did not allow an earned run in nearly seven innings of work while striking out eight. Scott Baker deserved better numbers than his 4.37 ERA last season but he did struggle early in the year. In three April starts Baker allowed 16 earned runs, eventually starting the year 0-4 in his first four starts. Baker had a 1.31 WHIP in road games last season compared with 1.09 at home even those some of his other statistics were stronger in road games. Baker is the ultimate control pitcher but his fly ball tendencies could be dangerous against the powerful Angels lineup. Minnesota also has serious question marks in the bullpen with Joe Nathan out for the year and Jon Rauch tabbed to be the closer. Weaver was an over -200 favorite in three of his final four home starts last season so this appears to be a cheap price on the ace for the Angels and while the Twins are a likable team, the Angels did fare ten-games better in the regular season last year while also winning a playoff series. Minnesota will be a team to back in some underdog situations but this is still a team that has generally struggled in road games against quality competition. While some question marks are present early in the season for Los Angeles, the Angels should be priced very reasonably and still should be considered a team with a lot of potential for success.
ANTONY DINERO
Duke vs Butler
Pick: Over 128
Shelvin Mack will have to be at his best for Butler to have a chance in this one, as the Bulldogs aren't superior enough to the Spartans to survive his absence for most of the second half the way they did on Saturday night. Matt Howard's availability is another potential obstacle, but you can expect him out there to provide some resistance based on his size alone for about 10-15 minutes. Because of these injuries and the Cinderella label the Bulldogs carry into this one, I think Vegas took liberties with this line, which is closer to double-digits than it needs to be. Back Butler and the over, 128.
Duke vs Butler
Pick: Over 128
Shelvin Mack will have to be at his best for Butler to have a chance in this one, as the Bulldogs aren't superior enough to the Spartans to survive his absence for most of the second half the way they did on Saturday night. Matt Howard's availability is another potential obstacle, but you can expect him out there to provide some resistance based on his size alone for about 10-15 minutes. Because of these injuries and the Cinderella label the Bulldogs carry into this one, I think Vegas took liberties with this line, which is closer to double-digits than it needs to be. Back Butler and the over, 128.
