Scott Spreitzer | MLB Money Line Wed, 04/15/15 – 8:10 PM
dime bet – 973 KAN (-127) vs 974 MIN
Analysis: I’m backing the KC Royals on Wednesday night. Kansas City is 7-0 and leads the majors with a .329 batting average and .932 OPS but the Royals are only a small favorite in this game because Kyle Gibson is 3-0 with a 1.40 ERA against them in his career. That being said, Gibson was pummeled in his first outing allowing six runs on hits with five walks in just 3.2 innings against Detroit. Americasbookie. Also, he doesn’t figure to get much run support as Minnesota is batting .201 and is last in the majors with a .530 OPS. Edinson Volquez gave up just one run on four hits in eight innings in his season debut against the White Sox. The Royals lead the majors in batting average (.329) and OPS (.932). The Twins are 25-53 their last 78 games as home underdogs and Kansas City has won 43 of its last 63 road games. Look for the Royals to make it eight in a row on Wednesday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer
dime bet – 973 KAN (-127) vs 974 MIN
Analysis: I’m backing the KC Royals on Wednesday night. Kansas City is 7-0 and leads the majors with a .329 batting average and .932 OPS but the Royals are only a small favorite in this game because Kyle Gibson is 3-0 with a 1.40 ERA against them in his career. That being said, Gibson was pummeled in his first outing allowing six runs on hits with five walks in just 3.2 innings against Detroit. Americasbookie. Also, he doesn’t figure to get much run support as Minnesota is batting .201 and is last in the majors with a .530 OPS. Edinson Volquez gave up just one run on four hits in eight innings in his season debut against the White Sox. The Royals lead the majors in batting average (.329) and OPS (.932). The Twins are 25-53 their last 78 games as home underdogs and Kansas City has won 43 of its last 63 road games. Look for the Royals to make it eight in a row on Wednesday. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer
MLBPredictions / Brent
Cincinnati Reds @ Chicago Cubs
My Pick – OVER 7 (-115)
The Reds and Cubs will conclude their three game set tonight at Wrigley as Cincy took game two with a hard-fought 3-2 victory last night but might have lost Brandon Phillips in the process. Phillips left the game after feeling lightheaded following a collision with the Cubs’ Starlin Castro, however it’s possible the veteran slugger return to the lineup for tonight’s rubber match. Jason Marquis makes his second start of the season after lasting six innings in his first start, a 5-4 Friday against the Cardinals. Marquis had a trough first couple of innings but settled down and let the Reds offense get them back in to the game. This is just his second big league appearance since July of 2013 so there are sure to be some peaks and valleys with the veteran right-hander, and I’m leaning towards a valley this evening. The Cubs send Travis Wood to the hill after he was hit hard in his first start of the season against the Colorado Rockies. In just 4 2/3 innings, Wood surrendered three runs on seven hits in a 5-1 loss to the Rockies on Friday. The left-hander will be facing his former team in the Reds who dealt him to Chicago in 2011 and his ERA sits at a nice 2.98 mark against his former club. The Reds should give him some trouble tonight as Todd Frazier is off to a great start to the season and Billy Hamilton will be in the lineup after suffering a finger injury that kept him out of Monday’s game. Hamilton is a spark plug for this offense as he steals bases at will and takes the pitcher’s attention away from the hitter at the plate. Marquis should far no better as a youthful Cubs offense that can hit and run is balanced by veterans like Miguel Montero, who is 7 for 20 off Marquis in his career with four homeruns and two doubles. These two NL Central teams should score some runs tonight off of their respective fifth starts so take the OVER 7 and watch them both plate some runs tonight.
Detroit Tigers @ Pittsburgh Pirates
My Pick – TIGERS (+139)
The Tigers and Pirates finish off a three-game set that has seen each team come away victorious over the first two meetings, both of which were tight ball games. Pittsburgh just about blew a 5-1 lead in the 9th inning on Monday afternoon and snuck out a 5-4 victory while Detroit evened the series last night with a well-played 2-0 win. Alfredo Simon opposes Francisco Liriano tonight in a battle of pitchers who are very familiar with the opposing offense. Simon came to Detroit in an offseason trade after spending a few years in a Cincinnati Reds uniform, a team that resides in the NL Central along with the Pirates. Over 18 starts against Pittsburgh Simon is 3-4 career but with a 3.50 ERA against as the veteran righty won two of his four starts against the Pirates last season. Liriano is facing a Tigers team that he faced plenty while pitching for the Minnesota Twins as they are AL Central rivals with Detroit. In 25 appearances and 18 career starts against Detroit, Liriano is 5-9 with a 5.82 ERA including a 1-8 mark over his last 11 starts with the one victory coming all the way back in 2011. In short, the Tigers absolute mash this lefty as the 5.82 ERA is the highest mark of any MLB team he has faced at least ten times in his career. Miguel Cabrera, fresh off being named the AL’s player of the week in the seasons’ first seven days is 9 for 32 with three doubles and two homeruns while walking eight times. Over the last five years, plenty of Tigers have had success against Liriano. There is Cabrera, plus Alex Avila (.400), J.D. Martinez (.500 with a homer), Victor Martinez (.500 but likely sits as there is no DH tonight) and Nick Castellanos (.333). The Tigers pounded lefty T.J. House of the Indians on Sunday afternoon and will be an extremely tough opponent for any left hander this season. Take the Tigers tonight as huge underdogs to knock off the Pirates a take their third consecutive series victory to start the season.
Cincinnati Reds @ Chicago Cubs
My Pick – OVER 7 (-115)
The Reds and Cubs will conclude their three game set tonight at Wrigley as Cincy took game two with a hard-fought 3-2 victory last night but might have lost Brandon Phillips in the process. Phillips left the game after feeling lightheaded following a collision with the Cubs’ Starlin Castro, however it’s possible the veteran slugger return to the lineup for tonight’s rubber match. Jason Marquis makes his second start of the season after lasting six innings in his first start, a 5-4 Friday against the Cardinals. Marquis had a trough first couple of innings but settled down and let the Reds offense get them back in to the game. This is just his second big league appearance since July of 2013 so there are sure to be some peaks and valleys with the veteran right-hander, and I’m leaning towards a valley this evening. The Cubs send Travis Wood to the hill after he was hit hard in his first start of the season against the Colorado Rockies. In just 4 2/3 innings, Wood surrendered three runs on seven hits in a 5-1 loss to the Rockies on Friday. The left-hander will be facing his former team in the Reds who dealt him to Chicago in 2011 and his ERA sits at a nice 2.98 mark against his former club. The Reds should give him some trouble tonight as Todd Frazier is off to a great start to the season and Billy Hamilton will be in the lineup after suffering a finger injury that kept him out of Monday’s game. Hamilton is a spark plug for this offense as he steals bases at will and takes the pitcher’s attention away from the hitter at the plate. Marquis should far no better as a youthful Cubs offense that can hit and run is balanced by veterans like Miguel Montero, who is 7 for 20 off Marquis in his career with four homeruns and two doubles. These two NL Central teams should score some runs tonight off of their respective fifth starts so take the OVER 7 and watch them both plate some runs tonight.
Detroit Tigers @ Pittsburgh Pirates
My Pick – TIGERS (+139)
The Tigers and Pirates finish off a three-game set that has seen each team come away victorious over the first two meetings, both of which were tight ball games. Pittsburgh just about blew a 5-1 lead in the 9th inning on Monday afternoon and snuck out a 5-4 victory while Detroit evened the series last night with a well-played 2-0 win. Alfredo Simon opposes Francisco Liriano tonight in a battle of pitchers who are very familiar with the opposing offense. Simon came to Detroit in an offseason trade after spending a few years in a Cincinnati Reds uniform, a team that resides in the NL Central along with the Pirates. Over 18 starts against Pittsburgh Simon is 3-4 career but with a 3.50 ERA against as the veteran righty won two of his four starts against the Pirates last season. Liriano is facing a Tigers team that he faced plenty while pitching for the Minnesota Twins as they are AL Central rivals with Detroit. In 25 appearances and 18 career starts against Detroit, Liriano is 5-9 with a 5.82 ERA including a 1-8 mark over his last 11 starts with the one victory coming all the way back in 2011. In short, the Tigers absolute mash this lefty as the 5.82 ERA is the highest mark of any MLB team he has faced at least ten times in his career. Miguel Cabrera, fresh off being named the AL’s player of the week in the seasons’ first seven days is 9 for 32 with three doubles and two homeruns while walking eight times. Over the last five years, plenty of Tigers have had success against Liriano. There is Cabrera, plus Alex Avila (.400), J.D. Martinez (.500 with a homer), Victor Martinez (.500 but likely sits as there is no DH tonight) and Nick Castellanos (.333). The Tigers pounded lefty T.J. House of the Indians on Sunday afternoon and will be an extremely tough opponent for any left hander this season. Take the Tigers tonight as huge underdogs to knock off the Pirates a take their third consecutive series victory to start the season.
Sorry
Teddy 3* Atl Hawks +6.5
505 ATL 6.5 (-110) Bookmaker.com vs 506 CHI Analysis: 3* Big Ticket: Take Atlanta (#505)
Teddy 3* Atl Hawks +6.5
505 ATL 6.5 (-110) Bookmaker.com vs 506 CHI Analysis: 3* Big Ticket: Take Atlanta (#505)
