Five To Follow MLB Betting: Wednesday, April 22, 2015 Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews
It's not too often that you see a manager fired in April, but there have been rumblings out of south Florida that Miami's Mike Redmond is very much on the hot seat. Owner Jeffrey Loria isn't exactly the most patient man; he spent a lot of money on the team this offseason and it has started just 3-10. In fact, the Marlins already have reportedly targeted a potential replacement: Mets Triple-A affiliate manager Wally Backman, who has interviewed for a handful of big-league jobs in recent years. If the Marlins lose a few more in a row, Redmond gets the boot.
Indians at White Sox (+108, 7.5)
The lone matinee on the schedule with a 2:10 p.m. ET start and will be shown on the MLB Network, so there should be live betting at sportsbooks. Should be a low-scoring game too as it's AL Cy Young winner Corey Kluber (0-1, 2.49) for the Tribe. He' s not getting much help from his offense and has taken a no-hitter into the sixth inning in two of his three starts. Kluber has a 3.09 ERA in 64 career innings vs. the White Sox. Jose Abreu is 6-for-17 with a homer and three RBIs off him. Jeff Samardzija (0-1, 4.29) wasn't good in his first two starts but was last time out, allowing a run and striking out seven in eight innings of a no-decision in Detroit. Michael Bourn is 5-for-10 off him with two doubles.
Key trends: The Indians have won five straight Wednesday games, while the Sox have dropped four straight on that day. The "over/under" has gone under in 11 of Kluber's past 12 starts.
Early lean: Sox and under.
Cubs at Pirates (-113, 7.5)
Are the Cubs now the most interesting team in baseball? I am surprised that the team decided to call up its second most-touted prospect in Addison Russell for Tuesday's game in Pittsburgh. Most thought it would be at least June before Russell came up for service time reasons. He was the key piece that came over from Oakland for Jeff Samardzija last July. Russell was rated as high as the No. 3 overall prospect by some, with of course new Cub Kris Bryant at No. 1. Russell will play shortstop full time at some point but for now will man second base, which has been an offensive black hole thus far from the Cubs. Now that infield has the potential to be amazing offensively along with Bryant, shortstop Starlin Castro (he's moving positions probably next season or will be traded) and first baseman Anthony Rizzo. Jason Hammel (1-0, 5.11) starts on the mound for Chicago. Andrew McCutchen is 6-for-20 with two homers off him. Vance Worley (1-1, 5.84) goes for Pittsburgh. Both his 2015 starts have been against Milwaukee. Castro is just 1-for-8 with six strikeouts off him.
Key trends: Chicago is 0-4 in Hammel's past four starts in Game 3 of a series. The Pirates are 5-1 in Worley's past six at home. The over is 6-1 in Hammel's past seven road starts.
Early lean: Cubs and over.
Reds at Brewers (+118, 7)
Milwaukee has been the only NL team worse than Miami thus far, and things aren't likely to get better soon as All-Star catcher Jonathan Lucroy suffered a fractured toe on Monday night when hit by a foul ball, and he's headed to the disabled list. Carlos Gomez is already on the DL, and second baseman Scooter Gennett was just placed on it Tuesday after cutting his hand in the shower recently (only a baseball player!). So a weakened lineup for Reds starter Johnny Cueto (0-2, 2.14), who doesn't need much help. Although you can see by his record and ERA that he's not getting much run support. The Reds have scored one run in each of his past two games. Ryan Braun is just 8-for-38 off him with 11 strikeouts. Aramis Ramirez hits him well, going 16-for-45 with five homers and 11 RBIs. Jimmy Nelson (1-1, 1.50) goes for Milwaukee. He has only faced Pittsburgh this season.
Key trends: The Reds are 11-5 in Cueto's past 16 vs. the NL Central. The Brewers are 1-6 in Nelson's past seven starts. The under is 6-1 in Cueto's past seven vs. Milwaukee.
Early lean: Reds and under.
Padres at Rockies (+119, 10)
Colorado could be without outfielder Corey Dickerson for a few games after he left Monday's matchup with mild plantar fasciitis in his left foot. The team is hoping Dickerson can avoid the DL. Third baseman Nolan Arenado was scratched from Monday's lineup with a sore left wrist, so keep an eye on him. James Shields (2-0, 2.84) gets the call for San Diego. He has been just about everything the Padres could have hoped for thus far. Justin Morneau really hits him well from their AL days as Morneau is 15-for-47 with four homers, six doubles and 11 RBIs. Kyle Kendrick (1-2, 7.56) has been bombed his last two starts and may not be long for the Colorado rotation. San Diego's Justin Upton is a career .348 hitter off him with two homers in 23 at-bats.
Key trends: The Padres are 5-2 in their past seven in Game 3 of a series. The over is 5-0 in San Diego's past five road games vs. a righty starter.
Early lean: Padres and under.
Dodgers at Giants (+112, 5.5)
Clearly this pitching matchup is a must preview as it's Clayton Kershaw, the best regular-season pitcher on the planet, against Madison Bumgarner, the best postseason pitcher on the planet. Kershaw (1-1, 4.42) had been a bit off in his first two starts and still was not quite up to his usual standards in beating the Rockies last time out, allowing three runs (two homers) in six innings. He did strike out a season-high 12. Kershaw was 3-0 with a 1.69 ERA in four starts against the Giants in 2014. Bumgarner (1-1, 5.29) was very good in his first start of the year but has allowed nine runs and 16 hits over 10 innings in his past two, both Giants losses. He was 3-2 with a 2.45 ERA in five starts last year vs. the Dodgers. Justin Turner may get a spot start as he's 6-for-18 with two doubles and two homers career off Bumgarner.
Key trends: The Giants are 4-0 in Bumgarner's past four vs. teams with a winning record. They are 4-1 in his past five at home vs. L.A. The Dodgers are 8-2 in Kershaw's past 10 in San Francisco. The under has hit in seven of Bumgarner's past 10 vs. L.A. overall.
Early lean : This might be the first 5.5 total I've seen this season, at least to open. Take Dodgers and over.
