Be sure to check any updates before game time as this article is written the night before and may change with new information!
Minnesota Twins at Detroit Tigers
The Tigers are a surprise 2-1 to start the season. They beat the Indians at home and will now have to face the Twins at home. The Twins got their bats going and took down the Brewers 2 game to 1.
In game 1 of this series, the Twins will send out 34 year old Shoemaker who saw 12 1/3 innings of play in Spring Training let up 12 runs with 7 of them coming in one game. He struck out 8 batters and had zero walks. These outings suggest that anything can happen when he takes the mound.
To counter, the Tigers will roll out Urena. He saw 13 1/3 innings letting up 7 runs, striking out only 5 batters and letting up a high amount of walks with 9. Not great when you give the other team a free base nearly every inning, especially with a hard hitting team like the Twins.
The Twins are the favorite on the road with a line of -140 on the moneyline. The pitching factor will come with random-ability so it will come to to has the better bats. I will believe the bats will favor the Twins making the Twins ML the play.
Los Angeles Dodgers at Oakland Athletics
Oakland got convincingly swept by the Astros in the four-game series. Oakland had high hopes coming into the season so fans are starting to raise their eyebrows. It’s still very early and the As can easily turn this season around.
Montas will get his first start of the season and saw little action during Spring Training with only 8 innings of play. Through those 8 innings, he let up 6 runs while striking out 8 batters and letting up 4 walks. Not great but the added pressure of having to win might add motivation for him to get the win.
The Dodgers took care of business in Colorado taking 3 out of 4 games. They will send May out to the mound who had a fairly decent Spring. He saw roughly 18 innings of action letting up 5 runs and no home runs. He got 20 Ks and 7 BBs.
Despite having the advantage in pitching against the winless As, the Dodgers are only the -150 favorite. All signs point to the Dodgers taking this game. However, I’m putting my money on the Athletics coming out swinging and winning this game. The Dodgers +1.5 might be worth a look.
New York Mets at Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies get the sweep against the Braves. The Phillies started out hot and will get the Mets who saw played delayed due to the Nationals entering Covid protocol.
The Mets will send out their top ace deGrom who had an excellent season last year in the short season. The 32-year-old pitcher brought his excellent pitching into Spring. Through 13 2/3 innings, he let up only 1 run while striking out 21 batters. The only run he let up was a solo home run.
The Phillies are deep into their rotation and will give the nod to Moore. In 15 2/3 in Spring Training, he let up 8 runs but did strike out 14 batters. He also averaged a hit an inning.
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The Mets are the heavy favorite on the road at -210. deGrom has played outstanding and its hard to bet against him when the Phillies are sending out the 4th guy in their rotation! Mets -210 on the money line is the play.
Baltimore Orioles at New York Yankees
The Yankees started off the season by losing the series to the Blue Jays. They managed to win 1 game in a closely contested series. On the other hand, Baltimore has started off hot sweeping the Boston Red Sox.
In hopes of continuing of their hot streak, Baltimore will send out Lopez. Lopez saw a lot of innings in Spring with 19 2/3 innings of action, he did only let up 10 runs with 7 of then coming in one game while getting 17 Ks. Overall, he had a decent Spring Training that should give the Os a chance at winning.
The Yankees will give the nod to Montgomery. He had a great Spring Training letting up only 1 run, 4 hits, 0 home runs and striking out 7 batters through 10 innings of action.
The Yankees are the -230 favorite at home. No surprise they are the heavy favorite at home which is why I suggest taking the ML and RL.
Honorable Mentions
Indians -110
Cardinals -110
Angels -120
White Sox -120
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