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**Udog** · 04-05-2015, 08:28 AM

American League East preview: Plenty of value in competitive division

The American League East is projected to feature one of the tightest division races in baseball in 2015. No fewer than four teams have a legitimate shot at finishing on top with the Red Sox an improbable favorite coming off a disastrous 71-win campaign.

Baltimore Orioles (2014: 96-66, +34.77 units, 69-89-4)

Division odds: +350
Season win total: 82.5

Why bet the Orioles: Make it three straight winning seasons for the Orioles. There’s no question they’ve turned the corner from being a doormat to a contender in the A.L. East. Despite a few key personnel losses, their roster remains intact for the most part. Baltimore’s starting rotation is good enough to keep it in contention all season long.

Why not bet the Orioles: They might be one bat short after losing Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis. Those aren’t easy voids to fill. The O’s bullpen takes a hit as well, with Andrew Miller lost to free agency. There are going to be a lot of moving parts in the early going and in a crowded A.L. East race, that could ultimately spell trouble.

Season win total pick: Under 82.5

Boston Red Sox (2014: 71-91, -26.47 units, 71-86-5 O/U)

Division odds: +200
Season win total: 86.5

Why bet the Red Sox: There will be no shortage of star power in Beantown this season, with Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval among those joining the fold. The Red Sox young prospects got thrown into the fire during a disastrous 2014 campaign and should be farther along in their progression because of it. Like the Orioles, the Red Sox boast a starting rotation capable of keeping them in contention at the very least.

Why not bet the Red Sox: What happens if the injury bug bites again? Dustin Pedroia seems to have a new ailment each season and Hanley Ramirez wasn’t exactly a rock in Los Angeles. The Red Sox are counting on a lot of production from a select few and that leaves them exposed to failure once again if a couple of key injuries pop up.

Season win total pick: Under 86.5

New York Yankees (2014: 84-78, -2.4 units, 68-90-4 O/U)

Division odds: +400
Season win total: 81.5

Why bet the Yankees: The bullpen has the potential to dominate with Andrew Miller, David Carpenter and Justin Wilson joining an already promising group led by last year’s rookie standout Dellin Betances. Who knows what A-Rod can contribute but I do anticipate some improvement from the Yankees offensively, and even a small boost in that department could catapult them to the top of the A.L. East with a strong starting pitching staff.

Why not bet the Yankees: We’ve seen this story before. In recent years, every time the Yankees seem to show potential, it is quickly dashed. Expectations are high as usual in the Bronx but it will be tough to improve on last year’s 84-win campaign. Rarely do we see the Bronx Bombers as an undervalued commodity. The betting public always seems to keep the price high with this club.

Season win total pick: Over 81.5

Tampa Bay Rays (2014: 77-85, -26.54 units, 74-79-9 O/U)

Division odds: +700
Season win total: 78.5

Why bet the Rays: As evidenced by their division odds, few are giving the Rays a chance this year. A lot of the key pieces to the Rays success over the years have jumped ship but Evan Longoria remains and will continue to lead the offensive charge moving forward. The bottom of the order is ugly to be sure, but if Asdrubal Cabrera can over-achieve and one other hole can be filled, the Rays could show some life.

Why not bet the Rays: Gone are the days of a dominant starting rotation in St. Petersburg. Alex Cobb now finds himself at the top of the rotation and it will probably take career years from Drew Smyly and Chris Archer to keep this group afloat. The bullpen has similar question marks. Grant Balfour has a ton of miles on his arm and can’t be relied upon as an anchor.

Season win total pick: Under 78.5

Toronto Blue Jays (2014: 83-79, +1.19 units, 78-79-5 O/U)

Division odds: +250
Season win total: 83.5

Why bet the Blue Jays: No American League team made a bigger splash in the offseason than the Jays, as they brought in catcher Russell Martin and third baseman Josh Donaldson to add to an already potent lineup. Toronto’s youthful starting rotation shows a lot of promise and boasts just enough of a veteran presence (R.A. Dickey and Mark Buehrle remain on board) to qualify it as one of the best in baseball.

Why not bet the Blue Jays: The bullpen needs to bounce back after finishing as one of the worst relief corps’ in all of baseball last year. It’s not clear whether the Jays have done enough to improve substantially in that department and that could lead to their downfall. There’s also the concern that Josh Donaldson could regress after a stunning breakout with the A’s, although that’s a risk Toronto was willing to take.

Season win total pick: Over 83.5

National League East preview: Nationals' division to lose

The Nationals won the NL East by a whopping 17 games last season and are the favorites to win the division, NL pennant and the World Series in 2015. Covers Expert Steve Merril breaks down the National League East as we begin our preview of each division in the bigs.

Atlanta Braves (2014: 79-83, -1803 units, 63-86-13 O/U)

Division odds: 35/1
Season win total: 73.5

Why bet the Braves: Atlanta has one of the best closers in baseball in Craig Kimbrel. He blew just four saves all year long so if the Braves get a lead late, he should be able to hold it. They've got some nice pieces at the top of their rotation in Julio Teheran and Alex Wood, plus Nick Markakis is a solid addition to the lineup.

Why not bet the Braves: Shelby Miller is the team's number three pitcher and he's been hard to figure out after up and down years the last two seasons. Getting to Kimbrel could be an issue with the retooled bullpen featuring Jim Johnson, Shae Simmons and Jason Grilli. The offensive bench is extremely young and may not be able to get the job done at the plate.

Season win total pick: Over 73.5 wins

Miami Marlins (2014: 77-85, -2 units, 83-68-11 O/U)

Division odds: 5/1
Season win total: 81.5

Why bet the Marlins: Miami opened up the check book and acquired several new additions, along with giving slugger Giancarlo Stanton a huge contract. Mat Latos solidifies the top of the rotation to go along with Jose Fernandez when he is ready to return. Mike Morse, Dee Gordon and Martin Prado provide depth to a lineup that needed some additions.

Why not bet the Marlins: Latos only made 16 starts last year due to injury. The back end of the rotation features Dan Haren who doesn't really want to be there and Tom Koehler. A thin bench won't provide much offensive help, plus Stanton needs a solid lineup around him to ensure he sees good pitches and isn't just walked all the time.

Season win total pick: Over 81.5 wins

New York Mets (2014: 79-83, +311 units, 72-72-18 O/U)

Division odds: 6/1
Season win total: 82

Why bet the Mets: Second best pitching rotation in the division with Matt Harvey, Zack Wheeler, Bartolo Colon, Jon Niese and Jacob DeGrom. David Wright should be able to bounce back after he struggled last season. Curtis Granderson will be happy with the fences moving closer and Michael Cuddyer is now in the lineup as well.

Why not bet the Mets: Who will be the closer for the team and who is going to provide middle relief? This bullpen has some live arms in Jenrry Mejia and Jeurys Familia, but they are young and inconsistent. Will Matt Harvey stay healthy all year and can DeGrom stave off the sophomore year jinx?

Season win total pick: Under 82 wins

Philadelphia Phillies (2014: 73-89, -462 units, 83-69-10 O/U)

Division odds: 100/1
Season win total: 68.5

Why bet the Phillies: Ryan Howard and Chase Utley still have talent and they are both too good to struggle again this season. Dom Brown and Grady Sizemore combine well with Ben Revere in the outfield. Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee are still solid veterans in the rotation. Jonathan Papelbon is a strong closer and the team has several live arms in middle relief.

Why not bet the Phillies: Who is behind Lee and Hamels in the starting rotation? Right now it looks like Jerome Williams, Chad Billingsley and Aaron Harang are fighting it out with David Buchanan and none of those options inspire confidence. Will Howard and Utley be able to make it through the entire season without injuries? This team might also start trading away veteran talent as the season progresses.

Season Win Total Pick: Over 68.5 wins

Washington Nationals (2014: 96-66, +1062 units, 77-72-13 O/U)

Division odds:1/4
Season win total: 93.5

Why bet the Nationals: This team has the best pitching rotation in baseball with Strasburg, Zimmermann, Gonzalez, Fister and Scherzer. Opponents will struggle to score against Washington all season long. The offensive lineup will benefit with a full season of Ryan Zimmerman. The bench is also talented and deep.

Why not bet the Nationals: The bullpen is weaker without Tyler Clippard. Matt Thornton and Craig Stammen will have to step up their game. Jayson Werth is already banged up and Zimmerman is injury prone. Can the team handle the expectations that come with being the preseason World Series favorites?

Season Win Total Pick: Under 93.5 wins

National League West betting preview: Can the Dodgers get it done?

The Los Angeles Dodgers are the favorites in the National League West despite the defending World Series champs, the San Francisco Giants, and an improved San Diego Padres team in the mix. Is this the season the Dodgers' talent-rich roster finally figures it out and lives up to expectations?

Arizona Diamondbacks (2014: 64-98, -3160 Units, 74-82-6 O/U)

Division odds:
Season win total: 72.5

Why bet the Diamondbacks: Paul Goldschmidt is a real good hitter and Mark Trumbo can be one as well. Addison Reed has put together back-to-back solid seasons at closer. They have a decent bench filled with veterans who can help mentor the younger players.

Why not bet the Diamondbacks: Their rotation lacks an ace and is filled with mediocre starters. Josh Collmenter pitched well last year, but his awkward motion has now been seen repeatedly by everyone in the division. Rubby De La Rosa and Jeremy Hellickson come over from the American League and will now have to pitch in a very hitter friendly ballpark.

Season win total pick: Under 72.5 wins

Colorado Rockies (2014: 66-96, -2790 Units, 79-70-13 O/U)

Division odds:
Season win total: 71.5

Why bet the Rockies: The lineup returns pretty much intact and if Troy Tulowitzki, Carlos Gonzalez and Charlie Blackmon can stay healthy, the Rockies will roll offensively. Justin Morneau and Nolan Arenado are solid pieces as well. The rotation has talent at the top with Jhoulys Chacin and lefty Jorge De La Rosa who pitches especially well at Coors Field.

Why not bet the Rockies: LaTroy Hawkins is at closer and might regress after just three blown saves last season. The rest of the rotation is questionable with Tyler Matzek, Jordan Lyles, Eddie Butler and others vying for positions. Carlos Gonzalez is injury prone and missed 92 games last year. The team needs to put up better offensive numbers away from home.

Season win total pick: Over 71.5 wins

Los Angeles Dodgers (2014: 94-68, +1005 Units, 83-70-9 O/U)

Division odds:
Season win total: 92.5

Why bet the Dodgers: They feature the best pitcher in baseball, Clayton Kershaw, and he's backed by an incredible staff. Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu are very nice complementary pieces. They added Jimmy Rollins and Howie Kendrick to an already strong offensive lineup. Relief pitcher Kenley Jansen converted 44 of his 49 save opportunities last year and the bullpen is filled with live arms.

Why not bet the Dodgers: Yasiel Puig hit only five home runs in his last 132 games and his attitude could be an issue, especially if he or the team hits a rough patch this year. Brandon McCarthy and Brett Anderson vie for the back end of the pitching rotation and neither inspires much confidence. The catcher position needs an upgrade between AJ Ellis and Yasmani Grandal.

Season win total pick: Over 92.5 wins

San Diego Padres (2014, 77-85, -905 Units, 61-95-6 O/U)

Division odds:
Season win total: 84.5

Why bet the Padres: San Diego opened up the check book and added James Shields to a strong pitching rotation which already has fireballers Andrew Cashner and Tyson Ross. Ian Kennedy and Brandon Morrow are solid starters as well. The offensive lineup got an infusion of talent with Wil Myers, Matt Kemp and Justin Upton. Joaquin Benoit and solid middle relievers make up one of the best bullpens in the league.

Why not bet the Padres: San Diego's bench is weak and is comprised of several players that struggled last season. Wil Myers and Yonder Alonso are injury prone and have consistently missed games during their careers. The Padres appear improved this season, but they still need to prove it on the field where San Diego has won 77 games or less in six of their past seven seasons.

Season win total pick: Under 84.5 wins

San Francisco Giants (2014: 88-74, +802 Units, 76-76-10 O/U)

Division odds:
Season win total: 83.5

Why bet the Giants: They are the defending World Series champions and they have a solid pitching rotation with Madison Bumgarner, Matt Cain, Jake Peavy and more. The bullpen is back intact and is one of the best in the league. The offensive lineup has Hunter Pence and Buster Posey in the middle and both are coming off very good seasons.

Why not bet the Giants: Age is becoming an issue with four regular pitchers at least 35 years or older. The team needs more offensive punch to help Pence and Posey in the lineup. The team missed the playoffs following their other two recent World Series titles, so a regression is possible this year.

Season win total pick: Over 83.5

American League Central preview: White Sox join the party for division title

Detroit Tigers (2014: 90-72, -380 units, 84-72-2 O/U)

Division odds: 9/4
Season win total: 84.5

Why bet the Tigers: Their lineup is just as imposing as ever. Even if there are a couple of holes, as long as Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez are around to anchor the order, it will put up big numbers. I strong believe the Tigers won the deal that sent Rick Porcello to the Red Sox in exchange for slugger Yoenis Cespedes.

Why not bet the Tigers: Will their pitching staff hold up its end of the bargain? Losing Max Scherzer hurts. Their bullpen will likely face a heavy workload and isn’t exactly dripping with talented arms. There’s going to be an awful lot of pressure on the offense to produce, which it will, but getting involved in slugfest after slugfest could be a recipe for disaster.

Season win total pick: Under 84.5

Chicago White Sox (73-89, -148 units, 80-75-7 O/U)

Division odds: 9/4
Season win total: 81.5

Why bet the White Sox: The White Sox didn’t sit idle in the offseason, acquiring the likes of Melky Cabrera and Adam LaRoche to add to a lineup that appears poised to bust out in 2015. Of course, it’s Chicago’s starting rotation that shows the most promise. Chris Sale and Jeff Samardzija make up as good of a 1-2 punch as you’ll find in baseball. The emergence of Jose Quintana last year makes the future that much brighter.

Why not bet the White Sox: The secret is already out. Most bettors are anticipating major progress from the White Sox this season. If they’re able to get off to a strong start, the value could be quickly sucked out of the equation. The back-end of Chicago’s rotation is a question mark and the reality is, Sale, Samardzija and Quintana aren’t going to win every start.

Season win total pick: Under 81.5

Cleveland Indians (85-77, +126 units, 76-83-3 O/U)

Division odds: 12/5
Season win total: 84.5

Why bet the Indians: The young core that led the Tribe’s resurgence in 2014 remains intact entering the new campaign. If last year’s numbers hold up and Brandon Moss is able to make an immediate impact, Cleveland should be in contention all season long. The Indians batting order is sneaky-good from top-to-bottom and this is a team that could fly beneath the radar of most bettors’ once again providing substantial value.

Why not bet the Indians: We have to anticipate at least some regression from last year’s breakout performers such as Lonnie Chisenhall and Yan Gomes. The same goes for surprise A.L. Cy Young winner Corey Kluber. How much regression we see (if any at all) will determine how far the Tribe can go and whether they’re worth laying your hard-earned money on.

Season win total pick: Over 84.5

Minnesota Twins (70-92, -654 units, 87-69-6 O/U)

Division odds: 18/1
Season win total: 71.5

Why bet the Twins: It would be easy for the opposition to overlook the Twins every time they take the field. Most have Minnesota pegged as one of the A.L.’s worst teams in 2015 but there’s no dominant team in the Central and that could help the Twinkies exceed expectations. They did make small upgrades in a number of areas during the offseason and it won’t take much to improve on last year’s results.

Why not bet the Twins: The offense will be inconsistent while the young pitching staff needs a lot more seasoning before it can start progressing. There are still considerable growing pains to endure in Minnesota, even after a campaign that saw the Twins fail in struggle in virtually every department. Patience may pay off for Twins fans, but for bettors, this team can only be considered a spot play.

Season win total pick: Over 71.5

Kansas City Royals (89-73, +317 units, 73-81-8)

Division odds: 9/2
Season win total: 80.5

Why bet the Royals: They did win the A.L. Pennant last year and return plenty of talent from that club. Everyone is expecting regression from Kansas City in 2015, as you can tell by the below .500 season win total most books are dangling. That could potentially open up serious value backing what remains a quality team in a manageable division.

Why not bet the Royals: There were a number of changes made in the offseason and few of them figure to improve the Royals net results. There was a lot of luck involved in last year’s run to the World Series. How will this club, which isn’t exactly used to success, respond to being the hunted rather than the hunters? One thing’s for sure, the departure of James Shields leaves a gaping hole at the top of the starting rotation.

Season win total pick: Under 80.5

American League West preview: Can Astros compete?

Oakland Athletics (88-74, -16.14 units, 77-76-9 O/U)

Odds to win division: +454
Season win total: 81.5

Why bet the Athletics: It's easy to forget that the A's were the best team in baseball for a considerable period last season. While they're coming off a down-year for their backers, they have a history of bouncing back and their re-worked middle of their order should pace the charge with Josh Reddick, Billy Butler and Brett Lawrie ready to inflict damage.

Why not bet the Athletics: While the middle of the A's order is solid, the latter half is ugly at best. Oakland's pitching staff certainly isn't as air-tight as it has been in previous years either, with at least two question marks in the starting rotation and closer Sean Doolittle expected to start the season on the D.L.

Season win total pick: Over

Seattle Mariners (87-75, +3.63 units, 66-88-8 O/U)

Odds to win division: +148
Season win total: 86.5

Why bet the Mariners: The Mariners didn't sit idle in the offseason, doing what they could to address their offensive concerns by adding Seth Smith and Nelson Cruz. Seattle's pitching was top flight a year ago and should be in the same class in 2015. While the Mariners won't sneak up on anyone after a breakout campaign, they should still offer value as most bettors still see them as a mediocre club.

Why not bet the Mariners: The bullpen has a few bright spots but closer Fernando Rodney isn't one of them. Even with the additions to the M's lineup, there are still plenty of weak spots from 1-through-9. They'll need to manufacture runs on most nights and aren't going to win many slugfests, which may not bode well in the A.L. West.

Season win total pick: Under

Los Angeles Angels (98-64, +21.41 units, 88-77-5 O/U)

Odds to win division: +176
Season win total: 88.5

Why bet the Angels: No team won more games than the Angels last season and most of the key pieces from that club are back in the fold in 2015. The emergence of Matt Shoemaker last season gave the Angels one of the best 1-2-3 punches in baseball as far as starting rotations go. You have to like the fact that despite being a 'public' team, Los Angeles still managed to bank over 21 units for its backers last year.

Why not bet the Angels: What about the bullpen? The Angels 'pen performed well last season but I'm not completely sold on this group. Huston Street is the closer but whether he can stay healthy remains to be seen. At the dish, say what you will about Josh Hamilton but there's no question his absence will be felt.

Season win total pick: Under

Houston Astros (70-92, +1.02 units, 71-87-4 O/U)

Odds to win division: +1600
Season win total: 75.5

Why bet the Astros: This is a franchise on the way up. The Astros managed to make money for their backers last season despite finishing 22 games under .500 and figure to improve considerably here in 2015. Adding Evan Gattis should give an already powerful lineup a boost, with Chris Carter and George Springer coming into their own as well.

Why not bet the Astros: Defense is an often overlooked aspect when it comes to baseball betting and in that department, the Astros could be awfully bad this season. Their pitching staff has some upside but there will also be some more growing pains endured. This young group isn't accustomed to winning but rather learning on the fly and that could keep them from getting over the hump.

Season win total pick: Over

Texas Rangers (67-95, -20.48 units, 70-81-11 O/U)

Odds to win division: +604
Season win total: 77.5

Why bet the Rangers: Things can't go any worse than they did last year, can they? Not likely. It's important to remember that Texas had posted four straight 90+ win seasons prior to 2014's stinker of a campaign. As long as the injury bug doesn't bite hard again, the Rangers have enough talent to at the very least stay afloat in the A.L. West.

Why not bet the Rangers: I'm not sure it's as easy as simply counting on a bounce-back performance from the Rangers. They made only minor adjustments to their roster in the offseason and their pitching staff in particular still leaves a lot to be desired, especially if Derek Holland isn't able to return to form. There are simply too many players trying to get healthy and being asked to shoulder much of the load.

Season win total pick: Under

National League Central preview: Cards favored in most balanced division

Chicago Cubs (2014: 73-89, -450 units, 82-72-7 O/U)

Division odds: 11/4
Season win total: 83

Why bet the Cubs: There is momentum surrounding Chicago after a solid offseason. Jon Lester heads up an improving rotation with Jake Arrieta who was a surprise last year. Hector Rondon had a 0.62 ERA in the second half of last season. Anthony Rizzo has found his stroke and he will be solid in the middle of this offensive lineup.

Why not bet the Cubs: The rest of the rotation is weak with Travis Wood, Jason Hammel and Kyle Hendricks most likely filling things out. The majority of the bullpen is still hard to trust and the offensive lineup is extremely young. Javier Baez struck out 225 times last year in the majors and minors combined.

Season win total pick: Under 83 wins

Cincinnati Reds (2014: 76-86, -1050 units, 71-85-6 O/U)

Division odds: 15/1
Season win total: 77.5

Why bet the Reds: Johnny Cueto is an ace and he is the second best pitcher in the league after Clayton Kershaw. Cueto is backed by veteran starters Homer Bailey and Mike Leake. Aroldis Chapman can be a dominant pitcher as well. Joey Votto and Billy Hamilton make up a solid offensive lineup that can hit.

Why not bet the Reds: The majority of the bullpen is shaky with limited depth. The bench is young and lacking in talent. Can Jay Bruce bounce back from some career lows last year?

Season win total pick: Over 77.5 wins

Milwaukee Brewers (2014: 82-80, -721 units, 75-83-5 O/U)

Division odds: 12/1
Season win total: 78.5

Why bet the Brewers: Ryan Braun returns for another season and he appears to be 100 percent ready. The former MVP has the potential to be a dominant hitter in the middle of this lineup. Kyle Lohse, Matt Garza and Yovani Gallardo provide a strong top three in the pitching rotation. Wily Peralta and Mike Fiers have also shown flashes of brilliance during their young careers.

Why not bet the Brewers: The bullpen is shaky as Jonathan Broxton is untrustworthy and the pitchers behind him are very young with few quality options available. Aramis Ramirez is getting older and his effectiveness going forward is questionable. Health has been an issue with Adam Lind as well.

Season win total pick: Under 78.5 wins

Pittsburgh Pirates (2014: 88-74, +597 units, 74-79-9 O/U)

Division odds: 5/2
Season win total: 84.5

Why bet the Pirates: AJ Burnett is back with his former team and he joins Francisco Liriano, Gerrit Cole and others in a solid pitching rotation. Andrew McCutchen continues to be one of the best hitters and overall players in the league. The bullpen is underrated as a unit and Mark Melancon had a fantastic 0.92 WHIP the past two seasons.

Why not bet the Pirates: The lineup is prone to struggle around McCutchen. Russell Martin was a big loss in the clubhouse and Francisco Cervelli is unlikely to replace him. There are new names in the bullpen that must compliment current veterans. Expectations are high in Pittsburgh this year, but the Pirates must still battle in the most balanced and competitive division in the league.

Season win total pick: Over 84.5 wins

St. Louis Cardinals (2014: 90-72, +207 units, 73-82-7 O/U)

Division odds: 6/5
Season win total: 87.5

Why bet the Cardinals: A veteran team that contains experienced players that have won in this division. The bench picked up Mark Reynolds who will be a productive role player. Jason Heyward plays good defense which improves the outfield. The pitching rotation is solid with strong starters and relievers.

Why not bet the Cardinals: Adam Wainwright's health has been an issue in the past and he missed some games last year. John Lackey is aging and he has pitched over 2,000 innings during his career. The Cardinals are favored to win this division, but all four teams behind them are capable of winning as well. This is the deepest and most balanced division in the league.

Season win total pick: Over 87.5 wins

**Udog** · 04-05-2015, 08:31 AM

MLB
Dunkel

Sunday, April 5

St. Louis Cardinals @ Chicago Cubs

Game 997-998
April 5, 2015 @ 8:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
St. Louis Cardina
(Wainwright) 14.990
Chicago Cubs
(Lester) 15.970
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Chicago Cubs
by 1
6
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
St. Louis Cardina
-120
7
Dunkel Pick:
Chicago Cubs
(+100); Under

MLB
Long Sheet

Sunday, April 5

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ST LOUIS (94 - 77) at CHICAGO CUBS (73 - 89) - 8:05 PM
ADAM WAINWRIGHT (R) vs. JON LESTER (L)
Top Trends for this game.
WAINWRIGHT is 38-16 (+18.8 Units) against the money line in road games against division opponents since 1997. (Team's Record)
CHICAGO CUBS are 1387-1553 (-280.6 Units) against the money line in all games since 1997.
CHICAGO CUBS are 744-726 (-165.6 Units) against the money line in home games since 1997.
CHICAGO CUBS are 351-339 (-88.7 Units) against the money line in home games against division opponents since 1997.
CHICAGO CUBS are 1330-1466 (-255.4 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field since 1997.
CHICAGO CUBS are 217-227 (-68.7 Units) against the money line in home games in night games since 1997.
CHICAGO CUBS are 1016-1153 (-213.1 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

ADAM WAINWRIGHT vs. CHICAGO CUBS since 1997
WAINWRIGHT is 11-7 when starting against CHICAGO CUBS with an ERA of 4.08 and a WHIP of 1.288.
His team's record is 17-10 (+2.4 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 11-13. (-3.7 units)

JON LESTER vs. ST LOUIS since 1997
LESTER is 2-0 when starting against ST LOUIS with an ERA of 1.19 and a WHIP of 0.882.
His team's record is 3-0 (+3.2 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-2. (-1.0 units)

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MLB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Sunday, April 5

Cardinals @ Cubs
Wainwright was 0-1, 6.19 in his last three starts LY; his last win was 8-0 here Sept 22-- three of his last four starts went over total.

Lester is making first NL start, first start for Cubs; he was 1-2, 2.48 in his last four home starts for Oakland LY. Five of his last eight starts stayed under. Cardinals were 21-18 vs lefty starters LY (69-54 vs RHP).

Outfield bleachers are under construction; Cubs have new manager lot of new players. Weather is expected to be OK for this

MLB

Sunday, April 5

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

8:05 PM
ST. LOUIS vs. CHI CUBS
St. Louis is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of St. Louis's last 5 games
Chi Cubs are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 12 of Chi Cubs's last 18 games

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**Udog** · 04-05-2015, 08:32 AM

MLB

Sunday, April 5

A's OF Crisp undergoes elbow surgery

Oakland Athletics outfielder Coco Crisp underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow and could be out six to eight weeks.

Crisp, 35, had two bone chips removed from the elbow on Friday and also underwent a debridement of the back of the elbow to clean up bone spurs, team trainer Nick Paparesta told the San Francisco Chronicle on Saturday.

Crisp will be examined in 10-14 days and a timeline for recovery will be determined. It is typically six to eight weeks.

Crisp was bothered by soreness in his right arm throughout the spring.

The 13-year veteran is in his sixth season with the A's. Last year, he hit .246, stole 19 bases and scored 68 runs.

Mariners put SS Taylor on DL, recall LHP Olson

The Seattle Mariners placed shortstop Chris Taylor on the 15-day disabled list Saturday and recalled left-handed reliever Tyler Olson from Triple-A Tacoma.

The moves put the Mariners at 25 players ahead of their season opener Monday against the Los Angeles Angels in Seattle.

Taylor suffered a broken wrist in mid-March and is expected to be out for most of April.

Olson, 25, allowed no runs and eight hits, with a .178 average, in 12 2/3 innings this spring. He struck out 15 and walked none in 10 games.

Meanwhile, manager Lloyd McClendon said Saturday that right-hander Taijuan Walker will be Seattle's No. 4 starter.

The 22-year-old recorded a 0.67 ERA this spring, giving up two runs and 10 hits in 27 innings over seven starts.

He was promoted ahead of veteran J.A. Happ in the rotation, behind Felix Hernandez, James Paxton and Hisashi Iwakuma.

Walker will pitch the Mariners' first road game, Friday in Oakland.

Zito heads to Triple-A

Next stop for Barry Zito: Nashville.

The 36-year-old left-hander threw one scoreless inning Saturday against the San Francisco Giants in an exhibition game and afterward was told he would be assigned to the Oakland Athletics' Triple-A team in Nashville.

Zito could have become a free agent; instead, he agreed to go pitch his way back to the majors and start with the Sounds.

Zito compiled a 4.79 ERA with a 14/5 K/BB ratio in 20 2/3 innings this spring. He had been hoping to win a spot in the Athletics' starting rotation, but when that wasn't a possibility, he vied for a bullpen spot.

Zito hasn't been the same since leaving the Athletics after the 2006 season. During the next seven seasons, all with the Giants, Zito posted a 4.62 ERA in 1,139 1/3 innings.

**Udog** · 04-05-2015, 08:32 AM

MLB

Sunday, April 5

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Game of the Day: Cardinals at Cubs
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St. Louis Cardinals at Chicago Cubs (+100, 7)

A new season arrives for the revamped Chicago Cubs on Sunday night, but whether it's the proverbial "next year" Cubs fans have been waiting for is yet to be seen. The hopeful Cubs start the 2015 campaign by hosting a St. Louis team that has been the class of the National League Central in recent years.

St. Louis is aiming for its fifth straight trip to the NL Championship Series and its third consecutive division crown. Several members of Chicago's crop of talented, young players have arrived on the North Side, though some — including slugger Kris Bryant — will be coming along later this season, prompting high hopes for a beleaguered fan base. The Cubs' biggest offseason signing also will be on display with ace left-hander Jon Lester making his debut with the club after inking a $155 million deal this offseason. The Cardinals' focus in the offseason was upgrading the offense, which they hope to have done by adding outfielder Jason Heyward, who has eight home runs in 30 career games against the Cubs.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, ESPN2

LINE HISTORY: Initially the Cubs opened at +100 at most books before climbing slightly to -105. Ever since it's been back between those two points.

WEATHER FORECAST: Winds are expected to gust upwards of 14 mph blowing towards centerfield. The skies are expected to be partly cloudy with the temperature around 50°F to 58°F.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Adam Wainwright (2014: 20-9, 2.38 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Jon Lester (2014: 16-11, 2.46)

Wainwright is coming off the second 20-win season of his career in which he matched his career-high with five complete games and tossed a career-best three shutouts. He made only three starts in the spring because of an abdominal strain but was effective, allowing five earned runs in 14 1/3 innings. The 33-year-old has had mixed results against the Cubs over the years, going 11-7 with a 4.09 ERA, but he has tossed 14 scoreless innings over the past two meetings, winning both.

Chicago's new ace was limited to 8 1/3 innings over three starts in spring training after missing a start because of arm fatigue, so his pitch count will be limited. Lester is coming off a strong 2014 in which he posted a career-best ERA in 32 starts between Boston and Oakland. Lester is pitching in the National League for the first time in his career, but he has fared well against the Senior Circuit, going 15-7 with a 3.06 ERA in 29 career starts in interleague play.

TRENDS:

*Cardinals are 54-26 in Wainwrights last 80 starts.
*Over is 13-5-1 in the last 19 meetings.
*Cardinals have gone under in their past three Opening Day games
*Cubs are 1-4 in their past five Opening Day games

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**Udog** · 04-05-2015, 08:33 AM

MLB

Sunday, April 5

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April Good Month, Bad Month Pitchers
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Major League Baseball trades places with March Madness as the sports flavor of the month in April. And as we usher in America's favorite pastime, let's open the season with one of our favorite handicapping angles – good month pitchers.

Listed below are hurlers that have enjoyed a two-to-one or better success ratio in team-starts over the course of the last three seasons during the month of April. On the flip side, we've also listed pitchers that struggle in April, winning 33% percent or less of their team-start efforts. To qualify pitchers must have made a minimum of 10 starts, with at least one start each April over the last three years. And for your convenience alongside each record we break down each pitcher’s greatest success or greatest failure either home (H) or away (A) within his good or bad month.

Note: * designates a categorical repeat appearance by this pitcher, maintaining status quo from last season’s April list.

GOOD MONTH PITCHERS:

Buchholz, Clay • 10-5 (6-3 H)

Boston decided to maximize Buchholz’s early season value by making him their opening day starter. Long on talent and inconsistency, the BoSox right-hander needs to focus and eliminate distractions, which is something he’s struggled with his whole career, except for mostly in April.

Bumgarner, Madison • 11-5 (6-1 A)

When looking at baseball from the start of the season until Halloween, Clayton Kershaw has somebody who can steal his thunder as the game’s best pitcher. His World Series performance was for the ages and he’s never been too bad the start the season either with his array of fastballs, cutters and changeups.

Gonzalez, Gio • 13-4 (8-1 H)

Throughout his career, Gonzalez has started fast and been able to mix and match pitches effectively. Though his velocity was off a little in the second half of last season, his command improved and walks dropped. He’s now arguably the worst starting pitcher in Washington which tells you about their staff. Gonzalez has been money at home throughout his career.

Greinke, Zack • 11-2 (6-1 H)

To borrow from Dos Equis beer, when on the mound, Zack Greinke might be the most interesting man in the world - or at least baseball. The fact is Greinke is just really good at throwing a baseball, has a creative mind and taught himself variations of arm angles and grip pressure and takes great pride in his hitting. Whatever team he has been on, he’s made it almost impossible to bet against him at home.

Guthrie, Jeremy • 10-4 (5-1 H)

Since becoming a starter in 2007, this durable right-hander has thrown at least 175 innings each season (five of the last six 200 or more). For almost any team in baseball Guthrie is the ideal No.4 or 5 starter and his pitch to contact is a perfect match in Kansas City when the defenders are like vacuum cleaners and clean everything up.

*Hammel, Jason • 13-5 (5-1 H)

Middle of the rotation starter who actually wanted to return and pitch for the Cubs, after starting last season at Wrigley before being traded to Oakland. Hammel is not going to overpower hitters, but if he keeps the ball in the yard, he can be effective. In his major league career the 32-year has been a fast starter.

Hudson, Tim • 10-3 (8-0 H)

Hudson will be 40 years old this season, but still throws strikes and coaxes ground balls to get batters out. It would make sense this juncture of his career he would be more effective early in the season compared to later in the year.

Lincecum, Tim • 10-5 (5-2 H)

Lincecum is back in the starting rotation for San Francisco and will remain there as long as he does his job. He spent the off-season working with his dad, who helped design his unusual throwing style. The spring results were mixed, so let’s see if Tiny Tim can hang on to his slot in the rotation with a strong start.

*Lohse, Kyle • 12-4 (6-2 H)

Lohse is yet another hurler who is at his best when at full strength. Milwaukee’s opening day pitcher successfully made the transition from thrower to pitcher and has complete command of the strike zone with his tight mechanics.

Lynn, Lance • 12-3 (8-2 A)

The 6’5 right-hander last season decided to use less of his spotty off-speed pitches and instead focused on getting more movement on his two or four-seam fastballs and lowered his ERA by more than a run to 2.74. Lynn is part of the reason St. Louis seldom gets off to rocky starts.

Miley, Wade • 9-4 (5-2 A)

Miley pitched for a bad Arizona outfit last year and his focus suffered, with career-highs in ERA, hits allowed and balls over the fence. The lefty has a fresh start in Boston with a renovated squad in search of a division pennant.

Nicasio, Juan • 10-5 (6-2 H)

Will start the season in the Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen.

Nova, Ivan • 8-4 (5-1 H)

In the midst of returning from Tommy John surgery, no exact timetable is set for Nova’s return.

Peavy, Jake • 10-5 (6-3 H)

Not the hard thrower he used to be, Peavy has to keep the ball down and change speeds more frequently to get batters out. When he settles in groove, can string together a number of quality starts.

*Shields, James • 11-5 (8-3 A)

As reliable and consistent as they come, Shields is an ideal No. 2 or 3 pitcher. Though his famous changeup was not as good as prior years, he found the cutter to be his out pitch in 2014. Should flourish in San Fran.

Zimmermann, Jordan • 10-5 (6-3 H)

Among the finest starters in the National League, Zimmermann in unyielding to opposing hitters in working the strike zone and seldom helps them out in averaging less than two walks per nine innings.

BAD MONTH PITCHERS:

Bedard, Eric • 3-9 (1-4 H)

The Dodgers non-roster pitcher is expected to miss four to six weeks with a strain of the same back muscle that shelved Clayton Kershaw for five weeks last season.

Cahill, Trevor • 4-9 (2-7 A)

Cahill was traded from Arizona to Atlanta on April 3rd. Though only 27 years old, this former 18-game winner has recently been in the minors and a big league starter and reliever and not having much success doing anything well. His problem is being a sinker ball pitcher and lacking command in the strike zone.

Cain, Matt • 4-10 (2-8 A)

The San Francisco workhorse finally gave in to the pain and had elbow surgery and has been slow to recover this spring, still having some “discomfort”. Cain as his record shows is typically a slow starter anyways and could be in worse shape to begin 2015.

Hamels, Cole • 4-8 (1-5 H)

The Phillies lefthander will not be on their roster the entire season as the Phils are waiting for the perfect deal to trade Hamels. His slow starts are mostly attributable to not having a feel for his complete arsenal of pitches in April and performs better when the weather heats up.

*Jackson, Edwin • 4-12 (2-6 H)

The Cubs are stuck with this veteran righty having given him a dumb contract back in 2013. Just think, how many pitchers would still be in the big leagues after 11 years with a career 84-104 record, an ERA of 4.63 and a WHIP of 1.46?

Volquez, Edinson • 5-11 (1-6 A)

Now with his sixth different team, the 31-year right-hander was 13-7 with a 3.04 ERA with Pittsburgh last year, his best season since 2008 and he signed a two-year free agent deal with Kansas City. His surprising campaign came when Pirates coaches noticed a rushed delivery was elevating his pitches and slowed him down, leading to last season’s results. Will Volquez stay the course or return to old habits?

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**Udog** · 04-05-2015, 09:55 AM

Armadillo: Sunday's six-pack

Teams' record in NCAA tournament (since '89) against teams from the Big 14........

13-2-- Duke-- Go for 14th win vs Wisconsin tomorrow night.

8-4-- Kentucky-- Tough way for a great season to end last night.

5-2-- UConn

3-0-- Missouri.........2-0-- Wichita State/Boston College

7-4-- North Carolina/Kansas

3-1-- Arkansas

6-4-- Texas-- Rick Barnes did pretty damn well in Austin.

4-3-- Florida

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Armadillo: Sunday's List of 13: Things I'm looking for this baseball season

13) Cubs have a new manager, lot of good prospects, a stadium that will be undegoing renovation all season and very high expectations. When will they call 3B prospect Kris Bryant up from AAA? America is watching......

12) Red Sox have a lot of hitting, not so much pitching; will they pull the trigger on a big trade for s starting pitcher? Injury to Christian Vazquez makes it harder to part with catching prospect Swihart.

11) Mets also have high expectations, a manager under pressure to win and a nitwit owner. They're loaded with starting pitching, thin on defense in middle infield. Will they trade Daniel Murphy? Now that New York media has deemed Matt Harvey a combination of Gibson/Koufax, will he stay healthy?

10) Rays-- Gutted by defections of GM Friedman, manager Maddon; could be headed to Montreal to become the Expos. Starting rotation starts season with three of top five guys hurt. Things are not looking up.

9) Giants won World Series in three of last five seasons; kind of odd how they became a power shortly after Barry Bonds retired-- they had a dreadful spring, didn't play well, but its an odd-numbered year, they're not supposed to win.

8) Padres upgraded their roster with Shields-Kemp-Upton; big year for Bud Black, who has to contend now, or else.......

7) Orioles lost Cruz/Markakis, really didn't replace them; they hope Machado and Wieters return fron injury and are more productive. Showalter gives them an edge, but at the end of the day, players win/lose.

6) Oakland A's have three players left who were on squad before 2013 and none of the three (Sogard-Chavez-Scribner) are world beaters- their lineup has been totally turned over, but their piching is still strong. .

5) Diamondbacks-- So much of the Arizona brass are former A's, will be fun to see how they do. Don't think they'll be timid making moves. They must like Archie Bradley if they traded Cahill to make room for him.

4) Alex Rodriguez will get lot of attention as he returns from his exile; can he still hit at a high level? Can he play third? First? They're stuck with him for another three years and $60M, so he better be productive.

3) Cubs aren't the only Chicago team that spent lot of $$$ this winter; White Sox have upgraded the roster, Detroit looks to be a little down, can they win the division? Four of five teams can make a strong case for AL Central title.

2) If Philly gets off to a slow start, will they jump ship and trade Hamels and Utley? They're in decline; Howard's contract is untradeable, they don't have lot of young prospects on way up. Could be a long summer on Broad Street.

1) Hopefully, all this talk about speeding up the game is just lip service to passify lazy media members who whine about length of games; the game is fine, our attention-deficit society is the problem. I'm looking forward to the start of the season; get info every day on my MLB page on this site.

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