Thursday Trends and Indexes 4/16 (NHL, MLB, Misc.)

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MLB
Short Sheet


Thursday, April 16

National League

FLORIDA at ATLANTA, 7:10 PM ET
SANCHEZ: FLA 15-6 when playing with a day of rest
KAWAKAMI: ATL 57-28 in the first half of the season

HOUSTON at PITTSBURGH, 12:35 PM ET
ORTIZ: 16-4 OVER AWAY in April
KARSTENS: PIT 22-12 OVER in April

ST LOUIS at CHICAGO CUBS, 2:20 PM ET
WAINWRIGHT: 10-2 TSR when the money line is +125 to -125
MARSHALL: 4-17 TSR in day games

PHILADELPHIA at WASHINGTON, 7:05 PM ET
BLANTON: PHI 13-2 after 3+ consecutive overs
MARTIS: WAS 40-77 in night games

SAN DIEGO at NY METS, 7:10 PM ET
PEAVY: SD 46-69 when the total is 7 to 8.5
MAINE: NYM 20-7 at home with a money line of -100 to -125

SAN FRANCISCO at LA DODGERS, 10:10 PM ET
ZITO: SF 15-8 after 3+ consecutive overs
STULTS: LAD 34-21 OVER as a home favorite of -150 or more


American League

CLEVELAND at NY YANKEES, 1:05 PM ET
LEE: 17-5 TSR when playing on Thursday
SABATHIA: 14-4 UNDER after a win

CHI WHITE SOX at TAMPA BAY, 7:08 PM ET
DANKS: CHW 4-18 in games played on artificial turf
NIEMANN: TB 43-22 at home when the total is 8.5 to 10

TORONTO at MINNESOTA, 8:10 PM ET
HALLADAY: TOR 31-15 against AL Central
LIRIANO: 0-5 TSR in April games

LA ANGELS at SEATTLE, 10:10 PM ET
SAUNDERS: 12-4 TSR in road games
ROWLAND-SMITH: SEA 4-13 at home off 4 straight division wins

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[pm530]

MLB


Thursday, April 16

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Hot lines: Today’s best MLB bets
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Cleveland Indians at New York Yankees (-191, 9)

A pitching matchup for the ages was supposed to set the tone for the official opening of the New York Yankees’ new stadium Thursday.

Cleveland ace and reigning American League Cy Young winner Cliff Lee takes on the Yankees’ $161-million man, C.C. Sabathia. While Sabathia appears up to the challenge of his former teammate, Lee is far from his 2008 form to start the season.

Lee is 0-2 with a hulking ERA just under 10. The lefty is struggling with his fastball, throwing the pitch only 57 percent of the time. He is relying on his off-speed stuff more than last season and has been lit up by big-swinging lineups in Toronto and Texas.

"I think teams come out gunning for you a little bit [the year after a Cy Young]," Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay told reporters after out-dueling Lee Saturday. "But more than anything, it's just getting that good feeling that you had the year before. Sometimes you get that early on in a season and it carries out through the rest of the year. You're always trying to get that feeling back."

Lee faces another loaded lineup in the Bronx. The Yankees offense is picking up steam and is averaging almost six runs to start the schedule. He pitched a gem in his most recent start versus New York. Lee went seven scoreless innings in a 3-0 win last May.

However, this year’s version of the Tribe is giving up an MLB-worst 8.46 earned runs per game and has played over the total in six of their first eight games.

Pick: Over 9



San Francisco Giants at Los Angeles Dodgers (-158, 8)

Giants pitcher Barry Zito is a notorious slow starter.

Over the past three seasons, the left-handed hurler is 3-10 is his past 15 April starts with a 5.58 ERA. He followed suit in his first appearance of 2009, giving up four runs on seven hits in just four innings of work in a rain-soaked 7-3 loss to San Diego Friday.

"I was fired up a little bit and wanted to come out and get that first inning going,” Zito told reporters after the game. "It's frustrating because I felt great tonight. I felt good in the pen. I've come a long way from last year and battled hard tonight. But I'm optimistic that I'll be back out there next Thursday being in control of myself.”

Zito split his four starts against the rival Dodgers last season, posting a 4.38 ERA in those games. Los Angeles hung 11 runs on the Giants in the series opener Wednesday. After starting the season cold, the Dodgers lineup has sprung into action, totaling 25 runs in the past three games heading into Wednesday.

It’s the same old story in San Francisco with the bats providing poor run support. The Giants have scored a combined eight runs in their past four games – all of which were losses. As of Wednesday, they are hitting just .250 BA and have a fewest amount of home runs (3) in the majors.

Pick: Los Angeles -158

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[pm530]

Sorry for the dup, here is what I meant to post - -

MLB
Tips and Trends


Thursday, April 16

Cleveland Indians at New York Yankees [1:05 PM ET]

Indians: Cliff Lee has not looked like the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner. Through two starts, Lee owns a massive 9.90 ERA and 2.20 WHIP. He has surrendered 17 hits and five walks in just 10 innings of work. In seven career starts against the Yankees, Lee is 3-3 with a 5.62 ERA and 1.48 WHIP. Lee pitched seven shutout innings in New York on his way to a 3-0 win in his only start against the Yankees last season. The Cleveland bullpen has struggled so far this season, posting a 6.37 ERA and 1.65 WHIP prior to yesterday's game.

The Indians are 23-9 in Lee's last 32 starts.
The Indians are 6-20 in the last 26 meetings in New York.

Key Injuries - NONE

PROJECTED SCORE: 4

Yankees (-190, O/U 8.5): CC Sabathia faces his former team for the first time in the first game at the new Yankee Stadium. He rebounded nicely from a horrible season debut by throwing 7 2-3 shutout innings at Kansas City in a 6-1 win on Saturday. In that outing, Sabathia showed great control in not walking a single batter and allowing six hits while striking out six. The Yankees bullpen has been mediocre, posting a 4.32 ERA and 1.40 WHIP prior to yesterday's game. The Yankees are hitting .261 and scoring 5.5 runs per game against left-handed starters this season.

The Under is 7-0 in the last 7 meetings.

Key Injuries - 3B Alex Rodriguez (hip) is on the 15-day DL.
RF Xavier Nady (elbow) is OUT (headed for the 15-day DL).

PROJECTED SCORE: 6 (OVER - Total Play of the Day)



St. Louis Cardinals at Chicago Cubs [2:20 PM ET]

Cardinals: Adam Wainwright threw five shutout innings April 11 against Houston. Wainwright is 1-3 with a 6.10 ERA in 15 lifetime appearances - six starts - against the Cubs. The St. Louis bullpen has been shaky, sporting a 5.06 ERA and 1.35 WHIP so far this season. The bullpen has struggled even more on the road where they own a 6.23 ERA and 1.62 WHIP. The Cardinals' bats have produced nicely overall, coming into this game with a .293 average and scoring 5.1 runs per game. But they are hitting just .239 and scoring 3.6 runs per game when facing left-handed starters.

The Cardinals are 8-2 in Wainwright's last 10 starts.
The Cardinals are 1-6 in their last 7 road games vs. a left-handed starter.

Key Injuries - NONE

PROJECTED SCORE: 3

Cubs: (-110, O/U N/A): Sean Marshall has not allowed a run in two relief appearances this season. After starting in his first two seasons, Marshall was the team’s long reliever in 2008 and appeared in 34 games and made seven starts, finishing 3-5 with a 3.86 ERA. He is 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA in his career against the Cardinals and took a win in his only start last season against St. Louis on July 6, giving up one run over six innings. The Cubs bullpen owns a 3.43 ERA and has blown one save. Chicago is batting .275 and scoring six runs per game against right-handed starters this season.

The Cubs are 1-10 in Marshall's last 11 starts as a favorite.

Key Injuries - OF Milton Bradley (groin) is DOUBTFUL.
3B Aramis Ramirez (back) is QUESTIONABLE.

PROJECTED SCORE: 5 (Side Play of the Day)

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