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**StarDust Bum** · 04-15-2010, 02:30 AM

Thursday's Card

Thursday’s card features a six-pack of afternoon games before the main entrée under the lights. The Yankees and Angels are the highlight of the night-time action, so let’s look at that showdown and more.

**Angels at Yankees**

--As of Wednesday night, most books were listing New York (5-3, +154) as a minus-180 ‘chalk’ for the rubber game of this series. Bettors can take the Yankees on the run line (minus 1 ½ runs) for a plus-110 return, while the total is 10 ‘under’ (minus-120).

--Los Angeles (3-6, -390) captured its first road win of the season in the middle game of this series Wednesday, knocking off the Yankees 5-3 as a healthy plus-180 underdog (paid $180 on $100 wagers). Joel Pineiro worked seven strong innings, giving up just one earned run while striking out seven batters without issuing a walk. Kendry Morales and Bobby Abreu both had an RBI double off of Javier Vasquez, who is off to another shaky start in his second tour of duty in the Bronx.

--With the eight combined runs staying ‘under’ the 10-run total in Wednesday’s afternoon affair, the ‘over’ fell to 6-2 overall for the Yankees. Totals have now been a wash for the Halos, going 4-4-1.

--Joe Girardi will give the ball to Phil Hughes for his 2010 season debut. Hughes threw 84 pitches this past Saturday in an extended spring training intrasquad game, going six innings while giving up six hits and one earned run. The right-hander has compiled a 2-0 record and 5.23 ERA in 10 1/3 career innings against the Angels (in one start and multiple relief appearances).

--L.A. will give the starting nod to Scott Kazmir, who was bothered by shoulder and hamstring injuries during spring training. However, according to MLB.com, Kazmir ‘feels great’ after throwing a bullpen session Monday. The southpaw, who came to the Angels late last season after five-plus years with the Tampa Bay Rays, has plenty of experience throwing against the Bronx Bombers. Kazmir has a 6-5 record and 2.67 ERA in 14 career starts against the Yankees.

--Derek Jeter is an atrocious 4-for-36 against Kazmir for a .111 batting average. Jeter has a pair of singles, one double and one homer versus the lefty. Alex Rodriguez has endured similar struggles against Kazmir, going just 3-for-24 (.125) with zero extra-base hits. On the flip side, Jorge Posada has feasted on Kazmir, hitting .440 in 25 at-bats with three doubles and one dinger.

--The MLB Channel will have television coverage at 7:05 p.m. Eastern.

**Diamondbacks at Dodgers**

--Most betting shops had this side as a pick ‘em with a total of 7 ½ ‘under’ (minus-120), as of Wednesday night.

--Los Angeles (3-4, -188) won its home opener Tuesday for the third straight year, spanking the D-backs 9-5 behind four homers. Manny Ramirez went yard for the first time this season, while Matt Kemp, Casey Blake and Andre Ethier also went deep. Only Kemp had previously homered.

--Arizona (4-3, -81) won two of three at home against both San Diego and Pittsburgh before arriving at Chavez Ravine. The D-backs have received somewhat surprising production from Kelly Johnson, the former Atlanta Brave, who is batting .348 with three homers and five RBIs (going into Wednesday’s action).

--Arizona RHP Dan Haren (1-1, 3.95) will be making his third start of the season in this spot. The veteran righty, who has an 80-63 career record, is 4-4 with a 3.59 lifetime ERA against the Dodgers.

--Hiroki Kuroda (1-0, 0.00) completely stymied the Marlins in their home opener last Friday, throwing eight innings without giving up an earned run. The right-hander fanned seven batters in the 7-3 victory over the Marlins. Kuroda has compiled a 1-3 record and 3.90 ERA in six lifetime starts versus Arizona.

--The ‘over’ is cashing at a lucrative 6-1 clip for the Dodgers.

--The ‘over’ is 5-2 overall for the D-backs.

**B.E.’s Bonus Nuggets**

--Boston will turn to veteran knuckleballer Tim Wakefield on Thursday afternoon at Minnesota. Wakefield owns a 14-5 record and 4.16 lifetime ERA against the Twins.

--Philadelphia left-hander J.A. Happ has three of his 14 career wins against the Nationals. The southpaw is 3-0 with a 2.19 ERA versus Washington. Happ will try to stay perfect against the Nats when these teams meet Thursday at 3:05 p.m. Eastern. The Phillies are very expensive favorites in the minus-260 range.

--Florida ace RHP Josh Johnson will be in bounce-back mode when he takes the slab Thursday vs. Cincinnati. Johnson, who had a 22-6 record in 2008 and 2009, gave up three earned runs and eight hits in a loss to the Dodgers in his season debut. He’s 1-0 with a 1.74 ERA in a pair of starts against the Reds.

**StarDust Bum** · 04-15-2010, 05:35 PM

Evening Games:

LA Angels - 7:05 PM ET LA Angels +149 500 ( POD )
NY Yankees - Over 10 500

Chi. White Sox - 7:07 PM ET Chi. White Sox +111 500
Toronto - Over 9 500

Cincinnati - 7:10 PM ET Florida -142 500
Florida - Under 8 500

Baltimore - 10:05 PM ET Oakland -145 500 ( POD )
Oakland - Under 8.5 500 ( PODD TOTAL )

Arizona - 10:10 PM ET Arizona +119 500
LA Dodgers - Under 7.5 500

**shoeman530** · 04-15-2010, 05:41 PM

Good luck sdb

**StarDust Bum** · 04-15-2010, 06:25 PM

Thanks Shoeman.....good luck to you also......

**StarDust Bum** · 04-15-2010, 06:26 PM

Bet the Padres, really?

It’s the rubber game of the series near the waterfront in downtown San Diego, where the Padres host Atlanta. The Braves bounced back from 17-2 debacle in the first game and handcuffed San Diego 6-1 behind Tommy Hanson and three relievers yesterday.

Atlanta may be only 4-4, however offensively they have been quite patient at the plate, drawing over four walks a game, helping set up of batters to drive in runs. Bobby Cox team hasn’t capitalized as often as they should yet, batting .229 as a group.

The Braves are -124 money line favorites at Bookmaker.com with Tim Hudson back in the rotation. The 34-year right-hander had Tommy John surgery a season ago and made six appearances at the end of last year. In his first effort of the new campaign, Hudson gave two runs and three hits in seven innings against San Francisco last Friday, in which his team eventually lost 5-4 in extra innings.

Hudson will be challenged by Mat Latos of San Diego. Latos is considered the crown jewel of the new Padres organization at 22 and throws in the mid-90’s, along with having a good slider and big breaking curveball. Like many young pitchers, command is an issue and he conceded three home runs in six innings at Colorado, yet he limited the damage to just four runs by not walking any Rockies hitters and his team ended up winning 5-4.

San Diego is picked again to finish last in the NL West, having limited talent in the field except at first base with Adrian Gonzalez, nonetheless draws a favorable position as an underdog in today’s super situation.

Play Against road teams with a money line of -100 to -150, when their team's hitters draw four walks or more a game on the season, against opposing starting a pitcher who did not walk a hitter in his last outing.

The last three years this system has been spellbinding at 24-4, 85.7 percent.

Other factors to consider for the 6:35 Eastern matchup are Atlanta is 2-6 in Hudson’s most recent starts and the Bravos are 1-7 when the former Oakland hurler is a -140 or less favorite.

San Diego is a resilient bunch, 16-5 off a loss and 6-1 after a scoring two runs or less in previous contest.

With Latos sporting a 1.29 ERA in two appearances totaling 14 innings against Atlanta, he has the “stuff” to limit Braves hitters and who knows, the road club might be thinking ahead on getaway day looking forward to getting home with bigger series against Colorado and Philadelphia.

**StarDust Bum** · 04-15-2010, 06:28 PM

Injury Update

ORIOLES - Baltimore's top offensive threat, Brian Roberts has been placed on the 15 day D.L. with a strained abdominal muscle. Roberts is the O's leadoff hitter and has stolen at least 30 bases in four straight seasons. He had a slow start to the 2010 season hitting just .143. However, his batting average over the last 5 years for the Orioles is .293.

RED SOX - Starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka has no time table set for his return to the Red Sox. He made only a few spring training appearances before he was put on the shelf with a neck strain. Matsuzaka made a rehab start for Triple A Pawtucket on Saturday and threw 73 pitches. His velocity was solid reaching 93 MPH. Boston would like to see him throw at least 95 pitches comfortably before they would consider calling him up. Also left fielder Jacoby Ellsbury is day to day after a scary collision on Sunday with teammate Adrian Beltre. Ellsbury was feared to be seriously injured but now it looks like will most likely get back in the line up sometime this week.

DEVIL RAYS - Reliever J.P. Howell will be on the mend until approximately mid May. Howell is a key left handed reliever that sported ERA's of 2.22 and 2.84 the last two seasons for Tampa Bay. Howell noticed he has "lost some strength" in his shoulder this spring and is now rehabbing.

BLUE JAYS - All star second baseman Aaron Hill won't be back in the Jay line up until at least April 23. Hill was put on the D.L. with a strained hamstring. Toronto will definitely miss his bat as Hill hit .286 with 36 homers and 108 RBI in 2009.

INDIANS - Center fielder Grady Sizemore has been in and out of the Cleveland line up since the start of last season. He missed a full two months in 2009 and now his nagging injuries are affecting him in 2010. He was scratched from Sunday's game in Detroit and Monday's home opener vs. the Rangers with back tightness. He hopes to be back in the field on Wednesday. Sizemore struggled last season but hit 30 HR's and stole 30 bases in 2008.

ROYALS - Reliever Kyle Farnsworth (41 appearances last year) left last Friday's game against the Red Sox with tightness in his pitching shoulder. He threw in the bullpen on Sunday and the Royal brass determined he would not need to be placed on the D.L. They hope to have him available at some point during their current 9-game road trip.

RANGERS - Starting second baseman Ian Kinsler has been sidelined since March 12th, however he is making progress. Kinsler, who has a sprained ankle, was in spikes for the first time on Sunday and worked on turning double plays. Texas wants him to be able to run the bases full speed before getting him back in the line up. Speaking of running the bases, Kinsler has 80 stolen bases for the Rangers over the last three seasons.

BRAVES - Keep an eye on Chipper Jones. He has had some back issues and a strained oblique as of late. He was held out of the Braves weekend series vs. San Francisco. He was back in the line up Monday vs. San Diego going 0 for 3 (now hitting just .167 this year). With back and oblique problems, he may be in and out of the line up in the foreseeable future.

MARLINS - Relief pitcher Brian Sanches was big reason tat Florida's bullpen was ranked 12th in MLB last year with an ERA of 3.90. Sanches, however has been sidelined this year after straining his hamstring late in spring training. He is eligible to come off the D.L. on Saturday but that won't happen. At the earliest the Marlins are hoping he has a chance to come back to the bigs late next week. Sanches appeared in 47 games last season and had an ERA of just 2.56.

NATIONALS - The Nats #1 offensive weapon has been out since April 10th. Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who hit .292 with 33 homers last year, came out of Washington's game vs. the NY Mets on Saturday with a tight hamstring. He missed Sunday's game vs. the Mets and Monday's game vs. the Phillies. Other than Adam Dunn, Zimmerman is only other power guy on that team. They need him on the field. He will be a day to day proposition this week.

ASTROS - Lance Berkman hopes to return to the field by the time the Astros return from their 6-game road trip on April 20th. Berkman has knee surgery back on March and has yet to play this season. However, first year manager Brad Mills said they will not bring Berkman back until he is 100% and ready to play everyday which could push his return date further into the future. As of this writing, Houston is 0-7 and hitting just .223. They could definitely use Berkman's offense soon.

PIRATES - Starter Ross Ohlendorf was scratched from Monday's start at San Francisco on Monday due to back spasms. The back problem surfaced last Friday and Ohlendorf was unable to throw at all on Monday. He is scheduled to start again on Saturday and the Pirates want him to be able to his "side session" on Wednesday, otherwise a Saturday start might be out of the question.

DIAMONDBACKS - Starting catcher Miguel Montero could be on the mend for awhile after injuring his knee in their game vs. Pittsburgh on Saturday. The DBacks are hoping it's "only" a torn meniscus and not something more serious. Results from an MRI are expected soon. Montero, who hit .294 last season, was put on the 15 day D.L. but it could be a season ender if something more serious shows up.

DODGERS - Key left handed reliever Hong-Chih Kuo had his best bullpen session yet on Sunday as he attempts to return from an elbow injury. Manager Joe Torre said that Kuo is close to starting his minor league rehab assignment. His absence has been a strain on an LA bullpen that is nearly devoid of left handers. George Sherrill is the only other lefty in the pen and he has been shelled with an ERA of 22.50 in three appearances. Kuo's ERA in 2009 was 3.00 in 35 appearances.

CUBS - Starter Ted Lilly (3.10 ERA in 2009) had shoulder surgery in the off-season however that hasn't been the problem. His back has been the biggest issue. He has yet to make a Major League start in 2010 and was scratched from last Friday's Triple A start in Iowa. He threw 25 pitches on Monday and will make a start for the Iowa on Wednesday. Also keep a close watch on first baseman Derek Lee who left Monday's game with the Brewers with a thumb injury.

PHILLIES - All Star second baseman Jimmy Rollins was scratched from Monday's game after straining his right calf in warm ups. Rollins has started the season on a tear hitting .385 with eight runs scored in the first six games. His status is day to day and definitely something to keep a close eye on.

PADRES - San Diego was hoping the oft injured starter Chris Young was back to his dominating days of a few years ago. It looked like that might be the case as Young completely baffled Arizona in his opening day start lasting 6 innings, allowing just one hit and no earned runs. Young was to start again on Monday in the team's home opener, however he was scratched and put on the D.L. with shoulder tightness. Young could be back by April 23.

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