The Bum's X-MLB Picks,News,Trends !

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MLB

Saturday, March 22


Puig to leadoff for Dodgers Opening Day

Manager Don Mattingly has revealed his lineup for Opening Day when the Dodgers face-off against the Diamondbacks in Australia.

The most noticable part of the order is Yasel Puig listed as the leadoff hitter for the Dodgers. Not many other surprises as Hanley Rameriez and Adrian Gonzalez will be at the heart of the order.

The entire lineup looks like this:

1. Yasiel Puig RF
2. Justin Turner 2B
3. Hanley Ramirez SS
4. Adrian Gonzalez 1B
5. Scott Van Slyke LF
6. Juan Uribe 3B
7. Andre Ethier CF
8. A.J. Ellis C
9. Clayton Kershaw P


Liriano's availability for Opening Day in question

Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander Francisco Liriano left in the sixth inning of his start against the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday because of tightness in his left groin. He landed awkwardly after throwing a pitch and was removed from the game after being examined by team trainers.

The injury puts the Pittsburgh ace's availability in question for his scheduled Opening Day start March 31 against the Chicago Cubs, although Liriano's postgame comments make it sound like he left the game as a precaution.

"I didn't want to keep pitching like that, maybe push it too much and have it get worse," Liriano told the Pittsburgh Tribune Review.

Liriano, who had a limp in the clubhouse postgame, pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing just four hits while walking one and striking out four.

"I think it's going to be OK," Liriano said. "We'll see how I feel (Friday)."

[StarDust Bum]

Saturday, March 22

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Baltimore - 1:05 PM ET Baltimore +105 500
Tampa Bay -

Boston - 1:05 PM ET Atlanta -102 500
Atlanta -

Detroit - 1:05 PM ET Detroit -109 500
Toronto -

NY Yankees - 1:05 PM ET Minnesota +100 500
Minnesota -

Philadelphia - 1:05 PM ET Pittsburgh -118 500
Pittsburgh -

St. Louis - 1:05 PM ET St. Louis -118 500
Houston -

LA Angels - 4:05 PM ET LA Angels -101 500
Milwaukee -

Cincinnati - 4:05 PM ET Chi. Cubs -106 500
Chi. Cubs -

Texas - 4:05 PM ET Kansas City -112 500
Kansas City -

[StarDust Bum]

Sunday, March 23

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Houston - 1:05 PM ET Houston +155 500
St. Louis -

Minnesota - 1:05 PM ET Minnesota +108 500
Philadelphia -

Pittsburgh - 1:05 PM ET Pittsburgh +104 500
Baltimore -

Tampa Bay - 1:05 PM ET Boston -121 500
Boston -

Toronto - 1:05 PM ET NY Yankees -138 500
NY Yankees -

Miami - 1:05 PM ET Detroit -170 500
Detroit -

Cleveland - 4:05 PM ET Cleveland +118 500
LA Angels -

Kansas City - 4:05 PM ET Kansas City +115 500
San Francisco -

Milwaukee - 4:05 PM ET Cincinnati -135 500
Cincinnati -

San Diego - 4:05 PM ET Texas -135 500
Texas -

Chi. White Sox - 4:10 PM ET Chi. White Sox +113 500
Colorado -

[StarDust Bum]

Monday, March 24

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Chi. White Sox - 4:05 PM ET Seattle -139 500
Seattle -

Cleveland - 4:05 PM ET Cincinnati -119 500
Cincinnati -

Oakland - 4:05 PM ET Oakland +103 500
Texas -

San Francisco - 4:05 PM ET San Francisco +100 500
LA Angels -

Kansas City - 4:10 PM ET Kansas City +101 500
Colorado -

Houston - 6:05 PM ET Atlanta -150 500
Atlanta -

San Diego - 10:05 PM ET San Diego +102 500
Chi. Cubs -

[StarDust Bum]

MLB

Monday, March 24


Rangers' Profar out 10-12 weeks

Texas Rangers second baseman Jurickson Profar has a torn muscle in his right shoulder and is expected to be sidelined 10-12 weeks.

Profar first experienced shoulder pain during Saturday's game against the Padres. He underwent an MRI exam, which revealed a tear in the teres major muscle.

He won't need surgery, assistant general manager Thad Levine said, according to USA Today, but it is a setback for the 21-year-old Profar, who was scheduled get his first everyday job in the major leagues after Ian Kinsler was traded in the offseason.

"This is our everyday second baseman, somebody we expected to take a major step forward in his career," Levine said. "Hopefully he'll be a weapon in the second half of the season."

Profar hit .234 with six homers in 85 games for the Rangers last season.

Josh Wilson, a utility infielder, seems to be the leading candidate to replace Profar, but the Rangers may explore other options.

Top prospect Rougned Odor, a second baseman, has hit .294 in 10 spring training games but has played only 30 games as high as Class AA.


Sonny Gray named A's Opening day starter

Right-hander Sonny Gray has been named the Opening Day starter for the Oakland Athletics, according to MLB.com's Jane Lee.

The 24-year-old Gray went 5.2 innings, allowing three hits and one run while striking out seven with just one walk in his last spring start.

Gray made 10 starts last season going 5-3 with a 2.67 earned run average with 67 strikeouts in 64 innings.

The A's will open their season versus the Cleveland Indians March 31.

[StarDust Bum]

National League West preview: Can Dodgers live up to the hype?

The National League West division is led by the Dodgers who have the highest Over/Under win total in the Majors and is the favorite to win the World Series. Their biggest competition within the division will likely come from the Giants and perhaps the Diamondbacks, while the Padres and Rockies will battle for the basement.

Arizona Diamondbacks (2013: 81-81, -495 units, 71-84-7 over/under)

Division odds: 12/1
Season win total: 81.5

Why bet the Diamondbacks: Mark Trumbo should feast on pitching at Chase Field and is a great hitter to put in the middle of the lineup. The pitching rotation has talent with Trevor Cahill and Wade Miley, while the bullpen is solid with Addison Reed at closer and J.J. Putz setting him up. This is a team that only needs six innings from their starters since the bullpen is so strong.

Why not bet the Diamondbacks: Arizona lost Patrick Corbin and they are hoping that Brandon McCarthy recovers from an awful season last year. The batting order features several inconsistent hitters with health issues. The bench is thin and the Diamondbacks lack depth, so injuries might become a factor.

Season win total pick: Under 81.5


Colorado Rockies (2013: 74-88, -1233 units, 76-77-9 over/under)

Division odds: 25/1
Season win total: 76.5

Why bet the Rockies: As usual, Colorado has a lineup that is built for Coor's Field with Michael Cuddyer and Troy Tulowitzki leading the way. Justin Morneau may be able to find his stroke in the rarified air as well. The pitching rotation is solid with Jorge De La Rosa and Jhoulys Chacin coming off strong seasons, while the bullpen was led by Rex Brothers who had 32 scoreless outings in a row last year.

Why not bet the Rockies: There are still some questions in this bullpen and they need a few more relief pitchers. Injuries are always a concern, plus this lineup often struggles to score runs on the road and away from the thin air and altitude.

Season win total pick: Over 76.5


Los Angeles Dodgers (2013: 92-70, +541 units, 73-82-7 over/under)

Division odds: 5/14
Season win total: 92.5

Why bet the Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw leads the best rotation in the division with Hyun Jin Ryu, Zack Greinke, Dan Haren and Josh Beckett. Haren and Beckett are aging, but they will not have as much pressure on them now at the back of the rotation. The lineup features a lot of depth from Yasiel Puig to Matt Kemp. The bullpen has some power arms in Brian Wilson and Paco Rodriguez.

Why not bet the Dodgers: Greinke presents an uncertainty, both emotionally and physically, especially since he is coming off a broken collarbone. How will the Dodgers handle the outfield issues with Puig, Carl Crawford, Kemp and Andre Ethier all vying for spots? Will Puig have a sophomore slump? Haren and Beckett need to bounce back from past struggles.

Season win total pick: Over 92.5


San Diego Padres (2013: 76-86, +241 units, 75-82-5 over/under)

Division odds: 14/1
Season win total: 79

Why bet the Padres: The fences are changing in Petco Park and it should help this offense that features talented youngsters such as Jedd Gyorko and Yonder Alonso. Relief pitcher Huston Street is in the final year of his contract which should lead to a motivated effort. Joaquin Benoit backs him up in a solid bullpen.

Why not bet the Padres: The starting rotation is up in the air with Andrew Cashner and Josh Johnson leading the way. Johnson needs to show his awful year in Toronto was a fluke. Ian Kennedy is the number three starter, but he had a poor 4.24 ERA with San Diego last season. This batting order lacks consistent punch.

Season win total pick: Under 79


San Francisco Giants (2013: 76-86, -2095 units, 73-80-9 over/under)

Division odds: 9/2
Season win total: 86.5

Why bet the Giants: The rotation gets better with the addition of veteran pitcher Tim Hudson. He will be a solid influence on Madison Bumgarner and Matt Cain. Sergio Romo is a good closer who never threw more then 28 pitches in an outing last year. Buster Posey is one of the best catchers in the game and a solid cleanup hitter in the lineup.

Why not bet the Giants: San Francisco's left fielders hit just five home runs last year. Ryan Vogelsong needs to improve after an awful start last season which led to a poor 5.73 ERA overall. The bench is thin, so injuries could become a factor.

Season win total pick: Over 86.5

[StarDust Bum]

NL West Preview

March 22, 2014

Los Angeles Dodgers

Serving as the Vegas favorite to win the National League, the Dodgers come into 2014 with some pretty lofty expectations. After coming up just short of a National League pennant a year ago, there’s good reason for that, as Los Angeles sports a stacked squad on both sides of the ball that should have enough ammo to make some sort of deep run come October. Within their pitching rotation, the Dodgers boast an immensely-talented group, led by arguably the best pitcher in the game, Clayton Kershaw, who just won his second NL Cy Young award last year. Zack Greinke follows right behind him coming off an excellent campaign of his own, and the same can be said for the No. 3 starter Hyun-Jin Ryu, who was everything the club had hoped for in his debut season when they pried him away from Korea. Right there, that’s a very effective trifecta to be the meat of the rotation, and it’s still relatively strong going downward, as the Dodgers also got Dan Haren, who struggled a bit last year before returning to form in the second half. If he can pick up where he left off, Dodger opponents will be in serious trouble no matter where you catch them in any three-game series. The team also acquired Paul Maholm, who will battle with the returning-from-injury Josh Beckett, meaning there are really no holes on this pitching staff. The same can be said of their bullpen, which theoretically should be better with the addition of Chris Perez, a former all-star closer. On this team, though, he’ll be a set-up man with another former all-star closer in Brian Wilson, and along with J.P. Howell and Paco Rodriguez, they’ll work in unison in getting the ball to Kenley Jansen in the ninth. In other words, there are pretty much no holes anywhere in the pitching department.

What good is outstanding pitching if you can’t hit? Luckily, the Dodgers don’t have to worry about that, as they were in the top five in baseball a year ago in team batting average. That effort was largely spurred by the arrival of Cuban defector Yasiel Puig, whose animated personality and enormous talents were among the memorable takeaway storylines of the entire 2013 season. Above that, his presence sparked an incredible run by the Dodgers, who were actually in last place in the division at one point in June, before going on a remarkable run that led them all the way to the NLCS. It wasn’t just Puig, though, as the Dodgers have a whole assortment of other bats that make this lineup as terrific as it is. Adrian Gonzalez and Hanley Ramirez are still located on the Dodger infield, each widely considered as one of the best players at his respective position in both hitting and fielding. Aside from Puig, Los Angeles also boasts a very good outfield, featuring Matt Kemp and Carl Crawford, who both are very dynamic players when at the top of their games. All is looking good in La-La Land, although this year, a berth in the league championship series simply won’t be enough to satisfy Dodger faithful. It looks like championship or bust for Don Mattingly’s squad.

Predicted Record: 91-71

Colorado Rockies

If you really think about it, the Rockies are one of the few teams in baseball that actually have more than one centerpiece star, which is certainly the case when you boast the presence of both Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki, two of the most gifted players in the game. The problem, however, also sort of involves them, as injuries have been very prevalent through each player’s past few years, which ultimately would end up derailing the Rockies because of a lack of depth. Fortunately, Colorado might have more than enough now on their roster to spark some sort of resurgence for the franchise. Of course, the offense begins with Gonzalez and Tulowitzki, and if they can stay healthy for most of the season, this has the makings of a playoff team, but even if one or both goes down, the Rockies actually have their best supporting cast in years. Justin Morneau was signed to replace retired longtime first baseman Todd Helton, and he’s someone who has exceptional power potential in Colorado. Drew Stubbs was acquired, too, bringing over speed and pop to help fill the void left by the departed Dexter Fowler. One of the club’s secret weapons might be second-year man Nolan Arenado, who impressed in his rookie season last year, even winning a Gold Glove, but it’s his bat that might become the best part of his game. Wilin Rosario is another crucial youngster on this roster, as he’s already become one of the league’s top power-hitting catchers in just his first two seasons. Even someone like Corey Dickerson has potential to surprise people. Predictably, there will be no shortage offense in Colorado this year.

As always, though, it is the pitching that remains a huge question mark, a seemingly annual concern in Colorado. Last year, at least, the starting pitching did improve, thanks largely to the return of Jorge De La Rosa, who was fantastic. Perhaps most importantly, he managed to stay healthy the whole year after coming back from Tommy John surgery. Jhoulys Chacin was also a bright spot, although he’s slated to begin the 2014 campaign on the disabled list. The biggest shocker of all, however, may have been the performance of young Tyler Chatwood, who was remarkably consistent after being slotted into the rotation. With those three, the Rockies have a fine nucleus for a solid staff, and they made one significant upgrade by attaining Brett Anderson, who has displayed flashes of excellence during his time in Oakland when he was able to stay healthy. Additionally, back-end starter Juan Nicasio has been good in stretches and still has a lot of potential. The biggest obstacle might be in the bullpen, as Colorado relievers had the worst ERA in the NL last year, and they lost closer Rafael Betancourt during the offseason. Veteran journeyman LaTroy Hawkins was signed to take his place, while Rex Brothers and newly-acquired Boone Logan will be the set-up men, which is a decent pairing. If the relief corps improve, and everything else goes according to plan, the Rockies have enough to make the wild card play-in game - if not more.

Predicted Record: 85-77

San Francisco Giants

One year after winning the World Series, the Giants endured a harsh crash back down to earth in 2013, as not only did they miss the playoffs by a wide margin, they were also an embarrassing-by-their-standards ten games under .500. To add insult to injury, they barely finished ahead of Colorado to avoid the NL West cellar. So how exactly did San Francisco regress so quickly? Arguably the main reason for their success in recent years has been strong starting pitching, but it was also starting pitching that led to their downfall a season ago, as it ended up surprisingly being an area where the club struggled mightily. In fact, their starters produced the third-worst team ERA in the National League, which seemed unfathomable entering the campaign. If there was one positive, it was the continued progression of Madison Bumgarner, who excelled in contributing the best season of his four-year career. Unfortunately, everyone around him disappointed, especially Matt Cain. He began as the organization’s Opening Day starter, and with good reason, but really slumped, given his high expectations, for much of the campaign. Tim Lincecum, as usual, was an unpredictable enigma, although the club is still holding out he can finally return to the form that won him two NL Cy Young awards not too long ago. The Giants added Tim Hudson to help upgrade the staff, a smart move considering the right-hander’s superb consistency throughout his lengthy brilliant career. Meanwhile, the bullpen remains a strength, still having Sergio Romo as the closer, and a trey of Santiago Casilla, Jeremy Affeldt, and Javier Lopez working as one of the best set-up crews in the National League.

Not only were the Giants held back by inconsistent pitching, but the same was the case within their lineup as well. Sure, Hunter Pence posted his usual solid season, and former MVP Buster Posey performed again like one of the best catchers in baseball, but they’re going to need more than that if they want to catch up to the competition in this feisty NL West. For instance, Pablo Sandoval has to provide steady production, which he has done in the past, rather than the up-and-down season he went through last year. Additionally, since the team has apparently settled on Brandon Crawford as their shortstop of the future, they need him to start recording significant numbers at the plate over a full season, rather than merely in stretches. The Giants also have to stay healthy, as notable injuries to Angel Pagan and Marco Scutaro wrecked an early-season barrage that had them at the top of the division through the first two months of ’13. The offense should be better in the upcoming campaign, as Brandon Belt was one of the few bright spots after a very pleasant breakout season. San Francisco also acquired Michael Morse, a highly underrated middle-of-the-order-type slugger. It’s definitely realistic to envision a bounce-back effort for the Giants, but with how competitive this division is, it may not be enough.

Predicted Record: 82-80

Arizona Diamondbacks

The 2014 season will be a critical one for the Diamondbacks, as they enter coming off consecutive campaigns that saw them finish 81-81, so this year’s results more likely should be a very telling sign for which direction the organization is headed. They certainly have the potential to do something special, considering they have one of the most impactful players in all baseball, Paul Goldschmidt, who enjoyed a monstrous ’13 that rightfully saw him finish as the runner-up in the NL MVP voting. Despite coming up short in the balloting, if Goldschmidt continues to perform like he did a year ago, he’ll certainly be winning that honor at some point in the future, while being the face of the franchise. Arizona added an equally-as-intimidating bat in Mark Trumbo, who has been one of the best home run hitters in baseball since his first full season three years ago. Without question, that’ll be one of the top heart-of-the-order pairings anywhere, but the key will be if the D-backs have enough beyond them. Despite coming off a season where he registered a career-low batting average, Miguel Montero has always been a solid catcher and should bounce back. Furthermore, Martino Prado and Aaron Hill are two of the better hitters at their respective infield positions, while Gerardo Parra has really been coming into his own the past couple of years. At shortstop, the team will have either Chris Owings or Didi Gregorius (Who may have the best walk-up music in baseball), both youngsters with high potential. Overall, the offense certainly should be good enough to hang with most on any given night.

The Diamondbacks had pretty good starting pitching a year ago, but have a major void to fill after it was announced that ace Patrick Corbin will need to undergo Tommy John surgery, a crushing blow for the left-hander after he broke out in 2013. Luckily, Arizona does sport depth in their rotation, especially after adding the usually reliable innings-eater Bronson Arroyo, who was a last-minute pickup for the club. They also still have Wade Miley, Trevor Cahill, and Brandon McCarthy, all three being established arms capable of picking up the slack in the absence of Corbin. Randall Delgado, meanwhile, had a pretty good showing in his first year with the Diamondbacks, something the club hopes he can build off of in the upcoming slate, being just 24-years old. Arguably the major weakness in Arizona last year was within the bullpen, which led the major leagues with 29 blown saves. Thus, they immediately addressed those woes, making a trade early in the offseason to acquire Addison Reed to be the new closer. His predecessors, Brad Ziegler and J.J. Putz, will be his set-up men, which is what they are better suited for anyway, and that should ensure an improved performance for the team in that department. If that is indeed what happens, it’ll be likely that the D-backs finally soar over .500 again.

Predicted Record: 79-83

San Diego Padres

Over the past couple of years, the Padres have been a very good team in the second half, posting one of the better records in baseball over that particular time period. The problem, unfortunately, is that they get out to lackluster starts in the first half, hence why they’ve finished 76-86 in consecutive seasons. If they are to improve upon that, they will need a better offense, which has held them back in the recent past, especially last year when they finished in the bottom four of the National League in team batting average and runs scored. The club only made one offseason adjustment, adding Seth Smith, a fine power hitter, but they’re confident that the foundation currently in place is enough to spark some sort of run. One key name part of that is Jedd Gyorko, who was very impressive in his freshman season last year, so much so that he led all rookies in home runs and was second amongst them in runs batted in. Chase Headley is another one from San Diego’s main core, and while he’s coming off a down performance that was plagued by injury, the fact remains that he led the NL in RBI only a couple of seasons ago. Carlos Quentin is a positive in this lineup as well, as he’s one of the more feared power bats when he’s healthy. Also featuring speedster Everth Cabrera, Will Venable, and the returning Yasmani Grandal, who actually has considerable potential in developing into one of the best hitting catchers in baseball, the offense has very notable pieces that could definitely have them surprise people overall.

Pitching has never really been a problem for the Padres, although a main reason for that is the fact that they play half their games at one of the most extreme pitcher’s parks in the game. Regardless, there’s a pretty good staff assembled in San Diego this year that could help them keep up with the other talented pitching rotations possessed by their fellow division residents. Andrew Cashner has made significant progress in converting from a reliever into a starter, and thus far, it’s a move initiated by the Padres that has paid off greatly. Now, he assumes the role of ace. San Diego also acquired a former ace in Josh Johnson, who is seeking to rebound from a nightmarish 2013. He’s healthy now so odds are that will happen, especially while making a lot of his starts at spacious Petco Park. With a respectable trio of Ian Kennedy, Eric Stults, and Tyson Ross located behind them, there’s all the reason to believe that the Padres will continue to get solid starting pitching in the upcoming campaign. Interestingly, the bullpen might be even better, as despite losing top set-up man Luke Gregerson, they were able to replace him with free agent Joaquin Benoit, who will assist in the effort with solid relievers Dale Thayer and Nick Vincent in getting the ball to Huston Street, one of the more underrated closers in the game. The Padres definitely have potential to make some noise in ’14, but the NL West is so competitive that it will be a real difficult challenge keeping up with their rivals.

Predicted Record: 72-90

Final Say on the NL West: Most people are pegging the Dodgers to win the NL West once again, and who could blame them? Their roster is pretty loaded everywhere. However, that’s not to say the other division residents have no chance, as some of the other teams here are pretty talented in their own right. Look at Colorado, for example. Offensively, they have the potential to be better than the Dodgers, let alone all of their other division rivals. It’s just a matter of staying healthy, and if their starting pitching can continue its improvement from 2013, the Rockies have to be considered potentially as one of the surprise teams for this season. Meanwhile, the Giants and Diamondbacks certainly shouldn’t be counted out. The Giants won the World Series as recent as two years ago with much of the same roster, so there’s every reason to believe they can bounce back from last season’s disappointing effort. A similar claim can be made for Arizona, which has hovered at exactly .500 the past two years, and won this division in 2011. And you can’t forget San Diego, who has played like a playoff team in the second half of each of the past two seasons. If they can just maintain that over a whole season, they’ll definitely be in the mix as well. The Dodgers are clearly the surest pick to repeat as division champs, but at -250, it’s probably not even worth it. If you’re looking for a futures bet from the NL West, you might want to invest in Rockies +1250, which is very salivating if they can just stay healthy.

[StarDust Bum]

NL Central Preview

March 22, 2014



St. Louis Cardinals

Since their dramatic World Series victory in 2011, the Cardinals have suffered a couple of really close calls in almost nabbing another one, losing in the NLCS the following year, before reaching the World Series again last season, only to fall in six games to the Red Sox. It’s no coincidence they keep making these deep runs, as this is truly one of the best-run organizations in all of sports, which is why they have just one losing season in this millennium. That underappreciated trend should continue for a variety of reasons, one being a consistently clutch and live offense, as, despite losing Carlos Beltran and David Freese, there’s more than enough ammunition here to continue rolling along with one of the best offenses in the league. Two crucial veteran stalwarts in this lineup, Yadier Molina and Matt Holliday remain, but just as important is the youngsters that have made a major impact, some of which have already become established commodities in baseball, like Allen Craig, who interestingly has led baseball in batting average with runners in scoring position over the past two years. Matt Carpenter is another such player and is coming off a break-out campaign while manning the hot corner. Additionally, Matt Adams looked tremendous as a part-time player a season ago and now enters year as the starting first baseman with a load of potential. The team also added Jhonny Peralta and Peter Bourjos, which should help maintain a steady batting order.

Starting pitching has seemingly always been a distinct strength for the Cardinals, and last year was no different, as their starters collectively put together the second-best team ERA in all of baseball. That’s scary when you think about how their rotation might even better this year, especially when their two prized youngsters, Shelby Miller and postseason break-out stud Michael Wacha, are only just getting started after fabulous rookie campaigns a season ago. They aren’t even at the top of this pitching staff, a slot held by Adam Wainwright, who was as excellent as always, and delivered when it mattered most in several clutch efforts throughout the playoffs. In fact, he was so brilliant for the year that he finished second in the NL Cy Young voting. Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly have already established themselves as nice middle-of-the-rotation options, and should continue to be just that as they continue to grow as major league starters, but the potential inclusion of 22-year old Carlos Martinez probably has the highest ceiling. If he doesn’t crack the Opening Day staff, he’ll be an effective late-inning reliever, a position he assumed successfully during last year’s playoffs, as he would be aiding Kevin Siegrist and the returning Jason Motte in getting the ball to Trevor Rosenthal, who took over the closer’s role in September and didn’t look back. Overall, it’s a really dominant bullpen. The competition in the NL Central is definitely getting a lot tighter, but as always, the Cardinals should have more than enough to be in it till the end.

Predicted Record: 90-72

Milwaukee Brewers

Every year, there are at least a couple of teams that surprise everyone following a down period, and if you look up and down the roster that makes up this year’s Brewers, you realize they are absolutely a candidate to be one of such stories in 2014. Of course, the main storyline in Milwaukee last year revolved around Ryan Braun finally coming forward, after lying, about his PED use, which led to him being suspended for the rest of the season. In the meantime, the club struggled lifelessly while barely avoiding 90 losses, but with Braun back, along with the younger players that are hitting their stride, this could be the year they turn it back around. At first glance concerning their lineup, there’s a batting order that could probably slug it out with the best of them, led by the aforementioned Braun, who still has the extraordinary talent to rank as one of the best pure hitters in the game. While he was gone, there were some others who stepped up in his absence that could be very valuable in 2014, such as Carlos Gomez and Jean Segura. Gomez was once considered a top prospect, and after years of underachieving, finally enjoyed his break-out campaign that saw him win a Gold Glove and make his first all-star team, while Segura was phenomenal in his first full season in the bigs, leading many to believe that he might become one of the best shortstops in the National League. Also featuring Aramis Ramirez, Jonathan Lucroy, Mark Reynolds, Juan Francisco, and the emerging Khris Davis, this could definitely be one of the more explosive lineups in all of baseball.

Pitching is part of the game, too, and while Milwaukee possesses a potent offense, it could be their hurlers that cause any potential downfall. Still in place at the top of their rotation is longtime Brewer Yovani Gallardo, who has enjoyed modest success throughout his eight years in the league, but is coming off a career-worst campaign that he will need to rebound from if his club is to make any sort of playoff push. To help with their starting pitching, the Brewers added Matt Garza, who has much experience pitching in the NL Central and should be a solid addition. Veteran Kyle Lohse is also there, coming off another fine season in 2013. Youngsters Wily Peralta, Tyler Thornburg, and the older Marco Estrada will comprise the bottom portion of the rotation, with Thornburg having the most potential of the trey, especially after a terrific display last season that saw him register a quality start in all seven of his assignments. The bullpen, meanwhile, is pretty underrated, as they were third as a group in ERA in the National League last season, and could be better with the addition of Francisco Rodriguez joining Brandon Kintzler in helping set-up returning closer Jim Henderson, who was everything the club had hoped for in his first full season handling the closer duties. Just like last year, it looks like things will be very interesting in Milwaukee, except this time, it will be for all the right reasons.

Predicted Record: 86-76

Pittsburgh Pirates

Amazingly, the losing is over. One of the most dubious streaks in the history of professional sports came to an end last year, as the Pirates secured their first winning season since 1992 - yes, 1992 - while making the playoffs for the first time in that same timeframe as well. Of course, this was all correctly boldly predicted by this author, as Pittsburgh really had something special brewing in the few seasons leading up to last year’s break-out ever since manager Clint Hurdle took over in 2011, and luckily for Bucco fans, this miraculous turnaround will prove to be no fluke whatsoever; the Pirates are here to stay amongst the NL’s elite. That sentiment was further proven when they took the eventual pennant-winning Cardinals to the limit in the NLDS, narrowly losing in the maximum five games, but with that came a valuable learning experience that has Pittsburgh poised for even more in the coming years. They’re led by their face of the franchise, Andrew McCutchen, who is fresh off a campaign that saw him take home the National League MVP award, a well-deserved honor for the superstar center fielder. Pedro Alvarez also legitimized himself further in 2013 as a top power hitter, after tying Paul Goldschmidt for the NL league-lead in home runs. In addition, Starling Marte continued his notable development with a solid season, as he appears to have all the tools to become one of the game’s most dynamic lead-off hitters. With a fine supporting cast that consists of Neil Walker, Russell Martin, and Jose Tabata, the Pirates should have enough to get by offensively once again.

In actuality, it was the pitching that led Pittsburgh’s ground-breaking efforts a season ago. After all, the Pirates finished third in baseball in team ERA, thanks to a truly sparkling performance from both the starters and relievers collectively. Francisco Liriano, in his first year with the club, posted a terrific campaign at the top of the rotation that ultimately netted him the Comeback Player of the Year award. Ultimately, however, it might be youngster Gerrit Cole who attains the status of being the staff ace, as he’s coming off a superb rookie showing and has a very bright future ahead of him without question. The Bucs no longer have the services of A.J. Burnett, but have a lot of depth nonetheless, such as the return of Wandy Rodriguez, who missed most of 2013, but will be back at the start of the upcoming year. Veterans Charlie Morton and newly-signed Edinson Volquez comprise the bottom of the staff, while Jeff Locke and Brandon Cumpton are more-than-serviceable youngsters who can fill in capably if someone goes down. The bullpen was just as strong, as Jason Grilli immediately justified why the Pirates dealt away former all-star closer Joel Hanrahan with a remarkable campaign. Also having Mark Melancon, Tony Watson, Justin Wilson, and Bryan Morris, this is still one of the best relief corps in the bigs. For once, the Pirates enter a season chock full of expectations, and ironically, that particular variable could be their biggest challenge yet for an organization looking to grow further.

Predicted Record: 84-78

Cincinnati Reds

Under Dusty Baker, the Reds made some serious strides over the past handful of years, winning two division titles and securing three playoff berths, after a prior woeful stretch that saw them miss the postseason in 14 consecutive years. However, they would never get past the NLDS, and losing last year’s NL wild card play-in game proved to be the final straw, as Baker was canned shortly after, paving the way for Bryan Price, who takes over the managerial duties following four productive years as the team’s pitching coach. He inherits a fairly talented roster that is mostly the same as last year’s 90-win effort, although there is one glaring omission at the top of the batting order: Shin-Soo Choo. The center fielder bolted for Texas in free agency, but the Reds have a secret weapon up their sleeve to take his place with Billy Hamilton, who has wowed scouts and fans alike for his remarkable ability to swipe bases. If he could develop into an acceptable hitter, Hamilton may evolve into one of the best lead-off men in all of baseball, while also potentially becoming the next great speedster on the basepaths. That would be extremely dangerous for opposing pitchers, given some of the names that reside right behind him. The main one, of course, is Joey Votto, a former MVP winner and still one of the best pure hitters in the league. There is also Brandon Phillips, one of the more established second baseman in the game, although some are predicting he’s on the downside of his nice career, and Jay Bruce, who has emerged as a truly dangerous power hitter. Besides the main core, though, there isn’t much, so Hamilton’s progression will be extra important in trying to really maximize this lineup.

Of course, when Price was hired as the manager, he knew he was also getting largely the same pitching staff that he’s worked with in recent years, aside from the subtraction of Bronson Arroyo. His frontline starter is still Johnny Cueto, and despite battling injuries throughout most of last season that limited him to just 11 starts, all indications point to the right-hander successfully resuming what has been a very solid career thus far. Mat Latos is still the No. 2 in Cincinnati, and he’s been remarkably consistent as well. Homer Baily and Mike Leake are above-respectable options in the middle of the rotation, both each having potential of becoming more. Tony Cingrani might actually be the most intriguing of all five, as he’s the youngest and displayed a truly enthralling knack for strikeouts last year in his rookie campaign that could get him noticed very quickly. Perhaps the best strength of this team lies in its bullpen, where flame-throwing Aroldis Chapman returns as the closer. There’s nobody else quite like him, and with Jonathan Broxton and Sean Marshall setting Chapman up, it’s almost a foregone conclusion when they bring a lead into the late innings. Getting said leads might be extra challenging this year, however.

Predicted Record: 76-86

Chicago Cubs

Will Cubs fans ever be put out of their misery? Having not won a World Series championship since 1908 is bad enough, but over the past handful of years, the Cubs have become a perennial laughingstock, owning a current abysmal streak of four straight fifth-place finishes in the NL Central. First and foremost, if that is to end, the Cubs will need its two star offensive players, Starlin Castro and Anthony Rizzo, to bounce back after disappointing seasons in 2013 that saw both of their batting averages drop by a combined 90 points! It’s probable that they rebound, considering how talented each player is, and that will be mandatory for the Cubs to escape the division basement. It wasn’t all negative in the hitting department last year, as the Cubs got an unlikely break-out year from Nate Schierholtz in right field that could solidify him as a decent middle-of-the-lineup slugger going forward. Wellington Castillo also enjoyed a solid first full season on both sides of the ball as Chicago’s starting catcher and will look to pick up where he left off. Furthermore, Junior Lake impressed greatly after being called up last July, and the Cubbies also added Justin Ruggiano, who could prove to be a real underrated pick-up, considering the flashes of promise he’s shown in the recent past.

Believe it or not, the Cubs may actually have a pitching rotation that could wind up amongst the league’s best by season’s end. While the offense has little expectations, especially after a year full of disappointments, the opposite can be said of the pitching, which will be counting on key starters to continue the forward development that was exhibited a year ago. One such name where this applies is staff ace Jeff Samardzija, who has really come into his own over the past couple of years in establishing himself as an acceptable frontline starter. In fact, he was fourth in the NL in strikeouts last season. Travis Wood is another one who fits this bill, as he’s coming off a career-best campaign that even saw him make his first all-star team. In his first tenure in Chicago last season, Edwin Jackson disappointed mightily, but has had success before, which is the main reason for optimism in hoping he can turn it back around. Meanwhile, two potential wild cards on this staff are Chris Rusin and Jake Arrieta. Rusin impressed for the most part in his rookie showing, while Arrieta churned out mostly quality work after he was acquired from Baltimore midway through last year. In that same trade, the Cubs also picked up Pedro Strop, who has proven to be an efficient set-up man, and along with James Russell, should be an above-average pair in getting the ball to new closer Jose Veras in the ninth. Most likely, new manager Rick Renteria will have his hands full in his first year on the job.

Predicted Record: 74-88

Final Say on the NL Central: The NL Central is probably the most wide-open of the three National League divisions, solidifying it as the toughest to bet on in terms of a futures’ bet. Four teams, realistically, have a legitimate chance of winning the division, with the Cubs being the lone club that really doesn’t, as they’re still mired in their rebuilding effort, although it’s safe to say that they’re definitely getting closer. Of course, when talking about the potential winner of the Central, you have to start with the favorite, the Cardinals, who are similarly built compared to recent years, in which the storied organization has experienced much success. Thus, it’ll be hard to dethrone them, but the possibility is certainly there. We all saw what Pittsburgh did last season, and how they almost took down the Cardinals in the playoffs, so it’s definitely fathomable to see the Pirates perhaps be the new division champs, with how much they’ve been trending upwards since 2011. The Reds have always been in the mix, although this might be the year they regress, getting older and in a transition year featuring a first-time manager at the helm. The wild card, no pun intended, might be Milwaukee, who should definitely have enough offense to keep them involved. Pitching, however, could ultimately determine where they end up, and if it can hold up, they are deep enough to shock everyone and win this division, making them +1050 the best value bet amongst this bunch, and perhaps the best investment overall.

[StarDust Bum]

NL East Preview

March 22, 2014

Washington Nationals

There’s an old adage that pitching wins championships, and if that is truly the case, then the 2014 Nationals appear to be in tip-top shape entering the upcoming campaign. Yes, they also had sky-high expectations last year, as they were coming off a season in which they won their first NL East title since the franchise moved from Montreal to Washington D.C. almost a decade earlier, but injuries derailed that effort, and this year’s roster should actually be better, especially on the pitching side. Starting at the top, there is Stephen Strasburg, already one of the best aces in all of baseball, and the great thing about him is that he’s only getting better. Strasburg also had offseason surgery, which should ensure he’s 100-percent to begin the season. Behind him are two guys who would be aces on a lot of other clubs, Jordan Zimmermann and Gio Gonzalez, who are both coming off tremendous campaigns, especially Zimmermann after registering the best season of his five-year career. However, it is the addition of Doug Fister that arguably propels this pitching staff all the way to the top, as he’s been one of the more consistent pitchers in baseball over the past few years. Ross Detwiler is good, too, and maybe the best No. 5 starter in the National League. Even if someone goes down, which is possible considering the injury history involved here, Washington has very promising youngsters waiting in the wings, like Tanner Roark and Taylor Jordan, who can fill in beautifully. Roark has an incredibly high ceiling that could make him a well-known commodity sooner than later. The bullpen, meanwhile, has more than enough to preserve the work of its starters, still being led by Rafael Soriano at closer. Tyler Clippard and Drew Storen are excellent in their roles as set-up men, and the team added another plus arm in Jerry Blevins.

First-year manager Matt Williams should really have no issues concerning his pitching, and when you look up and down his lineup, the same should apply for his hitters as well. He’s got a budding superstar in Bryce Harper, who, even though he was a bit limited last year thanks to injuries, has shown more than enough thus far to cement why he is one of baseball’s young phenoms. Plus, like Strasburg, Harper had surgery in the offseason, which, hopefully for the Nats, means he can stay healthy in ’14. If that happens, look out. Ryan Zimmerman has been good for awhile since being Washington’s first-ever draft pick and there’s no reason for that to change, as he continues to man the hot corner. Meanwhile, the other corner infielder, Adam LaRoche, is still here as well shinning a decent bat and an outstanding glove at first base. It might be Ian Desmond, though, who is becoming the Nationals’ best infielder, as he enjoyed a nice break-out campaign in 2013 and figures to pick up where he left off, still only being 28-years old. With other solid hitters like Jayson Werth and Denard Span, the Nationals have an above-average lineup. As long as they can stay healthy, especially in their pitching corps, there’s no reason they can’t contend for first in the division. That rotation - one through five - is just way too talented to not achieve something special this season.

Predicted Record: 95-67

Atlanta Braves

There are very few constants in life. One such constant, though, revolves around the Braves and the fact that they are always competitive. After all, since 1990, this is a franchise that has had only two losing seasons - two! - while nabbing 15 division titles, five National League pennants, and one World Series championship along the way. The thing that really irks Braves fans, though, is that final number, having just one championship victory to show for all their success, but at least last season got them back in that direction, as they captured their first NL East crown since 2005. Offensively, Atlanta has a plethora of dangerous bats, starting with Freddie Freeman, who has already evolved as arguably the team’s most dependable hitter. Jason Heyward was supposed to be just that when he broke into the big leagues, and while he hasn’t met the high expectations that were set upon him, he’s still developed into a solid everyday player. Justin Upton is also a stand-out for his production, although the same cannot be said for his brother B.J. Upton, who was absolutely abysmal last season. Dan Uggla was also a big disappointment, but if he and the latter Upton can bounce back to what they’re capable of, that would be huge. The Braves lost longtime catcher Brian McCann to free agency, but still have fan-favorite Evan Gattis in his place, while shortstop Andrelton Simmons is coming off a nice rookie showing.

Historically, the Braves have always had fabulous starting pitching, and despite losing Tim Hudson and Paul Maholm, the same should hold true in 2014 - if they can stay healthy, that is. During Spring Training, Atlanta has seen two of its main fixtures, Kris Medlen and Mike Minor, plagued with injury issues, so much so that it looks like Medlen will miss the entire year, while Minor is slated for the shelf to begin his season. Furthermore, Brandon Beachy is also experiencing physical setbacks, this after struggling a bit last year following Tommy John surgery, so that’s certainly a red flag. Luckily, the Braves have some quality depth, such as in the last-minute acquisition of Ervin Santana, who was phenomenal last year in Kansas City. Atlanta also added veteran Gavin Floyd, although he won’t be healthy till around May. Sophomores Julio Teheran and Alex Wood enjoyed successful rookie seasons in ’13 and figure to be two of the main pieces through which this rotation will operate. Also watch out for fellow youngster David Hale when he gets plugged in there, as he’s someone that has enormous potential to be special for a long time. Fortunately for Atlanta, there are no health concerns as far as their top-ranked bullpen is concerned, which still boasts the presence of Craig Kimbrel, arguably the best closer in baseball. With top-notch set-up men like David Carpenter, Luis Avilan, and Jordan Walden, it’s no wonder this is an elite group. Getting the ball to them, though, could be a problem with their rotation being decimated by injuries. Ultimately, that could decide where this team ends up at season’s end.

Predicted Record: 84-78

Miami Marlins (Best Bet: Over 68.5 Wins)

It’s hard to get excited about an organization that is coming off a 100-loss season, especially one that is historically known for making questionable personnel moves, but the 2014 Marlins might be one of the few exceptions to that general sentiment. Why, exactly? It may be hard to believe that one man can change the outlook for an entire franchise, but that just might be the case with Jose Fernandez, who dazzled anyone and everyone that watched him pitch at any point after making his major league debut last April. Not only did Fernandez make the all-star team and finish in the top three in NL Cy Young voting, he also took home NL Rookie of the Year honors, while exhibiting all the tools that could make him one of baseball’s best aces over the next decade. And interestingly, the Marlins actually have a talented ensemble of pitchers right behind him on their staff. Jacob Turner, once a top prospect himself in Detroit, was very solid for most of last year, as was Nathan Eovaldi. Those are two critical building blocks that, if they continue their forward progress as above-average major league starters, can really accelerate Miami’s current youth movement. Furthermore, they also have Henderson Alvarez, who threw a no-hitter on the last day of the season, which probably isn’t a coincidence, as he showed promise before coming to the club from Toronto. It doesn’t stop there, as the Marlins have a young bullpen with potential, too. Steve Cishek was terrific last year in his first experience closing out games, converting on all but two of his 36 save opportunities. With hard-throwers Mike Dunn, A.J. Ramos, and newcomer Carter Capps setting him up, there actually could be a recipe for success here. The team also added Carlos Marmol, who still could be very useful in a late-inning role.

Unfortunately, it’s not just quality pitching that wins ballgames, so Miami is hoping for a much-improved offensive showing this season, after finishing last in baseball in batting average and runs scored a year ago. Of course, the effort will revolve around Giancarlo Stanton, who arguably is the most important player in the organization. Stanton, as many already know, has the potential to be the most premier home-run hitter in the game, and being just 24-years old, the sky really is his limit. Thus, given the contract issues that loom over his head, it’ll be extra important to field a productive roster around him, or the Marlins might lose him at some point. Garrett Jones was one name acquired for this push, and considering the power he’s shown in Pittsburgh, that could end up being a wise move. Miami also signed Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who will be an upgrade at catcher on both sides of the ball. The thing that will make or break their lineup, though, could be the progress shown by youngsters Christian Yelich and Marcell Ozuna, who are two of the top blue-chippers the Marlins possess. If they both break through, it could have a domino effect for the rest of the lineup, and if Miami is able to score runs consistently, they genuinely have the makings of baseball’s next break-out team. Look out.

Predicted Record: 78-84

New York Mets

If you ask most Met fans, they’ll tell you they’re still a year away from being a legitimate contender - when the great Matt Harvey comes back from Tommy John surgery - but is it possible they can get back to .500, or maybe beyond that, as early as this season? If you really think about it, the answer just might be yes. Without question, the absence of Harvey, who has already solidified his standing as one of baseball’s best aces for the future, sends shockwaves through the outlook of New York’s “other” baseball team, but even without him, there is still a potentially delightful rotation in place here. To help fill the void, the Mets signed veteran Bartolo Colon, and while it’s doubtful he can duplicate his renaissance season from a year ago, there’s still a fine chance he can remain successful in the lighter-hitting National League. Even if it doesn’t pan out as desired, the Mets have another potential ace on the rise in Zack Wheeler, who is coming off a very impressive rookie campaign and has the same potential Harvey does in evolving into a franchise-type pitcher. The Mets have solid depth behind them with Jon Niese and Dillon Gee, who have both provided steady pitching over the past few seasons, and at some point, they’ll get a good look at another one of their arms of the future in Noah Syndrgaard, who also has unbelievable potential. It’s unfortunate that the bullpen still has its question marks, as while Bobby Parnell was terrific last year closing, the fact remains he’s coming back from neck surgery, which might hinder him early on. Furthermore, New York has a slew of unproven youngsters like Vic Black and Jeurys Familia setting him up, which could end up being a major weakness, just as the bullpen was last year.

On offense, the Mets were a disaster in 2013, finishing only above the Marlins in team batting average and slugging percentage. This year, they addressed those offensive woes, bringing in Curtis Granderson and Chris Young, both of whom should serve as two immediate upgrades in the outfield given what they had prior. Eric Young is there, too, after being a nice spark at the top of the order last year as soon as he was acquired. The infield doesn’t have as many dynamic players, but it does boast team captain David Wright, who is still one of the best third basemen in all of baseball and a serious presence in the middle of the order. Catching prospect Travis d’Arnaud has potential to be a similar type hitter, although he didn’t really hit much in his first taste of big-league action a season ago. The biggest issue, however, is at first base, where the Mets have some sort of messy platoon consisting of Ike Davis, Lucas Duda, and/or Josh Satin. If there are no improvements there, odds are they’ll remain a bottom-feeder offensive team again, which would be a shame, because even without Harvey, the starting pitching can still be superb.

Predicted Record: 77-85

Philadelphia Phillies

If last year was any indication, there could be some dark days ahead for the Philadelphia organization, which is coming off its first losing season since 2002. Yes, it’s been awhile since the Phillies have found themselves below the majority of their division rivals, but that appears to be the case entering 2014 under new manager Ryne Sandberg. That’s not to say this club has no potential for a successful season, as they still possess some of the key veterans that have fueled them in the recent past, to go along with the blooming youngsters on this roster. Two of those aforementioned veterans are Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee, and despite their older age, both proved last year once again that they are still two of the better left-handers in all of baseball. In fact, both comprised one-third of the six National League pitchers that recorded over 200 strikeouts a year ago, and the Phillies are actually getting another veteran from that list to join them this season in A.J. Burnett. If all three can stay healthy and make over 30 starts this year, that could be a huge factor that keeps the Phillies involved in the hunt. Meanwhile, behind them is second-year man Jonathan Pettibone, who was good in flashes last season before getting hurt and has potential to develop into a fine upper-rotation starting pitcher. The bullpen, on the other hand, is more of a variety in terms of age, still anchored by veteran closer Jonathan Papelbon. While many believe Papelbon is at the twilight point of his career, he’s still widely considered as one of the better closers in the NL, and with Antonio Bastardo and Mike Adams setting him up, it’s certainly an above-average group.

Amongst the batting order for the Phillies is a similar trend, being dominated by mostly older veterans in their mid-30’s. Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley, the two longest-tenured members of the team, are still here comprising the middle infield, and while both are clearly in the decline stages of their career, they each may have one more productive season left. Ryan Howard is also an old staple of this lineup, although he’s coming off consecutive years that have been cut short by significant injuries. If he can somehow stay healthy, that’s a main source of power for the Phils, but that’s a big “if.” At the very least, if he does go down again, Philadelphia has a capable replacement in Darin Ruf. Another returning veteran, longtime catcher Carlos Ruiz, has seen his best days at the plate well behind him, but his most valuable asset is the rapport he has developed with the pitching rotation. In the outfield, the Phillies are a little younger with Dominic Brown and Ben Revere, two dynamic players that energize this lineup, and will be joined by the newly-signed Marlon Byrd, who is coming off a career season, albeit at 36-years old. Cody Asche, the youngster manning the hot corner, has some nice potential as a sleeper candidate. It’s clear the window is closing on this aging roster, and with their fellow NL East residents all getting better, it will probably be a difficult campaign for the Fightin’ Phils.

Predicted Record: 71-91

Final Say on the NL East: Things could start to get more interesting in the NL East, after years of having seemingly the same three teams rule over the rest. One of those teams, the Phillies, look like they’re about to enter rebuilding mode for the first time in a long while, considering all the aging players and potential injuries they have on their hands in both their offense and pitching. Thus, they’re in trouble as far as 2014 is concerned. Meanwhile, the Braves could be in a tricky spot, given all the injuries they’ve endured throughout spring training. Overall, they should have enough depth to get by, but it also could potentially open the door for either the Marlins or Mets to surpass them, both of whom should be improved this season. While most figure the Mets are still a year away from being a serious contender, it might be the Marlins who are the most intriguing, as their young pitching looks really sharp and might have enough juice to push them into a position to shock people. If they could improve on last year’s woeful hitting, that could really set them up as this year’s surprise team in the National League, but that’s also a big “if.” That leaves the Nationals as the most sure item left, and with how incredibly deep their starting pitching is, it’s tough to envision them not making some sort of deep run this year. One through five, they can match up well against anyone, and even though they’re currently listed at a relatively unfriendly -125 to win the division, it might be the best futures bet in the NL East.

[StarDust Bum]

Wednesday, March 26

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Detroit - 1:05 PM ET Detroit -113 500
Philadelphia -

Miami - 1:05 PM ET Atlanta -130 500
Atlanta -

NY Yankees - 1:05 PM ET NY Yankees +101 500
Toronto -

Pittsburgh - 1:05 PM ET Minnesota -106 500
Minnesota -

Washington - 1:05 PM ET St. Louis -125 500
St. Louis -

LA Angels - 3:05 PM ET Oakland -115 500
Oakland -

Kansas City - 3:05 PM ET Kansas City +104 500
San Diego -

Seattle - 3:05 PM ET Seattle +104 500
Texas -

Cincinnati - 4:05 PM ET Chi. White Sox -104 500
Chi. White Sox -

Colorado - 4:05 PM ET San Francisco -135 500
San Francisco -

Milwaukee - 4:05 PM ET Cleveland -125 500
Cleveland -

Chi. Cubs - 4:10 PM ET Chi. Cubs +111 500
Arizona -

NY Mets - 6:05 PM ET NY Mets -108 500
Houston -

[StarDust Bum]

Thursday, March 27

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Washington - 12:10 PM ET Washington -125 500
NY Mets -

Atlanta - 1:05 PM ET Atlanta +130 500
Detroit -

Miami - 1:05 PM ET St. Louis -158 500
St. Louis -

NY Yankees - 1:05 PM ET Pittsburgh +105 500
Pittsburgh -

Toronto - 1:05 PM ET Toronto -115 500
Philadelphia -

Chi. White Sox - 3:05 PM ET Chi. White Sox +105 500
Chi. Cubs -

Minnesota - 7:05 PM ET Boston -147 500
Boston -

Tampa Bay - 7:05 PM ET Baltimore +105 500
Baltimore -

LA Angels - 10:10 PM ET LA Dodgers -129 500
LA Dodgers -

Oakland - 10:15 PM ET San Francisco -135 500
San Francisco -

[StarDust Bum]

Latest News

Rangers' Darvish has no structural damage
10h
Yankees top Forbes' annual list
11h
Angels cut veteran RHP Blanton
11h
MLB and MLBPA working towards new PED deal
11h
Yankees put Pineda in rotation
1d
Injury
Yasiel Puig, LA Dodgers - Prob April 1
1d
Darvish out of opener for Rangers
1d
Blue Jays SS Reyes day-to-day with strained hamstring
2d
Mariners RHP Iwakuma making progress
2d
Mets name RHP Gee as Opening Day starter
2d
Rangers catcher Soto out 10-12 weeks
2d
Rockies' pitching depth to be tested with Chacin injury
3d
Rangers' 2B Profar out 10-12 weeks
3d
Sonny Gray named A's Opening day starter
3d
Padres RHP Johnson to start season on DL
4d
Indians release OF Francoeur
4d
Teheran to start Opening Day for Braves
4d
Puig to leadoff for Dodgers Opening Day
5d
Liriano's availability for Opening Day in question
6d
Braves' Beachy to have Tommy John surgery Friday
6d

[StarDust Bum]

Saturday, March 29

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Miami - 1:05 PM ET NY Yankees -150 500
NY Yankees -

Minnesota - 1:05 PM ET Minnesota +129 500
Boston -

NY Mets - 1:05 PM ET NY Mets +102 500
Toronto -

Pittsburgh - 1:05 PM ET Pittsburgh -118 500
Philadelphia -

Detroit - 2:05 PM ET Detroit -104 500
Washington -

Kansas City - 2:10 PM ET Kansas City -113 500
Milwaukee -

Seattle - 3:10 PM ET Seattle -115 500
Colorado -

San Francisco - 4:05 PM ET Oakland -106 500
Oakland -

Chi. Cubs - 4:10 PM ET Arizona -143 500
Arizona -

Cleveland - 4:10 PM ET Cleveland -130 500
San Diego -

LA Dodgers - 9:05 PM ET LA Dodgers +104 500
LA Angels -

[StarDust Bum]

Monday, March 31

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Chi. Cubs - 1:05 PM ET Pittsburgh -159 500
Pittsburgh -

Kansas City - 1:08 PM ET Kansas City +146 500
Detroit -

Washington - 1:10 PM ET NY Mets +150 500
NY Mets -

Philadelphia - 2:05 PM ET Texas -106 500
Texas -

Atlanta - 2:10 PM ET Atlanta -109 500
Milwaukee -

Boston - 3:05 PM ET Baltimore +109 500
Baltimore -

Minnesota - 4:10 PM ET Minnesota +150 500
Chi. White Sox -

St. Louis - 4:10 PM ET St. Louis -114 500
Cincinnati -

Toronto - 4:10 PM ET Tampa Bay -165 500
Tampa Bay -

Colorado - 7:05 PM ET Colorado +136 500
Miami -

San Francisco - 9:40 PM ET San Francisco -130 500
Arizona -

Cleveland - 10:05 PM ET Cleveland +118 500
Oakland -

Seattle - 10:05 PM ET Seattle +123 500
LA Angels -

[StarDust Bum]

MLB
Dunkel

LA Dodgers at San Diego
The Dodgers open their series in San Diego tonight and are 7-1 in Hyun-Jin Ryu's last 8 starts when the total is set at 6 1/2 runs or lower. LA is the pick (-115) according to Dunkel, which has the Dodgers favored by 1 1/2. Dunkel Pick: LA Dodgers (-115). Here are all of today's and Monday's picks.

SUNDAY, MARCH 30

Game 997-998: LA Dodgers at San Diego (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: LA Dodgers (Ryu) 16.331; San Diego (Cashner) 14.904
Dunkel Line: LA Dodgers by 1 1/2; 5 1/2
Vegas Line: LA Dodgers (-115); 6 1/2
Dunkel Pick: LA Dodgers (-115); Under


MONDAY, MARCH 31

Game 901-902: Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh (1:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Cubs (Samardzija) 16.332; Pittsburgh (Liriano) 15.404
Dunkel Line: Chicago Cubs by 1; 8
Vegas Line: Pittsburgh (-170); 7
Dunkel Pick: Chicago Cubs (+150); Over

Game 903-904: Washington at NY Mets (1:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Washington (Strasburg) 15.358; NY Mets (Gee) 13.402
Dunkel Line: Washington by 2; 5 1/2
Vegas Line: Washington (-170); 6 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Washington (-170); Under

Game 905-906: Atlanta at Milwaukee (2:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Atlanta (Teheran) 13.972; Milwaukee (Gallardo) 15.044
Dunkel Line: Milwaukee by 1; 8
Vegas Line: Atlanta (-115); 7 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Milwaukee (-105); Over

Game 907-908: St. Louis at Cincinnati (4:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: St. Louis (Wainwright) 16.930; Cincinnati (Cueto) 14.265
Dunkel Line: St. Louis by 2 1/2; 6
Vegas Line: St. Louis (-115); 7
Dunkel Pick: St. Louis (-115); Under

Game 909-910: Colorado at Miami (7:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Colorado (De La Rosa) 14.296; Miami (Fernandez) 13.374
Dunkel Line: Colorado by 1; 6
Vegas Line: Miami (-155); 6 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Colorado (+135); Under

Game 911-912: San Francisco at Arizona (9:40 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: San Francisco (Bumgarner) 15.638; Arizona (McCarthy) 13.956
Dunkel Line: San Francisco by 1 1/2; 9
Vegas Line: San Francisco (-140); 8
Dunkel Pick: San Francisco (-140); Over

Game 913-914: Kansas City at Detroit (1:08 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Kansas City (Shields) 15.732; Detroit (Verlander) 14.822
Dunkel Line: Kansas City by 1; 6
Vegas Line: Detroit (-160); 7
Dunkel Pick: Kansas City (+140); Under

Game 915-916: Boston at Baltimore (3:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Boston (Lester) 17.695; Baltimore (Tillman) 14.850
Dunkel Line: Boston by 3; 9
Vegas Line: Boston (-120); 8 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Boston (-120); Over

Game 917-918: Toronto at Tampa Bay (4:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Toronto (Dickey) 14.665; Tampa Bay (Price) 17.036
Dunkel Line: Tampa Bay by 2 1/2; 6
Vegas Line: Tampa Bay (-165); 7
Dunkel Pick: Tampa Bay (-165); Under

Game 919-920: Minnesota at Chicago White Sox (4:10 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Minnesota (Nolasco) 14.329; White Sox (Sale) 13.831
Dunkel Line: Minnesota by 1/2; 8
Vegas Line: Chicago White Sox (-165); 7
Dunkel Pick: Minnesota (+145); Over

Game 921-922: Cleveland at Oakland (10:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Cleveland (Masterson) 16.716; Oakland (Gray) 15.601
Dunkel Line: Cleveland by 1; 7 1/2
Vegas Line: Oakland (-135); 7
Dunkel Pick: Cleveland (+115); Over

Game 923-924: Seattle at LA Angels (10:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Seattle (Hernandez) 14.684; LA Angels (Weaver) 16.123
Dunkel Line: LA Angels by 1 1/2; 5 1/2
Vegas Line: LA Angels (-135); 6 1/2
Dunkel Pick: LA Angels (-135); Under

Game 925-926: Philadelphia at Texas (2:05 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Philadelphia (Lee) 15.442; Texas (Scheppers) 14.512
Dunkel Line: Philadelphia by 1; 9
Vegas Line: Philadelphia (-115); 8
Dunkel Pick: Philadelphia (-115); Over