Five To Follow MLB Betting: Friday, June 5, 2015 Opening Line Report

by Alan Matthews - 6/4/2015

So much for waiting until July for trading season to start as on Wednesday the Arizona Diamondbacks officially punted on the season -- not that they were going anywhere -- by sending Mark Trumbo, their big acquisition before last season, and pitcher Vidal Nuno to Seattle for catcher Welington Castillo, pitcher Dominic Leone, infielder Jack Reinheimer and outfielder Gabby Guerrero. Arizona gets some prospects and a decent catcher in Castillo, opening a corner outfield spot that Trumbo played for Yasmany Tomas. Seattle gets another basher to go with Nelson Cruz. I'm not that thrilled about the deal for the M's. Trumbo (.259, nine HRs, 23 RBIs) will hit some homers but also strike out a ton and can't play defense. The team can't hide him at DH with Cruz there. Trumbo could play first, too.

Angels at Yankees (-118, 8)

This is your only national TV game -- no NBA or NHL on Friday unfortunately -- so will have live betting at the sportsbooks. New York likely won't have catcher Brian McCann for this game and maybe a while. He was to have an MRI on his sore foot Thursday. It forced him out early Wednesday and has been bothering him since May 24. Jered Weaver (4-4, 4.08) gets the call for the Angels. He had a great May after a terrible April, going 4-1 with a 2.83 ERA. Alex Rodriguez hits him hard, going 9-for-26 with five homers and seven RBIs. It's Nathan Eovaldi (4-1, 4.40) for New York. He lasted only 4.2 innings last time out in Oakland, allowing 11 hits (season high) and three runs. Albert Pujols is 4-for-6 career off him. This will be a rare matchup of guys in the 500-homer club with Pujols and A-Rod.

Key trends: The Angels are 3-7 in their past 10 following an off day. The "over/under" has gone over in five of Weaver's past six at the Yankees. The Yankees are 3-9 in their past 12 following an off day. The Angels are 6-2 in Weaver's past eight vs. New York.

Early lean: Angels and under.

Rangers at Royals (-156, 8)

So much for all that good karma surrounding the return of Josh Hamilton to Texas. He was a surprise scratch Tuesday and Wednesday and now we know why. Hamilton will miss four weeks with a Grade 2 strain of his left hamstring. That could be good news for rookie Joey Gallo as he should stay with the big club now -- he might have anyway with the way he has started his career. Chi Chi Gonzalez, not the golfer (Rodriguez, I know), gets the start for Texas. The rookie right-hander made his first big-league start Saturday against Boston, pitching 5 2/3 scoreless innings. Kansas City's Edinson Volquez (4-3, 2.95) has been a different pitcher at home with a 4-1 record and 2.19 ERA. He pitched in Texas on May 12 and allowed four runs and six hits in five innings in a no-decision.

Key trends: The Rangers are 9-1 in their past 10 against right-handers. The Royals are 7-2 in their past nine at home vs. a righty. The over is 8-3 in Kansas City's past 11 series openers.

Early lean: Royals and under.

Rays at Mariners (-110, 7)

If Trumbo didn't make it to Seattle to debut Thursday night then he should here. In other Mariners news, skipper Lloyd McClendon has given struggling closer Fernando Rodney a vote of confidence, which surely means he's not long for the job. Lefty J.A. Happ (3-1, 3.70) starts for the Mariners. He hasn't gotten a decision in his past four but pitched well in three of them. Evan Longoria is 5-for-16 with two doubles off him. Asdrubal Cabrera is 2-for-6 with a double. Tampa Bay's Jake Odorizzi (4-5, 2.61) had lost three straight starts but beat the Orioles last time out, allowing four runs and seven hits in six innings and a season-high three homers. Trumbo has never faced him. Cruz is 2-for-13 with four strikeouts. Robinson Cano is 2-for-6 with a double.

Key trends: The Rays are 2-5 in Odorizzi's past seven vs. teams with a losing record. The Mariners are 5-0 in Happ's past five during Game 2 of a series. The under is 7-1 in Odorizzi's past eight.

Early lean: Mariners and under.

Orioles at Indians (-125, 8.5)

Baltimore is expected to activate catcher Matt Wieters on Friday, and he will make his season debut off Tommy John surgery (yep, non-pitchers sometimes have it). The Orioles need him because their offense is slumping in a big way. Before last season was cut short by the surgery, Wieters was off to the best offensive start of his career, batting .308 with five home runs and 18 RBIs in 26 games. Chris Tillman (2-7, 4.95) is scheduled to start for the Orioles, and he obviously has been hugely disappointing. He lasted only 4.2 innings last time out vs. the Rays, allowing six runs and nine hits. Jason Kipnis is 2-for-6 with a homer off him. Nick Swisher has a homer and double in 20 at-bats. Cleveland's Shaun Marcum (2-0, 5.49) is 0-0 with a 9.39 ERA in two home starts. Wieters is 1-for-8 off him. Adam Jones is 8-for-21 with a homer and two RBIs.

Key trends: The Orioles are 2-12 in their past 14 on the road against right-handers. The under is 4-0 in Baltimore's past four series openers. The under is 4-0 in the past four meetings.

Early lean: Indians and over.

Brewers at Twins (-134, 8)

Milwaukee won't have Ryan Braun apparently until at least Saturday as has he had a shot in his ailing thumb on Wednesday. Braun was just 2-for-15 in his last three games. The Brewers will have the DH in this series, but obviously that thumb doesn't seem to allow Braun to hit much. Kyle Lohse (3-6, 6.50) is on the mound for the Brew Crew. He was rocked last time out, giving up seven runs and 11 hits over 3.1 innings. Lohse has given up 13 homers in 11 games. Brian Dozier is 1-for-3 with a homer off him. Joe Mauer is 2-for-3 with a dinger. Kyle Gibson (4-3, 2.61) starts for Minnesota. He was great in May with a 3-1 record and 1.36 ERA. He will be on extra rest for this one. Not many Brewers have seen him. Jonathan Lucroy is 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Key trends: The Brewers are 1-6 in their past seven following an off day. The Twins are 8-0 in Gibson's past eight vs. teams with a losing record. The under is 4-0 in Gibson's past four with five days of rest.

Early lean: Twins at +155 on the runline and over.

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