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Five To Follow MLB Betting: Thursday, April 23, 2015 Opening Line Report

by - 4/22/2015

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Michael Wacha

I'm not ready to say the young Chicago Cubs can win the NL Central this season as I'd still give the edge to St. Louis. However, these Cubs won't quit. They won a wild game on Tuesday night in Pittsburgh with a ninth-inning rally to improve to 2-5 this season when trailing entering the ninth. That might not sound like much, but last year the Cubs were 0-79 in that scenario. A lot of matinee getaway games on Thursday afternoon, so keep in mind that some key players could get the day off or only be used as a pinch-hitter.

Yankees at Tigers (-121, 8)

It's a 1:08 start on the MLB network for this series finale, and it should be a nice pitching duel. The Yankees' Masahiro Tanaka looked a bit off in his first two starts of the season, both coming at Yankee Stadium. However, in his first road start Saturday at Tampa Bay, he looked back to his pre-injury rookie form by holding the Rays to no runs and two hits over seven innings, striking out eight and walking no one. This is the first time Tanaka has faced the Tigers, so I'm fascinated to see him go against Miguel Cabrera. Detroit's Yoenis Cespedes faced Tanaka last season and was 3-for-5 with two RBIs. The Tigers go with Anibal Sanchez. He has been bombed in his last two starts after a great first one. Sanchez has allowed five combined homers in those past two and only four dingers all of last year. So maybe this won't be a pitching duel. Brian McCann has nine hits career off Sanchez in 32 at-bats with two doubles, a homer and eight RBIs.

Key trends: New York is 8-3 in Tanaka's past 11 on the road. The "over/under" has gone over in his past four away starts. The over has hit in five of Sanchez's past seven at home.

Early lean: Yankees and under.

Braves at Mets (-134, 7)

If New York wins Wednesday's game vs. Atlanta, and judging by the pitching matchup that's likely, then the Mets will be going for their 11th straight victory here. That's the team record, set in 1990. It will be tough Thursday as it's Braves ace Julio Teheran (2-0, 3.71). He beat the Mets on April 11 at Turner Field, allowing one earned run and two hits over six innings. He wasn't sharp last time out, allowing five runs and a career-high four homers in five innings of a no-decision in Toronto. Lucas Duda hits him well, going 7-for-20 with two doubles, two homers and three RBIs. Daniel Murphy is 5-for-15 with two doubles and two RBIs off him. Bartolo Colon (3-0, 2.25) starts for New York. He won in Atlanta on April 12, allowing three runs and six hits in seven innings in his worst start of the year thus far. Freddie Freeman is a career .462 hitter off him in 13 at-bats. Jonny Gomes is 8-for-21 with three solo homers off him.

Key trends: The Braves are 1-4 in Teheran's past five road starts vs. teams with a winning record. The Mets are 6-1 in Colon's past seven in Game 3 of a series. The under is 6-2 in Teheran's past six vs. the Mets.

Early lean: Teheran ends the streak if it's still going. Also lean under.

Cardinals at Nationals (-151, 6.5)

Washington's lineup is nearly complete as Denard Span returned on Sunday from the DL and third baseman Anthony Rendon will begin a minor-league rehab assignment on Friday and could be back early next week. Max Scherzer (1-1, 0.83) has been all the Nats could have asked for thus far. He has yet to allow more than one earned run in his three starts, with his only loss coming when he gave up three unearned. Batters are hitting only .171 off him. He's from St. Louis, so this might have extra meaning. Very few Cards have faced him. Matt Holliday is 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. Michael Wacha (2-0, 1.35) has been about as good as Scherzer. The two total runs he has allowed thus far have come on solo homers, both against the Reds. Washington's Ian Desmond is 1-for-6 with three strikeouts against Wacha. Span is 0-for-4.

Key trends: The Cards are 5-1 in Wacha's past six pitching on five days of rest. The Nats are 6-2 in their past eight Game 3s. The over is 6-2 in Wacha's past eight on five days of rest.

Early lean: Nats and under.

Red Sox at Rays (+107, 7.5)

Tampa Bay took a four-game losing streak into Wednesday and is in the basement of the AL East, but the good news is that lefty pitcher Drew Smyly looks likely to get his first start of the season on Friday off the DL. For this series finale it's Jake Odorizzi (2-1, 1.74). All three of his starts have been quality and all three have come against AL East clubs. He has yet to allow a home run in 20.2 innings, and his 0.68 WHIP is second in the AL. Odorizzi is 1-2 with a 4.32 ERA in five career starts against Boston. David Ortiz, who is appealing his one-game suspension, is 1-for-10 career off him. Clay Buchholz (1-2, 6.06) has sandwiched two quality starts around one horrible one. He was 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA in two starts last year vs. the Rays. Evan Longoria is a career .200 hitter off him in 40 at-bats with 14 strikeouts. Asdrubal Cabrera is 4-for-9 with two solo homers.

Key trends: The Sox are 3-9 in Buchholz's past 12 vs. teams with a losing record. The Rays are 1-6 in Odorizzi's past seven following a quality start in his last appearance. The Sox are 3-7 in Buchholz's past 10 against Tampa Bay.

Early lean: Rays and over.

Royals at White Sox (-147, 7)

This is a series opener as the White Sox look for payback after getting swept three games to open the season in Kansas City, and the Pale Hose haven't sniffed .500 since. Should be an excellent pitching matchup here. It's Yordano Ventura (2-1, 4.80) for Kansas City. He pitched opening day and beat the Sox by holding them to a run and four hits over six innings. Ventura was part of all the fun against Oakland last weekend as he plunked Brett Lowrie on Saturday after a Josh Reddick homer, and Ventura was ejected. Adam Eaton, who is struggling at the plate this season, is 4-for-12 with two doubles off Ventura. Jose Abreu has a solo homer in five at-bats. Chris Sale (2-0, 2.25) missed that first series with the Royals but has been typically great in his first two starts. Lorenzo Cain hits him, going 13-for-37 with three doubles, two homers and six RBIs. Alcides Escobar hits .400 off Sale.

Key trends: The Royals are 7-0 in Ventura's past seven on the road. The Sox are 7-3 in Sale's past 10 series openers. The over is 5-0 in Ventura's past five against Chicago. The under is 5-2 in Sale's past seven at home in this series.

Early lean: Sox at +160 on the runline and under.

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