New York Yankees vs. Tampa Bay Rays online baseball betting preview
Time: 7:10 PM
Venue: Tropicana Field
Sportsbook baseball wagering odds:
Yankees -1½ (+145) 7½ (-110) -110
Rays +1½ (-165) 7½ (-110) EV
New York: Starter Carsten Charles “CC” Sabathia, Jr. (L) had his lowest ERA since 2012 last season, and has added a few tricks to his repertoire – including a cutter adopted from Andy Pettitte. Sabathia allowed three runs or fewer in 21 of 30 starts in 2016. The Baby Bombers’ youth movement continues in full swing; the Yanks started four players under 25 years of age on opening day – Gary Sanchez, Greg Bird, Aaron Judge, and Ronald Torreyes.
Tampa Bay: Jake Odorizzi (R) went 7-1 with a 2.71 ERA following the 2016 All-Star break and will look to carry that momentum forward. Third baseman Evan Longoria has had 86 at-bats against Sabathia since 2008, hitting .403 with nine doubles, seven home runs, 16 RBIs and 13 walks, and striking out just seven times.
Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals online baseball betting preview
Time: 8:15 PM
Venue: Busch Stadium
Sportsbook baseball wagering odds:
Cubs -1½ (+120) 7½ (+105) -136
Cardinals +1½ (-140) 7½ (-125) +126
Chicago: 2015 Cy Young winner Jake Arrieta (R) won 11 road games last season and went 3-1 with a 2.38 ERA in four starts against the Cards – including seven shutout innings and 10 strikeouts on September 23rd. The Cubs lost on opening day to St. Louis for the second time in the last three years.
Saint Louis: Adam Wainwright (R) was relieved from opening day duty for the first time since 2012, likely due to a career-worst 4.62 ERA and 1.404 WHIP last season. Additionally, Wainwright compiled a 7.98 ERA – 13 earned runs on 19 hits and nine walks over 14 2/3 innings – in three starts against the Cubbies. However, he’s optimistic he’s found his curveball again (it’s always in the last place you look).
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim vs. Oakland Athletics online baseball betting preview
Time: 10:05 PM
Venue: Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum
Sportsbook baseball wagering odds:
Angels -1½ (+145) 7½ (-105) -111
Athletics +1½ (-165) 7½ (-115) +101
Anaheim: Matt Shoemaker (R) will return to the mound seven months after taking a 105-mph line in the head. Shoemaker is 4-2 with a 3.48 ERA in 10 career games against Oakland. The pitcher will wear a small carbon-fiber plate protective headgear just in case. Shoemaker threw his changeup for 40.0% of his overall pitches in 2016 and allowed the fourth-lowest exit speed on his changeup of anybody who induced at least 100 batted-ball events with that pitch.
Oakland: Sean Manaea (L) went 7-9 with a 3.86 ERA in 25 games – of which he started 24 – in 2016, and ranked second among American League rookies in strikeouts (124). Manaea is 0-1 with a 3.55 ERA in two career starts against the Anaheim. Manaea rated the highest of any pitcher who threw at least 2,000 pitches in induced swings (52%), with Shoemaker being a close second (51.8%). Catcher Stephen Vogt has faced Shoemaker the most of any batter with 26 at-bats, and is 3 for 23 (.130) with two homers and five against him.
