Yesterday:

NBA: 2 - 0; MLB: 2.3 - 3.7

MLB (26.6 - 18.4)

Mariners (Weaver) at Red Sox (Beckett) -1.5 runs (even): After enduring an up-and-down 2006 campaign, Josh Beckett got off to a great start in a win over the Royals last week, as he allowed only two hits in five innings. Also, he's held the Mariners' hitters to just a .271 OBP in 126 plate appearances. Mariners' starter Jeff Weaver is coming off of a bad year in which he had a 5.76 ERA and 1.512 WHIP on his way to an 8-14 record. The 30-year-old has thrown a lot of innings since debuting in 1999, so his recent decline might indicate that he doesn't have much left in his arm. Weaver gave up 34 HRs in 172 IP last year, which is an average of 1.78 HRs per nine innings. That could spell trouble against the Red Sox' powerful lineup.

Astros (Sampson) +140 at Cubs (Marquis): It's going to be a cold one today at Wrigley Field as the NL Central rivals meet for the second of a three-game set. The Astros will send 27-year-old Chris Sampson to the hill for his second career start. His only other start actually came against the Cubs last year and he didn't disappoint, going seven strong innings while allowing only three hits. Of course, that Cubs lineup didn't include Derrek Lee, Mark DeRosa, and Alfonso Soriano. The Astros will try to keep their offense rolling after yesterday's 5-3 win. Lance Berkman and Morgan Ensberg have pounded Marquis before, hitting .571 and .469, respectively, against the overpaid righty. As an underdog, there is solid value on Houston today. Marquis could easily yield 5-6 runs and the Cubs' awful bullpen is certainly capable of serving up another handful.

Angels (Santana) vs. Indians (Sabathia) -130: C.C. Sabathia is pitching on a full week of rest between starts because the April snowstorm postponed this weekend's games in Cleveland. Sabathia was at his best last year when he received extra rest, as he posted a 2.90 ERA in those situations with a 4.08 K/BB ratio. Also, Sabathia has been able to handle the Angels' hitters in his career: .235 BA, .306 OBP, .379 SLG. Meanwhile, even though Ervin Santana had a great game against the Rangers last Wednesday, he's a fly-ball pitcher who could get burned against the Indians' power-hitting lineup. In his career, the Indians have posted the following numbers off him: .395 BA, .425 OBP, .921 SLG.

Tigers (Robertson) -130 at Orioles (Wright): The Orioles average just .231 against lefty Nate Robertson, and their lineup is stacked with lefthanded hitters. Also, Robertson got off to a solid start in a win over the Blue Jays, as he scattered seven hits over 5.2 innings. On the other hand, Jaret Wright had an awful outing in a loss to the Twins last Wednesday: 2.1 IP, 4 ER, 4 HA, 5 BB. Last year, Wright's 4.50 ERA was respectable by AL standards, but his 1.53 WHIP indicates that he's allowing too many batters to reach base. While Wright has never lost at Camden Yards in five career starts, that streak's coming to an end sooner rather than later (i.e., today).

Nationals (Chico) at Braves (Hudson) -1.5 runs (-110): The hapless Nationals (1-6) won't catch a break today, as they face off against one of the hottest teams in baseball, the Atlanta Braves (5-1). Veteran righty Tim Hudson (1-0) takes the mound for Atlanta and will face rookie Matt Chico (0-1). Hudson is looking to regain the form that made him a dominant starter in Oakland from 1999 through 2004. Today's game presents him with an opportunity for an easy win as the Nationals rank at the very bottom of the NL in runs scored, with only 18. They also have a combined 18 RBIs, which is good for second lowest in the NL. The Braves' offense has never seen the left-handed Chico, but right-handed hitters Brian McCann, Andruw Jones, and Jeff Francoeur should feast off the rookie.

Reds (Lohse) at Diamondbacks (Gonzalez) -130: Tonight, the Diamondbacks will try to extend their major-league-leading five-game winning streak against a Reds' team that has lost their last two games. Second-year starter Edgar Gonzalez had an impressive debut last week against the Nationals, striking out seven in five innings, while limiting Washington to only two runs. Gonzalez has only faced the Reds once before as a starter and will need to continue to keep the ball down to work around the potent bats of Adam Dunn and Ken Griffey, Jr. The oft-injured Kyle Lohse gets the ball for the Reds. Lohse hasn't done well against the Diamondbacks in his two previous outings against them and will likely struggle as he tries to figure out a way to keep the hot-hitting Eric Byrnes and Orlando Hudson from extending their three-game hitting streaks.