Yesterday: MLB: 1 - 5.3

MLB (45.1 - 30.1)

Angels (Santana) +170 at Red Sox (Beckett): Red Sox' starter Josh Beckett has fared well against the Angels' hitters in their 121 plate appearances against him: .218 BA, .296 OBP, .300 SLG. And he's been dominant in his 12 innings this year (two wins), as he's only allowed four hits, two runs, and four walks, while striking 13 batters. But is this the "real" Beckett, or is it the one who had a 5.02 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in 204.2 IP last year? My guess is that he's somewhere in between. Meanwhile, 24-year-old Ervin Santana struggled last week against Cleveland after dominating Texas in his first start. In the Red Sox' 60 plate appearances against Santana, they've accrued a .288 BA, .383 OBP, and .577 SLG. But Santana's a young pitcher who's coming off his first full major-league season, in which he posted a 4.28 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in 204 IP. Santana will continue to improve as the season progresses, and I like the line value here, as he could get a lot of run support from a formidable Angels' lineup if Beckett makes a few mistakes.

Braves (James) -1.5 runs (-110) at Nationals (Williams): In 11 IP in 2007, Chuck James has only given up one run on 11 hits and four walks. He's won both of his starts, including one against the Nationals on April 11, when he held them to five hits in six innings. James is looking to continue his successful 2006 campaign, when he posted the following stats en route to an 11-4 record: 119 IP, 3.78 ERA, 1.24 WHIP. Meanwhile, Jerome Williams has lost both of his starts this year, as he's given up ten hits and six walks in 11 IP. Williams played most of last year at the AAA level, and he didn't fare too well: 111.2 IP, 4.76 ERA, 1.61 WHIP. Note: Matt Chico is now starting for the Nationals.  He's given up 14 hits and three walks in just 8.2 IP, so the Braves are still the pick.  But you might have to lay -120 or -130 odds.

Royals (Greinke) at Tigers (Verlander) -1.5 runs (even): The Royals have faced Justin Verlander 70 times, and they haven't been able to make good contact: .172 BA, .243 OBP, .219 SLG. That includes only three extra-base hits (all doubles). So far this season, Verlander hasn't given up a run in 13 innings. Although Royals' starter Zack Greinke has begun the year well, he's had trouble in his career against Gary Sheffield, Placido Polanco, Craig Monroe, and Ivan Rodriguez.

Mets (Maine) -110 at Phillies (Garcia): Freddy Garcia is making his first start of the year after nursing a biceps injury; as a result, it's unknown whether he's 100%. Garcia has struggled against Carlos Delgado and Carlos Beltran. Delgado has a .357 BA, .455 OBP, and .786 SLG versus Garcia. And Beltran's numbers are even better: .429 BA, .469 OBP, .857 SLG. Meanwhile, John Maine has shut down the Phillies in their 86 plate appearances against him: .237 BA, .322 OBP, .395 SLG. But Maine is looking to rebound from last week's start against the Phillies, when he surrendered six walks in just 4.2 IP. Maine should be fine, though, as walks weren't a big issue for him last year, when he posted a 1.13 WHIP in 90 IP.

Brewers (Capuano) -120 at Reds (Milton): Brewers' starter Chris Capuano has gotten off to a so-so beginning to the 2007 season: 10.1 IP, 9 H, 3 BB, 5 ER, 10 K. But the real reason for this pick is Eric Milton's poor performances at Cincinnati's Great American Ballpark: 31 starts, 178 IP, 5.82 ERA, 1.45 WHIP. Milton struggled in his first start this year, giving up ten hits in 5.2 IP.

Marlins (Sanchez) Even at Astros (Rodriguez): Sanchez completely shut down the Astros in his start against them last year, as the current Astros went 1-for-15 against him, and their only hit was a single. In 2006, Sanchez posted a 2.84 ERA and 1.19 wHIP in 114.1 IP. On the other hand, Wandy Rodriguez had bad numbers last year: 124.2 IP, 5.66 ERA, 1.61 WHIP. In the Marlins' 28 plate appearances against Rodriguez, they have a .400 BA, .552 OBP, and .750 SLG.