It's Opening Day, and We Offer Up Some Picks

By The Linemakers, Sporting News	@TheLinemakers


There are 13 games on today’s Opening Day baseball schedule, and we have a few selections among them. Our baseball betting strategy includes rarely taking a favorite priced above -140, and always looking for reasons to support the underdog. In baseball, you don’t have to hit 50 percent winners to show a profit over the long haul. So if there is any reason to support the underdog, whether it’s past performances, team history or spring training numbers, we recommend doing so. Note to baseball bettors: The Aliante Casino sports book is offering the best line in Nevada, using a five-cent split all the way up to -135. If looking to win over the course of a long baseball season, getting the best number possible is essential, and other books will have trouble beating either side the Aliante offers. Every lit bit counts. Here are picks on three of Monday’s late-afternoon or evening games. Indians (Masterson) +130 at Oakland Justin Masterson won his first three starts last season, allowing only one run combined, and then went on to have a terrific year, setting a career high with three shutouts. He gave every indication this spring that he is capable of being just as good or better this year, as he gave up only three runs in 23 2/3 innings of work in six starts. He’s ready to go, and the price is right. Reds (Cueto) +115 vs. Cardinals For whatever reason, the Reds seem to have Adam Wainwright’s number. They’ve hit him pretty hard, including in his final two starts against them in 2013 -- Cincinnati tagged him for 15 runs in eight innings on consecutive starts in late August and early September. Over Wainwright’s career, the Reds are 9-5 against him. Wainwright had a much better spring than Johnny Cueto, but we’ll go with the familiarity and success the Reds seem to have with him. Giants (Bumgarner) -123 at Arizona Madison Bumgarner comes off an outstanding spring, giving up only three runs in 22 2/3 innings of work. Opponents hit just .188 against him, and in his past two starts against Arizona, he’s allowed only one run in 13 innings. Expect Bumgarner to be sharp again against an up-and-down Brandon McCarthy.