Yankees at Red Sox
The 2010 baseball season gets underway Sunday night with one of sports' best rivalries when the Red Sox host the Yankees. New York will have to wait until later in the week to raise the World Series banner from last season, as the Bombers open against Boston for the first time since 2005. The Sox, meanwhile, will try to bounce back after getting swept by the Angels in last season's ALDS.
CC Sabathia takes the mound for the Yankees, looking to capitalize on his strong 2009 debut in the Bronx. The southpaw finished 19-8 with an ERA of 3.37, as Sabathia has yet to win 20 games in a season in his nine-year career. Sabathia was strong no matter where he pitched, but his offense provided more help on the highway, averaging 6.5 runs in his 21 road starts. The Bombers went 14-7 in the lefty's road outings last season, while the 'over' was a strong play at 15-6. Sabathia saw plenty of success against Boston, winning three of four starts, while the 'under' hit three times.
Josh Beckett will attempt to silence the Yankees' bats, looking to rebound from an awful outing the last time he saw the Champs in August. Beckett allowed five homers and eight earned runs in an 8-4 setback to Sabathia and the Yankees on August 24, 2009. How rare was Beckett's gopher-ball barrage when facing New York? The fireballer yielded just four homers combined in nine previous starts against the Yanks.
Beckett's finish to 2009 was something the former World Series MVP would like to forget. The righty compiled only three quality starts in his final ten outings including a loss in the ALDS to the Angels. Home is where the heart is for Beckett as evidenced by his 10-1 mark last season at Fenway. The Sox won 13 of Beckett's 16 home starts as Boston outscored opponents by three runs a game.
Last season's series was split right down the middle at nine apiece. However, it was a tale of two seasons as the Red Sox captured the first eight meetings. The Yankees stormed back with victories in eight of the next nine matchups, even though seven of those wins came in the Bronx. The two big highlights from New York's series victory at Fenway in August were the home run derby against Beckett and the 20-run outburst against the Sox in the series opener.
The practice of Opening Night in baseball beginning on a Sunday night has been going on for a handful of years with the defending Champs customarily being showcased. There have been mixed results with backing the World Series Champion, as they have gone 2-2 over the last four seasons. The Phillies were tripped up at home against the Braves last season, 4-1, easily finishing 'under' the total of 8 ½.
Despite last season's slip-up at Baltimore on Opening Day, the Yankees are 3-1 the last four series openers. The O's trampled the Yanks in Sabathia's debut, 10-5, as Baltimore cashed as $1.60 home underdogs. The Yanks won at home to start the '07 and '08 seasons, while trouncing the A's in Oakland, 15-2 in 2006.
The Sox will be opening the season at Fenway for the second straight season following a 5-3 victory over the Rays to start '09. Boston began 2008 in Japan with a two-game series against Oakland, splitting the set. The opener did go to the Sox in ten innings, as Boston came out on top, 6-5 as $1.60 favorites.
Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood:
-- It's great that baseball season is back, but like any sport, remember not to rush into things. The season is extremely long with plenty of betting opportunities for the next six months.
-- With that announcement out of the way, the Monday card has plenty of interesting matchups, including five road favorites. Three former Cy Young winners take the hill in those contests, including Tim Lincecum (at Houston), Chris Carpenter (at Cincinnati), and Roy Halladay (at Washington). The ex-Blue Jay ace makes his Phillies' debut on the road, while being the largest favorite on the board.
-- Favorites went 6-5 on last season's Opening Day, but three underdogs of $1.30 or higher pulled off victories (Mariners, Pirates, and Orioles). Totals were tough to gauge, finishing 5-5-1, as six games plated at least ten runs each.
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The 2010 baseball season gets underway Sunday night with one of sports' best rivalries when the Red Sox host the Yankees. New York will have to wait until later in the week to raise the World Series banner from last season, as the Bombers open against Boston for the first time since 2005. The Sox, meanwhile, will try to bounce back after getting swept by the Angels in last season's ALDS.
CC Sabathia takes the mound for the Yankees, looking to capitalize on his strong 2009 debut in the Bronx. The southpaw finished 19-8 with an ERA of 3.37, as Sabathia has yet to win 20 games in a season in his nine-year career. Sabathia was strong no matter where he pitched, but his offense provided more help on the highway, averaging 6.5 runs in his 21 road starts. The Bombers went 14-7 in the lefty's road outings last season, while the 'over' was a strong play at 15-6. Sabathia saw plenty of success against Boston, winning three of four starts, while the 'under' hit three times.
Josh Beckett will attempt to silence the Yankees' bats, looking to rebound from an awful outing the last time he saw the Champs in August. Beckett allowed five homers and eight earned runs in an 8-4 setback to Sabathia and the Yankees on August 24, 2009. How rare was Beckett's gopher-ball barrage when facing New York? The fireballer yielded just four homers combined in nine previous starts against the Yanks.
Beckett's finish to 2009 was something the former World Series MVP would like to forget. The righty compiled only three quality starts in his final ten outings including a loss in the ALDS to the Angels. Home is where the heart is for Beckett as evidenced by his 10-1 mark last season at Fenway. The Sox won 13 of Beckett's 16 home starts as Boston outscored opponents by three runs a game.
Last season's series was split right down the middle at nine apiece. However, it was a tale of two seasons as the Red Sox captured the first eight meetings. The Yankees stormed back with victories in eight of the next nine matchups, even though seven of those wins came in the Bronx. The two big highlights from New York's series victory at Fenway in August were the home run derby against Beckett and the 20-run outburst against the Sox in the series opener.
The practice of Opening Night in baseball beginning on a Sunday night has been going on for a handful of years with the defending Champs customarily being showcased. There have been mixed results with backing the World Series Champion, as they have gone 2-2 over the last four seasons. The Phillies were tripped up at home against the Braves last season, 4-1, easily finishing 'under' the total of 8 ½.
Despite last season's slip-up at Baltimore on Opening Day, the Yankees are 3-1 the last four series openers. The O's trampled the Yanks in Sabathia's debut, 10-5, as Baltimore cashed as $1.60 home underdogs. The Yanks won at home to start the '07 and '08 seasons, while trouncing the A's in Oakland, 15-2 in 2006.
The Sox will be opening the season at Fenway for the second straight season following a 5-3 victory over the Rays to start '09. Boston began 2008 in Japan with a two-game series against Oakland, splitting the set. The opener did go to the Sox in ten innings, as Boston came out on top, 6-5 as $1.60 favorites.
Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood:
-- It's great that baseball season is back, but like any sport, remember not to rush into things. The season is extremely long with plenty of betting opportunities for the next six months.
-- With that announcement out of the way, the Monday card has plenty of interesting matchups, including five road favorites. Three former Cy Young winners take the hill in those contests, including Tim Lincecum (at Houston), Chris Carpenter (at Cincinnati), and Roy Halladay (at Washington). The ex-Blue Jay ace makes his Phillies' debut on the road, while being the largest favorite on the board.
-- Favorites went 6-5 on last season's Opening Day, but three underdogs of $1.30 or higher pulled off victories (Mariners, Pirates, and Orioles). Totals were tough to gauge, finishing 5-5-1, as six games plated at least ten runs each.
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