First Games of the Year

Portfolio: $859 (-6.7% return)
S&P 500: $1115 (21.1% return)

Today's Games

Tampa Bay (+130) @ New York Yankees (-150)
Minnesota (+120) @ Boston (-140)

In the first game James Shields is matched up against Andy Pettitte. Both pitchers are off to fast starts, but it looks like only Shields will be able to keep it up. Shields strikeout rate is up and his walk and hit rates are normal. His 9.83 K/9 rate is up significantly from 6.84 last year and his career average of 7.32. Pettitte on the other hand has a strikeout rate below his average, walk rate above, and hit rate below. That means his 1.79 ERA is due for a big correction. With Tampa being the dog, I think they are a good play.

In the second game Francisco Liriano is matched up against Jon Lester. Liriano is off to a solid start and has the indicators to back it up. His strikeout rate isn't what it was 3 years ago, but it's still pretty good, and his walk rate is at about the same level. He looks like he is fully recovered from his surgery. Lester has had an up and down season so far, and his walk rate is the main culprit. His walk rate is up almost 50% from the last two years, and that can lead to inconsistency. With two solid front line starters I'll take the one with the better control, especially with him being the dog.

Bets

$20 TB +130
$20 MIN +120