Posted by Brian Joseph on Friday, April 10, 2009 at 7:18 am

The Yankees and A.J. Burnett delivered big time on Thursday making it an easy day for BDD’s BBB. It’s always nice to get an easy one from time to time. The win has pushed the BDDBBB record to 4-3 although still down 21 units.

In the spirit of a full slate of games, I’ve matched Opening Day with four games for today:

TODAY’S PICKS

Cleveland Indians (-149) over Toronto Blue Jays

THE BET: 100 Units – Win = +100 / Loss = -149

The fact that the 0-3 Indians are such a big favorite in this game gives me the first opportunity to use a line you’ll hear me use more frequently than I should… the line is tellin’ me something! Sure, lefty Scott Lewis pitched really well last year but he’s only 25 and only has four Major League games under his belt, so why are the Indians such a big favorite? Well, for one thing, they are home where they have beaten the Blue Jays 15 of the last 17 and they are a team that is typically good in the first game of a series. For another, the Blue Jays send Scott Richmond to the mound. The 29-year-old is making his sixth Major League start but the Indians’ lineup has already tasted blood against the inexperienced Richmond and shelled him last year. Even though the Jays have had recent success against lefties, let’s chalk it up to a small sample size since they hit right-handed pitching better than left-handed pitching last year. I don’t know if Lewis gets the win but I like the Indians to.

New York Mets (-119) over Florida Marlins

THE BET: 100 Units – Win = +100 / Loss = -119

See Mets’ fans, I can pick the Mets from time to time. Recent history says the Mets do fairly well in Florida (15-5 in their last 20) and it’s not September so that’s not an issue. Mets’ starter John Maine has been good against the Fish and the fact that the Marlins haven’t lost this year might have me betting against them until they do, especially at the relatively cheap price the Mets come at here. My only concern is that the Mets have never faced Anibal Sanchez who becomes increasingly easier to hit the more times you get a look at him.

Arizona Diamondbacks (+101) over Los Angeles Dodgers

THE BET: 100 Units – Win = +101 / Loss = -100

Honestly, I hate betting against the Dodgers because it means I have to close my eyes every time Manny Ramirez comes to the plate. But maybe ManRam won’t continue to hammer Jon Garland who is making his D-backs debut. Ramirez is a lifetime .520 hitter in 24 at-bats vs. Garland and has three homers, also. Orlando Hudson and Casey Blake have also had decent success against him. However, I’m not counting on Garland here because the Dodgers send young James McDonald to the mound. McDonald’s first start Major League start may benefit him early since Arizona hasn’t faced him but I can’t pass on a home underdog against a starting pitcher with little to go on except he’s a fly ball pitcher with an expected ERA/WHIP of 5.11/1.48 according to PECOTA. Chase Field is known for increasing the runs scored so this is more a bet against McDonald in his debut than for the Diamondbacks.

San Francisco Giants (-104) over San Diego Padres

THE BET: 100 Units – Win = +100 / Loss =-104

Shawn Hill was cut from the Nationals and has found a new opportunity in San Diego. And it seems to have many thinking his arrival in pitcher-friendly Petco is going to give him some added advantage that ressurects his injury-riddled career. Hill’s not known for giving up home runs so it’s hard to imagine he’ll be able to take full advantage of the ballpark factors unlike his opponent on Friday, Barry Zito, who has given up more home runs in 2007 (24) than Hill has given up in his entire Major League career (17 in 206-1/3 innings). Zito has reaped the benefits of Petco on previous visits and his 3-2 record against the Padres just gives me one more reason to like the Giants in this near pick’em.

YESTERDAY’S RECAP

Season-to-Date: (4-3, -21 Units)

Yesterday’s Winners
New York Yankees (-163) over Baltimore Orioles (Yankees, 11-2)

Yesterday’s Losers
None