orioles

Tampa Bay Rays @ Cleveland Indians

A difficult one this; two pitchers who have started well, their teams are strong on the road and at home respectively, key hitters are missing from both lineups, and neither pitcher has enjoyed facing today's opposition in the past.

I like to look at the split stats with day games, because starting pitchers tend to be creatures of habit, and having to prepare and pitch hours earlier than usual can show up in different stats lines. In day games, Shields is sub .100 WHIP/ERA, but Masterson is hardly struggling, going 1.29/1.83 - so he's putting slightly more people on than his overall line, but nothing that suggests a strong preference.

I think here I'm going to back the slightly better stats' line and momentum of Shields and the Rays. He has been stronger L3 and after taking last night's game, the Rays will be keen to make a statement in the battle of the surprise starts.

Pick: Rays @ 2

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2011 Season (Level Stakes)

25-24 (+2.46pts)