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(MLB) NY Yankees vs. Toronto,
Point Spread: 1.50 | -120.00 Toronto (Home)
Result: Loss
Point Spread: 1.50 | -120.00 Toronto (Home)
Result: Loss
The set-up: The Yankees surprised many by hiring Aaron Boone as their new manager (first-ever managerial job) but taht news was overshadowed by their off-season acquisition of Giancarlo Stanton. The Yankees took the Astros in seven games in the ALCS last season and now will pair Stanton, the NL's MVP, with Aaron Judge, the AL's rookie-of-the-year. The duo combined for 111 HRs in 2017. The Blue Jays finished 10 games below .500 in 2017, after making the playoffs in back-to-back years. More bad news is that the Jays enter 2018 with concerns over the left side of their infield, as oft-injured third baseman Josh Donaldson is dealing with general body soreness and shortstop Troy Tulowitzki is scheduled to see a specialist for a bone spur that sidelined him in spring training. Health is always a concern for second baseman Devon Travis, who missed the final 100 games last season, while the outfield will have a new look with National League imports Curtis Granderson and Randal Grichuk.
The pitching matchup: Luis Severino (2017: 14-6, 2.98 ERA) blossomed into New York's ace in his third year, finishing third in the American League Cy Young voting and will get the Opening Day start.
Toronto's Opening Day starter was expected to be Marcus Stroman, but he will start the finale of the four-game series on Sunday, after a sore shoulder delayed his beginning to spring training. The nod has instead gone to lefty J.A. Happ (2017: 10-11, 3.53). Happ was 20-4 with a 3.18 ERA in 2016 (team was 24-8, plus $1189 in all starts) but he fell off last season (Toronto was 11-14 in his 25 starts).In fact, he needed a strong finish last season, going 4-1 and allowing seven ERs over his last five starts, just to reach double digits in wins for the fourth consecutive season. Meanwhile, Severino nearly doubled his win total from his previous two seasons combined and ranked third in the AL with a 2.98 ERA (230 Ks and just 51 walks)..
The pick: However, Severino has never defeated Toronto, going 0-3 with a 5.52 ERA in seven games, including six starts. He was 0-1 with a 4.97 ERA in two starts against the Blue Jays in 2017 (NYY were 0-2). In stark contrast, while Happ was limited to 25 starts last season because of injury, he was 2-0 with a 1.54 ERA in two starts in 2017 against the Yankees (Jays were 2-0) and he's 8-2 with a 3.51 ERA in 16 career starts against New York. Take the 1 1/2 runs and make Toronto an 8* play.
The pitching matchup: Luis Severino (2017: 14-6, 2.98 ERA) blossomed into New York's ace in his third year, finishing third in the American League Cy Young voting and will get the Opening Day start.
Toronto's Opening Day starter was expected to be Marcus Stroman, but he will start the finale of the four-game series on Sunday, after a sore shoulder delayed his beginning to spring training. The nod has instead gone to lefty J.A. Happ (2017: 10-11, 3.53). Happ was 20-4 with a 3.18 ERA in 2016 (team was 24-8, plus $1189 in all starts) but he fell off last season (Toronto was 11-14 in his 25 starts).In fact, he needed a strong finish last season, going 4-1 and allowing seven ERs over his last five starts, just to reach double digits in wins for the fourth consecutive season. Meanwhile, Severino nearly doubled his win total from his previous two seasons combined and ranked third in the AL with a 2.98 ERA (230 Ks and just 51 walks)..
The pick: However, Severino has never defeated Toronto, going 0-3 with a 5.52 ERA in seven games, including six starts. He was 0-1 with a 4.97 ERA in two starts against the Blue Jays in 2017 (NYY were 0-2). In stark contrast, while Happ was limited to 25 starts last season because of injury, he was 2-0 with a 1.54 ERA in two starts in 2017 against the Yankees (Jays were 2-0) and he's 8-2 with a 3.51 ERA in 16 career starts against New York. Take the 1 1/2 runs and make Toronto an 8* play.
