Pinnacle +117 BET365 +110 SportsInteraction +110 BetOnline +116 Bookmaker +110

Posted at 12:30 PM EST. 

Toronto +117 over BOSTON

7:10 PM EST.  Trent Thornton (RHP - TOR) makes his rotation season debut after throwing eight innings over five games in relief. Thornton established himself pretty clearly in the minors as a control-oriented, low-to-average strikeout pitcher, so it has been very odd to see him struggle with walks while piling up strikeouts in the majors. That was last year. His subpar first-pitch strike rate suggests the control problems have been legitimate, while his below-average swing & miss rate gives another indication that his current K-rate probably won't last. There has been some debate over whether the 25-year-old Thornton will be a better long-term fit for the rotation or the bullpen but that’s a discussion for another time.

This wager is about fading Garrett Richards (RHP - BOS) at what seems like a reasonably small and enticing price. Richards has made three starts and the signs are not encouraging. Now six years removed from his last 100+ IP season, Richards is struggling with everything. His swing & miss rate is below average at 9.6%. His groundball/fly-ball split is dead even at 40%/40%. Dude has zero quality starts in three tries and it’s a stretch to expect him to go more than four or five innings. What we know for sure is that the bullpens will be involved and in regard, Toronto’s pen has been dealing it so let’s call the starting pitching a wash, then give an edge to the Blue Jays bats and bullpen and then pull the trigger.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A cheaper and better alternative to CABLE

TV Programming

A GREAT OFFER FOR SPORTSWAGERS READERS:

We’re offering a better and cheaper alternative to cable TV. You will literally save thousands of dollars. If you’re sick of paying a fortune for programming that you don’t even want or need, this is for you. All pro sports -- EVERY GAME, tons of college football and basketball games and tons of regular programming (non-sports). Over 2500 channels all in HD for a mere $20 per month. You have to be nuts not to get it.