PREMIUM
GAME OF THE YEAR (MLB) **ROGERS 2017 GAME OF THE YEAR**
(MLB) Cleveland vs. Minnesota,
Money Line: -150.00 Cleveland (Away)
Result: Win
Money Line: -150.00 Cleveland (Away)
Result: Win
The set-up: The Indians were AL champs last year and had the Cubs down 3-1 in the 2016 World Series, before losing the final three games of the Fall Classic (Games 6 & 7 at home). Cleveland then opened the 2017 season in Texas against the Rangers, a team which has been to the postseason in five of the last seven years. The Indians swept that three-game series in Arlington, 8-5, 4-3 and 9-6. Terry Francona's club was off and running, or so we thought. However, just the opposite has been the case, as the Indians limp into Minnesota on Monday, losers of seven of their last nine. As for the Twins, they were coming off a 103-loss season, owners of MLB's worst record in 2016. However, they opened 4-0 and 5-1, before losing four of their next six.
The pitching matchup: Danny Salazar (0-1 & 4.63 ERA) will open this four-game series for the Indians, opposed by Minnesota's Kyle Gibson (0-1 & 8.00 ERA). Salazar limited the White Sox to two runs on four hits and a pair of walks over six innings last Wednesday, but suffered the loss in a 2-1 decision despite matching a career high with 11 strikeouts. Salazar had a great first half for the Indians in 2016 (10-3 with a 2.75 ERA before the All-Star break) but injuries limited him to eight starts after the break (he was 1-3 with a 7.44 ERA / team was 5-3 in his starts). In the postseason, he made just two relief appearances. Salazar went 0-1 with a 10.13 ERA in three starts against the Twins in 2016 and is 3-3 in 10 appearances (all starts) with 4.80 ERA against Minnesota (Indians are 6-4). Gibson has allowed eight runs on nine hits (including three HRs) over nine innings with seven strikeouts and three walks to open the 2017 season. This comes on the heels of him going 6-11 with a 5.07 ERA in starts last year. Gibson was 0-1 with an 8.44 ERA in two starts versus Cleveland last year and is 2-3 with a 6.40 ERA in nine career starts against the Indians (4-5).
The pick: The Indians scored 21 runs in sweeping the Rangers to open the season but have scored three or fewer runs in six of their last nine games. However, Gibson was just brutal at home last season, going 1-8 with a 5.21 ERA in 13 starts. Make Cleveland a YUGE 10* play.
The pitching matchup: Danny Salazar (0-1 & 4.63 ERA) will open this four-game series for the Indians, opposed by Minnesota's Kyle Gibson (0-1 & 8.00 ERA). Salazar limited the White Sox to two runs on four hits and a pair of walks over six innings last Wednesday, but suffered the loss in a 2-1 decision despite matching a career high with 11 strikeouts. Salazar had a great first half for the Indians in 2016 (10-3 with a 2.75 ERA before the All-Star break) but injuries limited him to eight starts after the break (he was 1-3 with a 7.44 ERA / team was 5-3 in his starts). In the postseason, he made just two relief appearances. Salazar went 0-1 with a 10.13 ERA in three starts against the Twins in 2016 and is 3-3 in 10 appearances (all starts) with 4.80 ERA against Minnesota (Indians are 6-4). Gibson has allowed eight runs on nine hits (including three HRs) over nine innings with seven strikeouts and three walks to open the 2017 season. This comes on the heels of him going 6-11 with a 5.07 ERA in starts last year. Gibson was 0-1 with an 8.44 ERA in two starts versus Cleveland last year and is 2-3 with a 6.40 ERA in nine career starts against the Indians (4-5).
The pick: The Indians scored 21 runs in sweeping the Rangers to open the season but have scored three or fewer runs in six of their last nine games. However, Gibson was just brutal at home last season, going 1-8 with a 5.21 ERA in 13 starts. Make Cleveland a YUGE 10* play.
