Miami Marlins at Cincinnati Reds (-145, 7.5)
Joey Votto and the Cincinnati Reds have big expectations this season.
Votto, who hit .309 with 29 homers and 113 RBI last year, signed the fourth-largest deal in MLB history just before the regular season and will pull in $225 million over the next 10 years.
The Reds are just hoping Votto’s slow spring isn’t a sign of things to come. The 28-year-old hit .264 without a dinger and had only four RBI in 20 Cactus League games.
Cincinnati manager Dusty Baker has seen this kind of thing before and isn’t worried about his slugger.
"I'm worried about some of those guys hitting a lot better than they're supposed to be hitting. Those guys are ones you worry about,” Baker told reporters. “If you can hit, you can hit. If you had seen Steve Garvey, Ron Fairly, Ryne Sandberg, Eddie Murray hit, you would have released them every spring. I think you get caught up too much in now as background."
Reds supporters finished down more than 13 units last season and the club is going to need some people in the bullpen to step up after closer Ryan Madson blew out his elbow. Sean Marshall will take over for now, but is there a chance Aroldis Chapman will get a shot at some point?
We like the Reds to get off on the right foot.
Pick: Reds +++
Toronto Blue Jays at Cleveland Indians (+110, 7)
There is a lot of talk swirling around that the Blue Jays may be ready to tangle with the perennial powers of the AL East this season.
The Jays will need some good breaks along the way, but there’s certainly reason for optimism.
“But when you look at our everyday lineup, our bullpen, what the prospects are in our rotation to go along with Ricky’s (Romero) leadership and Brandon (Morrow) I think we will have a breakout year this year,” manager John Farrell told reporters. “So there are a lot of really good and tangible pieces in place to be a contending team.”
The Jays cruised through spring training with a 24-7-1 record and we’ll get a close look at Romero Thursday.
Toronto should be able to ride the good vibes from spring training to open the season.
Pick: Blue Jays +++
Joey Votto and the Cincinnati Reds have big expectations this season.
Votto, who hit .309 with 29 homers and 113 RBI last year, signed the fourth-largest deal in MLB history just before the regular season and will pull in $225 million over the next 10 years.
The Reds are just hoping Votto’s slow spring isn’t a sign of things to come. The 28-year-old hit .264 without a dinger and had only four RBI in 20 Cactus League games.
Cincinnati manager Dusty Baker has seen this kind of thing before and isn’t worried about his slugger.
"I'm worried about some of those guys hitting a lot better than they're supposed to be hitting. Those guys are ones you worry about,” Baker told reporters. “If you can hit, you can hit. If you had seen Steve Garvey, Ron Fairly, Ryne Sandberg, Eddie Murray hit, you would have released them every spring. I think you get caught up too much in now as background."
Reds supporters finished down more than 13 units last season and the club is going to need some people in the bullpen to step up after closer Ryan Madson blew out his elbow. Sean Marshall will take over for now, but is there a chance Aroldis Chapman will get a shot at some point?
We like the Reds to get off on the right foot.
Pick: Reds +++
Toronto Blue Jays at Cleveland Indians (+110, 7)
There is a lot of talk swirling around that the Blue Jays may be ready to tangle with the perennial powers of the AL East this season.
The Jays will need some good breaks along the way, but there’s certainly reason for optimism.
“But when you look at our everyday lineup, our bullpen, what the prospects are in our rotation to go along with Ricky’s (Romero) leadership and Brandon (Morrow) I think we will have a breakout year this year,” manager John Farrell told reporters. “So there are a lot of really good and tangible pieces in place to be a contending team.”
The Jays cruised through spring training with a 24-7-1 record and we’ll get a close look at Romero Thursday.
Toronto should be able to ride the good vibes from spring training to open the season.
Pick: Blue Jays +++
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