Tyler Glasnow‘s first start of the season did not go the way we had hoped it would, as indicated by that balloonish ERA of his. But there sure is something sweet about pushing an under that’s on its way over.
We got some great long relief from Wade LeBlanc and Michael Lorenzen to push that 8.0 right back where it came from. And in this case, a push feels like a win.
I’ve got my eye on another under, this time from the AL East where a relatively unknown sophomore will play the role of grizzled veteran going up against a young man making his Major League debut.
Free Pick
That young man would be Jordan Montgomery, a fourth round pick from the 2014 draft. I know very little about the guy, which I almost always take to be a positive the short term.
I say that because, though they know more than I do, the Rays can’t have as much material as they would like to have on the kid either. Tampa Bay doesn’t have the most potent offense in the league anyway so if there’s any spot that I’ll like a guy who I know nothing about in, it’s this one.
He’s going up against Eminem look-alike Blake Snell. And while he also might look a little bit like that punk who threw junk balls in eighth grade, he can spit some game on the mound.
First of all, he comes from the left side with an arm slot and motion that don’t make it easy for the batter to pick up. And secondly, his stuff is kind of nasty. He doesn’t have the command to be an ace yet, but the makeup is there if he hones it in.
Snell showed a little of what I’m talking about in his first start against the Blue Jays when he walked five but only gave up three hits in 6.2 innings to what’s still a pretty good Toronto lineup. Against a Yankee lineup without Gary Sanchez, Snell should be better than that. He made four starts against a better version of this team last season and gave up three runs in the three best ones. He did get hit for three earned in the fourth outing and had to depart in the third inning.
This will be the first Tampa under I play but I’ve taken a good hard look at it every time they’re on the card, mainly because I love their outfield defense. Keirmaier, Bourjos and Souza cover some range and are going to turn a whole lot of fly balls into outs this season.
For my money, 8.5 is a great number and even money makes it that much sweeter.
Free Pick: Under 8.5 (even money)
American League East • New York Yankees • Tampa Bay Rays