Dave Cokin
2* Astros +120 (Hernandez/Sanchez)
Never easy to back the former Faust Carmona. But I'll take my chances here. This is more team than pitcher. Blue Jays are okay at home, but not compared to what the Astros have done on the road. Also worth noting that the Jays have been meat against the AL West and the Astros have dominated the AL East so far. No surprise there as the East is a bad division this year. Aaron Sanchez throwing for Toronto here. His control has improved some but now he's getting more hittable as he throws more strikes. Hernandez actually features the better overall analytics, although again I have little faith in him. But based on the team elements, this is just an overlay and I'll try to taker advantage with the Astros.
2* Royals -145 (Gonzalez/Volquez)
Above my normal threshold, but I made my mind up after watching Chi Chi Gonzalez in his debut that I would probably be going against him here. He might have had the no-hitter for several innings, but it sure wasn't a no-walker. I thought he was extremely fortunate in that win and will be ripe for the taking here. Edinson Volquez has had a fine year for the Royals and as long as he continues to command the strike zone as he has, he's going to be mighty tough. The Royals haven't hit much lately, but I feel as though they have a great chance to light up this kid. Toyed with the idea of finding another chalk piece and playing a parlay, but I decided to simply bite the bullet on the price and play the Royals.
2* Astros +120 (Hernandez/Sanchez)
Never easy to back the former Faust Carmona. But I'll take my chances here. This is more team than pitcher. Blue Jays are okay at home, but not compared to what the Astros have done on the road. Also worth noting that the Jays have been meat against the AL West and the Astros have dominated the AL East so far. No surprise there as the East is a bad division this year. Aaron Sanchez throwing for Toronto here. His control has improved some but now he's getting more hittable as he throws more strikes. Hernandez actually features the better overall analytics, although again I have little faith in him. But based on the team elements, this is just an overlay and I'll try to taker advantage with the Astros.
2* Royals -145 (Gonzalez/Volquez)
Above my normal threshold, but I made my mind up after watching Chi Chi Gonzalez in his debut that I would probably be going against him here. He might have had the no-hitter for several innings, but it sure wasn't a no-walker. I thought he was extremely fortunate in that win and will be ripe for the taking here. Edinson Volquez has had a fine year for the Royals and as long as he continues to command the strike zone as he has, he's going to be mighty tough. The Royals haven't hit much lately, but I feel as though they have a great chance to light up this kid. Toyed with the idea of finding another chalk piece and playing a parlay, but I decided to simply bite the bullet on the price and play the Royals.

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