Vegas Play of the Day: Cleveland Indians at Arizona Diamondbacks

By Case Keefer (contact)

Friday, April 7, 2017 | 1:17 p.m.

We’ve entered the third season of the annual South Point-lined Play of the Day competition, effective July 1.

Starting bankrolls have reset to $10,000, with the maximum bet being to win $1,000 and the minimum wager $300. Ray Brewer won the 2015-2016 season, after Taylor Bern prevailed in 2014-2015. Bern stepped away in the middle of the 2016-2017 season with a 16-12 record and $13,317 bankroll, with Mike Grimala taking his place.

Arizona Diamondbacks plus-128 vs. Cleveland Indians: $325 to win $416

Arizona is crushing the ball right now, and though I might be on record saying it won’t last forever, I don’t think tonight is the night it comes to a halt. While the Indians’ Josh Tomlin is a useful fourth starter, he’s not an overpowering pitcher.

He also might be overvalued after benefitting from high run support and a strong bullpen to rack up 20 wins in 40 starts over the last two seasons. Arizona starter Shelby Miller, by contrast, has won nine games in his last 53 starts.

Miller was rough last year, but at his best, he’s a better pitcher than Tomlin. The 26-year-old is just entering his prime and could be poised for a bounce-back season this year.

The Indians’ lineup is not an easy first test, but the Diamondbacks’ hitters should be able to provide some insurance. Arizona matches up well with right-handed pitchers and Tomlin isn’t as tough as the top of the San Francisco rotation it just knocked around.

Cleveland hasn’t played at Chase Field in three years, making this a strange spot. Especially with the way the Diamondbacks have opened the season, this line is too large.

Current Standings: Grimala (6-10, $8,425), Keefer (40-35-3, $7,891), Granger (13-17-1, $6,677), Brewer (27-28-1, $6,685)

Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.