Get to the Point

By Jimmy Harris

Sunday's MLB slate includes two games featuring great young hurlers, while in another blockbuster matchup, two pitchers traded to the NL in the offseason will duke it out.

First up is San Francisco at Philadelphia, where Tim Lincecum gets the call for the Giants and Cole Hamels goes for the Phillies. Lincecum is the prize of what is a horrible Giants squad with a 4-1 record and a sparkling 1.73 ERA.

Hamels has had a few shaky starts so far this season, which explains his 2-2 record, but not his impressive 2.70 ERA. Whatever the total is in this one I'm taking the UNDER. But if I can find a strikeout prop I'll take the OVER, as both teams have a bunch of strikeout artists in their lineup.

opened the Phils are -180 home favorites in this one with the total set at 8.

In the other young gun showdown Tampa Bay's Scott Kazmir is scheduled to face Boston's Jon Lester. This will be Kazmir's first start of the season after arm troubles in spring training landed him on the DL.

If he can pick up where he left off last season (239 strikeouts in 206 innings) the Rays will be in great shape to keep up their strong play. Lester has had an up-and-down season for Boston so far, but he was practically unhittable in his last start against Toronto.

Lester held the Blue Jays to only one hit in eight shutout innings, but had to settle for a no-decision after the BoSox lineup failed to give him any run support. I don't know what to expect from Kazmir coming off the DL, so I'll have to take Boston in this one.

has the Red Sox opening as -130 home favorites to the Rays, while the total opened at 9.

Rounding out the Sunday baseball three-pack is the Mets at Arizona. Johan Santana makes another start for the Mets in this one, while Dan Haren takes to the hill for Arizona.

Haren has Santana beat in wins so far this season with four to Santana's two, but their ERA's are almost identical with Haren at 3.13 and Santana at 3.12. I'll have to take the UNDER again in this game, while also throwing my support, and money, behind the D-Backs to win this one at home.

The Mets opened as -120 road favorites at , with the total opening at 8.