Vegas Play of the Day: New York Yankees at Houston

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Wednesday, April 2, 2014 | 9:22 a.m.

Here’s the latest installment of the Play of the Day, which uses odds from South Point. Our three sports writers started with a $10,000 bankroll — fictional, of course.

New York Yankees minus-1.5 at Houston Astros at EVEN money: $600 to win $600 It’s always a risky proposition playing a baseball game on the run line. Not only do you need the team to win, they have to win by at least two runs.

Still, I’m willing to take the risk today with the Yankees. New York is projected to be one of the best teams in baseball, Houston one of the worst.

And when you consider Houston beat New York 6-2 Tuesday, there is no way the Yankees will drop two straight to open the season against the lowly Astros.

Houston starter Jarred Cosart had a stellar 1.95 earned run average last season in 10 starts. But those numbers are deceiving. He struck out just 33 batters in 60 innings and had 35 walks, meaning he was lucky opposing hitters didn’t have more success.

However, Yankees starter Hiroki Kuroda isn’t a sure-thing. The 39-year-old went 0-6 with a 6.56 earned run average in his final eight starts last season. But he was New York’s best starter until August and admitted he was exhausted by the end of the season.

Even if Kuroda is bad, I’m not certain the Astros have the offensive weapons to capitalize.

Bottom line, the Yankees aren’t losing to the Astros in back-to-back days to open the season. Play ball.

Standings: Bern (17-11, $11,390), Keefer (15-14, $9,717), Brewer (10-15-3, $6,660)

Ray Brewer can be reached at 990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21