MLB betting: Indians to open season without Michael Bourn

The Cleveland Indians will open the 2014 season on March 31 in Oakland in a matchup of American League playoff teams from a year ago and the Tribe won’t have outfielder Michael Bourn for at least the first week or two of the campaign.

 

Bourn, who had injury problems last season after signing as a free agent, will open the regular season MLB Picks on the DL due to a hamstring injury. He was only expected to miss about a week, but will apparently need more time to get healthy and ready for game action.

 

“I’d rather have my leg healthy and be ready to play for the long haul,” Bourn said, “than try to make it for Opening Day just because.”

 

Bourn, who tweaked his hamstring in a game against the Giants on March 16, has progressed only to running forward on the grass agility field at Cleveland’s complex in Arizona. The center fielder said he might test his leg on the bases as early as Tuesday but that it was subject to change. Bourn has been able to hit and throw, but the running program has been conservative given the importance of speed to his overall game. Because of the timing of the DL stint, Antonetti said that Bourn would miss at least the first four games of the season, meaning April 5 would represent the earliest possible return date.

 

After signing a four-year, $48 million deal last spring with the Indians, Bourn hit .263/.316/.360 (93 OPS+) with 21 doubles, six triples, six homers, 50 RBI, 75 runs and 23 stolen bases. It wasn’t up to what he did as an All-Star in Atlanta in 2012. With Bourn sidelined, Michael Brantley figures to take over in center field with Ryan Raburn playing left.

 

The Indians will face off against Oakland’s Sonny Gray in the opener. He’s the ninth straight different pitcher to get the Opening Day call for the A’s. Gray was projected as the No. 2 in the rotation before No. 1 Jarrod Parker was lost to season-ending Tommy John surgery. Gray has never faced Cleveland. He was 5-3 with a 2.67 last year as a late season call-up. Bourn was 2-for-9 with a homer against the A’s in 2013.