| Date | Match Up | Rating | Score | Result | Profit | Lead Time | Analysis |
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| 08-02-19 | Giants v. Rockies -130 | 4-5 | Win | 100 | 11 h 54 m | Show | |
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Step to the head of the line if you knew the Giants finished with the best record in July. San Francisco went 19-6 last month. Regression is coming, though, because the Giants aren't nearly that tough. The Giants are in trouble in this matchup having to go with Shaun Anderson, their one starter who wasn't good in July. The league has caught up to the rookie Anderson, who went 0-1 with a 7.71 ERA in five starts last month. Anderson couldn't reach the sixth inning in any of those starts. The Giants' setup relief is down after a series of trades. Anderson hasn't been good either away from spacious Oracle Park with a 5.65 ERA in eight road starts. Opposing batters are hitting .306 against him on the road. Now Anderson is pitching at Coors Field, the premier hitter's park in the majors. Anderson pitched at Colorado last month and gave up five runs in 4 1/3 innings. The Rockies are going to be extra motivated for this series after being swept four games at home by the Giants last month. Even with that sweep, San Francisco still has lost 19 of the past 26 times at Coors. Rockies starter Peter Lambert has shown positive signs of breaking out of his slump. He has a respectable 3.86 ERA in his last three starts with a 15-to-2 strikeout-to-walk ratio during this span.
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| 07-31-19 | Brewers v. A's -122 | Top | 4-2 | Loss | -122 | 17 h 29 m | Show |
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The Brewers have their strengths. But playing on the West Coast in a big ballpark that negates their power is not one of them. That's the situation the Brewers find themselves in against Oakland. The pitching matchup clearly favors the A's, too, and the price is low enough to back the home chalk. Milwaukee is hoping Jordan Lyles can step up. That's asking a lot given Lyles' current form, which shows 20 earned runs in his last four starts spanning just 11 innings. Lyles has surrendered nine homers during this brief time frame. The A's are 9-2 (82%) in their last 11 home games. They are going with Brett Anderson, a crafy southpaw who can frustrate the Brewers. Anderson has allowed three earned or fewer in 10 of his past 12 starts. Milwaukee is 2-9 in its last 11 away contests versus a lefty starter.
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| 07-29-19 | Diamondbacks v. Marlins -102 | Top | 6-11 | Win | 100 | 15 h 57 m | Show |
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What we're getting here is a great price with the superior starting pitcher, home club and an underrated team. The Marlins have actually been better than the Diamondbacks during the last 60-some games. Miami is 30-32 in its last 62 games, while the Diamondbacks are 28-33 in their last 61 games. Arizona starter Merrill Kelly was battered for seven runs in 2 1/3 innings against the Orioles this past Tuesday. He has a 4.68 road ERA. His July ERA is 5.31. Miami starter Caleb Smith is 3-0 with a 3.00 ERA in four July starts. Smith is a strong strikeout pitcher who is at his best pitching at Marlins Park where he is 4-1 with a 2.23 ERA. Opposing batters are hitting less than .200 against him. Discount a nine-run scoring game on Saturday and the Diamondbacks are averaging 2.5 runs during their last four games. They were 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position on Sunday in a 5-1 loss to the Marlins. Now they draw Miami's best pitcher.
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| 07-26-19 | Rangers v. A's -109 | 5-2 | Loss | -109 | 19 h 0 m | Show | |
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The Rangers nailed the A's, 11-3, Thursday night catching the A's flat after Oakland had just returned from a seven-game road trip. The A's should be on firmer ground in this second game of the series. Lance Lynn is having a strong season for Texas. But he is not in good form right now surrendering nine earned runs, 15 hits and three walks with three homers during his last two starts spanning 13 innings. Oakland starter Daniel Mengdon is 5-0 in nine appearances, including five starts, since losing his season debut on May 12. He won't have to deal with the Rangers' top power hitter, injured Joey Gallo. The A's have a huge bullpen edge. Oakland has defeated Texas in 15 of the past 20 meetings.
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| 07-26-19 | Pirates +161 v. Mets | 3-6 | Loss | -100 | 13 h 19 m | Show | |
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The Pirates are in a slump. But the Mets have no business laying a price this high when Jacob deGrom isn't pitching. The pitching matchup is Dario Agrazal versus Zach Wheeler, who is coming off a stint on the injured list due to shoulder fatigue. Agrazal isn't a prize rookie. But he has been decent and is floating below the radar screen having allowed one run during three of his last four starts while reaching the sixth inning each time. The Pirates have the better bullpen especially with Edwin Diaz questionable after taking a liner off his foot Thursday. Wheeler last pitched on July 7 when he gave up six runs in five innings to the Phillies. Wheeler has a 4.69 ERA on the season. Agrazal, by comparison, has a 2.25 ERA.
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| 07-25-19 | Rangers v. A's -168 | 11-3 | Loss | -168 | 18 h 24 m | Show | |
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The Rangers are a clear fade right now. They have lost nine of their last 10 and the reality of them not being a legitimate playoff team has become evident. I don't see Texas turning things around in this matchup of Ariel Jurado versus Brett Anderson. Jurado is having a brutal July with an 0-3 record and 8.31 ERA. He has allowed 16 runs and 24 hits during his last four appearances spanning 17 1/3 innings. Jurado has a 12.79 ERA in two appearances against the A's last year. The A's are one game up on Tampa Bay for the last wild card spot in the AL. So the A's should be very focused returning from a seven-game road trip. They are 6-3 against the Rangers this season, including 3-0 at home. Anderson is pitching well with a 2-0 mark and 2.36 ERA during his last four starts. He likely won't have to deal with Joey Gallo, the Rangers' home run leader, who has a wrist injury.
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| 07-25-19 | Indians -136 v. Royals | 5-4 | Win | 100 | 17 h 33 m | Show | |
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The price is short enough to ride the Indians, who are making a move winning nine of their last 11 games and are 30-12 in their last 42 games. Adam Plutko is coming off a strong start for the Indians. Cleveland is 5-1 in Plutko's last six starts. The Royals are in a rare flat spot having just swept a two-game road series against the Braves. The Indians should encounter little difficulty facing Mike Montgomery. They just went against Montgomery six days ago and racked him for five runs and six hits in just two-plus innings.
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| 07-23-19 | Marlins -123 v. White Sox | 5-1 | Win | 100 | 14 h 7 m | Show | |
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I'd rather not lay a price when it's bad on bad like this matchup is. But I really like Caleb Smith and hate Dylan Covey. Smith is one of the more promising and below-the-radar pitchers in baseball. Covey is one of the worst with a 5.83 ERA. Covey is 0-3 with a 6.49 in interleague play. The Marlins are 8-1 when Smith has pitched against a foe with a losing record.
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| 07-23-19 | Reds v. Brewers -133 | Top | 14-6 | Loss | -133 | 14 h 5 m | Show |
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Zach Davies has been one of the hottest pitchers and he has a now rested Josh Hader in the bullpen. Davies has allowed two earned runs in his last four starts spanning 23 1/3 innings. His ERA during this span is 0.77. Tanner Roark is not in Davies' class. This is the fourth time this season the Brewers get to face Roark, who has a 4.24 ERA versus Milwaukee. He has surrendered four homers to the Brewers in 17 innings. While Hader has the capability of pitching two quality innings in relief, the Reds are unsettled at closer as Raisel Iglesias has given up five runs in his last three appearances spanning 2 2/3 innings, including surrendering three homers.
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| 07-23-19 | Phillies -138 v. Tigers | 3-2 | Win | 100 | 14 h 41 m | Show | |
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The price is low enough to back the Phillies and Aaron Nola against the horrific Tigers, who have the fewest wins in the majors. Nola has allowed one or fewer earned runs in five of his last six starts. Philadelphia has won six of Nola's last seven road starts. Matt Boyd is Detroit's best starting pitcher, hence the semi-competitive price. But Boyd hasn't been very good lately yielding four or more runs during each of his last six starts. The Tigers are 1-8 during their last nine interleague games.
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| 07-22-19 | Rangers +116 v. Mariners | Top | 3-7 | Loss | -100 | 15 h 11 m | Show |
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This is a crucial series for the Rangers. Their season is on the line. Texas was a big early-season surprise. The Rangers now, though, are in trouble having lost seven in a row. Seattle has been worse, however. The Mariners have lost 15 of their last 18 games, including going 1-8 in their last nine games. The Rangers had a 30-minute team meeting following their 5-3 loss to the Astros on Sunday. That defeat pushed the Rangers 6 1/2 games back in the wild-card chase. If the Rangers don't fare well in this series, they could start dealing veterans and look to rebuild for next season. Texas starter Adrian Sampson has a chance to rejoin the Rangers' starting rotation again with a good start. He is 2-1 with a 3.00 ERA in four lifetime appearances versus Seattle. The Mariners are going with Marco Gonzalez, who has a 4.48 ERA. The Rangers have won seven of the past eight times against the Mariners.
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| 07-20-19 | Blue Jays v. Tigers +115 | 7-5 | Loss | -100 | 14 h 1 m | Show | |
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If the Tigers are ever going to win again this is their spot. This isn't so much a play on Detroit as a fade on the road Blue Jays and taking a plus price. Toronto is pitching rookie Trent Thornton, who usually is bad three out of every four starts. He has a 5.25 ERA on the season. Toronto has lost eight of its last 11 away games. The Blue Jays are 1-5 in Thornton's last six road outings. Southpaw Daniel Norris is slated to start for Detroit. Norris hasn't been good this year, but he won't lack motivation against his former team. The only time the Blue Jays have faced Norris was seeing him in relief. Norris held Toronto scoreless in 3 1/3 career innings. The Blue Jays have lost 35 of the past 52 times when opposing a lefty starter.
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| 07-19-19 | A's v. Twins -125 | Top | 5-3 | Loss | -125 | 12 h 35 m | Show |
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In Jake We Trust. Jake Odorizzi is having a monster season for the Twins and is back healthy. Odorizzi is at his best at Target Field where his home numbers are 6-0, 2.27 ERA and 0.92 WHIP. He has struckout 55 batters in 47 2/3 innings at home. Minnesota is 14-2 in Odorizzi's last 16 starts at Target Field for a home winning percentage of 88 percent during this span! While Odorizzi is the nuts at home, Oakland starter Chris Bassitt is at his worst pitching on the road in night games. Bassitt has a 4.43 road ERA and a 5.79 ERA when pitching at night. The Twins have the far superior offense, too, ranking in the top-two in homers, runs and batting average. The A's rank ninth in runs and 18th in batting average. Minnesota should be loose feeling less pressure after halting its three-game losing streak, longest of the season for the Twins, on Thursday beating Oakland, 6-3.
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| 07-17-19 | Mets v. Twins -165 | Top | 14-4 | Loss | -165 | 11 h 6 m | Show |
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If the Twins lose here, it will be their third loss in a row. That hasn't happened all season. I don't see in occurring here especially at home to the Mets. Minnesota is 28-16 at home. The Twins are 27-9 following a loss. The Mets have lost 27 of their last 38 road games. The Twins draw 36-year-old Jason Vargas, who has given up six homers in his last five starts. Minnesota leads the majors in homers and ranks No. 2 in runs. The Mets go against lefty Martin Perez, who is far from outstanding but is reliable enough to keep the Mets in check. Perez is 4-2 with a 3.71 ERA at home this season. The Mets are 9-12 versus lefthanded starters.
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| 07-15-19 | White Sox -117 v. Royals | Top | 2-5 | Loss | -117 | 6 h 11 m | Show |
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Lucas Giolito has become an elite pitcher this season. He has dominated the Royals going 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA in four starts this season. Giolito is 6-0 versus the Royals for his career with a 2.13 ERA. The White Sox have won 10 of Giolito's last 13 starts. Royals starter Jakob Junis last won on May 30. He has a 5.33 ERA this year and a 5.34 career ERA against the White Sox in five starts. Chicago is the better hitting team, too. The White Sox have defeated the Royals in five of the last six meetings.
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| 07-14-19 | Tigers +136 v. Royals | 12-8 | Win | 136 | 9 h 52 m | Show | |
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There are three teams in the American League I would grade an F: Orioles, Tigers and Royals. So, from a value standpoint, I'm compelled to take this price in a meeting of two "F" teams especially when the favored Royals are pitching Homer Bailey. Bailey actually has been pitching well recently. But he's still Homer Bailey and he carries a 5.44 day time ERA. The Royals are going for a three-game sweep of the Tigers. They are 6-21 following a victory. Tigers starter Jordan Zimmermann is overdue for a victory. He was hammered by the Red Sox in his last start. However, he held the Nationals to one run on four hits in six innings during his prior start before Boston.
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| 07-13-19 | Tigers -103 v. Royals | 1-4 | Loss | -103 | 11 h 26 m | Show | |
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This is a huge start for Matthew Boyd, who is coming off a 13-strikeout, no-walk performance against the White Sox. The lefthanded Boyd is a prime trade candidate. The Tigers usually are alert and up for games when he pitches knowing he gives them a rare opportunity to win. The Royals are 17-28 at home. They are 8-17 when facing a lefty starter. The Royals have the lowest slugging percentage against southpaws in the American League. Kansas City is slated to start Brad Keller, who has a 4.47 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. Keller walked five batters in 5 2/3 innings during his last start eight days ago against the Nationals. Keller said hot, humid conditions contributed to his giving up so many walks. Keller said, "Every time I went to the set, my hand and arm were dripping wet. At the end, I just went to my sinker - that's the only pitch I could sort of command." Temperatures for this game are forecast to hit 90 degrees. So Keller figures to have control problems again. The Tigers should be expecting plenty of sinkers, too. |
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| 07-13-19 | Mets -130 v. Marlins | 4-2 | Win | 100 | 10 h 26 m | Show | |
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Better starter, better closer and stronger offense. The Mets hold those edges against the Marlins. Noah Syndergaard is coming around for the Mets, who finally figured out to start catcher Tomas Nido when Syndergaard pitches. Syndergaard is having a down year, but has shown signs of coming around. Talent isn't the issue with him. That's where the steadying influence of Nido helps. It is better for the Mets they go with Nido's defense rather than Wilson Ramos' offense when Syndergaard is on the mound. New York has won the past four times Syndergaard has pitched. Syndergaard has been dominating versus the Marlins going 6-1 with a 1.74 ERA in nine starts against them spanning 62 innings. Edwin Diaz gives New York an edge at closer. The Mets average one run more per game than the Marlins, who are starting rookie Zac Gallen. This will be Gallen's fourth big league start. He allowed three runs in five innings in a loss to the Nationals during his previous start on June 26. Gallen has potential and the Marlins are willing to live with his mistakes as he gains major league experience. Marlins manager Don Mattingly admitted this saying about Gallen, "There's going to be a learning curve from game to game." The Marlins have lost 12 of their last 17 home games. |
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| 07-12-19 | Braves -107 v. Padres | 5-3 | Win | 100 | 17 h 58 m | Show | |
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Dinelson Lamet gets some love because he can strike out a lot of hitters. I admit to being intriguied by his potential. But he's a young pitcher, who doesn't win and is on the comeback trail. The Braves are the superior team and have the better starter going with crafty veteran lefty Dallas Keuchel. Atlanta is 18-8 in its last 26 road games. San Diego has a losing home record. So I find this a nice value price to back Atlanta. Lamet is making just his second big league start in two years after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Before his injury, Lambet was 7-8 with a 4.57 ERA. He struck out 33 in 24 innings during six minor league rehab starts. He also yielded 16 runs in those 24 innings. San Diego has lost in each of Lamet's past eight starts. Keuchel has been solid in four starts with the Braves not allowing more than three earned runs during any start. He's given up up four runs on 10 hits during his last two outings spanning 14 1/3 innings. The Padres rank 13th out of 15 National League teams in batting average against lefthanders. They have a losing record versus southpaw starters. The Braves have established themselves as the second-best team in the National League winning 24 of their last 34 games.
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| 07-12-19 | Reds v. Rockies -117 | 2-3 | Win | 100 | 15 h 24 m | Show | |
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I don't like the Reds on the road and I'm not buying that Sonny Gray has transformed back into being an All-Star caliber pitcher. I do buy into the Rockies being a tough home team and Jon Gray knowing how to pitch effectively at Coors Field. Statistics back this up. The Reds are 17-25 on the road. Colorado traditonally has been very strong at Coors. The Rockies are 24-19 at home this season. Righthanded Jon Gray is 4-1 with a 3.35 ERA in eight games at Coors, including seven starts. Cincinnati is 17-35 in its last 52 away games versus a righty starter. Sonny Gray is facing a Rockies club that is batting .312 at home. That's 33 points higher than the second-best team's home batting average. The Rockies also are No. 1 in the majors in home slugging percentage, OPS and OBP.
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| 07-07-19 | Padres v. Dodgers -156 | 5-3 | Loss | -156 | 10 h 56 m | Show | |
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The Dodgers have lost two in a row to the Padres. The last time LA lost more than two consecutive games was April. The Dodgers have won 76 percent of their last 59 home games. So I don't mind laying a higher than normal price to back the Dodgers in this spot in a pitching matchup of lefty Joey Lucchesi versus Ross Stripling. Lucchesi is a Petco Park pitcher with a bad history against the Dodgers. He has a 2.76 ERA at Petco. That ERA rises to 6.10 when Lucchesi pitches on the road. He has a 7.64 ERA in four career starts against the Dodgers. The Padres have lost all four of those starts. The Dodgers are 6-1 the past seven times going against a southpaw starter. Padres closer Kirby Yates carries a high fatigue rating having thrown 39 pitches during the past two days in picking up saves Friday and Saturday.
Stripling is underrated being part of such a strong Dodgers pitching staff. He would be a No. 3 type starter on many teams, but has had to wait until Rich Hill suffered a long-term injury to get back into LA's rotation. Stripling has a 2.61 career ERA in 13 appearances versus San Diego, including five starts. The Padres could be without their star rookie Fernando Tatis Jr. He was hit on the elbow by a pitch during Saturday's game. |
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| 07-06-19 | Rockies +104 v. Diamondbacks | Top | 2-4 | Loss | -100 | 15 h 11 m | Show |
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Colorado had held Arizona's number winning eight in a row against the Diamondbacks - until Friday night. The Rockies couldn't do anything against Zach Greinke in an 8-0 loss. Look for the Rockies, though, to start a new win streak against the Diamondbacks in a pitching matchup of Jon Gray versus Robbie Ray. Gray has always had a high ceiling and he's been pitching much better with a 2.90 ERA in his last nine appearances spanning 49 2/3 innings. Gray has 52 strikeouts during this span. Colorado is 7-1 in his past eight starts. Gray is 1-0 with a 2.38 ERA in two starts versus Arizona this season, including holding the Diamondbacks to one earned run in six innings at Chase Field on June 19. Gary won't have to worry about injured David Peralta, the Diamondbacks' third-best hitter. Ray hasn't pitched well for more than a month giving up three earned runs or more in six of his last seven starts. His ERA has gone from 3.26 to 4.10 during this time frame.The lefty has a 5.49 ERA in 15 career starts versus the Rockies. Nolan Arenado, Charlie Blackmon and Trevor Story have a combined .388 batting average against Ray with 10 homers in 103 at bats. The Rockies rank in the top four in the National League against lefthanded pitching in a number of categories, including batting average, slugging percentage and OPS.
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| 07-06-19 | Indians -120 v. Reds | 7-2 | Win | 100 | 9 h 18 m | Show | |
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The Indians are heading into All-Star break making a move, going 19-8 in their last 27 games. Jose Ramirez is showing definite signs of breaking out of his season-long slumber batting .333 in his last 10 games. The Indians are much more dangerous when Ramirez is playing well. Cincinnati has won three in a row, all against the Brewers with two of the victories being by one run. I just see the Indians as being at least a level higher than the Reds and I like the pitching matchup of Shane Biebier against Anthony DeSclafani enough to lay this price. DeSclafani has a 5.64 ERA in day games. Bieber has proven himself on the road with a 5-2 away mark and 3.33 ERA. Cleveland is 11-3 in his last 14 road starts. Bieber is coming off a 2-0 victory against the Orioles where he allowed three hits in eight innings with 11 strikeouts. The Reds are just 6-15 in their last 21 interleague games.
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| 07-04-19 | Twins -131 v. A's | Top | 2-7 | Loss | -131 | 8 h 11 m | Show |
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Oakland is a tough venue for Minnesota. But a pitching matchup of Jose Berrios versus rookie Tanner Anderson and a fair lay price gets me involved with the Twins. Berrios is a top-five American League starter. He has a 2.89 ERA and is going for his eighth straight quality start. In day action this season, Berrios is 5-1 with a 2.72 ERA. Minnesota has won six of his last seven road starts and 13 of his past 18 overall starts. Anderson had a 6.26 ERA in Triple A. His ERA in the majors is 7.13 in 17 2/3 innings. The A's are 0-4 in Anderson's four starts. The Twins lead the majors in homers and are No. 2 in runs. Anderson is a flyball pitcher and the weather forecast is for wind blowing out at nine mph.
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| 07-02-19 | Yankees v. Mets +135 | 2-4 | Win | 135 | 14 h 57 m | Show | |
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Anyone flying back to the U.S. from London knows it takes a few days to get back into a normal routine. It's called jet lag. The Yankees are sure to experience it and also are in a letdown spot after scoring 29 runs in sweeping two wins from the Red Sox in London during the weekend. They are leading the AL East by 6 1/2 games. Now, just two days later, the Yankees are back in action. That's too soon. The Mets are a dysfunctional bunch, but they do get excited about this series. They faced lefty James Paxton three weeks ago and rocked him for six runs in 2 2/3 innings. The Mets are 7-2 in their last nine games versus a southpaw starter. Mets starter Zach Wheeler has given up just two earned runs in his last two starts spanning 13 innings with 12 strikeouts. Those starts came against two good hitting teams, the Phillies and Cubs.
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| 06-30-19 | Phillies -126 v. Marlins | 13-6 | Win | 100 | 7 h 52 m | Show | |
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Miami has had Philadelphia's number winning the past five times against the Phillies. This doesn't change the fact that the Phillies are much the superior team and have a starting pitched edge here. Jake Arrieta is past his prime. But the Phillies are 4-0 against the Marlins during Arrieta's last four starts against them. He rates an edge against Trevor Richards and has the better offense to back him up. The Marlins rank 29th in runs and 30th in homers. Richards is 2-6 with a 4.37 ERA in 10 home starts. He is 1-3 with a 6.64 ER in five lifetime starts versus the Phillies. The Marlins have lost in eight of Richards' past 10 home starts.
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| 06-29-19 | Diamondbacks -136 v. Giants | Top | 4-3 | Win | 100 | 17 h 16 m | Show |
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This road price is worthy laying in a pitching matchup of Zack Greinke versus lefty Drew Pomeranz. Greinke is 2-0 with a 0.47 ERA in his last three road starts. Greinke loves to pitch at Oracle Park where he is 5-0 lifetime with a 1.37 ERA in seven starts. Arizona has won 72 percent of Greinke's last 47 starts against sub .500 teams. The Giants are seven games below .500 at home. They rank in the bottom five in batting average, runs and homers. Pomeranz is 2-8 with a 6.79 ERA. He probably shouldn't be in a big league starting rotation. Pomeranz is 0-4 with an 8.53 ERA in 10 career appearances versus Arizona, including seven starts. The Diamondbacks have the highest batting average and slugging percentage in the National League against lefthanders.
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| 06-29-19 | Twins -160 v. White Sox | 10-3 | Win | 100 | 11 h 54 m | Show | |
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Perhaps tired from losing an 18-inning home game to the Rays on Thursday, the Twins fell to the White Sox, 6-4, at Chicago on Friday. Minnesota has not dropped three games in a row all season. Look for the Twins to bounce back here. Minnesota is 17-8 in its last 25 away games. Michael Pineda gets the start. He has given up three earned runs or fewer in eight of his last nine starts. He has allowed just one homer in his last five starts.
The White Sox have a bottom-seven offense and are without their best hitter, injured Tim Anderson. White Sox starter Ivan Nova is 0-2 with a 4.66 ERA this month. He has yet to win at home this season going 0-3 with an 8.79 ERA in six starts at Guaranteed Rate Field. The Twins have a powerful record against weak opponents. Minnesota is 41-16 versus below .500 foes. |
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| 06-28-19 | A's +122 v. Angels | Top | 7-2 | Win | 122 | 13 h 41 m | Show |
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Oakland is 7-3 in its last 10 games. The Angels defeated the A's, 8-3, on Thursday. The A's have come back and won the past six times following a loss. I like their chances in this matchup. Mike Fiers is 5-0 with a 2.51 ERA in his last nine starts. Fiers, a flyball pitcher, is tough when pitching at spacious West Coast ballparks like Angel Stadium. Fiers is 2-0 in two starts against the Angels this season. The Angels are using this as a bullpen game. Noe Ramirez is expected to pitch the first inning and then be followed by Felix Pena, who is 0-2 with an 11.81 ERA in five career appearances against the A's, including three starts. Oakland is averaging 5.3 runs per game during its last 10 games. The Angels do not have a strong bullpen, ranking 10th in relief pitching ERA, and their relievers have been pitching a lot of innings. I prefer Oakland's bullpen even without injured closer Blake Treinen.
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| 06-26-19 | Nationals -148 v. Marlins | Top | 7-5 | Win | 100 | 16 h 32 m | Show |
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The Nationals have been playing better winning six of their last eight games. Lefty Patrick Corbin dominated the Marlins when he faced them a month ago. Corbin went the distance and shut out the Marlins giving up just four hits and one walk. Corbin was a minus $2.50 home favorite against Sandy Alcantara. This price is far lower so I see value on the Nationals even though they are mid-sized chalk. The Marlins are 17-35 the last 52 times they've faced a lefty starter at home. Rookie Zac Gallen is set to make his second big league start for Miami. He looked good against the Cardinals in his debut. But he is unproven. Corbin isn't. The Nationals have been swinging hot bats, too. If you discount their 2-0 win against the Phillies, the Nationals are averaging 8.3 runs in its last six games.
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| 06-26-19 | Padres v. Orioles +119 | 10-5 | Loss | -100 | 12 h 49 m | Show | |
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There is one area the Orioles are good at - beating National League lefties at home. Baltimore is 12-4 the past 16 times hosting an NL foe starting a southpaw. The Padres are going with lefty Matt Strahm, who is in danger of losing his spot in San Diego's starting rotation. Foes have adjusted to Strahm, who has been beaten up for 20 runs during his last four appearances spanning 18 2/3 innings. Strahm has been tagged for eight homers in this time frame and Camden Yards is a great hitter's park. Dylan Bundy has pitched much better during the past two months. His ERA is a respectable 3.46 in his last nine starts. Bundy has given up three or fewer runs in eight of his last nine starts. The Padres have lost eight of their last 10 road games.
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| 06-25-19 | Mets v. Phillies -139 | Top | 5-7 | Win | 100 | 15 h 2 m | Show |
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The Mets are in disarray with eight losses in their last 12 games. Walter Lockett, a fill-in starer without decent credentials, is not the pitcher to put a stop to it. The Phillies, on the other hand, regained their swagger burying the Mets, 13-7, Monday night. Lockett made his season debut this past Thursday against the Cubs and was battered for six earned runs in 2 1/3 innings in a 7-4 loss. Phillies starter Jake Arrieta allowed just one run on two hits in six innings against the Nationals in his last start this past Wednesday. Arrieta has a career 2.50 ERA against the Mets in 12 starts. New York is 8-23 in its last 31 road games and have lost in five of its past six visits to Philadelphia. Tuesday Free Play Mariners plus $1.55 at Brewers Zach Davies is 7-1 with a 3.06 ERA. He is not nearly as good as those numbers show. The regression has started. Davies has a 7.82 ERA in his last three stars. He gave up five runs on nine hits in 2 2/3 innings against the Padres at pitcher-friendly Petco Park this past Wednesday during his last start. Now Davies draws a hot-hitting Mariners club averaging eight runs a game in their past five games. While Davies is returning to the norm, Seattle starter Marco Gonzales is back pitching well. The lefty is 3-0 with a 2.33 ERA in his last three starts. He hasn't given up more than two earned runs during each of those outings. Milwaukee is 10-13 versus southpaw starters. The Mariners are 5-4 in their last nine road games facing the Angels, Twins and A's during this span. The Brewers have lost the first game during each of their last four series. |
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| 06-23-19 | Angels v. Cardinals -130 | Top | 6-4 | Loss | -130 | 14 h 23 m | Show |
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Miles Mikolas loves to pitch at Busch Stadium. Mikolas was 8-4 with a 2.17 ERA pitching at Busch Stadium in his first season with the Cardinals last year. He's followed that up with a winning home mark and a 2.55 ERA at Busch this season. The Angels have managed just three runs during the first two games of this series. St. Louis is 12-4 in Mikolas' last 16 home starts. Tyler Skaggs has been less effective on the road for the Angels with a 5.27 away ERA. The Cardinals have scored four or more runs in eight of their last 10 games.
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| 06-23-19 | Giants v. Diamondbacks -137 | 2-3 | Win | 100 | 12 h 31 m | Show | |
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The Giants are going for a road sweep against the Diamondbacks. I don't see them getting it. The pitching matchup is Shaun Anderson against Merrill Kelly. Anderson went against Arizona on May 26. He took the loss in that game allowing six runs, four of which were earned, while allowing nine hits with one walk in five innings. Kelly faced the Giants on May 17. He shut them out in 5 1/3 innings. Kelly is off a rough outing in his start against the Rockies. Prior to that start, though, Kelly had posted a 3-0 mark with a 0.81 ERA in three starts.
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| 06-23-19 | Astros -125 v. Yankees | 9-4 | Win | 100 | 9 h 23 m | Show | |
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The Yankees are hot. The Astros are not. This just comes down to trusting Justin Verlander and getting a low enough price to back him. Houston is 21-5 in Verlander's last 26 road starts. The Astros are 8-1 the past nine times Verlander has pitched on the road versus an above .500 opponent. He has beaten the Yankees four of the last five times he has faced them. Lefty J.A. Happ goes for New York. He is 6-0 in his last eight starts, but with a 4.29 ERA during this span. Happ has been lucky. The Astros are 16-6 against lefty starters this season. |
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| 06-21-19 | Twins -156 v. Royals | Top | 8-7 | Win | 100 | 15 h 48 m | Show |
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Perhaps the Twins felt a bit of a letdown entering Thursday's first game of this road series against the lowly Royals having just hosted a three-game series with the Red Sox. The Royals upset the Twins on Thursday. It was Minnesota's second loss in a row. The Twins haven't lost three straight games all season - and I certainly don't see that occurring here. I like the pitching matchup for Minnesota and the spot as the Twins shouldn't lack motivation and concentration after Kansas City just beat Jake Odorizzi. Kansas City is 5-16 following a victory. The Royals aren't good at home either with a 15-23 mark. The Twins own the best record in the American League. They are 21-6 following a defeat and have won 65 percent of their road games. Lefty Martin Perez faces Jakob Junis. Perez is having his finest season with his best strikeout and hit rates of his career. He has a 3.08 lifetime ERA against the Royals in four starts. The Royals are 8-14 versus southpaw starters. Kansas City ranks in the bottom-six in runs and homers. Junis goes against a Twins offense that ranks first in runs and homers and second in batting average. The Twins have seven players with at least 11 homers. The Royals only have one player in their lineup with more than 11 homers. The weather forecast is calling for 13-15 mph winds blowing out, which favor the power-hitting Twins. Kansas City is without its starting left side of its infield with Adalberto Mondesi and Hunter Dozier both on IL. Mondesi could be the Royals' second best player and Dozier is their second-leading home run hitter. Junis has a lifetime 0-1 mark with a 4.55 ERA in six starts against the Twins. Minnesota just saw Junis this past Sunday. The Twins collected five hits and three walks, scoring two runs in 3 2/3 innings against Junis. |
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| 06-19-19 | White Sox +135 v. Cubs | Top | 3-7 | Loss | -100 | 16 h 32 m | Show |
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Lucas Giolito is an emerging superstar. Jon Lester is on the downside of his career. Stats and current form reflect this. Giolito is riding an eight-game win streak. That's what happens when you have a 0.94 ERA during this span. The White Sox are 11-1 in Giolito's last 12 starts. The 35-year-old Lester already has hit a wall this season with a 7.59 ERA in his last six starts. Lester was battered for three homers and six runs in five innings against the Dodgers during his last start this past Thursday. The price is high on the Cubs because they are home and considered a much better team than the White Sox. However, the White Sox have won 12 of their last 19 games while the Cubs are just 10-15 in their last 25 games. |
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| 06-18-19 | Royals v. Mariners -123 | Top | 9-0 | Loss | -123 | 14 h 6 m | Show |
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The buy sign is back on Yusei Kikuchi after the lefty held the Twins - the AL's top-scoring team - to one run on six hits in five innings this past Thursday on the road. The buy sign is never on Homer Bailey, who has a 5.37 ERA. Expect that already-horrible ERA to go up even more as Bailey's ERA has been above 6.00 during the previous three years. Seattle is the far superior offensive team, too, ranking eighth in the majors in runs and No. 2 in homers. Kansas City, by contrast, rates 25th in runs and 26th in homers. The Royals are 7-13 against lefty starters this season. They have won just 28 percent of their last 61 away contests. The Mariners have dominated this series winning nine of the last 10 times, including posting a 4-1 mark this season.
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| 06-15-19 | Cardinals +125 v. Mets | Top | 7-8 | Loss | -100 | 6 h 51 m | Show |
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The Cardinals are playing much better than the Mets having won nine of their last 14. The Mets have lost three of their last four. Noah Syndergaard was sick earlier in the week and is having a down season. He's been especially bad at night with a 5.88 ERA in evening games. The Mets are 1-4 in his last five starts. New York's bullpen has been terrible, too, even closer Edwin Diaz is having a subpar season. St. Louis starter Michael Wacha looked like a new pitcher in his first start off the DL from a knee injury throwing six scoreless innings against the Marlins. The buy sign is back on Wacha at this underdog price.
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| 06-12-19 | Brewers v. Astros -124 | Top | 6-3 | Loss | -124 | 16 h 39 m | Show |
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The oddsmaker is overrating the Brewers and Brandon Woodruff by making Houston such a short home favorite. The Astros haven't missed Jose Altuve, George Springer and Carlos Correa going 28-8 (78%) during their last 36 games. The Astros have outstanding young talent to fill in while these superstars are out with injuries. Yordan Alvarez and Tyler White, two of these highly promising youngsters, slugged homers in helping Houston defeat Milwaukee, 10-8, on Tuesday. That loss dropped the Brewers to 1-8 in their last nine road interleague games. Woodruff has been pitching well for Milwaukee. But he's trumped by Justin Verlander, who is in the argument for best pitcher in the American League. Verlander is 9-2 with a 2.31 ERA and a 0.74 WHIP. Opponents are batting only .151 against him. Verlander is 2-0 with a 1.08 ERA in two career starts versus the Brewers. Verlander has a 1.35 ERA at home this season. Woodruff has a 4.03 road ERA in five away starts this season.
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| 06-11-19 | Brewers v. Astros -111 | Top | 8-10 | Win | 100 | 15 h 8 m | Show |
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It's rarely wrong to back the Astros especially when the price is fair, which it is here. Houston is 27-8 in its last 35 games and is tied for the best winning percentage in the majors. Houston has key injuries, but also has a very strong farm system. Because of that the Astros have been able to cover up their injuries. The Astros are 21-8 in Brad Peacock's last 29 starts. Peacock is one of the most underrated pitchers in baseball. He's overshadowed in Houston by Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole. But he's a tremendous pitcher giving up two runs or less in eight of his 11 starts. The Brewers are 1-7 in their last eight interleague road games. They are a solid National League club, but not at the Astros' elite level. Milwaukee is pitching Freddy Peralta, who has shown flashes but remains highly inconsistent. He has a 6.23 night ERA this season.
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| 06-09-19 | Braves v. Marlins +125 | 7-6 | Loss | -100 | 7 h 4 m | Show | |
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I'll take a shot with the Marlins at this plus price. I favor Miami's starting pitching matchup and the Braves could be resting a starter or two, which would help even up the everyday lineup advantage. Pablo Lopez has been tremendous when pitching at Marlins Park this year going 2-1 with a 1.84 ERA in five home starts. Lopez is in good current form, too, with a 1.99 ERA in his last four starts. Opponents are batting .183 against him during this span. The opposite is true of Braves starter Max Fried. The lefty has a 5.18 ERA during his last eight starts. He's really looked bad in his last two starts giving up nine earned runs in 9 2/3 innings. Fried has a 5.63 career ERA in two starts versus the Marlins. Miami is 15-30 against righthanded starters this year. However, the Marlins are a far more respectable 8-9 when going against a southpaw starter.
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| 06-08-19 | A's v. Rangers +119 | 1-3 | Win | 119 | 8 h 16 m | Show | |
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Texas starter Adrian Sampson is below-the-radar right now. He's developed a couple of new pitches and he has been pitching well winning his last four appearances. During this time Sampson has posted a 2.38 ERA. The Rangers enter play today ranked No. 2 in the majors in runs scored and are 12-4 in their last 16 home games. Texas draws righthander Chris Bassitt, who has pitched decently this season but has a 5.25 lifetime ERA against the Rangers in four appearances, including two starts. The Rangers enter today winning nine of their last 12 versus a righty starter.
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| 06-08-19 | White Sox -129 v. Royals | 2-0 | Win | 100 | 12 h 33 m | Show | |
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The White Sox are 7-0 in Lucas Giolito's last seven starts. It's no fluke as Giolito has emerged as one of the top pitchers in the American League. He's surrendered just five runs in his last six starts spanning 43 2/3 innings. Giolito is 5-0 with a 2.43 ERA in nine lifetime starts against the Royals, including defeating them, 4-3, on May 28 where he recorded 10 strikeouts. Kansas City is 1-7 in Keller's last eight starts. The Royals beat the White Sox, 6-4, on Friday. However, they are just 3-12 in their last 15 games and 1-8 following a victory. Kansas City also is 0-8 the past eight times when playing the second game of a series.
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| 06-07-19 | A's +105 v. Rangers | 5-3 | Win | 105 | 11 h 36 m | Show | |
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The oddsmaker opened a wrong favorite here. The A's have dominated the Rangers winning 25 of the past 34 meetings, including going 5-1 during their last six visits to Texas. The Rangers have lost the first game in 11 of their last 14 series. The A's are playing great on the road winning eight of their past nine. The pitching matchup pits Brett Anderson against Lance Lynn. Anderson has a 2.65 ERA in his last three starts spanning 17 innings. Lynn faced the A's on April 23 and was hammered for eight runs in just 3 1/3 innings. I'd rate Anderson a slight edge against Lynn and Oakland with a major edge when it comes to the bullpen.
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| 06-02-19 | Indians +131 v. White Sox | 0-2 | Loss | -100 | 10 h 60 m | Show | |
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Luis Giolito seemingly has turned the corner. He's pitched well all season. The White Sox are improved and the Indians have looked terrible. But I'm going to back the Indians at this plus price. Cleveland still is the superior team. The Indians are pitching rookie Zach Plesac, who impressed in his big league debut this past Tuesday at Boston. He held the Red Sox to one run on four hits and one walk in 5 1/3 innings. Now he is stepping down in class. Plesac had a 1.41 ERA in nine minor league starts with a 56-to-7 strikeouts-to-walk ratio before being called up. Giolito has a 4.41 lifetime ERA against the Indians.
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| 06-02-19 | Nationals -121 v. Reds | 4-1 | Win | 100 | 9 h 59 m | Show | |
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I consider Max Scherzer the best pitcher in the National League, if not all of baseball. Sonny Gray is a "C" level pitcher at best and that may be a generous assesment. So I very much like this price point. Scherzer is having another strong year this season despite his 2-5 record. He has made seven straight quality appearances. Scherzer was 2-0 versus the Reds last season with a 1.50 ERA. Washington has won 67 percent of Scherzer's past 58 road starts. The Nationals also are 4-0 in Scherzer's last four starts against Cincinnati. Gray has a 4.18 in six home starts this season. He's vulnerable pitching at Great American Ball Park, which is a top hitter's park. The Nationals have dominated the Reds at Great American Ball Park winning nine of the past 10 times.
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| 05-25-19 | Red Sox +118 v. Astros | 3-4 | Loss | -100 | 18 h 16 m | Show | |
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David Price is healthy and back in form. He has a 2.17 ERA in his last five starts with 33 strikeouts during this span. The Astros aren't likely to have two of their most dangerous and best hitters with George Springer and Jose Altuve each hurt. Springer injured his hamstring Friday night and could be headed to the injured list where Altuve resides also because of a hamstring injury. The Astros are pitching Brad Peacock. I like Peacock, but he is still striving for consistency. Boston has turned around its season going 16-7 in his last 23 games. The Red Sox also have back their most dangerous power hitter, J.D. Martinez. He played Friday after missing the past four games due to a back injury. Houston is 3-3 in its last six games.
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| 05-21-19 | Reds v. Brewers -125 | 3-0 | Loss | -125 | 19 h 31 m | Show | |
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The Reds have lost 40 of their past 57 road games, including going 9-15 away from home this season. They are 4-7 versus southpaws this season and facing Brewers southpaw Gio Gonzalez at Miller Park. The Brewers have won 67 percent of their home games this year going 16-8. Gonzalez is 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA in four starts this season. Milwaukee is 9-2 in his last 11 starts going back to last season. Gonzalez is 6-3 career-wise versus the Reds with a 2.75 ERA in 12 starts. The Reds could be without Yasiel Puig, who suffered a shoulder injury on Sunday. Reds starter Sonny Gray is 0-4 with a 4.30 ERA. Gray has yet to reach the seventh inning this season and is not a good fit pitching at homer-friendly Miller Park.
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| 05-18-19 | Giants -106 v. Diamondbacks | 8-5 | Win | 100 | 11 h 54 m | Show | |
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The Diamondbacks are pitching Zack today. The wrong Zach. It's Zack Godley getting the start not Zack Greinke. That puts me in action with this matchup because Madison Bumgarner goes for San Francisco with a price that is right to back the superior pitcher. The Giants are 9-2 the past 11 times Bumgarner has faced Arizona at Chase Field. The Giants lost a rough 7-0 game to the Diamondbacks on Friday. Bruce Bochy was tossed during the game. So the Giants won't be mailing this one in. They are 6-2 the past eight times following a loss. Bumgarner is in solid form with a 3.50 ERA and a 23-to-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio in his last three starts. Bumgarner has a lifetime 2.43 ERA against the Diamondbacks spanning 33 outings, including 32 starts. He has a 2.81 career ERA at Chase Field. Injuries have forced Godley into Arizona's starting rotation - at least for this game. He is struggling with a 7.65 ERA in 10 games, including seven starts. Arizona is 1-6 in Godley's last seven home starts. Godley has a 6.68 career ERA versus the Giants in eight appearances, including six starts. |
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| 05-17-19 | Blue Jays +100 v. White Sox | 10-2 | Win | 100 | 17 h 20 m | Show | |
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I'm not a fan of Ivan Nova especially when he's favored against a better pitcher. That's the case in today's Blue Jays-White Sox game in a starting pitching matchup of Aaron Sanchez versus Nova. Nova is in better current form than Sanchez, but that's not enough to convince me. Sanchez has a 3.75 ERA. The righthander was very good three years ago when he last was fully healthy. Sanchez has been durable this season. The White Sox are 5-13 in their last 18 home games when facing a righty starter. Nova has a 6.29 ERA. That hideous ERA is doubled at Guaranteed Rate Field - 13.50. Nova is 6-7 with a 5.38 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP in 19 career appearances against the Blue Jays, including 17 starts. His lifetime ERA at Guaranteed Rate Field is 6.62. So if you think this is a fade on Nova you are 100 percent correct.
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| 05-13-19 | A's v. Mariners -125 | Top | 5-6 | Win | 100 | 24 h 53 m | Show |
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Kudos to Mike Fiers on throwing a no-hitter against the Reds in his last start at home this past Tuesday. Fiers also threw a staggering 131 pitches. Fiers is a 33-year-old journeyman with a career losing record and a 5.48 ERA on the season. Prior to his last start, Fiers had a 6.81 ERA. I'm going to fade Fiers in an obvious letdown spot and with the A's taking to the road for the first time in a week. The A's can be dangerous at Oakland Coliseum. However, they are much worse on the road. Oakland is 5-13 away from home this season. The A's have lost nine of their last 10 road games. Fiers pitched against the Mariners opening day in Japan. The Mariners won, 9-7, knocking out Fiers after three innings by scoring five runs. Seattle is starting Yusei Kikuchi, who I consider to be the Mariners' best pitcher. The Mariners haven't been playing well. They just concluded a 2-8 road trip. But they are returning home now where they should be more relaxed.
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| 05-11-19 | Phillies -132 v. Royals | Top | 7-0 | Win | 100 | 17 h 57 m | Show |
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It hasn't been Aaron Nola nor Jake Arrieta. No, the Phillies' best starting pitchers have been Zach Eflin and Jerad Eickhoff. Eflin is 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA and 0.90 ratio during his last three starts. Eflin gets the start here against Brad Keller. It's a testament on how bad the Royals are that Keller is their best picher and Kansas City is 2-5 in his last seven starts. Keller is not in good form either going 0-2 with a 6.48 ERA and 1.80 ratio in his past three starts. The Phillies rank seventh in runs scored. The Royals are 16th in runs. Philadelphia has the superior bullpen. The Royals upset the Phillies in Game 1 of this series Friday. I want the Phillies going for me in this revenge spot. |
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| 05-11-19 | Marlins +272 v. Mets | 1-4 | Loss | -100 | 17 h 51 m | Show | |
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Jacob deGrom looks back in dominant form. Even if that is true, I'll throw a peanut out there on the Marlins at this tremendous plus price. The Mets are a below .500 team with a below average offense. They also don't usually win for deGrom at home losing 18 of his past 24 outings at Citi Field. Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara is striving for consistency. He is capable of throwing a gem, though. The Marlins have enjoyed surprising good success against deGrom winning seven of the last nine times deGrom has started against them.
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| 05-10-19 | Phillies -146 v. Royals | 1-5 | Loss | -146 | 11 h 0 m | Show | |
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Sometimes there is value backing a favorite. That's the case here. The Phillies are actually helped playing this opponent on the road because they have better DH options. Philadelphia came on last season and the Phillies are No. 1 in the NL East this season. Kansas City has the second-worst record in baseball. The Royals can't match the Phillies' power and are pitching Homer Bailey against Jake Arrieta. Bailey is as terrible as ever with a 5.25 ERA. The last time he had an ERA of less than 6.00 was 2014. Once in a while he throws a gem. Otherwise it remains a mystery how he can still be in a big league starting rotation. Bailey is backed by a bottom-five bullpen. The Phillies have scored five or more runs in seven of its last 10 games. Arrieta is having another solid season. The Phillies have allowed only eight runs in their last four games.
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| 05-08-19 | Reds v. A's -119 | 4-5 | Win | 100 | 19 h 52 m | Show | |
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The Reds experienced real cultural shock going from homer friendly Great American Ball Park to the spacious confines and weird pitcher-friendly configuration of Oakland Coliseum as they were no-hit in Game 1 of this series by Mike Fiers on Tuesday. Fiers, mind you, is not exactly Nolan Ryan. I don't see the Reds doing much against Brett Anderson either in the middle game of their three game series versus the A's, which marks Cincinnati's first visit to Oakland in six years. Anderson is a fragile lefty who is tough on bad teams when pitching in Oakland especially at night. The A's are 9-1 the past 10 times Anderson has started at home versus sub .500 teams. Anderson is 3-0 with a 1.45 ERA in night games this season. Oakland has won four consecutive home games. The Reds are 17-47 during their last 64 away contests. That's a winning percentage of just 27 percent. Cincinnati is starting Sonny Gray. The A's know Gray well. Gray pitched for Oakland for five seasons starting in 2013. Gray hasn't been good since 2015 and is not in good form entering this matchup with a 5.28 ERA in his last three starts. Matt Olson is back from the injured list for Oakland. He slammed 29 homers and drove in 84 RBI's last year for the A's. There's a good chance Kris Davis is able to play, too, for Oakland. He has been out since Sunday and was close to playing last night, but was scratched at the last minute. Davis, Olson and Matt Chapman are the A's top power hitters.
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| 05-03-19 | A's v. Pirates -110 | Top | 14-1 | Loss | -110 | 18 h 8 m | Show |
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The timing, pitching matchup and price all line up heavily for Pittsburgh here. The Pirates come home bolstered by a two-game road sweep of the Rangers. They catch the A's playing their worst ball, losers of six in a row all on the road having been swept by the Blue Jays and Red Sox. Oakland is giving up 6.2 runs during this losing skid and has lost five of the games by multiple runs. The A's can be dangerous at home, but are not nearly as good on the road where they have lost the past seven times. Oakland is 1-8 in Brett Anderson's last nine road starts. Anderson has failed to complete five innings during his last two starts. He gave up six runs on 10 hits and two walks in just 4 1/3 innings against the Blue Jays during his last start this past Saturday. The A's rely on the power of Khris Davis. However, Davis has gone homerless in his last 15 games. Davis is going to play the outfield, too, because there is no DH in National League parks. Davis is a well below average on defense. Pittsburgh starter Joe Musgrove has the third-lowest ERA in the majors at 1.54 through five starts and one relief appearance. Musgrove pitched for the Astros before coming to the Pirates. He is 1-1 with a 1.33 ERA in seven appearances against the A's, including three starts. A big non-pitching key for the Pirates is the return from injury of star outfielder Starling Marter. Pittsburgh was 1-9 without him. The Pirates are 13-5 with Marte in the lineup.
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| 04-28-19 | Padres v. Nationals -101 | 6-7 | Win | 100 | 5 h 44 m | Show | |
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I don't see the Padres sweeping the Nationals at home. Washington has had its ups and downs, but has not lost four in a row all season. Padres starter Joey Lucchesi is helped by pitching at spacious Petco Park. He had a losing road record last season with a 4.24 ERA. San Diego is 1-4 in his last five road starts. Nationals starter Jeremy Hellickson had an 0.75 ERA in two starts against the Padres last season.
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| 04-25-19 | Diamondbacks +115 v. Pirates | 5-0 | Win | 115 | 12 h 1 m | Show | |
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Wrong favorite. Injuries have helped cool off the Pirates. Pittsburgh has dropped four in a row. The Pirates are without outfielders Starling Marte and Corey Dickerson among others and have been held to four runs or less in nine of their last 10 games. Arizona is 7-2 during its current road trip. The Diamondbacks also have owned the Pirates defeating them nine consecutive times in Pittsburgh. The pitching matchup is Zack Greinke versus Jameson Taillon. I like Taillon, but Greinke's current form and history make him the better choice. Greinke is 8-4 with a 1.03 ERA in 13 lifetime appearances against the Pirates. The Diamondbacks have won 10 of Greinke's past 14 away starts.
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| 04-20-19 | Blue Jays v. A's -135 | 10-1 | Loss | -135 | 13 h 19 m | Show | |
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I want the A's going for me in a bounce back spot. The Blue Jays knocked off Oakland, 5-1, Friday night. It was Toronto's first victory against the A's after losing all seven games to them last season. It also was a pitching matchup of Marcus Stroman versus Aaron Brooks, who shouldn't be in a big league rotation. Now the pitching matchup is righty Matt Shoemaker versus righthander Mike Fiers. Fiers is an ace when pitching in spacious Oakland Coliseum. He is 6-0 with a 2.38 ERA in his last 10 home starts. He hasn't been scored on in his last two home starts this season spanning 12 innings. Oakland is 8-1 (89 percent) in Fiers' last nine home starts. Toronto is 3-8 in its last 11 games against a righty starter.
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| 04-20-19 | Diamondbacks v. Cubs -130 | 6-0 | Loss | -130 | 14 h 18 m | Show | |
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Here comes the Cubs. Chicago has won four in a row and six of its last seven. They are worth riding playing their best ball now. The buy sign is on for Yu Darvish, too, after he fanned eight in 5 2/3 innings during his last start, a 7-2 victory against the Marlins. Arizona is averaging just 2.6 runs in its last three games. Zach Greinke isn't the elite pitcher of past seasons. Greinke is still above average - but not when he pitches at Wrigley Field. Greinke has never won at Wrigley in five career starts and has an 8.31 ERA when pitching there. The Cubs have won 30 of the past 44 times at home when facing a righty starter.
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| 04-19-19 | Giants -101 v. Pirates | Top | 1-4 | Loss | -101 | 17 h 8 m | Show |
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The Giants have had good success at Pittsburgh winning seven of the last nine times there. The Giants also catch the Pirates playing at home for the first time in 12 days. So Pittsburgh's concentration and focus may be off. It's not just history and spot why I like the Giants. The price is very good in a starting pitching matchup of Madison Bumgarner versus Jordan Lyles. Bumgarner looked like the elite pitcher he is during his last start, a 5-2 home victory against the Rockies this past Saturday. Bumgarner struck out seven and didn't walk a batter. He has a 2.84 career ERA in seven starts against Pittsburgh. Lyles has made two good starts for the Pirates. But that's not enough to convince me he suddenly has become more than just a fifth starter-type/long reliever. The Pirates are his fourth different team in three seasons. Lyles had a 4.11 ERA with the Padres and Brewers last year. He has a 5.85 career ERA in 19 appearances versus the Giants, including seven starts.
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| 04-17-19 | Giants v. Nationals -129 | 6-9 | Win | 100 | 15 h 24 m | Show | |
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Jeremy Hellickson is an underrated pitcher being on a Nationals starting rotation that features Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin. Hellickson has the lowest ERA of those three at 2.25. Washington is 4-0 in Hellickson's last four home starts. The Giants are not a good road club. They've dropped 21 of their last 29 away matchups. Jeff Samardzija gets the start for San Francisco. He's coming off a rare gem, a 1-0 home win against the Rockies this past Wednesday. Samardzija hasn't proven nearly so effective on the road and against the Nationals. He is 0-6 with a 7.39 ERA in his last six starts versus Washington. San Francisco is 2-8 in Samardzija's last 10 starts. The Giants are 0-5 in his past five away starts. |
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| 04-13-19 | Mets v. Braves -125 | 7-11 | Win | 100 | 17 h 16 m | Show | |
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I don't see the Mets winning a third straight road game against the Braves. Not with a pitching matchup of Jason Vargas versus Sean Newcomb. Vargas has a 9.00 ERA and is merely a journeyman fifth-type starter/long reliever at this stage of his career. Newcomb has star potential. He's looked good so far with a 1.64 ERA and has a 1.82 lifetime ERA versus the Mets in six starts.
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| 04-13-19 | Tigers +174 v. Twins | 3-4 | Loss | -100 | 12 h 6 m | Show | |
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The Tigers are a surprising 8-5. Tyson Ross is coming off a well-pitched 3-1 victory against the Royals from Sunday and the Twins could be rusty having not played since Wednesday. So I'll take a shot at the underdog Tigers at this price. Michael Pineda will be making just his third start for Minnesota since the middle of the 2017 season. Pineda is working his way back into shape and he's not backed by a strong bullpen. The Tigers get back Jacoby Jones, their second-best outfielder. He had missed their first 12 games with a shoulder injury.
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| 04-11-19 | Rockies v. Giants +107 | 0-1 | Win | 107 | 11 h 38 m | Show | |
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Both teams are off to slow starts. Both teams have always had a strong home bias/weak road bias. So at this price point, I'm going to go with value and taking the home Giants. Giants starter Jeff Samardzija is an innings-eater type of starter. He catches a break as Colorado is minus three starters with Daniel Murphy, David Dahl and Ryan McMahon all out with injuries. I'm not a fan of Colorado stater Jon Gray, who hasn't lived up to being a No. 1 starter type. Gray has given up at least one homer in 14 straight games. He also has a 6.15 career ERA versus the Giants in six starts.
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| 04-09-19 | Braves v. Rockies -122 | 7-1 | Loss | -122 | 11 h 25 m | Show | |
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I see the Rockies getting back on track with a home victory. So does the oddsmaker as he has installed Colorado as a short favorite despite the Rockies' poor 3-8 record. Colorado always plays better at Coors Field. The Rockets are 24 games above .500 playing there during the previous two seasons. They have scored six runs in three of their four home games this season. The pitching matchup is Max Fried versus German Marquez. The Rockies have tremendous faith in Marquez signing him to a five-year, $43 million contract extension this past Saturday. Marquez finished 2018 strong going 7-3 with a 2.38 ERA with a 138-to-26 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Marquez has continued this excellent form giving up only one run in 13 innings this year with 14 strikeouts. He should be really pumped for this matchup being his first start since signing the big contract extension. Fried looked great against the Cubs last week, but remains unproven. Pitching at Coors is a different experience. Fried made one relief appearance at Coors last season. It did not go well. He gave up three runs, three walks and a homer in 2 2/3 innings. The Braves may be down to their third-string catcher, too. Brian McCann is on the DL and Tyler Flowers is day-to-day with a hand injury.
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| 04-08-19 | Dodgers v. Cardinals +112 | 3-4 | Win | 112 | 17 h 24 m | Show | |
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Dodgers starter Hyun-Jin Ryu is a very good pitcher at Dodger Stadium. He's not so good away from home, though, with a 3.58 road ERA last season compared to 1.15 at home. The Dodgers are 0-4 in Ryu's last four starts versus the Cardinals. Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas went 8-4 with a 2.17 ERA at Busch Stadium last year. The Cardinals are 7-1 in Mikolas' last eight home starts and 22-7 in his lifetime starts for 76 percent. Not only does the pitching matchup favor the Cardinals, but so does the situation. The Cardinals have been home while the Dodgers had to fly in during the early morning hours after playing in the Sunday night game against the Rockies in Colorado. The game stretched out nearly four hours.
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| 04-02-19 | Angels v. Mariners -117 | 1-2 | Win | 100 | 9 h 11 m | Show | |
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This price is low enough to get involved with the Mariners. Seattle is off to a fast start with 6-1 record. The Mariners are swinging hot bats averaging 7.7 runs per game. The Angels own a 6-2 win against the A's. However, they have scored just six runs in their four other games. The pitching matchup pits journeyman Trevor Cahill against Marco Gonzales, who was 3-0 with a 3.34 ERA against the Angels last season. Seattle is 5-1 versus the Angles the past six times Gonzales has started against them. The Angels also have trouble playing in Seattle losing in six of their last seven visits.
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| 03-28-19 | Mets v. Nationals -125 | 2-0 | Loss | -125 | 11 h 16 m | Show | |
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The two best pitchers in the National League square off here - Jacob deGrom versus Max Scherzer. Between them they have won the last three National League Cy Young Awards. So why get involved backing the Nationals? They are the superior team with home field advantage. Washington has won 72 percent of its last 32 home games when Scherzer has started. Much of that is built into the line where the Nationals are favored. But what sways me completely over to the Nationals' side is the unique backstory to the Mets' travel arrangements. The Mets didn't orginally fly to D.C. from their Florida-based spring training, but to Syracuse, N.Y. to conduct practices there in cold weather to celebrate the town being where their new minor league Triple A affiliate is. This game goes at an an early start time and part of the Mets' travel itinerary involved being on a bus and low level hotel. Making matters worse is their team flight from Florida to Syracuse was delayed three hours. The team wasn't happy with this arrangement, particulary star pitcher Noah Syndergaard, who spoke out against it.
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| 10-19-18 | Dodgers v. Brewers +106 | Top | 2-7 | Win | 106 | 25 h 37 m | Show |
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I like the price and I certainly like the Brewers chances of winning this Game 6 of the NLCS to stay alive in the series. Milwaukee went 51-30 at Miller Park during the regular season. The pitching matchup pits Hyun-Jin Ryu versus Wade Miley. Ryu historically has been far less effective away from home. The Dodgers are 2-11 (15 percent) the last 13 times Ryu has pitched against an above .500 opponent on the road. The Brewers saw Ryu in Game 2 at home and got to him for two runs on six hits in 4 1/3 innings. Miley started for Milwaukee in that Game 2 home victory and held LA to just two hits in 5 2/3 innings. The Brewers have three dominant relief pitchers - Josh Hader, Corey Knebel and Jeremy Jeffress. All are rested.
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| 10-14-18 | Astros v. Red Sox +115 | 5-7 | Win | 115 | 9 h 46 m | Show | |
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This isn't a fade on the Astros. It's a play on Boston. I'm not going to pass up taking a price with the Red Sox at home. The pitching matchup is Gerrit Cole versus David Price. There are two ways of looking at this. The first is the negative view of Price being 0-9 with a 6.03 ERA in 10 postseason starts. That mark has tarnished his legacy. But I choose the positive view of Price having dominated the Astros in his three years with the Red Sox. Those numbers show Price to have a 2.43 ERA and holding Houston to a .205 batting average across 33 1/3 innings, including working 6 2/3 scoreless relief innings versus Houston in last year's Division Series. Red Sox manager Alex Cora was a bench coach for the Astros last season. He wouldn't give the ball to Price in this crucial game if he thought he couldn't get the job done. Boston is 20-6 in Price's past 26 starts at Fenway Park. Augmenting the Red Sox argument is Cole's poor sampling at Fenway Park where he's 0-1 with a 5.73 ERA in two starts.
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| 10-05-18 | Indians +136 v. Astros | Top | 2-7 | Loss | -100 | 14 h 58 m | Show |
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It's wrong to disrespect the Indians especially with Corey Kluber on the mound. But that's what oddsmaker have done by opening the Astros this big of a favorite. Kluber had another huge season going 20-7 with a 2.89 ERA. He was 1-0 with a 1.35 ERA in two starts versus the Astros this season. Cleveland has won 70 percent of Kluber's last 23 road starts. A big factor why the Astros opened as such a big favorite in this Game 1 is Justin Verlander. He had an excellent season, too, going 16-9 with a 2.52 ERA. The Astros won all five of Verlander's September starts. He surrendered just four earned runs in 33 innings during September for a 1.09 ERA. However, Verlander was bad in August with a 5.29 ERA in six starts. None of the teams he pitched against in September - Twins, Tigers, Diamondbacks, Angels and Orioles - made the postseason. All had losing records except the 82-80 Diamondbacks. Verlander also has a better road mark where he went 12-2 with a 2.14 ERA compared to 4-7 at home with a 2.84 ERA. Verlander doesn't have a good history against the Indians either. He is 20-24 against them lifetime with a 4.71 ERA.
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| 10-02-18 | Rockies v. Cubs -131 | Top | 2-1 | Loss | -131 | 19 h 48 m | Show |
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I like the Cubs for a number of reasons here and the price is low enough to back them. Both the Cubs and Rockies each lost Monday forcing this one-game Wild-card game. Chicago, though, lost hosting the Brewers. The Rockies fell to the Dodgers in LA so they have had to make a long trip. The Cubs are far more experienced in big games. It was just two years ago when the Cubs won the World Series. The Rockies were one and done in the postseason last year losing a wildcard game to the Diamondbacks on the road. Previous to that the Rockies had not played in the postseason since 2009. I also like the pitching matchup for the Cubs with Kyle Freeland opposing Jon Lester. Freeland has been brilliant this season. Surprisingly, though, he put up better numbers at Coors Field than in his road games. His away ERA is 3.23. Freeland is pitching on short rest, too, having last pitched three days ago. He has a 4.15 lifetime ERA versus the Cubs in two career starts. Lester is in great form and has an excellent postseason history. He is 3-0 with a 1.00 ERA in his past three starts this season. Lester has made five career starts against Colorado and posted a 2.25 ERA. The Cubs have won 74 percent of Lester's past 51 home starts.
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| 09-27-18 | Braves -125 v. Mets | Top | 1-4 | Loss | -125 | 18 h 23 m | Show |
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The Braves are 6-1 in their last seven games and in pursuit of the Cubs for the best record in the NL. Atlanta's lone loss during this span came on Wednesday to the Mets - and Jacob deGrom. No shame in that as deGrom is the best pitcher in baseball. Now, though, the Braves draw the lowly Mets and Jason Vargas. He hasn't been good since the first half of last season when he pitched for the Royals. Vargas is 6-9 with a 6.25 ERA this season. He has a 6.14 ERA in three starts against the Mets this year. The Braves have gotten to Vargas for 19 hits in 14 2/3 innings.
New York has scored thre runs or fewer in seven of its last 11 games. The Braves have scored at least five runs in six of their past eight games. I think it's a cheap price to lay with the much superior Braves. They are starting Julio Teheran and their bullpen has been shored up with the return to health of closer Arodys Vizcaino. Teheran has posted a solid 3.32 ERA during his past 10 starts holding batters to a .177 average in this time frame. He has a 2.42 career ERA in 24 lifetime appearances versus the Mets. Teheran has a 1.69 ERA against the Mets in four starts this year. |
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| 09-26-18 | Astros +121 v. Blue Jays | Top | 1-3 | Loss | -100 | 4 h 21 m | Show |
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This is a crapshoot in a starting pitching matchup of Chris Devenki versus Sean Reid-Foley in what shapes up to be a bullpen game. So why not back the much superior Astros in a 'dog role? Why not indeed. Houston is 25-7 in its last 32 games. Devenski was very good last season in a relief role. He hasn't been healthy this season. He should be OK for a few innings here. The Astros have the superior bullpen and offense even if all of their regulars don't play. There's a possibility the Astros get back Carlos Correa, too. |
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| 09-23-18 | Rockies +103 v. Diamondbacks | 2-0 | Win | 103 | 14 h 41 m | Show | |
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The Diamondbacks went with their two top pitchers, Zack Greinke and Patrick Corbin, during the first two games of this crucial series. Both lost. Those defeats have killed any realistic hope the Diamondbacks had of making the playoffs. The Diamondbacks are 3-11 in their last 14 games. They are a dead team. Arizona has scored two or fewer runs in four of their last five games. Their bullpen has blown up. Colorado has the momentum trailing the Dodgers by just 1 1/2 games in the NL West and also 1 1/2 games behind the Cardinals for the second wild-card spot. The Rockies have played well on the road compiling a 43-37 away mark. The Rockies need this game and are going with their best starter, Kyle Freeland. He's in Cy Young Award territory with a 15-7 and 2.95 ERA. Freeland has been especially sharp down the stretch going 9-1 with a 2.43 ERA in his last 18 starts, allowing more than three earned runs only once during this span. There is the chance the Rockies get Trevor Story back, too, for this game. They've managed to beat the Diamondbacks in the first two games of this series without him. Colorado should be able to do damage against Zach Godley, who is 1-4 with a 7.42 ERA during his last six starts. The Rockies just faced Godley two weeks ago and battered him for five runs on seven hits and two walks in four innings in a 13-2 victory. That was the third time this season Godley has gone against Colorado. He holds a 6.14 ERA versus the Rockies in those three starts.
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| 09-21-18 | Rockies v. Diamondbacks -115 | Top | 6-2 | Loss | -115 | 20 h 50 m | Show |
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Neither Colorado nor Arizona is in top form. The Diamondbacks, though, are home, have Zach Greinke going and are in absolute must-win mode in order to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. The Rockies are 1-5 in their last six games. They have scored nine runs during these past six games and aren't likely to have star shortstop Trevor Story, who is suffering from right elbow inflammation. Greinke is 19-4 at home the past two years. He has a 2.43 home ERA this season. Arizona has won 24 of his past 35 starts at Chase Field. Greinke has faced Colorado four times this season and is 3-0 with a 2.77 ERA. I trust him in this spot. I can't say the same for Rockies starter German Marquez, who has nearly a 4.00 ERA on the year. Marquez has been pitching better, but has struggled versus Arizona with a 4.33 ERA against the Diamondbacks this season in five starts. This is a short lay price to get the better pitcher at home where he has a dominant record.
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| 09-19-18 | Cardinals -108 v. Braves | 3-7 | Loss | -108 | 11 h 45 m | Show | |
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This matchup features two rookie starting pitchers: Jack Flaherty for St. Louis and Touki Tossaint for Atlanta. Flaherty not only is the proven one of these two, but he has been one of the better pitchers in the National League this season with a 2.86 ERA and 1.06 WHIP. Opposing hitters are batting just .193 against him. Tossaint has a 4.67 ERA in three starts and is dealing with control problems with 13 walks in 17 1/3 innings. The Braves are having bullpen trouble, too. The Cardinals have played much better since Mike Shildt replaced Mike Matheny going 37-22. Atlanta has dropped four in a row, all at home The Braves are 4-14 in their last 18 games at SunTrust Park. The Cardinals have dominated the Braves in Atlanta winning the past eight times at SunTrust Park.
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| 09-18-18 | Blue Jays -111 v. Orioles | Top | 6-4 | Win | 100 | 8 h 3 m | Show |
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When it comes to giving up home runs, Dylan Bundy resembles Al Bundy. Bundy has surrendered 38 homers. That's not in his career. That's this season alone! No pitcher yields more homers than Bundy. Bundy has allowed at least one homer in each of his last 12 starts. The Orioles are 1-7 in Bundy's last eight starts. The Blue Jays have hit the fifth-most homers in the majors. They have an edge in the pitching department, too, with Aaron Sanchez facing Bundy. Sanchez is returning back into form following a two-month stint on the DL because of a finger injury. He held the powerful Red Sox to to one run on three hits in seven innings this past Wednesday. This will be Sanchez's third start of the season against the Orioles. He is 1-0 against them with a 1.88 ERA. Toronto has dominated Baltimore this year winning 13 of 17 for 76 percent. The price is low enough to fade the Orioles, who have by far the worst record in baseball at 43-107.
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| 09-12-18 | White Sox -130 v. Royals | Top | 4-2 | Win | 100 | 18 h 31 m | Show |
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The Royals have been playing better of late, but they still are a terrible team and 7-21 in their last 28 games versus a lefty starter. Kansas City faces White Sox southpaw Carlos Rodon in this matchup. Rodon had been brilliant before his last two starts giving up two earned runs or less in eight of nine starts. Rodon has not looked good in his past two outings, though. However, he hasn't pitched three poor games in a row all season. I like him here against a Royals team that ranks 28th in runs. Chicago has won 11 of its last 16 road contests. The White Sox draw Eric Skoglund, who had been on the DL with a sprained elbow. He is 1-5 on the season with a 6.45 ERA. Skoguland isn't likely to pitch long and the Royals have one of the worst bullpens in the majors.
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| 09-12-18 | Pirates -112 v. Cardinals | 4-3 | Win | 100 | 11 h 10 m | Show | |
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Up three games for the final wild-card spot, the Cardinals have the luxury of not overtaxing their young pitchers. They are doing just that by going to a six-man starting staff. St. Louis is pitching its sixth starter today, Daniel Poncedeleon. The Pirates have a huge pitching edge as they are going with their No. 1 starter, Jameson Taillon. He has been outstanding since the All-Star break going 6-2 with a 2.48 ERA. Taillon hasn't given up more than three earned runs during his past 10 starts. He has a 1.88 ERA in his past four starts. Pittsburgh is 8-2 in his last 10 road starts. So Taillon can be counted on to keep the Cardinals in check. The same can't be said for Poncedeleon holding down the Pirates. This only will be his fourth big league start. Poncedeleon last started 11 days ago and yielded three runs on five hits in 3 1/3 innings against the Reds in a 4-0 loss. The Pirates have scored five or more runs in five of their last six games.
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| 09-11-18 | Rockies v. Diamondbacks -119 | Top | 3-6 | Win | 100 | 9 h 23 m | Show |
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Arizona and Colorado are involved in a big series. The pitching matchup for Tuesday is Zach Greinke versus Antonio Senzatela. I want Greinke going for me. The Diamondbacks are 7-2 in Greinke's last nine road starts. I regard Greinke at least two levels higher than Senzatela, who has close to a 5.00 ERA and owns a horrible history versus the Diamondbacks with a lifetime 8.27 ERA in six career games. He is 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA in two games, including one start, against Arizona this season. Greinke is coming off a rare bad start. A bad start for Greinke is giving up four earned runs. Only twice in his last 15 starts as he allowed more than three earned runs. Greinke is 2-0 with a 2.33 ERA in three starts versus Colorado this season. The Diamondbacks have fared well at Coors Field, too, winning nine of their last 12 there.
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| 09-10-18 | Braves v. Giants +107 | Top | 4-1 | Loss | -100 | 20 h 47 m | Show |
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The Giants are in a great position here to put an end to their season-high eight-game losing streak of which the last six losses have come on the road. San Francisco is 39-30 at home. The Giants have defeated the Braves 11 of the last 16 times they have hosted them. The youthful Braves are in letdown mode after rallying for six runs in the ninth inning to beat the Diamondbacks, 9-5, Sunday in Arizona. That victory allowed the Braves to take three of four from Arizona and move ahead of the Phillies by 4 1/2 games in the NL East. It's not just the spot that is ripe for San Francisco. The Giants also have a pitching matchup edge. Sean Newcomb has clearly hit the wall in this his first full season in the majors. Newcomb has allowed 35 hits and 21 runs during his past five starts spanning 23 2/3 innings. Going back to his past 11 starts his ERA registers 5.91. The Giants have nine more hits than their opponents during their last four games. They are pitching Dereck Rodriguez, who has been outstanding. The rookie has not hit the wall like Newcomb as only once in 15 starts has he given up more than three earned runs. Rodriguez has made eight starts since the All-Star break and has posted a 1.97 ERA and 0.87 WHIP during this span. The Braves have never gone against him.
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| 09-08-18 | Dodgers v. Rockies +129 | Top | 2-4 | Win | 129 | 19 h 48 m | Show |
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I like Dodgers rookie Walker Buehler. But he shouldn't be a road favorite at Coors Field against Kyle Freeland. The Rockies have won 22 of their last 31 home games. Freeland has been a huge part of Colorado's success at home. The Rockies are 10-1 (91%) in his last 11 starts at Coors Field. Freeland is one of the more underrated pitchers in baseball with a 13-7 mark and 2.96 ERA. He is one of the few pitchers who actually thrives when pitching at hitter-friendly Coors Field with a 2.27 home ERA this season. Colorado is 6-0 during his last six overall starts. The Dodgers are without their closer, Kenley Jansen, for this series. Freeland has gone at least six innings in each of his past six starts. He's backed up by Adam Ottavino, one of the best setup pitchers in baseball, and closer Wade Davis. The Dodgers can't match that late-inning relief with Jansen missing in action.
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| 09-06-18 | Braves v. Diamondbacks -149 | Top | 7-6 | Loss | -149 | 25 h 8 m | Show |
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This is a very tough spot for the Braves, who lost 9-8 to the Red Sox at home on Wednesday after blowing a six-run lead. Now Atlanta takes to the road for the first time since Aug. 26 going cross-country. The Red Sox left the Braves reeling outscoring them, 22-11, in sweeping the three-game series. Atlanta's bullpen had to go 12 2/3 innings during the series and lacks a consistent closer with Arodys Vizcaino on the DL with a shoulder injury. Arizona has been at home since Monday. The Diamondbacks were idle Wednesday so their bullpen is rested. Arizona shouldn't have to rely on their relief pitchers too heavily with Zack Greinke on the hill. He remains a brilliant pitcher with a 13-9 record and 2.97 ERA. Greinke has been his best at home, too, going 6-3 with a 2.16 ERA at Chase Field. He has surrendered two or fewer runs in 13 of his 14 home starts. Arizona is 24-10 in Greinke's last 34 home starts. He should be especially strong pitching with an extra day of rest. Arizona has won 16 of the past 23 times Greinke has pitched on five days rest. The Diamondbacks also are 11-5 following an off day. Anibal Sanchez gets the call for the Braves. He also is pitching on extra rest. However, the Braves are 0-5 the last five times he's gone on five days rest. The 34-year-old has pitched much better than expected, but he could start to be wearing down. Sanchez has only reached the sixth inning once in his last four starts giving up nine earned runs in 22 2/3 innings during this span. He's allowed 28 baserunners in this time frame and three homers. Atlanta is 1-4 in Sanchez's past five starts.
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| 09-05-18 | Yankees v. A's +146 | Top | 2-8 | Win | 146 | 13 h 3 m | Show |
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Oakland is 49-21 in its last 70 games. The A's have been a remarkable story and continue to be underrated. |
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| 09-05-18 | Tigers v. White Sox -163 | 10-2 | Loss | -163 | 12 h 43 m | Show | |
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I'm willing to lay this price in order to get on board with Michael Kopech. The rookie could be the best pitching prospect in baseball. So far he's lived up to that giving up one run in 11 innings with a 9-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio during his first three big league starts, two of which were interrupted by rain. Kopech faced the Tigers on Aug. 26, holding them to one run on seven hits in six innings. The White Sox have quietly been playing good ball winning 14 of their last 21, including going 8-4 in their last 12 games. The Tigers aren't as enthused as the youthful White Sox. Detroit has suffered a lot of injuries and is playing the string out. The Tigers are 3-8 in their last 11. They are starting Jordan Zimmerman, who has a 6.26 lifetime ERA versus the White Sox in 12 career starts.
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| 09-03-18 | Mets +124 v. Dodgers | Top | 4-2 | Win | 124 | 17 h 13 m | Show |
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What if I told you that you could get arguably the best pitcher in baseball - the one who has the lowest ERA in the majors and has given up three or fewer runs in 24 straight games - at an underdog price? You would grab it, right, especially when it comes with a huge situational edge? That's what the underdog Mets have going for themselves on Monday in a pitching matchup of Jacob deGrom versus Alex Wood. The Mets can't match the Dodgers at the other eight spots, but deGrom is an absolute monster ranking first in ERA, fourth in strikeouts and sixth in WHIP in the majors. The Mets have won three of their last four games. The Dodgers are playing well, too, but are in a dangerous letdown spot after winning their last three games against the Diamondbacks to take over sole possession of first place in the NL West Division. LA won all of these games against Arizona by the same 3-2 score. The Mets already are on the West Coast having just concluded a series against the Giants in San Francisco. They draw Wood, who has possess a decent by hardly dominating 8-6 record and 3.42 ERA. The Mets are well acquainted with Wood, who used to pitch for the Braves in the NL East. Wood is 1-3 career-wise versus the Mets with a 3.83 ERA. The Dodgers are 0-4 in Wood's last four home starts.
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| 09-02-18 | Rockies -132 v. Padres | Top | 7-3 | Win | 100 | 13 h 11 m | Show |
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Maybe it's because he pitches at Coors Field. Maybe it's because the Rockies aren't a big market team. Whatever the reason, Kyle Freeland may be the most underrated pitcher in the National League. Freeland is 12-7 with a 2.90 ERA despite pitching at Coors. Freeland has been pitching well for quite a while now, but he's been especially dominant during his last five starts with a 1.67 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 32 1/3 innings during this span. Colorado is 16-5 in Freeland's past 21 starts, 10-1 during his last 11 outings. Oh, yes, Freeland is a southpaw. The Padres have a hideous 13-30 record versus lefty starters this season. That's the most losses against southpaws in the majors. The Padres are in rebuild mode. They are just 27-44 at home. San Diego has gutted its bullpen and is auditioning young starters, sort of throwing darts. Rookie Jacob Nix gets the call here. He has a 4.05 ERA and doesn't miss many bats with just seven strikeouts in 20 innings. Colorado is familar with Nix having just seen him on Aug. 22. The Rockies scored three runs on five hits in five innings against Nix winning 6-2 at home. The Rockies rank in the top-10 in runs and batting average, while the Padres rank in the bottom-three in those categories.
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| 09-01-18 | Red Sox v. White Sox +155 | 6-1 | Loss | -100 | 16 h 14 m | Show | |
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Boston is a phenomenal 93-42. However, the Red Sox are merely 17-14 when going against a lefty starter. The Red Sox face one of the hottest southpaws in the league in a pitching matchup of Eduardo Rodriguez versus Carlos Rodon. Rodriguez is making his first start since July 14 having been sidelined by a sprained ankle. Rodon has been terrific since returning from injury. He is 5-0 with a 1.84 ERA during his past nine starts. Not only do the White Sox have their hottest pitcher going, but they are playing their finest ball winning 12 of their last 17 games. Chicago is averaging 5.4 runs in its past 19 games. The White Sox have scored four or more runs in 11 of their last 13 games. The Red Sox have dropped five of their last six road games, including a 6-1 setback to the White Sox on Friday night.
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| 09-01-18 | Brewers +130 v. Nationals | 4-5 | Loss | -100 | 16 h 10 m | Show | |
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Milwaukee is 8-3 and very much in playoff contention. They have a very good manager in Craig Counsell and excellent team morale knowing their management is constantly making moves to improve the team. One of those moves was picking up Gio Gonzalez, who had pitched seven years for Washington. The Brewers are sure to pick the newly acquired Gonzalez's brain about the Nationals. Washington has a terrible manager, Dave Martinez, low morale and has been a major underachiever with a below .500 record. Yet the oddsmaker has installed the Nationals as the favorite here because of a pitching matchup of Chase Anderson versus Stephen Strasburg. Strasburg has the big reputation. But it's Anderson who has the lower ERA this season. Opponents are batting just .224 versus Anderson, who has a 2.97 ERA in 12 road starts. Starsburg has really struggled when pitching at home going 2-5 with a 5.68 ERA. He is 0-2 with a 5.30 ERA in three lifetime games against the Brewers. Strasburg can't expect much help from a Nationals bullpen that has been depleted by injuries and trades.
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| 08-31-18 | Red Sox v. White Sox +152 | Top | 1-6 | Win | 152 | 18 h 7 m | Show |
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White Sox plus $1.48 hosting Red Sox Michael Kopech isn't just the White Sox's best pitching prospect. He's one of the top ones in all of baseball. Kopech hasn't disappointed during his first two starts allowing just one run in eight innings. Now he draws the Red Sox at home. The Sox are 11-5 in their last 16 games. That's the White Sox, who have compiled that record. The Red Sox actually have lost four of their past five road games. Boston starter Nathan Eovaldi has been cold giving up four or more earned runs in three of his last four starts. Eovaldi has been tagged for nine earned runs on 18 hits during his last two starts spanning only 9 1/3 innings. The Red Sox are down several players because of injury, including first baseman Mitch Moreland who isn't expected to play because of a sore knee. |
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| 08-29-18 | Tigers -101 v. Royals | Top | 2-9 | Loss | -101 | 12 h 19 m | Show |
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Kansas City is 2-9 the past 11 times Danny Duffy has pitched at home. Duffy has been horrible this season. I'm not buying the Royals opening as a favorite against the Tigers when Detroit has its best pitcher, Michael Fulmer, on the mound. Detroit has the superior late-inning relievers, too, and has scored more runs than the Royals. The Royals, in fact, have scored the fewest runs in the majors. Fulmer looked good in his last outing this past Friday. He held the White Sox scoreless for 4 2/3 innings throwing 77 pitches. That was his first start since the All-Star break. He had been out with an oblique strain. Fulmer should go longer in his second start back from the injury. The Tigers have buried Duffy in their two meetings this season. Duffy has given up 13 earned runs in 10 1/3 innings during two starts versus Detroit for an ERA of 11.32. Duffy doesn't have a good history against Detroit with a 7-10 career-mark and 4.63 ERA in 24 outings. |
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| 08-27-18 | Nationals -110 v. Phillies | Top | 5-3 | Win | 100 | 19 h 11 m | Show |
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The Nationals really need this game to keep their flickering playoff hopes somewhat alive. I see them getting the win here in a pitching matchup of Stephen Strasburg versus Zach Eflin. Both pitched poorly when they matched up five days ago. The Nationals won that game, 8-7, at home. Strasburg made that start having just come off the DL. He was rusty having not pitched since July 20. Following that game, Strasburg was quoted as saying, "It's a work in progress. I obviously missed a while, so I'll learn some things and take it into the next one (start)." Strasburg has pitched much better on the road where he is 4-2 with a 2.33 ERA this season. He has a tremendous history pitching against the Phillies with a 10-2 mark, 2.48 ERA and 0.89 WHIP. Strasburg's ERA at Citzens Band Park is 1.45 in eight career starts. The Nationals got their bats going on Sunday scoring a combined 14 runs during the final two innings against the Mets.The Nationals pounded Eflin for five runs, four of which were earned, on 10 hits in 3 1/3 innings this past Wednesday. Eflin probably should not still be in the Phillies' starting rotation. He has a 5.59 ERA in his last seven starts. He has a 6.48 career ERA versus the Nationals in two starts. The Phillies are 7-12 in their last 19 games, including losing six of their last eight games.
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| 08-26-18 | White Sox -111 v. Tigers | 7-2 | Win | 100 | 4 h 3 m | Show | |
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Surprised to see the White Sox a road favorite? Don't be. Michael Kopech is pitching for Chicago. The righthander might be the best pitching prospect in baseball. Kopech's big league debut was cut short after two scoreless innings against the Twins this past Tuesday because of a rain delay. Kopech had four strikeouts in that brief appearance. Kopech had 174 strikeouts in 128 1/3 innings in the minors before getting the call up. The Tigers have scored fewer than four runs in four of their last five games. They rank last in on-base percentage versus righty starters. The White Sox are playing well winning eight of their last 11. They draw Jordan Zimmerman, who has allowed 10 runs (nine earned) in 9 1/3 innings against the White Sox this season. Detroit is 5-12 in Zimmerman's past 17 home starts.
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| 08-25-18 | Braves v. Marlins +154 | 1-3 | Win | 154 | 18 h 57 m | Show | |
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Anibal Sanchez has turned back the hands of time. After posting ERA's of 4.99, 5.87 and 6.41, the 34-year-old Sanchez appeared washed-up. He has rejuvenated his career with the Braves this season, but is beginning to slow down. Sanchez has a 3.13 ERA on the season, but in his last six starts his ERA is 4.22. The Marlins have proven extremely tough at home with lefty Wei-Yin Chen on the mound winning 14 of the past 20 times he has started at Marlins Park. The Braves have been a great story going 72-56. However, they have a losing record versus southpaw starters. Chen has been terrible on the road with a 1-6 mark and 9.35 ERA, but great at home with a 2.05 ERA. He has a 2.08 ERA in three starts this month. Atlanta has been held to three runs or fewer in six of its last nine games. The Braves also have dropped their last five Saturday games.
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| 08-21-18 | Cardinals v. Dodgers -170 | 5-2 | Loss | -170 | 21 h 23 m | Show | |
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In Ryu we trust especially when pitching at Dodger Stadium. The Cardinals are a hot club, but they are at a severe disadvantage in this matchup as evidenced by the large lay price on the Dodgers. Hyun-Jin Ryu made his first start since May 2 this past Wednesday. He shut out San Francisco on three hits in six innings with six strikeouts and no walks. That came at home where Ryu pitches his best. He is unscored upon at home this season in 19 innings. Ryu has a career 0.92 WHIP versus the Cardinals in three appearances. The Dodgers' bullpen received a huge lift with Kenley Jansen coming off the DL way ahead of schedule. Fed up with erratic Luke Weaver, the Cardinals are going with rookie Daniel Poncedeleon in this matchup. Poncedeleon was ranked as just the Cardinals' No. 30 minor league prospect. His ceiling is that of a fifth starter, or long reliever. He faces an LA squad that entered this week ranked No. 2 in the majors in home runs. The Dodgers have seven players with 15 or more homers, including six with 18 or more home runs.
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| 08-21-18 | Padres v. Rockies -167 | Top | 4-3 | Loss | -167 | 20 h 54 m | Show |
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The Rockies are hot and rested having won eight of their last nine. They should be refreshed to open a six-game homestand having been idle Monday. Colorado is 20-7 in its past 27 home games. San Diego is 29 games below .500. The Padres have dropped six of their last seven and are 6-14 in their last 20 visits to Coors Field. The pitching matchup heavily favors Colorado, too, in battle of lefties with Robbie Erlin opposing Tyler Anderson. San Diego is 3-9 in Erlin's last 12 starts. The Rockes are 12-2 the past 14 times they've gone against a southpaw starter. Anderson knows how to pitch at Coors Field. He has a 1.35 ERA during his past five home starts. He is 1-0 with a 2.55 ERA in three starts versus San Diego this season. The Padres have dropped 26 of 38 games when facing a lefty starter.
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| 08-20-18 | Indians +101 v. Red Sox | Top | 5-4 | Win | 101 | 21 h 6 m | Show |
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There is only one American League pitcher comparable to Corey Kluber. He pitches for Boston, but he's not Rick Porcello. It's Porcello, not injured Chris Sale, who opposes Kluber making the Indians a strong value play at this pick'em type opening price. Cleveland enters this marquee series winning seven of its last eight. Boston was shut out at home by Tampa Bay on Sunday. Normally I'm not looking to go against the Red Sox. But this is a huge pitching mismatch. Kluber and Porcello each have 15 victories. That is where the similarity ends, though. Kluber has a chance to win the Cy Young Award for a second straight year. He has a 2.68 ERA and 0.92 WHIP. Porcello has a 4.04 ERA, which becomes 4.57 when he pitches at Fenway Park. The current Indians roster is batting a cumulative .333 lifetime versus Porcello. Cleveland is 22-8 in Kluber's past 30 road starts. The Indians have revamped their bullpen greatly improving their depth with Andrew Miller healthy and newcomers Brad Hand and Adam Cimber on board. The Indians can match any of Boston's top offensive players with Jose Ramirez and Francisco Lindor. |
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