Welcome back to a midweek preview of some MLB action. It’s been a solid week of profit for us as we have now exceeded last season total return, pre All Star game. It’s an early crown perhaps but the signs are good. There have been some ridiculous hot teams in the MLB at the moment, the Orioles, Indians, Astros and aside from yesterday collapse the Rangers. Texas especially have been at crazy odds game in game out. Aside from that plenty of games coming thick and fast, how about we find the winners for Friday.
Friday 30th
Plays
Best Bet – Cubs $1.72 (2u)
Rangers $2.15 (1u)
Indians $1.86 (0.5u)
Orioles/Giants $3.02 (0.5u)
New York Yankees vs Texas Rangers (3.05am AEST)
Yankees ($1.68) – Pineda (3-7, 5.51 ERA)
Rangers ($2.15) – Gant (3-0, 3.08 ERA)
Prediction
Rangers. What a ride it has been on the Rangers the last few days, the money train is filling up and luckily I got off on the day they blew a 4 run lead in the bottom of the 9th. They have been red hot though and the bookies keep on posting them at crazy prices. This is the 2nd best team in baseball. They will throw AJ Griffin on the mound against Michael “Pine tar” Pineda in the final game of the series. Griffin has been good this season in the starts he has made, he may get his pitch count up high but he gets results. In the 7 games he has started the Rangers have lost 1. He pitched 8 solid innings in New York in April, giving up 1 run. The Yanks have been hit hard by injuries and to be honest aside from their bullpen (likely to see someone there traded soon) the results all over the park have been mediocre. Pineda’s season numbers are ugly but he has been okay of late. Can he pitch enough innings though before the pen can save him ? The price on the Rangers is wrong. I love the value. I’m taking them here.
Suggested Bet
Rangers $2.15
New York Mets vs Chicago Cubs (9.10am AEST)
Mets ($2.17) – Matz (7-3, 3.29 ERA)
Cubs ($1.72) – Lackey (7-4, 3.29 ERA)
Prediction
Cubs. After some pretty ordinary displays against their division rival the National, the job does not get any easier for the Mets as they host the best team in baseball in the Chicago Cubs. Steven matz gets the nod for the Mets and his last 4 starts have been poor, giving up 15 runs over a combined 21 innings. Can we see him not giving up a few runs at least ? On the flip side John Lackey has also been lacking (see what I did there) of late. With his last 2 starts being rather poor. He is pretty good against the Mets though, with a 1.98 ERA over 4 career starts. My issue with the Mets, even if they get a good pitching display, is how can they out score the Cubs. Usually when it rains it pours for the Mets but they have been sluggish of late. Can’t see them getting too many. Price on the Cubs is good enough for me.
Suggested Bet
Cubs $1.72
Seattle Mariners vs Baltimore Orioles (12.10pm AEST)
Mariners ($1.91) – Walker (3-6, 3.45 ERA)
Orioles ($1.93) – Tillman (10-1, 3.52 ERA)
Prediction
Orioles. The red hot hitting Baltimore Orioles head into Seattle off the back of a historic month of June. Hitting an insane amount of home runs, 55 in total. Scoring over 11 runs in their last 3 games, over 5 in their last 8, and winning 7 games in a row. Considering the once fly ball friendly confines of SAFECO field are up next, who’s to say they stop. Chris Tillman gets the nod for the O’s and he is putting up All Star numbers. With only 2 losses in his 16 starts you have to be on his shoulder again. He got the win against Seattle in May over 6 solid innings. Taijuan Walker will be the Mariners answer perhaps, although bouncing back from an injury will be interesting to see how he starts. He tends to give up home runs and this isn’t the team to be facing. 0-1 with a 5.52 record against the O’s over his short career. After what was an impressive streak in May the Mariners have hovered back around the .500 mark. Orioles to score a few.
Suggested Bet
Orioles $1.93
Other Games
Oakland A’s vs San Francisco Giants
Giants have dropped 3 in a row against cross bridge rivals Oakland, they throw Bumgarner on the mound, and apparently at DH. I think that’s a poor choice (batting him DH), but backing them tomorrow as you multi anchor is not. The A’s are rebuilding, they won’t win 4 games in a row this season too often. Giants too avoid the 4 game sweep
Toronto Blue Jays vs Cleveland Indians
12 wins in row for the Indians, this series with the Jays won’t be easy. Giving up more than 3 runs only twice over those last 12 games. Baseball can be about streaks, who is hot who is cold. No hotter team right now. At $1.86 I’ll have a very small play for them to keep the streak going.
All Prices Quoted via Crown Bet at time of writing.
For records. Best Bet 2 Units, Next Best 1 Unit, Multi Units stated
Be back later in the week for some more insight
Hopefully your thoughts on the games match up with mine. As always these are only a select few games I was interested in, feel free to share your opinions on any games at @MLB_TheProfits on Twitter. Happy Punting.
