Welcome back to MLB preview to start your working week off. Well we are now under a month out from the 2017 postseason, while many teams have packed their bags and all but turned out the lights, there are a few still in the thick of a wild card race. The American League as it seems to do each season has the most interesting race with the Yankees, Twins, Angels, even the Mariners and Royals amongst those fighting for the spots. The AL Central and West are decided but the Sox have the Yankees snapping at their heels in the East. Their series with the Twins this week will be huge and may all but end one the teams season if they get swept. In the National league there isn’t as much competition as the Dbacks and Rockies look destined to meet in the Wild Card game unless one of them hit a big losing streak. It was a profitable week last week so let’s start the new one with a bang.
Monday 18th
Best Bet – Over 9.5 Runs Twins/Jays $1.97 (2u)
Next Best – Yankees -1.5 $2.05 (1u)
Double – Nats/Dodgers u8.5/Rockies ML $2.54 (0.5u)
New York Yankees vs Baltimore Orioles (3.05 AEST)
Yankees ($1.54) – Gray (9-10, 3.17 ERA)
Orioles ($2.54) – Jimenez (5-10, 6.75 ERA)
It’s the start of what could be their season defining week for the Yankees, and they will be keen to finish of the Orioles with a sweep. Sonny Gray will make only his 4th start in the Big Apple since his arrival from Oakland, he is 2-1 with a 3.15 ERA and .176 BAA in those 3 starts, yet his tendency to give up the long ball at home can be a concern. Having it be Yankee Stadium I suppose that can be expected. For the reeling Orioles it will be the ever frustrating veteran Ubaldo Jiminez. 3-7 with a 6.32 ERA on the road this season. that figure rings true looking at his work at Yankee stadium in the past, a 6.23 ERA and .293 BAA. Yankees are in red hot form and the final nail in the O’s season could be hit home here. Take the boys in the pin stripes.
Suggested Bet – Yankees -1.5 $2.05
Minnesota Twins vs Toronto Blue Jays (4.10am AEST)
Twins ($1.69) – Gibson (10-10, 4.97 ERA)
Blue Jays ($2.20) – Biagini (3-10, 5.07 ERA)
Another team in good for are the Twins, as they continue to push for a postseason berth. It would be a great story as the rebuilding has happened a lot quicker then expected. One of the hottest teams since the All Star break their bats have been doing some serious damage. Kyle Gibson gets the nod here as they try to avoid a series loss, 5-7 with a 5.50 home ERA on the season his .319 BAA has to be a concern. For the Jays it will be former relief man Joe Biagini who has a 5.09 road ERA. In his start against the Twins in late August he got hit hard giving up 9 hits and 5 runs in just over 3 innings. I think the Twins win this but I wouldn’t touch them at that ML price. Struggling to score more then 3 runs in their last 4 games they look due to break out. The Jays are another team who can put up big tallies and the pitching matchup leans that way aswell. I expected at 10.5 total on this game, its been set at 9.5 so I have to take it with confidence. Twins games go over a fair bit, be it their big hitters or poor pitching aside from 2 of their starters. Taking the overs
Suggested Bet – Over 9.5 runs $1.96
Other Games
Washington National vs Los Angeles Dodgers
The Nats are waiting for October baseball and the Dodgers are just getting out of a slump, if you want the value you take the Dodgers ML here. I however would lean the dreaded unders on the Total. Sunday Night baseball games regularly go under, for whatever reason. Stick with the trend.
Colorado Rockies vs San Diego Padres
Colorado have gotten out of a slump and look to be back on track heading to the post season. 43-31 at home with the Padres a woeful 26-48 away. A good anchor for a baseball multi tomorrow. The price is actually pretty good. Thye should win, and win well but i’d be happy with the ML play on the Rox.
All Prices Quoted via Crown Bet at time of writing.
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.
