3DW Line Moves – Crucial Betting Info
By Doug Upstone
The weekend is almost here and so are additional sports betting opportunities. Baseball bettors today have returned to a couple of the same matchups as yesterday as well as placing bets on what they see as winnable wagers. Let’s delve into what they are doing.
Minnesota at Baltimore 7:05 EDT
Enough sports bettors yesterday believed they had reasonable value on Baltimore and changed the odds on the Orioles as underdogs. Baltimore was shutout 5-0 and the focus has in turn changed to totals. This matchup started today at 9 and has been bumped up to 9.5.The reasons are plentiful with Jeremy Guthrie (3-10, 4.58 ERA) mostly ineffective and 9-29 in night games the last two seasons. (O’s Record) Minnesota has finally taken Nick Blackburn out of the rotation and replaced with Steve Duensing (3-1, 1.67), who has made 39 relief appearances this year. Duensing went 5-1 with a 2.73 ERA in nine starts as a rookie in 2009 and it is forecasted he will be held to a pitch count of 60-80. The Twins have pitched well lately with its spotty offense and are 15-4 UNDER in road games after three or more consecutive Under’s, while Guthrie’s is 19-8 UNDER when the total is 9 to 9.5. The action might be moving the wrong direction.
Atlanta at Florida 7:05 EDT
The Marlins were a -119 money line favorite on the overnight line and have dropped precipitously to a short fave or even an underdog at some locations. Florida sends rookie Alex Sanabia (1-1, 2.12) to stride the rubber and he’s been sharp in a couple of outings for team that is 12-3 after batting .250 or worse over a 20-game span. Atlanta has a built a seven-game lead in the NL East, thanks to their stellar play at home. They will look to continue to improve on the road (22-26) and are 23-9 as visitors vs. teams averaging 2.75 or less extra base hits per game in the second half of the season. Derek Lowe (10-8, 4.39) needs more run support not being the same ground-ball pitcher of years past, yet he and the Braves are 8-0 away from home against clubs that strike out seven or more times after playing half their schedule. Watch this line closely as the Fish are 0-10 as a home underdog of +100 to +125.
Cincinnati at Houston 8:05 EDT
The Reds Travis Wood (0-1, 2.02) has pitched well enough in his three starts to at least pick up a couple of victories, unfortunately for him; he’s been on the wrong side of a pair of 1-0 shutouts. Wood will seek elusive first “W” without the support of those betting on sports. Cincinnati was a -170 ML pick and has toppled to -150 or less. The Reds have matched up well against impatient teams like Houston and are 6-0 in visiting uniforms vs. opposing squads’ hitters who draw three walks or less a contest. With Astros starter Bud Norris 0-4, with 7.36 ERA at “Juice” Park and Cincy 13-3 facing NL teams scoring 3.8 or less runs a game, the lower ML offers greater value.
San Francisco at Arizona 7:05 EDT
Matt Cain blanked the Snakes 3-0 last night, lowering the team ERA to 2.80 in previous 17 outings (San Fran 13-4). Giants’ starter Jonathan Sanchez (7-6, 3.42) will attempt to keep pace with pitching brethren having shown glimpses of dominance lately, yet still far too inconsistent. The lefty’s up and down efforts concern sports bettors, moving San Francisco from -124 on the ML to -110 or less. Arizona’s Edwin Jackson isn’t exactly Mr. Stability, with 1-2 mark and a 7.16 ERA in three outings since his no-hitter. The D-Backs are 2-11 revenging four or more straight losses versus opponent, while Sanchez and the Giants are beleaguered 1-12 in road battles after a triumph since last season.
Chic. White Sox at Oakland 10:05 EDT
The Oakland A’s are playing their best baseball of the season having won seven of eight and moving ever closer to second place Los Angeles. The A’s are averaging almost 10 hits per game in this stretch and are 10-1 after scoring five or runs like they did against Boston in 6-4 triumph Wednesday. Terrific Trevor Cahill (9-3, 3.19) is the Oakland starter and he is 5-1 at home and the A’s are 12-4 in all his starts. The Athletics began as -124 ML play and have been bet down to -110 or lower, which is surprising. The A’s hitters have solved Mark Buehrle (8-8, 4.18) almost his entire career, with the lefty just 3-12 against Oakland. The Pale Hose and Buehrle are 4-14 in his last 18 starts against winning teams, making this look like the wagering public is backing the wrong side.
3DW Bonus Info
Money Line Nugget
Tampa Bay has lost 17 in a row at Cleveland.
Totals Nugget
Kansas City is 17-3 OVER vs. teams who strand 7.5 or more runners on base per game this season; with average total score 11.4 RPG.
Run Line Nugget
Pittsburgh is 9-26 (-26.1 Units) against the run line vs. an NL team with a batting average of .255 or worse in the second half of the season over the last two years, losing by 2.5 RPG.