Baseball's Best Over/Under Plays
By Covers.com
Under
Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays have an over/under record of 38-41-3 this season, but have continually been below the number the past two weeks.
In fact, Tampa Bay has gone under in seven of its past 10 games. The biggest reason? It’s pitching. The Rays have been bolstered by the healthy return of Scott Kazmir and Matt Garza has been rock solid for the team. Once hurler David Price rounds into form, combined with a very athletic defense, this team could be a routine under play.
Before giving up 12 runs to Texas Saturday, the Rays pitchers had yielded an average of just 2.1 runs per game in their previous nine outings.
Kansas City Royals
This team’s popgun offense has been one of its biggest weaknesses. The Royals, which have gone under the total eight times in the past 10 games (1-8-1), are hitting a horrendous .250 BA as a team and have hit just 68 home runs this year.
In those 10 games, the Royals averaged just 2.7 runs per game.
Combine that number with above-average pitching (4.28 ERA) and you have the team’s 34-44-3 O/U record. The team’s pitching shouldn’t change dramatically any time soon, so continue to keep an eye on this trend.
Over
Milwaukee Brewers
Welcome to the opposite of the Royals. Milwaukee has scored 385 runs this season, 12th most in the league, but can’t catch a break from a depleted pitching staff.
In the past 10 games, the Brewers topped the number six times, allowing opponents to score at least six runs five times. The team’s ERA is 24th in the league at 4.48.
But helping to boost the run total even more is the team’s offense. The Brewers have mashed 95 home runs this season and have scored at least six runs five times during that same 10-game stretch. For the season, Milwaukee’s over/under record is 42-39-1.
Unless the Brewers make a trade, this trend will continue.
Los Angeles Angels
Nothing helps boost the over numbers like a four-game visit from the Orioles and their atrocious pitching staff. In its past 10 games, the Angels have a sterling, 6-3-1 over/under record.
Los Angeles leads the Majors with a .280 batting average and is among the leaders with a 5.21 runs per game average.
But that’s not all.
The team’s pitching staff has also been suspect at best this season. The Angels' 4.68 ERA is the fifth-worst in the league as the Halos have yielded at least six runs five times in the past 10 games.
The Orioles won’t be in town every weekend, but with Texas and New York on tap next week, this trend should easily continue.