Rocketman
Los Angeles vs. Cincinnati
Play: Los Angeles -1½
The LA Dodgers travel to Cincinnati to take on the Reds on Saturday afternoon. The LA Dodgers are 41-26 SU overall this year while Cincinnati comes in with a 29-36 SU overall this season. Asher Wojchiehowski has a 6.00 ERA in his 3 starts this year. Wojchiehowski has a 7.20 ERA in his one start vs the LA Dodgers in his career. LA Dodgers are scoring 5.9 runs per game their past 7 games overall and 5.5 runs per game in day games this season. LA Dodgers are allowing only 3.6 runs per game overall this year, 3.6 runs per game on grass and 3.7 runs per game in day games this season. Cincinnati is scoring only 3.6 runs per game their past 7 games overall. Cincinnati is allowing 6 runs per game their past 7 games overall and 5.6 runs per game in day games this season. LA Dodgers are 14-3 overall vs Cincinnati past 3 years. Cincinnati is 3-12 this year against left handed starters. We'll recommend a small play on LA Dodgers today on the Run Line!
Jimmy Boyd
Cardinals vs. Orioles
Play: Cardinals -105
St Louis took the series opener 11-2 behind a rare quality start on the road from Carlos Martinez, who coming into that game had been just 1-4 with a 5.10 ERA in 5 road starts. That says a lot about the struggles of the Orioles right now, who are a 1-8 over their last 9 games. I see no reason here not to stick with the hot bats of St Lous, who have scored at least 4 runs in each of their last 7 games, scoring 6 or more in 5 of those contests.
Not to mention they will be facing Wade Miley of the Orioles, who hasn't completed 3 innings in each of his last two starts and has an atrocious 8.25 ERA and 2.00 WHIP in his last 3 outings overall. Cardinals counter with veteran Adam Wainwright, who is comign off a strong outing in his last start and while the overall numbers aren't great, he's allowed 2 or fewer earned runs in 5 of his last 6 starts.
Will Rogers
Cardinals vs. Orioles
Play: Cardinals -105
The set-up: The St. Louis Cardinals dropped the final three contests of their seven-game homestand by getting swept Tuesday through Thursday by the Brewers. However, they rebounded nicely with Friday's 11-2 win at Baltimore, leaving them 31-35 on the season, 4 1/2 games out of first in the NL Central. This three-game IL series continues Saturday, as the Cards try to build some momentum on a six-game road trip that takes them to major league-worst Philadelphia following this series at Baltimore. The struggling Orioles have now lost eight of nine and at 32-24, are 6 1/2 games out fo first in the AL East.
The pitching matchup: Adam Wainwright (7-4 & 4.73 ERA) will take the mound for the Cards and Wade Miley (2-4 & 3.97 ERA) for the Orioles. Wainwright had his string of four straight victories in which he allowed a total of one run come to an end at Cincinnati on June 6, when he was lit up for nine runs on seven hits and three walks in just 3 2/3 innings. He lasted only five innings in his last start but managed to post a win against Philadelphia on Sunday, surrendering two runs on six hits in the 6-5 St. Louis victory. Wainwright, who will be facing Baltimore for the first time in his career. Miley followed his best start of the season (one run allowed in seven innings against Boston on June 1) with two of his worst. He got beat up for 10 runs on 14 hits in just five total innings in outings against the Pirates and White Sox. Miley 1-2 with a 4.12 ERA in four career starts against St. Louis (teams are 2-2).
The pick: Miley's recent pitching woes are emblematic of Baltimore's pitching staff as a whole, as the Orioles are allowing an average of 9.1 runs over the their 1-8 stretch. However, Baltimore's overall woes extend further back than just nine games, as since reaching 22-10 on May 9, the Orioles have gone just 10-24. Wainwright lost his first three starts of 2017 but the Cards are 8-2 over his last 10 outings.
Brandon Lee
Diamondbacks vs. Phillies
Play: Diamondbacks -115
Arizona isn't the same caliber a team on the road as they are at home, but the Phillies are a club they can handle, as Philadelphia is a mere 13-15 on their home field this season. Arizona has all the momentum going into this one after a late rally secured a 5-4 win in the series opener last night. That combined with the pitching matchup and excellent value on the line makes the Diamondbacks too good to pass up. Arizona gives the rock to talented youngster Zack Godley, who has a sensational 2.44 ERA and 0.992 WHIP in 7 starts. He's shown no signs of slowing down or struggling to deal with the away crowds, as he's got a 2.41 ERA over his last 3 starts and a 2.84 ERA in 3 road outings. Philadelphia is giving the ball to Jerad Eickhoff, who is 0-7 with a 5.22 ERA in 13 starts and has a 5.76 ERA in 6 starts at home and 6.58 ERA in his last 3 outings.
Eric Schroeder
Nineteen runs on Thursday. Eighteen on Friday.
Hope you were aboard for my 60 Dime total on Thursday night, and my complimentary play last night, as I hit the Over in the San Francisco Giants-Colorado Rockies both nights.
Tonight my free play is on the Over in the same matchup, as I once again will go with a high-scoring game, as the Giants and Rockies are going to tee off, in today's game in Denver, as I see both pitchers getting chased early in this one.
I'll make this short and sweet, as I continue to enjoy my trip and sort-of vacation in New York City, rather than sit behind a keyboard.
We start with Cain, who has been hit hard this season, and is struggling terribly. He is in after giving up five runs and two home runs over 4.1 innings against the Minnesota Twins last Sunday.
Thanks to the Giants producing 13 runs, Cain avoided losing his fifth-straight start. Now he takes on a dangerous lineup in the rarified Denver air. He'll get rocked.
As for Freeland, he is in after giving up four earned runs and nine hits over 5.2 innings in a 7-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. The rookie left-hander could be in trouble here, as the Giants have to be tired of just missing out in slugfests and will be looking to batter the Rox.
Play this one high today.
1* Giants/Rockies Over
Brad Wilton
Saturday comp play on the Nationals on the Run Line over the Mets.
Washington has feasted on their division-rival lately, winning 6 of the 8 games played this season. Each of the Nats last 5 series wins have come by 2 runs or more, and there is no reason they shouldn't win today's game by at least a pair of runs, as they are now 44-14 their last 58 games played in Queens.
Stephen Strasburg and Seth Lugo will get the call, and for Lugo it will be just his second start of the season. He is fresh off a 1 run win in 7 innings of work against the Atlanta Braves! Let's see if he can do it again against the bats of the Nats though, I don't think he can.
Strasburg is 7-4 with a career 2.64 ERA against the Mets, so chances he shuts down the Mets seem pretty good to me.
Go ahead and lay the run-and-a-half with the Nationals.
3* WASHINGTON -1.5
Jack Brayman
Now on a 7-3 run with my complimentary plays and I want you to play the Detroit Tigers over the Tampa Bay Rays, for your free winner on Saturday.
Do not list pitchers in this one, as it's all about the boys from Motown taking advantage of a struggling Rays team that has lost three in a row. Detroit has won 18 of 32 at home, while the Rays are 14-20 on the highway this season.
Detroit is somewhat in desperation mode, with Victor Martinez on the shelf for 10 days. The Tigers have to find someone else to hold it down in the designated hitter spot, joining slugger and MVP-candidate Miguel Cabrera, whose two-run home run in the ninth inning last night gave Detroit a 5-3 victory over Tampa Bay.
Cabrera served as DH last night, but is expected to be on first base today.
Tampa Bay is out of sorts right now, playing bad on the field and struggling to plate runs in June, as it has scored just 66 runs this month - 21st in the league.
Take Detroit as your free winner.
4* TIGERS
Jeff Benton
If Kansas City were able to play Los Angeles all the time, the Royals may be atop the standings in their division.
With last night's 3-1 win over the Angels, the Royals have now won all 5 series meetings this year over L.A., and 6 straight dating back to last year.
The Royals are also owning their current road trip, as last night's victory puts them at 6-1 with 6 straight wins on this west coast road swing!
More of the same tonight, as Jake Junis makes start # 4 this year, and takes a 2-0 mark onto the mound at Anaheim against Alex Meyer who owns a 1.62 ERA over his last 3 starts, but nary a win!
Meyer is 0-1 over those 3, and the Halos have lost all 3, and are just 2-6 when he takes a turn on the bump this season.
Side with the Royals to keep up their impressive road run, and their impressive series run with the win tonight.
4* KANSAS CITY
Alex Smart
Cubs at Pirates
Play: Over 8
The Cubbies starting hurler today has decent overall stats vs the Pirates in his career, but has struggled mightily in recent meetings. He posted a 1.46 ERA in his first 12 starts but has pitched to an 8.61 ERA in the last four and has been below average onf the road this season, as is evident by recording a 5.20 ERA including 9 HRs in 8 tilts. I'm betting a Pirates team has scored 5 or more runs in 5 of their L/7 overall will do some damage here tonight against him again . Meanwhile, Ivan Nova the Pirates starter , despite of some decent stats this season, goes against a Chicago offense that has averaged 5.8 rpg in division games this season, and an average of 5.6 rpg in production during a current 7 game stretch. These teams took part in a 9-5/14 run output yesterday and more of the same action can be expected tonight. Over is 5-0 in Arrietas last 5 starts when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.Over is 9-3 in Arrietas last 12 starts overall.Over is 7-1-1 in Arrietas last 9 starts vs. a team with a losing record.Over is 4-0 in Arrietas last 4 starts vs. Pirates.Over is 20-7-1 in the last 28 meetings in Pittsburgh.Over is 4-1 in Novas last 5 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.Over is 5-1 in home plate umpire Fagans last 6 games behind home plate. PITTSBURGH is 23-8 OVER L/31 as a home underdog of +100 or higher with a combined average of 10.5 rpg going on the board. ARRIETA is 8-0 OVER L/8 in road games vs. poor power teams - averaging 0.9 or less HR's/game with a combined average of 10.6 rpg going on the board.
Wunderdog
Boston vs. Houston
Pick: Houston -110
The Boston Red Sox and their deep pitching, and lineup were supposed to be the team to beat in the AL, with Houston not far behind. Houston has been the more impressive team at 45-23, and have been outscoring opponents by better than a run and a half per contest. Boston had not gotten the consistent pitching they expected, and the power has simply not been there for the Red Sox through better than 60 games. Boston was 25-9 when Porcello started last season, winning by a staggering three runs per game, but this season they have struggled to a 6-8 mark in his starts, and have averaged losing by .5 runs a contest, or -3.5 runs per game year over year. That is not a good situation against the best there is in the AL on the road at basically even money.
SCOTT RICKENBACH
Royals vs. Angels
Play Under 9
Don't be surprised if shadows are an issue for the hitters with this unusual start time. The game goes at 5:15 local time and the sunset is around 8:00 local time. The first time through the lineup these hitters will be facing these pitchers for the first time ever. By the 2nd time through the lineup it is likely that shadowing could start to be an issue for the hitters. That makes it a very tough situation for the hitters. Even though the Royals have hit better of late, I wouldn't be surprised to see another game like the 3-1 KC win yesterday. Kansas City is averaging just 4 runs per game on the season. The Angels Alex Meyer has piled up a lot of strikeouts this season and he has been much stronger at home than on the road. As for the Royals Jake Junis, he is coming off of his best start yet and he walked only 1 while striking out 6 in 7 solid innings of work. He's facing an Angels team that has been held to 3 runs or less in 5 of its last 6 home games. The unimpressive overall numbers of these two starting pitchers is helping to keep this total higher than it should be. It is a pitcher-friendly start time in Anaheim and this one has the makings of another easy under like last night's game.
ALEX SMART
Nationals -158
Two righty hurlers Washington's Stephen Strasburg (7-2, 3.27 ERA) i New York's Seth Lugo (1-0, 1.29 ERA) go head to head in Citi Field tonight in the third game of this series.
Washington has outscored the Mets 15-5 in the first two games of the series, and look like viable bets again in this spot and have won all five meetings as visitors in this series during the current campaign. Washington (23-12 away from Nationals Park) almost always looks like a dangerous foe for all comers on a daily basis and must be respected . The only problems the Nats have exhibited is a shaky bullpen, but it must be noted that the METS are just 2-11 against the money line in home games vs. a team with a bad bullpen whose ERA is 4.70 or worse this season as they have only scored an average of 4.2 rpg at home via a lowly .229 BA in their own backyards.
Nats Manager BAKER is 32-11 L/43 against the money line in road games after allowing 2 runs or less in a previous game.
JACK JONES
Colorado Rockies -1.5 +105
That three-game losing streak for the Rockies did not last long. They have since reeled off three straight wins while scoring a combined 25 runs in the process. I look for them to win by multiple runs against the struggling San Francisco Giants, who are 26-43 on the season, including 12-25 on the road.
Kyle Freeland is just another underrated starter for the Rockies. The left-hander has gone 7-4 with a 3.45 ERA in 13 starts this season. Freeland is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in one career start against San Francisco, pitching 7 shutout inning in an 8-0 victory over the Giants on April 23rd. The Giants are hitting .239 and scoring 3.9 runs per game against left-handed starters this year.
Matt Cain has actually been a good bet at home this season, but it has been a different story on the road. Indeed, Cain is 0-3 with an 8.40 ERA and 2.034 WHIP in six road starts this year. He is 0-2 with a 10.12 ERA in his last three starts against the Rockies, giving up 12 earned runs in 10 1/3 innings.
The Giants are 1-6 in Cain's last seven road starts vs. a team with a winning record. San Francisco is 8-20 in Cain's last 28 road starts. The Rockies are 10-3 in their last 13 games overall. Colorado is 8-3 in Freeland's last 11 starts.
DAVE PRICE
Milwaukee Brewers -1.5 +130
The Milwaukee Brewers just won in walk off fashion last night and come in with a ton of confidence as they are leading the NL Central. The Padres are just 10-23 on the road this year, and I don't think they can hang with the Brewers today due to the pitching mismatch. Chase Anderson is 5-2 with a 2.83 ERA in 13 starts this year, 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA in 6 home starts, and 2-1 with a 0.44 ERA in his last 3 outings. He'll be opposed by Dinelson Lamet, who is 2-2 with an 8.50 ERA and 1.56 WHIP in 4 starts for the Padres. The Padres are 16-40 in their last 56 road games. The Brewers are 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.
DOC'S SPORTS
Cardinals vs. Orioles
Play: Orioles -108
Oriole Park is the site of the matchup between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday, June 17, 2017. The probable starting pitchers are Adam Wainwright for the Cardinals and Wade Miley for the Orioles.
St. Louis opens at +109 while Baltimore opens at -119. The Cardinals have a 35-28-2 over/under record and a 29-36-0 run line mark. The Orioles are 29-36-0 against the run line and have a 34-29-2 over/under record.
Valuable St. Louis Cardinals Betting Trends
The St. Louis Cardinals are 35-28-2 against the over/under
The St. Louis Cardinals are 29-36-0 against the run line
Valuable Baltimore Orioles Betting Trends
The Baltimore Orioles are 34-29-2 against the over/under
The Baltimore Orioles are 29-36-0 against the run line
Useful Pitching Statistics
The Cardinals have a 30-35 overall record this season. Starting pitcher Adam Wainwright has a 7-4 record with an earned run average of 4.73 and a WHIP of 1.56. He has 60 strikeouts over his 70.1 innings pitched and he's given up 82 hits. He allows 10.5 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 3.67. The bullpen has an earned run average of 4.65 and they have given up 207 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .257 against the bullpen and they've struck out 202 hitters and walked 81 batters. As a team, St. Louis allows 8.4 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.5 batters per nine innings. They are 6th in the league in team earned run average at 4.01. The Cardinals pitchers collectively have given up 552 base hits and 263 earned runs. They have allowed 72 home runs this season, ranking them 25th in the league. St. Louis as a pitching staff has walked 211 batters and struck out 555. They have walked 3.2 men per 9 innings while striking out 8.5 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.29 and their FIP as a unit is 4.03.
Hitting Statistics
As a team St. Louis is hitting .252, good for 16th in the league. The Cardinals hold a .405 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .324, which is good for 18th in baseball. They rank 19th in MLB with 8.5 hits per game. Aledmys Diaz is hitting .263 with an on-base percentage of .296. He has 63 hits this season in 240 at bats with 19 runs batted in. He has a slugging percentage of .417 and an OPS+ of 87. Jedd Gyorko is hitting .295 this year and he has an on-base percentage of .344. He has totaled 59 hits and he has driven in 27 men in 200 at bats. His OPS+ is 119 while his slugging percentage is at .490. The Cardinals have 552 hits, including 119 doubles and 65 home runs. St. Louis has walked 220 times so far this season and they have struck out 514 times as a unit. They have left 438 men on base and have a team OPS of .729. They score 4.14 runs per contest and have scored a total of 269 runs this year.
Useful Pitching Statistics
Baltimore has a 32-33 overall mark this year. With an earned run average of 3.97, Wade Miley has a 2-4 record and a 1.60 WHIP. He has 58 strikeouts over the 65.2 innings he's pitched. He's also given up 69 hits. He allows 9.5 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 4.64. The bullpen has an earned run average of 4.13 and they have given up 250 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .264 against the Orioles bullpen. Their relievers have struck out 218 batters and walked 93 opposing hitters. As a team, Baltimore allows 9.9 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.2 batters per nine innings. They are 27th in the league in team earned run average at 4.89. The Orioles pitchers as a team have surrendered 640 base knocks and 316 earned runs this season. They have given up 90 home runs this year, which ranks 7th in Major League Baseball. Baltimore as a staff has walked 242 hitters and struck out 467 batters. They give up a walk 3.7 times per 9 innings while they strike out 7.2 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.52 while their FIP as a staff is 4.93.
Hitting Statistics
As a team, they are batting .254, good for 14th in the league. The Orioles hold a .421 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .309, which is good for 25th in baseball. They rank 12th in MLB with 8.9 hits per contest. Jonathan Schoop comes into this matchup batting .286 with an OBP of .344. He has 66 hits this year along with 36 RBI in 231 AB's. He maintains a slugging percentage of .515 with an OPS+ of 128. Mark Trumbo is hitting .260 this season and he has an OBP of .323. He has collected 67 hits in 258 at bats while driving in 29 runs. He has an OPS+ of 93 and a slugging percentage of .395. The Orioles as a unit have 578 base hits, including 109 doubles and 89 homers. Baltimore has walked 172 times this year and they have struck out on 579 occasions. They have had 435 men left on base and have an OPS of .731. They have scored 4.43 runs per game and totaled 288 runs this season.