MLB betting trends, odds and predictions for Friday, May 5th, 2017 from various handicappers and websites
MLB Knowledge
National League
Nationals @ Phillies
Strasburg is 2-1, 3.09 in five starts this year (under 4-1).
Pivetta allowed two runs in five IP in his first ’17 start, a 5-3 loss in LA.
Washington won three of its last four games; their last five road games went over. Nationals are 6-3 in series openers. Phillies lost their last three games, but won five in row at home- they’re 5-4 in series openers. Over is 5-0-1 in their last six tilts.
Brewers @ Pirates
Nelson is 0-2, 9.19 in his last three starts, all of which went over.
Kuhl is 0-2, 7.50 in his last four starts (over 3-2).
Milwaukee won three of its last four games; they’re 4-0 in road series openers. Over is 7-2 in their last nine road games. Pirates lost four of last five games; they’re 4-6 in series openers. Over is 8-2-2 in their home games.
Cardinals @ Braves
Lynn is 3-0, 0.95 in his last three starts (over 3-2).
Foltynewicz is 0-3, 3.42 in four starts this year (last three stayed under).
Cardinals lost three of last four games; they’re 3-6 in series openers, 0-3 on road. Over is 10-2 in their last 12 games. Braves lost five of last six home games; they’re 3-6 in series openers. Over is 6-2 in their last eight home games.
Marlins @ Mets
Koehler is 1-1, 5.40 in five starts this year (over 3-1 in last four).
Montero is making his first ’17 start; he is 1-7, 5.51 in 30 MLB games (12 starts). He is 0-0, 1.74 in two AAA starts this season.
Miami lost seven of last nine games; they’re 3-7 in series openers. Over is 6-2 in their last eight road games. New York won four of last six overall but lost six in row at home; they’re 1-4 in home series openers.
Giants @ Reds
Cain is 2-0, 1.17 in his last four starts (over 2-2-1).
Arroyo is 2-2, 7.20 in his five starts this year (over 4-1).
San Francisco lost five of last seven on road; they’re 5-4 in series openers, 2-3 on road. Over is 10-5 in their road games. Reds won four of their last five games; they’re 4-5 in series openers. Over is 10-2 in their last 12 games.
Diamondbacks @ Rockies
Greinke is 1-1, 2.25 in his last three starts (over 5-1).
Marquez is 0-1, 7.20 in two starts this month (over 1-1).
Arizona lost four of its last five road games; they’re 6-3 in series openers. Under is 6-2 in their last eight road games. Colorado won four of last six games but lost three in row at home- they’re 7-2 in series openers. Over is 6-1 in their last seven games at Coors.
Dodgers @ Padres
Maeda is 2-2, 6.58 in five starts this year (over 3-1-1).
Chacin is 2-0, 0.00 (14.2 IP) at home, 1-3, 10.71 on road (over 3-3).
Dodgers won five of last seven games; they’re 0-4 in road series openers. Under is 4-0-1 in their last five road games. San Diego lost four of last five at home; Over is 9-4 in their last 13 games. Padres are 4-5 in series openers.
American League
White Sox @ Orioles
Gonzalez is 3-1, 3.78 in five starts this year (over 3-1 in last four).
Miley is 1-1, 2.32 in five starts this year (over 3-2).
Chicago is 7-3 in its last 10 games; they’re 3-6 in series openers, 1-3 on road. three of their last four games stayed under. Orioles are 8-3 at home, 4-0 in home series openers. Under is 3-1 in their last four games.
Blue Jays @ Rays
Liriano is 2-2, 2.01 in his last four starts (under 4-1).
Archer is 0-1, 4.74 in his last three starts (over 4-2).
Blue Jays lost four of last five on road; their last six away games went over. Jays are 4-1 in road series openers. Rays won three of last four games; they’re 5-5 in series openers- under is 5-1 in their last six games.
Red Sox @ Twins
Rodriguez is 1-0, 0.75 in his last two starts (under 4-0).
Hughes is 4-1, 5.74 in five starts this year (over 3-2).
Red Sox are 5-7 in last 12 games, 5-5 in series openers- their last five road games stayed under the total. Minnesota won six of its last eight games- they’re 6-3 in series openers. Over is 8-1-2 in their last eleven games.
Indians @ Royals
Salazar is 2-2, 3.86 in his last four starts (under 4-1).
Hammel is 0-4, 6.65 in five starts this year (under 3-2).
Indians lost three of last four road games; they’re 4-5 in series openers. Last six Indian road games stayed under. Royals are 2-11 in las 13 games, 3-6 in series openers. Under is 10-4 in their home games.
Tigers @ A’s
Fulmer is 2-1, 3.19 in five starts this year (over 3-2).
Triggs is 4-1, 2.76 in five starts this year (under 3-2).
Detroit won three of its last four games; they’re 6-3 in series openers. Over is 8-2-1 in their road games. Oakland lost 8 of last 10 games; they’re 3-6 in series openers, 2-2 at home. Over is 5-1 in their last six games.
Astros @ Angels
Keuchel is 5-0, 1.21 in six starts this year (over 3-3).
Chavez is 1-3, 4.63 in four starts this year (under 3-2).
Astros won four of last five games, are 7-2 in series openers, 3-1 on road. Over is 8-2 in their last 10 road games. Angels won their last four at home; they’re 5-4 in series openers. Under is 4-1 in their last home games.
Rangers @ Mariners
Darvish is 2-0, 2.57 in his last two starts (over 3-3).
Gallardo is 1-3, 5.08 in five starts this yea (under 3-2).
Rangers lost five of last six on road; they’re 3-6 in series openers. Over is 4-1 in their last five road games. Mariners are 7-2 in last nine home games, 4-5 in series openers (3-1 at home). Last four Mariner games went over total.
Interleague
Bronx @ Cubs
Pineda is 3-0, 2.88 in his last four starts (over 4-1).
Hendricks is 1-0, 1.50 in his last two starts; three of his last four starts stayed under.
Bronx won six of last eight games; they’re 5-6 on road, 1-3 in road series openers. Last six New York games went over. Cubs won five of last six home games; they’re 3-6 in series openers, 1-3 at home. Over is 14-2 in last 16 Chicago games.
Record with this pitcher starting
National League
Wsh-Phil: Strasburg 3-2; Pivetta 0-1
Mil-Pitt: Nelson 2-3; Kuhl 1-4
StL-Atl: Lynn 3-2; Foltynewicz 0-4
Mia-NY: Koehler 3-2; Montero 0-0
SF-Cin: Cain 3-2; Arroyo 3-2
Az-Colo: Greinke 3-3; Marquez 0-2
LA-SD: Maeda 3-2; Chacin 3-3
American League
Chi-Balt: Gonzalez 4-1; Miley 3-2
Tor-TB: Liriano 2-3; Archer 4-2
Bos-Minn: Rodriguez 3-1; Hughes 4-1
Clev-KC: Salazar 3-2; Hammel 0-5
Det-A’s: Fulmer 3-2; Triggs 4-1
Hst-LAA: Keuchel 5-1; Chavez 2-3
Tex-Sea: Darvish 3-3; Gallardo 1-4
Interleague
NYY-Cubs: Pineda 4-1; Hendricks 3-2
Armadillosports.com
Friday's Diamond Notes
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com
Hottest team: White Sox (7-3 last 10)
At 15-12, Chicago has been one of the biggest surprises in baseball through the first month. Considering the Sox lost ace Chris Sale to Boston in the offseason, the Chicago pitching staff owns the lowest ERA in the American League at 3.24. The White Sox grabbed a series split at Kansas City following an 8-3 triumph on Thursday as +140 underdogs to improve to 4-3 on their current road trip.
The next stop for Chicago is Camden Yards to face the Orioles for a weekend series. Right-hander Miguel Gonzalez takes on his former team in the opener as the right-hander owns a 3-1 record and 3.27 ERA in spite of allowing 14 hits and seven runs (six earned) in six innings of a 7-3 loss at Detroit his last time out. The White Sox have compiled a solid 7-2 record against left-handed starting pitchers this season as they will see Baltimore southpaw Wade Miley on Friday.
Coldest team: Royals (2-8 last 10)
It’s amazing to think the two teams with the worst records in the American League met in the ALCS two seasons ago. Kansas City and Toronto have each won nine games this season, but we’ll focus on the Royals, who have not won a series since sweeping the Angels in mid-April. The Royals have lost 11 of their last 13 games overall, while not winning consecutive contests since that home sweep of Los Angeles.
Kansas City will try to turn around its luck against AL Central co-leader Cleveland at home as the Royals dropped the final eight meetings with the Indians last season. Right-hander Jason Hammel is winless in five starts this season for the Royals, while not lasting past the third inning in his last two outings. The Royals have been dreadful against division foes by posting a 2-10 record inside the AL Central.
Hottest pitcher: Dallas Keuchel, Astros (5-0, 1.21 ERA)
Houston is looking to become the first team to 20 victories this season, as Keuchel is responsible for five of those wins. In 2015, Keuchel took the American League storm by capturing the Cy Young award, but took a step back last season. The southpaw has delivered a quality outing in all six starts, while not giving up more than two earned runs in a start this season. Keuchel has tossed at least seven innings in each outing, while his lone complete game came in a 4-2 triumph at Cleveland.
The Astros head out west to take on the Angels in Anaheim as Keuchel shut down the Halos in his last start, 5-1 on April 19. Keuchel has won six of his previous seven outings against the Angels since 2015, with the only loss coming in L.A. in September 2015 by a 3-2 count.
Coldest pitcher: Yovani Gallardo, Mariners (1-3, 5.08 ERA)
Seattle has played well at home this season, but Gallardo is winless in a pair of starts at Safeco Field. The former Brewers’ standout is responsible for one win in five starts since coming over in the offseason, while allowing four earned runs in three of his past four appearances.
Gallardo faces the Rangers on Friday, a team that he compiled a 13-11 record back in 2015. The right-hander picked up a no-decision in his only appearance against Texas last season as a member of the Orioles in an 8-4 defeat, but the Rangers enter the series opener this season at 0-5 off a win, coming off Thursday’s victory at Houston.
Biggest OVER run: Twins (6-0 last six)
After starting the season at 12-5-3 to the UNDER, Minnesota has turned the corner on the OVER run by cashing six straight OVERS. The Twins are coming off three high-scoring games in a series victory over the Athletics by plating 9, 7, and 5 runs, while eclipsing the five-run mark in six of the past seven contests.
Minnesota hosts Boston in the series opener at Target Field as five of the previous six home contests have finished OVER the total. The Red Sox are 5-1-1 to the UNDER in the last seven road games, but five of seven matchups between Boston and Minnesota last season went OVER the total.
Biggest UNDER run: Indians (6-1 last seven)
Cleveland received an unexpected off day on Thursday thanks to poor weather in Detroit as the Indians travel to Kansas City for the weekend. The Tribe scored a total of six runs in the three-game set against the Tigers after plating 12 runs in Sunday’s blowout of the Mariners.
Cleveland’s offense hasn’t been stellar in their past three road series openers by putting up 3, 3, and 1, including a solid pitching performance in one of those games from Danny Salazar. The right-hander heads to the mound in the opener against the Royals as Cleveland owns a 3-0-1 mark to the UNDER in his last four starts, while dominating Kansas City in three starts in 2016.
Matchup to watch: Diamondbacks at Rockies
The top two teams in the NL West are not the Dodgers and Giants, at least through one month. Colorado and Arizona hook up for a key series atop the division at Coors Field as the Rockies captured two of three from the Diamondbacks last weekend in Phoenix.
The Rockies return home following a 4-2 road swing, capped off by an extra-innings victory at San Diego on Thursday. Colorado has won three of four home series openers this season, while posting a 6-3 home mark against division foes. German Marquez makes his third start of the season for Colorado, as he tossed six scoreless innings in a 2-0 defeat in 12 innings at Arizona last Sunday.
Arizona heads back west after dropping two of three at Washington, while scoring three runs in the final two losses. The D-backs hand the ball to their ace in the series opener as Zack Greinke is coming off three straight starts decided by one run. Greinke picked up a no-decision against Colorado last weekend, as the D-backs squandered a 6-1 lead in a 7-6 defeat. Arizona owns a 1-3 record in Greinke’s four starts against Colorado since last season, but the only victory came at Coors Field.
Betcha didn’t know: The Yankees and Cubs are another highlight game on the Friday slate (which you probably did know) at Wrigley Field. New York is making its first trip to the North Side of Chicago since splitting a two-game series with the Cubs in 2014. Since the start of last season, the Yankees have slumped to a 4-9 interleague record away from the Bronx, including losing two of three at Pittsburgh last month.
Biggest public favorite: Nationals (-170) at Phillies
Biggest public underdog: Giants (+100) at Reds
Biggest line move: Dodgers (-145 to -155) at Padres