Friday's MLB National League Betting Cheat Sheet
By Covers.com
Atlanta Braves at Chicago Cubs (+114, OFF)
Cold pitching stat: Braves right-hander Paul Maholm is just 4-8 with a 5.86 ERA in 15 road starts this season.
Hot batting stat: Cubs SS Starlin Castro is a career 9-for-21 hitter with three doubles versus Maholm.
Weather: Temperatures will be in the high-70s with a 60 percent chance of showers or thunderstorms. Wind will blow out to right field at 12 mph.
Key betting note: Atlanta is 17-7 in its last 24 series openers.
Cincinnati Reds at Pittsburgh Pirates (-124, 6.5)
Hot pitching stat: Pirates left-hander Francisco Liriano has surrendered just three runs over 12 innings in his last two starts.
Cold batting stat: Reds OF Jay Bruce is batting just .148 with 17 strikeouts in 54 at-bats against the Pirates in 2013.
Weather: Temperatures will be in the low-70s with a 35 percent chance of showers. Wind will blow from right to left field at 7 mph.
Key betting note: Pittsburgh has won Liriano's last seven home starts.
New York Mets at Philadelphia Phillies (-202, 7.5)
Hot pitching stat: Phillies lefty Cole Hamels is 4-0 in his last nine starts and has surrendered three or fewer earned runs in each of them.
Hot batting stat: Mets OF Eric Young, Jr., is 7-for-17 in his career against Hamels.
Weather: Temperatures will be in the low-70s with sunny skies. Wind will blow out to center field at 5 mph.
Key betting note: The under is 9-1-1 in Hamels' last 11 home starts.
Miami Marlins at Washington Nationals (-248, 7)
Hot pitching stat: Nationals right-hander Jordan Zimmermann has won his last three starts, allowing just seven runs in 19 innings over that stretch.
Hot batting stat: Washington OF Bryce Harper has homered twice in six at-bats against Marlins right-hander Jacob Turner.
Weather: Temperatures will be in the low-70s with partly cloudy skies. Wind will blow out to left field at 6 mph.
Key betting note: Miami has lost 10 of Turner's last 11 starts.
St. Louis Cardinals at Milwaukee Brewers (+157, 9)
Hot pitching stat: Cardinals rookie right-hander Shelby Miller has dominated the Brewers, going 3-0 with a 1.08 ERA in four starts against them.
Hot batting stat: St. Louis C Yadier Molina is hitting .364 with two home runs and nine RBIs in 55 at-bats against Milwaukee this season.
Weather: Temperatures will be in the mid-60s with partly cloudy skies. Wind will blow out to left-center field at 7 mph.
Key betting note: The Cardinals have won six of the last seven games in Milwaukee.
Arizona Diamondbacks at Colorado Rockies (-135, 9.5)
Cold pitching stat: Rockies right-hander Jhoulys Chacin is 0-2 in his last three starts, allowing 11 runs over 18 innings in that span.
Hot batting stat: Diamondbacks 1B Paul Goldschmidt has three home runs and 14 RBIs in 16 games against Colorado this season.
Weather: Temperatures will be in the high-60s with sunny skies. Wind will be calm.
Key betting note: Colorado is 6-1 in Chacin's last seven starts on four days' rest.
Los Angeles Dodgers at San Diego Padres (OFF, OFF)
Cold pitching stat: Dodgers right-hander Edinson Volquez is 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA in three starts and one relief appearance since joining Los Angeles from the San Diego Padres.
Cold batting stat: Members of the San Diego roster are hitting just .129 in 31 at-bats against Volquez.
Weather: Temperatures will be in the high-60s with sunny skies. Wind will blow from left to right field at 4 mph.
Key betting note: The over is 10-2-1 in San Diego's last 13 Friday games.
Friday's MLB American League Betting Cheat Sheet
By Covers.com
Houston Astros at Cleveland Indians (-225, 8)
Hot pitching stat: Astros left-hander Brett Oberholtzer is 2-1 with a 2.93 ERA in 27 2/3 road innings this season.
Hot batting stat: Houston 1B Chris Carter is 3-for-5 with a homer against Cleveland starter Zach McAllister.
Weather: Temperatures will be in the mid-70s with a 60 percent chance of showers or thunderstorms. Wind will blow out to right-center field at 13 mph.
Key betting note: Cleveland is 7-1 in its last eight games against a left-handed starter.
Chicago White Sox at Detroit Tigers (-300, 8)
Hot pitching stat: Tigers right-hander Max Scherzer is 7-5 with a 2.58 ERA and 120 strikeouts in 115 1/3 career innings against the White Sox.
Cold batting stat: White Sox SS Alexei Ramirez has just four hits in 39 at-bats against Scherzer.
Weather: Temperatures will be in the low-70s with an 80 percent chance of showers or thunderstorms. Wind will blow from right to left field at 7 mph.
Key betting note: The under is 10-2 in the Tigers' last 12 Friday games.
Toronto Blue Jays at Boston Red Sox (-222, 8.5)
Hot pitching stat: Red Sox lefty Jon Lester is 2-0 with a 1.96 ERA in his last three starts, all against American League East foes.
Cold batting stat: Blue Jays C J.P. Arencibia is batting .195 with 16 strikeouts in 41 career-at bats versus Lester.
Weather: Temperatures will be in the high-60s with sunny skies. Wind will blow out to left field at 6 mph.
Key betting note: Boston is 10-2 in Lester's last 12 home starts.
Baltimore Orioles at Tampa Bay Rays (-175, 7.5)
Hot pitching stat: Rays left-hander David Price has surrendered just one home run over his last nine games.
Hot batting stat: Tampa Bay 1B James Loney is a career .333 hitter with three home runs in 27 at-bats against Baltimore starter Jason Hammel.
Weather: Dome.
Key betting note: The under is 5-0 in Price's last five starts against the American League East.
Texas Rangers at Kansas City Royals (-120, 7.5)
Cold pitching stat: Rangers left-hander Martin Perez has lost consecutive starts, allowing seven runs over 11 1/3 innings in that stretch.
Hot batting stat: Texas 3B Adrian Beltre has five home runs and 15 RBIs in 54 all-time at-bats against Kansas City starter Ervin Santana.
Weather: Temperatures will be in the high-60s with sunny skies. Wind will blow from left to right field at 6 mph.
Key betting note: The Rangers are 2-10 in their previous 12 games against American League Central teams.
Seattle Mariners at Los Angeles Angels (OFF, OFF)
Cold pitching stat: Mariners right-hander Erasmo Ramirez was torched for five runs on eight hits over four innings in his previous start.
Hot batting stat: Angels OF Mike Trout is hitting .393 with two homers and 10 RBIs in 61 at-bats against Seattle this season.
Weather: Temperatures will be in the low-70s under clear skies. Wind will blow out to center field at 5 mph.
Key betting note: The under is 4-1 in the last five head-to-head meetings.
Minnesota Twins at Oakland Athletics (-225, 7.5)
Hot pitching stat: Athletics right-hander Bartolo Colon has won back-to-back starts, allowing one run while striking out 14 over 14 innings in that span.
Cold batting stat: Entering Friday, Twins OF Josh Willingham has 14 home runs in 363 at-bats after belting 35 in 2012.
Weather: Temperatures will be in the low-60s with partly cloudy skies. Wind will blow out to right field at 6 mph.
Key betting note: Oakland is 10-2 in Colon's last 12 starts on five days' rest.
Interleague
San Francisco Giants at New York Yankees (-138, 8)
Cold pitching stat: Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia is 4-5 with a 6.58 ERA in 11 starts since the All-Star break.
Cold batting stat: New York 1B Mark Reynolds is 3-for-21 with 13 strikeouts against Giants starter Tim Lincecum.
Weather: Temperatures will be in the low-70s with sunny skies. Wind will blow from right to left field at 6 mph.
Key betting note: The under is 8-2-2 in the Giants' last 12 interleague games.
MLB Streaks, Tips, Notes
Sportspic.com
Toronto Blue Jays at Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox on a sparkling 12-5 run in September and looking to lock down home field advantage in second season play a three game set against basement dwelling Toronto Blue Jays. Jon Lester carrying a 14-8 record, 3.75 ERA gets the call in the opener. The left-hander on some kind of roll since the break going 6-2 with a 2.38 ERA in eleven starts is 6-1 at Fenway this season and heads to the mound 3-0 vs Toronto on the year over five starts (3-2 TSR). He'll be opposed by Esmil Rogers with a 5-7 record, 4.47 ERA. Well to note, Jays are 2-0 vs Boston this season with Rogers including a win hooked up against Lester. Sportsbooks aren't giving Jays much of a chance as they have Red Sox $2.15 favorites. Although, Red Sox have been succesful at home laying $2.00 or more posting a solid 9-1 record ($681) it's always dangerous laying heavy lumber. Teams laying $2.00 or more this season are 118-63 but have depleted betting accounts to the tune of -$3070. Hell bent on backing Red Sox, consider a run line (- 1.5, -$1.10). Keep in mind Boston securing a post season berth with their win over Orioles yesterday may have a letdown. Besides, Jays are 9-4 last thirteen visit to Fenway including 1-0 w/Rogers.
MLB Odds and Picks - Reds and Pirates battle it out
By: The Linemakers
Sportingnews.com
More pieces to the October puzzle should be put into place this weekend as three huge series begin that will have a major impact on the Major League Baseball playoff picture. We never want to say a team has no shot until its magic number finally expires, but the 2013 playoff chances for the Yankees and Nationals are looking grim. The Yankees needed a win Thursday, but lost to Toronto. The Nats had to have Wednesday’s game against the Braves to complete the sweep and keep their chances realistically alive. Instead they lost and sit five back in the wild card chance as play begins Friday.
In the AL, we have five teams within three games of each other, all vying for the two wild-card spots. In the NL, it’s all about who will win the Central. And for the two teams that don’t, who will have the home field during the wild card game? The Cardinals play three at Milwaukee this weekend, then have their final six at home against the Nationals and Cubs. Meanwhile, the Reds and Pirates slug it out six times over their next nine games.
Here’s a look at the key series this weekend that start tonight:
Cincinnati Reds at Pittsburgh Pirates
Series record: Pirates 7-6
Series Price: Pirates -115
Expected weekend rotation:
Friday: Mat Latos (14-6) vs. Francisco Liriano (16-7)
Saturday: Homer Bailey (11-10) vs. A.J. Burnett (8-11)
Sunday: Bronson Arroyo (13-11) vs. Jeff Locke (10-6)
Outlook: These two teams haven’t met since the Reds took two of three at Cincinnati right after the All-Star break. They’ll get reacquainted quickly as they’ll play six of their final nine games against each other where some feisty play is expected from both sides. Chances are, while the division-leading Cardinals’ easier schedule allows them to run away, these two teams will meet in the wild-card game as well. Neither squad has lost sight of winning the division, with the Bucs only one game back and the Reds two back, but securing a home game for the wild card is what most likely is at stake here.
Friday’s match up looks to be the key to the series. Mat Latos has been amazing against the Pirates, going 5-1 with a 2.66 ERA in 10 starts against them. However, his one defeat came in a 4-0 loss on June 18. Francisco Liriano has gone 8-1 with a 1.37 ERA at home this season. Yet the one blemish over that run was June 1 against the Reds at PNC Park. Mike Leake out-dueled him in that game, 2-0 and did it again 17 days later in a 4-1 win. In three starts against the Reds this season, Liriano has taken the loss in each, but was backed by only one run combined in those games.
The Reds come off a sweep against the Astros and have won nine of their last 13 games while the Pirates have lost three of their last four and have gone 32-27 since the All-Star break. That is a stretch of extreme highs and lows, much to the dismay of Pittsburgh fans who await their first postseason since 1992. The Bucs will make the playoffs though and winning two out of three in this series is all on the left-arm of Liriano tonight.
While the Pirates may be lucky to not face Leake in this series, the Reds should feel very fortunate they’ll miss Gerrit Cole, who has turned into Pittsburgh's best starter down the stretch. Cole is 3-0 with a 1.38 ERA over four September starts with Pittsburgh winning them all. They’ll miss him here, but the rotation sets up for Cole to pitch on the final day of the regular season at Cincinnati if the situation warrants it.
Baltimore Orioles at Tampa Bay Rays
Series record: Rays lead 9-6
Series Price: Rays -160
Expected weekend rotation:
Friday: Jason Hammel (7-8) vs. David Price (8-8)
Saturday: Undecided vs. Alex Cobb (9-3)
Sunday: Scott Feldman (12-10) vs. Jeremy Hellickson (11-9)
Monday: Wei-Yin Chen (7-7) vs. Chris Archer (9-7)
Outlook: The Orioles have to take at least three of four here to keep their hopes of catching the Rays or Rangers realistically alive. Meanwhile the Rays can’t afford a 2-2 push in this four-game set because the Indians (a half-game back of Tampa and Texas) are playing against the hapless Astros. Friday’s match up has two pitchers reeling with Price facing Hammel, but the good news for the Rays is they’ll miss Chris Tillman. Look for these teams to take two wins each with the Indians moving past Tampa Bay. The Orioles will then have their remaining six games at home- three each against the Blue Jays and Red Sox. The Rays will have to make their magic happen on the road in their final six, with three each against the Yankees and Blue Jays. For the time being, both of these teams will be huge Royals fans over the weekend as they scoreboard watch with hopes that the Rangers losing ways continue.
Texas Rangers at Kansas City Royals
Series record: Rangers 2-1
Series Price: Royals -130
Expected weekend rotation:
Friday: Martin Perez (9-5) vs. Ervin Santana (9-9)
Saturday: Matt Garza (9-6) vs. Jeremy Guthrie (14-11)
Sunday: Alexi Ogando (7-4) vs. James Shields (12-9)
Outlook: It’s hard to tell whether the Rangers winning two-of-three from the Rays after losing seven straight is a temporary band-aid or if they really have righted the ship. The one constant for the Rangers while on a losing stretch of 10-of-12 was Sunday’s starter Alexi Ogando, who won both his starts during that run. While the Royals sit three games out from the two wild card spots held by Tampa Bay and Texas -- each with identical records -- they don’t have to face Yu Darvish or Derek Holland. Even better, the Royals send out their big guns on Saturday and Sunday with Jeremy Guthrie and James Shields. We look for the Royals to take two of three.
Friday selections:
Astros (Oberholtzer) +210 at Indians
Pirates/Reds UNDER 6.5 (EV)
Second-half record: 95-96 (+584)