MLB Betting Cheat Sheet
Covers.com
Washington Whitewash
The Washington Nationals (-170, U 6.5) continued their sizzling Under streak Thursday, blanking the visiting New York Mets 3-0 behind seven innings of one-hit ball from Gio Gonzalez. The Nationals are 2-9 O/U in their last 11 games, allowing more than two runs just twice in that span.
Putting the K in Kluber
Cleveland ace Corey Kluber looks to rack up more strikeouts in his final start of the season as the Indians (-164, 6.5) host Tampa Bay. Kluber has 28 strikeouts in his last two starts; the Indians are 8-2 SU and 1-9 O/U in starts where Kluber records double-digit whiffs.
Rockies’ Road Woes
Colorado will try to avoid going out with a whimper as it resumes its season-ending series Saturday against the host Los Angeles Dodgers. The Rockies are an astounding 6-36 SU in their last 42 games away from Coors Field, scoring more than four runs just four times over that stretch.
Favorites Finish Strong
Expect the usual suspects to prevail as the regular season draws to a close Sunday. Favorites are 33-13 SU over the previous three years, winning at a 71.7-percent clip that far exceeds the 2014 regular-season average of 57 percent.
Pitching Notes
Oakland lefty Scott Kazmir will look to end his recent struggles Friday as he leads the Athletics (-167, 8) against the host Texas Rangers. Kazmir has allowed six or more runs in four of his previous six starts to see his season ERA balloon to 3.63.
Masahiro Tanaka ends his rookie season against a familiar foe as his New York Yankees take on the host Boston Red Sox. Tanaka faced the Red Sox twice in his first major-league campaign and recorded a pair of wins, including a complete-game seven-hitter on June 28.
A fantastic season comes to an end Sunday for St. Louis Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright. The veteran right-hander (20-9, 2.38 ERA) enters the weekend 13th in starter value ($1,015) and hasn’t allowed a run in back-to-back starts; he’ll face visiting San Diego on Sunday.
Hitting Notes
Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Edwin Encarnacion is ending the season on a high as he prepares to face the visiting Baltimore Orioles (-105, 8) on Friday. Encarnacion is batting .391 with two homers, 11 RBIs and a 1.160 OPS over the last seven days.
Expect a big game from Chase Utley on Saturday as his Philadelphia Phillies tangle with Aaron Harang and the Atlanta Braves. Utley is a .406 career hitter against Harang, with four doubles, a home run and six RBIs over 32 at-bats.
It could be a long day for Los Angeles Angels hitters on Sunday as they wrap up their regular season against Seattle ace Felix Hernandez and the host Mariners. Members of the Angels roster are hitting a combined .208 with 115 strikeouts in 432 combined at-bats versus Hernandez.
Totals Streak
Los Angeles Dodgers (14-2-2 O/U): The Dodgers are ending the season with a bang, having either scored or allowed seven or more runs in 10 of their last 13 games. The season-ending Over surge has moved Los Angeles to 80-70-9 entering the final weekend of the 2014 campaign.
Prop of the Day
Bettors may want to consider a lower line for Friday’s matchup between the Rays and Indians, with Under 5 paying +200. Kluber has been one of the stingiest pitchers in baseball since the All-Star Break, while counterpart Chris Archer has allowed just four runs over his last three starts.
Injury Notes
Washington Nationals outfielder Denard Span (knee) will return to the lineup for Friday’s doubleheader against the visiting Miami Marlins. It isn’t clear whether Span, who suffered the injury Tuesday night, will play one or both ends of the twin bill.
White Sox outfielder Avisail Garcia left Thursday’s game against Kansas City with lower back stiffness and will sit out Friday. Garcia missed a whopping 113 games from early-April to mid-August with a shoulder injury; Chicago was 54-59 SU, 56-54-3 O/U and +651 units in that span.
Weather Watch
Fans at AT&T Park should expect winds blowing out to right-center field at 11 mph for Friday’s game between the host Giants (-147, 6.5) and San Diego. Teams averaged 1.43 home runs while batting .262 in 23 games under similar conditions in 2013, slightly above stadium averages.
Dodger Stadium will see wind blowing out to center field at 7 mph Saturday when Los Angeles welcomes Colorado to town. Teams averaged nearly two home runs per game with the wind blowing out to center a season ago, well above the park average of 1.65.
MLB Odds and Picks
By: Micah Roberts
Sportingnews.com
LAS VEGAS – It’s been a long and exhausting baseball season, but the final weekend of the regular season is upon us and surprisingly, we don’t have too much drama. Sure, there are positioning battles in the National League between Pittsburgh, St. Louis and San Francisco, but they’re all locked in – the eventual loser doesn’t go home for the winter.
Over in the American League, there’s one situation where a team is playing for its season, with the Mariners needing lots of help as they’re two games behind Oakland for the final wild-card spot. While the A’s have to play the red-hot Rangers, who are riding a five-game winning streak and have won 12 of their last 13, the Mariners host the Angels, who are two wins away from reaching 100.
Because of the Mariners' desperation, William Hill sports books have them posted as a -160 favorite to win the series. Seattle comes with their three best starters beginning with Hisashi Iwakuma, James Paxton and Felix Hernandez on Sunday, which means if they do pass the A’s, they won't have King Felix available to start on the road for Tuesday’s wild-card game, which is likely to be at Kansas City.
The Royals are still alive for the AL Central crown, two games behind Detroit, but the Tigers will close out against Minnesota. Kansas City could easily win its three remaining games at the White Sox and hope that the pesky Twins (8-8 vs. Tigers this season) give Detroit problems. But that seems like an extreme long shot, even though nothing would be better than seeing Game 163 Monday for the division.
That same type of Game 163-thing could occur in the NL as well, with Pittsburgh and St. Louis in the NL Central, where the Cardinals currently hold a one-game lead. The Cardinals play their final three games at Arizona, a squad that has at least clinched a tie for the worst record (63-96) in baseball. St. Louis is a -210 favorite to win the series.
Pittsburgh has won 16 of its last 20 games and is -150 to win its finals series at Cincinnati, a squad that has been a thorn in the Pirates' side all season. The Reds have won 10 of 16 against Pittsburgh and four of six in Cincinnati. Tonight’s Reds starter, Mike Leake, is 5-0 in nine career home starts against the Pirates, but Pittsburgh still comes in as a -143 favorite behind Vance Worley, who is 3-0 with a 2.25 ERA over his past four starts.
If the Pirates do manage to force a Game 163 with St. Louis on Monday, they’d likely be starting Jeff Locke, the No. 5 man in their rotation. If they have to play in the wild-card game Wednesday, which appears most likely, Edinson Volquez, who pitched last night, will be ready to go. The Giants’ Madison Bumgarner is scheduled to start Sunday, but even if home field for the wild card isn’t decided, expect the Giants to skip his turn Sunday and prepare him for the Bucs.
Friday selections:
Rays/Indians UNDER 6.5 (-110)
A’s/Rangers UNDER 8 (EV)