National League
Dodgers @ Reds
Kazmir is 1-3, 4.70 in his last four starts; over is 4-1-2 in his last seven. Dodgers won his last four road starts.
Bailey is 1-0, 1.64 in his last two starts (under 3-1).
Dodgers are 6-10 in last 16 road games; over is 8-1-3 in last 12 Dodger games. Cincinnati is 12-4 in last 16 home games; eight of Reds’ last nine games went over.
Rockies @ Brewers
Bettis is 4-0, 4.11 in his last eight starts; three of his last four went over.
Nelson 0-6, 10.93 in his last six starts; three of his last four went over.
Rockies won four of last five games, are 4-9 in last 13 road series openers. Six of last seven Colorado road games went over. Milwaukee lost six of last seven games, is 9-11 in home series openers. Last four Brewer games went over the total.
Braves @ Diamondbacks
Foltynewicz is 2-0, 3.78 in his last three starts; his last five went over. Braves won his last three road starts.
Godley is 4-2, 5.27 in seven starts (over 6-1).
Braves lost seven of last eight games, are 7-4 in last 11 road series openers. Nine of last ten Atlanta games went over. Arizona is 4-7 in last 11 home games, 5-15 in home series openers. Seven of last eight Arizona games went over the total.
Cubs @ Padres
Lester is 4-0, 2.41 in his last six starts; over is 6-3 in his last nine. Cubs are 7-4 in his road starts.
Jackson 3-2, 5.45 in six starts this year (over 3-3).
Cubs are 16-4 in last 20 games, 5-9 in last 14 road series openers. Three of last four Chicago games went over. San Diego won three of last four games, is 12-8 in home series openers. Seven of last eight games at Petco Park went over total.
American League
Red Sox @ Rays
Price is 2-0, 2.57 in his last two starts; over is 4-1-1 in his last six. Boston lost five of his last six road starts.
Snell is 3-1, 3.34 in his last six starts; six of his last eight stayed under the total.
Red Sox won eight of last 10 games, are 13-7 in road series openers. Under is 16-5-1 in Boston’s last 21 road games. Tampa Bay won six of last seven games, is 8-13 in home series openers; Over is 9-2 in Rays’ last 11 home games.
Indians @ A’s
Carrasco is 1-3, 6.53 in his last five starts; six of his last nine went over. Indians are 6-2 in his road starts.
Triggs is 0-1, 3.55 in three starts (under 2-1).
Indians are 8-3 in last 11 games, 11-9 in road series openers. Under is 6-2 in their last eight road games. Oakland lost seven of last eight games, is 9-3 in last 12 home series openers. Under is 12-3 in their last 15 games.
New York @ Mariners
Former Mariner Pineda is 3-1, 3.00 in his last six starts; three of his last four went over. New York is 4-6 in his road starts.
Martin allowed two runs in 4.1 IP (88 PT) in his first ’16 start.
New York won four of last five games, is 10-3 in last 13 series openers. Last four New York road games stayed under. Seattle won eight of last nine home games, is 8-2 in last ten home series openers. Mariners’ last four games went over the total.
Interleague
Astros @ Pirates
Fister is 1-1, 3.91 in his last four starts; under is 8-3 in his last 11 road starts. Houston won seven of his last eight road starts.
Taillon is 1-0, 1.80 in his last three starts; five of his last six stayed under. Pirates won his last five home starts.
Astros are 7-3 in their last ten road games; they’re 1-4 in last five road series openers. Pittsburgh lost four of last five home games; they’re 12-8 in home series openers. Four of last five Pirate home games stayed under.
Nationals @ Orioles
Strasburg 0-3, 14.66 in his last three starts; over is 4-1-1 in his last six. Washington is 8-2 in his road starts.
Bundy is 3-1, 3.13 in his last four starts (under 5-1-1).
Washington is 7-3 in its last ten road games, 12-8 in road series openers. Nationals’ last five games all went over the total. Baltimore lost five of last six games; they’re 12-8 in home series openers. Three of last four Oriole games went over the total.
Teams’ record when this pitcher starts
LA-Cin– Kazmr 13-11; Bailey 3-1
Col-Mil– Bettis 16-9; Nelson 9-16 (0-6 last 6)
Atl-Az– Foltynewicz 7-9; Godley 4-3
Chi-SD– Lester 18-6 (6-0 last 6); Jackson 3-3
Bos-TB– Price 13-13; Snell 4-8
Clev-A’s– Carrasco 12-7; Triggs 0-3
NY-Sea– Pineda 12-12; Martin 1-0
Hst-Pitt– Fister 15-9; Taillon 8-3
Wsh-Balt– Strasburg 18-5 (0-3 last 3); Bundy 4-3
Starting pitchers allowing 1+ runs in first inning
LA-Cin– Kazmr 11-24; Bailey 2-4
Col-Mil– Bettis 10-25; Nelson 8-25
Atl-Az– Foltynewicz 4-16; Godley 3-7
Chi-SD– Lester 7-24; Jackson 1-6
Bos-TB– Price 9-26; Snell 4-12
Clev-A’s– Carrasco 5-19; Triggs 0-3
NY-Sea– Pineda 9-24; Martin 1-1
Hst-Pitt– Fister 3-24; Taillon 5-11
Wsh-Balt– Strasburg 8-23; Bundy 1-7
Armadillosports.com
Monday's Diamond Notes
By Joe Williams
VegasInsider.com
Hottest team: Red Sox (8-2 past 10)
The Red Sox split their four-game set at Comerica Park against the Tigers, outscoring them 21-18. The Red Sox head down to St. Petersburg to battle the Rays, looking to improve on their 5-2 mark during the current road odyssey. The Red Sox have crawled to within a half-game of the first-place Toronto Blue Jays, and they might be in first all alone if not for the pesky Rays. The Red Sox did pull off a three-game sweep last time the sides met at Fenway July 8-10, but are just 5-4 overall against Tampa this season. David Price faces his former team looking to keep the Red Sox on the right path, but Boston is just 1-5 in his past six road outings, and 2-5 in his past seven starts overall.
Coldest team: Brewers (1-6 past seven, 5-13 past 18)
The Brewers pumped the brakes on a six-game skid, salvaging the series finale at Safeco Field against the Mariners Sunday. Milwaukee returns home to face a Colorado team which is just 1-5 over their past six road games, but 7-1 in Chad Bettis' past eight starts. The Rockies are 6-2 in their past eight road outings against a team with a winning home record, but 11-24 in their past 35 against the NL Central. Milwaukee has won just one of their past seven, and they're 2-12 in Jimmy Nelson's past 14 outings while going 0-6 in his past six tries against NL West foes. Colorado has won six of the past seven meetings overall, including each of their past four in Cream City.
Hottest pitcher: Jon Lester, Cubs (13-4, 2.86 ERA)
Lester entered the season with bone chips in his elbow and the potential of an injury at anytime. Luckily for the Cubs, the issue has become a non-factor and he is a large part of the team's outstanding run for the pennant. Lester has been even more efficient lately, going 2-0 with a 2.29 ERA and 0.86 WHIP over his past three outings, striking out 21 and walking just three over the past 19 2/3 innings. The Cubs take on the Padres looking to improve on their 16-5 mark over the past 21 starts by Lester. They're also a perfect 8-0 in his past eight road outings against teams with a losing overall record, for which San Diego certainly qualifies.
Coldest pitcher: Stephen Strasburg, Nationals (15-4, 3.59 ERA)
The way things were going a few weeks ago, no one would ever have expected to see Strasburg on this list. He had one loss in his first 16 decisions after a win Aug. 1. However, he has been trampled over his past three outings, suffering three straight losses, while posting a dismal 14.66 ERA and 2.57 WHIP with six walks over his past 11 2/3 innings. The Nationals have won just three of their past 12 against the Orioles, and they're 5-11 in their past 16 trips to Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
Biggest UNDER run: Athletics (6-0 past six, 12-3 past 15)
The Athletics have struggled offensively, scoring three or fewer runs in three of their past four, and 11 of the past 16 outings. The A's will welcome an Indians team which is also on an 'under' run, cashing in six of the past eight road games. The under is also 6-1 in Carlos Carrasco's past seven road outings, and seven of the past nine road starts by Carrasco against a team with a losing overall record. The under is 4-1 in Oakland's past five against teams with a winning record, 19-7-1 in their past 27 home games agaisnt a right-handed starter and 15-5-1 in their past 21 home games against Cleveland.
Biggest OVER run: Padres (5-2 past seven, 7-1 past eight at home)
The Padres pitching staff has been terrible lately, allowing 45 runs over the past eight outings, and five or more runs in nine of the past 15 games. The last thing their pitching staff needs is a visit from the high-octane Chicago Cubs, a team which is 19-5 over the past 24 games while scoring six or more runs in four of the past five. The Cubs have managed four or more runs in 11 straight games, which certainly bodes well for the 'over'. The over is 2-1 in three meetings this season, and 7-3-1 in the past 11 battles between the two sides.
Matchup to watch: Diamondbacks vs. Braves
Two ice-cold teams meet in the desert when the Diamondbacks and Braves hook up. After a bit of a revival, the Braves have dropped seven of their past eight overall, including seven straight against right-handed starting pitchers. They're also 18-48 in their past 66 games against National League West opponents. For the Diamondbacks, they're 8-17 in their past 25 home games. However, Zack Godley is the difference in this one, as the Snakes are 5-0 in his past five outings against a team with a losing record, while going 5-2 over his past seven home outings and 9-4 in his past 13 starts overall.
Betcha didn’t know: Safeco Field has been an oasis for the New York Yankees in recent seasons, as the Bronx Bombers are 14-3 in their past 17 trips to the Pacific Northwest. The Yankees have won nine of the past 12 meetings against the Mariners overall. Both of these teams have been hot lately, with New York winning four of their past five road games. Michael Pineda faces his original team, and he is enjoying his hottest stretch of the season. The Yankees are 4-1 in his past five starts against a team with a winning record. The M's are 7-1 in their past eight home games against a right-handed starter while going 5-1 in their past six against teams with a winning record and 10-3 in their past 13 against right-handed starting pitchers.
Biggest public favorite: Cubs (-195) at Padres
Biggest public underdog: Astros (+160) at Pirates
Biggest line move: Braves (+165 to +145) at Diamondbacks
MLB Betting Cheat Sheet
By Monty Andrews
Covers.com
Trends Collide
Recent history isn’t offering much help to bettors Monday as David Price leads the Boston Red Sox into the opener of a four-game series with his former club, the Tampa Bay Rays. Price has been a sensational Over play of late, with each of his last four starts exceeding the total. But that run will be put to the test Monday, as he has seen six of his last starts against American League East foes play to the Under. That said, counterpart Blake Snell has gone Over in five of his last seven home starts.
A Giant Problem for the Dodgers
The two teams to beat in the National League West go toe-to-toe this week as the San Francisco Giants visit the Los Angeles Dodgers in a pivotal three-game set beginning Tuesday. This series takes on a completely different complexion with the absence of Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, who remains on the shelf with a herniated disc in his back. Los Angeles has won each of his three starts versus the Giants this season, but has dropped six of seven meetings when Kershaw hasn’t started.
Hanging in There
The Miami Marlins are doing their best to remain in the National League playoff race without their premier slugger. Giancarlo Stanton is still out of the lineup as the Marlins kick off a three-game interleague series with the visiting Kansas City Royals, but Miami has held its own, going 5-3 while winning 307 units since since Stanton was sidelined with a groin injury. And Marlins president of baseball operations believes Stanton will return to the lineup at some point prior to the end of the regular season.
Hitting Stats
Good luck to the San Diego Padres this week, who are tasked with slowing down Chicago Cubs slugger Kris Bryant. The 24-year-old had 14 hits in 29 at-bats last week, swatting three home runs and driving in 11 while pushing his average above the .300 mark for the first time since May 5.
A little time off appears to have done Bryce Harper some good. The Washington Nationals star has been sensational since missing five games earlier in the month, hitting a pair of homers and driving in 11 runs in his past eight games. The Nats are 5-3 SU and 6-2 O/U in that span.
Pitching Stats
Chris Archer will look to climb out of the money cellar Tuesday night as he leads the Rays against the visiting Red Sox. It has been a nightmare season for Archer, who was fifth in Cy Young voting last season but is 7-16 with a 4.18 ERA and a league-worst -$1,228 in 26 starts.
Looking for an early-week parlay? Consider taking Washington’s Stephen Strasburg and the Over as he and the Nationals square off against the rival Baltimore Orioles. The Strasburg-Over play has succeeded in 13 of his 23 starts this season, though he has dropped three in a row.
Totals Trend
The St. Louis Cardinals continued their run as one of the league’s top road Over plays Sunday with a 9-0 drubbing of the host Philadelphia Phillies. That wrapped up a 6-3 O/U road trip for the Cardinals while improving them to 37-22-3 O/U away from St. Louis for the season.
Monday's Weather Report
The weather looks perfect in all Major League cities who are hosting games Monday, with the exception of Phoenix who are expecting some thunderstorms this evening - but Chase Field has a roof so it won't matter.
Mother Nature will not be impacting any MLB games today.
O's, Nats renew rivalry
By Sportsbook.ag
WASHINGTON NATIONALS (73-50) at BALTIMORE ORIOLES (67-56)
Sportsbook.ag Line: Washington -125, Baltimore +115, Total: 9.0
Two of the league’s elite teams meet when the Orioles host the Nationals on Monday.
The Nationals are coming off of a 7-6 loss in extra innings against the Braves on Sunday, but the team has still won three of its past four games heading into this meeting with Baltimore.
Washington currently sits atop the NL East and it would take a drastic turnaround from the teams behind them in order to change that. Baltimore, meanwhile, is in a battle with both Toronto and Boston for the top spot in the AL East.
The Orioles have really struggled coming into this game, losing three straight and five of their past six. They’ll be hoping to turn things around with a home win in this one.
The starters in this big interleague battle are set to be RHP Stephen Strasburg (15-4, 3.59 ERA, 179 K) for Washington and RHP Dylan Bundy (6-4, 3.36 ERA, 70 K) for Baltimore.
The Orioles are going to be confident coming into this game, as they are an impressive 24-9 against the money line in home games after one or more consecutive UNDERS on the year.
They are, however, 19-29 against the money line in August games over the past two seasons.
The Nationals are playing well coming into this game and they’ll be extremely happy to have Strasburg on the mound. The righty has really struggled his past two trips to the mound, allowing 15 earned runs in just seven innings of work.
He is, however, too good of a pitcher to continue to struggle like that and should be able to turn things around in this one. Strasburg is going to need to make sure he keeps the ball down, as he is facing an Orioles team that really has a ton of power.
Offensively, OF Bryce Harper (.246, 22 HR, 68 RBI) has started to come alive for the Nationals recently. He has seen his average rise from .235 to .246 over the past 10 games, and he has now racked up two homers and 12 RBI in that time.
It’d be big for Washington if he can produce at the plate in this one as well.
The Nats will also be counting on 2B Daniel Murphy (.346, 23 HR, 89 RBI) in this one. Murphy has been one of the best hitters in baseball this season and has two homers and eight RBI over the past 10 games.
The Orioles are struggling right now and they’re hoping that Dylan Bundy can help them turn things around by outdueling Strasburg on Monday night.
Bundy has been outstanding since earning a full-time spot in this rotation, but he is coming off of a rough start against the Red Sox on Aug. 17.
Bundy pitched just 4.1 innings in that game and gave up five earned runs on nine hits. It was, however, just the second time he allowed more than three earned runs in the past 10 games. If he can turn in a quality start in this game then the Orioles will have a very good shot of winning.
The guy to watch out for in this Baltimore lineup right now is OF Mark Trumbo (.255, 37 HR, 90 RBI). There are a ton of dangerous hitters in this Orioles lineup, but Trumbo is a threat to go yard every time he gets up to the plate and has now hit six homers in the past 10 contests.
He can change any game with one swing of the bat and he’ll be hoping to make an impact in this one on Monday.