National League
Diamondbacks @ Marlins
Ray is 0-1, 12.86 in his last two starts (under 4-1).
Conley is 1-1, 2.77 in his last four starts (over 2-1-2).
Arizona lost seven of its last eight games; five of its last six games stayed under total. Marlins won eight of last nine games; over is 8-3-2 in its last 13 games.
Phillies @ Cardinals
Eickhoff is 0-2, 5.89 in his last three starts (over 3-2).
Garcia is 0-2, 5.51 in his last three starts (over 2-2-1).
Phillies won ten of last 13 games; six of their last eight games stayed under the total. Cardinals lost five of last seven games (over 8-1-2 in last eleven).
Brewers @ Reds
Anderson is 0-3, 11.48 in his last three starts (over 4-0-1).
Simon is 0-3, 13.50 n four starts this year (over 2-1-1).
Milwaukee won three of last four games but is 3-7 on road; over is 9-2-2 in its last 13 games. Cincinnati lost eight of last ten games; over is 6-1-1 in its last eight at home.
Nationals @ Cubs
Ross is 3-0, 0.79 in four starts this season (under 3-0-1).
Hendricks is 2-2, 4.30 in four starts this year, three of which stayed under.
Washington won five of its last six games. Cubs won seven of last eight games; over is 9-2-1 in their last twelve games.
Mets @ Padres
deGrom is 3-0, 2.55 in his last three starts (over 2-1).
Rea is 2-0, 4.50 in his last three starts (over 3-2).
New York won 13 of its last 16 games; over is 7-2 in its last nine on road. Padres are 4-2 in their last six games; five of their last six games stayed under.
Rockies @ Giants
Rusin shut Arizona out for five innings in his first '16 start.
Cain is 0-3, 8.14 in his last four starts, three of which went over.
Colorado won four of its last six games; eight of its last ten road games stayed under. Giants won five of their last six home games; over is 11-2 in their last 13 games.
American League
Tigers @ Indians
Fulmer allowed two runs in five IP (93 PT) in his first MLB start. .
Bauer allowed three runs in four IP (78 PT) in his first '16 start.
Detroit won five of last seven games; eight of its last 11 games went over. Cleveland lost five of last eight games; four of its last five games stayed under.
Bronx @ Orioles
Tanaka is 1-0, 3.05 in his last three starts; his last four starts stayed under.
Gausman is 0-1, 3.27 in his two starts this year (over 1-1).
New York lost 14 of last 19 games; seven of its last nine road games stayed under the total. Orioles lost three of their last four games; under is 9-4-1 in their home games.
Rangers @ Blue Jays
Holland is 3-1, 1.88 in his last four starts (under 2-1-2).
Happ is 3-0, 2.70 in his last four starts (over 2-2-1).
Texas lost six of last seven road games; 10 of its 13 road games stayed under total. Toronto won four of its last six games; its last seven games all stayed under the total.
Red Sox @ White Sox
Owens is 0-0, 4.82 in two starts this year (over 1-1).
Johnson is making first '16 start; he is 7-4, 4.17 in 16 MLB starts, 1-1, 3.74 in four starts in AAA this year.
Boston won ten of its last 12 games; five of their last six games stayed under the total. Chicago won 11 of last 15 games; their last nine games at home stayed under.
Mariners @ Astros
Miley is 2-1, 3.15 in his last three starts; three of his last four starts stayed under.
Devenski allowed two runs in five IP (91 PT) in his first MLB start.
Mariners won 11 of their last 14 games; three of their last road four games went over the total. Houston won three of its last four games; over is 7-3-1 in its last 11.
Teams won-lost records when this pitcher starts:
Az-Mia-- Ray 2-3; Conley 3-2
Mil-Cin-- Anderson 2-3; Simon 0-4
Wsh-Chi-- Ross 4-0; Hendricks 2-2
Phil-StL-- Eickhoff 2-3; Garcia 2-3
NY-SD-- deGrom 3-0; Rea 3-2
Col-SF-- Rusin 1-0; Cain 1-4
Det-Clev-- Fulmer 1-0; Bauer 0-1
NY-Balt-- Tanaka 3-2; Gausman 0-2
Tex-Tor-- Holland 3-2; Happ 3-2
Bos-Chi-- Owens 2-0; Johnson 0-0
Sea-Hst-- Miley 3-2; Devenski 0-1
Starting pitchers allowing 1+ runs in first inning:
Az-Mia-- Ray 0-5; Conley 1-5
Mil-Cin-- Anderson 2-5; Simon 3-4
Wsh-Chi-- Ross 1-4; Hendricks 1-4
Phil-StL-- Eickhoff 1-5; Garcia 1-5
NY-SD-- deGrom 0-3; Rea 3-5
Col-SF-- Rusin 0-1; Cain 1-5
Det-Clev-- Fulmer 0-1; Bauer 1-1
NY-Balt-- Tanaka 1-5; Gausman 0-2
Tex-Tor-- Holland 0-5; Happ 1-5
Bos-Chi-- Owens 0-2; Johnson 0-0
Sea-Hst-- Miley 1-5; Devenski 0-1
Armadillosports.com
MLB: Streaks, Tips, Notes
Sportspic.com
New York at San Diego
Going back to the well is something that those in baseball betting have no problem doing, especially when it continues to offer up winning plays. In this case, the play involves the New York Mets and Jacob deGrom against San Diego Padres.
As a team the Mets are on a sparkling 13-3 winning streak stuffing +$835 into betting accounts. Jacob deGrom has been light's out in winning all three starts and carries a miniscule 1.02 ERA to the mound. In his lone career start vs Padres, deGrom tossed 8 innings of shutout ball striking out eight and did not issue a walk. Not good news for Padres' unpredictable hit-and-miss offense batting 2.36 overall, blanked seven times this season and platting just 3.8 runs/game in front of the friendly crowd.
This being a road opener following a home stand is one more fact that leans in Mets' direction, since the team has compiled 5-0 streak, 8-2 stretch in their first road game following a home game. Expect the Mets to do what they typically do with deGrom on the mound and that's win!
The Mets are currently being offered in the -$1.70 vicinity.
Thursday's Diamond Notes
By Kevin Rogers
VegasInsider.com
Hottest team: Mariners (8-2 last 10)
Seattle rallied from an 8-4 deficit to stun Oakland on Wednesday, 9-8 to finish off a three-game sweep of the A’s. The Mariners improved to 11-4 away from Safeco Field this season, while winning seven of their last nine games against AL West foes. Seattle travels to Houston to begin a four-game series, as the M’s grabbed two of three from the Astros in late April at home. The Mariners have fared well in series openers recently by posting a 5-1 record in the last six opportunities, as southpaw Wade Miley takes the mound coming off a shutout of the Royals in his past start.
Coldest team: Diamondbacks (3-9 last 12)
There’s not much bite to Arizona of late, as the D-backs try to avoid their second consecutive sweep tonight at Miami. Arizona has scored just 12 runs during its current five-game losing streak, while allowing at least four runs in nine of the past 10 contests. Things change quickly in this league, as Arizona is two weeks removed from pulling off a four-game road sweep of San Francisco, but has won only three games in the last four series.
Hottest pitcher: Jacob DeGrom, Mets (3-0, 1.02 ERA)
New York ventures out west for upcoming series against San Diego, Los Angeles, and Colorado, coming off a 7-2 homestand. DeGrom has allowed two earned runs in three starts this season, but gave up three runs (zero earned) in six innings of work against the Mets in his past outing, a 6-5 home victory. New York has won 12 of DeGrom’s last 14 starts away from Citi Field since last June, as the right-hander tossed eight scoreless innings of two-hit ball in a 7-0 shutout of the Padres on June 1, 2015 at Petco Park.
Coldest pitcher: Matt Cain, Giants (0-3, 7.00 ERA)
In 2012, Cain put together a 16-5 record to help lead San Francisco to a World Series title. Since then, Cain has won a total of 12 decisions in the last four seasons, while failing to record a victory in five decisions this season. Cain has allowed a total of 10 earned runs in his past two outings in one-run defeats to the Marlins and Mets, while San Francisco is 2-5 in his past seven starts at AT&T Park.
Biggest UNDER run: White Sox (8-1 at home)
Chicago remains atop the AL Central in spite of Wednesday’s loss to Boston, but the White Sox continue to cash ‘unders’ at U.S. Cellular Field. The White Sox finished ‘under’ the total for the second straight game against the Red Sox in last night’s 5-2 loss, as Chicago has scored four runs or fewer in seven of the past nine home contests. Tonight, Chicago faces Boston southpaw Henry Owens, as the White Sox are 4-0-1 to the ‘under’ this season against left-handed starting pitchers.
Biggest OVER run: Reds (6-1-1 last eight at home)
Cincinnati’s offense has woken up recently by putting up 14 runs in the three-game series against San Francisco, including seven runs in Wednesday’s victory. The Reds’ bullpen has been anything but sharp this season, while Cincinnati’s pitching has given up at least eight runs four times in the last seven home contests. The Reds begin a four-game series with the Brewers, as five of their six meetings to close out 2015 finished ‘over’ the total.
Matchup to watch: Nationals vs. Cubs
These two division leaders start a crucial four-game set at Wrigley Field as Washington continues a 10-game road trip. The Nationals have won five of the first six contests, including taking two of three from the Royals in interleague action. Washington owns a 4-1 record in road series openers, as Joe Ross takes the mound going for his fourth victory of the season. The Cubs became the first team to reach 20 wins in Wednesday’s 6-2 triumph at Pittsburgh to pull off the three-game road sweep. The Cubs are 2-2 in Kyle Hendricks’ four starts, as Chicago beat Washington in his two outings last season.
Betcha didn’t know: Since losing to Toronto on opening day in 2015, the Yankees are 10-4 in Masahiro Tanaka’s last 14 starts against AL East opponents. In this span, New York has won four of five road games against division foes, but Tanaka never faced the Orioles at Camden Yards. However, Tanaka split a pair of starts against Baltimore last season at home, striking out 17 batters in 15.2 innings of work.
Biggest public favorite: Mets (-185) at Padres
Biggest public underdog: Tigers (+115) at Indians
Biggest line move: Blue Jays (-150 to -165) vs. Rangers
Nationals, Cubs hook up
By Sportsbook.ag
WASHINGTON NATIONALS (19-8.) at CHICAGO CUBS (20-6)
Sportsbook.ag Line: Washington +140, Chicago -150, Total: 8.0
The two best teams in the major leagues kick off a highly-anticipated series as the Cubs welcome the Nationals into Wrigley Field.
The Nationals (19-8.) and the Cubs (20-6) come into this highly-anticipated four-game series at Wrigley Field with the two best records in baseball. Joe Maddon’s club is coming off a dominant three-game sweep of the division-rival Pirates, and has won seven of eight. The Nats, who hold a 1 ½-game lead over the Mets in the National League East, have gone 5-1 against the Cardinals and Royals during a very difficult road trip that concludes in Chicago.
On the mound for Dusty Baker’s club will be RHP Joe Ross (3-0, 0.79 ERA, 14 SO, 7 BB, 0 HR in 22 2/3 IP), who hasn’t allowed more than one run in any of his four starts this season. He’ll be opposed by RHP Kyle Hendricks (1-2, 3.91 ERA, 19 SO, 4 BB in 23 IP), the Cubs’ fifth starter. This will be Ross’ most challenging test of the season, as the Cubs lead the majors in runs (159) and are second in on-base percentage (.364). The Nationals’ bullpen (2.69) has been slightly better than Chicago’s (2.80) this season.
The Cubs have posted a 7-3 mark at Wrigley Field, and the Nationals have gone an incredible 11-4 on the road.
2B Daniel Murphy’s (.398, 4 HR, 17 RBI, .449 OBP) torrid April has stretched into May, as the former Met leads the majors in hitting in his first season in D.C. RF Bryce Harper (.266, 10 HR, 26 RBI, .372 OBP), arguably the best player in baseball, is tied for second in the league in homers. C Wilson Ramos (.364, 2 HR, 10 RBI, .373 OBP) has quietly hit a ton from the lower part of the order.
1B Ryan Zimmerman (.264, 1 HR, 9 RBI, .330 OBP), LF Jayson Werth (.221, 5 HR, 15 RBI, .296 OBP) and 3B Anthony Rendon (.231, 1 HR, 3 RBI, .297 OBP) haven’t played up to their potential, but they remain extremely dangerous hitters that pitchers have to be very careful with. No Nationals hitters have more than six at-bats against Hendricks. Murphy (1-for-6) has doubled off him and Harper (1-for-6) has homered off him. Ross faced the Cubs once last year—his first-ever start against the club—and allowed three runs in five innings in a losing effort.
The Cubs have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to offensive talent, so it’s pretty amazing that their best hitter thus far has been Dexter Fowler (.348, 3 HR, 15 RBI, .470 OBP) out of the leadoff spot. 3B Kris Bryant (.303, 4 HR, 17 RBI, .395 OBP) has gotten hot as of late, as has 1B Anthony Rizzo (.260, 9 HR, 27 RBI, .403 OBP).
Addison Russell (.224, 2 HR, 14 RBI, .356 OBP) and Jason Heyward (.211, 0 HR, 13 RBI, .317 OBP) continue to underachieve at the plate. No Cubs starters have more than three at-bats against Ross, who only has 20 career starts. Fowler has gone 2-for-3 against the 22-year-old with an RBI. Rizzo, too, has gone 2-for-3 against the righty with a double and an RBI.
Hendricks has two career starts against the Cubs—both came last year—and is 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA and 1.000 WHIP in 12 innings pitched. The Cubs have gone 14-2 against the money line in night games this season.
Game of the Day: Nationals at Cubs
By Covers.com
Washington Nationals at Chicago Cubs (A: +140, H: -150, Total: 8.)
It’s beginning to look like the Chicago Cubs and Washington Nationals might be on a crash course for a date in the National League playoffs. The teams will give fans a preview of what such a matchup would look like when the Cubs host the Nationals for a four-game series beginning Thursday.
The Cubs have cemented themselves as the favorites in the NL Central after sweeping a three-game set in Pittsburgh this week. At 20-6, they're off to their best start since 1907 – a year before their most recent World Series crown. The Nationals also are making history at 19-8, matching the 1979 Montreal Expos for the best 27-game start in franchise history. Washington took two of three from the defending World Series champion Kansas City Royals this week, including a 13-2 drubbing in the series finale Wednesday.
LINE HISTORY: The Cubs opened as the favorites at -135 Wednesday afternoon and by Thursday morning they were all that way up to -150 at most books. As is typical with games at Wrigley Field, the total opened late but was set at 8.0 when it hit the board. View complete line history here.
INJURY REPORT:
Nationals - LF B. Revere (Probable Thursday, oblique), RP M. Belisle (Out Thursday, calf), SP M. Scherzer (Questionable Friday, hamstring).
Cubs - RF J. Heyward (Questionable Thursday, wrist), CF M. Szczur (15-Day DL, hamstring), C M. Montero (15-Day DL, back).
WEATHER REPORT: Clear, cool, and calm will be the order of the day at Wrigley Field this evening. The temperature will be in the low 50's but there will be virtually no wind and not a cloud in the sky.
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Joe Ross (3-0, 0.79 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Kyle Hendricks (1-2, 3.52)
Ross made his major-league debut against the Cubs last June and took the loss, allowing three runs over five innings. The 22-year-old has not allowed more than one run in any of his four outings this season and shut down a tough Cardinals lineup last time out. He gave up one run and six hits over six frames to win his fifth straight decision dating to last season.
Hendricks is winless in his last three starts, but he got back on track last time out after a couple of uneven outings. The 26-year-old gave up just one run and two hits over five innings April 26 against Milwaukee but didn’t get a decision after being lifted for a pinch hitter. Hendricks is 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA in two starts against the Nationals.
TRENDS:
* Nationals are 5-0 in their last 5 vs. National League Central.
* Nationals are 1-5 in Ross' last 6 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
* Cubs are 6-0 in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
* Cubs are 1-7 in their last 8 vs. National League East.
* Under is 4-0-2 in Nationals last 6 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
* Under is 5-0 in Hendricks' last 5 home starts.
CONSENSUS: The Consensus data is split on today's matchup with 51 percent of the picks on the road underdog and only 49 percent on the best team in baseball. The total wagering is leaning toward the under with 58 percent of the picks.