MLB: Streaks, Tips, Notes
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San Francisco Giants at Los Angeles Dodgers
In the conclusion of a three-game series, the Los Angeles Dodgers look to sweep division rival San Francisco Giants. Getting the start for Dodgers will be left-hander Clayton Kershaw who has a 5-5 record and 2.06 ERA on the campaign. The southpaw off a loss at San Diego tossing 6 innings of 7 hit, 4 run ball will be looking to snap a six game winless streak that has seen Dodgers post a 2-4 mark over the drought. Toeing the rubber for San Francisco will be Tim Lincecum carrying a 4-7 mark, 4.52 ERA to the mound. Lincecum tagged with a ND after tossing seven innings of 4 hit 3 run ball in Giants' loss to Marlins has one win his last seven trips to the hill with his team 1-6 over the span. Not much going right for Giants at the moment losing six of seven, everything going Dodgers way winning four straight stick with L.A. knowing Giants are just 3-7 on the road vs a left-handed starter, 0-7 off a loss handing the ball to Lincecum, 2-8 in Lincecum's L10 June road starts. If that were not enough, Giants are 0-4 vs their division rival with Lincecum when he is hooked up against Kershaw.
Cardinals - Astros Preview / Pick
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After the St. Louis Cardinals routed the Houston Astros in the opener of a three-game series at Minute Maid Park last, the two teams will do it again tonight.
The steady success of St. Louis this year is in direct contrast to the current rebuilding project going on in Houston, one reason why the current betting odds at Bovada have the road Cardinals as -177 favorites, with the run total set at 8.5.
Righthander Lance Lynn takes the mound for the Cardinals, looking to continue his season-long success that has seen him tack up a 10-1 record with a 3.42 ERA. Lynn’s numbers at night are decidedly better than in the daylight hours, with an 8-1 mark and 3.04 ERA.
The Astros will counter with lefthander Erik Bedard, who is 2-3 on the year with a 4.43 ERA. Outside of a bad start in Kansas City, Bedard has had eight starts since May 5 in which he has won just two games despite an ERA of 2.18.
The main issue is that Bedard has been the victim of poor run support by his teammates. His numbers at Minute Maid are remarkably similar to those latter numbers with a 1-0 record and 2.12 ERA.
Last night’s game went over the number, which brings this trend into the conversation for those doing MLB handicapping: in 7 of the last 9 games that the Astros have been home underdogs of more than +150 and are coming off an over game, the next contest has gone Under. That trend has also covered five of the last six home games period.
Among major league teams since the start of May, when road favorites have won the previous game by more than five runs, the next game has a 17-6-1 record in favor of the Under.
Another trend for MLB handicapping purposes is in the fact that the last 11 games in which an away favorite of more than -150 has played at night, that contest had cashed for Under bettors.
If the MLB pick here was a side, it would undoubtedly be in favor of the Cardinals. However, given the high price, it’s better to focus on the total of 8.5 and
Play St. Louis and Houston Under 8.5