MLB Betting News and Trends For Monday 8/27/18

National League
Nationals (65-66) @ Phillies (70-60)
Strasburg is 0-3, 9.35 in his last four starts; over is 7-3 in his last ten. Team in his starts: 7-8, 4-2 away
5-inning record: 7-5-3 Allowed run in 1st inning: 4-15

Eflin is 1-1, 6.19 in his last three starts; three of his last four starts went over. Team in his starts: 10-8, 6-2 home
5-inning record: 12-4-2 Allowed run in 1st inning: 7-18

Nationals lost three of their last four games; they’re 3-9 in last 12 road series openers. Over is 9-4 in their last 13 games. Phillies lost six of their last eight games; they’re 12-8 in home series openers. Phils’ last three home games stayed under.

Mets (58-72) @ Cubs (76-53)
Syndegaard is 3-1, 4.68 in his last four starts; under is 8-4 in their last 12. Team in his starts: 12-6, 4-4 away
5-inning record: 11-5-2 Allowed run in 1st inning: 5-18

Lester is 2-0, 0.77 in his last two starts; over is 9-2 in his last 11. Team in his starts: 19-7, 9-4 home
5-inning record: 14-8-4 Allowed run in 1st inning: 6-26

Mets are 12-7 in their last 19 games; they’re 5-2 in last seven home series openers. 12-18 vs lefty starters- over is 5-3 in their last eight road games. Cubs won their last five games; they’re 11-11 in home series openers. Under is 8-2 in their last ten games.

Diamondbacks (72-58) @ Giants (65-67)
Corbin is 4-0, 2.97 in his last six starts; over is 3-1-1 in his last five. Team in his starts: 16-10, 8-4 road (won his last 6 starts)
5-inning record: 13-6-6 Allowed run in 1st inning: 4-25

Stratton is 0-3, 8.64 in his last five starts (over 4-1). Team in his starts: 11-9, 5-3 home
5-inning record: 9-8-3 Allowed run in 1st inning: 9-20

Arizona is 7-3 in its last ten games, 15-6 in road series openers. Four of their last six games stayed under. Giants won three of their last four games; they’re 0-4 in last four home series openers, 24-26 vs lefty starters. Four of their last five home games stayed under.

American League
Chicago (51-79) @ New York (83-47)
Rodon is 4-0, 1.78 in his last seven starts; under is 4-2-1 in his road starts. Team in his starts: 7-6, 3-4 away
5-inning record: 5-4-4 Allowed run in 1st inning: 3-13

Tanaka is 0-2, 4.76 in his last three starts; under is 4-1-2 in his last seven. Team in his starts: 13-8, 5-3 home.
5-inning record: 11-5-5 Allowed run in 1st inning: 6-21

White Sox are 9-3 in their last 12 games, 6-16 in road series openers. Over is 4-1-3 in their last eight road games. New York won eight of its last nine games; they’re 15-7 in home series openers, 27-10 vs lefty starters- six of their last nine games went over.

Blue Jays (60-70) @ Orioles (37-94)
Gaviglio is 1-3, 6.12 in his last five starts (over 10-7-1). Team in his starts: 7-11, 2-7 away.
5-inning record: 6-8-4 Allowed run in 1st inning: 3-18

Hess is 0-5, 6.82 in his last six starts; over is 5-3 in his last eight. Team in his starts: 2-11, 1-3 home
5-inning record: 3-7-3 Allowed run in 1st inning: 6-13

Toronto won five of its last six games; they’re 11-10 in road series openers. Five of their last six road games went over. Orioles lost nine of their last ten games, are 6-15 in home series openers; under is 11-4 in their last 15 games.

A’s (79-52) @ Astros (80-50)
Anderson is 1-0, 0.67 in his last four starts (under 10-2). Team in his starts: 7-5, 5-3 away
5-inning record: 4-5-3 Allowed run in 1st inning: 2-12

Cole is 1-1, 3.86 in his last three starts; under is 7-3 in his last ten. Team in his starts: 18-8. 9-3 home.
5-inning record: 14-6-6 Allowed run in 1st inning: 7-26

A’s are 18-6 in their last 24 games, 11-10 in road series openers; under is 8-2 in their last ten road games. Houston won six of its last seven games; they’re 9-11 in home series openers- over is 5-1 in their last six games.

Interleague
Rockies (71-59) @ Angels (63-68)
Gray is 2-0, 3.41 in his last five starts; under is 5-2 in his last seven. Team in his starts: 15-9, 7-4 away
5-inning record: 12-10-2 Allowed run in 1st inning: 10-24

Despaigne is 0-2, 9.00 in his two starts for the Angels (under 2-0). Team in his starts: 0-2, 0-0 home.
5-inning record: 0-2 Allowed run in 1st inning: 1-2

Colorado won seven of its last ten games; they’re 15-6 in road series openers. Under is 6-2 in their last eight games. Angels lost their last six games; they’re 11-5 in last 16 home series openers. Three of their last four home games went over.

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Washington Nationals vs. Philadelphia Phillies Preview and Predictions 08-27-2018 in MLB

MLB Previews 26th August 2018 by Gracenote
Nationals vs. Phillies Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 08/26/2018

The Philadelphia Phillies hold a slight edge in the season series against the Washington Nationals, however Ryan Zimmerman's two-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning last week left a sour taste in their mouths. The sputtering Phillies (70-60) look to get back on track on Monday as they begin a six-game homestand with the first of three contests against the Nationals (65-66).

Philadelphia, which resides three games behind National League East-leading Atlanta, had lost six of seven before Rhys Hoskins and Carlos Santana belted back-to-back home runs while Maikel Franco and Wilson Ramos each had two-run shots in Sunday's 8-3 romp versus Toronto. Hoskins went 4-for-12 with four RBIs and two runs scored against the Blue Jays after going 1-for-13 with five strikeouts in the previous series versus Washington. The Nationals followed Zimmerman's heroics in Wednesday's 8-7 win over Philadelphia with three straight shutout losses before erupting in Sunday's 15-0 shellacking of the New York Mets. Mark Reynolds launched his sixth career grand slam in a six-run ninth inning for the Nationals, who have won just five of 14 overall and six of 13 versus the Phillies this season.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Washington), NBCS Philadelphia

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Stephen Strasburg (6-7, 4.23 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Zach Eflin (9-4, 3.93)

Strasburg struggled in his first start since missing more than a month with a neck problem, surrendering five runs - including two homers - over four innings against Philadelphia on Wednesday. The 30-year-old, who will make his 200th major league appearance Monday, received a no-decision in that last outing and sports a 10-2 mark with a 2.48 ERA in 22 career starts versus the Phillies. Franco went deep in his last meeting with Strasburg and is 7-for-22 with two homers against the hurler.

Like Strasburg, Eflin struggled in that Wednesday encounter versus Washington as he permitted five runs on 10 hits over 3 1/3 frames of a no-decision. The 24-year-old pitched significantly better in his previous start against the Nationals, yielding two runs on six hits across five innings of a 12-2 romp. Bryce Harper is 4-for-6 with a pair of doubles against Eflin in his career.

WALK-OFFS

1. Ramos is 12-for-25 with seven extra-base hits (five doubles, triple, homer) and eight RBIs in six games since being acquired from Tampa Bay.

2. Washington SS Trea Turner is 19-for-50 with 13 runs scored in the season series against Philadelphia.

3. Phillies INF Asdrubal Cabrera is 5-for-10 with three runs scored in his last two games after going 2-for-23 in his previous six.

PREDICTION: Nationals 4, Phillies 1
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Toronto Blue Jays vs. Baltimore Orioles Preview and Predictions 08-27-2018 in MLB

MLB Previews 27th August 2018 by Gracenote
Blue Jays vs. Orioles Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 08/27/2018

Kendrys Morales attempts to put his name in the record book while the Toronto Blue Jays look to continue their dominance in the season series when they visit the major league-worst Baltimore Orioles on Monday for the opener of their three-game set. Morales has homered in a franchise-record seven consecutive contests and hopes to match the major-league mark with a blast as Toronto seeks its 11th straight win over Baltimore.

The 35-year-old Cuban has belted eight homers during his streak, including a two-run shot in Sunday's 8-3 loss to Philadelphia that put him one game away from joining Dale Long (1956), Don Mattingly (1987) and Ken Griffey Jr. (1993) as the only players ever to go deep in eight contests in a row. Sunday's setback ended the Blue Jays' five-game winning streak, but they look to begin another against a team they have handled easily in 2018. Toronto is 12-1 overall versus the Orioles this year and has swept each of the last three series between the American League East rivals. Baltimore has lost eight straight contests overall and five in a row at home after being outscored 27-12 during a four-game sweep at the hands of the New York Yankees over the weekend.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, Sportsnet, TVA (Toronto), MASN (Baltimore)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Sam Gaviglio (3-6, 4.94 ERA) vs. Orioles RH David Hess (2-8, 5.50)

Gaviglio ended his 15-start winless streak on Tuesday, when he limited Baltimore to two runs and six hits over seven innings. The 28-year-old Oregonian had not been victorious since May 25 at Philadelphia in just his second turn of the season. Gaviglio also faced the Orioles on July 20 but did not factor in the decision after yielding four runs and seven hits in a career-high 7 2/3 frames.

Hess lost his seventh straight decision on Wednesday despite allowing just one run and three hits in a career-best seven innings at Toronto. The 25-year-old rookie from Tennessee also gave up one run over six frames in the capital of Ontario on June 7 but settled for a no-decision. Hess has made only four of his 13 starts at home and is 1-3 while surrendering 15 runs on 24 hits and seven walks across 22 innings at Camden Yards overall.

WALK-OFFS

1. The homer on Sunday by Morales, who is riding a 10-game hitting streak, was his team-leading 21st of the season and helped him break the franchise mark for consecutive contests with a blast set in 2001 by Jose Cruz Jr.

2. Baltimore rookie OF Cedric Mullins sat out Sunday's contest due to a sore hip flexor but hopes to be in the lineup for the series opener.

3. Toronto RHP Justin Shafer has allowed just one hit over five scoreless innings in his first three major-league appearances.

PREDICTION: Orioles 5, Blue Jays 2
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New York Mets vs. Chicago Cubs Preview and Predictions 08-27-2018 in MLB

MLB Previews 26th August 2018 by Gracenote
Mets vs. Cubs Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 08/26/2018

Daniel Murphy has hit the ground running since joining the Chicago Cubs, going 9-for-23 with two homers, five RBIs and five runs scored during a five-game hitting streak. Murphy looks to further ingratiate himself to the Windy City faithful while tormenting one of his former clubs on Monday as the Cubs (76-53) vie for their sixth straight win in the opener a three-game series against the visiting New York Mets (58-72).

Murphy recorded his fourth multi-hit performance since being acquired from Washington as Chicago completed a four-game sweep of Cincinnati with a resounding 9-0 romp on Sunday. The 33-year-old is 6-for-14 with two homers, eight RBIs and four runs scored against New York this season, although he is just 4-for-18 in his career versus Monday starter Noah Syndergaard. While the Cubs' winning streak has them four games ahead of St. Louis in the National League Central, the Mets enjoyed back-to-back 3-0 victories versus Washington before getting shellacked to the tune of 15-0 in the series finale on Sunday. Jeff McNeil is riding an 11-game hitting streak, but his availability for the series opener was not immediately known as he is nursing a tight right quad.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), NBCS Chicago

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Noah Syndergaard (9-3, 3.38 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Jon Lester (14-5, 3.64)

Syndergaard posted his third win in four outings with arguably his best start this month on Wednesday, as he allowed two runs on five hits over six innings of a 5-3 victory versus San Francisco. The 25-year-old owns a 1-1 mark with a 2.00 ERA in three career starts against the Cubs, however he will be facing the club for the first time since 2016. Syndergaard has flustered Anthony Rizzo (1-for-7, four strikeouts) in his career.

Lester answered a disastrous start on Aug. 11 with two stellar ones, as he struck out eight and scattered five hits over six innings of a 1-0 triumph at Pittsburgh five days later before allowing one run across 5 2/3 innings of an 8-2 rout at Detroit on Wednesday. The 34-year-old aims to keep the good times rolling versus the Mets, as he surrendered two hits over seven frames in a 2-0 win on June 3 to improve his mark against the club to an impressive 6-1 with a 3.26 ERA in eight career starts. Lester has stymied Jay Bruce (3-for-26) and Jose Reyes (6-for-34), although Wilmer Flores has gotten his licks in by going 5-for-13 with three homers versus the hurler.

WALK-OFFS

1. Chicago has homered in a season-high 11 straight contests overall and went deep in three of four encounters during the team's sweep of New York on May 31-June 3.

2. Mets OF Brandon Nimmo (finger) is expected to be activated from the 10-day disabled list on Monday.

3. Cubs LF Kyle Schwarber, who has gone deep in back-to-back contests overall, went 5-for-12 with a homer, five RBIs and three runs scored in the previous series against New York.

PREDICTION: Cubs 5, Mets 2
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Oakland Athletics vs. Houston Astros Preview and Predictions 08-27-2018 in MLB

MLB Previews 26th August 2018 by Gracenote
Athletics vs. Astros Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 08/26/2018

The race for the American League West crown takes on a head-to-head form this week, with the Houston Astros hosting the Oakland Athletics on Monday for the opener of their three-game series. The Astros own a 1 1/2-game division lead over the Athletics heading into the set and come in hot with a five-game winning streak.

Houston (80-50) moved 30 games over .500 by sweeping the Los Angeles Angels over the weekend to cap a nine-game road trip and will play its next 10 contests at home as it tries to create some separation in the West. The Astros are thriving behind the healthy return of reigning AL MVP Jose Altuve, who is 7-for-20 with a homer, three RBIs and four runs scored in five games since missing nearly four weeks while on the disabled list for the first time in his career. The Athletics did not have to deal with Altuve while winning two of three against Houston from Aug. 17-19 and got their road trip started over the weekend by taking three of four at Minnesota. Oakland will try to chip a game off its deficit in the AL West behind Brett Anderson on Monday while the Astros counter with All-Star Gerrit Cole.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Oakland), AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics LH Brett Anderson (3-3, 3.47 ERA) vs. Astros RH Gerrit Cole (11-5, 2.73)

Anderson is thriving this month, allowing a total of two runs over 26 2/3 innings in four starts. The lone win in that span came on Tuesday, when the 30-year-old Texan yielded one hit and a walk while striking out six in seven scoreless innings against his home-state Rangers. Anderson suffered through his worst start of the season at home against Houston on May 7 as he was ripped for nine runs - seven earned - and 10 hits in three innings of a loss.

Cole (226) is looking to take over the AL strikeout lead from teammate Justin Verlander (229) as he needs four against the Athletics, which would represent his lowest total of the season. The 27-year-old Californian struck out 12 over six innings in a victory over Colorado on Aug. 15 and fanned seven over five frames in a no-decision at Seattle last Monday. Cole registered 11 strikeouts in six scoreless innings against Oakland on July 9 but did not factor in the decision.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Athletics placed LHP Sean Manaea (shoulder) on the 10-day disabled list on Sunday.

2. Houston 3B Alex Bregman has hit safely in each of his last seven games and scored at least one run in four straight.

3. Oakland 3B Matt Chapman has gone 9-for-19 with three homers, five RBIs and four runs scored in his last four contests.

PREDICTION: Astros 4, Athletics 3
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Colorado Rockies vs. Los Angeles Angels Preview and Predictions 08-27-2018 in MLB

MLB Previews 26th August 2018 by Gracenote
Rockies vs. Angels Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 08/26/2018

The Los Angeles Angels have been in the habit of helping winning teams on their respective quests to the playoffs recently, and the Colorado Rockies are hoping to be the next beneficiaries. The Rockies will try to take advantage of the slumping Angels and gain ground in the National League West when Los Angeles visits for the opener of a two-game interleague series on Monday.

Colorado enters the set one game behind first-place Arizona in the NL West and Milwaukee for the second wild-card spot after dropping two of three to St. Louis over the weekend. The Rockies will play their next nine contests against teams with sub-.500 records as they not only chase the Diamondbacks in the NL West but try to hold off the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are just 1 1/2 games behind them. The Angels did not do Colorado any favors by losing twice against Arizona last week and followed by getting swept by AL West-leading Houston over the weekend. The club will try to stop its slide at six games behind Odrisamer Despaigne on Monday while the Rockies counter with Jon Gray.

TV: 10:07 p.m. ET, ESPN, AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountain (Colorado), FS West (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Jon Gray (10-7, 4.67 ERA) vs. Angels RH Odrisamer Despaigne (2-2, 6.35)

Colorado has won the last nine games started by Gray, matching the franchise record for a starting pitcher set by Ubaldo Jimenez. Gray has gone 4-0 in that span and recorded a win last time out against San Diego as he allowed two runs on five hits and a walk while striking out five in 6 1/3 innings. The native of Oklahoma worked seven scoreless frames against the Angels at home on May 8, scattering four hits en route to victory.

Despaigne is 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA in two starts since joining the Angels, lasting only four innings in each of those turns. The 31-year-old Cuban was reached for three runs and five hits at Arizona on Wednesday, but the Angels' offense could not manufacture any support in a 5-1 setback. Despaigne, who spent parts of four seasons in the NL with San Diego and Miami, is 3-0 with a 2.01 ERA in seven career games (three starts) versus Colorado.

WALK-OFFS

1. Colorado OF Matt Holiday homered on Saturday - his first blast with the club in almost 10 years - and has hit safely in his last three games.

2. Angels RHP-DH Shohei Ohtani (elbow) will throw a simulated game on Monday.

3. Angels 1B Albert Pujols is just 1-for-19 over his last six contests.

PREDICTION: Rockies 5, Angels 1
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Arizona Diamondbacks vs. San Francisco Giants Preview and Predictions 08-27-2018 in MLB

MLB Previews 26th August 2018 by Gracenote
Diamondbacks vs. Giants Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 08/26/2018

The Arizona Diamondbacks are clinging to a one-game lead in the National League West as they begin a seven-game road trip that runs right into September. The Diamondbacks kick off their trek on Monday with the opener of a three-game set against the division-rival San Francisco Giants, who need to have a big series in order to avoid falling out of the NL playoff race entirely.

Arizona fell back into a tie for first in the NL West by dropping its first two contests against Seattle over the weekend but took the finale 5-2 on Sunday to move one game ahead of Colorado. The Diamondbacks are just 2 1/2 games ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers and need to avoid looking ahead to a four-game set in Los Angeles that begins on Thursday. The Giants are eight games out in both the NL west and the wild-card race as they come off a series win over Texas during which rookie Steven Duggar registered two hits in Saturday's win and his first career triple in Sunday's 3-1 triumph. Duggar hopes to remain hot on Monday against Patrick Corbin while San Francisco counters with Chris Stratton.

TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks LH Patrick Corbin (10-4, 3.17 ERA) vs. Giants RH Chris Stratton (8-7, 5.37)

Corbin has posted a 4-0 record over his last six starts but did not factor in the decision against the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday despite allowing two runs while registering eight strikeouts in six innings. The 29-year-old has gone 11 outings without serving up a home run, tying the franchise record set by Miguel Batista. Corbin has yet to lose to San Francisco this season, going 3-0 with a 2.20 ERA in five starts.

Stratton is winless in his last six outings and has surrendered at least five earned runs in three of those outings. The 28-year-old posted a quality start last time out as he held the New York Mets to two runs on six hits without issuing a walk in 6 1/3 innings. Stratton was not at his best at Arizona on Aug. 3, when he was ripped for six runs on 10 hits and four walks in three frames.

WALK-OFFS

1. Giants C Buster Posey is scheduled to undergo season-ending hip surgery on Monday.

2. Arizona 1B Paul Goldschmidt has hit safely in 16 of his last 17 games.

3. San Francisco 2B Joe Panik has recorded multiple hits in five of his last eight contests.

PREDICTION: Diamondbacks 6, Giants 2
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Chicago White Sox vs New York Yankees Preview and Predictions
MLB Previews 27th August 2018 by Gracenote

The surging New York Yankees hope to continue making up ground in the American League East when they begin a seven-game homestand with the opener of a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox on Monday. The Yankees have won eight of their last nine contests and four straight after posting a 5-3 victory at Baltimore on Sunday to pull within six games of division-leading Boston.

Luke Voit homered Sunday for the third time in four games for New York and has gone 11-for-29 with nine RBIs in 10 contests since being acquired from St. Louis, while Miguel Andujar is 9-for-19 with six RBIs in his last four games. Masahiro Tanaka looks to reach double figures in wins for the fifth straight season since coming over from Japan when he takes the mound for the Yankees against the red-hot Carlos Rodon in the series opener. The White Sox are not in playoff contention, but they continue to show that they could be a factor next year as they've won three in a row and nine of their last 12 contests. Yolmer Sanchez has reached base in 14 straight contests for Chicago and Daniel Palka needs one homer to reach 20 in his rookie campaign after going deep in Sunday's 7-2 victory at Detroit.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, ESPN, WGN (Chicago), YES (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox LH Carlos Rodon (5-3, 2.71 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Masahiro Tanaka (9-4, 3.90)

Rodon has strung together eight straight quality starts while going 4-0, including wins against Minnesota and Detroit in his last two turns. The 25-year-old Floridian has posted a 1.75 ERA during his eight-game unbeaten streak that features three scoreless outings. Austin Romine is 2-for-3 with a double and a homer versus Rodon, who is 1-3 with a 7.11 ERA in four career games against the Yankees.

Tanaka has gone 0-2 over his last four starts but has limited opponents to fewer than three runs in three of those appearances. The 29-year-old native of Japan gave up one run on four hits and a walk in six innings at Miami on Tuesday but did not factor in the decision in the eventual 2-1 victory. Tanaka beat the White Sox twice last season while giving up three runs over 13 frames and is 4-0 with a lifetime 2.23 ERA versus the club.

WALK-OFFS

1. New York OF Giancarlo Stanton, who went 1-for-15 during the four-game sweep in Baltimore, needs one homer to become the fourth-fastest in major-league history to reach 300.

2. Chicago OF Adam Engel has gone 12-for-31 over his last nine games and is 1-for-1 with a walk against Tanaka.

3. The Yankees outscored the White Sox 18-6 during a three-game sweep in Chicago from Aug. 6-8.

PREDICTION: Yankees 4, White Sox 2