Top MLB Weekend Power Trends 8/20-8/22
By: Steve Makinen
If late August baseball clashes between competing teams in the playoff races are your thing, then this weekend in Major League Baseball is probably not for you. Of the 15 series’ going on, only one pits current playoff contenders against one another, that coming in St. Louis, where the Cardinals host the Giants. However, if you’re indifferent to that type of drama and just prefer to get some solid wagering action down, then this weekend’s slate is as good as any. I’m here to help with that, looking at some of the series’ you will be handicapping while also revealing this weekend’s list of Top StatFox Power Trends to consider.
As indicated earlier, the key series in baseball this weekend matches the Giants and Cardinals, the two teams closest to Philadelphia in the race for the N.L.’s wildcard position heading into the weekend. St. Louis is just a game back of the Phillies but has given up ground of late, losing its last four games. The Giants are two games out that wildcard spot, but like the Cardinals, have scuffled a bit of late, yielding ground during a current 6-9 swoon through August. This will be just the second meeting of the season between these teams, with San Francisco having taken two of three back in April at home. All three of those games went under the total, producing a combined nine runs.
The divisional leaders in the National League will all be on the road this weekend. Atlanta, which maintains a 2.5-game lead over Philadelphia in the East, will be in Chicago taking on the Cubs. The hosts have officially thrown in the towel on this season, and perhaps the current era, as they have unloaded their roster in trades for prospects and find themselves 20.5-games out of the Central lead behind Cincinnati. The Braves haven’t exactly set the world on fire on the road though this season, going just 27-33. The Reds are in Los Angeles where they have historically struggled, losing their last 12 games to the Dodgers. However, chances are much better they can get it done now, since they are on a 6-game winning streak in which they have scored 40 runs. Finally, the Padres, leading the West by 6-games, head to Milwaukee to take on the Brewers.
The most exciting race currently in the American League is being staged by the Yankees and Rays in the East. The teams are separated by a single game for both the division lead and the best overall record in the majors. On paper, the division leading Yankees have the big edge this weekend, playing host to the lowly Mariners, who are just 19-41 on the road this season. The Rays meanwhile, are in Oakland, facing the tough A’s pitching staff. The A’s already took game one of the 4-game set on Thursday night, 4-3, behind another solid starting outing from Trevor Cahill.
The Red Sox are starting to make some noise once again behind the Yankees & Rays but they are still 5.5-games behind Tampa for the A.L. Wildcard spot. Boston hosts Toronto this weekend, but the Jays are also playing well, having gone 22-15 since the 4th of July holiday. The Red Sox bats seem to have awoken from a slumber, as they have scored 5.4 runs per game during their current 6-4 surge. They host this series and another at home against Seattle before heading to Tampa next weekend for what could be a do or die set. Elsewhere, the other divisional leaders, Minnesota and Texas, will be at home versus the Angels, and at Baltimore, respectively.
Now, here’s a look at those top StatFox Power Trends promised earlier for this weekend’s action:
ATLANTA at CHICAGO CUBS
# CHICAGO CUBS are 12-30 (-15.1 Units) against the money line when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 54% to 62%) in the second half of the last 2 seasons. The average score was CHICAGO CUBS 3.8, OPPONENT 5.5 - (Rating = 1*)
NY METS at PITTSBURGH
# PITTSBURGH is 5-31 (-22.7 Units) against the money line vs. a good bullpen whose ERA is 3.75 or better this season. The average score was PITTSBURGH 2.8, OPPONENT 6.1 - (Rating = 4*)
WASHINGTON at PHILADELPHIA
# PHILADELPHIA is 13-2 (+11.5 Units) against the money line in home games vs. teams whose hitters strike out 7 or more times/game in the second half of this season. The average score was PHILADELPHIA 5.7, OPPONENT 3.9 - (Rating = 1*)
HOUSTON at FLORIDA
# FLORIDA is 6-14 (-13.7 Units) against the money line in home games vs. an NL team with an on base percentage .315 or worse over the last 2 seasons. The average score was FLORIDA 4.1, OPPONENT 4.8 - (Rating = 2*)
SAN DIEGO at MILWAUKEE
# SAN DIEGO is 22-5 (+16.4 Units) against the money line against NL Central opponents this season. The average score was SAN DIEGO 4.6, OPPONENT 2.1 - (Rating = 3*)
SAN FRANCISCO at ST LOUIS
# SAN FRANCISCO is 24-10 UNDER (+12.1 Units) vs. a good bullpen whose ERA is 3.75 or better this season. The average score was SAN FRANCISCO 3.0, OPPONENT 3.2 - (Rating = 2*)
COLORADO at ARIZONA
# ARIZONA is 46-28 OVER (+16.1 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season. The average score was ARIZONA 4.7, OPPONENT 5.5 - (Rating = 2*)
CINCINNATI at LA DODGERS
# LA DODGERS are 21-30 (-12.3 Units) against the money line when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 54% to 62%) this season. The average score was LA DODGERS 3.9, OPPONENT 4.2 - (Rating = 1*)
SEATTLE at NY YANKEES
# SEATTLE is 4-18 (-13.0 Units) against the money line in road games vs. a good bullpen whose ERA is 3.75 or better this season. The average score was SEATTLE 2.6, OPPONENT 5.0 - (Rating = 1*)
TEXAS at BALTIMORE
# BALTIMORE is 33-17 UNDER (+13.5 Units) vs. teams outscoring opp by 0.5 or more runs/game this season. The average score was BALTIMORE 3.3, OPPONENT 4.7 - (Rating = 2*)
CLEVELAND at DETROIT
# DETROIT is 16-30 (-21.2 Units) against the money line vs. an AL team with a batting average of .260 or worse in the second half of the last 2 seasons. The average score was DETROIT 3.7, OPPONENT 5.0 - (Rating = 2*)
TORONTO at BOSTON
# TORONTO is 32-26 (+10.7 Units) against the money line vs. AL teams allowing 4.7 or less runs/game on the season this season. The average score was TORONTO 4.7, OPPONENT 4.8 - (Rating = 1*)
LA ANGELS at MINNESOTA
# MINNESOTA is 40-24 (+14.4 Units) against the money line vs. AL teams allowing 4.7 or less runs/game this season. The average score was MINNESOTA 4.7, OPPONENT 4.1 - (Rating = 1*)
CHI WHITE SOX at KANSAS CITY
# CHI WHITE SOX are 22-13 OVER (+8.6 Units) vs. terrible power teams - averaging 0.75 or less HR's/game this season. The average score was CHI WHITE SOX 4.9, OPPONENT 4.0 - (Rating = 1*)
TAMPA BAY at OAKLAND
# TAMPA BAY is 11-24 (-17.7 Units) against the money line in road games vs. a good bullpen that converts on 75%+ of their save opportunities over the last 2 seasons. The average score was TAMPA BAY 4.1, OPPONENT 4.9 - (Rating = 2*)