Welcome back to our game by game segment on points to take in before games start today in Major League Baseball. This feature will run on a semi regular basis for the remainder of the 2018 MLB season. The excitement is just starting as baseball is gearing up for a very fun second half.
Lets dig into a few games where we can find an edge to put our money in the right places.
Always remember that odds will come directly from Bovada/Bodog. References today are at noon hour, Sunday July 22. Depending on when bets are placed their will be slight movements on run lines.
All bets will be made using 100$ (as an example)Â
Cleveland Indians (Mike Clevinger) (R) at Texas Rangers (Yovani Gallardo) (R)
The run line is at 11.5 for combined runs. This is mostly skewed that way because of Gallardo’s ugly 8.60 ERA in only 8 games played this season, and because of course, the ball tends to fly at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Also it should be noted that the Indians are still trying to figure out the bullpen issues that have plagued them to this point. The acquisition of reliever Brad Hand should pay dividends but this may take a little while more to get things ironed out.
The season series is at 4 games to 1 in favour of the Indians. All games are at or more then 12 runs scored, the following are the scores : 7-5, 8-6, 12-4, 9-8, 16-3. The 8-6 game was the only game in favour of the Rangers.
Clevinger has been solid overall for Cleveland but has struggled in his last three starts going 1-2 with an ERA right at 6.00.
Gallardo’s numbers are ugly but still, the Rangers have played well in his starts. They sit at 4 wins and only 1 loss in all games played with Texas this season. (Gallardo had a brief stint with the Cincinnati Reds to begin the ’18 season.)
Lets go with over run total.
11.5 game run total-over (-115)
$100 bet/ $86.96 returnÂ
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It’s difficult to see the total go under given the context, combined with ball park factors in favour of offense. Both teams are built to score runs in bunches, lets see if the trend continues.
San Francisco Giants (Johnny Cueto) (R) at Oakland Athletics (Sean Manaea) (L)
The A’s have now entrenched themselves as a real contender. We finally know that they are in the race to go all in on this season. New closer brought over from the NY Mets, Jeurys Familia, will be a welcome addition to an already good bullpen that also features all-star Blake Treinen.
These two teams played an 11 inning thriller yesterday, won by the Athletics thanks to the timely hitting of catcher Jonathan Lucroy.
Sean Manaea has turned things around very nicely having not lost any of his last eight starts. Manaea had a little rough patch after his no hitter but has rebounded back into what the A’s envisioned him to be at the start of the season.
Johnny Cueto season to date has been curtailed by elbow issues early on, lately its been a rough go, 16 hits given up in 10 innings, going 0-1 with a 7.20 ERA. Cueto at some point will turn back into all-star caliber.
An under the total of 8.5 runs(-110) is definitely in play. At the whole these are two stud pitchers. Giving a slight lean to the Athletics as they are just in a good spot overall, elevating their play and given an extra boost to the bullpen with the recent acquisition.
8.5 run total: under(-110)
$100 bet-$86.96 return
Oakland Athletics ,win(moneyline) (-137)
$100 bet- $73 return
Houston Astros (Lance McCullers) (R) at Los Angeles Angels (Andrew Heaney) (L)
The Houston Astros star studded lineup looks to go for the sweep of the Angels after wins, 3-1, and last nights 7-0 drubbing. The ‘Stros haven’t made any moves after the recent moves made by other contenders, LA Dodgers, Athletics because frankly their isn’t really any flaws other then some bullpen issues that might actually work themselves internally through the organization.
Lance McCullers will get the nod today, he got touched up pretty good in his most recent outing. He surrendered 6 runs in 4 innings of work to Oakland back on July 11. Overall McCullers has performed well setting a career high in wins.
On the other side lefty Andrew Heaney goes for the Angels. His past performances against Houston have been very good, 1-0, 0.95 ERA in three starts.
8.5 Run total: under(-115)
$100 bet- $86.96 returnÂ
Houston Astros, win(moneyline) (-130)
$100 bet- $76.92
That’s all for this installment, only use this advice as a guideline, these $ dollar figures are only used as a means to show what kind of return you could potentially get. Above all else just enjoy the games!
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