MLB Daily Line Drive: Monday's Picks, Betting Odds and Analysis
Double-Play Picks
Colorado Rockies at San Francisco Giants (-130, 7.5)
As the Rockies open a three-game series in San Francisco against the Giants we must admit...we're a little bit stumped by the moneyline for this one. Why in the hell are the Giants favored over the Rockies tonight?
The Rockies are a terrific road bet in 2017 at 25-16. Sure, they are coming off getting swept in their three-game series in Los Angeles against the Dodgers, but there is no shame in getting swept by a very good Dodgers team and that should be more motivation for them to come out on fire against the pathetic Giants.
The Giants are a mess right now. They were just swept at home by the New York Mets, they've lost 12 of their last 13 games overall, they've lost 10 of their last 11 games at AT&T Park, and they are sending Jeff Samardzija to the mound tonight.
The Giants have lost five of Samardzija's last six starts and they have already lost three of his starts against the Rockies this season. In his previous three starts against Colorado in 2017, Samardzija owns an ERA of 9.33 and a WHIP of 1.64.
Rockies' starting pitcher German Marquez certainly isn't the reason for the strange line. The Rockies have won seven of his last eight starts and over his last three outings he owns a team win/loss record of 3-0, a 1.93 ERA, and a WHIP of 1.14.
Oh yeah - the Rockies have won nine consecutive meetings with the Giants.
Pick: Rockies +120
Los Angeles Angels at Los Angeles Dodgers (-225, 9)
The "Battle of Los Angeles" opens Monday night with the Dodgers hosting the Angels for the first of two games at Dodger Stadium, before the series shifts to Anaheim for two games.
Rich Hill gets the ball for the home team tonight and he's been his usual self thus far in 2017 at 4-3, team win/loss record of 5-4, 4.72 ERA (4.09 at home), and a few too many walks. With blister issues being a big problem for Hill, you can pretty much pencil him in for five innings and around two earned runs. With the National League's best bullpen backing him up, his short outings are not a concern.
Ricky Nolasco will get the ball for the Angels tonight and he's the fun one to talk about in this matchup.
Ricky...Ricky...Ricky...what are we going to do with you? Fading definitely seems like the best course of action.
Nolasco owns a team win/loss of 3-12 this season, including team losses in 10 consecutive starts! He is 0-3 in his last three starts with an ERA of 5.89, WHIP of 1.75, and an opponent's on base percentage of .398.
Note: The Dodgers are 42-13 when Cody Bellinger is in the starting lineup. They should probably just keep him in the starting lineup, he'll probably hit a couple of home runs.
Second Note: The Dodgers have won 16 of their last 17 games overall. They have won 10 in a row and have covered -1.5 in nine of those wins.
Pick: Dodgers -1.5 (-110)
Yesterday's Picks: 0-2
Season To Date: 74-62-7
Streaking and Slumping Starting Pitchers
Streaking: Carlos Carrasco, Cleveland Indians (8-3, 2.99, $518)
Dropping Carlos Carrasco into our Streaking Starting Pitchers section is an automatic at this point every time he's scheduled to start.
The Indians have won eight of his last nine outings and over his last three he's 3-0, 1.53 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and he has 21 strikeouts to go along with only four walks.
Carrasco and the Indians are -170 at home against returning Cole Hamels and the Texas Rangers.
Slumping: Ricky Nolasco, Los Angeles Angels (2-9, 5.23, $-912)
We don't usually like to feature a starting pitcher in the Streaking and Slumping Starting Pitchers section if they've already been discussed in the above Double-Play Picks section. However, when you've been as bad as Ricky Nolasco you certainly deserve a double shot.
As stated above, Nolasco is 0-3 in his last three starts with an ERA of 5.89, WHIP of 1.75, and an opponent's on base percentage of .398. The Angels have lost his last 10 outings and for the season he ranks third from the bottom (253rd overall) in Starting Pitcher Betting Money Earnings at $-912.
Nolasco and the Angels are in tough against the Dodgers and can be had at +180.
Monday's Top Trends
* The St. Louis Cardinals are 10-1 in Michael Wacha's last 11 starts vs. Cincinnati. -155 today vs. Reds.
* Under is 8-1 in the Chicago Cubs' last 9 overall. Cubs/Nationals Total: 9.5.
* Under is 10-1-1 in Jose Berrios' last 12 starts overall. Twins/Red Sox Total: 8.5.
* The Los Angeles Dodgers are 16-1 in their last 17 games overall. -225 today vs. Angels.
Weather To Keep An Eye On
The only precipitation to worry about in Monday's MLB forecast is in Cleveland where the Indians are schedule to host the Texas Rangers. There is a 35-50 percent chance of rain throughout the evening and there could be some thunderstorms involved in the equation.
There are notable hitter's winds in the forecast for four games today:
* Rangers at Indians (Total: 9) - 13-16 mile per hour wind blowing out to right field.
* Twins at Red Sox (Total: 8.5) - 10 mile per hour wind blowing out to right field.
* Yankees at White Sox (Total: 10.5) - 10-15 mile per hour wind blowing out to right field.
* Rockies at Giants (Total: 7.5) - 14-17 mile per hour wind blowing out to center field.
