MLB betting cheat sheet: Beltway Blues
After getting swept by the Phillies, Bryce Harper and the Nationals lead the Mets by just a half game.
Power Sports gives a comprehensive look at the need to know betting notes for this weekend's series, including the Nationals current struggles.
Well, It Can’t Be Any Worse Than It Was The Last Time…
It’s never too early in the season to talk about revenge. San Diego (7-15, -7.1 units) will have a big time case of it this weekend when they visit Chavez Ravine to play the Dodgers. If you recall, these two NL West rivals opened the season against one another. The result was a historic, one-sided bludgeoning as the Padres were outscored 25-0 on the wrong end of a three-game sweep. It was the first time in MLB history that one team was shut out in its first three games of the season. While the Padres will certainly be an underdog in all three games this weekend (lost five in a row), note they at least avoid Kenta Maeda (but will draw Clayton Kershaw in the series finale). Be sure to check Thursday’s result for LA as if they lose, that means they’ll be off a series where they got swept as well.
Beltway Blues
So much for that fast start to the season for the Nationals. They just suffered the ignominy of being swept at home by the Phillies (shut out last two games) and now have just a one-half game lead over the hard-charging Mets. The Nats head to St. Louis this weekend to play a Cardinals team that might be “only” 12-9 (as of Thursday), but has a +48 run differential (trails only Cubs) after averaging 7.3 runs per game its last seven games. The one thing Washington has going for them in this next series is that Stephen Strasburg will be toeing the rubber in Friday’s opener. Strasburg has a 4-0 TSR and 0.931 WHIP.
Bottom of the Barrel
The Braves avoided what would have been a four-game sweep at the hands of Boston with 5-3 win Thursday. But they certainly appear to be “up against it” this weekend with a trip to the Windy City to take on the team with – by far- the best run differential in the sport, the Cubs (+74). Atlanta’s record is a MLB-worst 5-17 (-42 in run diff). This will be the biggest mismatch on the board, daily, all weekend long.
Hitting Notes
* A big reason why St. Louis is lapping the league in runs scored (137) has been the hitting of Aledmys Diaz. Over the last seven days alone, he’s 14 of 23 (.609) with a ridiculous 1.582 OPS. He has a seven-game hit streak entering Thursday night. But, if there’s one guarantee that I can make in this week’s column it’s that Diaz won’t be able to keep this up.
* After a slow start, Mike Trout has started to resemble his old self, at least in the power department. He’s hit four home runs in his last 24 at-bats and will head into Arlington this weekend on an eight-game hit streak. The Rangers have been a favorable opponent in the past for Trout, who has hit .402 with six homers, 18 RBI, 24 runs and a 1.288 OPS the last 25 games against them.
Pitching Notes
* Chris Sale has won the 2016 American Cy Young Award. Okay, that may be a bit of premature proclamation, but Sale has been downright filthy thus far winning all five starts thanks to a 1.66 ERA and 0.684 WHIP. His next start is Sunday in Baltimore, a team that has hit 10 home runs in eight home games so far.
* Last year saw Corey Kluber earn the dubious distinction of biggest money-losing starter in all of MLB, by far, at -17.7 units. (No other starter was down more than 11.6). The first three starts of 2016 brought “more of the same” for the one-time Cy Young winner (0-3 TSR), but Kluber’s last time out was a much needed outing where he tossed eight scoreless of three-hit ball vs. Boston. He starts Friday night in Philadelphia and in my mind, the turnaround will continue there for Kluber.
Totals Streak
Prior to a disastrous outing his last time out, Blue Jays starter Aaron Sanchez had seen the Under cash in eight of nine starts. He will get the baseball in Friday’s opener at Tampa Bay, a battle of what is two of the top six Under teams in all of baseball. The Rays being a top three Under team is not surprising, but the Jays being in the same stratosphere is. Last year’s #1 offensive team is averaging just 4.0 rpg, which is a middle of the pack 16th in MLB.
