Saturday 9/05/2020 Comps/Bonus Plays,Trends, Betting Info, Etc

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Blue Jays at Red Sox 9/5/20 - MLB

The Toronto Blue Jays meet up with the struggling Boston Red Sox who have their last four games, falling 6-2 in extra innings to the Blue Jays in the season opener. The Red Sox come in with an abysmal 12-27 record on the year. The Blue Jays have been a surprise team in the MLB this year as the win over the Red Sox improved their record on the season to 21-16, just 4.5 games back of the division-leading Tampa Bay Rays.

The Blue Jays offense is batting .245 on the year to rank 16th in team batting average while adding 4.67 runs per game to rank 15th in scoring offense. Leading the Blue Jays is the young left fielder Teoscar Hernandez who has been having a phenomenal season batting .304 and is tied for the MLB lead in homeruns with 13. Center fielder Randal Grichuk has driven in a team-high 26 runs with 9 homeruns and is batting .276 on the year.

The Red Sox pitching staff has been their demise this season coming in with a 6.13 ERA ranking last in the MLB this season; Boston has not announced a starter for this game yet. The Red Sox offense has been solid this season, coming in batting .254 as a team and averaging 4.53 runs per game.

Toronto will send out Chase Anderson, making his sixth start of the season, Anderson has yet to get a decision but comes in with a solid 3.20 ERA. In 19 and ⅔ innings of work, Anderson has struck out 18 and walked 4 and forfeited 20 hits on the season. Toronto is one of the best pitching staffs in the MLB coming in with a .355 ERA to rank 4th in the MLB.

Recent Betting Trends

Toronto totals' have gone under in four of their last five games.
Toronto has won their last three games, and six of their last ten.
Boston totals' have gone over in three of their last four games.
Boston has lost five straight games.

Free MLB Pick: Toronto Blue Jays -130

The Red Sox don’t have enough MLB caliber pitching to compete this season and it shows as they come in with the worst team ERA in the MLB. Boston has been solid at the plate this season, but their struggling pitching will continue to lose them games, especially against solid teams like the Blue Jays. With a solid starter in Chase Anderson taking the mound, the Red Sox can’t build enough of a lead against the bats of the Blue Jays. Toronto has been playing good baseball and beat Boston in the opening two games of the series, they continue their streak of good baseball and win on the road at Fenway Park. Final score prediction, Toronto Blue Jays win 9-6.

 

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Phillies at Mets 9/5/20 - MLB

The Philadelphia Phillies travel on the road to Citi Field to take on the New York Mets, the Phillies have won their last four games sneaking out a 6-5 win in extra innings to improve their record to 18-15 on the season. The Mets have won back to back games after an impressive 9-7 extra-innings win over the Yankees, improving to 17-21 on the year.

The Phillies offense is one of the best in the MLB this season, coming in third in the MLB in runs per game averaging 5.55. The Phillies are batting .261 as a team to rank 9th in the MLB. Leading the Phillies has been catcher JT Realmuto who is batting .261 on the season and has driven in a team-high 26 runs with 9 long balls. Didi Gregorious has also been solid this season batting a team-high .280 on the season and has driven in 20 runs on the year.

The Mets come in with a league’s best batting average batting .271 as a team ranking first in the MLB but are averaging just 4.58 runs per game to rank 17th in the MLB. First baseman Dominic Smith leads the team in homeruns with 7, adding a team-high 26 RBIs and is batting an impressive .300 on the year.

The Mets pitching staff is posting a 4.72 ERA ranking 18th in the MLB and will send out Seth Lugo. Lugo has been solid this season coming in with a 1-2 record but an impressive 2.12 ERA, in 17 innings of work Lugo has struck out 23 and walked 4. Philadelphia comes in with a 4.88 ERA to rank 20th in the MLB and will send out Spencer Howard who is 1-1 on the year and posting a 5.40 ERA.

Recent Betting Trends

Phillies are 4-0 in their last 4 overall.
Phillies are 6-0 in their last 6 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Over is 53-26-4 in the last 83 meetings in New York.
Over is 5-0-1 in Mets last 6 overall.

Free MLB Pick: NY Mets -140

The Phillies come in redhot having swept the Nationals in a four-game series over the Nationals and are one of the best offenses in the MLB. However, with a solid pitcher in Seth Lugo taking the mound for the Mets the Phillies win streak comes to an end. The Phillies will have a struggling pitcher taking the mound and will be heading on the road for the first time in over a week, where they have struggled with just a 4-6 record on the road this season. The Mets win their third in a row and beat the Phillies at home as a small favorite. Final score prediction, NY Mets win 7-5.

 

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Washington Nationals at Atlanta Braves 9/5/20 - MLB

The Washington Nationals are one team that has been very disappointing on the year. The Nationals have only managed to get a 12-23 record. When playing away from home the Nationals have ended up with a 6-10 record on the year. The Braves for their part are playing decent on the year and have ended up with a 22-14 record, but playing at home the Braves are very hard to beat and have a 12-4 record.

Hitting on the season has seen the Nationals get a decent average of .262 with 298 hits. The Nationals have ended up with 155 runs and 44 homers on the season. With the Braves, the team has ended up hitting at a clip of .263with 323 hits. The Braves have produced 192 runs and 55 homers on the season.

Erick Fedde is the pitcher who is slated to start the game for Washington. Fedde has posted a 1-3 record and has ended up with a 4.71 ERA. Fedde has thrown a total of 28.2 innings while striking out 10 batters. When it comes to walks Fedde has given up 11 walks and 29 hits on the year.

Max Fried is the pitcher who is going to the mound for the Braves and he has been playing great. Fried has a 6-0 record and a 1.60 ERA. This year Fried has ended up with a total of 45 innings pitching with 43 strikeouts, but has allowed 14 walks and given up 31 hits.

Recent Betting Trends

The total has gone OVER in 14 of Washington's last 20 games.
Washington are 0-6 SU in their last 6 games.
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Atlanta's last 6 games.
Atlanta are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games.

Free MLB Pick: Under 9

In the game here the Nationals are going to face a very strong and powerful Braves offense. The Nationals hitting has been on point, but the pitching as can be seen by the horrible record that Fedde has is a major issue. The Braves offense will feast on the pitching of the Nationals and that will make it easier for Atlanta to provide Fried with the run support he needs to help in locking down the win. Final Score Prediction, Atlanta Braves win 7-1.

 

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Detroit Tigers at Minnesota Twins 9/5/20 - MLB

The Detroit Tigers are playing against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Detroit Tigers are throwing left hander, Tarik Skubal. Skubal is 1-1 on the year with a 6.75 ERA. The Twins are throwing right hander, Kenta Maeda. Maeda is 4-1 on the year with a 2.53 ERA. The Tigers rank 10th in the MLB in total offense and the Twins are 18th in the MLB in total offense. The Twins have a great chance to improve their batting against a struggling pitcher.

The Detroit Tigers are having a mediocre year, going 17-18. The Tigers have been great offensively but will need some support from the pitching staff. The Tigers are led by second basemen, Jonathan Schoop. Schoop is batting .310, to go along with 8 HR and 20 RBIs. Schoop leads Detroit in both batting average and homeruns.

The Minnesota Twins are having a good year, going 23-16. The Minnesota Twins have been a fun young team to watch this year. The Twins are led by DH, Nelson Cruz. Cruz is batting .326, to go along with 13 HR and 29 RBIs. The Twins will need Cruz to keep up his offensive dominance if they want to keep having a good year.

Recent Betting Trends

The Detroit Tigers are 15-19 ATS this year.
The total has gone over in 18 of the Tiger’s last 34 games.
The Minnesota Twins are 18-20 ATS this year.
The total has gone over in 11 of the Twin’s last 38 games.

Free MLB Pick: Over 8.5

In this matchup I like the Minnesota Twins to win on the over. The Twins have been a better team all year and are facing someone with a 6.75 ERA. The Tigers are a great offensive team but struggle to not allow runs and that is why the over is a great bet here as well. The Tigers are 10th in total offense and the Twins will post a lot of runs. Final score prediction, Minnesota Twins will win with our best play on the over 6-4.

 

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Milwaukee Brewers at Cleveland Indians 9/5/20 - MLB

The Milwaukee Brewers are playing the Cleveland Indians at Progressive field in Cleveland, Ohio. The Brewers are throwing right hander, Brandon Woodruff. Woodruff is 2-3 on the year with a 3.67 ERA. The Cleveland Indians are throwing right hander, Aaron Civale. Civale is 3-4 on the year with a 3.72 ERA. The Brewers rank a horrendous 29th in the MLB this year in total offense. The Cleveland Indians rank 25th this year in total offense.

The Milwaukee Brewers are having a disappointing year, going 17-19. The Brewers were projected to be one of the better teams this year and have not performed well. The Brewers are led by second basemen, Keston Hiura. Hiura is batting .229, to go along with 9 HR and 21 RBIs. Hiura is leading the Brewers in both batting average and RBIs.

The Cleveland Indians are playing well this year, going 23-14 to start. The Indians are led by right fielder, Franmil Reyes. Reyes is batting .336, to go along with 8 HR and 25 RBIs. Reyes leads Cleveland in batting average and RBIs this year.

Recent Betting Trends

The Milwaukee Brewers are 12-24 ATS this year.
The total has gone under 15 of the Brewer’s last 36 games.
The Cleveland Indians are 23-14 ATS this year.
The total has gone under in 24 of the Indian’s last 37 games.

Free MLB Pick: Under 8 Runs

In this matchup I like the Cleveland Indians to win on the under. The better bet in this game would be on the under. Both teams are on the bottom half of the MLB in total offense. The Brewers are 29th out of 30 this year and the Indians are 25th. Both teams have struggled to get offense consistently and have good pitchers on the mound. Final score prediction, Cleveland Indians will win with our best play on the under 4-2.

 

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Astros at Angels 9/5/20 - Game 1 - MLB

With the Houston Astros the team has looked decent at times. Now, the Astros are coming into the game here sitting in second place in the AL West. The Astros have ended up with a 21-15 record overall, but when it comes to the away record Houston has struggled on the year with a 5-9 record on the road so far.

The Astros in the regular season have ended with a total of 302 hits and a .250 average. The Astros have managed to get a total of 191 runs and 42 homers on the season. With the Astros the team has pitched their way to a 4.09 ERA and have ended up with the opponents hitting at a clip of .234.

The Angels are one team that has been extremely disappointing on the year. The Angels have a very talented roster, but are now sitting in last place in the AL West. The Angels have managed to get only a 13-25 record on the season. When playing at home the Angels have ended up with a 8-12 record so far.

This season the Angels have only hit at a clip of .233 with 290 hits on the year. Run production for Los Angeles has been done to the tune of 175 runs and 52 homers. Pitching for the Angels is not the greatest with a 5.17 ERA and the opponent hitting at a clip of .251.

Recent Betting Trends

The total has gone OVER in 6 of Houston's last 8 games.
Houston are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of LA Angels' last 6 games.
LA Angels are 6-14 SU in their last 20 games.

Free MLB Pick: Houston Astros -150

Houston may not be the best team in the majors on the road, but the Astros have ended up getting a better pitching opportunities on the year as well compared to the Angels. Look for the Astros to continue to pitch better, but also with the problems on the Angels have on their pitching it will allow the Astros offense to come to life which leads to the Astros getting to bring home the win in the game. Final Score Prediction, Houston Astros win 5-3.

 

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Chicago White Sox at Kansas City Royals 9/5/20 - MLB

AL Central Division foes will square off on Saturday night, when the Chicago White Sox and the Kansas City Royals continue their series from Kauffman Stadium. Last night, Chicago put together a 14-hit attack to cruise to a 7-4 road triumph. 1B Jose Abreu had two hits and drove in a pair of runs for the White Sox, who improved to 24-15 on the year.

Twenty-six year old righty Lucas Giolito (3-2 3.14 ERA) will make his ninth start of the season for the White Sox. Last time out, Giolito gave up four runs and struck out eight batters in five innings during an 8-5 road victory against Minnesota.

The Kansas City Royals are looking to snap a four-game skid and have fallen into last place in the standings. On Friday, rookie SP Brady Singer (1-4) was tagged for ten hits and five runs in just five plus innings. Adalberto Mondesi collected three hits and drove in two runs for the Royals, who dropped to 14-25 on the season.

Rookie left-hander Kris Bubic (0-4 5.46 ERA) will make his seventh career major league start for the Royals. Control has been an issue for Bubic, who has issued 12 walks and given up 33 hits.

Recent Betting Trends

White Sox are 14-2 in their last 16 games vs. a left-handed starter.
Royals are 1-5 in their last 6 home games.
Over is 5-2 in White Sox last 7 games vs. a left-handed starter.
Under is 7-2-1 in Royals last 10 home games.
White Sox are 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in Kansas City.

Free MLB Pick: Chicago White Sox -230

Chicago SP Carlos Rodon (shoulder) will throw a three-inning simulated game on Sunday. Through 30 games, Chicago ranks 3rd in OPS and 4th in runs scored. Kansas City counters with an offense that ranks 23rd in OPS and 24th in runs scored. Take the White Sox to win easily. Final Score Prediction, Chicago White Sox 6-3.

 

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Cincinnati Reds vs Pittsburgh Pirates 9/5/20 - MLB

The Cincinnati Reds are coming into the game with a fairly disappointing season. The Reds on the year are sitting on a 16-21 record. When playing on the road the Reds are sitting on an 8-10 record. With Pittsburgh they are coming into the game here with a record that is even worse than the Reds with a record of 11-24, but when playing in PNC Park the Pirates are sitting on a 6-11 record.

This season the Reds have not done that good on the hitting with an average of .215 with 245 hits. The Reds have cranked out 56 homers and have ended up with a total of 146 runs scored. The Pirates are coming to the game with an average of .218 with 248 hits. Pittsburgh has only hit 33 homers and scored 137 runs.

Anthony DeSclafani is coming into the game here as the starting pitcher for the Reds. DeSclafani has posted a 1-2 record with a 7.71 ERA. When it comes to the pitching he has ended up with 21 innings thrown and only 14 strikeouts. DeSclafani has walked 11 batters, but has given up 24 hits on the year.

Trevor Williams is the pitcher going to the mound for Pittsburgh. This year Williams has not been that good in the pitching with a 1-5 record and a 5.50 ERA. Williams has thrown a total of 34.1 innings with 32 strikeouts. On the year William has walked 12 batters and has given up 41 hits on the season.

Recent Betting Trends

The total has gone OVER in 4 of Cincinnati's last 5 games.
Cincinnati are 2-4 SU in their last 6 games.
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Pittsburgh's last 7 games.
Pittsburgh are 2-5 SU in their last 7 games.

Free MLB Pick: Cincinnati Reds -140

Coming to the game here the Reds are coming in playing better on the road than the Pirates are at home. The other difference is the fact that the offense for Cincinnati is playing better and that should help the Reds out in the game here as the Pirates and Reds are both sending out a pitcher who is questionable at best and with that being the case, it will tip to the Reds who can score better. Final Score Prediction, Cincinnati Reds win 8-4.

 

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Miami Marlins at Tampa Bay Rays 9/5/20 - MLB

An interleague clash will take place on Saturday evening, when the Miami Marlins and the Tampa Bay Rays continue their weekend series from Tropicana Field. Last night, Jesus Aguilar and Corey Dickerson each homered during a 5-4 loss against Tampa Bay. SP Pablo Lopez (3-3) gave up five runs in four innings and took the loss for the Marlins, who fell to 16-17 on the year.

Twenty-four year old righty Sandy Alcantara (1-1 5.06 ERA) will head to the hill for the Marlins in this contest. In his last start, Alcantara was tagged for eight runs (5 ER) in four innings during a 12-7 home loss versus Tampa Bay.

The Tampa Bay Rays have won 13 of their first 18 home games and have opened up a five-game cushion for the AL East Division lead. On Friday, Tampa Bay rookie SP Josh Fleming (3-0) allowed four runs in five innings and earned the win. Four relievers combined to throw four innings of one-hit ball for the Rays (27-12).

2018 Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell (3-0 3.14 ERA) will take the ball for the Rays on Saturday. Through 28 plus innings, Snell has allowed seven home runs and struck out 37 batters.

Recent Betting Trends

Marlins are 41-87 in their last 128 games as a road underdog.
Rays are 6-1 in their last 7 during game 2 of a series.
Under is 6-1 in Marlins last 7 games vs. a left-handed starter.
Under is 7-2-1 in Rays last 10 games as a home favorite.
Under is 31-15-7 in Rays last 53 Saturday games.

Free MLB Pick: UNDER 7.5 RUNS

Tampa Bay 3B Yandy Diaz has landed on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain. Through 33 games, Miami ranks 27th in OPS and 28th in runs scored. Tampa Bay enters this game with an offense that ranks 8th in OPS and 5th in runs scored. Take the under on Saturday. Final Score Prediction, Tampa Bay Rays win 4-1.

 

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Cardinals at Cubs 9/5/20 - MLB

In the first game of a Saturday MLB doubleheader, the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs will battle from Wrigley Field. Last night, St. Louis managed just two hits and struck out 14 times during a 4-1 road loss against Chicago. Matt Carpenter’s sixth-inning solo shot was the only offense for the Cardinals, who fell a game below .500 overall.

Veteran right-hander Adam Wainwright (3-0 2.65 ERA) is turning the clock back for the Cardinals. Last time out, Wainwright went the distance and fanned nine batters during a 7-2 home victory versus Cleveland.

The Chicago Cubs have won 13 of their first 21 home games and have opened up a 4.5 game lead in the NL Central Division standings. On Friday, SP Yu Darvish (7-1) retired 11 batters by strikes across seven innings to earn the win. Willson Contreras homered and drove in all four runs for the Cubs, who improved to 23-15 overall.

First-year Chicago manager David Ross has yet to name a starting pitcher for the first game of the doubleheader. The Cubs rank 14th in the majors with a 4.42 team ERA and have logged 18 quality starts.

Recent Betting Trends

St. Louis is 3-6 SU in their last 9 games.
Chi Cubs is 3-7 SU in their last 10 games at home.
Chi Cubs is 2-6 SU in their last 8 games when playing at home against St. Louis.
The total has gone OVER in 4 of St. Louis' last 6 games on the road.
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Chi Cubs' last 9 games against St. Louis.

Free MLB Pick: St. Louis Cardinals +100

Chicago OF Ian Happ fouled a ball off that hit him in the eye on Thursday and is considered day-to-day. Through 29 games, St. Louis ranks 18th in OPS and 30th in runs scored. Chicago features an offense that ranks 14th in OPS and 10th in runs scored. Take the Cardinals to win behind Wainwright. Final Score Prediction, St. Louis Cardinals win 4-3.

 

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TORONTO RAPTORS VS. BOSTON CELTICS PREDICTIONS

PICKS

BOS Celtics Win Money Line
+100

Over 213.0 Game Totals
-110

Money Line Pick
The Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors will resume what has suddenly become an intriguing series when they meet again for Game 4 on Saturday. Boston probably should be holding a borderline insurmountable 3-0 lead in this series, and it was a half-second away from doing just that before OG Anunoby hit a game-winning three-pointer as time expired on Thursday. There is no question that the Celtics have been the better team through three games. They won the opener by 18 points and dominated the fourth quarter of Game 2 by a 32-21 margin for a second consecutive victory. Boston should have won Game 3 even though Jayson Tatum 5-for-18 from the floor for 15 points. For Toronto, Pascal Siakam (22.9 ppg during the regular season) has exceeded the 20-point mark only once in seven playoff games. The Raptors are 0-5-1 ATS in their last six conference semifinal contests and 1-4-1 ATS in their last six against opponents with winning records. Boston is 6-1-1 ATS in its last eight overall and 4-0-1 ATS in the last five meetings between the two teams. Go with the Celtics and don’t bother with the points.★★


Game Totals Pick
The totals in this series have been steadily descending from 216 to 215 and now to 213. Sure the scoring has been down, but this is now a decent opportunity to jump on the over. Boston went for 112 points in the opener and it exceeded the 100-point mark for a third straight game on Thursday even though Tatum could not throw it in the ocean. That probably won’t happen again, as he had previously scored 34 points in Game 2 after going 9-for-178 from the floor in the opener. Fred VanVleet and Kyle Lowry heated up in a major way for the Raptors in Game 3, so their confidence is growing. The over is 12-3 in the Celtics’ last 15 following a loss and they will bring the energy and increase the pace of play while eager to bounce back from a game they let slip away. Lean toward the over.★

 

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DENVER NUGGETS VS. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS PREDICTIONS

PICKS

DEN Nuggets Win +9 Point Spread
-110

Over 221.5 Game Totals
-110

Point Spread Pick
The Denver Nuggets were not able to recover emotionally or physically just two days after outlasting Utah in a thrilling seven-game first-round series. As such, they lost Game 1 to the Los Angeles Clippers 120-97 on Thursday night. That is also why they are getting a whopping nine points for Game 2 on Saturday. It is true that this overall series does not bode well for Denver, but nine points is a ton for Jamal Murray and one of the best teams in the Western Conference. Murray (and Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell) completely took over in the first round and should be reenergized this weekend following an understandable dip in intensity and all-around level of play in the opener against L.A. For the Clippers, Paul George endured another underwhelming game in the bubble on Thursday. He wasn’t terrible; but he also wasn’t great. The Nuggets are 3-1-1 ATS in their last five overall and 9-4 ATS in their last 13 conference semifinal contests. Lean toward Denver, but you will probably need all of the nine points.★


Game Totals Pick
The total is down from 223 in Game 1 to 221.5 following the low-scoring affair. That is a gettable number, even for a Denver squad that did not have its legs under it in the opener. Keep in mind this is a squad that lit up the Jazz for at least 117 points in three of the last four games in that series. And it goes without saying that the Clippers can score in bunches. They poured in 120 with ease on Thursday and reached the 130 mark in half of their six first-round games against Dallas. For a second straight year, Kawhi Leonard is taking his game to otherworldly heights for the playoffs. The over is 23-9-1 in the Nuggets’ last 33 overall and 5-1 in their last six against opponents with winning percentages over .600. It is also 9-4 in the Clippers’ last 13 overall. Go with the over.★★

 

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NY Islanders vs Philadelphia Flyers 9/5/20 - NHL

The New York Islanders will play the Philadelphia Flyers in a deciding Game 7 on Saturday in their NHL Eastern Conference semifinals best-of-seven series. The Islanders were beaten by the Flyers 5-4 in Game 6. The game went into the second overtime before Philadelphia scored to win. The Islanders took a 4-3 after two periods but could not keep the Flyers from scoring a goal in the final period to send it into overtime.

Centers Anthony Beauvillier and Jean-Gabriel Pageau each have seven goals during the postseason to lead the Islanders. Left winger Josh Bailey has a team-high 13 assists and 15 points. Left winger Anders Lee has a team high 13 penalty minutes. In goal, Semyon Varlamov is 9-4 with a 2.00 goals-against-average and .921 save percentage.

Philadelphia was able to stave off elimination for a second consecutive game with its double overtime victory in Game 6. Ivan Provorov scored for Philadelphia 15:03 into the second extra period to give Philadelphia the victory. Kevin Hayes, Michael Raffl, James Van Riemsdyk and Scott Laughton also scored for the Flyers. Carter Hart made 49 saves in goal for Philadelphia.

Center Scott Laughton is leading Philadelphia and goals scored with five, while center Kevin Hayes is the leader in assists with nine and two points with 13. Right winger Jakub Voracek has a team-high 22 penalty minutes. In goal, Carter Hart is 9-4 with a goals against average of 2.17 and a save percentage of .929.

Recent Betting Trends

New York is 10-5 in its last 15
The OVER has cashed in 5 of the Islanders last 7 when not at home
Philadelphia is 14-6 in its last 20
The OVER has cashed in 14 of the Flyers last 18 versus the Islanders

Free NHL Pick: Philadelphia Flyers +106

The Philadelphia Flyers have the momentum entering this deciding Game 7. The Flyers have avoided elimination in each of the last two games of the series and can now eliminate the Islanders with a victory on Saturday. Philadelphia has won 14 of its last 20 overall. The Islanders will be slightly down following a second straight unsuccessful attempt at eliminating Philadelphia and the Flyers will take advantage of that. Final Score Prediction, Philadelphia Flyers win 4-3

 

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SAN DIEGO PADRES VS. OAKLAND ATHLETICS PREDICTIONS

PICKS

SD Padres Win Money Line
-110

Under 8.5 Game Totals
-115

Money Line Pick
Chris Paddack looked to be in the middle of a severe sophomore slump after his excellent rookie season last year, but last Sunday he had his best start since Opening Day, allowing just two unearned runs and striking out eight in 6.0 innings. Paddack also has the convenient benefit of pitching for the San Diego Padres, who lead the National League in slugging and are second in home runs. Athletics starter Sean Manaea has not fared nearly as well as he did after returning from shoulder surgery at the end of last season. Oakland’s big bats have kept Manaea’s record at 2-2, but his 5.64 ERA is nothing to be proud of. He’s not walking many, but opponents are hitting .309 against him and the right-handed bats in the San Diego lineup are looking to have a field day. Paddack is extremely competitive and has the self-belief many pitchers in the league lack to be able to deliver a second consecutive solid outing. Back the Padres.


Game Totals Pick
Oakland’s offense has hit a cold streak, scoring three runs or less in four out of five games coming into Friday. Facing Paddack certainly won’t help them break out. San Diego should undoubtedly score some runs of Manaea, but a pitcher who’s allowed just four home runs through seven starts is not necessarily the best matchup for their power-heavy offense. The Padres may come into this game looking for an offensive explosion, but they’ll be challenged enough by Manaea for the under to hit.

 

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MIAMI MARLINS VS. TAMPA BAY RAYS PREDICTIONS

PICKS

TB Rays Win Money Line
-230

Over 7.5 Game Totals
-115

Money Line Pick
Blake Snell and Sandy Alcantara match up for the second time in less than a week, with the latter looking to make up for a disastrous outing last Sunday in Miami. Alcantara allowed eight runs in just 4.0 innings in his first start in over a month, returning from a bout with Covid-19. We’ve seen so many cases of elite athletes struggling to regain their full fitness and form even months after overcoming the virus, and Alcantara appears to be no different. When he’s at his best, he can shut down any lineup in the big leagues, but when he’s not, a team like the Rays can take advantage much like they did last Sunday. Snell got the win in that game, and he’s unbeaten at 3-0 through seven starts this year. He’s been stretched out to go deeper and deeper into games and knows what he needs to do to quiet a Marlins’ lineup that’s playing for a wild card spot. Don’t expect anything different from the last matchup between Snell and Alcantara; take the Rays again.★★


Game Totals Pick
Nineteen runs were scored six days ago the last time Snell and Alcantara squared off. We went with the under that day, but as the old saying goes: fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. The only difference between these lineups from Sunday to now is that the Marlins have added Starling Marte, a powerful right-handed bat who immediately becomes their most dangerous hitter. We can’t promise another 19, but look for another high-scoring affair and bet the over.★

 

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CHICAGO WHITE SOX VS. KANSAS CITY ROYALS PREDICTIONS

PICKS

CHI White Sox Win Money Line
-230

Under 9.0 Game Totals
-105

Money Line Pick
Lucas Giolito has looked like a Cy Young candidate his past three starts. He threw seven scoreless against Detroit before his no-hitter against the Pirates, which he followed up with a gutsy five-inning effort on Monday, allowing just two earned runs and striking out eight. He hasn’t faced the Royals yet this year but has dominated them in the past, with a 6-2 record and 2.75 ERA in 12 career starts against Kansas City. He’s clearly a level above Royals starter Kris Bubic, who has yet to record a win through six Major League starts since making his debut at the end of July. Bubic has already faced the White Sox twice this year and had a solid outing his last time, but the Chicago lineup will have a better read on the 23-year-old lefty this time. The Royals are second-to-last in the American League in both scoring and on-base percentage, and they’re just not good enough of a team to beat a confident Giolito without an ace of their own on the mound. Go with the White Sox.★★


Game Totals Pick
Giolito has held the Royals to an incredible .181 batting average in his 12 starts against them, in large enough of a sample size to account for approximately half an offensive season. Many of the Royals responsible for that low number are still on the team: Adalberto Mondesi is just 1-for-17 against Giolito, Whit Merrifield is hitting .160 against him, and Alex Gordon leads the pack with a .222 average. It’s hard to score runs when you don’t have baserunners. Take the under.★

 

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CINCINNATI REDS VS. PITTSBURGH PIRATES PREDICTIONS

PICKS

PIT Pirates Win Money Line
+120

Over 9.5 Game Totals
+100

Money Line Pick
In a standard 162-game season, even the worst teams in the league manage to win at least 50 games. It’s safe to assume that the bottom-feeders of the league in this abbreviated year should be good for 19 or 20. The Pirates are 12-25 and, more likely than not, will finish with the worst record in the National League, but their wins will come too, albeit more spread out. They’ll have a good a chance as ever on Saturday facing Reds right-hander Anthony DeSclafani, who has a 7.71 ERA through five starts. DeSclafani faced the Pirates three weeks ago and was rocked for nine runs in just 2.0 innings, and wasn’t much better in his last start, giving up seven to the Cardinals while pitching just 3.2 innings. Trevor Williams has already beaten the Reds once this year, and while he hasn’t been able to find the form that won him 14 games two years ago, he can still be depended upon for a quality start against a Reds offense that has cooled down in the past week. Take the Pirates.★★


Game Totals Pick
Williams, in fact, was the opposing starting pitcher in DeSclafani’s implosion on August 13. He was average in that game, giving up three runs in 5.0 innings, which was enough for a win but not promising for under bettors. The two teams scored just six and seven runs in the two games of their doubleheader Friday, but look for at least one of the lineups (more likely Pittsburgh) to break through Saturday. The Reds have given up 10 or more runs twice in the past week. Take the over again.★

 

[bmd1803]

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES VS. NEW YORK METS PREDICTIONS

PICKS

NY Mets Win Money Line
-140

Under 9.5 Game Totals
-110

Money Line Pick
This important series rolls on into the weekend as the Phillies will be hoping to close the gap on the Atlanta Braves for the NL East lead. Philadelphia will turn to Spencer Howard in this spot, who is now 1-1 on the season after picking up his first career win this past week. He still has an ERA of 5.40, so by no means is he one of their best pitchers. Howard faced the Mets once this season, allowing three runs over 3.1 innings. His velocity could be a cause of concern, seeing that in his last start, it went from 95.3 mph in the first inning to 91.9 mph in the fifth inning. It should not be that much of an issue, but if that continues, the Mets might be able to take advantage.

Seth Lugo will start on the other side for the Mets, who is 1-2, but has an ERA of 2.12. He pitched into the fourth inning for the first time in a couple years last time out, but only managed to compile 60 pitches. Lugo has only pitched against the Phillies in relief this season, allowing one run over 1.1 innings. It was nice to see Howard get his first win in his most recent start, but Lugo been the more consistent pitcher. As a result, I will look to back New York an avoid the Phillies’ bullpen all together.★


Game Totals Pick
The total may be a little more tricky because while Howard has not always been the most consistent, he has not had a start where he has allowed more than four runs. Lugo can also be trusted to keep his team in the game, as he has only allowed two runs all year. Even knowing the Phillies and Mets bullpen could ruin this total in the dying innings, I am going to look for a lower scoring game. The total splits are essentially even for both teams this season and the under is 3-1 in their four head to head meetings in 2020. As a result, it would be a lean to the under.★

 

[bmd1803]

DETROIT TIGERS VS. MINNESOTA TWINS PREDICTIONS

PICKS

MIN Twins - Game 1 Win Money Line
-175

Under 7.0 Game Totals
-105

Money Line Pick
Former Uber driver Randy Dobnak has become one of the most exciting young pitchers to watch in the American League. The 25-year-old has won five of his seven starts this season, pitching to a 3.12 ERA. He struggled against the Tigers in his last start, but he’s too good of a pitcher to make two subpar starts against the same mediocre team. Despite being one of the greatest hitters of our generation, Miguel Cabrera has been unable to figure Dobnak out so far, with just one hit in seven career at-bats. Tigers left-hander Matthew Boyd has been a fixture of their rotation for the past five seasons. Never an All-Star, he’s been relied on to eat up innings, but he’s struggled to do that this season, averaging less than five innings pitched per start. His 7.27 ERA does not bode well, especially in a seven-inning game in which Dobnak can take it straight to the back end of the Minnesota bullpen. Take the Twins to win Game 1.


Game Totals Pick
While Boyd has struggled overall this year, he has improved in each of his past three starts. He also faced Minnesota his last time out and allowed just two runs (one earned) in 6.0 innings pitched. He’s too mediocre of a pitcher to be able to replicate that against the team that set the Major League record for home runs last season, but he should pitch well enough to keep his team in the game in the early innings. With Dobnak on the mound for Minnesota, take the under.

 

[bmd1803]

NEW YORK YANKEES VS. BALTIMORE ORIOLES PREDICTIONS

PICKS

BAL Orioles Win +1.5 Run Line
+135

Under 9.0 Game Totals
-105

Run Line Pick
Gerrit Cole will look to bounce from consecutive losses as he makes the start here for the New York Yankees. He is now 4-2 on the season with an ERA of 3.91. During this stretch of two starts, Cole has allowed nine runs over 10.0 innings. These starts came against the Atlanta Braves and the Tampa Bay Rays. Cole has one start against the Orioles this season, allowing three runs over 6.2 innings.

Starting for the Orioles will be Keegan Allen, who has an ERA of 3.52. He made his first career start last week against the Blue Jays, going 4.1 innings without allowing an earned run. As long as Allen does not get shelled early, he is going to give his team a real chance.

Laying this kind of price with the Yankees is crazy, even with Cole on the mound. He has not looked good recently, making the Yankees run line much too steep as well. Cole is prone to the long ball, giving up 10 home runs through eight starts. He is obviously going to rack up the strikeouts, but I cannot trust him right now, so I will take Baltimore on the run line at a nice plus money price. ★


Game Totals Pick
It really depends on which Gerrit Cole we get here to determine how this game is going to go. If he allows four or five runs for the third time in a row, I would expect this game to be rather high scoring. If he goes at least 6.0 innings and allows three or less, I would be expecting an under. Then there is the unknown of Allen. He has not pitched enough at the MLB level for us to know how consistent of a pitcher he can be. The Yankees clearly have been missing Aaron Judge, so to think they will be able to score seven or more runs by themselves may be a little wishful thinking. I do think Allen will have success early, given that he has not faced the Yankees and they may not know what to expect. Much like the side, there is no chance I would put much on this total. However, it is about time for Cole to get back to being himself, so I will take the under as a small lean. ★