MLB betting cheat sheet: Verlander bucking over trend?
Here's a comprehensive look at betting notes for the early-week major league games:
Same Old Padres
The San Diego Padres continue to be the league's strongest under play, going below 6.5 for the second straight day in Sunday's 2-1 victory over the New York Mets. The Under has prevailed at least twice in 13 of San Diego last 14 series, a staggering stretch during which the Padres are 11-32-1 O/U.
Verlander Reversing Course?
Justin Verlander will look to continue the reversal of an ugly trend Monday as he and the Detroit Tigers (-132, 9) visit the Arizona Diamondbacks. Verlander is 10-2 O/U over his last 12 starts - going 5-7 against the moneyline over that span - but was an Under last time out.
Zimmermann Good to Go
Washington pitcher Jordan Zimmermann is expected to start Tuesday against Colorado. Zimmermann left his last start with a strained biceps; the right-hander allowed four runs over 3 1/3 innings in that one to snap a string of seven straight quality starts during which the Nationals went 5-2 SU and 1-6 O/U.
Pitching Notes
* Nationals righty Doug Fister looks like a strong under play Monday as Washington (-141, 10.5) visits the Rockies. Fister has gone Under in five of his last six starts and is 10-16-5 O/U in his career with the total set at 9 or higher.
* The Tampa Bay Rays are going to need plenty of good karma Tuesday as they face St. Louis ace Adam Wainwright. The Cardinals right-hander has allowed two runs or fewer in all but three of his starts this season, with St. Louis an absurd 15-4 against the moneyline in his outings so far.
Hitting Notes
* Miami Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton has two homers in three games out of the All-Star break, but may struggle Monday night against host Atlanta (-186, 7). Stanton is just 2-for-15 against Braves starter Julio Teheran, though he has taken the Atlanta righty deep once.
* The Boston Red Sox get another southpaw Tuesday as they face off against JA Happ and the Toronto Blue Jays. Boston enters the week with the second-most at-bats versus lefties this season (1,125); they're hitting just .248 off southpaws for the year.
Totals Streak
Washington Nationals (5-1 O/U): The bats are booming in the U.S. capital, with the Nationals leading the league in batting average (.326) and tied for first in runs scored (25) since the break. The Nationals are 48-40-8 O/U for the year despite ranking in the middle of the pack in runs scored.
Prop of the Day
Take the under in a big way in Colorado. In addition to Fister's recent run of unders, Colorado counterpart Franklin Morales is 3-7 O/U in 10 home starts on the season and has surrendered a modest five home runs in 42 1/3 innings at Coors Field.
Injury Notes
* Baltimore Orioles starter Ubaldo Jimenez has been scratched from a scheduled rehab start Wednesday due to soreness in his sprained right ankle. The veteran righty, who is just 3-8 with a 4.52 ERA and a 7-10 O/U record in 17 starts, isn't expected to return until mid-August.
* New York Mets right-hander Jon Niese has been activated off the 15-day disabled list and will start Monday against the host Seattle Mariners (-120, 7.5). Niese, who was on the shelf with a shoulder ailment, is 5-4 with a 2.96 ERA; New York is 10-7 against the moneyline and 6-7-4 O/U in his 17 starts.
Weather Watch
* Wind at Citizens Bank Park will blow out to center field at 6 mph for Monday's game between host Philadelphia (-130, 7) and San Francisco. Teams hit .249 with an average of 1.95 homers under similar conditions last season - below stadium averages - but combined to go 12-7 O/U.
* Fans at Wrigley Field will see wind blowing out to center field at 11 mph for Tuesday's tilt between the host Cubs and the San Diego Padres. Teams combined to score more than 13 runs with an average of 4.57 homers in seven games under similar conditions in 2013.
Here's a comprehensive look at betting notes for the early-week major league games:
Same Old Padres
The San Diego Padres continue to be the league's strongest under play, going below 6.5 for the second straight day in Sunday's 2-1 victory over the New York Mets. The Under has prevailed at least twice in 13 of San Diego last 14 series, a staggering stretch during which the Padres are 11-32-1 O/U.
Verlander Reversing Course?
Justin Verlander will look to continue the reversal of an ugly trend Monday as he and the Detroit Tigers (-132, 9) visit the Arizona Diamondbacks. Verlander is 10-2 O/U over his last 12 starts - going 5-7 against the moneyline over that span - but was an Under last time out.
Zimmermann Good to Go
Washington pitcher Jordan Zimmermann is expected to start Tuesday against Colorado. Zimmermann left his last start with a strained biceps; the right-hander allowed four runs over 3 1/3 innings in that one to snap a string of seven straight quality starts during which the Nationals went 5-2 SU and 1-6 O/U.
Pitching Notes
* Nationals righty Doug Fister looks like a strong under play Monday as Washington (-141, 10.5) visits the Rockies. Fister has gone Under in five of his last six starts and is 10-16-5 O/U in his career with the total set at 9 or higher.
* The Tampa Bay Rays are going to need plenty of good karma Tuesday as they face St. Louis ace Adam Wainwright. The Cardinals right-hander has allowed two runs or fewer in all but three of his starts this season, with St. Louis an absurd 15-4 against the moneyline in his outings so far.
Hitting Notes
* Miami Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton has two homers in three games out of the All-Star break, but may struggle Monday night against host Atlanta (-186, 7). Stanton is just 2-for-15 against Braves starter Julio Teheran, though he has taken the Atlanta righty deep once.
* The Boston Red Sox get another southpaw Tuesday as they face off against JA Happ and the Toronto Blue Jays. Boston enters the week with the second-most at-bats versus lefties this season (1,125); they're hitting just .248 off southpaws for the year.
Totals Streak
Washington Nationals (5-1 O/U): The bats are booming in the U.S. capital, with the Nationals leading the league in batting average (.326) and tied for first in runs scored (25) since the break. The Nationals are 48-40-8 O/U for the year despite ranking in the middle of the pack in runs scored.
Prop of the Day
Take the under in a big way in Colorado. In addition to Fister's recent run of unders, Colorado counterpart Franklin Morales is 3-7 O/U in 10 home starts on the season and has surrendered a modest five home runs in 42 1/3 innings at Coors Field.
Injury Notes
* Baltimore Orioles starter Ubaldo Jimenez has been scratched from a scheduled rehab start Wednesday due to soreness in his sprained right ankle. The veteran righty, who is just 3-8 with a 4.52 ERA and a 7-10 O/U record in 17 starts, isn't expected to return until mid-August.
* New York Mets right-hander Jon Niese has been activated off the 15-day disabled list and will start Monday against the host Seattle Mariners (-120, 7.5). Niese, who was on the shelf with a shoulder ailment, is 5-4 with a 2.96 ERA; New York is 10-7 against the moneyline and 6-7-4 O/U in his 17 starts.
Weather Watch
* Wind at Citizens Bank Park will blow out to center field at 6 mph for Monday's game between host Philadelphia (-130, 7) and San Francisco. Teams hit .249 with an average of 1.95 homers under similar conditions last season - below stadium averages - but combined to go 12-7 O/U.
* Fans at Wrigley Field will see wind blowing out to center field at 11 mph for Tuesday's tilt between the host Cubs and the San Diego Padres. Teams combined to score more than 13 runs with an average of 4.57 homers in seven games under similar conditions in 2013.
