MLB betting cheat sheet: Flying High
Baltimore has won five straight, but this weekend might be a good time to “sell high” on the Birds.
Power Sports breaks down all the best MLB betting notes and odds for this weekend's series in our MLB betting cheat sheet, including whether to buy or sell the hot Orioles.
Flying High
I often like to start this bi-weekly column by pointing out who is the current “hottest” team. On Monday, it was Cleveland, but they cooled down a bit, only splitting four games with Seattle. Now the honor is bestowed upon Baltimore, who has won five straight. Though they took the series opener Thursday night in Toronto, I still believe this weekend might be a good time to “sell high” on the Birds. This is because no team in all of baseball has played fewer road games than the Orioles’ (24) and they’re only .500 away from Camden Yards. The Blue Jay have been a bit “unlucky” this year as they have the most one-run losses in the American League (12) and are just 2-5 in games that have gone to extra innings.
Something’s Gotta Give
Over Memorial Day Weekend, the Royals swept a three-game series from the White Sox. That’s part of a much larger “downward spiral” for the team from the Southside of Chicago, who has now lost 18 of 24 overall. But the Kansas City team they’ll welcome in this weekend is in no better shape, having been swept in back to back series (by Cleveland and Baltimore) and losing seven in a row overall. Despite still being a game over .500, the Royals have actually been outscored by 24 runs this year. Even worse news for KC is that an offense which has scored 1 or 0 runs in six straight games will have to face Chris Sale in Friday’s series opener. Might this be the spot that Sale and the White Sox get back on track?
Two Outta Three Ain’t Bad
The Rockies and Padres meet for the fourth time this season, in Coors Field. In each of the three previous series, San Diego has taken two out of the three games. But, overall, Colorado has had the better season when you look at the respective run differentials. The Rockies have only been outscored by eight runs over the course of the season while the Padres are -47 (sixth worst in all of baseball). I wouldn’t be surprised to see the home team win this weekend series.
Pitching Notes
* The Nationals had been 11-0 in Stephen Strasburg starts this year before taking a surprising 6-3 loss at Cincinnati last Saturday. Strasburg himself did not factor into the decision, though he was charged with three runs in 5 1/3 innings pitched (did have 10 K’s). He’s a good bet to bounce back Friday at home vs. Philadelphia, whom he’s somehow yet to face in 2016. These two NL East rivals have played three series against one another with the road team coming out on top in eight of the nine games. The Phillies actually swept a three-game series here in D.C. back in April. But they’ve lost 10 of their last 13 overall and I wouldn’t be surprised if they were swept this weekend.
* The Indians Corey Kluber is fifth in the American League in WHIP (1.079) despite a 5-7 team start record. This isn’t the first time this year that I’ve made the case that you can start to look for better results from him and finally we’re starting to see some real signs. Last time out, the former Cy Young winner delivered six scoreless innings of two-hit ball against the Royals. On Friday, he faces an Angels club on a four-game losing streak that’s starting a pitcher (Hector Santiago) who has a 9.69 ERA and 1.692 WHIP his last three starts.
Hitting Notes
* Look out for San Diego’s Wil Myers. He just hit five home runs during the team’s eight-game home stand and now heads to the most hitter-friendly park in all of baseball (Coors Field). Over the last five games, Myers is hitting .471 with four doubles and has a 1.502 OPS.
* Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina had been mired in an atrocious 1 for 39 slump at the plate before breaking out the last four games. He went 3 for 4 in Thursday’s win at Cincinnati, including the game winning single.
Totals Trend
We have a 5.5 run total Friday night in San Francisco as Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers come calling. The Giants counter with Johnny Cueto, who shares an 11-1 team start record with Kershaw. The Under is a combined 16-7-1 when these two take the hill and here are their respective numbers over their last three starts: Kershaw (0.79 ERA, 0.485 WHIP), Cueto (0.43 ERA, 0.905 WHIP).
