Friday's MLB betting cheat sheet: Reds a rare heavy favorite
Lower Than Low
The four Thursday games with the lowest totals all finished Under on a bizarre day for bettors. San Francisco (7) defeated the Dodgers 3-1, Miami (7) downed San Diego 3-1, Baltimore (7) beat Tampa Bay 3-1 and Seattle (6.5) edged Kansas City 1-0.
Big Dog Eats
The Houston Astros overcame +166 odds to record a 6-2 road victory over the Detroit Tigers. It was just the second win in seven games for the Astros as underdogs of +150 or greater.
Unfamiliar Territory
The Cincinnati Reds are whopping -176 favorites for Friday's tilt with the visiting Colorado Rockies. It's just the second time all season the Reds have been installed as faves of -150 or greater. They fell flat in their previous outing (-172), dropping a 9-4 decision to the Chicago Cubs.
Pitching Notes
* Texas Rangers ace Yu Darvish has provided strong value for bettors of late, going 8-1 over his previous nine starts despite settling for five no-decisions over that span. Darvish and the Rangers (-148, 8.5) host the Boston Red Sox on Friday.
* Miami Marlins phenom Jose Fernandez makes his first career West Coast start against the San Diego Padres (+122, 5.5) Friday. Fernandez is 5-10 O/U in 15 career road starts, none further west than Arizona.
Hitting Notes
* Toronto outfielder Colby Rasmus tied for the team lead with his ninth homer in Thursday's 12-6 win over Philadelphia. The Blue Jays are just 5-4 but 8-1 O/U in games in which Rasmus goes deep entering Friday's game against the Los Angeles Angels (-106, 9)
* Atlanta outfielder Jason Heyward went 0-for-4 in Wednesday's 7-1 loss to St. Louis and enters Friday's game against the visiting Chicago Cubs (+165, 6.5) mired in a 2-for-17 slump. His struggles have contributed to the Braves' 1-8 mark over their last nine games and their 1-5 O/U record in the previous six.
Total Streak
Baltimore Orioles (1-5 O/U): The Orioles pitching staff has been sensational, limiting opponents to three runs or fewer in four of their past six games. That has helped prop up an offense that has scored three runs or fewer four times over that same stretch.
Prop of the Day
Wagering against the longball in Toronto could be a lucrative play Friday. Bettors face +600 odds that no home runs will be hit between the Blue Jays and Angels. The Rogers Centre has been the second-most generous home run park in the majors so far in 2014.
Key Injuries
* Baltimore Orioles first baseman Chris Davis (oblique) is expected to begin a rehab assignment this weekend. The Orioles are 7-3 and +478 units with Davis on the shelf, but are just 3-7 O/U in that span.
* Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Juan Uribe left Thursday's loss to San Francisco with a sore right hamstring. Uribe is in a 2-for-17 slide during which the Dodgers have gone 1-4 against the moneyline and 2-3 O/U.
Weather Watch
* Wind at Citi Field will blow out to left field at 7 mph for Friday's game between the host Mets and the Phillies (+110, 7.5). Teams went 1-5 O/U in six games under similar wind conditions a season ago.
Umpire Note of the Day
The home team is 16-4 in umpire Will Little's last 20 games behind home plate. Little will call the balls and strikes for the game between the Giants and the Dodgers (+117, 7).
Lower Than Low
The four Thursday games with the lowest totals all finished Under on a bizarre day for bettors. San Francisco (7) defeated the Dodgers 3-1, Miami (7) downed San Diego 3-1, Baltimore (7) beat Tampa Bay 3-1 and Seattle (6.5) edged Kansas City 1-0.
Big Dog Eats
The Houston Astros overcame +166 odds to record a 6-2 road victory over the Detroit Tigers. It was just the second win in seven games for the Astros as underdogs of +150 or greater.
Unfamiliar Territory
The Cincinnati Reds are whopping -176 favorites for Friday's tilt with the visiting Colorado Rockies. It's just the second time all season the Reds have been installed as faves of -150 or greater. They fell flat in their previous outing (-172), dropping a 9-4 decision to the Chicago Cubs.
Pitching Notes
* Texas Rangers ace Yu Darvish has provided strong value for bettors of late, going 8-1 over his previous nine starts despite settling for five no-decisions over that span. Darvish and the Rangers (-148, 8.5) host the Boston Red Sox on Friday.
* Miami Marlins phenom Jose Fernandez makes his first career West Coast start against the San Diego Padres (+122, 5.5) Friday. Fernandez is 5-10 O/U in 15 career road starts, none further west than Arizona.
Hitting Notes
* Toronto outfielder Colby Rasmus tied for the team lead with his ninth homer in Thursday's 12-6 win over Philadelphia. The Blue Jays are just 5-4 but 8-1 O/U in games in which Rasmus goes deep entering Friday's game against the Los Angeles Angels (-106, 9)
* Atlanta outfielder Jason Heyward went 0-for-4 in Wednesday's 7-1 loss to St. Louis and enters Friday's game against the visiting Chicago Cubs (+165, 6.5) mired in a 2-for-17 slump. His struggles have contributed to the Braves' 1-8 mark over their last nine games and their 1-5 O/U record in the previous six.
Total Streak
Baltimore Orioles (1-5 O/U): The Orioles pitching staff has been sensational, limiting opponents to three runs or fewer in four of their past six games. That has helped prop up an offense that has scored three runs or fewer four times over that same stretch.
Prop of the Day
Wagering against the longball in Toronto could be a lucrative play Friday. Bettors face +600 odds that no home runs will be hit between the Blue Jays and Angels. The Rogers Centre has been the second-most generous home run park in the majors so far in 2014.
Key Injuries
* Baltimore Orioles first baseman Chris Davis (oblique) is expected to begin a rehab assignment this weekend. The Orioles are 7-3 and +478 units with Davis on the shelf, but are just 3-7 O/U in that span.
* Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Juan Uribe left Thursday's loss to San Francisco with a sore right hamstring. Uribe is in a 2-for-17 slide during which the Dodgers have gone 1-4 against the moneyline and 2-3 O/U.
Weather Watch
* Wind at Citi Field will blow out to left field at 7 mph for Friday's game between the host Mets and the Phillies (+110, 7.5). Teams went 1-5 O/U in six games under similar wind conditions a season ago.
Umpire Note of the Day
The home team is 16-4 in umpire Will Little's last 20 games behind home plate. Little will call the balls and strikes for the game between the Giants and the Dodgers (+117, 7).
2Halves2Win (6-2 NBA run L3 days for +4.9 units):
0.5* GAME: Pacers-Wizards o183.5(-110: Risking 0.55 units to win 0.50 units) - TBD (TBDu)
1* GAME: Pacers +5 (-110: Risking 1.10 units to win 1.00 units) - TBD (TBDu)
1* GAME: Thunder +4.5 (-110: Risking 1.10 units to win 1.00 units) - TBD (TBDu)
0.5* GAME: Pacers-Wizards o183.5(-110: Risking 0.55 units to win 0.50 units) - TBD (TBDu)
1* GAME: Pacers +5 (-110: Risking 1.10 units to win 1.00 units) - TBD (TBDu)
1* GAME: Thunder +4.5 (-110: Risking 1.10 units to win 1.00 units) - TBD (TBDu)
