MLB Odds and Picks
By: Micah Roberts
Sportingnews
LAS VEGAS -- In the next 10 days, we’re going to find out just how tough the Los Angeles Angels and Oakland A’s really are as the teams with the two best records in baseball square off for seven games. It all starts tonight at Oakland for a three-game set with the A's Sonny Gray as a -152 favorite against the Halos' Hector Santiago.
The Angels currently have a two-game lead on Oakland in the AL West after chasing them earlier this summer when the A’s were mowing through both leagues with little resistance. The Angels were waiting for that moment when the A’s might experience a little hiccup, and when it happened, L.A. took full advantage of the opportunity.
Surprisingly, that moment came when the A’s made the deadline trade to better themselves by acquiring big-game starter Jon Lester from Boston in exchange for slugger Yoenis Cespedes. That gave Oakland one of the best starting rotations in baseball. How in the world could the Angels hang around after that?
Since the trade, the A’s have gone 8-11 and have been held to three runs or less in 13 of those games. They’re currently on a run of losing eight of their last 10 while the vaunted rotation has had a lousy 5.08 ERA.
Meanwhile, the Angels have put together a great run by going 12-7 since the A’s trade, including winning eight of their last nine games. They had some terrible news when Garrett Richards went down with a season-ending knee injury Wednesday night. Losing their best pitcher could be a moment for lapse by the Angels -- especially when his replacement, Wade LeBlanc, takes the mound Monday vs. Miami.
Could it be that maybe the injury will serve as some kind of battle cry, where every player on the team knows they have to take their game to another level to make up for the huge loss of Richards?
The two teams haven’t met since early June, when the Angels took two of three at home, but overall the A’s have won six of nine. Oakland swept the Angels in the only three-game set played at the Coliseum in May.
The A’s are -175 favorites to win the series, and while the numbers add up because of the pitching matchups, it doesn’t really make sense because of how differently these two are playing. The Angels are doing everything right, despite not hitting the ball well (Mike Trout is hitting .158 in his last 14 games). Meanwhile, the A's are feeling immense pressure of failing now that they're considered an elite team for the first time since the early 90s.
By the way, Trout has hit .357 with six homers and 16 RBIs in his last 10 games at Oakland. The Angels are 12-7 on Fridays this season and 55-33 (+15 units) against righthanders, but are only 26-30 when playing against winning teams.
Santiago has pitched well in his last eight starts, but hasn’t gotten a lot of run support. Gray has lost his last four starts, while posting a 4.94 ERA. Let’s go with the Angels at +142 to get the win tonight, and while we're at it, we might as well take the series at +155.
Let’s take a look at the weekend pitching matchups:
Friday: Hector Santiago (3-7) vs. Sonny Gray (12-7) 10:05 p.m. (ET)
Saturday: C.J. Wilson (10-8) vs. Jon Lester (13-8) 9:05 p.m.
Sunday: Jared Weaver (13-7) vs. Scott Kazmir (14-5) 8:05 p.m.
Friday's picks:
Angels (Santiago) +142 at A's
Giants/Nationals UNDER 7 (+105)
Royals (Yordano Ventura) -138 at Rangers
By: Micah Roberts
Sportingnews
LAS VEGAS -- In the next 10 days, we’re going to find out just how tough the Los Angeles Angels and Oakland A’s really are as the teams with the two best records in baseball square off for seven games. It all starts tonight at Oakland for a three-game set with the A's Sonny Gray as a -152 favorite against the Halos' Hector Santiago.
The Angels currently have a two-game lead on Oakland in the AL West after chasing them earlier this summer when the A’s were mowing through both leagues with little resistance. The Angels were waiting for that moment when the A’s might experience a little hiccup, and when it happened, L.A. took full advantage of the opportunity.
Surprisingly, that moment came when the A’s made the deadline trade to better themselves by acquiring big-game starter Jon Lester from Boston in exchange for slugger Yoenis Cespedes. That gave Oakland one of the best starting rotations in baseball. How in the world could the Angels hang around after that?
Since the trade, the A’s have gone 8-11 and have been held to three runs or less in 13 of those games. They’re currently on a run of losing eight of their last 10 while the vaunted rotation has had a lousy 5.08 ERA.
Meanwhile, the Angels have put together a great run by going 12-7 since the A’s trade, including winning eight of their last nine games. They had some terrible news when Garrett Richards went down with a season-ending knee injury Wednesday night. Losing their best pitcher could be a moment for lapse by the Angels -- especially when his replacement, Wade LeBlanc, takes the mound Monday vs. Miami.
Could it be that maybe the injury will serve as some kind of battle cry, where every player on the team knows they have to take their game to another level to make up for the huge loss of Richards?
The two teams haven’t met since early June, when the Angels took two of three at home, but overall the A’s have won six of nine. Oakland swept the Angels in the only three-game set played at the Coliseum in May.
The A’s are -175 favorites to win the series, and while the numbers add up because of the pitching matchups, it doesn’t really make sense because of how differently these two are playing. The Angels are doing everything right, despite not hitting the ball well (Mike Trout is hitting .158 in his last 14 games). Meanwhile, the A's are feeling immense pressure of failing now that they're considered an elite team for the first time since the early 90s.
By the way, Trout has hit .357 with six homers and 16 RBIs in his last 10 games at Oakland. The Angels are 12-7 on Fridays this season and 55-33 (+15 units) against righthanders, but are only 26-30 when playing against winning teams.
Santiago has pitched well in his last eight starts, but hasn’t gotten a lot of run support. Gray has lost his last four starts, while posting a 4.94 ERA. Let’s go with the Angels at +142 to get the win tonight, and while we're at it, we might as well take the series at +155.
Let’s take a look at the weekend pitching matchups:
Friday: Hector Santiago (3-7) vs. Sonny Gray (12-7) 10:05 p.m. (ET)
Saturday: C.J. Wilson (10-8) vs. Jon Lester (13-8) 9:05 p.m.
Sunday: Jared Weaver (13-7) vs. Scott Kazmir (14-5) 8:05 p.m.
Friday's picks:
Angels (Santiago) +142 at A's
Giants/Nationals UNDER 7 (+105)
Royals (Yordano Ventura) -138 at Rangers
Diamond Trends - Friday
By Vince Akins
VegasInsider
SU TREND OF THE DAY:
The Blue Jays are 10-0 since May 15, 2014 when their starter went less than four innings in his last start for a net profit of $1044.
PITCHER TREND OF THE DAY:
When Yovani Gallardo starts the Brewers are 16-0 since June 24, 2010 as a 140+ favorite after he had a WHIP of less than one his last start for a net profit of $1600.
MLB BIBLE ACTIVE TREND:
The Dodgers are 25-6 since June 27, 2013 as a 130+ favorite it is the first game of the series. 11-6 this season.
CHOICE TREND:
The Astros are 0-19 since July 31, 2011 as a road 140+ dog after a loss in which they allowed 1 or fewer walks for a net profit of $1900 when playing against.
ACTIVE TRENDS:
When Kevin Gausman starts the Orioles are 10-1 since June 13, 2013 vs a team that has averaged 7+ strikeouts per game for a net profit of $1101.
By Vince Akins
VegasInsider
SU TREND OF THE DAY:
The Blue Jays are 10-0 since May 15, 2014 when their starter went less than four innings in his last start for a net profit of $1044.
PITCHER TREND OF THE DAY:
When Yovani Gallardo starts the Brewers are 16-0 since June 24, 2010 as a 140+ favorite after he had a WHIP of less than one his last start for a net profit of $1600.
MLB BIBLE ACTIVE TREND:
The Dodgers are 25-6 since June 27, 2013 as a 130+ favorite it is the first game of the series. 11-6 this season.
CHOICE TREND:
The Astros are 0-19 since July 31, 2011 as a road 140+ dog after a loss in which they allowed 1 or fewer walks for a net profit of $1900 when playing against.
ACTIVE TRENDS:
When Kevin Gausman starts the Orioles are 10-1 since June 13, 2013 vs a team that has averaged 7+ strikeouts per game for a net profit of $1101.
