MLB betting cheat sheet: Price looking to rebound
Here’s a comprehensive look at betting notes for the weekend’s major-league games:
Favorites Follow Through
Thursday was a profitable one for bettors who went with the favorites – they went 9-2 SU to continue a particularly strong recent trend. Favorites are a whopping 61-34-2 over the past seven days – a 64.2-percent success rate that far exceeds the season-to-date mark of 65.5 percent.
Is the Price Right?
Detroit left-hander David Price will look to regain his form Friday as the Tigers (-156, 7) open a pivotal road series against the Cleveland Indians. Price has racked up three consecutive Overs, going 1-2 over that span while surrendering 14 runs in just 17 2/3 innings.
Felix Back to Form
Seattle Mariners ace Felix Hernandez has recovered his form from earlier in the season going into Saturday’s encounter with the visiting Oakland Athletics. Hernandez has allowed one run over his past 14 innings after getting tagged for 10 runs in his previous 17 2/3 frames.
Stroman Surging
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Marcus Stroman is on a roll heading into Sunday afternoon’s showdown with the visiting Tampa Bay Rays. The hard-throwing rookie has won three straight starts while allowing just four runs over 22 2/3 innings in that span; he’s 10-5 with a 3.61 ERA for the year.
Pitching Notes
*Philadelphia lefty Cole Hamels will look to keep the ball in the park Friday night as his Phillies (-156, 7) entertain the Miami Marlins. Hamels has surrendered five homers over his last five starts after giving up just eight in his first 21 – but he won’t have to face Miami slugger Giancarlo Stanton (see below for why).
*Tyson Ross has an impressive Under streak on the line Saturday as he leads the San Diego Padres into Arizona for a date with the Diamondbacks. Ross has put together five consecutive Unders, though he’s just 2-3 SU in that span as the Padres have averaged two runs in those games.
*Banking on a San Francisco home run Sunday? Better not bet the farm. Los Angeles ace Clayton Kershaw has surrendered just one homer to a current member of the Giants’ roster in 297 combined at-bats; that longball came courtesy catcher Buster Posey, who is batting just .192 against him.
Hitting Notes
*Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera is having a September to remember going into Friday’s encounter with the host Indians. The two-time defending AL Most Valuable Player is hitting a scorching .450 with five homers, 10 RBIs and a 1.376 OPS in 40 at-bats this month.
*Toronto slugger Jose Bautista has enjoyed plenty of success against Tampa Bay’s scheduled Saturday starter as the Blue Jays entertain the Rays. Bautista is 10-for-28 with three home runs versus Tampa Bay right-hander Jeremy Hellickson; the rest of the Toronto roster is batting just .231 against him.
*A pair of Los Angeles Angels hitters will be looking forward to Sunday’s showdown with Dallas Keuchel and the Houston Astros. Second baseman Howie Kendrick is 8-for-16 with a home run against Keuchel, while first baseman Albert Pujols is 5-for-10 lifetime and has also taken him deep.
Totals Streak
Oakland Athletics (4-10 O/U): The beat goes on for the punchless A’s, who dropped three of four to the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field while scoring just one run over the final two games. Oakland is 27th in the majors in batting average since the All-Star break (.237) and is now 70-68-8 O/U for the year.
Prop of the Day
The Phillies may be a good bet to defeat the Marlins by exactly one run (+300). Seven of Hamels’ last 11 starts have been one-run affairs, with Philadelphia winning five of them.
Injury Notes
*Miami Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton is out indefinitely after being struck in the face by a pitch Thursday night against Milwaukee and leaving the field in an ambulance. Stanton, who leads the major leagues with 37 home runs, had yet to miss a game this season.
*Los Angeles Angels closer Huston Street is expected to be available to pitch Friday after missing several days with a hamstring injury. Street has been sensational since joining the Angels in a trade with the San Diego Padres back in July, registering 13 saves and a 1.71 ERA with the club.
*San Francisco Giants first baseman Brandon Belt met with a specialist Thursday afternoon as he continues his recovery from a concussion. Belt has been out since early-August, with the Giants going (17-10 SU, 14-12-1 O/U and +587 units) in his absence.
Weather Watch
*Wind at U.S. Cellular Field will blow out to right field at 11 mph for Friday’s encounter between the host White Sox (-107, 7.5) and the visiting Minnesota Twins. Teams combined for seven runs and 1.62 homers in eight games under similar conditions in 2013 – well below stadium averages.
Umpire Note of the Day
The road team is 7-0 in umpire Paul Emmel’s last seven games behind home plate involving the Mets. Emmel will call the balls and strikes for Friday’s game between host New York (+137, 7) and visiting Washington.
**Odds, stats, weather forecasts and probable pitchers as of 11:05 a.m. ET Friday.
