Saturday's MLB betting cheat sheet: Sabathia a strong underdog play
San Diego Surges as Home 'Dog
The Padres entered Friday a +123 underdog against Jose Fernandez and visiting Miami, but erupted for a season high in runs en route to a 10-1 victory. San Diego is 4-1 in its last five games as a home dog and is listed at -102 for Saturday's rematch.
CC Setting New Trends
New York Yankees lefty CC Sabathia is 3-1 as an underdog so far in 2014 after going just 3-9 a season ago. Sabathia and the Yankees are installed as a +121 underdog for Saturday's showdown with the host Milwaukee Brewers.
Scherzer a Sure Under Bet
Detroit Tigers fireballer Max Scherzer has been one of the safest Under plays all season - going 1-6 O/U so far - and has gone Under in each of his previous two starts against Minnesota. Scherzer and the Tigers (-255, 8) host the Twins on Saturday afternoon; Minnesota is 21-12-1 O/U on the season.
Pitching Notes
* Chicago Cubs ace Jeff Samardjiza has been as hard-luck as they come, going 1-6 against the moneyline despite boasting a sensational 1.62 ERA and .285 opposing OBP. Samardjiza and the Cubs (+136, 7) face the host Atlanta Braves, who are 9-7 as a home favorite in 3014.
* Miami hurler Nathan Eovaldi has surrendered just 10 home runs in 25 starts spanning the previous two seasons, during which the Marlins are 13-12 against the moneyline and 9-13-3 O/U.
Hitting Notes
* Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer is hitting .373 over his previous 12 games, during which Kansas City is a sizzling 8-3-1 O/U. Hosmer and the Royals (-120, 6.5) visit the Seattle Mariners on Saturday.
* White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu is heating up again after a brief lull, racking up seven hits over his last 13 at-bats following a 5-for-27 slide. Chicago is 3-0 O/U during his resurgence after going 1-6 O/U during his slump; the White Sox (-121, 8.5) host Arizona on Saturday.
Total Streak
Pittsburgh Pirates (6-1-1 O/U): Pittsburgh coughed up 35 runs over a five-game stretch before righting the ship in its last three contests, surrendering just eight runs en route to three straight victories.
Prop of the Day
A narrow Pittsburgh victory looks like a strong bet Saturday; the Pirates are +375 to beat St. Louis (-121, 7.5) by exactly one run and +750 to prevail by two runs. Each of the Pirates' previous five victories have come by one or two runs.
Key Injuries
* The San Francisco Giants have lost first baseman Brandon Belt for approximately six weeks with a broken thumb suffered Friday night. Belt leads the team with nine home runs but was mired in an 8-for-42 slump; the Giants went 11-3 against the moneyline and 3-10-1 O/U over that span.
* Detroit Tigers right-hander Anibal Sanchez (blister) threw a bullpen session Friday and appears ready to rejoin the rotation May 18 against Boston. Sanchez has been a bit of a letdown since late last season, with the Tigers going 3-7 against the moneyline in his previous 10 starts.
Weather Watch
* Fans at Camden Yards may welcome the wind Saturday, with gusts out to center field expected to exceed 15 mph for Baltimore's showdown with Houston (+152, 8.5). Baltimore went 13-4 while teams combined to average nearly 9.5 runs per game under similar conditions last season.
Umpire Note of the Day
Over is 12-1 in umpire Adrian Johnson's last 13 games behind home plate. Johnson will call balls and strikes at the Rogers Centre as the Blue Jays (-115, 9.5) entertain the Los Angeles Angels.
San Diego Surges as Home 'Dog
The Padres entered Friday a +123 underdog against Jose Fernandez and visiting Miami, but erupted for a season high in runs en route to a 10-1 victory. San Diego is 4-1 in its last five games as a home dog and is listed at -102 for Saturday's rematch.
CC Setting New Trends
New York Yankees lefty CC Sabathia is 3-1 as an underdog so far in 2014 after going just 3-9 a season ago. Sabathia and the Yankees are installed as a +121 underdog for Saturday's showdown with the host Milwaukee Brewers.
Scherzer a Sure Under Bet
Detroit Tigers fireballer Max Scherzer has been one of the safest Under plays all season - going 1-6 O/U so far - and has gone Under in each of his previous two starts against Minnesota. Scherzer and the Tigers (-255, 8) host the Twins on Saturday afternoon; Minnesota is 21-12-1 O/U on the season.
Pitching Notes
* Chicago Cubs ace Jeff Samardjiza has been as hard-luck as they come, going 1-6 against the moneyline despite boasting a sensational 1.62 ERA and .285 opposing OBP. Samardjiza and the Cubs (+136, 7) face the host Atlanta Braves, who are 9-7 as a home favorite in 3014.
* Miami hurler Nathan Eovaldi has surrendered just 10 home runs in 25 starts spanning the previous two seasons, during which the Marlins are 13-12 against the moneyline and 9-13-3 O/U.
Hitting Notes
* Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer is hitting .373 over his previous 12 games, during which Kansas City is a sizzling 8-3-1 O/U. Hosmer and the Royals (-120, 6.5) visit the Seattle Mariners on Saturday.
* White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu is heating up again after a brief lull, racking up seven hits over his last 13 at-bats following a 5-for-27 slide. Chicago is 3-0 O/U during his resurgence after going 1-6 O/U during his slump; the White Sox (-121, 8.5) host Arizona on Saturday.
Total Streak
Pittsburgh Pirates (6-1-1 O/U): Pittsburgh coughed up 35 runs over a five-game stretch before righting the ship in its last three contests, surrendering just eight runs en route to three straight victories.
Prop of the Day
A narrow Pittsburgh victory looks like a strong bet Saturday; the Pirates are +375 to beat St. Louis (-121, 7.5) by exactly one run and +750 to prevail by two runs. Each of the Pirates' previous five victories have come by one or two runs.
Key Injuries
* The San Francisco Giants have lost first baseman Brandon Belt for approximately six weeks with a broken thumb suffered Friday night. Belt leads the team with nine home runs but was mired in an 8-for-42 slump; the Giants went 11-3 against the moneyline and 3-10-1 O/U over that span.
* Detroit Tigers right-hander Anibal Sanchez (blister) threw a bullpen session Friday and appears ready to rejoin the rotation May 18 against Boston. Sanchez has been a bit of a letdown since late last season, with the Tigers going 3-7 against the moneyline in his previous 10 starts.
Weather Watch
* Fans at Camden Yards may welcome the wind Saturday, with gusts out to center field expected to exceed 15 mph for Baltimore's showdown with Houston (+152, 8.5). Baltimore went 13-4 while teams combined to average nearly 9.5 runs per game under similar conditions last season.
Umpire Note of the Day
Over is 12-1 in umpire Adrian Johnson's last 13 games behind home plate. Johnson will call balls and strikes at the Rogers Centre as the Blue Jays (-115, 9.5) entertain the Los Angeles Angels.