A new week begins with some superb baseball action happening in the majors today. Below are five games that are the most compelling and therefore the best baseball games to bet on today.
Max Scherzer, Zack Greinke, Corey Kluber, Garrett Richards. Those are the elite pitchers taking the mound tonight. Though none of the pitchers mentioned above will be in the game later between the Baltimore Orioles and the Washington Nationals, it doesn’t make the match any less intriguing.
Read a complete preview of that game here. Perhaps the biggest game tonight, will be the clash of the Los Angeles Angels and the Los Angeles Dodgers in an entertaining series opener.
[sc:MLBArticles ]MLB Picks and Predictions for Monday, August 4, 2014
Detroit Tigers vs. New York Yankees (7:00 PM ET)
Line: Detroit Tigers (-130) at New York Yankees (+120); total: 7.5 – see all MLB lines
[sc:MLB240banner ]The Tigers don’t lose often when Max Scherzer (13-3, 3.27 ERA) is on the mound. They are 3-0 in the reigning American League Cy Young winner’s last three starts, including their 7-2 win against the Chicago White Sox on July 30, where Scherzer pitched seven innings, giving up just one earned run on five hits.
Against the Yankees, Detroit will face Brandon McCarthy (6-10, 4.56 ERA), who hasn’t lost since being traded to the Bronx from the Arizona Diamondbacks. He is 3-0 with 2.55 ERA in four starts for the Yankees, thus far.
Writer’s prediction: The Tigers win.
Cincinnati Reds vs. Cleveland Indians (7:05 PM ET)
Line: Cincinnati Reds (+160) at Cleveland Indians Sox (-180); total: 7.0 – see all MLB lines
Corey Kluber (11-6, 2.61 ERA) was sensational in his last start, tossing a complete game, three-hitter in the Indians’ 2-0 win against the Seattle Mariners on July 30 to help Cleveland remain in contention for a division title. The Indians are 4-1 in his last five starts.
Up against Kluber is Cincinnati’s Alfredo Simon (12-6, 2.84 ERA), who’s been struggling to recover the form that gave him a 12-3 record in the first half of the season. Simon and the Reds are 0-3 in his last three starts. Cincinnati, however, is 3-1 in its last four road games.
Writer’s prediction: The Reds eke out a road win.
Baltimore Orioles vs. Washington Nationals (7:05 PM ET)
Line: Baltimore Orioles (-190) at Washington Nationals (+160); total: 7.0 – see all MLB lines
Tanner Roark (11-6, 2.74 ERA) goes for his fifth straight win, as the Nationals host Baltimore tonight. Roark will be backed by an offense that has been roaring over their last two games, where they outscored the Philadelphia Phillies, 15-0. Baltimore, meanwhile, will banner Kevin Gausman (5-3, 3.70 ERA), whose last four road starts resulted into a 3-1 record for the Orioles.
Writer’s prediction: The O’s zoom past Washington.
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Tampa Bay Rays vs. Oakland Athletics (10:05 PM ET)
Line: Tampa Bay Rays (+140) at Oakland Athletics (-155); total: 7.0 – see all MLB lines
With David Price now a Detroit Tiger, Alex Cobb (7-6, 3.54 ERA) is now the de facto ace of the Rays this season, and he’ll try to prove that again tonight when he pitches against Oakland. The Rays are just 1-3 in their last four games, but are 5-1 in Cobb’s last six starts, with the sole defeat being a no-decision on the part of the right-hander.
Stepping on the mound later for the A’s is Jeff Samardzija (2-1, 3.19 ERA), who’ll pitch against Tampa Bay for the first time in his career. The A’s are 4-1 in Samardzija’s last five starts.
Writer’s prediction: Alex Cobb stays hot, as Tampa Bay beats the A’s.
Los Angeles Angels vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (10:10 PM ET)
Line: Los Angeles Angels (+113) at Los Angeles Dodgers (-123); total: 6.5 – see all MLB lines
The four-game, home-and-away Freeway Series begins tonight, with Garrett Richards (11-4, 2.74 ERA) going head-to-head with Zack Greinke (12-6, 2.65 ERA) at Dodger Stadium.
Although Richards has gone 0-2 in his last three starts, he still carries a 6-2 record and a 2.14 ERA in 12 road starts this far this season. As for the Dodgers, they are 6-1 in Greinke’s last seven home starts. They are also 7-2 in their last nine games overall.
Writer’s prediction: The Angels deals the Dodgers with a loss.
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