We now enter the second month of CPBL baseball and things are going even better than expected. MLB execs had best get off of their keesters because the CPBL is converting diehard fans in the USA into loyal followers of Taiwanese professional baseball. When the dust of the pandemic panic settles they will remember who was there for them. But we digress. On the first weekend of May we are treated to a 3-game series between the Chinatrust Brothers and the league-leading Rakuten Monkeys. Be sure to rise and shine (6:30 AM ET) for game-one this Friday, but register to make your picks first and read below for a preview of the biggest matchup in sports at the moment.
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Betting Preview for the Chinatrust Brothers vs Rakuten Monkeys CPBL Regular Season Baseball Game on May 1 2020
Where: Taoyuan International Baseball Stadium, Taiwan
When: Friday, May 1, 2020 6:35 PM Taiwan (6:35 AM ET USA)
Broadcast: FREE live streaming on Eleven Sports Network
PBL Betting Odds:
Betting on the Rakuten Monkeys (-208)
9-2 Regular Season Record
The Rakuten Monkeys enjoyed a day-off on Thursday, a rarity in the schedule heavy CPBL. They had 24 hours to enjoy their two-game series win over the Futon Guardians, so will be refreshed and confident going into their first game against the Chinatrust Brothers. Inciting even more confidence for bettors, is the fact that the Monkeys defeated the Brothers twice just a couple of weeks ago, even though the second game was called due to torrential rains. Still, the Monkeys were up 4-1 at that point and we certain to go on to conclude with a win.
With a .818 win percentage on the season thus far the Rakuten Monkeys should be considered favorites by any stretch. However, Sofa Score seems to think that the Brothers’ score to settle may see success, giving the Monkey’s opponent 2/1 odds to win the first game. It may be a close game, but affording Chinatrust those odds in this matchup is ridiculous. The sportsbook on the other hand favors Rakuten with a price of -208 and a -1.5 spread at -125.
Betting on the Chinatrust Brothers (+157)
5-7 Regular Season Record
The Chinatrust Brothers were on a bit of a roll over the past week in CPBL baseball, and they had a chance to become a .500 club until they lost this Thursday’s game to the Uni-President Lions by a final score of 12-6. Now they sit with a .417 record which puts them 3rd in league standings. Unlike Rakuten who has a day of rest behind them. Chinatrust is coming off of one 2-game series (vs Uni) and entering a 3-game series (vs Rakuten), followed immediately by another 2-game series (Uni, again). That’s seven days straight of baseball, five of which will be spent away from their home stadium. Staring down the barrel of a schedule like that is enough to incite pre-game fatigue. They need to be 100% if they expect to beat the Rakuten Moneys in Taoyuan International Baseball Stadium this Friday. They may be hoping for another one-day rain delay, but the forecast is sunny skies and 85-degrees fahrenheit – which also doesn’t bold well for their fatigue factor.
Writer’s Prediction
Rakuten racks up another win over Chinatrust, 11-4.
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