Want to make some cash off baseball? Here are the five best baseball games to bet on for today.
The Los Angeles Angels and the Kansas City Royals have surprisingly surged to the top of their respective divisions, displacing the favorites Oakland Athletics and Detroit Tigers. Can both teams continue their momentum and pull off victories in their respective games tonight? Find out more about their games below in today’s list of best baseball games to bet on.
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MLB Picks and Predictions for Monday, August 18, 2014
Atlanta Braves vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (7:05 PM ET)
Line: Atlanta Braves (+102) at Pittsburgh Pirates (-112); total: 7.0 – see all MLB lines
[sc:MLB240banner ]The Braves are coming off a morale-boosting three-game series sweep of the American League-leading Oakland Athletics and are heading into PNC Park with renewed confidence as they look to gain more ground in their bid to gain a wildcard playoff spot.
They’ll next face the Pirates who are currently tied with them at 64-60, and will have to deal with starting pitcher Vance Worley (5-2, 2.51 ERA) who has been incredible for Pittsburgh lately. The Pirates are 4-1 in their last five games with Worley as their starter.
Writer’s prediction
The Pirates will win the opener of this battle between wildcard aspirants.
Los Angeles Angels vs. Boston Red Sox (7:10 PM ET)
Line: Los Angeles Angels (-120) at Boston Red Sox (+110); total: 9.0 – see all MLB lines
The Angels had a fantastic opportunity to take the outright lead in the AL West yesterday but closer Huston Street blew the save in a 3-2 defeat to the Texas Rangers. That snapped the Angels’ four-game winning streak but they have still managed to pull even with the Athletics at the top of the AL West with a 72-50 record.
They can right the ship against the Red Sox tonight with C.J. Wilson (9-8, 4.71 ERA) taking the ball for the Angels. Wilson won for the first time in six starts in his last outing against the Phillies, allowing two runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings of work as he led the Angels to a 7-2 win. He will square off with Brandon Workman (1-6, 4.45 ERA) next and will be feeling confident ahead of their matchup. The Red Sox have lost their last six games with Workman as their starter.
Writer’s prediction
The Angels will take sole possession of first place in the American League with a win over the Red Sox.
Baltimore Orioles vs. Chicago White Sox (8:10 PM ET)
Line: Baltimore Orioles (+150) at Chicago White Sox (-170); total: 7.0 – see all MLB lines
The Baltimore Orioles resume their grueling nine-game road trip when they face the Chicago White Sox tonight as they look to sustain the momentum of their 4-1 victory against the Indians yesterday that helped them avoid a series sweep. They were held to only three runs in 19 2/3 innings by Cleveland starters during that series and it won’t get any easier for them when they face Chicago tonight as they’ll face the White Sox ace Chris Sale (10-2, 2.01 ERA) in the opener.
Sale was spectacular in his last outing, throwing eight shutout innings, alongside 12 strikeouts as he led the White Sox to a 3-2 win over the Giants. The Orioles are 6-4 in their last 10 games on the road while the White Sox are just 4-6 in their last ten home games. The White Sox, however are 3-2 in their last five games against the Orioles at U.S. Cellular Field.
Writer’s prediction
The Orioles’ offensive struggles will continue with Sale on the mound as the White Sox grab the opener.
Kansas City Royals vs. Minnesota Twins (8:10 PM ET)
Line: Kansas City Royals (-150) at Minnesota Twins (+135); total: 8.5 – see all MLB lines
The surging Royals aim to extend their 1 ½ game lead at the top of the AL Central when they face the Minnesota Twins, having won seven-straight series. Alex Gordon has been on fire this series for the Royals with the left fielder going 6 of 11 during the first three games.
The Royals, who haven’t been in first place this late in a season since 2003, will start Jason Vargas (9-5, 3.27 ERA) for the finale as he faces off with the Twins’ Trevor May (0-1, 12.46 ERA), which on paper looks to be a straight-up mismatch. Vargas is 2-0 with a 0.86 ERA in three starts against Minnesota this season while May has struggled mightily, issuing nine walks in 4 1/3 innings over one start and one relief appearance for the Twins.
Writer’s prediction
The Royals will easily dispatch the Twins to win their eighth straight series.
Cincinnati Reds vs. St. Louis Cardinals (8:15 PM ET)
Line: Cincinnati Reds (+130) at St. Louis Cardinals (-140); total: 7.5 – see all MLB lines
Everything is falling into place once again for the Cardinals, who are now 4-1 in their last five games after edging past the Padres 7-6 yesterday to earn themselves the series win. Adding to the feel-good vibes is Justin Masterson (6-7, 5.58 ERA) who’s going to start for the Cardinals tonight against the Reds’ Mike Leake (9-11, 3.59 ERA).
The right-hander, who has struggled for the majority of this season, rediscovered his old pitching form in his last outing, throwing seven shutout innings and allowing just three hits in a 5-2 win against the Marlins. Leake, on the other hand, has lost his last two assignments against the Red Sox and the Marlins. Also, the Reds are 1-4 in their last five games against the Cardinals with Leake as their starting pitcher.
Writer’s prediction
Masterson will build on his great start last time out and hand the Cardinals the victory over the Reds.
