The pennant races around the league are heating up, and teams are more dialed in then they’ve been all season. Get into the action below with our list of the five best baseball games to bet on today.
The Tampa Bay Rays shook off their recent loss to the Boston Red Sox, which stopped the Rays’ lengthy winning streak, with a 2-1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers last night. The Detroit Tigers would also like to do the same tonight after losing three-straight to the Los Angeles Angels in the previous series. Anibal Sanchez and the rest of the Tigers will be at home tonight where fans are hoping to see their team win their first at home since the start of the second half.
Meanwhile, the Atlanta Braves travel to Los Angeles, where the Dodgers are waiting for their first meeting since last season’s National League Division Series. Read the complete breakdown of that game here, and see which other games make our list of five best baseball games to bet on today below.
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MLB Picks and Predictions for Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Los Angeles Angels vs. Baltimore Orioles (7:05 PM ET)
Line: Los Angeles Angels (-115) at Baltimore Orioles (+105); total: 8.5– see all MLB lines
[sc:MLB240banner ]It appears that the Angels have gotten back their groove, winning all of their last three games against the Detroit Tigers, after a 3-4 start following the All-Star break. Los Angeles silenced the heavy-hitting Tigers, surrendering only two runs total in their three wins. With Jered Weaver (11-6, 3.36 ERA) set to start later, the Angels are poised to dominate Baltimore, another great hitting club.
The Angels are 7-0 in Weaver’s last seven starts. The Orioles, meanwhile, are tough to crack, especially when they’re playing at Camden Yards. Baltimore is 3-1 in their last four home games, and 7-3 in their last 10 there overall.
Writer’s prediction: The Angels extend winning streak with a win over Balitmore.
Chicago White Sox vs. Detroit Tigers (7:08 PM ET)
Line: Chicago White Sox (+148) at Detroit Tigers (-163); total: 8.0 – see all MLB lines
Jose Quintana (5-7, 3.15 ERA) is still searching for his first win this month, despite a strong 2.03 ERA. He’ll be challenged to get that elusive July win even more when he faces Detroit tonight on the road.
The Tigers, who have lost all of their last three games, are also looking for their first win at home since the All-Star break. However, the Tigers are 3-0 in the last three games when Quintana pitches against them. Detroit’s Anibal Sanchez (7-4, 3.45 ERA), though, should not feel complacent, as the White Sox are coming into Comerica Park with a batting average of .288 this month – No. 2 in the majors. The White Sox are also 3-1 in their last four games, while averaging six runs per contest during that stretch.
Writer’s prediction: Detroit recovers from skid, tramples White Sox.
Washington Nationals vs. Miami Marlins (7:10 PM)
Line: Washington Nationals (-150) at Miami Marlins (+135); total: 7.0 – see all MLB lines
The Marlins are not done winning, as they notched their fifth straight victory last night with a 7-6 victory in the series opener against Washington. Henderson Alvarez (7-5, 2.62 ERA) will be tasked to suppress the Nationals’ offense, which has powered Washington to a 12-8 record in their last 20 games.
Alvarez has been terrific at home this season, earning a 4-2 record with a 1.64 ERA in 10 games started at Marlins Park. The Nationals, however, seem to have a good read of Henderson, as they are 5-1 in the last six games the Venezuelan has pitched against them.
Writer’s prediction: The Nationals defeat the Marlins.
Line: Milwaukee Brewers (+125) at Tampa Bay Rays (-135); total: 7.5 – see all MLB lines
Matt Garza (7-7, 3.87 ERA) will pitch tonight against his former team, the Rays, who are back into the win column after a 2-1 victory in the series opener last night. The Brewers have dropped their last two games, in which bad offense trumped the team’s great pitching.
The Brewers limited their opponents to no more than three runs in each of the last four games, but Milwaukee was still outscored during that span, 9-7. The Rays, on the other hand, are 9-1 in their last 10 games, and will have Alex Cobb (6-6, 3.76 ERA) starting for them tonight. The Rays are 4-1 in Cobb’s last five starts.
Writer’s prediction: Tampa Bay makes it two in a row against Milwaukee.
Atlanta Braves vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (10:10 PM ET)
Line: Atlanta Braves (+130) at Los Angeles Dodgers (-140); total: 7.0 – see all MLB lines
The Braves head to Dodger Stadium to meet the Dodgers for the first time this season. Aaron Harang (9-6, 3.31 ERA) will face a Dodgers’ lineup that has been batting spectacularly well as of late. The Dodgers recently swept the San Francisco Giants in a three-game series, outscoring their rivals, 17-4. The Braves are 3-0 in the last three starts of Harang on the road, while the Dodgers are 3-1 in their last four home games.
