Welcome September with a few bets on baseball. Below are five games that are the best baseball games to bet on today.
There’s no need yet to push the panic button for the Oakland Athletics, but they need to start winning again before their lead for the second wild card position shrinks any further. Can they stave off the pesky Seattle Mariners, who are making a concerted effort to book a spot in October? Read on for more about that game, along with four other contests in our list of five best baseball games to bet on today.
MLB Picks and Predictions for Monday, September 1, 2014
Detroit Tigers vs. Cleveland Indians (4:00 PM ET)
Line: Detroit Tigers (+106) at Cleveland Indians (-116); total: 7.0 – see all MLB lines
The Indians’ wins-leader Corey Kluber (13-8, 2.52 ERA) takes the mound against the visiting Tigers. Kluber is 7-2 with 2.45 ERA in 13 starts at Progressive Field. He struck out 10 batters and allowed just one earned run in the Indians’ 2-1 home win over the Baltimore Orioles on August 15. On the mound for the Tigers later is David Price (12-10, 3.32 ERA), who is 3-1 with an ERA of 3.33 in four starts against Cleveland since 2011. The Tigers are also 3-0 in their last three games in Cleveland.
Writer’s prediction: Cleveland wins.
Seattle Mariners vs. Oakland Athletics (4:05 PM ET)
Line: Seattle Mariners (+132) at Oakland Athletics (-142); total: 7.5 – see all MLB lines
The Athletics’ offense has sputtered of late, producing just four total runs in their last four games – a series sweep at the hands of the LA Angels – three of which have gone under the total. With Chris Young (12-6, 3.17 ERA) on the mound for the Mariners tonight, they’ll look to keep the A’s offense in check. Young hasn’t allowed more than three earned runs in each of his last four starts, all resulting into wins for Seattle. Furthermore, the Mariners are 6-0 in the right-hander’s last six starts overall.
Writer’s prediction: Oakland wins.
San Francisco Giants vs. Colorado Rockies (4:10 PM ET)
Line: San Francisco Giants (-150) at Colorado Rockies (+135); total: 9.5 – see all MLB lines
The surging Giants have now extended their win streak to six games after defeating the Milwaukee Brewers yesterday, 15-5. San Francisco can inch closer to the top of the National League West’s standings with a win against the Rockies, whom the Giants have beaten in four of Tim Hudson’s (9-9, 2.90 ERA) last five starts. The Rockies, meanwhile, own an unbeaten 3-0 record in Franklin Morales’ (5-7, 5.14) last three starts against San Francisco. Morales is 1-0 with an ERA of 2.37 in three starts against the Giants this 2014.
Line: Texas Rangers (+170) at Kansas City Royals (-200); total: 8.0 – see all MLB lines
[sc:MLB240banner ]Yordano Ventura (10-9, 3.40 ERA) gets the ball later for Kansas City in the first of a three-game series against the struggling Rangers. The Royals have defeated Texas in three of their last four meetings. They are also 3-0 in Ventura’s last three starts at Kauffman Stadium. Texas, meanwhile, will counter Ventura with Colby Lewis (9-11, 5.44 ERA). Lewis has picked up a win in each of his last two road starts.
Writer’s prediction: Kansas City wins.
Washington Nationals vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (8:10 PM ET)
Line: Washington Nationals (-106) at Los Angeles Dodgers (-104); total: 7.0 – see all MLB lines
Gio Gonzalez (6-9, 3.86 ERA) is thirsty for a win, having not earned one since early July. He’ll look to end his drought when he takes the mound tonight against the NL West-leading Dodgers. Washington has a strong 9-1 record in the lefty’s last 10 starts against NL West clubs. The Nats are also 4-0 in the last four contests against teams with winning records. As for the Dodgers, they are 9-2 in their last 11 games against NL East teams and are 6-1 in the last seven at home against left-handed starters.
