How about trying your luck on baseball betting while waiting for Week 2 of the NFL to come? Below are five games that are the best baseball games to bet on today.
The Seattle Mariners are in the thick of the race for at least a Wild Card postseason ticket in the American League, but the lowly Houston Astros are making it extra hard for them to get into the playoff picture. Tonight, the Mariners will call upon their best pitcher of late against the stubborn underdogs. Find out more about that pitcher and why dog players should pause riding the Astros when you read our latest list of five best games to bet on today.
Looking for football previews? Read our preview of Broncos vs. Chiefs here, and Vikings vs. Patriots here.
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MLB Picks and Predictions for Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Kansas City Royals vs. Detroit Tigers (7:00 PM ET)
Line: Kansas City Royals (+110) at Detroit Tigers (-120); total: 7.5 – see all MLB lines
[sc:MLB240banner ]After losing two straight games to the Tigers, which allowed Detroit to tie them atop the American League Central division, the Royals thankfully has their best pitcher scheduled to start tonight. That pitcher is James Shields (13-7, 3.23 ERA), whose last four road starts have all resulted to wins for Kansas City.
The Tigers, meanwhile, will start Rick Porcello (15-10, 3.30 ERA), who has been plastered by opposing batters of late, allowing eight earned runs on 21 hits in just 9.2 total innings of duty over his last two starts. Nevertheless, the Tigers are 4-0 in Porcello’s last four appearances on the mound against Kansas City.
Writer’s prediction: Kansas City wins.
Tampa Bay Rays vs. New York Yankees (7:05 PM ET)
Line: Tampa Bay Rays (EVEN) at New York Yankees (-110); total: 8.0 – see all MLB lines
How the Rays wish that they could play all their games in the Bronx. Tampa Bay extended their winning streak at Yankee Stadium to five games after dealing the Yankees a 4-3 loss in the first game of their three-game series last night. Furthermore, they’ll start Jake Odorizzi (10-11, 3.84 ERA), who comes to the game later carrying a streak of 14.2 scoreless innings. Odorizzi will match up with Chris Capuano (2-3, 4.46 ERA), whose last four home starts have translated to a 3-1 record for the Yankees.
St. Louis Cardinals vs. Cincinnati Reds (7:10 PM ET)
Line: St. Louis Cardinals (-130) at Cincinnati Reds (+120); total: 7.5 – see all MLB lines
Cincinnati scored a rare win over St. Louis last night, beating the visiting Cardinals, 9-5. The victory brings the record of the Reds to 4-1 in their last five games as home underdogs. Alfredo Simon (13-10, 3.52 ERA) takes the ball in the second game of the series, hoping to bounce back from a bad outing, wherein he gave up six earned runs in just four innings of work in the team’s 14-5 loss to the New York Mets on August 5. The over is 3-1 in Simon’s last four starts.
The Cards, who are 11-4 this season versus Cincinnati, will have John Lackey (13-9, 3.91 ERA) on the mound. St. Louis is 4-1 in his last five starts overall.
Writer’s prediction: St. Louis wins.
Oakland Athletics vs. Chicago White Sox (8:10 PM ET)
Line: Oakland Athletics (-175) at Chicago White Sox (+155); total: 8.5 – see all MLB lines
Jeff Samardzija (6-12, 3.21 ERA) pitched at U.S. Cellular Field last May as a Chicago Cub, striking out seven and surrendering no earned runs, but took a no-decision because his team can’t give him enough run support in a 3-1 loss. Offense may not be a problem tonight, though, as the Athletics are fresh off bludgeoning the White Sox in the first game, 11-2. The White Sox, on the other hand, are 3-1 in their last four home games against Oakland. The over is also 4-0-1 in the White Sox’s last five home games.
Writer’s prediction: Oakland wins.
Houston Astros vs. Seattle Mariners (10:10 PM ET)
Line: Houston Astros (+210) at Seattle Mariners (-250); total: 7.0 – see all MLB lines
With an untested pitcher and minor-league call-up in Nick Tropeano on the mound later, the Astros find themselves in a familiar underdog situation again. However, they’ve been among the favorites of underdog bettors, going 5-2 in their last seven games as such. These same bettors, though, will have to think a little longer before laying action on Houston tonight, as the Mariners will start Hisashi Iwakuma (14-6, 2.97 ERA) in the series finale. The Mariners are 6-0 in Iwakuma’s last six starts as chalks.
