Lookie here now: Week 2 of the NFL starts today. It’s just one game, though. Baseball, meanwhile, has tons of it later. Below are five games that are the best baseball games to bet on today.
Don’t count out the Milwaukee Brewers. Well, maybe you can for the postseason, but not in tonight’s game against the Miami Marlins. The Brewers are coming off a 4-1 win over the Marlins, and they’ll have a chance to record consecutive wins for the first time since August. But it’s not the momentum of last night’s victory that Brewers bettors should be looking at. Instead, it should be the pitcher, who’s been flying under the radar despite putting up an impressive body of work since August. Get to know that pitcher when you read today’s list of five best games to bet on.
We also have a full-game preview of the rubber-match between the Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Yankees here.
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MLB Picks and Predictions for Thursday, September 11, 2014
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Philadelphia Phillies (7:05 PM ET)
Line: Pittsburgh Pirates (-135) at Philadelphia Phillies (+125); total: 7.5 – see all MLB lines
[sc:MLB240banner ]Francisco Liriano (4-10, 3.74 ERA) has been pitching great over his last three starts, earning a 1-0 record with an ERA of 0.95 ERA. Liriano’s ability to keep opponents’ offenses in check is a big reason why the under is 9-1 in his last 10 starts, in nine of which he hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs. A.J. Burnett (8-15, 4.29 ERA), meanwhile, will take the mound for the Phillies. The Phillies have won two of their last three games when Burnett has the ball. Philadelphia is also 5-1 in its last six home games.
Writer’s prediction: Pittsburgh wins.
Tampa Bay Rays vs. New York Yankees (7:05 PM ET)
Line: Tampa Bay Rays (+103) at New York Yankees (-113); total: 7.0 – see all MLB lines
Don’t blame Michael Pineda (3-4, 1.80 ERA) for the Yankees’ losses in his last two starts. He’s been exceptional in those outings – two earned runs through 13 total innings – but a bereft offense allowed opponents to outscore the Yankees, 3-0, in those games. With a poor offense and great pitching from Pineda, the total has hit the under in all of Pineda’s last three starts. Tonight, he’ll deal with the Rays, who are 5-1 in Alex Cobb’s last six starts against the Bronx Bombers. Cobb keeps an identical 5-1 record with a 1.27 ERA since the All-Star break.
Line: Los Angeles Angels (-164) at Texas Rangers (+149); total: 9.5 – see all MLB lines
Nick Martinez (3-10, 5.03 ERA) has gradually lowered his ERA in each of his last two starts, but it could shoot right up again as he faces the smoking Angels, who are unconscious right now. The Angels are 7-0 in their last seven games, bombarding opponents with an offense that averaged 9.0 runs per game. No wonder the over is 6-1 during that stretch. The under, though, is 6-1 in Martinez’s last seven starts overall.
Writer’s prediction: L.A wins.
Boston Red Sox vs. Kansas City Royals (8:10 PM ET)
Line: Boston Red Sox (+122) at Kansas City Royals (-132); total: 7.5 – see all MLB lines
The Royals return home after going 3-3 in their recent six-game road trip. They begin a 10-game homestand tonight against the reeling Red Sox, whom they have defeated in five of their last six meetings at Kauffman Stadium. Nevertheless, bettors looking to side with Boston should find confidence with the Red Sox’s 5-0 record in Clay Buchholz’s (7-8, 5.29 ERA) last five starts against Kansas City. The Red Sox are also 3-0 in Buchholz’s last three starts overall.
Writer’s prediction: Boston wins.
Miami Marlins vs. Milwaukee Brewers (8:10 PM ET)
Line: Miami Marlins (+145) at Milwaukee Brewers (-160); total: 8.0 – see all MLB lines
Those who questioned the Brewers early this season if they were for real are feeling vindicated right about now. Milwaukee has totally lost its grip of the no. 1 spot in the National League Central by going 4-16 in its last 20 games. All is not lost, however, for Milwaukee, which will start Mike Fiers (5-2, 2.03 ERA). Fiers is 5-1 with 1.94 ERA in his last six starts. He’ll toe the slab later versus the Marlins, who are 3-1 in their last four games.
