Saturday, May 13 MLB Best Bets
May 12, 2023
Tuesday, May 16 MLB Best Bets
May 15, 2023
We went 1-1-1 with last Monday night’s MLB Best Bets at BetRivers Sportsbook to take back a limited gain and kick off the week in the black after watching our bankroll go bottom’s up the previous seven days. We settled for a push but had an opportunity to cash the Cubs on the first five innings odds with runners on second and third with one out, but Chicago failed to come up with the hit to seal the deal. They’d end up with five overall hits and because of it would go on to drop the opener 3-1 even though St. Louis only tallied six hits themselves. The Angels allowed for a winning by coming out on top of a back and forth affair in the series opener with the Astros. Unfortunately, it would go on to lose the next two games to drop a second straight series against division rivals. Here’s to kicking off a brand new week by adding to the bank roll – SLAM YOUR MAN!!
YTD: 54-54-3 (-$295)
LW: 8-14 (-$840)
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Atlanta Braves vs. Texas Rangers
This is going to be an incredibly tough spot for the NL East leading Braves. Atlanta will have just closed a three-game roady in Toronto and will have to fly all the way back down to Arlington to square off against the NL West leading Rangers. Texas meanwhile will have likely enjoyed its four-game beat down of the league-worst A’s in Oakland. We backed Charlies Morton in his most recent turn at home against Boston, but the reason for backing the Braves had absolutely nothing do with him and everything to do with the offense’s matchup against Nick Pivetta. Atlanta cruised to the 9-3 win as expected. Though Dane Dunning doesn’t do anything for me, it’s Texas’ offense paired with extended travel that has me siding with the ‘Gers in the series opener. Texas mauls the curve and 4-seamer which are Morton’s go to pitches. The Rangers have also cashed against the MLB odds in 12 of 18 played home games. Back the home team – confidently!
BET THE RANGERS
Chicago Cubs vs. Houston Astros
Jameson Taillon has been every bit as bad as his 0-2 record and 6.41 ERA indicates. Since returning from the IL, the right-hander has been peppered for eight hits (3 HR) and 7 ER through just 5.2 total innings of work. David Ross is treating him with kid gloves right now by limiting pitches. He reached 69 against St. Louis. Though Houston only stands 15-13 while averaging 4.3 runs per game against right-handers, it’s not all about Yordan Alvarez and co. taking advantage of a starting pitcher still trying to find himself. Framber Valdez has been nothing if not nasty to date in allowing 7.6 hits and only issuing 1.7 walks per nine innings while coming up with nearly 10.0 strikeouts per start. His 2.38 ERA and 3.07 FIP hardly paint a picture of a starter that would have a 3-4 record. Chicago hasn’t run up against many cutters this season, but it will likely catch a heavy dose of them in this one with the pitch helping lead Framber to a season-high 12 K in his last turn at Anaheim. The Astros will be laying heavy chalk, so we’ll instead bet both the moneyline and run-line to turn it into a -1 wager instead to get some more bang for the buck.
BET THE ASTROS
Cincinnati Reds vs. Colorado Rockies
Though the Reds could be without the up-and-coming TJ Friedl for the foreseeable future, I still like them here in the opener with the Rockies regardless of flying in from Miami Sunday night. Cincy has been playing some competitive ball of late having won three of its last five played series since getting swept in that extended four-game series at PNC in late-April. They’ll own an enormous advantage on the starting bump for the series opener with Hunter Greene set to square off against Connor Seabold. The former is yet to win a game this season even though he’s striking out 11.8 per nine and serving up fewer than 1.0 home runs per nine. Walks have been a major issue with the righty conceding 3.7 per nine, but the Rockies possess one of the worst walk rates in the Bigs (No. 22). Greene was ripped for six hits (2 HR) and 4 ER through 4.1 innings in his Coors showing last season. I think he goes HAM in this spot and the offense gets to Seabold and the Rockies No. 19 ranked bullpen to allow for him to cruise to his first ticket cash on the baseball odds in 2023.
BET THE REDS
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