MLB FanDuel Sportsbook Betting Picks Pennsylvania: Lines & Odds – 8/01/19
Wednesday’s Results: 1-2
All Time Results: 60-70-2, -5.43
Contents
Tampa Bay Rays (+115) @ Boston Red Sox
The Tampa Bay Rays have beaten the Red Sox 8 out of 9 in Boston. I like their chances to make it 9 of 10.
Andrew Cashner has not been the starting pitcher the Red Sox hoped to acquire when they traded for him earlier this month. Cashner has given up 12 runs in 17.2 innings of work in a Red Sox uniform. Worse, 9 of those runs came against dreadful offenses Baltimore and Toronto – leading to two of the more unforgivable losses for the up and down Red Sox this season.
Rays starter, Brandon McKay has only pitched 19.1 innings in the major leagues, but has looked great so far. His 3.7 ERA is already strong for a young pitcher. However, it looks like McKay is unlucky his ERA is even that high – considering he has a 2.86 FIP and a 1.034 WHIP.
Since his McKay is so new to the league, the Red Sox will not be familiar with his pitches or tendencies. Further, the Red Sox have been significantly worse this season against Lefties than against Righties (.837 OPS to .786 OPS) – as they were all of last year (.817 OPS to .719 OPS).
Tampa boasts the 4th best bullpen ERA in the MLB, while Boston is 19th. With the recent series trend, an edge in relief pitching and a possible edge in starting pitching – I love the Rays plus-money here.
Chicago Cubs (+100) @ St. Louis Cardinals, 1st 5 Innings
Cubs got a rare road win yesterday in a tightly contested affair. A lot of the Cubs’ dismal road performance – 21-32, record – falls on the backs of their inexperienced bullpen – and I’m glad to skip the last few innings here.
I like Cubs starter Lester to have one of his better performances. He is a big-time veteran pitcher made for big-time rubber matches against bitter rivals neck-neck with his team in the division. The Cubs have won 7 of 9 with Lester, as he has steadily improved from a disappointing spring. In one of the losses, last week at Milwaukee, Lester pitched his best road performance of the year – not allowing a run in 7 innings of work. That night the bullpen let him down giving up 5 runs in the last two innings. Taking the first 5 to bypass that non-sense. Lester has lasted at least 5 innings in 17 of his 20 starts, and I like him to keep up his recent stellar play. Lester keeps the Cardinals to 1 run or less through 5.
Cardinals starter, Jack Flaherty is just average. I expect the Cubs potent lineup to get to the right-hander early. For his career, Flaherty is 1-2 against the Cubs with a 4.5 ERA
Houston Astros -1.5 (-130) @ Cleveland Indians
The three headed dragon is born. Justin Verlander, Gerrit Cole, and now Zack Greinke not only lead the entire MLB in WHIP, but also form the 1-3 starters for your new World Series Favorite, Houston Astros.
The Stros hand the ball to Gerrit Cole this time – and he has arguably been just as good this season as his more famous and more veteran teammates, Verlander and Greinke. Cole has given up 1 or less runs in 8 of his last 10 starts. It’s not like he was terrible in his other 2 starts either, only giving up 6 earned in 12 innings combined in those.
Cole leads the MLB in strikeouts per 9 innings with an outstanding – Randy Johnson-esq 13.3 K’s per 9. In fact, Johnson’s career high in SO/9 was 13.4. Not yet a household name, Cole could even pass the Big Unit’s personal best in this category by year’s end.
New acquisitions Yasiel Puig and Franmil Reyes will likely be in the lineup for the Tribe. Puig actually has a good batting record against Cole in 9 At-Bats. Still, I look for both to be slightly out-of-sorts with the rapid turn around from the trade.
Astros bounce back here and get the W easy vs the Indians.
