If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.
4:15 p.m. ET: Los Angeles Dodgers (86-51) at St. Louis Cardinals (69-66)
This non-division series is huge for both teams. The Dodgers own the first NL Wild Card spot and only trail the first place Giants by 1-game in the NL West. Meanwhile, the Cardinals are just 3-games back of the second NL Wild Card spot. In this late afternoon series opener, Los Angeles hands the ball to ace Max Scherzer (12-4, 2.40 ERA) and St. Louis counters with righty Miles Mikolas (0-1, 4.41 ERA). This line opened with the Dodgers listed as a -190 road favorite and the Cardinals a 175 home dog. Sharps aren't scared off by the expensive price and are happy to back Scherzer and the Dodgers, steaming Los Angeles up from -190 to -205. Non-division favorites receiving 10-cents of steam or more are 272-176 (60.7%) this season. Big favorites -200 or more are 209-86 (70.8%). Los Angeles also has value as a big favorite with a low total (8). Historically, low totals have provided an edge to favorites as the fewer amount of expected runs scored are more likely to come from the better team. The Dodgers are 86-48 as a favorite and 60-37 against righties. The Cardinals are 28-38 as dogs and 49-53 against righties.
6:10 p.m. ET: Minnesota Twins (59-77) at Cleveland Indians (68-66)
Both of these AL Central rivals are well out of playoff contention. Cleveland trails the second Wild Card spot by 8.5-games while the Twins own the third-worst record in the American League. In tonight's series opener, Minnesota hands the ball to righty Bailey Ober (2-2. 3.98 ERA) and Cleveland counters with lefty Logan Allen (1-5, 6.62 ERA). This line opened with the Twins listed as a short -110 road favorite and the Indians a 100 home dog. The public can't believe they're getting plus money with Cleveland, who is at home and owns a better won-loss record. However, pros seem to be targeting the Twins as we've seen Minnesota get steamed up from -110 to -127. Teams receiving 15-cents of steam or more coming off a win are 233-157 (59.7%) this season. Short road favorites -150 or less coming off a win are 154-100 (60.6%). Minnesota matches both systems as they just beat the Rays 6-5 on Sunday as big 200 road dogs. We could be looking at a higher scoring game in this one. The Twins are 7-5 against the Indians. The total is 9 with the over juiced to -155, signaling a possible rise to 9.5. Both teams have been profitable to the over this season, with Minnesota 76-52 to the over and Cleveland 71-58 to the over. The over is 8-3 in the last 11 matchups between these teams.
Comment