BASEBALL MLB ARTICLES

ODDS ANALYSISAfter struggling against the Reds last season – and just about every team in the National League – the Cubs have made a statement against their Central Division rivals, beating them for the fifth time in six games this season, 6-3, on Thursday in the series opener. Chicago has taken three of four at Wrigley Field up 1.57 units while holding the Reds to an average of just three runs a game.... 

ODDS ANALYSISI don’t think anyone saw this train wreck coming. The Sox have been absolutely dreadful this season and it’s hard to imagine with the players they have on the roster. Boston is down there with Philadelphia, Miami and Milwaukee among the least profitable teams in baseball in the red 13.17 units overall on the moneyline. They’ve been a little better at home, but not much, going 15-14 down 4.18 units.... 

ODDS ANALYSISThe Yankees had their seven-game winning streak snapped by the Nationals on Wednesday and could be faced with a bigger problem now that closer Andrew Miller is on the shelf with forearm tightness.... 

ODDS ANALYSISAfter dropping the first two of their recent six-game homestand the Reds ended it on a positive note winning the final four capped by a sweep of the Phillies. The Reds finished the homestand up 2.0 units, helping their season total that stood in the red 5.89 units following Wednesday’s win. The Reds enter the series as one of the least profitable road teams in the National League going 10-18 down 8.31 units on the monelyline and dropped two of three at Wrigley Field in mid-April.... 

ODDS ANALYSISThe Diamondbacks’ eight-game California road trip got off to a rocky start when they were swept by the Dodgers extending their losing streak to four. Next stop on the three-city tour has the Snakes in San Francisco to battle the Giants, who have struggled at home.... 

Wrigley Field has been good to Chicago Cubs (31-26 SU, +2.15 Units) bettors this year, as they are 15-11 on their home turf. Get ready for yet another nail-biting game on Saturday though, as they will look to win what will probably be another close call against the Cincinnati Reds (27-31 SU, -5.89 Units).... 

If the afternoon winds off of the bay in San Francisco are blowing to the hitters' advantage, there could be a slew of runs and a ton of homers in Saturday's clash between the San Francisco Giants (34-26 SU, +5.78 Units) and the Arizona Diamondbacks (27-32 SU, -2.41 Units).... 

Bud Norris probably didn't know at the time when he was lifted out of May 10's game against the New York Yankees (33-26 SU, +4.39 Units) that he wasn't going to pitch again until the beginning of June.He'll look to post a second straight great start since returning from the DL for the Baltimore Orioles (28-30 SU, -1.98 Units) against the Bronx Bombers on Saturday.... 

Jon Lester has had a really rough go of it of late for the Chicago Cubs (31-26 SU, +2.15 Units).He hasn't had a good go of it this season against Sunday's opponent, the Cincinnati Reds (27-31 SU, -5.89 Units).... 

To say that things are falling apart at the seams for the Boston Red Sox (27-33 SU, -12.14 Units) is a bit of an understatement. The team hasn't been pitching well, and the batting order has started to decay in recent weeks to the point that John Farrell has had to make some drastic changes to his lineup.... 

The Chicago Cubs (31-26, $215) wrap up a four game weekend set against their divisional rivals in the Cincinnati Reds (27-31, -$589) on Sunday night by sending their ace to the hill.That alone should give Chicago the edge, despite his lackluster numbers, but their most healthy and talented young lineup adds to the advantage.... 

With their offense struggling badly once again, the Boston Red Sox (27-33 SU, -12.14 Units) will hope to get out of their slump when they take on the Atlanta Braves (29-30 SU, +3.03 Units) in the first game of a four-game home-and-home series.... 

A trio of games will be on tap on FOX Saturday Baseball this weekend, and the West Coast game could be a fun one between the division rival Arizona Diamondbacks (27-32 SU, -2.41 Units) and the San Francisco Giants (34-26 SU, +5.78 Units).... 

The New York Yankees (33-26, $439) currently sit atop the AL East with the Baltimore Orioles (28-30, -$198) among the teams chasing them down.The O’s will look to gain a game in this pivotal middle game of three.... 

ODDS ANALYSISIf the Phillies could play all their games at Citizens Bank Park they would be a .500 team. Unfortunately that doesn’t happen and the Phils have been a train wreck on the road. A loss Wednesday at Cincinnati was their seventh straight, dropping them to 7-23 in away games. It’s the worst road record for the club since before the attack on Pearl Harbor. Needles to say the Phils are the least profitable road team in baseball, down 13.71 units.... 

ODDS ANALYSISThe Blue Jays have played themselves right into the thick of the AL East race by winning eight straight games, the final six coming during a perfect homestand. Toronto scored 57 times during their streak and leads the Majors in runs scored. The over is 4-2-2 during the eight games and 17-10-2 in Toronto’s 29 road games. The teams split their six earlier meetings with each winning twice at home... 

ODDS ANALYSISWhile the Dodgers revel in their three-game sweep of Arizona, enjoy an off-day Thursday and make the short trip down I-5 to San Diego, the Padres finish up a seven-game road trip Thursday with an afternoon contest in Atlanta.... 

The last time Mike Leake pitched against the Chicago Cubs (31-26 SU, +2.15 Units), he had a great outing which was spoiled by his bullpen in a 7-3 loss.He and his Cincinnati Reds (27-31 SU, -5.89 Units) will hope to get a better effort when they meet again on Saturday as a part of regional coverage on FOX.... 

ODDS ANALYSISThe Giants have been a solid play on the road all season and started their road trip taking two of three games in Philadelphia moving to 16-12 in away games up 4.89 units. The Giants are also strong on the over in away games, playing all three in Philly above the scoreline with the over at 8-2 in their last 10 and 18-8-2 overall while going 3-0-1 in Tim Lincecum’s last four road starts.... 

ODDS ANALYSISThe Angels just can’t seem to handle prosperity. Last week the Halos knocked off the Rays in the first of a three-game set for their fifth straight win and they were ready to make their mid-season move back into contention in the AL West. Hold on, not so fast.Tampa Bay turned around to win the final two games of that series and the Angels were embarrassed in New York over the weekend. The Halos broke a five-game skid with Tuesday’s 8-2 win in the series opener matching a season-high with 15 hits. Monday’s game went over the scoreline and the over is 3-0-1 in the first four meetings between the clubs and 6-3-1 in LA’s last 10.... 

For a man who is supposed to be the ace of the Baltimore Orioles (27-30 SU, -2.98 Units) staff, it should be stunning to see Wei-Yin Chen sitting on just one win this season. He'll look for his second victory on Wednesday against the Boston Red Sox (27-32 SU, -11.08 Units).... 

ODDS ANALYSISThe Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles continue to occupy the bottom of the AL East standings, but recent success has them thinking of better things.The Sox swept the Oakland A’s over the weekend to complete a 5-2 homestand ending in the black 2.05 units. The Sox have stumbled for most of the season in the red 9.95 units, but the homestand has inspired the Boston faithful. The Sox are 0-3 in Rick Porcello’s last three outings cashing the over twice.... 

ODDS ANALYSISArizona bettors should be cautious about the series in Los Angeles. The Dbacks are just 1-11 in their last 12 games at Dodger Stadium following Monday’s 9-3 loss and lost the first four games played there this season.Arizona plated only four runs while getting swept in LA earlier this season and didn’t face aces Clayton Kershaw or Zack Greinke. They miss the two again this time around. The Dbacks have been money behind Jeremy Hellickson lately, going 4-0 up 4.71 units over his last four starts with the under at 2-1-1 in that span.... 

ODDS ANALYSISThe Cardinals own the best record in the Majors and are the most profitable team in baseball up 17.41 units on the year. The Cards handled the Dodgers rather easily taking three of four games over the weekend ending in the black 2.6 units, and conclude their road trip in Colorado where the best pitching staff got roughed up for 11 runs and 16 hits in Monday’s loss.
St. Louis hasn’t scored a lot of runs this season but they don’t need to with a staff ERA at 2.58 after limiting LA to six runs in four games. The combination has made the Cards a strong play on the under as they finished below the scoreline in each of the last three games at Los Angeles with the under at 7-3 in their last 10 games. Overall the under is 34-22-2 through the Cards’ first 58 games.... 

With the AL East still knotted up, the Boston Red Sox (27-31, -$995) and Baltimore Orioles (26-30, -$402) will look for some traction in their three game set, with the middle game on Wednesday.
Neither team has played particularly inspired ball of late, though perhaps each team is beginning to turn things around....