MLB Baseball Betting for August 4, 2016
12 games on tap for Thursday:
MLB BASEBALL BETTING FOR AUGUST 4, 2016
LOS ANGELES DODGERS AT COLORADO ROCKIES:
It was just a few days ago that the Los Angeles Dodgers were moving right along trying to cut further into the NL West lead as the first place San Francisco Giants struggled. That was before they ran into a buzzsaw in the form of the Colorado Rockies. The Rockies had been a mediocre to lousy team for most of the year so it’s somewhat difficult to explain what has happened to them in the last few weeks. They’ve won 8 of 10, 10 of 12 and 15 of 21. They’re just one game over .500 now but that’s enough to put them in the mix in the NL West. Now Colorado is just 5 games back of the second place Dodgers and 7 games back of the first place Giants.
They did get some bad news on Wednesday as shortstop Trevor Story is expected to miss the rest of the season after thumb surgery to repair a torn ligament. With that exception, it’s been smooth sailing for the Rockies in the second half. The biggest improvement has been to their pitching staff which has somehow transformed from one of the worst in baseball to one of the best–at least statistically. The Rockies are now just 3 games out of a National League wild card spot.
The Dodgers have had plenty of problems even before running into the Rockies. They’ve had a ridiculous amount of injuries including losing their best starting pitcher, Clayton Kershaw, very likely for the rest of the season. Then there’s the Yasiel Puig situation where the once very promising young outfielder has gone from looking like a future All Star to becoming an off field issue to the point that the Dodgers just want him gone.
We could go through the statistical matchup between Dodgers’ starter Kenta Maeda and Colorado starter Tyler Chatwood but given the almost unbelievable turnaround in the Rockies’ pitching fortunes it’s somewhat irrelevant. We don’t want to get in front of this Colorado freight train at this juncture.
BET COLORADO ROCKIES +130 OVER LOS ANGELES DODGERS
MINNESOTA TWINS AT CLEVELAND INDIANS
The Cleveland Indians have also run into a buzzsaw and one even less probable than the Dodgers’ issues with the Colorado Rockies. The first place Indians are on the verge of being swept at home by the worst team in the American League. The Minnesota Twins haven’t just beaten the Indians in three straight they’ve flat out dominated them by final scores of 13-5, 10-6 and 12-5. The Twins have scored more runs in the past three games than they did in the previous seven and–for that matter–the Indians have allowed more runs than in their previous eight.
For whatever reason, the Twins have had the Indians’ number this year. Despite being one of the worst teams in baseball for most of the season Minnesota is 8-4 +8.2 units against Cleveland this year including 5-1 +7.1 units at Jacobs Field. Making it all the worse for Cleveland they really can’t afford any losses at this point as they’ve got the red hot Detroit Tigers closing in from behind. Detroit is just 2 games back and riding an eight game winning streak.
Another problem for Cleveland–their bullpen has been overworked and they’re desperate for healthy arms. That’s why Thursday’s starter will be right hander Mike Clevenger who has a 8.79 ERA and hasn’t started a game in the Majors since May 29. Minnesota, meanwhile, will start the very capable Hector Santiago. The Twins have won 16 of Santiago’s 22 starts this year including 8 of 11 on the road. Nothing about this matchup suggests that Cleveland will be able to stop the bleeding.
BET MINNESOTA TWINS +140 OVER CLEVELAND INDIANS
KANSAS CITY ROYALS AT TAMPA BAY RAYS:
The Royals have been playing horrible baseball of late but they’ve taken two of the first three games of this four game series from Tampa Bay. The Rays got one back on Wednesday but there’s every reason to think that the Royals can close out this series with a victory here. Kansas city has been in bad form but they’re definitely the better team. Tampa Bay is one of the worst teams in baseball and the Royals have dominated them in recent years. Kansas City has won 15 of the last 19 head to head including 5 of 6 this year. Kansas City has been awful on the road this year (19-37 -16.2 units) but Tampa Bay has been awful everywhere (42-63 -27.8 units overall, 22-32 -15.6 units at home, 31-49 -24.7 units against RHP. Neither starter here–KC’s Ian Kennedy or Tampa left hander Drew Smyly is anything special and Kansas City hits left handers fairly well (.284 and 4.2 runs per game)–at least better than their offensive numbers overall (3.9 runs per, .265) and on the road (3.1 runs per and .248).
BET KANSAS CITY ROYALS +130 OVER TAMPA BAY RAYS