Daily MLB Tips – Thursday, August 22

Daily MLB Tips – Thursday, August 22

Ryan Cook
Cleveland Guardians @ New York Yankees, 9:05am 
Tip: Guardians Over 3.5 Runs, Jose Ramirez to Hit A Home Run  

Yankees left Nestor Cortes won’t be short on confidence after hurling seven shutout innings to go with 9 K’s last week against the White Sox.  

This is a different caliber of AL Central opponent though, one that packs power from the top to the bottom of the lineup and some exceptional numbers against southpaws, in particular. 

The Guardians currently rank third in the league in runs scored against left-handed pitching, while they also rank 10th in slugging and ninth in on-base percentage. 

Cleveland’s most productive hitter against lefties has, not surprisingly, been third baseman Jose Ramirez, who so far is only hitter in the lineup batting over .300 with 12 home runs to his name.  

With all this in mind, I like the Guardians to put up some runs and Ramirez to contribute in the Bronx.  

Bet now: Guardians vs Yankees
Philadelphia Phillies @ Atlanta Braves, 9:20am 
Tip: Phillies Over 3.5 Runs, Marcell Ozuna to Hit A Home Run  

This is another excellent lefty matchup worth taking advantage of with the Phillies taking on division rival, Max Fried. 

The veteran southpaw hasn’t fared well over the last few weeks, allowing three earned runs or more against the likes of the Marlins, Rockies, and Giants.  

This potent Phillies lineup speaks for itself, but so does the fact they rank second in runs scored against left-handed pitching.  

On the flip side, it’s worth noting that Marcell Ozuna has clubbed four homers during his career against Aaron Nola, so if you fancy something exotic, you could do a lot worse than Atlanta’s leading home run hitter.  

Bet now: Phillies vs Braves

Daily MLB Tips – Wednesday, August 21

Ryan Cook
Milwaukee Brewers @ St Louis Cardinals, 9:45am  
Tip: Back the Brewers to Win, Player Pick: Rhys Hoskins to Hit a Home Run, William Contreras to Hit a Home Run

Good value on offer here for the Brewers after taking yesterday off.  

The Brew Crew have played to a league-best 10-4 record in this spot, while they also face off against Eric Fedde for a second time after smacking him for four runs when he was with the White Sox back in May.  

Rhys Hoskins is the player option worth taking a look at in this same game. 

The Brewers first baseman has gone hitless over his last three starts, but he does own three homers against Fedde, one more than teammate William Contreras, who’s hit two in just 10 plate appearances.  

Player Markets: Rhys Hoskins to Hit a Home Run, William Contreras to Hit a Home Run  

Bet now: Brewers vs Cardinals
Pittsburgh Pirates @ Texas Rangers, 10:05am  
Tip: Back the Rangers to Cover the Run Line (-1.5) @ $2.30, Player Pick: Cody Bradford Over Strikeout Total

Rangers second-year starter Cody Bradford has been excellent since returning from the IL late last month.  

The left-hander has held some tough teams to low run totals over the last few weeks, most notably the Yankees when he held them to just one run across five solid innings in the Bronx a fortnight ago.  

The Pirates haven’t hit lefties well all season, currently ranking middle of the league in runs scored and fourth in strikeout percentage.  

Currently languishing at the very bottom of the NL Central with just two wins from their last 10 games, the Rangers look a nice play with to win comfortably with Bradford leading the charge. 

Bet now: Pirates vs Rangers
Los Angeles Angels @ Kansas City Royals, 10:10am  
Tip: Angels Under 3.5 Runs @ $1.91, Player Market: Cole Ragans Over Strikeout Total  

Keen to have a play on Cole Ragans’ strikeout total against this struggling Angels lineup.  

Ragans has been a catalyst for the Royals’ winning record this season, compiling a tidy 2.95 ERA to put him firmly in the running for the AL Cy Young award behind Detroit’s Tarik Skubal. 

The star lefty is coming off a strong seven inning outing against Minnesota last week that saw him give up just one run to go with eight strikeouts and zero walks.  

Over the last week, the Angels rank dead last in runs scored and first in strikeout percentage, so all things being equal, this looks a nice matchup for the southpaw to go deep into the game and rack up the K’s.  

Bet now: Angels vs Royals

Daily MLB Tips – Tuesday, August 20

Ryan Cook
Boston Red Sox @ Houston Astros, 10:10am
Tip: Rafael Devers to Hit a Home Run, Tyler O’Neill to Hit a Home Run

It’s been a slightly rough stretch for the Red Sox with only four wins from their last 10 games, and things aren’t about to get any easier with a trip to face an Astros side that has taken a commanding four game lead in the AL West.  

Tanner Houck has been a bright spot in Boston’s rotation, but I think there’s some value to be found on the likes of Raffy Devers and Tyler O’Neill against the Astros’ trade deadline acquisition, Yusei Kikuchi.  

Dever has taken the Japanese right-hander deep twice in only 16 at bats, while O’Neill has accomplished the same number in just two plate appearances.  

Bet now: Red Sox vs Astros
Seattle Mariners @ Los Angeles Dodgers, 12:10pm  
Tip: Mariners to Win @ $2.20, Gavin Stone Under 5.5 Strikeouts @ $1.92 

The Dodgers’ already depleted rotation received further bad news over the weekend with NL Cy Young front-runner Tyler Glasnow placed on the IL with elbow tendinitis.  

It’s a crushing blow for a team that sits only three games clear of the Padres in the NL West, so they’ll likely need young names like Gavin Stone to step up if the Dodgers hope to claim a third-straight division crown.  

Stone’s strikeout numbers have been up and down, but he is coming off a strong outing against the Brewers last week that saw him surrender just one earned run across five solid frames.  

That said, it’s worth noting that Stone’s numbers in inter-league play have been mixed, the 25-year-old sporting a 3.30 ERA with eight home runs allowed in seven starts.  

The Mariners have struggled at the plate over the last 10 days, ranking somewhere towards the top of the league in strikeout percentage.  

Following yesterday’s 10-3 rout of the Pirates however, I think Seattle is a good bet here on the road mixed with the Under on Stone’s K total.  

Bet now: Mariners vs Dodgers

Daily MLB Tips – Saturday, August 17

Ryan Cook
Seattle Mariners @ Pittsburgh Pirates, 8:40am 
Tip: Paul Skenes Over 8.5 Strikeouts @ $2.00 

Ten straight losses has the Pirates quickly slipping out of the NL Wild Card picture, but they have a great opportunity to finally stem the bleeding on Saturday with All-Star Paul Skenes on the mound.  

The rookie sensation struck out eight and gave up four earned runs to the Dodgers in his last start, but this Seattle lineup presents a much weaker challenge, one that currently ranks first in strikeout percentage over the last seven days.  

Skenes will hopefully get some needed run support with the Buccos returning from an off day, and with three of his last five outings resulting in eight strikeouts or more, he looks a nice bet to hit on the Over. 

Bet now: Mariners vs Pirates
Washington Nationals @ Philadelphia Phillies, 8:40am  
Tip: Back the Phillies Over 5.5 Runs, J.T. Realmuto 2+ Hits, Bryce Harper to Hit A Home Run 

Good luck to Nats veteran Patrick Corbin in this start against the Phillies. 

In case you missed it, Philly bullied the Nats last night for a comfortable 13-3 win, a game highlighted by home runs from Alex Bohm and Nic Castellanos, but most importantly, left fielder Weston Wilson hitting for the cycle.  

Corbin is sporting an ERA close to 6.00 this season and is fresh from a four run outing against a much weaker Angels lineup last week.  

Bohm and JT Realmuto have both clubbed multiple homers against the righty, so aside from backing the Phillies to cover, you can feel pretty good about backing a number of their top names to rake.  

Bet now: Nats vs Phillies
Cleveland Guardians @ Milwaukee Brewers, 10:10am 
Tip: Back the Brewers to Win @ $1.94 

This should be a fascinating interleague series between the top two teams in the respective Central divisions.  

The Brewers have won seven of their last 10, while the Guardians come in red-hot after sweeping the Cubs at home earlier in the week.  

Cleveland looks a serious dark horse come September and October, but my money is with the Brew Crew in Game 1 based on two things: their league-leading 26-14 record in interleague play, and the fact they rank fifth in runs scored over the last seven days.  

Bet now: Guardians vs Brewers

Daily MLB Tips – Wednesday, August 14

Ryan Cook
Wednesday's MLB Multi

Toronto Blue Jays to Win, Cincinnati Reds to Win, Yankees/White Sox Under 9.0 Runs @ $5.40

Seattle Mariners @ Detroit Tigers (8:40am)  
Tip: Tarik Skubal Over Strikeout Total

Tarik Skubal is in the driver’s seat for the AL Cy Young award ahead of his 24th start against the Mariners on Wednesday.  

The 27-year-olds 2.57 ERA is the best among qualified starters in the American League, and he should find this another favourable matchup against a Seattle team that leads the league with a 32% strikeout rate over the last seven days.  

Having gone close to double-digit K’s against this same Mariners lineup only last week, I think the Over on Skubal’s Strikeout Total is one of the better bets of the day.   

Bet now: Tigers vs Mariners
New York Yankees @ Chicago White Sox (10:10am) 
Nestor Cortes Over Strikeout Total  

After losing 12-2 to the worst team in the Majors, all eyes will be on the Yankees to see how they respond with Nestor Cortes on the mound

It’s been an up and down season for the lefty so far, particularly over the last month where he’s allowed five earned runs or more in three starts.  

That said, the White Sox have been notoriously awful against southpaws, ranking Top 5 in strikeout percentage with the fewest runs scored in the league.  

Nestor struck out six and allowed just one earned run across seven frames against the South Siders back in May, so I’m going to play on his Strikeout Total in this one. 

Bet now: Yankees vs White Sox
Colorado Rockies @ Arizona Diamondbacks (11:40am)  
Tip: Ketel Marte 2+ Hits & Ketel Marte to Hit a Home Run  

There haven’t been many players hotter than Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte since the All-Star break.  

Last year’s NLCS MVP has slashed .326/.408/.814 over the last 14 days to go with 14 hits and a whopping seven homers, while his career numbers against Rockies left-hander Austin Gomber are just as good. 

In 23 plate appearances, Marte has recorded eight hits and sent two balls out of the yard, so I’m happy to take a couple bites at the cherry here.  

Bet now: Rockies vs Diamondbacks

Daily MLB Tips – Tuesday, August 13

Ryan Cook
St Louis Cardinals @ Cincinnati Reds, 8:40am 
Tip: Nolan Arenado 2+ Hits 

Interesting pitching matchup here with the veteran Sonny Gray taking on Cincinnati’s second-year lefty, Andrew Abbott.  

Abbott is coming off a rough outing that saw him give up six earned runs across five frames against the lowly Marlins, which doesn’t bode well against his newfound arch-nemesis, Cardinals third baseman, Nolan Arenado.  

Arenado has recorded five hits and two homers in 11 plate appearances against Abbott, while he’s also hit .243 against southpaws this season.  

Bet now: Cardinals vs Reds
Los Angeles Dodgers @ Milwaukee Brewers, 10:10am 
Tip: Brewers Over 3.5 Runs @ $1.75 

Even money on offer here between two respective NL division leaders.

It’s been a slow return to the mound for future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw over the last month or so, but he did look strong in limited innings last week when allowing just the one earned run against the Phillies.  

This is another tough test against a young, potent Brewers lineup though – one that currently ranks Top 5 in walks and the bottom half of the league in strikeout rate against left-handed pitching.  

Bet now: Dodgers vs Brewers
Atlanta Braves @ San Francisco Giants, 11:45am 
Tip: Blake Snell Over 7.5 Strikeouts @ $1.92 

Blake Snell takes the mound for his 13th start looking to build on a stellar second half to the season.  

The two-time Cy Young winner has racked up 19 combined K’s this month across two starts, allowing just the three earned runs in last week’s start against the Nats. 

The Braves have been low-key sliding in the NL East with a strikeout percentage that currently ranks Top 5 in the league over the last seven days.  

Their 24.2% K-rate ranks seventh in the Majors against left-handed pitching, so I’m happy to lock in on Snell Over 7.5 Strikeouts. 

 

Bet now: Braves vs Giants

Daily MLB Tips – Saturday, April 13

Ryan Cook
Minnesota Twins @ Detroit Tigers, 8:40am
Tip: Back the Tigers to Win @ $1.78

Sitting 4-6, the Twins are off to a miserable start in the AL Central as the prepare for a key division series against the Tigers.

Runs have proven hard to come by for Minnesota, currently ranked last in the league with only 29 scored.

Tarik Skubal is a sneaky Cy Young contender this year, although he’ll need to improve on last week’s outing against the A’s that saw him give up four runs.

Still, Skubal’s numbers against the Twins were good last year, pitching 17 innings where he allowed only five combined earned runs to go with 14 strikeouts.

With his best stuff, a Tigers win looks likely against this struggling Twins lineup.

Bet now: Twins vs Tigers
Cincinnati Reds @ Chicago White Sox, 9:40am
Tip: Back the Reds to Cover the Line (-1.5 Runs) @ $1.90

It’s been a rough week for White Sox fans with Luis Robert and Yoan Moncada both suffering serious injuries.

The south siders are a hapless 2-10 to start the season and now match up with a Reds team hungry to snap a two-game losing streak.

Andrew Abbott is on the mound for Cincy coming off a five-inning outing against the Mets that last week that saw him slapped with his first loss after giving up a pair of earned runs.

Even so, the White Sox have been the worst team in the league against left-handed pitching this year, striking out at a clip of 31%.

With the heart of their order missing, the Reds look a good bet.

Bet now: Reds vs White Sox
Chicago Cubs @ Seattle Mariners, 11:40am
Tip: Back the Cubs to Win @ $2.00

Jordan Wicks is off to a strong start this year for the Cubbies, allowing just four earned runs over his first two starts with 13 strikeouts to match.

The 24-year-old has limited experience against this dangerous Mariners lineup, but I do think he has an edge given Seattle’s struggles against left-handed pitching.

The Mariners rank 25th in the league in runs scored against southpaws, not to mention the fact they’ve also managed just three wins from their last 10 games.

Bet now: Cubs vs Mariners

Daily MLB Tips – Tuesday, April 9

Ryan Cook
Houston Astros @ Texas Rangers (10:05am)
Tip: Back the Rangers to Win @ $2.20

The Battle of Texas heats up with a couple of lefties on the mound.

Andrew Heaney allowed just the one earned run in 4.2 innings of work against the Rays in his first start last week, while Framber Valdez bounce back with a seven inning shutout against the Jays after getting hit hard by the Yankees on Opening Day.

Valdez was a hit and miss in three starts against the Rangers last year, allowing one earned run on two occasions, and six in just three innings of work back on July 26.

So far, the Rangers hold better numbers against southpaws, so I’m leaning the way of the defending champs at home.

Bet now: Rangers vs Astros
Arizona Diamondbacks @ Colorado Rockies (10:40am)
Tip: Diamondbacks to Win, Zac Gallen Over Strikeout Total

Pitching in the altitude at Coors Field is always tough, but that hasn’t stopped Zac Gallen from posting decent career numbers in Colorado.

Last year alone, the Diamondbacks ace made three starts and compiled a tidy 2.82 ERA, combining for 21 strikeouts and just one homer allowed.

On the back of a six inning shutout against the Yankees last week, I think the Diamondbacks are the play here.

Bet now: Diamondbacks vs Rockies
Washington Nationals @ San Francisco Giants (11:45am)
Tip: Back the Giants to Cover the Line (-1.5 Runs) @ $1.90

Blake Snell toes the rubber for his first start in a Giants uniform on Tuesday.

The reigning Cy Young winner hasn’t spent a great deal of time in Giants camp, but he does draw a favourable start against a Washington side that currently ranks 27th in the league in runs scored against left-handed pitching.

Bet now: Nationals vs Giants

Daily MLB Tips – Saturday, April 6

Ryan Cook
Chicago Cubs vs Los Angeles Dodgers, 4:20am  
Tip: Bobby Miller Under Strikeout Total  

Second-year righty Bobby Miller takes the mound for the Dodgers coming off a stunning six-inning shutout against the Cardinals last week.  

The 25-year-old finished with 11 strikeouts and just one walk, a potential sign of things to come as he looks to establish himself as the third arm in the Dodgers’ rotation.  

St Louis’ lineup has sputtered to start the season, but the Cubs do present a different challenge with Seiya Suzuki and Dansby Swanson both off to hot starts.  

Kyle Hendricks is the big unknown coming off a tough outing against the Rangers last week in Texas, but at home, I think the Cubs bats can keep them in this.  

Bet now: Cubs vs Dodgers
Pittsburgh Pirates vs Baltimore Orioles, 6:15am  
Tip: Back the Orioles to Win @ $1.70 

Not a bad price here for the Orioles with Grayson Rodriguez on the rubber.  

The former first round pick was solid in his season debut last week against the Angels, allowing just the one run over six innings to go with nine strikeouts.  

The Pirates have been sneaky good to start the year and look as though they might challenge for a Wild Card spot sooner than expected.  

Health is the key to their chances, but this is still a tough assignment for their rookie pitcher Jared Jones going up against a loaded O’s lineup from top to bottom.  

After allowing three earned runs to the winless Marlins last week, I think Baltimore is the play here.  

Bet now: Pirates vs Orioles
San Francisco Giants vs San Diego Padres, 6:35am 
Tip: Over 7.5 Runs @ $1.90 

Dylan Cease is back on the mound for San Diego to face the Giants for a second time.  

San Diego’s big offseason acquisition failed to make it through five innings last week, tossing 85 pitches where he gave up two earned runs in the process.  

On the other side, Jordan Hicks takes the mound for San Francisco after blanking the Padres in that same game for five innings

It’s hard to know if each lineup will adjust a second time around to facing the same arm, but with both teams ranking inside the Top 10 in runs scored so far, we could be in for a high-scoring game.  

Bet now: Giants vs Padres

Daily MLB Tips – Friday, April 5

Ryan Cook
St Louis Cardinals vs Miami Marlins, 6:15am
Tip: Back the Cardinals to Win @ $1.65

Lance Lynn is on the mound for his second start in Cardinal red on Friday.  

The veteran righty tossed four shutout innings last week in limited work against the Dodgers, and now gets a winless Marlins team that so far holds the worst record in the league.  

On the other side of the rubber stands Ryan Weathers, a fourth-year lefty coming off a rough outing against the Pirates that saw him give up three earned runs.  

The Cardinals have found it tough to score against southpaws, but they do own a strikeout rate well below 20% through the first week of the season. With some okay value on offer, St Louis looks a good play outright.  

Bet now: Cardinals vs Marlins
Kansas City Royals vs Chicago White Sox, 9:30am
Tip: Back the White Sox to Win @ $2.35

There’s a slight edge here on the White Sox if you’re willing to roll the dice on a team that looks destined to finish with one of the worst records in the league.  

At 1-4, wins have already proven hard to come by, but I thought there were plenty of positives to draw from Mike Soroka’s first start with the team last week against Detroit. 

The former Brave gave up four earned runs across five innings of work, walking only three and failing to record a strikeout.  

It’s very early, but the Tigers have looked good winning all four of their games so far, making this a nice step back in grade against a Royals team off to a slow start.  

Bet now: Royals vs White Sox