Five To Follow MLB Betting: Saturday, June 6, 2015 Opening Line Report

by Alan Matthews - 6/5/2015

It's easy for me to say right now, but I projected the Detroit Tigers to take a big step back this season after winning four AL Central titles in a row. I expected Victor Martinez to come way back to earth after a monster 2014 season because of age. He has in a big way and is on the disabled list. Justin Verlander hasn't been the same guy in a couple of years and still hasn't pitched in the majors this season, although he's getting close. Not sure that will save things. I was wrong on Miguel Cabrera slightly regressing as he's having another fine season. I bring up the Tigers because they entered Friday on a seven-game losing streak that's the longest in the majors and could slip under .500 on Saturday with losses Friday and Saturday

Cubs at Nationals (TBA)

Washington got back infielder Anthony Rendon off the disabled list on Thursday; he hadn't played all season. Yet the Nats might have lost another infielder in Yunel Escobar. He left Thursday's loss to the Cubs after hurting his right wrist on a check swing. X-rays were negative, but it still might mean a trip to the disabled list. At a minimum he seems likely to miss a couple of games. He's having a nice season, batting .316. The Nats are expected to start A.J. Cole for a spot outing due to a doubleheader Tuesday and some injuries in the rotation. The Nationals recalled Cole from Triple-A on Thursday. Cole is 0-0 with a 5.79 ERA and a save in three big-league outings this season (one start). Jason Hammel (4-2, 2.82) goes for Chicago. He struck out a career-high 11 Monday in Miami, allowing one run in 6.2 innings in a win. Ryan Zimmerman hits .355 off him with four extra-base hits in 31 at-bats. Bryce Harper is 0-for-10 with five strikeouts.

Key trends: The Cubs are 6-0 in Hammel's past six vs. the NL East. The Nats are 8-2 in their past 10 during Game 3 of a series. The "over/under" has gone under in six straight Hammel starts in Game 3 of a series.

Early lean: No opening line because Cole hasn't been made official yet, but by all accounts it's going to be him. The Nats could be great value here because they might even be slight home dogs. It's not like the Cubs know Cole.

Tigers at White Sox (+146, 8)

It's Detroit's first seven-game skid since 2011, when it still won 95 games. The Tigers didn't lose more than five straight last season, four in a row in 2013 or five in a row in 2012. FanGraphs now gives the Tigers just a 34.7 percent of making the playoffs. If the Tigers didn't extend the skid on Friday they are in good position to end it here behind lefty David Price (4-2, 3.15). He dominated the White Sox in Detroit on April 17, striking out nine and giving up one run over eight innings. Adam Eaton is 7-for-12 off Price. Jose Abreu just 1-for-10. Chicago lefty John Danks (3-4, 4.81) comes off his best start in forever, throwing a complete-game shutout in Houston despite 10 hits allowed. He hasn't faced Detroit this season. Ian Kinsler is a .341 hitter off him with four doubles and four homers in 41 at-bats.

Key trends: The Tigers are 10-1 in Price's past 11 vs. the AL Central. Chicago is 4-1 in Danks' past five at home. The over is 4-0-1 in Danks' past five against the Tigers at home.

Early lean: Tigers at +100 on runline -- they usually smash Danks. Go over.

Rangers at Royals (-163, 8)

It's a major-league first on Saturday in Kansas City: a Wandy vs. a Yordano on the mound. OK, I can't prove that it's the first time, but I feel pretty confident it's the case. Actually there was history made the last time the Royals' Yordano Ventura faced Texas as it was the first Yo-Yo game ever because he was opposed by the Rangers' Yovani Gallardo. Has no betting value at all, but I like entertaining myself. Texas' Wandy Rodriguez (2-2, 3.55) is 1-0 with a 3.06 ERA in his past three starts. He hasn't faced the Royals in three years. Ventura (3-4, 4.26) lost in Texas on May 13, giving up a season-high 10 hits and five runs over seven innings. He allowed two homers, his only game this season giving up more than one. Prince Fielder is 3-for-4 with a homer off him.

Key trends: Texas is 4-0 in Rodriguez's past four on the road. The Royals are 12-3 in their past 15 against lefties. They are 1-5 in Ventura's past six. The under is 7-0-1 following a quality start in his last appearance.

Early lean: Royals and under.

Cardinals at Dodgers (-190, 6)

Los Angeles second baseman Howie Kendrick missed Thursday's game with a knee injury and might have to miss a few more. The good news is an MRI on Kendrick's right knee ruled out any structural damage. A DL stint hasn't been ruled out yet, however. Lefty Jaime Garcia (1-2, 2.70) starts for St. Louis. He has made only three starts after beginning the year on the disabled list but has nicely filled the No. 5 spot thus far. He hasn't faced the Dodgers since 2012. Jimmy Rollins has seen him the most of any L.A. player, going 4-for-20 with two doubles. It's fellow southpaw Clayton Kershaw (4-3, 3.73) for the Dodgers. He looks back on track, winning two straight stars and allowing two combined runs and striking out 17 over 14 innings. Matt Holliday is 9-for-35 with 10 strikeouts off him. Yadier Molina is 6-for-22 with three doubles.

Key trends: The Cards are 0-4 in their past four on Saturday. The Dodgers are 0-4 in their past four against a lefty. The Dodgers are 1-4 in Kershaw's past five vs. the NL Central. The over is 4-1-1 in Kershaw's past six at home vs. St. Louis.

Early lean: Cardinals certainly have solved Kershaw in the playoffs. I'll take St. Louis at -130 on runline. Go under.

Mets at Diamondbacks (-107, 8.5)

With David Wright out, the Mets have probably the worst offensive infield in baseball. Thus, they can ill afford to lose second baseman Daniel Murphy. But he left Thursday's game against the Diamondbacks after pulling up lame running out a ground ball. Manager Terry Collins said it was a quad injury and that Murphy may be headed to the DL. Murphy is hitting .283 with 29 RBIs. Bartolo Colon (8-3, 4.72) starts here for New York. Amazingly, he has faced Arizona only once in his 18-year career and way back in 2006. Colon has won back-to-back starts, allowing three earned in each. Snakes catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia has seen Colon the most of any Arizona player, going 5-for-21 with a homer and eight strikeouts. Arizona's Chase Anderson (1-1, 3.26) continues to be the no-decision king with just those two in 10 starts. He comes off his worst outing, allowing six runs and 10 hits over five innings in Milwaukee.

Key trends: The Mets are 8-2 in Colon's past 10 on the road. The Diamondbacks are 0-9 in Anderson's past nine starts with five days of rest. The over is 7-0 in Colon's past seven against teams with a losing record. The over is 5-0 in Anderson's past five on Saturday.

Early lean: Mets and over.

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