Five To Follow MLB Betting: Wednesday, May 13, 2015 Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews - 5/12/2015
Now that the Cubs' Kris Bryant is an established major leaguer, it's time to start the watch for the next super-prospect to be called up from the minors. And that could be Houston shortstop prospect Carlos Correia. who was moved up to Triple-A on Monday. The first overall pick in the 2012 draft tore up Double-A this season with a.385 batting average, seven homers, 15 doubles, 15 steals and 32 RBIs in 29 games. He looks like a can't-miss just like Bryant. Correia batted .341 with two home runs in 18 spring training games with the Astros. For service-time reasons, I think we might see him around mid-June in the majors if he hits that well in Triple-A.
Red Sox at A's (-147, 7.5)
Slumping Oakland may not have first baseman Ike Davis for at least a few games. He left Monday's game against Boston with a strained left quad. Davis is hitting .284 with two homers and 11 RBIs. Davis hasn't had any success in his career off struggling Boston starter Wade Miley, against whom Davis is 0-for-6. Miley (1-4, 6.91) has been pretty terrible; might he have to be demoted to the bullpen for a while if he gets lit up again here? Billy Butler is 2-for-5 with a homer and three RBIs against Miley. It's ace Sonny Gray (4-0, 1.65) for Oakland. He has allowed more than one earned run just twice all season. Few Red Sox have faced him. David Ortiz is 0-for-3 with a strikeout. Pablo Sandoval has a single in three at-bats.
Key trends: Boston is 2-7 in its past nine in Game 3 of a series. Oakland is 2-8 in its past 10 at home vs. a lefty. The "over/under" has gone over in six of Oakland's past seven vs. a southpaw.
Early lean: A's and under.
Blue Jays at Orioles (-117, 9)
Baltimore second baseman Ryan Flaherty just got off the disabled list and might be headed back there as he reaggravated a groin injury during Monday's game against the Jays and had to leave. Flaherty was to undergo an MRI on Tuesday. With Everth Cabrera and Jonathan Schoop also on the disabled list, the Orioles do not have a true utility infielder or a natural second baseman on the roster. Flaherty is hitting .250 with two homers and four RBIs. Aaron Sanchez (3-2, 3.62) starts for Toronto. He appears to be only getting better. Sanchez shut out Boston on two hits over seven innings last time out. He is 1-1 with a 5.19 ERA in two starts this year against the Orioles. Chris Davis is 4-for-4 with two solo homers off him. Miguel Gonzalez (3-2, 3.57) is on the mound for the Birds. He hasn't faced Toronto this season and is 1-0 with a 3.46 ERA in two home starts. Edwin Encarnacion has three homers and seven RBIs in 22 at-bats off him.
Key trends: The Orioles are 13-5 in Gonzalez's past 18 at home vs. teams with a losing record. The under is 5-1 in his past six at home and in past six vs. Toronto.
Early lean: Orioles and under.
Mets at Cubs (+107, TBA)
It's always must-see TV when Mets ace Matt Harvey is on the mound, and that's the case Wednesday in this ESPN game, which will have live betting at the sportsbooks. Harvey (5-1, 2.72) took his first loss last time out pitching on extra rest, allowing three runs and six hits over six innings against the Phillies. The Cubs' Chris Coghlan is 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs against Harvey. Starlin Castro has two hits in three at-bats. I'll definitely be watching any time Bryant is up against Harvey. A future MVP vs. a future Cy Young. Jason Hammel (3-1, 3.52) goes for the Cubs. He has had three straight quality starts and struck out a season-high eight last time out vs. Milwaukee. Only a couple of Mets have faced him. Curtis Granderson is 6-for-17 with two homers and two doubles.
Key trends: The Mets are 2-5 in Harvey's past seven on the road. The Cubs are 8-1 in Hammel's past nine vs. teams with a winning record. The over has hit in eight of those.
Early lean: Mets and under (total likely 7).
Cardinals at Indians (-125, 7.5)
I'm not sure what the statistically worst season for a pitcher is a year after winning a Cy Young, but Cleveland's Corey Kluber (0-5, 5.04) may be trending that way. The Indians haven't won any of the seven games he has started. Kluber joins Frank Viola and Zack Greinke as Cy Young winners to go winless in their first seven starts the following season. Kluber has allowed 28 runs, which is as many runs as he allowed last year in his final 18 starts. Only one Cardinal has seen him: Jhonny Peralta is 5-for-13 with two doubles. John Lackey (2-1, 3.20) has allowed just one earned run in each of his past two starts. This is his first start this season against an AL team. David Murphy hits him best of the Indians, going 11-for-25 with three extra-base hits.
Key trends: The Cards are 1-5 in Lackey's past six on the road. Cleveland is 7-1 in Kluber's past eight interleague starts. The under is 6-0 in his past six on five days of rest.
Early lean: Cardinals and over.
White Sox at Brewers (-116, 8.5)
Milwaukee third baseman Aramis Ramirez missed a fourth straight game Monday because of back tightness, but an MRI showed no structural damage so maybe he plays here. He's hitting .230 with three homers and 11 RBIs. Lefty Jose Quintana (1-3, 5.03) goes for the White Sox, and he's part of the reason why Chicago has been disappointing. Quintana has been better of late, allowing five earned runs over 19 innings over his past three starts. Adam Lind is 2-for-6 off him with a double. Elian Herrera, who has been playing third in Ramirez's place, is 2-for-3. Jimmy Nelson (1-3, 4.00) makes a third straight start against a Chicago team; the previous two were against the Cubs and he allowed seven runs over 13.2 innings. The only White Sox player to have faced him is Melky Cabrear (1-for-3 with RBI).
Key trends: The White Sox are 0-8 in Quintana's past eight starts during Game 3 of a series. The Brewers are 1-6 in Nelson's past seven at home. The under has hit in 14 of Quintana's past 17 road starts vs. teams with a losing record.
Early lean: White Sox and over.
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