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Five To Follow MLB Betting: Wednesday, September 30, 2015 Opening Line Report

by - 9/29/2015

Gerrit Cole of the Pittsburgh Pirates

Great news for the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday as shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, who has been out since Sept. 12 with a small crack in his left scapula, took batting practice for the first time since suffering the injury and says he will "absolutely" be ready for the playoffs. Tulo is batting only .232 since coming over from Colorado in that stunning July trade, but the team is 30-8 with him in the starting lineup. No doubt the Jays would like to shake the rust off him a bit, so you will probably see him play a couple of games later this week barring some sort of setback. The Jays lead the majors by far in homers. Since 2000, just one team, the 2009 New York Yankees, has led the league in home runs and gone on to win the World Series.

Cardinals at Pirates (TBA)

This is your first ESPN game and thus will have live betting at the books. While the Cards have ruled out catcher Yadier Molina for the rest of the regular season, it's possible that ace pitcher Adam Wainwright could pitch out of the bullpen as early as this game. He has been out since late April with an Achilles' injury. The team isn't expected to use him as a starter in the playoffs. Lefty Tyler Lyons (2-1, 3.96) starts for the Cardinals. He is taking the spot formerly of Carlos Martinez, who has been ruled out the rest of the season, including playoffs. In Lyons' only start against the Pirates this year, he allowed two earned runs over five innings. It's ace Gerrit Cole (18-8, 2.60) for Pittsburgh. His next start will be in the wild-card game against the Cubs. Cole is 2-1 with a 2.33 ERA in three starts this year against the Cardinals. Matt Carpenter is 6-for-19 with two homers career off him.

Key trends: The Cardinals are 1-7 in Lyons' past eight on the road. The Pirates are 12-1 in Cole's past 13 at home vs. teams with a winning record. The "over/under" has gone under in eight straight Pirates games vs. a lefty. The under is 9-4 in Cole's past 13.

Early lean: This is TBA because the Cards could clinch Wednesday night. I like Pittsburgh and the under regardless of if they do.

Red Sox at Yankees (TBA)

Masahiro Tanaka will return to the Yankees' rotation for this one. Tanaka was skipped on his last turn through the rotation with a Grade 1 hamstring strain. He made it through a couple of bullpen sessions over the weekend without issue. Then presumably Tanaka (12-7, 3.38) would start the wild-card game against an opponent TBA. Tanaka is 3-0 against Boston this season in three starts despite a 5.19 ERA. David Ortiz is 3-for-14 off him with a homer. Sox lefty Wade Miley (11-11, 4.39) had a streak of three straight quality starts end last time out, allowing four runs in 6.1 innings vs. the Rays. He is 0-2 with a 5.60 ERA this year against the Yankees. Brian McCann is 5-for-10 with a dinger off him.

Key trends: The Red Sox are 1-6 in Miley's past seven on the road. The Yanks are 8-2 in Tanaka's past 10 vs. the AL East. The over is 5-1 in Miley's past six. The over is 4-0 in Tanaka's past four vs. Boston.

Early lean: Another TBA because Yanks could be eliminated from the AL East on Tuesday and/or clinch the top wild-card spot.

Nationals at Braves (+144, 8)

This almost surely will be the final start for Jordan Zimmermann in a Nationals uniform as he will be a free agent this offseason and not expected to return to Washington -- you hear a lot of rumors about the Wisconsin native perhaps signing with the Cubs. Zimmermann (13-9, 3.68) was knocked around last time out, allowing six runs in five innings to the Phillies. He is 3-0 with a 1.82 ERA in five starts this season against Atlanta. Freddie Freeman is 9-for-25 with three doubles off him. Nick Markakis is 9-for-7 with a homer. It's rookie Williams Perez (6-6, 5.04) for Atlanta. The Braves have won his past two and he has allowed three combined runs over that stretch. Only a couple of Nationals have ever faced him.

Key trends: The Braves are 1-4 in Perez's past five at home. The over is 4-1 in Zimmermann's past five. The Nats are 6-0 in his past six vs. Atlanta.

Early lean: Nationals and under.

Cubs at Reds (+139, 7.5)

This could be Jon Lester's final start of the season for Chicago. Well, it should be his regular-season finale, but Lester would then only pitch in Game 1 of the NLDS -- and obviously the Cubs would have to win the wild-card game (with Jake Arrieta on the mound) for that to happen. The lefty Lester (10-12, 3.43) has lost back-to-back starts, both at home. Lester has struck out 198, second-most by a Cubs lefty in a season behind Ken Holtzman, who fanned 202 in 1970. The Reds' Joey Votto is 2-for-9 off him with two extra-base hits. It's Anthony DeSclafani (9-12, 3.91) for the Reds. He is 1-1 with a 1.88 ERA this year against the Cubs. Kris Bryant is 4-for-9 off him with two RBIs. Anthony Rizzo is 0-for-14.

Key trends: The Cubs are 4-1 in Lester's past five vs. teams with a losing record. The Reds are 5-2 in DeSclafani's past nine vs. the NL Central. The under is 6-0-1 in Lester's past seven on the road.

Early lean: Cubs and under.

Dodgers at Giants (TBA)

This is the ESPN nightcap and will also have live betting at sportsbooks. The Dodgers had another shot to clinch the NL West on Tuesday night behind Clayton Kershaw, so you will want to hold off before betting this one because certainly L.A. will be resting regulars on Wednesday if it does clinch. It's Mike Bolsinger (6-5, 3.48) for Los Angeles. He has an 8.66 ERA in his past four starts. He is 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA in two starts this year against the Giants. San Francisco goes with Mike Leake (10-10, 3.89), likely making his final start in a Giants uniform. He is 1-5 in eight starts with them since coming over from the Reds.

Key trends: The Dodgers are 1-4 in Bolsinger's past five vs. teams with a winning record. The Giants are 1-4 in Leake's past five. The over is 4-1 in Bolsinger's past five vs. the NL West.

Early lean: Wait on Tuesday's result.

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