Docs Website

53 Years Strong! A Trusted Leader In Sports Picks, Best Bets and Predictions Since 1971.

Main Menu
MLB Betting Trends: Hot and Cold Baseball Wagers

by Victor Ryan - 4/19/2016

Dee Gordon Miami Marlins

The National League West features prominently in this week's look at the hottest and coldest bets in sports. The Colorado Rockies were a monster winner for bettors last week, while the bumbling Padres entered the realm of the costliest bets in Major League Baseball. It's still early and there's much to be revealed, but here's a look at the trending teams in MLB.

Top 5 Bets

Baltimore Orioles (8-3, +6.3 Units)

Colorado Rockies (8-5, +5.6 Units)

Washington Nationals (9-3, +5.2 Units)

Kansas City Royals (8-4, +4.4 Units)

Chicago Cubs (10-3, +4.2 Units)

The Colorado Rockies heated up in Week 2, going 5-2 and profiting an excellent 5.3 units during the stretch. Meanwhile, after a surprisingly strong start, reality set in for the Reds last week and they dropped out of the Top 5.

As for the Rockies, it wasn't cupcakes they were beating last week, either. They took two of three from the San Francisco Giants and then went to Wrigley and beat the Cubs two out of three-both times as a heavy underdog of more than 2-to-1. That's getting it done for bettors.

The Rockies are an offensive powerhouse now with the emergence of Trevor Story (.309, 8 HR, 14 RBI) to join Carlos Gonzales (.377, 4 HR, 10 RBI), Nolan Arenado (.302, 6 HR, 16 RBI) and company. They rank fourth in MLB in runs scored (73) and are second in slugging percentage (.523). Of course, as is typical of the Rockies, the pitching has been getting torched. Their 5.53 ERA is the highest in the bigs and the .277 opponents' batting average.

As a result, the Rockies are the only team in the top five with a negative run differential as they averaged 5.6 runs per game while allowing 6.0 runs per game. That's a definite red flag moving forward.

Next up for the Rockies is a three-game series on the road with the Reds followed by a trip west to take on the Dodgers.

The Baltimore Orioles were the most profitable bet in the bigs opening week thanks to a perfect 5-0 start and they added another +1.3 units to the profit margin last week. This was due largely to beating Boston twice at Fenway as a rather heavy underdog. However, things seem to finally be cooling off for Baltimore as they've dropped three of their last four.

Next up for the Orioles is a three-game set at home against the Blue Jays followed by a three-game weekend series in Kansas City.

Bottom 5 Bets

Minnesota Twins (4-9, -4.8 units)

Houston Astros (5-8, -4.8 Units

Atlanta Braves (3-9, -4.7 Units)

San Diego Padres (4-9, -4.7 Units)

Miami Marlins (4-7, -4.3 Units)

The Padres continued their brutal start to the season last week, and as a result tumbled into the bottom five. The Marlins joined the Padres in the bottom five. They replaced the slow-starting Diamondbacks, who have played better of late and went 4-3 to profit 1.5 units last week.

San Diego recorded an MLB record by being shut out five times in the first 10 games of the season. This is really all you need to know about the pop-gun Padres: They are 0-9 when scoring three runs or fewer and a perfect 4-0 when plating at least four runs.

Last week, the Padres dropped three of four on the road to the lowly Phillies and then lost two of three at home to the Diamondbacks. To add injury to insult, No. 1 pitcher Tyson Ross was placed on the disabled list with inflammation in his right shoulder. Things couldn't have started much worse for first-year skipper Andy Green. Noteworthy to bettors is each of the Padres past two wins came with Andrew Cashner (0-1, 5.40 ERA) starting on the mound.

Next up for the Padres is a three-game set with the Pirates beginning Tuesday at Petco Park followed by a three-game series against the Cardinals at home.

The Marlins went 2-4 last week and cost bettors an additional 1.9 units to fall into the bottom five. Particularly damning was being swept at home by the lowly Braves while being favored in all three games.

Miami was able to right the ship Monday by beating the Nationals 6-1, which was due largely to a strong six innings from ace Jose Fernandez. But how's this for a negative stat: that was the first win by a Marlins starting pitcher all season.

There are some positives to turn to when it comes to the Marlins, however. In addition to a starter with ace stuff like Fernandez, the key cogs in the lineup-Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich and Dee Gordon-have gotten off to good starts. In fact, they have led Miami having the MLB's fifth-best team batting average (.276) and on-base percentage (.342). It may be too early to completely give up on the Marlins.

Most Recent Baseball Handicapping

One E-mail A Week Is All You Need!
Our weekly newsletter is loaded with exclusive free picks,insight and advice from our expert handicappers