Five to Follow MLB Betting: Wednesday, August 24, 2016, Opening Line Report

Five to Follow MLB Betting: Wednesday, August 24, 2016, Opening Line Report

by Alan Matthews - 8/23/2016

Potentially devastating news for the Washington Nationals as Cy Young candidate Stephen Strasburg was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Monday with right elbow soreness. I'll just say it flat out that I don't think the Nationals can win the NL pennant without him. They will still win the NL East, though, with a big lead. When I previewed Strasburg's last start, I wrote that I'll stick with him one more game but would have some concerns that he might be hurt if he struggled again. And Strasburg was bombed by the Rockies in Colorado. He started 15-1 but is 0-3 in his past three starts with a 14.66 ERA. Strasburg had been scheduled to start Monday against Baltimore. The Nationals do claim there is nothing structurally wrong and that they are just being proactive so Strasburg is 100 percent for the postseason. Needless to say, this is going to cost him the Cy Young. And anytime you hear "elbow soreness" on a guy who already has had Tommy John surgery, well, you have to be nervous if you are the Nats. Remember, they also just committed $175 million to Strasburg earlier this season. It's looking quite smart now on his part in accepting it.

Indians at A's (+122, 8.5)

A 3:35 p.m. ET first pitch and should have live betting at it's on the MLB Network. Trevor Bauer (9-5, 3.88) is on the mound for the Tribe, who have won his past three. Bauer took a no-decision on Friday against Toronto in allowing two runs and five hits over eight innings with a career-high high 13 strikeouts. It was the seventh time in his career he reached double-digit Ks. Bauer took a no-decision on July 29 vs. Oakland, allowing two earned in 5.1 innings. Khris Davis is 1-for-3 off him with a homer. Billy Butler is 6-for-13 with two doubles and four RBIs, but he was placed on the seven-day concussion on Monday after being punched in the head over the weekend by teammate Danny Valencia. Oakland's Kendall Graveman (9-8, 4.09) comes off the first complete-game shutout off his career, allowing two hits and no walks at the White Sox. Graveman was opposite Bauer on July 29 and took the loss, allowing three earned over 6.1 innings. Carlos Santana is 3-for-9 off him with a homer. Francisco Lindor is 4-for-8.

Key trends: The Indians are 6-1 in Bauer's past seven vs. the AL West. The A's are 5-1 in Graveman's past six at home. The "over/under" has gone under in 19 of Bauer's past 26 on the road. The under is 7-1 in Graveman's past eight at home.

Early lean: Indians and under.

Orioles at Nationals (-168, 9)

Baltimore loses the DH for this interleague matchup. The Orioles start lefty Wade Miley (7-10, 5.58), who has been terrible his past two outings. He was gashed for six runs in just 1.2 innings on Friday against Houston but actually avoided the loss. Miley is 0-2 with a 9.53 ERA in four starts for Baltimore since being acquired from Seattle. He hasn't faced Washington this year. Bryce Harper is 3-for-4 off him with a double. Ryan Zimmerman is 5-for-8 with three doubles and four RBIs. Washington's Tanner Roark (13-6, 2.87) hasn't lost since July 22. He comes off a no-decision in Atlanta, giving up three runs and four hits over 6.1 innings. This will be his first start of the year vs. Baltimore. Jonathan Schoop is 2-for-3 off him with two homers. J.J. Hardy is 4-for-6 against him.

Key trends: The Orioles are 1-4 in their past five on Wednesday. The Nationals are 6-1 in Roark's past seven at home. The over is 6-1 in his past seven interleague starts.

Early lean: Nationals and over.

Mets at Cardinals (-108, 7.5)

The Mets can't afford any more injuries in their chase for a wild-card spot, but they had to put lefty pitcher Steven Matz on the 15-day DL on Monday. He's dealing with a left shoulder strain, which also can be ominous. But the Mets think he simply needs two weeks of rest. Jacob deGrom (7-6, 2.73) is on the mound for New York. He comes off his worst start of the year in what was expected to be a pitching duel vs. Madison Bumgarner, giving up eight runs and 13 hits over five innings at the Giants. The hits and runs were career highs allowed. DeGrom hasn't faced St. Louis this year. Matt Carpenter is 1-for-6 against him. Jhonny Peralta is 2-for-6. The Cardinals' Carlos Martinez (11-7, 3.24) won in Houston last Wednesday, allowing a run and three hits over seven innings. He beat the Mets on July 26, allowing two runs in five innings. Jay Bruce is 1-for-15 off him with a homer. Neil Walker is 4-for-16 with two dingers.

Key trends: The Mets are 1-4 in deGrom's past five road starts vs. teams with a winning record. The Cards are 8-3 in Martinez's past 11 on Wednesday. The under is 6-2 in deGrom's past eight on the road. It's 4-1 in Martinez's past five at home.

Early lean: Cardinals and under.

Braves at Diamondbacks (-150, 8.5)

Pitching matchup of the night amid news that Arizona plans to clean house in the front office this offseason after that terrible Shelby Miller trade with Atlanta this past offseason. The Snakes were apparently ready to cut their losses on Miller and trade him to the Marlins around the deadline, but ownership killed the deal. The Braves start Julio Teheran (3-9, 2.90). He returned from the disabled list on Friday and took a no-decision vs. the Nationals, surrendering three runs and six hits over five innings. He hasn't won since June 19 largely because of no run support. Teheran took a no-decision vs. Arizona on May 7, allowing one earned run over five innings. Jean Segura is 5-for-15 off him with a homer. Paul Goldschmidt is just 1-for-14 against Teheran. Arizona's Zack Greinke (11-4, 4.21) comes off a no-decision vs. San Diego, allowing two runs over seven innings. He won in Atlanta on May 6 in giving up two runs over six innings. Matt Kemp is 5-for-23 with a homer off him. Nick Markakis is 6-for-22 with three doubles and a homer.

Key trends: The Braves are 2-8 in Teheran's past 10 vs. teams with a losing record. The Diamondbacks are 4-1 in Greinke's past five at home. The under is 11-5 in Teheran's past 16. It's 5-1-1 in Arizona's past seven at home.

Early lean: Diamondbacks and under.

Giants at Dodgers (-116, 7)

ESPN game. Monitor the status of struggling Dodgers outfielder Josh Reddick, who was scratched from Monday's game with a jammed middle finger on his right hand. He has done absolutely nothing since coming over in trade from Oakland. The guy who came with Reddick in that deal, lefty Rich Hill (9-3, 2.25), is set to make his Dodgers debut here and first start since July 17 due to a blister problem. Prior to the injury, Hill had six straight quality starts for the A's. Hill hasn't faced the Giants this year. Hunter Pence is 2-for-7 career off him with an RBI. San Francisco's Johnny Cueto (14-3, 2.90) beat the Mets in his last start, allowing a run over seven innings. Cueto has made three starts this year vs. the Dodgers, going 2-0 with a 3.63 ERA. Adrian Gonzalez is 6-for-22 off him with a homer. Chase Utley hits .357 off Cueto in 28 career at-bats.

Key trends: The Giants are 11-2 in Cueto's past 13 on the road. The under is 8-2 in his past 10 vs. the NL West.

Early lean: Giants and under.

Start:	November 23, 2024 @ 2:30 PM
Expert:	Tony George
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