Five to Follow Expert MLB Betting Picks: 7/5/2017, Opening Line Report

by Alan Matthews - 7/4/2017

Oakland Athletics Starting pitcher Sonny Gray

If you still care about which players will round out the American and National League All-Star rosters, the five Final Vote candidates are Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus, Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts, Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius, Rays first baseman Logan Morrison and Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas in the Junior Circuit. I'm pretty sure either Bogaerts or Gregorius will win simply because of the popular teams they play for. In the Senior Circuit, it's Marlins first baseman Justin Bour, Cubs third baseman and reigning NL MVP Kris Bryant, Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon, Rockies first baseman Mark Reynolds and Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner. Because the Cubs are so popular, I'd guess Bryant wins that vote even though he's not having a huge season and is probably the least deserving of those guys. Voting runs until Thursday. My favorite All-Star story this year? Reds shortstop Zack Cosart made it and now he's owed a donkey by Joey Votto, who promised his teammate one this spring if Cozart made it for the first time in his career. Cozart said he takes his son to a facility near the Reds' spring training complex often and they feed the donkeys.

Blue Jays at Yankees ( -148, 10 )

First game of the day at 1:05 p.m. ET and on the MLB Network. Toronto made a trade on Monday in acquiring catcher Miguel Montero from the Cubs for essentially a bag of balls. No risk for the Jays as the Cubbies are picking up the majority of Montero's contract after designating him for assignment. Montero will serve as the No. 2 to Russell Martin. The Jays start Marco Estrada (4-6, 4.86). He was not good in June, going 0-4 with a 9.11 ERA in six starts. He is 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA this year in two starts against the Yankees. Aaron Judge is 2-for-7 with two RBIs against him. Gary Sanchez has four homers and seven RBIs in eight at-bats. New York's Michael Pineda (8-4, 4.05) won for the first time in four starts last time out, giving up two earned over six in Houston. He lost in Toronto on June 2 (5 IP, 5 ER). Jose Bautista is 6-for-25 against him with three homers.

Key trends: The Jays are 5-0 in Estrada's past five at New York. The Yankees are 0-5 in Pineda's past five against Toronto. The "over/under" is 6-1 in Pineda's previous seven vs. the Yankees.

Early lean: Yankees and over.

White Sox at A's (-177, 9.5)

A 3:05 p.m. ET first pitch. The Pale Hose could remain without closer David Robertson as he was placed on the paternity list Monday. Wednesday would be the last game he is allowed to miss. Robertson's wife, Erin, is due to give birth to the couple's second child any day. She was originally due June 29. Both starting pitchers here could be elsewhere by the evening of July 31. The White Sox wouldn't get much for Mike Pelfrey (3-6, 4.13), but he's certainly available. He faced Oakland two starts ago and gave up three runs with five walks in 4.2 innings. Khris Davis is 5-for-8 with a homer off him. Oakland ace Sonny Gray (3-4, 4.09) boosted his value last time out in allowing one run and two hits over eight innings vs. Atlanta but lost. He held the Pale Hose to one earned over seven on June 25. Jose Abreu is 3-for-12 off him with a homer.

Key trends: The White Sox are 1-8 in their past nine in Game 3 of a series. The A's are 2-7 in Gray's past nine vs. teams with a losing record. The over is 12-4 in his past 16 at home.

Early lean: A's and under.

Mets at Nationals (-101, 9)

ESPN game. New York's Jacob deGrom (8-3, 3.55) has won four straight starts and allowed three combined earned runs in them with 31 strikeouts. He had been rocked the two outings before that. The former NL Rookie of the Year is 2-1 with a 2.61 ERA in three starts this year vs. Washington with 28 strikeouts in 20.2 innings. Bryce Harper is 9-for-24 against deGrom with a homer and six strikeouts. Anthony Rendon is 0-for-16. Washington has dropped the past five starts by Tanner Roark (6-6, 5.27), and he lasted just three innings Friday in St. Louis. Roark took a no-decision April 21 at the Mets (6.2 IP, 3 ER). Curtis Granderson is 9-for-27 off him with a homer and six RBIs. Yoenis Cespedes is 2-for-13.

Key trends: The Mets are 6-1 in deGrom's past seven vs. Washington. The Nats are 7-3 in Roark's past 10 against New York. The under is 3-0-1 in his past four vs. the Mets.

Early lean: Mets and under.

Angels at Twins (-169, 10)

Minnesota pitcher Ervin Santana was deservedly named an All-Star, but he's beginning to regress to the mean. His other All-Star appearance was in 2008, making the nine-year gap between All-Star selections the longest since Adam Dunn's decade-long wait between his 2002 and 2012 appearances.Santana (10-5, 3.07) has allowed at least five runs in four of his past six outings. He allowed seven last time out over 5.1 innings in Kansas City. Santana was also bombed on June 3 in Anaheim, surrendering seven runs and three homers over four innings. Yunel Escobar is 10-for-25 off him. Albert Pujols is 4-for-14 with two homers and six RBIs. L.A.'s Parker Bridwell (2-1, 3.95) was knocked around for 11 hits and five runs over six innings in his last start vs. Seattle. This will be the 25-year-old rookie's first career look at Minnesota.

Key trends: The Twins are 1-4 in Santana's past five at home. The over is 4-1 in his past five at home vs. teams with a losing record.

Early lean: Twins and over.

Diamondbacks at Dodgers (-215, 8)

MLB Network game. L.A lefty Alex Wood was among the All-Star snubs as he's 9-0 with a 1.83 ERA that would lead the majors if Wood had enough innings to qualify - he's 8.1 short. Wood held the Padres to one run over six innings last time out in San Diego. He's the first Dodger to open a season 9-0 since Rick Rhoden in 1976. Wood is 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA in two appearances (one start) against Arizona this season. Paul Goldschmidt is 4-for-14 off him with two homers. A.J. Pollock is 6-for-13 with two dingers. The Diamondbacks' Zack Godley (3-2, 2.67) was a tough-luck loser last time out, giving up three runs and only two hits vs. St. Louis. He hasn't faced the Dodgers this year. Joc Pederson is 1-for-3 off him with two RBIs.

Key trends: The Diamondbacks are 4-0 in Godley's past four on the road. The Dodgers are 1-5 in Wood's past six with four days of rest. The over is 4-1 in Godley's past five on the road vs. teams with a winning record.

Early lean: Diamondbacks on runline and over.

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Start:	November 23, 2024 @ 2:30 PM
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