Five to Follow Expert MLB Betting Picks: Tuesday, June 6, 2017, Opening Line Report

by Doc's Sports - 6/5/2017

Go ahead and stick a fork in the Seattle Mariners, the team with the longest playoff drought in baseball. I thought they might contend for a wild-card spot this year if they stayed healthy, but that has been far from the case. The rotation has been devastated by injury and now shortstop Jean Segura, the team's big offseason trade addition from Arizona, could miss up to two months with an ankle injury. He was placed on the DL on Friday with a high ankle sprain suffered on a slide into second base (it's still smarter to slide feet first than head first). Segura disagrees with that timetable and expects to be back by the end of the month, although players generally tend to be overly optimistic on such things. He was the team's leadoff hitter and is No. 1 in the American League with a .341 batting average. It's his second stint on the disabled list after suffering a hamstring injury in April and missing 12 games.Taylor Motter will get the bulk of the playing time at shortstop.

Red Sox at Yankees ( -123, 9.5 )

MLB Network game. New York outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury (concussion) has been shut down again due to a recurrence of his headaches. He was hoping to be activated from the DL this past weekend but now will see a neurologist. The Bombers go with supposed ace Masahiro Tanaka (5-5, 6.34). He could be costing himself millions of dollars as Tanaka can opt out of his contract after this season but might not want to do that now unless he turns things around. New York has dropped his past four and he has given up 22 runs in them. Tanaka's best start of the season was in Boston on April 27 when he threw a complete-game three-hitter. Boston's Mookie Betts is just 3-for-21 against him. Red Sox lefty Drew Pomeranz (5-3, 4.24) comes off his best start of the year, allowing one run over seven at the White Sox with Ks. He hasn't faced the Yankees this season. Gary Sanchez is 2-for-4 off him with a homer against him.

Key trends: The Red Sox are 2-5 in Pomeranz's past seven road starts. The Yankees are 7-1 in Tanaka's past eight at home vs. teams with a winning record. The "over/under" has gone under in nine of Pomeranz's past 11 on the road. The over is 7-1 in Tanaka's past eight vs. the AL East.

Early lean: Red Sox and over.

Indians at Rockies (-105, 11)

Cleveland will lose the designated hitter for this interleague matchup. That's usually Edwin Encarnacion but no way the Tribe take his big bat out of the lineup at Coors Field so he'll be at first. Mike Clevinger (2-2, 3.10) is on the mound. He took the loss last time out in giving up three runs over 6.2 innings vs. Oakland. The only Rockies player to face him is Ian Desmond and he's 0-for-1. Colorado rookie Antonio Senzatela (7-2, 3.49) took the loss Wednesday in an interleague game in Seattle, tying a season high in giving up four runs and lasting only five innings. He's still an NL Rookie of the Year candidate. The 22-year-old has never faced a member of the Indians in a regular-season game.

Key trends: The Indians are 2-5 in Clevinger's past seven vs. teams with a winning record. The Rockies are 6-1 in their previous seven following an off day. The under is 4-1 in Clevinger's past five on the road.

Early lean: Rockies and under.

Cardinals at Reds (+116, 9.5)

Monitor the status of Reds outfielder Scott Schebler, who is tied for the NL lead in homers, and Billy Hamilton, who leads the majors in steals. They injured their left shoulders on separate diving plays on Saturday and sat out Sunday. The club doesn't think they will land on the DL, but you can't really be down two regulars very long as the Reds would then have only two position players on the bench. The Reds go with Tim Adleman (3-2, 4.89). He took a no-decision last time out in Toronto, allowing three runs over six innings. He struggled in St. Louis on April 28 (5.1 IP, 6 R). Dexter Fowler is 3-for-8 against him with a homer. The Cardinals' Adam Wainwright (6-3, 3.79) did it all Thursday in a win over the Dodgers as he threw six shutout innings and hit a two-run homer. Wainwright has surrendered only one run in his past four outings. He hasn't faced the Reds in 2017. Joey Votto is a career .279 hitter against him with two homers in 43 at-bats.

Key trends: The Cards are 5-2 in Wainwright's past seven in Cincinnati. The over is 7-1 in his past eight on the road. It's 4-1 in Adelman's past five vs. the NL Central.

Early lean: Cardinals and over.

Blue Jays at A's (+110, 8)

Toronto second baseman Devon Travis was plunked on the wrist by a pitch Sunday but X-rays came back negative. He still might miss a game or two. Travis is hitting .259 with five homers and 24 RBIs. The Jays were 6-17 at one point but could get above .500 for the first time with a win here if they also won Monday. The Jays go with Marco Estrada (4-3, 3.86). If he gets past the first inning unscathed he's usually very good but has a 7.50 ERA in that inning this year. Estrada was shelled Thursday vs. the Yankees (3.2 IP, 7 ER). He hasn't faced Oakland this year. Rajai Davis is 2-for-3 off him with a homer. Oakland's Jesse Hahn (1-4, 3.81) will be activated off the disabled list for this one. He last pitched on May 23 and lost to the Marlins, allowing a season-high five runs in just two innings. Toronto's Kendrys Morales is 2-for-5 against him with a dinger.

Key trends: The Jays are 4-0 in Estrada's past four vs. the AL West. The over is 4-0 in his past four on Tuesday.

Early lean: Jays and over.

Nationals at Dodgers (+107, 7.5)

One of the marquee series of the season and a rematch of last year's NLDS, won by the Dodgers in five games. I fully expect both teams to be playing October baseball again. Nationals ace Max Scherzer (6-3, 2.56) was terrific Wednesday in San Francisco in throwing his first complete game of the year. He allowed one run with no walks and 11 strikeouts. He leads the NL with 100 Ks and a WHIP of 0.89. He pitched twice in the NLDS vs. L.A. and was 0-1 with a 3.75 ERA. Yasiel Puig is 2-for-6 off Scherzer in the regular season with a double and triple. The Dodgers' Brandon McCarthy (5-2, 3.38) lasted a season-low four innings in his last start in St. Louis, giving up two runs and seven hits. He was pulled due to a blister. Bryce Harper is 0-for-2 vs. McCarthy.

Key trends: The Nats are 4-1 in their past five vs. a right-hander. The Dodgers are 5-1 in McCarthy's past six at home vs. teams with a winning record. The under is 5-2-1 in McCarthy's past eight.

Early lean: Nationals and under.

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