Baseball Handicapping Articles

Five to Follow MLB Betting: Wednesday, May 21, 2014 Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews - 5/20/2014

Wednesday's game at Wrigley Field could very well be an audition for Jeff Samardzija, because the New York Yankees absolutely are going to need to trade for pitching with Ivan Nova out for the season, Michael Pineda out who knows how long and CC Sabathia out until at least July. The Cubs would love for the Red Sox to get in on Samardzija too and start a bidding war between the rivals. Boston has way more minor-league talent to offer, however. Here's a look at Yankees-Cubs and four other interesting matchups.

MLB Handicapping: Best Baseball Trends for Profits
by Darin Zank - 5/20/2014

Scoring in the Major League is running almost exactly equal with that of last season, but more games have played “over” on the totals than “under.” Now, does that mean baseball bettors should expect that trend to continue? Or should we expect a move back toward the .500 mark?

Five to Follow MLB Betting: Tuesday, May 20, 2014 Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews - 5/19/2014

The Yankees' Masahiro Tanaka has been otherworldly so far this season and might not just win AL Rookie of the Year honors but also be that league's Cy Young winner if he pitches the rest of the way like he has thus far. Yet Tanaka isn't even the most dominant pitcher going Tuesday night. That honor goes to Cincinnati's Johnny Cueto, who is on a run we haven't seen in more than 100 years. Here's a look at five interesting matchups on the schedule.

Five to Follow MLB Betting: Saturday May 17, 2014 Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews - 5/16/2014

From what research I can gather, the earliest in the 162-game era that a team has clinched a division was Sept. 7 by the 1975 Cincinnati Reds of Big Red Machine fame. Could we see a team clinch in August this season? The Detroit Tigers might be able to pull it off. The way they are going and with how mediocre the rest of the AL Central is, Detroit might well have a double-digit lead by Memorial Day. The Tigers are huge -600 division favorites at Sportsbook.ag.

Tracking the Nationals: Season-Long MLB Picks and Handicapping for Washington Baseball
by Dave Schwab - 5/15/2014

Doc’s Sports is a firm believer that specialization when it comes to wagering on MLB games has proven to be a profitable betting strategy. In an effort to emphasis this point we decided to release free MLB picks each week for the Washington Nationals during the entire MLB regular season. When you concentrate your handicapping efforts on a single team it not only builds familiarity but it works to make that team all the more predictable. My goal is to earn a long-term profit using this strategy through these free Washington Nationals’ picks.

Five to Follow MLB Betting: Friday May 16, 2014 Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews - 5/15/2014

Wednesday was one of the worst days in Texas Rangers history, and it likely means that they aren't going to win the AL West without trading for a pitcher like the Cubs' Jeff Samardzija or Rays' David Price. Texas may have lost both lefties Martin Perez and Matt Harrison for the year. Perez, it now appears, will need Tommy John surgery, putting the start of 2015 in jeopardy. Harrison might need spinal surgery that could end his career.

Five to Follow MLB Betting: Thursday May 15, 2014 Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews - 5/14/2014

I'm a fan of the Cubs in some regards and I take no joy in how sad it is that they simply are incapable of scoring any runs when ace Jeff Samardzija is on the mound. It actually has gotten to the point where it's almost humorous how good Samardzija has been this season and still doesn't have a win to his name in 14 straight starts. It must be infuriating. He tries again in Thursday's series finale in St. Louis. Here's a look at that and four other interesting matchups on the schedule.

Five to Follow MLB Betting: Wednesday, May 14, 2014 Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews - 5/13/2014

How unbelievably devastating to hear that Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez is likely going to need season-ending Tommy John surgery. Whether you are a fan of the Marlins or not, he was something to watch and the best young pitcher in baseball by a long stretch. I happen to think this news sends the Marlins into a tailspin. They had been a huge surprise this year but now know any chance at playoff contention is gone. It certainly helps the NL East and wild-card chances of Atlanta and Washington.

Tracking the Nationals: Season-Long MLB Picks and Handicapping for Washington Baseball
by Dave Schwab - 5/13/2014

Specialization when it comes to wagering on MLB games has proven to be a profitable betting strategy, so Doc’s Sports decided to release free MLB picks each week for the Washington Nationals during the entire MLB regular season to try and prove the point. Concentrating your handicapping efforts on just one team builds familiarity, which in turn should help to make it all the more predictable. My goal is to earn a long-term profit using this strategy through these free Washington Nationals’ picks.

MLB Totals Betting Trends Report
by Aaron Smith - 5/13/2014

The “over” continues to outperform the “under” on a league-wide basis so far this season in Major League Baseball. To this point, 282 games have finished over the posted total. There have been 256 games finish under the posted total. Poor bullpen pitching has led to a bunch of games going over the posted total in the final innings. Eventually, the oddsmakers will adjust to this.

Five to Follow MLB Betting: Tuesday, May 13, 2014 Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews - 5/12/2014

The last time Pittsburgh's Gerrit Cole faced the Milwaukee Brewers, we were treated to the biggest brawl of the season -- perhaps the biggest in the past few years. Will there be any carry over from that to Tuesday's game when Cole faces the Brew Crew again? Surely the umpires will be on high alert. Here's a look at that matchup and four other interesting games on the schedule.

Five to Follow MLB Betting: Saturday May 10, 2014 Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews - 5/9/2014

Think that Cubs pitcher Jeff Samardzija is getting fed up with the losing in Chicago? The Cubs front office expressed some concern when Samardzija went a career-high 126 pitches in his last start, and Samardzija essentially said to mind your own business. Manager Rick Renteria is trying to win now. The front office wants to ensure its No. 1 trade chip doesn't get hurt and frankly doesn't care about winning yet.

MLB Betting Advice: Hot and Cold Teams for Runline Wagering
by Ricky Dimon - 5/8/2014

More than a month into the season, teams have been given time to fluctuate wildly both on the field and in terms of profitability. Out of nowhere, the Braves have become far and away the best team for bettors to fade. Meanwhile, the Rockies are making an impressive move in the other direction.

Tracking the Nationals: Season-Long MLB Picks and Handicapping for Washington Baseball
by Dave Schwab - 5/8/2014

In an effort to demonstrate the value of specialization when it comes to wagering on baseball games, Doc’s Sports will be releasing free MLB picks each week for the Washington Nationals during the entire MLB regular season. We firmly believe that concentrating your handicapping efforts on just one team can be an effective betting strategy that many expert handicappers regularly employ as part of their overall selection process. My goal is to earn a long-term profit using this strategy through these free MLB picks involving select Nationals’ games.

Five to Follow MLB Betting: Friday May 9, 2014 Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews - 5/8/2014

I will stop focusing so much on Masahiro Tanaka when the Yankees' Japanese import finally loses a regular-season game, which he hasn't since 2012. Still really looking forward to when a team sees Tanaka for the second time this season and then how he fares. That won't happen on Friday when the Yankees visit Milwaukee in interleague action. You never know, this could be a World Series preview. It is +6500 as a Fall Classic matchup on Sportsbook.ag. Here is a look at that and four other interesting matchups Friday.

MLB Handicapping: Best Baseball Trends for Profits
by Darin Zank - 5/7/2014

We continue with our tracking of certain factors and trends we feel aid in handicapping baseball games. The information that follows won't guarantee anything in the way of betting profits, but it can play a part in deciding games and ultimately winning or losing betting picks. Here's our report for this week.

Five to Follow MLB Betting: Thursday May 8, 2014 Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews - 5/7/2014

Here is something you don't see every day in Major League Baseball: Every home team is favored on a fairly busy slate. Usually there is some crummy team playing at home like the Astros or Cubs who would be an underdog, but not this day as both are on the road. Here's a look at five interesting matchups.

Five to Follow MLB Betting: Wednesday, May 7, 2014 Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews - 5/6/2014

Some unique scheduling on Wednesday as three interleague series -- Blue Jays-Phillies, Rangers-Rockies and White Sox-Cubs, continue with their four-game set, but the series move to the opposite city starting Wednesday for the final two games. Bovada will offer live betting on four games Wednesday: Giants-Pirates, Mariners-A's, Cubs-White Sox and Yankees-Angels. Here are what I believe are five interesting matchups.

Five to Follow MLB Betting: Tuesday, May 6, 2014 Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews - 5/5/2014

I'm thinking that many batters are going to struggle on Tuesday. Why? Let's just say that many of them likely will be headed out after their games (or if off) Monday night to partake in some Cinco De Mayo celebrations. Starting pitchers don't generally do that type of thing the night before a start, so that could be a big advantage. Here's a look at five interesting matchups Tuesday.

Five to Follow MLB Betting: Saturday May 3, 2014 Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews - 5/2/2014

We could have one of the greatest debates for the American League Rookie of the Year this season between the Yankees' Masahiro Tanaka and the White Sox's Jose Abreu. Perhaps MLB needs to change its standards for ROY, however. Both guys played professionally in other countries and aren't 20-year-olds just up from the minors. That leaves guys such as Kansas City's Yordano Ventura or Boston's Xander Bogaerts having no chance at the award. Here's a look at five interesting matchups on Saturday, including games involving Tanaka and Abreu.