Baseball Handicapping Articles

MLB Betting Advice and Help: Best and Worst Road Teams
by Trevor Whenham - 6/12/2017

As a bettor my favorite thing in baseball is a team that produces moneyline profits on the road. It's generally a tough thing to do, and that is especially the case this year. Last year there were 13 teams that produced at least a small road profit. This year to date there are just six. Road success is so valuable for bettors because reliable underdog plays are such a powerful tool. As we sit, about 40 percent of the way through the season, it's a good time to check in with some MLB betting advice on which teams are profitable on the road, and which ones really, really aren't.

Five to Follow Expert MLB Betting Picks: 6/13/2017, Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews - 6/12/2017

If Yankees rookie and AL MVP favorite Aaron Judge isn't in the Home Run Derby at next month's All-Star Game in Miami, then that whole thing is a sham. That event usually bores me, but watching Judge and presumably Marlins hometown boy Giancarlo Stanton bash balls should be pretty good TV. On Saturday, Judge hit a dinger that was recorded with an exit velocity of 121.1 mph, which it the hardest-hit ball in the Statcast era (which, granted, has only been around for a few years). The previous record was Stanton's 120.3 mph base hit in 2015. Judge now has the four hardest hit balls on the season.

MLB MVP Odds for the 2017 Race with Expert Betting Predictions
by Trevor Whenham - 6/9/2017

We are, in round numbers, a third of the way through the baseball season. I don't know about you, but that milestone has kind of snuck up on me. This is a good time to look at the MVP race in both leagues. Nothing is close to decided yet, but the obvious contenders have emerged in both leagues, and there is a good mix of the usual suspects and the surprise candidates. Here's a look at both races, with 2017 MLB MVP odds from BetOnline.

Five to Follow Expert MLB Betting Picks: 6/10/2017, Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews - 6/9/2017

If you are a true baseball betting junkie, then Saturday is like Christmas for you because it's likely going to be the busiest day of the season. Because there are two doubleheaders, there are 17 games. Good thing, too, because there's no NBA Finals or Stanley Cup Finals action on Saturday. One doubleheader features the Mets and the Braves and one is a makeup game as you would expect.

MLB Expert Handicapping: Can Houston Astros Contend for Title?
by Trevor Whenham - 6/9/2017

The Houston Astros have officially become the team that every other GM - especially those on struggling teams - look at with a blend of jealousy and curiosity. They gambled on a rebuild, and after some lean, ugly years it has paid off handsomely. They have a ridiculous 12-game lead in the AL West already, and they are running away with the whole American League. And they have four more wins through 60 games than the Rockies, who have the second-best record in baseball (just writing that sentences feels so very bizarre).

MLB Betting Advice: What to Make of Chicago Cubs Slow Start
by Trevor Whenham - 6/9/2017

Things are not playing out according to the script. The Cubs were supposed to only be getting started last year. They won a World Series that seemed inevitable - even for the most cursed team in sports - and it felt like they were going to be a dominant power for years to come. And that may still very well be the case. But they have learned the hard way that defending a title isn't as easy as it seems. As of Thursday afternoon they are a mere two games over .500 and a half a game out of the division lead - behind Milwaukee, of all teams.

MLB Handicapping: Washington Nationals and the Road to World Series
by Trevor Whenham - 6/9/2017

There are no prizes for winning June in Major League baseball, and the Washington Nationals had better remember that. They have a ridiculous 11.5-game lead in their division, have all but clinched a playoff spot already, and seem like the clear class of the NL at this moment. They need to remain sharp, though, because surely by now there isn't anyone who cares about what this team does in the regular season. There must be something in the water in the nation's capital, because like the Washington Capitals this team has become very good at dominating on the road to the playoffs and the cratering when the games actually matter.

Five to Follow Expert MLB Betting Picks: 6/9/2017, Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews - 6/8/2017

It has been quite a week or so around baseball. Last Saturday, Miami's Edinson Volquez threw the first no-hitter of the season. That's nice, but there have been nearly 300 of those in MLB history. What Cincinnati's Scooter Gennett did on Tuesday vs. the Cardinals was incredible as he finished 5-for-5 with four homers and 10 RBIs. Scooter Gennett! He is the 17th player in big-league history with a four-homer game and maybe the least likely considering

Free MLB Picks: Best Props Odds for 6/8/2017 with Expert Betting Predictions
by Chris Vasile - 6/8/2017

There is a famous saying out there that claims "good things come in threes". And over the course of the last four days in the majors, fans and players a like have got to witness some historic accomplishments. I already touched on Albert Pujols hitting his 600th home run and Edinson Volquez tossing a no-hitter on the day of his best friend's birthday.

Five to Follow Expert MLB Betting Picks: 6/8/2017, Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews - 6/7/2017

There's a chance the Boston Red Sox won't have their potentially dominant and lefty-heavy rotation all together but for one turn through the rotation this season. David Price debuted in 2017 on May 29 off spring shoulder problems. The Sox's second-best starter behind ace Chris Sale (lefty) while Price was sidelined was southpaw Eduardo Rodriguez (4-2, 3.54). However, last Thursday he injured his knee when he slipped in the bullpen during warmups prior to a game in Baltimore. He said the injury, diagnosed as a subluxation of his knee (dislocated kneecap), didn't bother him during a 94-pitch outing but flared up the following day.

Five to Follow Expert MLB Betting Picks: Wednesday, June 7, 2017, Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews - 6/6/2017

Washington's Stephen Strasburg was a much-hyped No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 MLB Draft and has pitched in the majors since 2010. In 167 regular-season starts, he's 76-42 with a 3.15 ERA and 1,165 strikeouts in 998.2 innings. The Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw was the No. 7 overall pick in the 2006 draft and has pitched in the majors since 2009. In 277 regular-season appearances (275 starts), he's 133-62 with a 2.36 ERA and 2010 strikeouts in 1,843 innings.

Free MLB Picks: Best Props Odds for Tuesday with Expert Betting Predictions
by Chris Vasile - 6/6/2017

Heading into this past weekend, there were only eight players in Major League Baseball history that could boast about being apart of the 600-home run club. After Saturday night, that number became nine when Albert Pujols took Ervin Santana deep for his 600th home run in the fourth inning. To make the milestone even more exciting, Pujols did it in grand fashion, hammering out a grand slam and putting the game out of reach.

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).

Five to Follow Expert MLB Betting Picks: Saturday, June 3, 2017, Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews - 6/2/2017

I wrote earlier this week that Mike Trout being ruled out 6-8 weeks due to a torn ligament in his left thumb would completely shift the AL MVP odds and that I was waiting for a sportsbook to re-post them. Bovada has done so and Trout, previously the heavy betting favorite, isn't even an option. I could see him missing six weeks and still winning it if he could lift the Angels to the playoffs with huge numbers, but they stink and will be well below .500 when Trout returns. Your new favorite is Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge.

MLB Betting Trends: Totals Report for Hot Over and Under Baseball Teams
by Aaron Smith - 6/1/2017

The Chicago Cubs sit at 25-27 on the year after being swept by the lowly San Diego Padres. For a while, I thought the Cubs doubters were being too negative on this team, but you have to at least wonder what is going on at this point. The Cubs have way too much talent to have this kind of record. What might save them? No one is even close to running away with the NL Central, so the Cubs have plenty of time to right the ship.

Five to Follow Expert MLB Betting Picks: Friday, June 2, 2017, Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews - 6/1/2017

Earlier this week, I wrote about Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre's chase for 3,000 career hits, which should happen at some point after the All-Star break if Beltre stays healthy. Now we turn to the Angels' Albert Pujols, who like Beltre will be a first-ballot Hall of Famer five years after he retires. Pujols is set to become the ninth member of the 600-HR club (he might have Thursday night).

Five to Follow Expert MLB Betting Picks: Thursday, June 1, 2017, Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews - 5/31/2017

I would tell you that the Los Angeles Angels are now going into fire-sale mode with superstar center fielder Mike Trout out 6-8 weeks following surgery Wednesday to repair a torn ligament in his thumb. It's just that the Halos don't really have any players other clubs would covet (other than Trout). Trout was somehow off to the best start of his career and was projected to finish with a season Wins Above Replacement of 11.0, which is simply obscene. Trout was leading MLB by a mile in WAR this year at 3.5.

Five to Follow Expert MLB Betting Picks: Wednesday, May 31, 2017, Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews - 5/30/2017

Now that Texas Rangers third baseman and future Hall of Famer Adrian Beltre made his season debut Monday night off a serious calf injury, we can start the countdown for Beltre reaching 3,000 hits. After going 1-for-5 Monday vs. Tampa Bay, Beltre has 2,943 hits to tie for 33rd all-time with another pretty good third sacker, Frank Robinson. After Beltre reaches that magic number of 3,000 and Albert Pujols also does, probably early next season, it's going to be quite a while before another player gets to 3,000.

Five to Follow Expert MLB Betting Picks: Tuesday, May 30, 2017, Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews - 5/29/2017

Can you name me five Los Angeles Angels other than Mike Trout and Albert Pujols? Unless you are a fan of theirs, I'm guessing not. The only reason I can is that I do this for a living. The Angels without Trout are basically the San Diego Padres. L.A. might have to live without Trout for a little while after he left Sunday's game against the Marlins after injuring his thumb sliding headfirst into second base. I seriously don't know why guys slide head first because your hands are in such danger. X-rays were negative and the team is calling it a strain for now, but Trout will have an MRI on Monday to see if there's any ligament damage.

Five to Follow Expert MLB Betting Picks: Saturday, May 27, 2017, Opening Line Report
by Alan Matthews - 5/26/2017

Some fine matchups on Saturday around baseball that I will get to in a minute, but I must address the marquee matchup of the entire weekend and potentially the best pitching showdown we will see all season. The Cubs and Dodgers close out their NLCS rematch on Sunday afternoon (4:10 p.m. ET on MLB Network) from Dodger Stadium, and it's southpaws Jon Lester and Clayton Kershaw squaring off. I'm just going to assume there won't be a rainout in L.A. on Friday or Saturday to push those two back.