MLB Picks: Parlays, Expert Predictions, Best Bets and Player Props.

MLB Picks: Indians at Angels Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 8/21/2013

Major League Baseball's addition of a second wild-card spot in each league has definitely kept more teams in the playoff hunt deeper into the season -- the Washington Nationals, for example, just traded for Cubs outfielder David DeJesus despite the fact they are nine games out of a wild-card spot. Unfortunately, the addition of that second wild-card spot has also taken much of the suspense out of the trade deadline because teams are now hanging onto players because they think they can earn that second spot.

MLB Picks: White Sox at Royals Odds and Predictions
by Dave Schwab - 8/20/2013

The Chicago White Sox will try and play the role of spoiler when they face the AL Central rival Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night in the first of a three-game set at Kauffman Stadium. This Game 1 clash slated to get underway at 8:10 p.m. (ET), and it will be available on MLB Extra Innings.

MLB Picks: Dodgers at Marlins Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 8/19/2013

Monday's series opener between the Dodgers and Marlins is a total mismatch, at least on paper. Los Angeles Is unbelievably hot right now. The Dodgers entered Sunday's series finale in Philadelphia having won 19 of their past 20 road games and winners of 42 of their past 50 games overall. It's the best 50-game stretch in the majors since the 1942 Cardinals had the same record (and won the World Series).

MLB Picks: Reds at Brewers Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 8/17/2013

I am starting to have second thoughts about mostly dismissing the Cincinnati Reds of winning the NL Central. They have won five straight entering Friday night's Game 2 of a four-game series in Milwaukee to climb with 2.5 games of division-leading Pittsburgh and just a half-game behind St. Louis. Cincy is +200 on Sportsbook.ag to win the division.

MLB Picks: Indians at Athletics Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 8/16/2013

I wouldn't call it likely -- but certainly possible -- that Friday's series opener in Oakland between the Indians and A's could be a preview of the American League's one-game wild-card playoff. The A's entered their series finale Thursday against Houston holding down the final wild-card spot and with a 2.5-game lead over the next closest team, Baltimore. The Tribe, who were off Thursday, are three games behind Oakland.

MLB Picks: Royals at Tigers Odds and Predictions
by Dave Schwab - 8/15/2013

The upstart Kansas City Royals will look to close the gap in the AL Central race against the division-leading Detroit Tigers this Thursday night in the first of an extended five-game weekend showdown at Kauffman Stadium that includes a Friday doubleheader. This Game 1 clash is slated to get underway at 7:08 p.m. (ET), and it will be available on MLB Extra Innings.

MLB Picks: Mariners at Rays Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 8/14/2013

Why does Seattle Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik still have a job? He was hired away from the Milwaukee Brewers in October 2008, a season after the Mariners were 61-101. Seattle showed some improvement the next year, going 85-77, but it was back to 101 losses in 2010 and the team is on track for a fourth straight losing season.

MLB Picks: Mariners at Rays Odds and Predictions
by Dave Schwab - 8/13/2013

The Seattle Mariners and the Tampa Bay Rays clash this week at Tropicana Field in a three-game series starting this Tuesday night. Game 1 is set to get underway at 7:10 p.m. (ET), and it will be available on MLB Extra Innings.

MLB Picks: Reds at Cubs Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 8/12/2013

Want to know why the Cincinnati Reds didn't make a move for a bat before the July 31 trade deadline? Because of outfielder Ryan Ludwick. He was lost on Opening Day to a shoulder injury but appears set to return Monday when the Reds open a series in Wrigley Field against the Cubs. It's a potentially huge addition -- certainly no hitter that was traded, including Chicago's Alex Rios to Texas over the weekend, is better than Ludwick.

MLB Picks: Red Sox at Royals Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 8/10/2013

The Kansas City Royals entered the All-Star break having lost five straight to drop to 43-49. I think Manager Ned Yost was in some trouble. The team was eight games out of the AL Central lead. However, entering Friday's Game 2 of their series against the visiting Boston Red Sox, the Royals had won 16 of 20 to climb to 59-53. So of course Kansas City must have gained a bunch of games on the AL Central-leading Detroit Tigers, right? Uh, no. The Royals are 8.5 games back of the Tigers, who are even hotter than Kansas City is.

MLB Picks: Tigers at Yankees Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 8/9/2013

Let's stop this nonsense of the New York Yankees having any chance at the playoffs. It's a fact they will miss out for just the second time since the Jeter-Rivera-Posada dynasty started in 1995. We should be focusing more on whether the Yankees can finish above .500. Their last losing season was in 1992, which was their fourth straight losing year at the time.

MLB Picks: Red Sox at Royals Odds and Predictions
by Dave Schwab - 8/8/2013

The Boston Red Sox continue their current 10-game road trip with a four-day visit to Kauffman Stadium to square off against the Kansas City Royals. Thursday night’s Game 1 is slated to get underway at 8:10 p.m. (ET), and it will be available on MLB Extra Innings.

MLB Picks: Braves at Nationals Odds and Predictions
by Alan Matthews - 8/7/2013

It is early August and yet I'm already going to use this term for a Major League Baseball team: magic number. We don't usually worry about those until mid-to-late September, but the Atlanta Braves are so ridiculously far ahead in the NL East that there are no longer even odds to win the division available at the books.

Athletics at Reds Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Dave Schwab - 8/6/2013

The Oakland Athletics will pay a quick visit to the Great American Ballpark starting this Tuesday night for the first of a two-game interleague set against the Cincinnati Reds. Game 1 is scheduled to get underway at 7:10 p.m. (ET), and it will be available on MLB Extra Innings.

Twins at Royals Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 8/5/2013

I believe this is a first this season: previewing a game involving the Minnesota Twins. However, the Twins aren't going to the postseason this year again. They might be good in two years as they have one of the best farm systems in baseball. Right now, though, it's pretty faceless team outside of Joe Mauer. No, this story is about the Kansas City Royals, as they look to finish with their first winning record since 2003 and first playoff trip since 1985.

Giants at Rays Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 8/3/2013

The Tampa Bay Rays are no doubt terribly sad to see July in the rearview mirror. The San Francisco Giants say good riddance. It's a rare interleague matchup between these teams and just the second time the Giants will be visiting Tropicana Field (first way back in 2004). Considering every other “domed" stadium has a retractable roof these days -- another reason why the Trop is the worst stadium in the majors -- it actually could affect a few pop flies as the Giants won't be used to it.

Rangers at Athletics Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 8/2/2013

Interesting trade deadline involving the two AL West contenders, the Texas Rangers and Oakland A's. The Rangers did their big move before the deadline in landing Matt Garza, but the offense is massively underperforming, and there was the expectation that Texas would add a bat. That was especially true with the expectation that top power hitter Nelson Cruz may be suspended in the Biogenesis mess.

Dodgers at Cubs Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Dave Schwab - 8/1/2013

The red-hot Los Angeles Dodgers kick off an eight-game road trip this Thursday night with the first of a four-game weekend set against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. This series opener is set to get underway at 8:05 p.m. (ET), and it will be available on MLB Extra Innings.

White Sox at Indians Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 7/31/2013

Am I one of those types of guys who believes he can affect the outcome of a professional game by not watching when my team is shooting the potential winning free throws in the final seconds? It's stupid, but I do, and I know I'm not alone in that. I mention this because Cleveland Indians fans have my apologies for previewing their game Wednesday night against the White Sox. You see, every time I have previewed the Tribe this year they have been on a streak, either good or bad.

Giants at Phillies Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Dave Schwab - 7/30/2013

The San Francisco Giants will head east this week for a six-game road trip starting with a stop at Citizens Bank Park to play three games against the Philadelphia Phillies. Tuesday night’s Game 1 of this National League clash is set for 7:05 p.m. (ET), and it will be available on MLB Extra Innings.