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A huge series starts tonight in Los Angeles as the first place Dodgers host the second place Giants who are just a game back. The second half has been nightmarish for San Francisco who dropped a huge lead in the division. They could grab that division lead back with this series and have a great chance to even it up tonight with Cy Young frontrunner Madison Bumgarner on the mound for them. It’s very likely that both of these teams will make the playoffs regardless of the division outcome, but there is a huge competitive advantage in making the playoffs proper as opposed to the one game Wild Card. Both of these teams want the division and this should be a good series.
The Astros and Pirates are 3.5 games back of the Wild Card in their respective divisions and the interleague series going on with them isn’t doing either team any favors. The same can be said about the Marlins and red hot Royals series that is also going on. All of these teams need a lot of help to get back in the race and playing an even stevens series doesn’t help anyone. One team in good position though is the Mariners who are currently one game back of the second Wild Card and playing the sort of rebuilding Yankees. While the team ahead of them, Baltimore, plays the first place Washington Nationals. No one ever said the schedule was fair.
It’s just about the last week of August and we’re getting done to the nitty gritty with just one month after this before the playoffs begin. This is go time in baseball. This is go time for today’s picks.
MLB Betting Tips:
The Astros need to make up some ground if they want back in the playoff race and they draw a great match-up tonight. Joe Musgrave has been one of the best pitchers in their system since drafted and he had a great first two starts of his career before running into the mack truck that is the Orioles offense at home. He should get some reprieve tonight going against a Pirates team that was just shutdown by Doug Fister last night. (Doug Fister is not the kind of pitcher who shuts teams down.) Even better for Houston, the Pirates send Ivan Nova to the mound who is just not a good pitcher and the Astros offense should hurt him. The Astros -121 look like a good play today.
Speaking of good match-ups, I love the Royals +104 at the Marlins. While Ventura is an unreliable starter, he has looked solid over his last three starts with a 2.25 ERA. He’s backed up by a red hot team that has the good fortune of facing Andrew Cashner. Look, if any pitcher has a nickname of “Trashner” I am going against that pitcher. The champs should take this one.
The Mariners and Yankees continue their series tonight and Seattle -139 looks like a strong play again. I always like to target CC Sabathia who has a 6.00 ERA in the second half thus far and I like the Mariners’ starter Taijuan Walker making his return from a demotion. When this guy is on, he’s one of the best young pitchers in the game and I think he’ll be motivated tonight.
Madison Bumgarner is the man. In his career against the Dodgers he is 13-8 with a 2.57 ERA, his most wins against any team in baseball. He also holds a 2.40 ERA in Dodger Stadium in his career. He is a big game pitcher and this is a big game. I haven’t loved the Giants much lately, but I believe they will show tonight and this division is going to be tied. Giants -112 win thanks to Bumgarner.
