Follow @SBTSportBetting [Get Exclusive Tips on our Patreon, Ad-Free]
The MLB trade deadline has passed and with it we saw some pretty big moves across the league. Yu Darvish left the Rangers to make the Dodgers even better in the biggest move of the day, Addison Reed went to the Red Sox to bolster their bullpen, Sonny Gray and Jaime Garcia went to the Yankees, the Nationals added Brandon Kintzler to their beat-up bullpen and the Dodgers also added relievers Tony Watson and Tony Cingrani.
The rich got richer in big ways and the Dodgers had to become an even bigger World Series favorite this year. They addressed all of their weakness from last year’s playoffs while having the better offensive team on the field. The playoffs in baseball can still be a crap shoot with a lot of luck involved, but the Dodgers have made some serious moves to take luck out of the equation.
A somewhat “loser” at the deadline is the Houston Astros. They reportedly had multiple deals in the work, including one with the Orioles for Zach Britton, but were only able to get one move done: acquiring Francisco Liriano from the Blue Jays. That makes two years in a row that he has been moved at the deadline. The Astros are still the odds-on favorite in the American League, but they will likely be an underdog if they ever face the Dodgers.
MLB Betting Tips:
One of the games I am most looking forward to tonight is the Cardinals and Brewers from Milwaukee. Both teams have their top pitcher on the mound, Carlos Martinez for the Cards and Jimmy Nelson for the Brewers, and both teams are desperately trying to stay in the playoff race. The Brewers lost two of three to the Cubs this weekend which gave up the division lead. They need this series with the Cardinals, bad. This should be a tough match-up though and I am not expecting a slugfest. That Brewers/Cubs series featured barely any runs and the Brewers offense has been cold of late. We’re taking the under 8.5 runs in this game and expecting a pitcher’s duel.
The Rockies also improved themselves at the deadline by adding catcher Jonathan Lucroy. He has been having a really down year this year, but perhaps the light air in Denver will help him get back on track. It wasn’t that long ago that he was one of the best catchers in all of baseball. It has been a long time since the Rockies were contenders though and this team seems like it’s for real. They get a great opportunity to grab a win tonight at home against the Mets. We’re all over the Rockies -131 in this one.
Seattle made a move earlier in the week to acquire Erasmo Ramirez and tonight he makes his first start for them against the Rangers. The good news is that Nick Martinez is on the other mound and the Mariners offense has really been clicking lately. This is a team on the verge of making a move and we are going to be riding them whenever the match-up is favorable. Tonight, it is. Mariners +105.
