This season, I have decided to treat readers to four bets in each article under the following parameters: 1) A bet on a team, 2) A bet on a total, 3) A batter prop bet, and 4) A pitcher prop bet. Hopefully, this diversification will lead to success in our wagers (but probably not).
Cubs @ Dodgers Alternate Run Line
Perusing the alternate lines for the slate can come in handy when there are blowouts on the board and I am predicting a major one here in the Cubs and Dodgers game. Can you guess which team I think is going to be on the winning side of the blowout? Tony Gonsolin takes the mound for Los Angeles and wow, what a revelation he has been this season. Believe it or not, we have to start putting him in the Cy Young conversation and I don’t see the Cubs doing anything on offense to quell that conversation. Chicago has scored 2 runs or fewer in 3 of the last 4 games and the Cubbies will certainly be sellers at the trade deadline.
So the question becomes, will the Dodgers be able to score enough to ensure a big win? Los Angeles is ranked 3rd in baseball in offense over the last two weeks (124 wRC+) thanks to the flaming hot bat of Justin Turner, and even Max Muncy is starting to get his offense going. Winners of 7 of their last 8, the Dodgers just keep juggernauting along and it is only right that we take the alternate line of -2.5 to profit nicely off their annoyingly consistent success.
Pick: Dodgers -2.5 (+120 DK, +124 FD)
Angels @ Orioles O/U 9 Runs
Don’t look now, but the Baltimore Orioles actually are running out a somewhat intimidating lineup these days. They are at the very least an exciting watch with budding young stars like Cedric Mullins, Austin Hays, Ryan Mountcastle and Adley Rutschman carrying the foundation of the team. Now a crafty veteran pitcher may be able to navigate the green Baltimore lineup with ease. Good thing 22-year old Chase Silseth is up from AA to pitch for the Angels on Thursday. After a stellar debut, Silseth struggled during the rest of his brief Major League stint earlier this season and never made it past the 4th inning, which is maybe even longer than I see him going in this one.
Did somebody say crafty veteran pitcher? Well, Jordan Lyles is certainly a veteran pitcher but crafty may be giving him a little too much credit. I understand the Angels offense has been downright putrid of late, but that was mostly against a quality Houston pitching staff and Sandy Alcantara. Between Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani and Taylor Ward there is enough pop in this offense to make life difficult on Lyles. While they were all the way back in 2021, Lyles’ last two starts against the Angels resulted in 8.1 innings pitched, 19 hits, 6 walks and 13 ERs. +105 is just the cherry on top of the over cake.
Pick: OVER 9 Runs (+105 DK, +100 FD)
Cedric Mullins & Austin Riley O/U 1.5 Total Bases Each
Cedric Mullins is spearheading that aforementioned exciting young Orioles lineup and he as been particularly sharp of late, slashing .350/.458/.700 over the last week. You read that correctly, that is a .700 slugging percentage. A quick pop to lead off the game against Chase Silseth and 1.5 total bases will be cleared in a blink. Ok, maybe it will take 2 at-bats, but there is no way it takes more than that for the hot-hitting 2021 All-Star. Honestly just Mullins by himself is a pretty profitable bet, but we go big here at Pitcher List so I’m going to sprinkle in there the equally as hot-hitting Austin Riley, who is slashing .519/.552/1.000. Sorry scratch that, not equally as hot, WAY more hot. That is quite the line. If that wasn’t enough for you, jump on the over 1.5 total bases train, Riley gets to face a rookie in Cardinals LHP Matthew Liberatore. Riley finds himself in the top 7 in baseball against LHP with a 181 wRC+ so, yea I’m all in here for a little 1.5 total bases parlay.
Pick: Mullins/Riley OVER 1.5 Total Bases Each (+246 DK, +253 FD)
Tony Gonsolin to Record a Win
Well we already established that the Dodgers are going to crush the Cubs into oblivion tonight, so it is only right that we also jump on Tony Gonsolin and his 10-0 to go to 11-0 tonight. Gonsolin went 7.2 innings with 8 strikeouts while giving up just 1 ER in a win in his last start against the Padres. The Cubs are in the midst of a road trip and are traveling all the way from Milwaukee overnight to be in town for this one tonight, so I doubt they will be 100% ready to go. I mean back in Chicago in May the Dodgers swept the Cubs 7-0, 6-2 and 7-1. This is a no-brainer and the fact that it is +105 is just ridiculous.
Pick: Gonsolin to Record a Win (+105 DK)
Kyle Stanzel Overall Record: 44-44
Net Money (Assuming all wagers are $100): $591.52
Featured image by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)