We are back on track with the bets after a nice 3-1 Sunday, even though the one I was most confident in, José Ramírez total bases, didn’t come to fruition. We look to continue to stay hot today and maybe we’ll even take a chance on a HR prop today.
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).
White Sox @ Blue Jays Run Line
Winners of seven consecutive games, the Toronto Blue Jays are are putting everything together and have vaulted themselves into 2nd place in the AL East. The win streak will end someday, however today is not that day. The White Sox batters are noted lefty killers but against RHP they are bottom 5 in baseball with an 83 wRC+. Alek Manoah is on the bump for Toronto and he has yet to allow more than 2 ERs this season. Don’t need to say much more than that.
Johnny Cueto started off the year in surprising fashion with back-to-back scoreless 6 inning starts, but he was blown up for 9 hits and 5 ERs in his last start against the Cubs. The Blue Jays lineup will present a much bigger challenge and I see this start going more like his most recent one. I’ve got the Toronto win streak reaching eight today and in convincing fashion.
Pick: Blue Jays -1.5 (+100 DK, -102 FD)
Mariners @ Orioles O/U 9 Runs
In the first two games of this series, the Mariners and Orioles have alternated covering the total individually, with Seattle taking the first game 10-0 and Baltimore winning 9-2 on Wednesday. With Chris Flexen and Jordan Lyles taking the mound on Thursday, I think both teams get the bats going today and easily cover 9 runs. Over the last two weeks both teams have been strong at the plate (SEA 128 wRC+, BAL 110 wRC+) and they each have some dangerous hitters. Ty France and Julio Rodríguez have shown that the future is now for Seattle, while veterans Trey Mancini and Rougned Odor have ignited the Orioles bats of late. Flexen and Lyles just don’t have the stuff to hold these lineups at bay for the entirety of their starts and I expect this score to easily reach double digits.
Pick: OVER 9 Runs (+100 DK, -102 FD)
Austin Riley to Hit a Home Run
Normally, I am wary of going after Austin Gomber, but he got absolutely blasted in his last start against the Nationals. I don’t think he will be quite that bad, but Austin Riley is one hitter he is going to have a hard time with on Thursday. A top-10 hitter in baseball against LHP with a 184 wRC+, Riley has 4 HRs against southpaws this season and I think he has a good chance to run into another one here. The guy is on a superstar trajectory and I have no problem taking a chance on him here. On a side note, this is why it is important when betting to look at different sportsbooks to see what the numbers are, especially with prop bets. DraftKings is only giving you +265 for a Riley HR, but FanDuel is all the way up at +350. That is a huge difference and makes the bet that much more tantalizing.
Pick: Riley to Hit a Home Run (+265 DK, +350 FD)
Alek Manoah to Record a Win
Alek Manoah has been perhaps the most consistently dominant pitcher in baseball this season. He just continues to cruise along and like I stated above, I see nothing changing today. He has pitched the requisite 5 innings in every start this season and has pitched at least 6 innings in all but one, a big reason for his 5 wins. The Blue Jays have won seven straight for a reason and Manoah will get his today as well.
Pick: Manoah to Record a Win (+115 DK)
Kyle Stanzel Overall Record: 30-28-0
Net Money (Assuming all wagers are $100): $745.95
Featured image by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)