The first weekend of August brings us a bunch of good baseball betting opportunities, as divisional and Wild Card races begin to get interesting.
Zack Greinke Favored: Los Angeles Angels Vs Chicago White Sox Odds
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Here’s a quick rundown of some of this weekend’s more playoff-relevant action, including Zack Greinke’s second start for the Angels.
The streaking Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates, battling it out in the NL Central, won't have to watch the scoreboard this weekend, because they meet on the field for three games at Great American Ballpark.
The Arizona Diamondbacks, who have slithered their way back into the NL playoff picture, are in Philadelphia this weekend for three games with the Phillies.
Over in the American League, playoff hopefuls meet as the Chicago White Sox host the Los Angeles Angels for three games.
In the AL Central the Detroit Tigers, who sit 2.5 games behind the first-place White Sox, host the Cleveland Indians for three games.
The two teams chasing the Yankees in the AL East hook up as the Tampa Bay Rays host the Baltimore Orioles for a three-game set.
And out in Oakland, the A's, who still own one of those AL Wild-Card spots, host the Toronto Blue Jays for three more games of a four-game set.
As far as Friday's action goes, the Reds with Mat Latos are -155 favorites over the Pirates and newly acquired Wandy Rodriguez; the D'Backs with Ian Kennedy are -110 road faves at Philly with Joe Blanton; the Tigers with newly acquired Anibal Sanchez are -145 chalk over the Indians and Justin Masterson; the Rays and Matt Moore are -170 favorites over the O's with Tommy Hunter; the Angels with newly acquired Zack Greinke are -145 road chalk at the ChiSox with Philip Humber; and the A's with Daniel Straily making his ML debut are -140 favorites over the Jays with Brett Cecil.
Here's Friday's complete MLB betting board, with starting pitchers, betting trends and odds and totals courtesy of Oddsshark.com.
Miami +156 at Washington -161, Total 8.5 - Brad Hand (0-0) | John Lannan (1-0) | Matchup Report | SBNation MLB Odds
Trends: The total has gone UNDER in each of Miami’s last five games when playing on the road against Washington.
The total has gone UNDER in each of Washington’s last five games when playing at home against Miami.
Cleveland +130 at Detroit -140, Total 9 - Justin Masterson (7-9) | Anibal Sanchez (5-8) | Matchup Report | SBNation MLB Odds
Trends: Cleveland is 7-2 SU in its last nine games when playing Detroit.
Detroit is 5-0 SU in its last five games at home.
Seattle +237 at NY Yankees -247, Total 9 - Kevin Millwood (4-8) | CC Sabathia (10-3) | Matchup Report | SBNation MLB Odds
Trends: Seattle is 5-0 SU in its last five games.
The total has gone UNDER in each of the Yankees’s last five games when playing Seattle.
Arizona -105 at Philadelphia +100, Total 8.5 - Ian Kennedy (9-8) | Joe Blanton (8-8) | Matchup Report | SBNation MLB Odds
Trends: Arizona is 5-1 SU in its last six games.
Philadelphia is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games when playing at home against Arizona.
Baltimore +155 at Tampa Bay -165, Total 8 - Tommy Hunter (4-6) | Matt Moore (7-7) | Matchup Report | SBNation MLB Odds
Trends: The total has gone UNDER in 19 of Baltimore’s last 24 games when playing on the road against Tampa Bay.
The total has gone UNDER in six of Tampa Bay’s last seven games at home.
Minnesota +166 at Boston -173, Total 10.5 - Brian Duensing (1-4) | Felix Doubront (10-5) | Matchup Report | SBNation MLB Odds
Trends: The total has gone OVER in five of Minnesota’s last six games on the road.
Boston is 10-2 SU in its last 12 games when playing at home against Minnesota.
Pittsburgh +144 at Cincinnati -149, Total 8 - Wandy Rodriguez (7-9) | Mat Latos (9-3) | Matchup Report | SBNation MLB Odds
Trends: Pittsburgh is 6-1 SU in its last seven games when playing on the road against Cincinnati.
Cincinnati is 13-1 SU in its last 14 games.
Miami +137 at Washington -147, Total 7 - Josh Johnson (6-7) | Gio Gonzalez (13-5) | Matchup Report | SBNation MLB Odds
Trends: Miami13-4-1 SU in its last 18 games when playing on the road against Washington.
Washington9-3-1 SU in its last 13 games.
Houston +250 at Atlanta -265, Total 8 - Armando Galarraga (0-0) | Tim Hudson (10-4) | Matchup Report | SBNation MLB Odds
Trends: The total has gone OVER in each of Houston’s last five games on the road.
Atlanta is 5-0 SU in its last five games when playing at home against Houston.
LA Angels -136 at Chi White Sox +131, Total 8.5 - Zack Greinke (9-4) | Philip Humber (5-5) | Matchup Report | SBNation MLB Odds
Trends: The total has gone OVER in six of the Angels’ last seven games when playing the White Sox.
Chi White Sox are 10-1 SU in their last 11 games at home.
Texas -173 at Kansas City +166, Total 9.5 - Matt Harrison (12-6) | Jeremy Guthrie (3-10) | Matchup Report | SBNation MLB Odds
Trends: The total has gone OVER in four of Texas’s last five games when playing Kansas City.
Kansas City is 4-1 SU in its last five games at home.
Milwaukee +152 at St. Louis -162, Total 9 - Randy Wolf (3-7) | Joe Kelly (1-4) | Matchup Report | SBNation MLB Odds
Trends: The total has gone OVER in four of Milwaukee’s last five games.
St. Louis is 8-1 SU in its last nine games at home.
San Francisco -151 at Colorado +146, Total 10.5 - Ryan Vogelsong (8-5) | Jonathan Sanchez (1-8) | Matchup Report | SBNation MLB Odds
Trends: San Francisco is 6-1 SU in its last seven games when playing on the road against Colorado.
The total has gone OVER in nine of Colorado’s last 12 games when playing at home against San Francisco.
NY Mets -125 at San Diego +115, Total 6.5 - R.A. Dickey (14-2) | Clayton Richard (7-11) | Matchup Report | SBNation MLB Odds
Trends: The Mets are 4-1 SU in its last five games.
The total has gone OVER in each of San Diego’s last five games.
Toronto +120 at Oakland -130, Total 7.5 - Brett Cecil (2-4) | Travis Blackley (3-3) | Matchup Report | SBNation MLB Odds
Trends: The total has gone UNDER in five of Toronto’s last six games when playing on the road against Oakland.
The total has gone UNDER in five of Oakland’s last six games when playing at home against Toronto.
Chi Cubs +148 at LA Dodgers -153, Total 7 - Jeff Samardzija (7-8) | Chad Billingsley (6-9) | Matchup Report | SBNation MLB Odds
Trends: The total has gone UNDER in seven of the Cubs’ last eight games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in five of LA Dodgers’s last six games when playing Chi Cubs.
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