MLB: Top Weekend Baseball Trends

Baseball ushers out May and welcomes in June this weekend with several great series’ lined up. In the N.L.


2008-05-30

Baseball ushers out May and welcomes in June this weekend with several great series’ lined up. In the N.L., the best of the East division get together in Philadelphia, while in Chicago, the best and worst in baseball are hooked up. In the junior circuit, the most intriguing series pits division leaders Tampa Bay & Chicago against one another. Here’s a quick look at the overall action plus this weekend’s top trends to consider.

Florida and Philadelphia head into their 3-game weekend series separated by just a half game in the divisional standings. The Phillies have heated up of late, winning their last four games in a row. They have played well at home, going 16-11 for +1.4 ML units while scoring 5.6 RPG. The Marlins though, have reached the top of the standings by playing well in divisional games. They are 13-7 in that scenario, bringing home +8.9 units of return for backers. This will be the first time the teams have met in 2008 however.

In the Windy City, the league’s top team, Chicago, welcomed in Colorado on Thursday for a 4-game set. The Cubs won the opener 8-4, sending the Rockies to 20-34 on the season. That record is the worst in the National League, and tied for overall worst in baseball. The defending N.L. champs have lost 15.8 units for bettors this season and are an ugly 8-20 on the road heading into Friday’s dual. The Cubs are a scintillating 23-8 at the “friendly confines” of Wrigley Field.

In the American League, Chicago’s other team, the White Sox, travel to Tampa Bay to take on the D-Rays in a battle of division leaders. In Game 1 of the 4-game set on Thursday, the Sox won 5-1 behind a strong start from John Danks. For the Sox, it was a 12th win in their last 15 games. Tampa meanwhile, lost for just the sixth time in its last 21, and saw its lead over Boston drop to just one game in the divisional standings.

It’s another big weekend of baseball that lies ahead. Here’s a look at some of the top trends on the weekend board:

COLORADO at CHICAGO CUBS
CHICAGO CUBS are 23-8 (+10.7 Units) against the money line in home games this season.
The average score was CHICAGO CUBS 6.4, OPPONENT 3.7 - (Rating = 1*)

FLORIDA at PHILADELPHIA
FLORIDA is 9-0 UNDER (+9.0 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
The average score was FLORIDA 3.3, OPPONENT 2.0 - (Rating = 2*)

LA DODGERS at NY METS
LA DODGERS are 3-11 (-9.6 Units) against the money line vs. NL teams scoring 4.8 or more runs/game on the season this season.
The average score was LA DODGERS 3.7, OPPONENT 4.6 - (Rating = 2*)

ATLANTA at CINCINNATI
ATLANTA is 36-14 (+18.3 Units) against the money line vs. a decent bullpen whose WHIP is 1.350 to 1.450 over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was ATLANTA 5.5, OPPONENT 3.6 - (Rating = 1*)

HOUSTON at MILWAUKEE
MILWAUKEE is 17-3 (+12.7 Units) against the money line in home games vs teams who strand 6.9 or less runners on base per game over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was MILWAUKEE 5.9, OPPONENT 2.9 - (Rating = 1*)

PITTSBURGH at ST LOUIS
PITTSBURGH is 12-6 (+8.9 Units) against the money line vs. an NL team with an on base percentage of .350 or better this season.
The average score was PITTSBURGH 4.7, OPPONENT 4.3 - (Rating = 1*)

WASHINGTON at ARIZONA
ARIZONA is 16-4 (+11.4 Units) against the money line vs. an NL team with a team batting average of .245 or worse this season.
The average score was ARIZONA 6.2, OPPONENT 4.0 - (Rating = 1*)

SAN DIEGO at SAN FRANCISCO
SAN DIEGO is 7-20 (-11.8 Units) against the money line as an underdog of +100 or higher this season.
The average score was SAN DIEGO 3.3, OPPONENT 5.6 - (Rating = 1*)

BOSTON at BALTIMORE
BALTIMORE is 22-48 (-18.8 Units) against the money line when playing against a good team (Win Pct. 54% to 62%) over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was BALTIMORE 4.4, OPPONENT 5.5 - (Rating = 1*)

CHI WHITE SOX at TAMPA BAY
TAMPA BAY is 30-21 (+12.0 Units) against the money line in home games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was TAMPA BAY 4.2, OPPONENT 4.6 - (Rating = 1*)

OAKLAND at TEXAS
TEXAS is 23-14 OVER (+8.8 Units) against right-handed starters this season.
The average score was TEXAS 5.8, OPPONENT 5.3 - (Rating = 1*)

NY YANKEES at MINNESOTA
MINNESOTA is 38-23 UNDER (+12.3 Units) vs. a good bullpen whose ERA is 3.75 or better over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was MINNESOTA 4.1, OPPONENT 4.2 - (Rating = 0*)

CLEVELAND at KANSAS CITY
KANSAS CITY is 8-26 (-17.8 Units) against the money line vs. AL teams scoring 4.2 or less runs/game on the season over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was KANSAS CITY 3.0, OPPONENT 5.3 - (Rating = 2*)

TORONTO at LA ANGELS
LA ANGELS are 51-24 (+21.1 Units) against the money line vs. teams whose hitters strike out 6 or less times/game over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was LA ANGELS 5.6, OPPONENT 4.1 - (Rating = 1*)

DETROIT at SEATTLE
SEATTLE is 6-18 (-13.5 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a losing record this season.
The average score was SEATTLE 3.6, OPPONENT 6.2 - (Rating = 2*)

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