It’s hump day in Major League Baseball, which means most series are ending ahead of a lighter schedule on Thursday. Nothing new there. The trade winds continue to blow around the sport. The latest has Milwaukee looking at Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler and closer Justin Wilson. Here are three MLB betting previews and recommendations for Wednesday.
Best MLB Betting Matchups & Expert Picks for Wednesday
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Oakland A’s at Toronto Blue Jays
When: 7:07 PM ET Where: Rogers Centre, Toronto TV: NBCSCA (Oakland) / SNET (Toronto) Stream: MLB.tv Radio: 95.7 FM The Game (Oakland) / SN590 (Toronto) MLB Betting Odds: TBA It’s possible that Jays pitcher Marco Estrada is scratched from this start if the team is close to a deal for him. Estrada is going to be a free agent after the year and could be traded, although his value isn’t great. The Jays aren’t going anywhere so they can get a minor prospect and save some cash. Estrada (4-7, 5.52) lasted just 4.2 innings, allowing five runs on six hits and three walks while striking out three in Friday’s loss to Cleveland. Estrada gave up just one run on three hits through his first four frames Friday, but four Indians crossed the plate before the veteran could finish the fifth. After posting career-best marks in his first two seasons with Toronto, Estrada has looked like a different man in 2017. The 34-year- old’s 5.52 ERA and 1.49 WHIP are his worst numbers since becoming a starter. Estrada is 0-5 with a 9.52 ERA since the start of June and he’s walked 26 batters over his last 28 innings.How’s the Pitching Been in Oakland?
Oakland rookie Paul Blackburn suffered the first loss of his career Friday, surrendering four runs on six hits, including a home run, in 5 1/3 innings against the Mets. He had completed at least six innings in each of his previous three starts as he turned first the non-quality start of his career after going 1-0 with a 1.83 ERA in three previous outings. Blackburn owns a respectable 3.21 career ERA in the minors, but he has minimal strikeout potential as evidenced by his lifetime 6.2 K/9 rate on the farm. With a FIP (4.94) that is more than two runs worse than his ERA, he is likely due for some regression.Latest MLB Betting Trends
- Athletics are 8-2 ATS in the last 10 games
- Athletics are 2-5 SU in the last 7 games
- The total went UNDER in 4 of Oakland’s last 6 games on the road
- Blue Jays are 2-5 SU in the last 7 games
- Blue Jays are 5-13 ATS in the last 18 games at home
- The total went OVER in 4 of Toronto’s last 6 games at home
Baltimore Orioles at Tampa Bay Rays
When: 12:10 PM ET Where: Tropicana Field TV: MLBN (out-of-market only) / MASN (Baltimore) / Fox Sports Sun (Tampa Bay) Stream: MLB.tv Radio: 105.7 The Fan (Baltimore) / 95.3 FM (Tampa Bay) MLB Betting Odds: TBA It’s the first pitch of the day at 12:10 PM ET and with the early start after a night game, we could see a regular or two on either side get the game off. The Orioles are scheduled to start Ubaldo Jimenez (4-6, 7.19). As you can see, Jimenez has been terrible this year. He has been knocked around for 12 runs and 21 hits over his past two outings. In 2017, the right-hander is 0-1 with a 19.06 ERA in two starts against Tampa Bay. Jimenez’s 7.19 ERA is the highest mark in baseball among hurlers with at least 80 innings pitched this season. With 44 walks and 22 homers allowed in 92 2/3 innings overall as well as his lowest K/9 rate (7.67) since 2012, well, he looks done. Tampa’s Alex Cobb (8-6, 3.57) was three outs away from throwing a complete game against the Rangers in his last outing. The Rays righty is in the midst of a dominant eight-start stretch in which he’s gone 5-1 with a 2.35 ERA over 57 1/3 innings. Cobb isn’t missing many bats (5.8 K/9 in ’17), though. He is 4-3 with a 2.75 ERA in eight home starts this season.Latest MLB Betting Trends
- Orioles are 7-1 ATS in the last 8 games
- Orioles are 6-2 SU in the last 8 games
- The total went OVER in 6 of Baltimore’s last 7 games
- Rays are 1-7 ATS in the last 8 games
- Rays are 0-5 SU in the last 5 games
- The total went UNDER in 6 of Tampa Bay’s last 8 games
Kansas City Royals at Detroit Tigers
When: 7:10 PM ET Where: Comerica Park TV: FSKC (Kansas City) / FS-D (Detroit) Stream: MLB.tv Radio: KCSP 610 (Kansas City) / 97.1 The Ticket (Detroit) MLB Betting Odds: TBA Not exactly a pair of aces on the mound here. Expect the Tigers to be active ahead of the deadline. A Kinsler/Wilson package would bring back a solid return. Kinsler is having a down season for him — .237/.331/.400 — but he’s better than that. He’s under contract through the end of this year but he has a very affordable, $10 million club option for 2018. Wilson will be arbitration-eligible this offseason, so he’s still under team control as well. It’s Anibal Sanchez (2-0, 5.95) on the mound. The Tigers couldn’t give him away. In his previous start, Sanchez lasted 5 2/3 innings and allowed three runs on six hits to earn the win over Minnesota. It marked the first time since June 19 that Sanchez was unable to complete at least six frames.Who Will Start Off for Kansas City on Wednesday?
The Royals counter with Ian Kennedy (3-6, 4.61). Kennedy lasted just four innings, allowing six runs on six hits and two walks in a no-decision Friday against the White Sox. Kennedy extended his unbeaten streak to eight games, but he didn’t pitch well. Kennedy failed to pitch more than four innings for just the third time this season while watching his ERA balloon to 4.61, its highest mark this month. He went seven innings with five strikeouts in a win over the Tigers on June 28. Kennedy owns a 7.92 K/9 rate with a 3.59 BB/9 and a 1.75 HR/9 this season, leading to a 5.17 FIP.Latest MLB Betting Trends
- Royals are 4-2 ATS in the last 6 games
- Royals are 5-0 SU in the last 5 games
- The total went UNDER in 4 of Kansas City’s last 6 games
- Tigers are 2-4 ATS in the last 6 games at home
- Tigers are 2-4 SU in the last 6 games
- The total went OVER in 7 of Detroit’s last 10 games
