MLB Lines and Winning Predictions Saturday 19th

Potentially bad news for the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday as the team placed closer Trevor Rosenthal on the 10-day disabled list with right elbow irritation. The injury is specific to the posterior part of his elbow, which is the same area where the UCL is located.  That could mean major surgery. Here’s the betting preview as well as a look at some valuable MLB betting lines for three games set for this Saturday.

Analyzing the MLB Lines and Winning Predictions Saturday 19th

   

LA Dodgers at Detroit Tigers

When: 4:05 PM ET Where: Comerica Park, Detroit TV: MLB Network Stream: MLB.tv Radio: http://mlb.mlb.com/media/player/mpa/?c_id=mlb Opening MLB Lines: TBA Interleague game, meaning the Dodgers will add the designated hitter. L.A.’s Corey Seager is the first Dodger since Jackie Robinson in 1947 and 1948 to notch at least 30 doubles in each of his first two seasons. Robinson stroked 31 in doubles in his rookie year and 38 in his sophomore season. Seager, who hit 40 doubles last season, is vying to become just the second Dodger in franchise history to record at least 40 doubles in his first two seasons, joining Johnny Frederick (1929-30), who hit 52 and 44, respectively.

MLB Picks and Winning Favorites Friday August 18th

It’s lefty Hyun-Jin Ryu (4-6, 3.63) here. Ryu took a no-decision Saturday after allowing three runs on seven hits (one homer) and two walks with five strikeouts in five innings vs. the Padres. After not allowing an earned run in either of his two previous starts (spanning 14 innings), Ryu yielded one in the third, fourth, and fifth innings.  The lefty allowed a career-high seven earned runs on 10 hits in 2 1/3 innings in Detroit a few years ago in his only start vs. the Tigers. It’s Michael Fulmer (10-10, 3.78) for Detroit. Fulmer allowed five runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out just two batters through five innings during Monday’s loss to Texas. Fulmer was placed on the disabled list with right elbow neuritis Aug. 3, and this was his first start since July 31.  He had been struggling prior to going on the DL, however, and is now 0-4 with a 7.89 ERA over his last four starts.

Arizona Diamondbacks at Minnesota Twins

When: 7:10 PM ET Where: Target Field, Minneapolis TV: MLB Extra Innings Stream: MLB.tv Radio: http://mlb.mlb.com/media/player/mpa/?c_id=mlb Opening MLB Lines: TBA It’s a matchup of wild-card hopefuls – Arizona should get one in the NL but Minnesota likely won’t in the AL. The Diamondbacks add the designated hitter for this interleague game. The D-backs will face the Twins for the first time since Sept. 22-24, 2014 @ Target Field. Arizona is 8-10 all-time vs. Minnesota.  J.D. Martinez is a career .308 hitter (61-for-198) with 9 home runs and 24 RBI vs. Twins (.312 @ Target Field). It’s Zack Greinke on the mound for Arizona. Greinke (14-5, 3.01)) picked up the win Monday against Astros, covering 6.2 innings and conceding five hits and two walks while striking out nine batters in the 2-0 victory. Three of Greinke’s strikeouts came against MVP candidate Jose Altuve. The Arizona ace is now sporting a 10.1 K/9 rate for the season, just a shade below the career-best mark he established with the Royals in 2011. Minnesota’s Jose Berrios (10-5, 4.27) took the no-decision after giving up six runs on six hits (one homer) and two walks with no strikeouts over 3 1/3 innings last Saturday against the Tigers. Berrios has now given up at least four runs in three of his last four outings, raising his ERA from 3.50 to 4.27 in the process. He has never faced Arizona.

Washington Nationals at San Diego Padres

When: 8:40 PM ET Where: Safeco Field, San Diego TV: MLB Extra Innings Stream: MLB.tv Radio: http://mlb.mlb.com/media/player/mpa/?c_id=mlb Opening MLB Lines: TBA Some bad injury news this week for Washington. Nationals’ manager Dusty Baker said that reliever Ryan Madson is having a problem with a finger on his throwing hand. Madson, acquired from the Athletics on July 16, has worked nine scoreless innings with Washington but might need an extended break. Meanwhile, outfielder Brian Goodwin was placed on the DL. The injury came with bad timing for Goodwin, who had been drawing regular starts in the Nationals’ outfield. He owns a cool .811 OPS with 13 home runs and six stolen bases in 74 games this season. Washington already is without OFs Bryce Harper and Jayson Werth. The Nats start co-ace Stephen Strasburg here – he’s a San Diego native. Strasburg hasn’t pitched in the majors since July 23, landing on the DL with an elbow injury. After Strasburg made it through his 64-pitch Minor League rehab outing Monday night with Class A Advanced Potomac unscathed — before throwing extra pitches in the bullpen – it’s assumed he will go here. In addition, the team has optioned Strasburg’s replacement in the rotation, right-hander A.J. Cole, to the minors. The Padres counter with lefty Travis Wood. Wood took the no-decision after giving up two runs on six hits (one homer) and two walks with three strikeouts over five innings Monday against the Phillies. Making his fourth start as a Padre, Wood was effective without being overpowering to drop his ERA to 6.46 on the season.

Expert MLB Lines Predictions

The Dodgers are amazing, but I like the Tigers in a mild upset. Go Greinke and the Snakes in Minnesota and Washington in San Diego as Strasburg will be pumped up to pitch at home.