MLB Picks and Winning Favorites – August 17th

For the teams on the outside looking in at the playoffs, there is a growing sense of desperation among the main MLB picks. Each passing day gets us one step closer to the end of the regular season, which means limited opportunities to make a postseason run. Moreover, feel free to review the current baseball betting lines for the remaining games scheduled for this Thursday. On the other hand, the Twins are losing ground to the Indians in the divisional race, but are still very much alive in the Wild Card. It is going to be the Wild Card that serves as the postseason path for the Rockies, and they can strengthen their position against a struggling Atlanta Braves team. The Tampa Bay Rays are still very much alive in the Wild Card, but need a good series versus the Blue Jays to keep pace with the pack.

Analyzing the MLB Picks and Winning Favorites – August 17th

   

Cleveland Indians (65-52) Vs Minnesota Twins (59-58)

When: Thursday, August 17 at 1:10 PM EST Where: Target Field, Minneapolis TV: MLBN Probable Pitchers: Mike Clevinger Vs Jose Berrios GAMETIME WEATHER Chance of Rain 20°C/68°F Humidity 84% Precipitation % 46% Cloud Cover 100% Wind 15 mph NW Stadium Type Open Analysis: This was the Indians division to lose this season, and while they have made hard work of it, they are now 6 games clear at the top. They have reeled off 5-straight wins, including an 8-1 thumping of the Twins in the first game of this series. They have been playing good defensive ball, which may explain why only 1 of their last 11 games has gone OVER. The Indians will send Mike Clevinger (6-4, 3.65 ERA) to the mound for this one. The Twins may have lost the opener in this series, but they have been a team in good form of late, winning 8 of their last 10. They have struggled against the Indians this season, though, and are just 5-10 in their previous meetings. Oddly enough, the Twins have struggled at home, and are 7 games below .500 in their own ball park. It will be Jose Berrios (10-5, 4.27 ERA) who gets the start here. MLB Picks: Cleveland Indians 5 Minnesota Twins 3

Top MLB Betting Predictions Last Weeks Regular Season

Atlanta Braves (53-64) Vs Colorado Rockies (66-53)

When: Thursday, August 17 at 3:10 PM EST Where: Coors Field, Denver TV: MLBN Probable Pitchers: Lucas Sims Vs Jeff Hoffman GAMETIME WEATHER Partly Cloudy 28°C/83°F Humidity 18% Precipitation % 15% Cloud Cover 43% Wind 5 mph WSW Stadium Type Open Analysis: The poor performance of the Atlanta Braves this season comes as no real surprise given that they are still very much in rebuilding mode. They are proving to be a tough out for the better teams in the league, and have split the opening 2 games of this series. That does not cover the fact that they are still 7 games under .500 on the road this season. Lucas Sims (0-3, 5.71 ERA) is still looking for his first big league win. The Colorado Rockies look to be in a rather comfortable spot in the NL Wild Card, but they will also know that there is no guarantee things will stay that way. Maintaining their great play at home, where they are 36-22, will certainly help the cause. They could do better against teams from the East, though, as they are just 12-13 versus that group. It will be Jeff Hoffman (6-4, 5.15 ERA) who gets the start in this one. MLB Picks: Atlanta Braves 3 Colorado Rockies 7

Tampa Bay Rays (60-61) Vs Toronto Blue Jays (57-62)

When: Thursday, August 17 at 4:07 PM EST Where: Rogers Centre, Toronto TV: MLBN Probable Pitchers: Chris Archer Vs Chris Rowley GAMETIME WEATHER Overcast 22°C/72°F Humidity 72% Precipitation % 2% Cloud Cover 82% Wind 15 mph E Stadium Type Retractable Analysis: The Rays went on a run to end the first half that had many people believing they could make a run at the AL East, but just 3 wins in their last 11 games has killed that hope. They are still just a game and a half out of the final Wild Card spot, though, so a realistic path to the playoffs still exists. They have been evenly matched with the Blue Jays this season, going 7-7 in previous meetings. The Rays will send Chris Archer (8-7, 3.84 ERA) to the mound for this one. Mathematically speaking, the Toronto Blue Jays are still in the AL Wild Card race at just 3.5 games back, but there are an awful lot of teams ahead of them right now. The Jays are 6-4 in their last 10, and do have a winning record at home, albeit only just, so it may well be that all hope is not yet lost. Toronto will send Chris Rowley (1-0, 1.69 ERA) to the mound for just his second start. MLB Picks:  Tampa Bay Rays 3 Toronto Blue Jays 4