There are 30 teams in MLB, so one would presume there are 15 games this Saturday. But one shouldn’t presume. There are 17 matchups because there are day-night doubleheaders between the Twins-Royals and Indians-Tigers. Here are the top MLB betting odds & previews of three games on Saturday and my betting recommendations.
Saturday’s Top MLB Betting Picks, Predictions & Previews
That first place feeling. pic.twitter.com/aVIFGv2x9h
— #VoteRedSox (@RedSox) June 30, 2017
Boston Red Sox at Toronto Blue Jays
When: Saturday, July 1st, 2017 Where: Rogers Centre, 1:07 PM ET TV: MLBN (out-of-market only) / NESN (Boston) / SNET (Toronto) Stream: MLB.tv Radio: WCEC 1490 AM (Boston) / SN590 (Toronto) MLB Betting Odds: TBA The current betting favorite at MyBookie to win his first Cy Young Award is Red Sox lefty Chris Sale, and he’s on the mound here in the earliest-starting game of the day. It should be Sale’s penultimate start before the All-Star Break and he’s a top candidate to start that game for the American League. Sale (10-3, 2.77) leads the AL in innings, strikeouts and WHIP. Sale allowed just a single run on four hits and two walks while striking out nine batters through 6.1 innings during Monday’s win over the Twins. Sale now has 155 strikeouts and has a chance to strike out the most batters of any Red Sox pitcher in team history prior to the All-Star break. Only Roger Clemens (186) and Pedro Martinez (184) have thrown more. And after a brief hiccup in which Sale failed to complete more than six innings in two straight starts (May 30th against the White Sox and June 4th against the Orioles), he’s returned to strike out 36 batters over his last four outings.What About Blue Jays’ Francisco Liriano?
Toronto lefty Francisco Liriano (4-3, 5.46) has been inconsistent all year, but there have been some positive signs of late. He has allowed three earned runs or fewer in four of his past five starts. Problem is, only two of those outings were six innings or more. Liriano has displayed improved control lately, walking two or fewer in each of his past five starts (2.6 BB/9), but it’s come with a reduced strikeout rate (7.8 K/9). He’s still averaging 4.98 BB/9 in 2017. Go Boston here as Sale dominated the Jays with eight shutout innings earlier this season.Latest MLB Betting Trends
- The total went UNDER in 5 of Boston’s last 6 games
- Blue Jays are 4-11 ATS in the last 15 games
- Red Sox are 7-2 ATS in the last 9 games when playing Toronto
- Blue Jays are 2-5 SU in the last 7 games
- The total went UNDER in 5 of Boston’s last 6 games when playing Toronto
- The total went UNDER in 5 of Toronto’s last 6 games
Minnesota Twins at Kansas City Royals
When: Saturday, July 1st, 2017 Where: Kauffman Stadium, 2:15 PM ET TV: MLB Network (out-of-market only) / FSNO (Minnesota) / FSKC (Kansas City) Stream: MLB.tv Radio: TIBN (Minnesota) / KCSP 610 (Kansas City) MLB Betting Odds: TBA This is the first game of a day-night doubleheader. Always be careful betting on a doubleheader because not all starters are going to play both games. So it’s often wise to wait right before the first pitch before both to put some money down if you don’t find out earlier than that who might sit. The Twins start their young right-hander Jose Berrios. He lost after allowing four runs on eight hits (one homer) and two walks with seven strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings Monday against the Red Sox. Berrios tossed five scoreless frames after giving up two runs in the first, but he ran into trouble in the seventh and exited with one out and two men on. Berrios is now 7-2 with a 2.98 ERA, a 0.98 WHIP and a 60-to-17 K/BB ratio across 60 1/3 innings, which is a dramatic improvement over his rookie-year numbers (3-7, 8.02 ERA, 1.87 WHIP).
Who Will Pitch for the Royals on Saturday?
Kansas City’s Jason Hammel has found his stride. In June, he, pitched to a 2.51 ERA with a 25-to- 4 K/BB ratio through 32 1/3 innings. The productive month has dropped his ERA from 6.18 to a more respectable 4.75. However, Hammel is 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA this year vs. the Twins, so back Minnesota as a likely slight road dog.Latest MLB Betting Trends
- Twins are 17-8 ATS in the last 25 games on the road
- Royals are 12-5 ATS in the last 17 games
- Twins are 17-8 SU in the last 25 games on the road
- Royals are 12-5 SU in the last 17 games
- The total went UNDER in 8 of Minnesota’s last 9 games
- The total went OVER in 15 of Kansas City’s last 22 games
Colorado Rockies at Arizona Diamondbacks
When: Saturday, July 1st, 2017 Where: Chase Field, 10:10 PM ET TV: MLBN (out-of-market only) / ROOTRM (Colorado) / FS-A (Arizona) Stream: MLB.tv Radio: KOA 850 AM (Colorado) / 98.7 FM (Arizona) MLB Betting Odds: Diamondbacks at -155 The Rockies are fading in the NL West, entering this series having dropped eight straight. Rockies pitchers have an 8.48 ERA over the losing streak, which is the worst in the MLB over that span. Starters over the losing streak have pitched six innings just twice. It’s Tyler Chatwood here. He took the loss last Saturday after allowing four runs on three hits (one homer) and eight walks with three strikeouts through 3 1/3 innings against the Dodgers. The eight walks represent a career-worst for Chatwood, who now owns a career-high 4.8 BB/9 rate on the season. Chatwood also typically excels on the road away from his hitter-friendly home park, although that wasn't the case Saturday. He held the D-backs to one run over seven innings on May 7 at Coors Field.Who Will Take the Mound for the Dbacks?
Arizona’s Zack Greinke fought through some command issues on Monday and held the Phillies to one run in five innings while striking out five. He is tied for second in the National League in WAR (2.7). The right-hander has rediscovered his ace form after a down year in 2016, going 9-4 with a 3.08 ERA, a 1.06 WHIP and a sterling 116-to- 22 K/BB ratio in 102 1/3 innings. Greinke is 1-1 with a 3.98 ERA this year in three starts vs. Colorado. Back him here.Latest MLB Betting Trends
- Rockies are 0-5 ATS in the last 5 games
- Diamondbacks are 13-4 SU in the last 17 games
- Rockies are 0-5 SU in the last 5 games
- Diamondbacks are 15-4 SU in the last 19 games at home
- The total went UNDER in 4 of Colorado’s last 6 games
- The total has gone OVER in 14 of Arizona’s last 20 games when playing Colorado
