Thursday’s Best MLB Betting Picks & Previews – August 31st

It has been a disastrous season for the New York Mets and it just got worse: Outfielder Yoenis Cespedes has been ruled out for the rest of the season and third baseman David Wright has terminated his rehab assignment. The year can’t end soon enough in Queens. Here’s a look at three MLB betting picks for Thursday, along with the latest MLB odds & lines for upcoming games.

Thursday’s Best MLB Betting Picks & Previews – August 31st

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New York Mets at Cincinnati Reds

When: 12:35 PM ET Where: Great American Ball Park TV: MLB Extra Innings Stream: MLB.tv Radio: 710 WOR-AM (NY) / WLW 700 (Cincinnati) MLB Betting Odds: TBA The Mets say that Cespedes’ right hamstring strain is a six-week injury, which is obviously an issue given that there are five weeks remaining in the season. It ends an up-and- down season for the slugger, as he hit a healthy .292/.352/.540 but was limited to 81 games due to numerous leg issues. Wright was pulled off his rehab assignment and will be examined in New York after feeling renewed soreness in his right shoulder. Injuries have limited the 34-year-old to just 75 games over the past three seasons. His career seems over. Entering Tuesday, the Mets had won a franchise-record 14 straight games vs. Cincinnati dating to September 7, 2014, outscoring the Reds 81-33 during that span. It’s the second-longest winning streak vs. one club in team history. The franchise record is 15 straight wins vs. Pittsburgh (June 6, 1986-April 9, 1987). The Mets also had won their last eight games at Great American Ball Park, the club’s second-longest winning streak in Cincinnati, behind a 10-game streak from May 5, 1985-July 23, 1986.

Who Will Start Off for the Mets?

New York will be favored here behind ace Jacob deGrom (14-7, 3.39). DeGrom allowed one run on five hits and one walk while striking out 10 over 7 .2 innings to earn the win Friday against the Nationals. DeGrom held the National scoreless until allowing a run in the eighth inning, but he left the contest with a two-run lead that the bullpen was able to protect. After allowing five runs in two consecutive starts, he got back on track against his division rivals. He’s already tied his career high in wins and is just four away from his personal best in strikeouts (205) thanks to a career-best 10.48 K/9 rate this season. The Reds’ Robert Stephenson (2-4, 5.81) opened his 9-5 win over the Pirates Friday with a club record six consecutive strikeouts. Besides having a strong fastball command, he was able to utilize his secondary pitches and notched a career-high 11 strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings. Over his last three starts and one relief appearance, he has a 1.96 ERA.

MLB Betting Picks and Winning Favorites – August 30th

Toronto Blue Jays at Baltimore Orioles

When: 7:05 PM ET Where: Camden Yards TV: SNET (Toronto) / MASN (Baltimore) Stream: MLB.tv Radio: SN590 (Toronto) / 105.7 The Fan (Baltimore) MLB Betting Odds: TBA The Jays started the month by winning 10 of the first 15 games while hitting with a 3.88 ERA. Since Aug. 18, the team is really struggling while posting a 5.82 ERA and scoring 0.8 fewer runs/game. Josh Donaldson’s 12 dingers are the most he has ever hit in a month and is tied for the most by any Blue Jay in the month of August (Bautista- 2010, Cruz Jr.-2001, Delgado-1999). He is also currently tied for the 3rd most HR by a Toronto batter for any month. Baltimore’s Adam Jones hit his 25th home run of the season on Monday. It marked his seventh consecutive season with at least 25 home runs. That’s a new Orioles record, breaking the tie he held with Cal Ripken, Jr. (6, 1982-87). The only other active players who have produced at least 25 home runs in at least seven consecutive seasons are Miguel Cabrera (11, 2004-14) and Albert Pujols (12, 2001-12).

Who Will Start for Baltimore on Thursday?

The Orioles start Jeremy Hellickson. He won after allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits (one homer) and no walks with two strikeouts over seven innings Friday against the Red Sox. After allowing a career-high five homers in his previous start, Hellickson (8-7, 4.88 ERA) did not allow any on Friday night as he cruised during Baltimore’s 16-3 rout. Friday marked a return to form for Hellickson, who had allowed 13 earned runs on 13 hits (six homers) in 9 2/3 innings over his previous two starts. Toronto’s Marco Estrada (6-8, 5.04) won after giving up three runs on five hits (one homer) and one walk with five strikeouts over six innings Saturday against the Twins. Tossing a second straight quality start, Estrada once again went six solid innings. While he didn’t get the win last time, he got enough run support to boost his record up to 6-8 on the season while lowering his FIP to 4.45 behind his 5.04 ERA.

Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees

When: 7:05 PM ET Where: Yankee Stadium TV: NESN (Boston) / WPIX (NY) Stream: MLB.tv Radio: WEEI 93.7 (Boston) / WFAN 660 (NY) MLB Betting Odds: TBA The Red Sox could all but put away the AL East by sweeping this series or even taking three of four. The teams don’t play again the rest of the way. The Sox remain without outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. and second baseman Dustin Pedroia, both on the DL. Bradley could be back Saturday from his thumb injury, while Pedroia has been on the shelf with knee inflammation since mid-August and isn’t as close. Yankees star rookie Aaron Judge has gotten some time on the bench of late because he’s not hitting much since the All-Star break. Judge has repeatedly received treatment on his left shoulder in recent weeks. Judge has insisted that he’s fine physically, but he’s been getting treatment and also often doing postgame interviews with a heavy ice wrap around the shoulder.

Who Will Take the Mound for the Red Sox?

It’s lefty Eduardo Rodriguez (4-4, 4.18) on the mound for Boston. Rodriguez earned the loss after allowing five runs on seven hits and one walk through 6.2 innings Saturday against the Orioles. He struck out seven. Rodriguez allowed all five runs on four hits — including a homer — and a walk in the second inning, and that was all the Orioles needed to cruise to a victory. The 24-year- old has been unable to find his groove since returning from the disabled list July 17, compiling a 5.08 ERA in eight starts over that span. New York was to start Sonny Gray, but Tuesday’s rainout and Wednesday’s doubleheader vs. Cleveland means this likely will be CC Sabathia. He did not factor into the decision Friday after allowing one run on five hits (one homer) and one walk with six strikeouts over seven innings vs. the Mariners. Coming off his first quality start in more than a month, Sabathia (10-5, 3.82 ERA) turned in his second straight quality outing while exceeding six innings in a start for the first time since June 7. Friday also marked his first start with more than five strikeouts since June 1. Sabathia has allowed six home runs over his past five starts, however.

Expert MLB Betting Predictions

Take the Mets behind deGrom, the Orioles at home and go Boston because that doubleheader on Wednesday for the Yankees could wreck their bullpen.