Ballpark Figures – Week 4

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

9 minute read

First Time
The Boston Red Sox lost on Sunday in Oakland just one day after being no-hit by Sean Manaea of the Athletics. It's the first time the first-place Red Sox have dropped consecutive games this season. The Red Sox had won six straight series to open the season before falling to the A's of all teams. Despite the consecutive losses the BoSox still sit atop the majors with the record in baseball at 17-4. They're led by Mookie Betts who leads the majors with a .366 batting average, and Rick Porcello is back to his 2016 form with four wins to tie for the lead in baseball. 

Kapler's Law
Manager Gabe Kapler got off to a rough start in the City of Brotherly Love, highlighted by his decision to make a call to the bullpen in the first week of the season when the reliever wasn't warmed up. The home-plate umpire and crew chief Jerry Layne felt so bad for reliever Hoby Milner that he allowed him extra warm-up pitches because he feared for the pitcher's health. Kapler has come a long way in a short time, as the Phillies are in second place in the NL East, a half-game back of the New York Mets. Philly also has four straight wins while going 9-1 in 10 games at home and they have a plus-33 run differential, second in the NL and fourth in the majors.


Looking Ahead

Monday, April 23
The Angels and Astros hook up in the series opener on Monday night. The Halos have rattled off victories in nine consecutive road outings, and they're 6-0 in their past six road games against a right-handed starting pitcher. L.A. counters with LHP Tyler Skaggs, and the team is 5-1 in his past six outings and 5-0 in his past five against division foes. However, they're just 1-4 in his past five when opening a new series. The Astros have won 25 of the past 31 at home, and they're 16-5 in their past 21 against divisional opponents. They have won four straight with Gerrit Cole on the hill, and they're 6-2 in their past eight against left-handed starting pitchers. Houston should have the upper hand. While the Halos are 5-2 in their past seven with Skaggs facing the Astros, they have won just 10 of their past 32 trips to H-Town, and they're 2-5 in their past seven tries overall against Houston.

The San Diego Padres and Colorado Rockies are playing another series in Denver, their second of the season in the Mile High City this month. The Padres have won just twice in their past 12 against teams with a winning overall record, and they're 5-14 in their past 19 tries vs. RHP. In addition, they're 0-4 in their past four with Bryan Mitchell on the bump. The Rox counter with Chad Bettis, and they're 15-2 in his past 17 at Coors Field against teams with a losing overall mark. They're also 24-9 in his past 33 outings overall, while going 7-3 in his past 10 inside the division.

Weather Report
The game between the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds appears to be in serious jeopardy with rain in the forecast all day. The forecast for first pitch call for an 80 percent chance of rain, decreasing to 55 percent by 8pm ET. However, the chances of rain are still up to 45 percent by 11pm ET, so there is a good chance this game is washed away.

Precipitation isn't a problem in Baltimore for the wraparound series finale between the Orioles and Cleveland Indians but wind will play a factor. In fact, the winds will be blowing from 9-12 mph directly out to left field, so the 'over' could be in play. Winds will also be howling in the Mile City City, but it will be blowing directly in from left-center field to home plate from 10-14 mph for the game between the Padres and Rockies. Winds will also be whipping by the bay at AT&T Park when the Washington Nationals and San Francisco Giants do battle. The forecast calls for winds at 12-15 mph early in the game, dying down slightly to 10-12 mph by the end of the contest.

Tuesday, April 24
The Red Sox and Blue Jays will open a series at the Skydome (OK, Rogers Centre), and the BoSox look to shake off their first consecutive games losing streak of the season. They're still 17-4 overall, and 21-6 in their past 27 games inside the division. They're also 28-11 in their past 39 games after a scheduled day off. In addition, Boston is still 9-2 across the past 11 on the road. Toronto has rattled off wins in seven of their past eight at home while going 13-6 in the past 19 overall. They have won four of JA Happ's past five assignments, and they're 17-6 in his past 23 starts at home against teams with a winning overall mark. Boston has won 19 of their past 26 trips to Ontario, and they're 12-5 in the past 17 meetings overall between these AL East Division rivals.

The A's and Rangers hook up in Arlington, and Oakland rolls out Andrew Triggs as they try and stay hot. They entered Monday's game 6-1 in the past seven after a series win against the red-hot Red Sox. The A's are 4-0 in Triggs' past four starts against teams with a losing record, and 5-1 in his past six inside the division. They're also 6-2 in his past eight working on five days of rest. For the Rangers, it's the complete opposite. The team is 1-6 in the past seven with Cole Hamels toeing the slab, and they're 1-4 in his past five starts inside the division. Oakland entered Monday's series opener just 2-6 in their past eight trips to Texas. The 'under' is 18-7-2 in the past 27 between these AL West foes.

The Marlins and Dodgers do battle at Chavez Ravine, and the Marlins look for improvement against right-handed pitchers. They entered the week just 1-6 in their past seven against RHP, and they'll be trying to solve Kenta Maeda. L.A. is 16-5 in Maeda's past 21 starts at home, and 8-3 in his past 11 against teams with a losing overall record. The Dodgers are also 7-1 in his past eight at home against teams with a losing overall mark. The over could be in play all series long, going 33-13-5 in the past 51 meetings in L.A., and 43-18-6 in the past 67 overall between these coast-to-coast opponents.

Weather Report
On Tuesday, weather will again rear its ugly head and affect plenty of games. Rain is in the forecast all day for Cleveland, so the game between the Indians and Chicago Cubs is likely to be rained out. The forecast calls for rain at 50 percent of higher from 6pm ET through the wee hours, so expect a delay and a potential day-night doubleheader on Wednesday. In other interleague action, the Detroit Tigers and Pittsburgh Pirates are going to be wet, too, as rain chances range from 40-50 percent all evening long.

Rain will also be looming in the Bronx, although the game between the Twins and Yankees should at least be able to get underway. However, by 9pm the rain chances bump up over 60 percent and it won't let up anytime soon.

In the NL, rain is also in the picture in Cincinnati again, with a 50 percent chance of showers at game time. The percentages drop off to around 30 percent by 8pm, so while wet and potentially delayed, the game should still get in eventually. In Philadelphia there isn't as much optimism. The Diamondbacks-Phillies game has a 55 percent chance of rain at first pitch and it only gets worse, increasing to 90 percent by 9pm and not letting up until Wednesday. Look for a postponement there. The same holds true down the road in Baltimore, as the Rays and O's are likely to be rained out with showers in the forecast all day. Since these teams play so frequently being division mates, a doubleheader is likely down the road.

Winds will be the same as Monday night in Denver and San Francisco. It will be blowing in at Coors Field to potentially hold down the offense, coming in from 10-13 mph from left-center field to home plate, while the winds howl out to the power alley in left field in San Francisco from 12-16 mph.

Wednesday, April 25

Weather Report
For the afternoon action on the south side of Chicago, the winds will be blowing from left to right at Guaranteed Rate Field from 16-20 mph. Rain and wind are in the offing in the Bronx, with rain and storms in the forecast for the first half of the game at 40-60 percent with winds gusting from 10-13 mph in directly from center field to home plate. 

In Pittsburgh the winds will be blowing directly from home plate to center field at PNC Park going anywhere from 10-12 mph, while in Baltimore the winds will be blowing out to Boog's BBQ in right field at the same rate of velocity as Pittsburgh. The good news is that the rains should be coming to a close right around the time of first pitch.

If there is a day-night doubleheader in Cleveland, rain will likely hinder the early game. There is a 30-40 percent chance of rain all the way up until 6pm before the forecast calls for clearing around 7pm. The winds will be roaring from 12-15 mph in from left-center field to home plate all afternoon and evening.

VegasInsider Staff

More from VegasInsider Staff