Weekly Total Talk

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

7 minute read

Steel Curtain Defense
The Pittsburgh Pirates will continue their series against the visiting Atlanta Braves at 7:05 p.m. ET on Wednesday, looking to keep their 'under' streak going, too. They fell 6-1 in Tuesday's game, but the under hit for the seventh consecutive game at PNC Park. The under is also an impressive 9-1 over the past 10 games overall for the Bucs. The under is also 7-0 in Pittsburgh's past seven games against teams with a winning overall record, while going 4-0 in their past four at home against a right-handed starting pitcher/ In addition, the under has hit in four straight starts by Trevor Williams, while going 9-1-1 in his past 11 starts in the Steel City against a team with a winning overall record. And, for what it's worth, the under is a perfect 11-0 in the past 11 starts when Williams is pitching in the third game of a series.

For the Braves, the under has connected in four in a row, while going 3-1-1 over the past five games on the road. In addition, the undere is an impressive 6-0 in Atlanta's past six against a right-handed starting pitcher, while going 5-2 in their past seven on the road vs. RHP. The under has also hit in seven of the past nine when Julio Teheran is on the hill. The under is 35-16-1 in the past 52 meetings in Pittsburgh, although the over has cashed in nine of the past 13 meetings overall, and the over is 5-1 in Teheran's past six against the Bucs.

Looking Ahead

Wednesday, Aug. 22
After a low-scoring 2-1 win by the Tigers in the interleague series opener on Tuesday, it's a battle of southpaws when the Cubs roll out LHP Jon Lester to battle Francisco Liriano. The under is 8-0 in Chicago's past eight on the road, while going 6-0 in their past six interleague battles. The under is also 6-0 in the past six against AL Central clubs, while hitting in 19 of the past 26 with Lester on the hill. The under is 5-1 in Detroit's past six interleague games, while hitting in four in a row against teams with a winning overall mark. For Liriano, the under is 5-2 in the past seven on grass. As an added bonus, the Cubs are just 4-13 in their past 17 meetings with the Tigers, and 1-6 in their past seven at Comerica.

The Diamondbacks are heavy favorites against the Angels and RHP Odrisamer Despaigne, a pitcher Arizona saw frequently during the righty's time in San Diego. The under has been the play for the Angels during interleague play, particularly on the road. The under is 10-2 in their past 12 against the National League on the road while facing a team with a winning record. The under is 19-7-3 in their past 29 interleague games overall, and 9-4 in their past 13 on the road vs. NL foes. The under is also 16-4-1 in the past 21 interleague games against teams with an overall winning mark. For Arizona, the under is 4-1 in their past five at home, while going 5-2 in their past seven at home vs. RHP. The under is also 9-2-2 in the past 13 interleague battles with a right-handed starter on the bump. With Clay Buchholz toeing the slab, the under is 5-2 in the past seven, and 4-1 in his past five against teams with a losing overall mark.

Betting On The Wind
The winds will be humming from 10-13 mph in the Steel City for the Braves-Pirates game. In D.C., the winds will be blowing left to right at 12-15 mph, affecting the Phillies-Nationals game. There will also be a crosswind from 11-14 mph from left to right to bother the hitters for the Giants and Mets.

Thursday, Aug. 23
Red Sox LHP David Price will face the Indians in a daytime series finale. The under is 4-0-1 in the past five overall for Price, while going 6-1 in his past seven showings against AL Central clubs. The under is also 3-1-2 in Price's past six at Fenway Park, while going 3-1-2 in his past six against winning teams, too.

White Sox RHP James Shields will face a familar foe, the Tigers, in Thursday's series opener at Comerica. The under is 7-2-1 in Shields' past 10 against AL Central opponents, while going 9-3-1 in his past 13 against teams with a losing overall record. The over is 6-2-1 in the past nine road outings by Big Game James against teams with a losing overall mark. The over is also 3-1-1 in the past five meetings between these division rivals, and 35-16-3 in the past 54 meetings in the Motor City.

It's a battle of lefties in the San Diego-Colorado series finale. The over is 4-1 in San Diego's past five against left-handed starting pitchers, while hitting in each of the past four starts by rookie LHP Joey Lucchesi. The over is also 4-0 in Lucchesi's past four against teams with a winning overall mark. The under is a perfect 9-0, though, in Colorado's past nine at Coors vs. LHP. The under is also an impressive 23-4 in Kyle Freeland's past 27 starts at home, while going 18-5-1 in his past 24 against NL West foes. The under is 36-14-3 in the past 53 starts by Freeland overall, too.

Braves LHP Sean Newcomb will meet the Marlins in South Florida. The over has cashed in six of Newcomb's past seven road outings, while going 7-3 in his past 10 starts overall. However, the under is 7-3-1 in his past 11 against NL East clubs.

Betting On The Wind
In D.C. the wind will be blowing in from the left-center field power alley to home plate, blowing 12-15 mph to bug the Phillies-Nats hitters. Wind will again be an issue in the Giants-Mets series finale, gusting from 11-14 mph from the left-center field power alley to home plate. At Target Field, the A's and Twins will not only be dodging the raindrops in the middle to late innings, but they'll face a crosswind from 10-13 mph blowing right to left.

Friday, Aug. 24
The Phillies turn to RHP Jake Arrieta for the interleague road series opener in Toronto. The under is 3-1 in his past four starts, while he has turned in quality starts in four of his past five outings. The under is also 4-1 in his past five road assignments. The over did hit in his start last season against the Blue Jays on Aug. 18, although it was mostly his offense's doing, as he allowed just one run in 6 1/3 innings in the 7-4 win.

Padres LHP Clayton Richard will work against the Dodgers on the road. The 'over' is 3-0 in the past three outings by Richard, and the over has hit in six of his past seven, too, while going 3-0 in his past three starts on the road, too. However, the 'under' is 4-1 in Richard's past five outings inside the division. That includes a 4-1 loss at L.A. on May 25.

Giants rookie RHP Dereck Rodriguez will toe the slab against his old man's former team, the Texas Rangers. Hall of Famer Ivan Rodriguez's son has seen the 'under' cash in three in a row, while going 7-2 across the past nine starts. The under is also 4-2 in his past six at home, while going 2-0 in his only two starts against AL West opponents.

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