Ballpark Figures – Week 22

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

7 minute read

Brave New World
The Atlanta Braves have been a friend to total bettors, hitting the 'under' in nine consecutive games. That includes seven straight road games, although they'll have to wait a while to extend that streak since they'll be opening up a new homestand against the Tampa Bay Rays starting on Tuesday. The under is 5-2 in Atlanta's past seven at home, too, so there is a good chance the run continues at SunTrust Park. They'll roll with RHP Julio Teheran for the series opener, opposed by RHP Ryne Stanek. The under has hit in three straight starts for Teheran since his last 'over' back on Aug. 5 at CitiField against the Mets. The under has also hit in five consecutive starts for Teheran at home dating back to June 23.

The Braves might find it difficult to cool off the Rays, who enter with eight consecutive victories. Atlanta won two of three against the Milwaukee Brewers to kick off their last homestand from Aug. 10-12, and they had a four-game sweep of the Miami Marlins Aug. 13-15 after that. However, they were left with a poor taste in their mouth after the Colorado Rockies broomed them in a four-game set to close out the homestand. The 'over' is 3-1 in Stanek's past four starts overall, and 3-1 in his past four on the road, too. The Rays are also a dismal 1-7 across Stanek's past eight assignments on the road, so Teheran and the Braves might be the play Tuesday evening in the interleague series opener.

In interleague play, the Rays have posted a 6-9 record in their previous 15 games against the NL this season, including 0-2 against the Braves back in a mini-set on May 8-9 at Tropicana Field. Atlanta hasn't been much better against the AL, going just 7-8 in 15 previous interleague battles this season.

Looking Ahead

Monday, Aug. 27
The Athletics head to Minute Maid Park to battle the Astros in a key American League West battle. The Astros are clinging to a 1 1/2-game lead in the AL West against the surprising A's. LHP Brett Anderson will take the ball for the A's, while the Astros counter with RHP Gerrit Cole. Oakland has won 17 of their past 22 games inside the division, while going 20-8 over the past 28 games on the road. In addition, Oakland is 22-9 in the past 31 road games vs. RHP, while going 40-19 in the past 59 overall against righties. The A's haven't fared well with Anderson on the bump lately, posting a 4-9 record across the lefty's past 13 against teams with a winning record.

The Astros have been stumbling at home lately, going 1-9 in their past 10 games at Minute Maid. They're just 1-4 in the past five against left-handed starters, while going 1-4 in their past five to kick off a new series, too. However, they are 4-0 in the past four vs. LHP, while going 5-0 in their past five games against AL West foes. Cole might be the guy to snap them out of their funk. While they are 0-4 in his past four against AL West clubs, and 1-4 in his past five overall, they have won seven of his past nine outings at home. Minute Maid has been a house of horrors for the A's lately, going 17-35 in the past 52 against the Astros overall, and 9-19 in the past 28 trips to the Gulf Coast.

The probable starters for Monday's series opener in San Francisco features Diamondbacks LHP Patrick Corbin facing Giants RHP Chris Stratton. Arizona has won four of their past five road games, while winning seven of the past 10 overall. They're 6-0 in Corbin's past six starts, and 7-1 in his past eight assignments on the road. In addition, they're an impressive 13-3 in the past 16 when Corbin is working on five days of rest. The Giants have struggled lately at home, winning just three of their past 12 against teams with a winning overall record. They're also 1-4 in their past five at home against a southpaw while posting a 1-6 mark in their past seven at AT&T Park against a team with a winning road record.

Weather Report
Precipitation will not be a problem during the short slate of games on Monday. However, winds will be a huge issue for the Mets and Cubs, as the wind will be blowing out to left-center field at a 16-19 mph clip. It's a battle of RHP Noah Syndergaard and LHP Jon Lester. The nder is 3-1-2 in Thor's past six road outings, while going 16-4-2 in his past 22 against winning teams. The under is 8-2 in Chicago's past 10, while going 19-7 in their past 26 vs. RHP. The over is 9-2 in Lester's past 11, and the wind could help add to that number.

Tuesday, Aug. 28
White Sox RHP James Shields will hit the road where he has been an absolute train wreck this season. The veteran is just 1-8 with a 6.12 ERA across 11 starts and one relief appearance over 67 2/3 innings while his opponent batting average is .271 with 16 homers allowed. Surprisingly, Shields is 2-0 with a 2.92 ERA in two starts against the Yankees since the start of the 2015 season.

Indians RHP Carlos Carrasco will take the ball from manager Terry Francona against the Twins. While he has posted an impressive 8-3 record in 11 starts and one relief appearance at home this season, he has a subpar 4.35 ERA over 62 innings while the opposition is hitting .273 against him. Cookie has struggled against the Twins, too, going 1-3 with a 4.56 ERA in five starts with a .275 opponent batting average across 25 2/3 innings.

Astros RHP Charlie Morton continues to roll right along with an 8-2 record, 3.00 ERA and .213 opponent batting average across 13 starts over 78 innings. He has struck out 100 batters in his 13 home outings, too. He hasn't been able to slay the A's, however, lasting just 9 1/3 innings in two starts with no decisions and a .263 opponent batting average.

Giants LHP Madison Bumgarner will host Diamondbacks RHP Clay Buchholz at AT&T Park. MadBum has been looking a lot like himself lately, going 3-2 with a 1.71 ERA in seven home outings with a .198 opponent batting average. He has served up just two of his nine homers at home, too, while striking out 42 batters across 47 1/3 innings. He's 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA in two outings against the Snakes this season, although they're hitting .333 against him in 11 innings with 15 hits and three walks.

Weather Report
The winds will be gusting out to right field from 11-14 mph at Progressive Field for the game between the Twins and Indians. The same holds true for the interleague battle between the Marlins and Red Sox, gusting 11-14 mph to right-center field. The Pirates and Cardinals will face a 10-13 mph wind blowing right to left, but no precip at least.

At Wrigley Field, the wind will be blowing out again from 11-14 mph, but the Mets and Cubs might be dodging the raindrops. Thunderstorms are forecast 40 percent or greater from first pitch through the overnight. The same holds true for the Tigers-Royals battle, with winds 13-16 mph blowing to center field. That is if the game is played, as there is a 50 percent or greater chance of thunderstorms for most of the day.

In Arlington, the Dodgers and Rangers will be blowing in from right-center field at 12-15 mph. It will be a hot wind, too, with temperatures forecast to be in the mid-90's. In the final game of the game, the D-Backs and Giants will face a 12-15 mph jetstream blowing out to straighaway center field.

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