Ballpark Figures – Week 2

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

5 minute read

Giant Fade
The San Francisco Giants have been a great parlay fade lately, betting against their futility while taking the 'under'. Over the past 14 games, the Giants have won just twice while the 'under' is 12-2 during the stretch, too. The Giants have lost AND the 'under' on 10 separate occasions during the 14-game streak.

That streak will be put to the test, as the Giants take it on the road to face the last-place San Diego Padres. LHP Andrew Suarez will take the ball for San Francisco, while RHP Bryan Mitchell works for the Fathers. The Giants have won just twice over their past 14 games on the road, and they're a dismal 1-8 across the past nine outings vs. RHP. The Giants haven't had a lot of luck inside the division, either, going just 2-5 in their past seven against NL West foes. The only good thing going for the Giants lately has been Suarez, and San Francicso has won four of the past five when the lefty kicks off a new series. The 'under' is 25-7-2 in the past 34 for the Giants against NL West clubs, too, while going 3-0-1 in Suarez's past four outings. The under is also 6-1-1 in his past eight assignments against divisional opponents.

 Looking Ahead

Monday, April 1
The Cardinals and Pirates will square off in matinee action. Since the start of the 2016 season RHP Adam Wainwright has posted a 2-1 record, 4.56 ERA across 47 1/3 innings in eight starts and a relief appearance against the Pirates. More importantly, the Cardinals are 6-1 in his past seven starts against the Pirates, and St. Louis has won four of the past five in the Steel City. The total is also 20-7-5 in Waino's past 32 starts against the Bucs, while going 8-3-2 across his past 13 road outings in Pittsburgh.

The Orioles and Blue Jays tangle in Toronto, and it's David Hess against Sean Reid-Foley. Baltimore surprised by taking two of three from the Yankees in the Bronx. The Blue Jays split a four-game series aginst the Tigers while hitting the 'under' in all four games. The O's were horrific on the road last season, and they're 9-51 in the past 60 road games vs. RHP. In addition, they won just two of the past 16 starts by Hess, while going 1-11 in his past 12 on the road. Toronto won 12 of their past 16 against Baltimore, and they're have a .696 winning percentage (71-31) across the past 102 meetings vs. the O's.

Rangers LHP Drew Smyly makes his return to a major league hill for the first time since the 2016, as Tommy John surgery has wiped out his past two seasons. You can probably expect some rust. Meanwhile, Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly won a job in the Arizona rotation during spring training after spending the past three seasons in the KBO (South Korea). The Padres will be looking to treat him rudely, building upon their 3-1 start.

The Angels hit the road to meet the Mariners at T-Mobile Park in Seattle. The Mariners rolled up big offensive numbers in their first series against the Boston Red Sox. And the experts all said this would be a down year for the Seattle offense after an offseason purge. They'll roll the dice with Felix Hernandez on Monday, a pitcher who has lost quite a bit of velocity in recent seasons. He has had his troubles against superstar Mike Trout, too, as the Angels outfielder is hitting .373 with four doubles, two triples and eight home runs with 20 RBI and .373/.419/.759 slash line across 83 at-bats. Something's gotta give in this one, as the Angels are 1-5 in their past six trips to Seattle, while the Mariners are 2-7 in Hernandez's past nine starts against the Angels. The over has hit in four of Felix's past five vs. LAA, while going 5-2-1 in the past eight meetings overall in Seattle.

Weather Report
The weather forecast is wonderful for Monday. Three games will be indoors and/or in stadiums with a retractable roof, and all other cities will have a 10 percent chance or less of precipitation. The winds will be rather tranquil, too, blowing at 8 mph or less in all cities.

Tuesday, April 2
Max Scherzer takes the ball for the Nats, and he'll be facing a Phillies team which plucked his former teammate, Bryce Harper, off of the waiver wire. Scherzer is 5-1 with a 2.85 ERA, 96 strikeouts and a .207 opponent batting average over 72 2/3 innings in 11 starts against the Phillies since the start of the 2016, so we'll see if Harper can help tip the scales against him. Also, watch the weather in this one, as Zach Eflin and Scherzer could have rain interrupt their evenings. Odubel Herrera has been a thorn in Scherzer's side, too, hitting .341 (14-for-41) with three doubles, a triple and to home runs with a 1.035 OPS in his career. J.T. Realmuto is the complete opposite, going 3-for-36 (.083) with one double, a solo homer, one RBI and 11 strikeouts vs. Scherzer.

Jose Berrios looked good in the Opening Day start against Cleveland at Target Field, but can he carry the momentum into Kansas City? The Twins are just 5-21 across his past 26 road starts, and 2-15 in his past 17 road outings against a team with a winning record. Meanwhile, the Royals are 5-0 in Brad Keller's past five home starts, and 5-1 in his past six assignments against AL Central foes. The Twins are also 0-5 in Berrios' past five road starts in K.C., and 2-7 in his past nine overall against the Royals.

Justin Verlander will take on the Rangers, and he went 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA, 14 strikeouts and a .209 opponent batting average in two starts at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington last season. He was 2-2 with a 2.03 ERA in five starts overal against the Rangers, and Texas batters hit just .196 against him with 39 strikeouts over 31 innings. 

Weather Report
The forecast calls for a 45 percent chance of rain during the Phillies-Nationals game, lightening up around 11pm ET. This game could be interrupted or even start with the tarpaulin, so the listed pitchers could either start late or have their starts cut short. In Texas the weather will be blowing in from right-center field into the face of the batters at a 14 mph clip, which should keep scores down. In Oakland it's the exact opposite, with winds blowing 10-13 mph to the right-center field power alley for Red Sox-A's. The same holds true for the Giants-Dodgers game in L.A., blowing out to right at 10-13 mph.

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