Weekly Total Talk

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

5 minute read

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Thursday, Aug. 1

The Cubs and Cardinals wrap up their set in St. Louis on Thursday evening with LHP Jon Lester working for Chicago against RHP Jack Flaherty of St. Louis. The under connected in Wednesday's game with the Cubs taking it 2-0, and the under is now 5-1 in the past six road games for Chicago. The under is also 11-2-1 in their past 14 games overall, while going 7-1-1 in the past nine against a right-handed starting pitcher while going 7-1 in the past eight games inside the National League Central Division. In addition, the under is 5-1 in their past six games against winning teams. However, the over is 8-2 in Lester's past 10 on the road against winning teams, and 13-4 in his past 17 outings away from home.

For the Cardinals, the under is 22-6 in the past 28 games at Busch Stadium II, while cashing in eight of the past nine at home against teams with a winning overall mark. However, the over is 15-5-1 in the past 21 at home against a left-handed starting pitcher, while going 12-4 in Flaherty's past 16 against teams with a winning record. The over is also 5-1 in his past six outings when working on five days of rest. In this series, the under is 8-1 in the past nine meetings in St. Louis, and 5-1 in the past six battles overall. However, the over is 5-1 in Lester's past six against the Cards, while the over is 4-1 in Flaherty's past five against the Cubbies.

 It's a lefty-on-lefty battle in Los Angeles when LHP Joey Lucchesi takes the ball for the Padres against LHP Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers. The under has been the play for the Padres lately, going 7-1 in their past eight road outings, and 6-1 in the past seven games inside the National League West. In addition, the under is 15-6 in their past 21 games overall, while hitting in 14 of the past 17 against teams with a winning record. With Lucchesi, the under is 3-1-1 in his past five outings, and 4-0 in his past four inside the division while cashing in four of the past five against teams wit ha winning overall mark.

For the Dodgers, the under cashed in their afternoon matinee in Denver, and is now a perfect 7-0 in their past seven inside the NL West. The under has also connected in seven of their past nine games at home, while going 5-2-1 in the past eight at Dodger Stadium against teams with a losing road record. However, with Kershaw, the over is actually 6-2 across his past eight starts overall, and 10-3-1 in his past 14 against teams with a losing mark. The over is also 6-0 in his past six after posting a quality start in his previous appearance. In this series, the under is 5-0 in the past five, and 5-0 in the past five in Chavez Ravine, too. The over is 6-2 in Kershaw's past eight starts at home against the Padres, however, and 10-4 in his past 14 outings overall against San Diego.

Wind Report

The Mets and White Sox will face wins from 9-12 mph out of left field at Guaranteed Rate Field on the south side of Chicago in matinee action.

As far as precipitation, the Reds and Braves will face a 30 percent chance of preciptation in the later innings, so a rain-shortened game is possible. Be careful.

Friday, Aug. 2

Reds LHP Alex Wood will face his former and original organization when he meets the Braves and RHP Kevin Gausman. It will be just his second start of the season after spending the first few months on the 60-day injured list due to a back injury. He allowed two earned runs, seven hits and a walk with four strikeouts against Colorado at home on July 28, an under result. This will be his first road outing of 2019. For the Braves, the over is 5-1 in Gausman's past six outings, although the under is a perfect 5-0 in the past five at home overall, and 7-1-1 in the past nine at home.

The Royals use RHP Glenn Sparkman against Twins LHP Martin Perez in the Twin Cities in the series opener. The over and under has alternated in each of the past five outings with Sparkman, while the total pushed in his last start in Minnesota back on June 15 when he allowed five runs - four earned - and five hits over five innings, and the under cashed on June 20 in his most recent start against the Twins. The over has hit in three of the past four start by Perez, while going 8-2 across his past 10 outings, including 5-1 in his past six outings at Target Field.

The Nationals and Diamondbacks square off in the desert with RHP Joe Ross and LHP Robbie Ray locking horns. This will be just the second start of the season for Ross, and the under cashed in that outing on July 21 in Atlanta when he allowed three earned runs, eight hits and two walks with six strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings. For the Snakes, Ray enters with a 9-7 record, 3.91 ERA and .310 opponent on-base percentage with 173 strikeouts over 129 innings. The under is 3-1-1 in the past five starts by Ray. Since July 5, the under is 11-8-2 across the past 21 outings. In the past six starts at home, the under is 4-1-1 for Ray and the D-Backs, too.

Wind Report

At Progressive Field in Cleveland, the winds will be blowing 9-12 mph in from the right-center field power alley to affect the Angels and Indians, particularly left-handed power hitters. The Tigers and Rangers will also be battling a stiff 11-14 mph wind blowing in from right field into the face of the batters. Other than that, winds will be rather light and variable at all of the other MLB venues.

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