The shortened 2020 MLB baseball season continues on Monday with nine games on the betting schedule.
View 5 Featured MLB free picks and predictions with analysis for Monday, August 3, 2020 from handicapping experts below.
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Cincinnati has won three of its last four to turn things around after a 1-4 start. The Reds are scoring 5.2 runs per game overall and 6.2 runs per game at home. Look for them to take down the struggling Cleveland Indians today.
Cleveland has now dropped three straight and four of five. The Indians have been awful at the plate during this stretch, scoring a total of four runs in those five games. They are hitting just .193 and scoring 2.6 runs per game this season, including .133 and 1.0 runs per game on the road.
Things won’t get any easier for Cleveland today. Ace Sonny Gray gets the ball for the Reds looking to continue his incredible start to the 2020 season, picking up right where he left off last year. Gray is 2-0 with a 0.71 ERA and 0.552 WHIP in two starts, allowing just one earned run and seven base runners with 20 K’s in 12 2/3 innings.
Bet the Reds Monday.
There is simply too much value here to ignore. Yes the Phillies are off a layoff and now have to face an ace pitcher in Cole. However, to be nearly a 3 to 1 underdog in this spot makes Philadelphia worthy of considering for a small investment in this one.
The Phillies are managed by Joe Girardi who played some of his career with the Yankees plus managed them as well as recently as 2017. You know he really wants this game tonight.
While the Phillies can’t wait to get back onto the field after facing the Marlins amidst their covid-19 outbreak, the Yankees could get caught here still celebrating their huge win last night. Down 7-6 heading to bottom of the 8th against their long-time rival, the Red Sox, the Yankees rallied and ended up winning the game 9-7 courtesy of a 2 out 2 run bomb from Judge. A big game win and a big series win for the Yankees and they could be flat here.
Then you look at this Phillies lineup and they have some big sticks in it and plus they have a true “gamer” in Jake Arrieta on the mound. Veteran starting pitcher, solid lineup, and catching the Yankees at the right time for an upset plus getting a very big underdog money line here…it all adds up to a nice spot for taking a “flyer” on the road dog in this one.
The Minnesota Twins are 7-2 on the season while the Pittsburgh Pirates have a reversed record of 2-7.
The Twins will be forced to go with a bullpen-by-committee approach for this contest after expected starter Homer Bailey going on the injured list, but their bullpen has the fourth best ERA in baseball and I like the Twins to get it done here.
Pittsburgh left-hander Derek Holland (0-0, 3.18 ERA) is 3-7 with a bloated 5.56 ERA in 14 outings (13 starts) against the Twins who are averaging a healthy 5.11 runs per game this season. Pittsburgh ranks third to last for runs scored with only 3.33 rpg.
Great value here with the UNDER 8 in Monday’s NL West showdown between the Dodgers and Padres. I know LA has a loaded offense, but the number here is too high given the talent both teams will be sending to the mound.
The Padres will give the rock to Chris Paddack, who might be the best kept secret in baseball. At least in terms of starters. In his first two starts of 2020, Paddack has allowed 2 runs on 10 hits with just 1 walk in 10 innings of work. That’s a 1.64 ERA and 1.000 WHIP for those wondering. He had a 3.33 ERA and an incredible 0.98 ERA (153 K’s in 140.2 innings) over 26 starts in 2019. His first year at the big league level.
Potential here that he could be facing a LA lineup that will be without both Mookie Betts (questionable) and Corey Seager (questionable).
Dodgers will turn to Walker Buehler, who has put up remarkable numbers in his short career. Entering just his 3rd full season at the big league level, Buehler has a 3.14 ERA and 1.04 WHIP over 63 games (54 starts). He too can make guys miss. He’s got 381 Ks in 332.2 innings (had 215 K’s last year).
The Dodgers have gone 5-1 in their last 6 games overall and now have ace Walker Buehler taking the ball against the San Diego Padres tonight. Buehler has never lost to the Padres, going 4-0 with a. 0.64 ERA and 0.64 WHIP in 4 lifetime starts against them.
Chris Paddack is 0-1 with a 5.65 ERA in 3 lifetime starts against the Dodgers.
Take Los Angeles.
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