Disappointing day for our Major League Baseball tips on Tuesday, hitting on just 1 of 3 bets as some surprising results came in. We will attempt to get back on track this Thursday, the 27th of July as we preview some of the key games on the slate including the ESPN televised Cubs at White Sox below.
Chicago Cubs at Chicago White Sox (10am AEST)
The Chicago derby will get another instalment Thursday as the two teams square off for the third game of a four game series. The two teams split the first two games 1-1 with the Cubs taking a decisive 7-2 win on Wednesday.
Monster pitching matchup for game three as Jake Arrieta goes up against White Sox ace James Shields. Arrieta has been firing on all cylinders since the all-star break, maintaining a 2.13 ERA in two starts. Shields started the season hot, allowing just 3 runs in his first 3 starts, however, since then he has allowed at least 3 runs in all 6 of his starts which has seen his ERA rise to 5.79 on the season.
If the Sox are to pinch another game in the series it’ll come from a strong performance by Shields, but that would be going against his current form and the Cubs seem to have the run support at the moment.
TIP: Chicago Cubs -1.5 - $1.78 at Sportsbet
Minnesota Twins at Los Angeles Dodgers (12.10pm AEST)
Might have a chance to get ahead of the curb here by taking the Twins at home against the stronger Dodgers line-up. The Twins ace Ervin Santana will be on the mound, commanding some respect after maintaining a 3.26 ERA through the season so far. He and Jose Berrios are the only Twins starters with a record over .500 and he will have the favourable matchup against the Dodgers Brock Stewart, who will be making a spot start for normal starter Alex Wood.
Stewart hasn’t made a start so far this season and has pitched a total of just 13 innings. While the Dodgers arguably have the more dangerous batting line-up in this matchup, the $3 odds for the Twins with their ace on the mound against a inexperienced 25 year old is too good to refuse.
TIP: Minnesota Twins to win - $3 at Ladbrokes
Boston Red Sox at Seattle Mariners (5.40am AEST)
Probably the best pitcher in all of baseball at the moment, Chris Sale, will be on the mound for the Red Sox Thursday. The lefty leads the league in strikeouts and has a ridiculous 2.48 record through 20 starts on the season. He is on track for his first Cy Young award and won’t want to jeapordise that with a loss here.
Sale has had the support of his offence through the majority of his starts, with the star studded Sox lineup plundering at least six runs in 6 of his last 10 starts. Comes up against prospect Andrew Moore in just his sixth start, a daunting prospect facing the AL East leading Red Sox.
TIP: Boston -1.5 - $1.80 at Ladbrokes
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