We hit on one of three bets in last week’s MLB betting tips to take our season tally to 10-5 in 2018 so far! We’ll be looking to improve on that record this Thursday, the 31st of May as we preview some of the key games of the day and give our tips below.
Toronto Blue Jays at Boston Red Sox (3.05am AEST)
Eduardo Rodriguez, who started the season fourth in line in the Red Sox rotation has been outstanding so far this season. He has a 5-1 record on the season so far but struggled the last time he faced the Blue Jay, giving up a home run and three earned runs back in April.
He comes up against Blue Jays starter Sam Gaviglio on Thursday morning, who was only put into the Toronto starting rotation earlier this month to cover for an injury. He has won both of the games he has started so far and has a fantastic 2.30 ERA through 15.2 innings.
The Red Sox have won 7 of their last 10 games while the Blue Jays have lost 7 of their last 10, however, I like Toronto and Gaviglio to keep this one close away from home.
Toronto Blue Jays +1.5
$1.82
Houston Astros at New York Yankees (8.35am AEST)
The Yankees relinquished their stranglehold on the AL East recently after losing 5 of their last 10 games. They now sit two full games behind the Red Sox and will be playing their 3rd and final game of a tough series against the Astros on Thursday morning. Ace Luis Severino will be on the mound for the Yankees and will be looking to add to his already impressive 2018 resume. He currently boasts a 7-1 record and a 2.28 ERA but will be up against one of the best batting line-ups in baseball on Thursday.
The Astros are currently third in both total hits and total runs in 2018 so far and their team batting average of .258 is the sixth best in the league. You can’t forget about their pitching either. Justin Verlander is in Cy Young form, however, Dallas Keuchel has been a little underdone this year. He has a 3-6 record with a 3.39 ERA so far this season.
Houston have won both of the first two games in their series in New York so they’ll be content with the work they have put in. With Severino on the mound Thursday morning I think the Yankees pinch the third game.
New York Yankees -1.5
$2.22
Washington Nationals at Baltimore Orioles (9.05am AEST)
Max Scherzer of the Washington Nationals is currently leaps and bounds in front of his nearest competition in the race for the National League Cy Young award. He has started 11 games this season and boasts an 8-1 record with a ridiculous 2.13 ERA. Along with Justin Verlander, he has been arguably the best pitcher in baseball and I can’t wait to see him go to work on an underperforming Orioles line-up on Thursday morning.
Baltimore are currently the 26th ranked team in terms of batting average and are ranked 25th for total runs scored. Their 17-37 is tied for the worst in all of baseball and their -85 run difference on the year is better than only Miami.
Scherzer should have his way with Baltimore here. This will be the third game of the series between the two teams and so far Baltimore are yet to surpass the two run mark.
Baltimore Orioles UNDER 2.5 runs
$2.28
