Rounding the bases: The best bets in the big leagues

Every week we take a look at the hottest and coldest teams as well as the best over and under bets in Major League Baseball.

Hot Team: Oakland Athletics

Last week: 5-1
Season record: 51-44
Upcoming schedule: at Toronto, at Baltimore

Skinny: The A’s are fresh off a four-game sweep of the New York Yankees and are now 9-1 in their last 10 games and 14-2 in the 16 overall. And they’re doing that with lowest scoring offense in the American League and the worst batting average (.228) in the majors.

So how are they winning all these games? Well the eight one-run games during their hot streak, including two walk-off wins in the sweep of the Yanks.

Cold Team: New York Mets

Last week: 1-5
Season record: 47-48
Upcoming schedule: vs. Washington, at Arizona

Skinny: The Mets pitching staff is letting the team down in a big way. The club carries a bloated 5.68 ERA in July – the third worst in baseball – and opponents are batting .291 off them. To make matters worse, the bullpen has blown three of the four save opportunities the club’s had for month.
Outfielder Daniel Murphy has nine hits in his last 11 at-bats but until the pitching improves the Mets will continue to drop in the NL East standings.

Over team: Arizona Diamondbacks

Last week: 4-1-1
Season O/U record: 45-47-3
Upcoming schedule: vs. Colorado, vs. Mets

Skinny: Think the Twins miss Jason Kubel’s bat? We know for sure the Diamondbacks are thankful to have the hefty outfielder in their lineup. Kubel has cracked four homers in his last two games and has six big flies in his last 22 at-bats. Arizona scored 33 runs in three games against the Astros. We’ll see this week if that’s just a Houston sucking thing or if the D’backs have caught fire.

Under team: Milwaukee Brewers

Last week: 5-0-1
Season O/U record: 50-40-4
Upcoming schedule: at Philadelphia, vs. Washington

Skinny: The starting pitching staff is really coming through for the Brewers. Milwaukee has received quality starts in five of its last seven games. Its bullpen – which has really been a sore spot this campaign – is holding up. The relief staff has surrendered just three runs in 12 innings pitched since manager Ron Roenicke took John Axford out of the closer role. The under is now 6-0-1 in the team’s last seven games.

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Sports Betting Headlines »

Featured Free Play
MLB: Kansas City vs. Houston
Pick:
U (KC at HOU)
Start:
May 20, 2013 - 8:10 PM
Capper:
Bryan Power
Offered at:
5dimes @ Under 9 100
Analysis:

1* Under Royals/Astros (8:10 ET):  I went a perfect 9-0 this weekend, including 5 for 5 in MLB! One of my Saturday winners (Oakland) came at the expense of the Kansas City Royals, who would eventually get swept by the A's, scoring only five total runs in the process. They certainly seem to have a more favorable opponent to start the week, but don't be surprised to see fewer runs scored than expected in Monday's opener....

KC will send Jeremy Guthrie out to the mound tonight. He should have no problem containing an Astros lineup that was shut out yesterday in Pittsburgh, losing for the 7th time in 9 games. While Guthrie is coming off his worst showing of 2013 last time out, his overall numbers remain impressive; he's 5-1 with a 2.82 ERA over eight starts. He's also never lost to Houston in three career outings, turning in a 3.68 ERA and 1.045 WHIP.  Two of those starts came last year.

The problem with taking the Royals here though is the fact their offense is struggling mightily right now and that they average only 2.9 runs per game vs. lefties.  That should give Houston southpaw Dallas Keuchel a decent shot at a quality outing.  The Royals, like the Astros, come into this series having lost 7 of 9.  In those seven losses, the Kansas City offense has scored a grand total of 17 runs. This game could easily turn into a pitcher's duel with the two inept offenses.  1* Under KC/Houston.

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