Game 1 gambles: Series openers
Andrew Folkes
When it comes to betting the first game of an MLB series, it pays to know what teams make a solid first impression and what ones are slow getting out the gate.We look at four series that open today and which clubs hold the Game 1 edge.
American League
Matchup: Boston Red Sox at Tampa Bay Devils Rays
Game1 records: Boston 14-18, Tampa Bay 12-20
Line: Tampa Bay +177, 10 1/2
As the bottom feeders of the big leagues, it’s not surprising to find that the Tampa Bay Devil Rays are eight games under .500 in Game 1s, but you’d think the defending World Series champs could crack open a series a little better that this.
The Boston Red Sox are 14-18 in Game 1s with their latest series opening loss coming at the hands of the D-Rays, a 3-1 defeat as –220 faves last Monday. Meanwhile, Tampa has come out on top in its last three Game 1s, beating the Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles, along with the BoSox.
The Devils Rays have also won six of their last eight, netting 5.47 units in those tilts.
Matchup: Cleveland Indians at Oakland A`s
Game1 records: Cleveland 19-13, Oakland 17-15
Line: Oakland -185, 7 1/2
The Cleveland Indians are quickly fading from the American League playoff picture, and are slowing sullying an otherwise solid series opening record. The Tribe are six games over .500 in Game 1s, but notched just one win in opening their last four sets. That includes a 4-3 loss to the lowly Seattle Mariners Friday as –120 favorites.
The A`s 17-15 record doesn’t look much more promising, but lately they’ve been a lot better at making first impressions. Oakland’s won eight of its last nine series openers including victories over tough opponents like the Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox, and Toronto Blue Jays.
Cleveland took all three games from Oakland along with three units when they last squared off, but these teams have been headed in opposite direction since that late May series.
National League
Matchup: San Francisco Giants at Chicago Cubs
Game1 records: San Francisco 14-18, Chicago 15-17
The San Francisco Giants are two games below the break-even point in series openers, which is actually much better than their overall record of 42-55. And they’ve been picking up the series opening slack lately, wining three of their last five Game 1s. That includes a convincing 8-5 victory over Dontrelle Willis and the Florida Marlins as +127 dogs Friday.
They visit a Chicago Cubs team that’s two games below .500 in Game 1s, which is the worst of its game series records. The Cubs face Jason Schmidt, who’s undefeated in seven Game 1 starts this season for a total profit of 7.83 units. The Giants beat the Cubs in both their series openers last year. Schmidt started both of those contests.
Matchup: Cincinnati Reds at Los Angeles Dodgers
Game1 records: Cincinnati 13-18, Los Angeles 16-16
Line: Dodgers -124, 8
”Reds” has been an appropriate name for Cincinnati this season because at 42-56, they’ve left their supporters drowning in it. They’ve been a little better in Game 1s at 13-18 and have grabbed the cash in five of their last six series openers. Although Cleveland was the team above .500 that they beat through that stretch.
The L.A. Dodgers are an even 16-16 in Game 1s and have gone 4-4 in their last eight series openers. They send Derek Lowe to the hill on Monday, who’s earned 1.46 units by going 4-2 in Game 1s this year.
The Dodgers pounded the Reds 13-6 at even money in the opening tilt of their only other series this season.
Andrew Folkes
When it comes to betting the first game of an MLB series, it pays to know what teams make a solid first impression and what ones are slow getting out the gate.We look at four series that open today and which clubs hold the Game 1 edge.
American League
Matchup: Boston Red Sox at Tampa Bay Devils Rays
Game1 records: Boston 14-18, Tampa Bay 12-20
Line: Tampa Bay +177, 10 1/2
As the bottom feeders of the big leagues, it’s not surprising to find that the Tampa Bay Devil Rays are eight games under .500 in Game 1s, but you’d think the defending World Series champs could crack open a series a little better that this.
The Boston Red Sox are 14-18 in Game 1s with their latest series opening loss coming at the hands of the D-Rays, a 3-1 defeat as –220 faves last Monday. Meanwhile, Tampa has come out on top in its last three Game 1s, beating the Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles, along with the BoSox.
The Devils Rays have also won six of their last eight, netting 5.47 units in those tilts.
Matchup: Cleveland Indians at Oakland A`s
Game1 records: Cleveland 19-13, Oakland 17-15
Line: Oakland -185, 7 1/2
The Cleveland Indians are quickly fading from the American League playoff picture, and are slowing sullying an otherwise solid series opening record. The Tribe are six games over .500 in Game 1s, but notched just one win in opening their last four sets. That includes a 4-3 loss to the lowly Seattle Mariners Friday as –120 favorites.
The A`s 17-15 record doesn’t look much more promising, but lately they’ve been a lot better at making first impressions. Oakland’s won eight of its last nine series openers including victories over tough opponents like the Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox, and Toronto Blue Jays.
Cleveland took all three games from Oakland along with three units when they last squared off, but these teams have been headed in opposite direction since that late May series.
National League
Matchup: San Francisco Giants at Chicago Cubs
Game1 records: San Francisco 14-18, Chicago 15-17
The San Francisco Giants are two games below the break-even point in series openers, which is actually much better than their overall record of 42-55. And they’ve been picking up the series opening slack lately, wining three of their last five Game 1s. That includes a convincing 8-5 victory over Dontrelle Willis and the Florida Marlins as +127 dogs Friday.
They visit a Chicago Cubs team that’s two games below .500 in Game 1s, which is the worst of its game series records. The Cubs face Jason Schmidt, who’s undefeated in seven Game 1 starts this season for a total profit of 7.83 units. The Giants beat the Cubs in both their series openers last year. Schmidt started both of those contests.
Matchup: Cincinnati Reds at Los Angeles Dodgers
Game1 records: Cincinnati 13-18, Los Angeles 16-16
Line: Dodgers -124, 8
”Reds” has been an appropriate name for Cincinnati this season because at 42-56, they’ve left their supporters drowning in it. They’ve been a little better in Game 1s at 13-18 and have grabbed the cash in five of their last six series openers. Although Cleveland was the team above .500 that they beat through that stretch.
The L.A. Dodgers are an even 16-16 in Game 1s and have gone 4-4 in their last eight series openers. They send Derek Lowe to the hill on Monday, who’s earned 1.46 units by going 4-2 in Game 1s this year.
The Dodgers pounded the Reds 13-6 at even money in the opening tilt of their only other series this season.
