2012 MLB O/U Record: 287-268-31, -$1,623 (Was making bigger bets earlier in the season, with countless fluke bad breaks, obviously.I also undoubtedly lead the country in half-run/one-run losses)
2011 MLB O/U Record: 366-270-42, +$1,104
Very unfortunate 1-2 day last night (100-percent right with my bold prediction on freaking Brian Duensing, and Brandon McCarthy gives me his worst start ever in an A's uniform. Typical. Only me), considering I was a perfectly brilliant 5-0 with my games recommended (6-0 if you count my winning advice on Garcia vs Floyd over, although I didn’t recommend that one), but hey, that’s my luck this year. In fact, I am, without question, well over 60-percent on my games recommended since I started adding that section to my articles, which is just a shame because the only reason I don’t take those games is because I hate getting into the habit of taking way too many over/unders. If it continues, then I’m going to have to change that philosophy, especially since I’m about to depressingly hit my loss total from all of last year (This was the main reason I decreased my number of bets - to delay loss No. 270). Anyway, let’s see what we have on this Tuesday evening…
Houston Astros @ St. Louis Cardinals (Best Bet) - Price TBD
Lucas Harrell vs Adam Wainwright
UNDER [Wait to see if it goes to 7.5; will still take at 7]
Another day, another Lucas Harrell under. Can you blame me, though? I’ve been nearly flawless with him all year, even labeling him as one of my top three sleeper starting pitchers in all of baseball entering the season, and he’s been absolutely brilliant. Despite being a mere waiver claim pickup in the middle of last season, Harrell has mostly flourished ever since, especially in 2012, in which he has posted an impressive 10-8 campaign with a 3.81 ERA and 1.33 WHIP. What makes those ten wins stand out even more is that he plays for a team that doesn’t even have 40 total wins yet - in other words, he’s already attained double-digit victories on a historically bad ballclub. It wasn’t all easy for Harrell, as he had to overcome early season struggles (5+ ERA at one point in mid-June), but I never backed off my stance with him, and the former White Sox prospect has made me look brilliant, allowing more than two runs in a start just once in the ten starts since his earned run average had ballooned above 5. Furthermore, he’s currently on a streak inwhich he has surrendered two runs or less in seven straight outings… that’s incredible. Yes, when it’s not a top-tier pitcher who accomplishes such a feat, odds are that streak will end sooner rather than later, but the thing I love about Lucas Harrell is that he’s set so comfortably mentally, based on the many times I’ve watched him. Even opposing announcers notice it, like in his last start, when the Cubs’ broadcasters were talking about how upbeat and loose Harrell was before the game and throughout the evening, remarking how he was often laughing and having fun out there. That’s a key trait in a starting pitcher because when you’re in a place like that mentally, you’re more than likely going to contribute one of your best efforts. As a result, I hope he remains in that same mindset as he approaches this potential pitcher’s duel.
While this might be fun and games for the Astros’ right-hander, it can’t really be considered as such for the opposing hurler, Adam Wainwright, as his team is fighting for their lives, much like last year, to get into the postseason. Even so, that’s a very good element to look at as it pertains to this specific bout, considering the Cardinals can’t waste valuable opportunities for wins, such as this one being matched up with the worst team in baseball, and at home no less. That attitude has seemingly rubbed off onto everyone in the organization, specifically Wainwright, who has severely upped his game in effort of retaining the old form that made him a perennial Cy Young candidate. In fact, Wainwright possessed an ERA just below 5 heading into July, but ever since, he’s made eight starts, and seven of those have seen him allow two runs or less. In essence, it’s a similar dominant run to the one Lucas Harrell is currently on. In this case, though, it’s someone who is proven and has been here before, therefore meaning that he knows how to sustain his momentum and keep up his terrific string of pitching. Wainwright is a big-game pitcher, and while the Astros are what they are, this can actually be viewed as a big game for the defending World Champions, considering they’ll be facing Houston’s best pitcher. You could even argue that this will be a battle of aces, and as a result, I can’t see Wainwright showing up with anything less than his best stuff. He has a very good track record against the division rival ‘Stros, and also picked up another quality start against them earlier this year in June (He actually had a no-hitter going into the fourth or fifth before he crumbled a bit). Bottom line: Given Wainwright’s excellent overall performance over the past two months, it’s hard to envision him falling off the wagon against the worst offense in the game. Thus, it should be a given that his streak of allowing two runs or less continues, and even if Harrell doesn’t extend his own such streak, all we need is a similar effort that could get this ballgame to a victorious 4-2/5-1 outcome.
**May Add More Over/Under(s) Throughout Day Leading Up To Gametime**
**Remember that if you have a question concerning an over/under, I will gladly assist you with it if I see it before the game starts, even the ones I don’t bet on, as I have at least a small vibe on every single over/under from studying this stuff several hours every single day and night**
2011 MLB O/U Record: 366-270-42, +$1,104
Very unfortunate 1-2 day last night (100-percent right with my bold prediction on freaking Brian Duensing, and Brandon McCarthy gives me his worst start ever in an A's uniform. Typical. Only me), considering I was a perfectly brilliant 5-0 with my games recommended (6-0 if you count my winning advice on Garcia vs Floyd over, although I didn’t recommend that one), but hey, that’s my luck this year. In fact, I am, without question, well over 60-percent on my games recommended since I started adding that section to my articles, which is just a shame because the only reason I don’t take those games is because I hate getting into the habit of taking way too many over/unders. If it continues, then I’m going to have to change that philosophy, especially since I’m about to depressingly hit my loss total from all of last year (This was the main reason I decreased my number of bets - to delay loss No. 270). Anyway, let’s see what we have on this Tuesday evening…
Houston Astros @ St. Louis Cardinals (Best Bet) - Price TBD
Lucas Harrell vs Adam Wainwright
UNDER [Wait to see if it goes to 7.5; will still take at 7]
Another day, another Lucas Harrell under. Can you blame me, though? I’ve been nearly flawless with him all year, even labeling him as one of my top three sleeper starting pitchers in all of baseball entering the season, and he’s been absolutely brilliant. Despite being a mere waiver claim pickup in the middle of last season, Harrell has mostly flourished ever since, especially in 2012, in which he has posted an impressive 10-8 campaign with a 3.81 ERA and 1.33 WHIP. What makes those ten wins stand out even more is that he plays for a team that doesn’t even have 40 total wins yet - in other words, he’s already attained double-digit victories on a historically bad ballclub. It wasn’t all easy for Harrell, as he had to overcome early season struggles (5+ ERA at one point in mid-June), but I never backed off my stance with him, and the former White Sox prospect has made me look brilliant, allowing more than two runs in a start just once in the ten starts since his earned run average had ballooned above 5. Furthermore, he’s currently on a streak inwhich he has surrendered two runs or less in seven straight outings… that’s incredible. Yes, when it’s not a top-tier pitcher who accomplishes such a feat, odds are that streak will end sooner rather than later, but the thing I love about Lucas Harrell is that he’s set so comfortably mentally, based on the many times I’ve watched him. Even opposing announcers notice it, like in his last start, when the Cubs’ broadcasters were talking about how upbeat and loose Harrell was before the game and throughout the evening, remarking how he was often laughing and having fun out there. That’s a key trait in a starting pitcher because when you’re in a place like that mentally, you’re more than likely going to contribute one of your best efforts. As a result, I hope he remains in that same mindset as he approaches this potential pitcher’s duel.
While this might be fun and games for the Astros’ right-hander, it can’t really be considered as such for the opposing hurler, Adam Wainwright, as his team is fighting for their lives, much like last year, to get into the postseason. Even so, that’s a very good element to look at as it pertains to this specific bout, considering the Cardinals can’t waste valuable opportunities for wins, such as this one being matched up with the worst team in baseball, and at home no less. That attitude has seemingly rubbed off onto everyone in the organization, specifically Wainwright, who has severely upped his game in effort of retaining the old form that made him a perennial Cy Young candidate. In fact, Wainwright possessed an ERA just below 5 heading into July, but ever since, he’s made eight starts, and seven of those have seen him allow two runs or less. In essence, it’s a similar dominant run to the one Lucas Harrell is currently on. In this case, though, it’s someone who is proven and has been here before, therefore meaning that he knows how to sustain his momentum and keep up his terrific string of pitching. Wainwright is a big-game pitcher, and while the Astros are what they are, this can actually be viewed as a big game for the defending World Champions, considering they’ll be facing Houston’s best pitcher. You could even argue that this will be a battle of aces, and as a result, I can’t see Wainwright showing up with anything less than his best stuff. He has a very good track record against the division rival ‘Stros, and also picked up another quality start against them earlier this year in June (He actually had a no-hitter going into the fourth or fifth before he crumbled a bit). Bottom line: Given Wainwright’s excellent overall performance over the past two months, it’s hard to envision him falling off the wagon against the worst offense in the game. Thus, it should be a given that his streak of allowing two runs or less continues, and even if Harrell doesn’t extend his own such streak, all we need is a similar effort that could get this ballgame to a victorious 4-2/5-1 outcome.
**May Add More Over/Under(s) Throughout Day Leading Up To Gametime**
**Remember that if you have a question concerning an over/under, I will gladly assist you with it if I see it before the game starts, even the ones I don’t bet on, as I have at least a small vibe on every single over/under from studying this stuff several hours every single day and night**
