Baseball Picks (Expert Predictions, Tips, Parlays)

Giants at Rays Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 8/3/2013

The Tampa Bay Rays are no doubt terribly sad to see July in the rearview mirror. The San Francisco Giants say good riddance. It's a rare interleague matchup between these teams and just the second time the Giants will be visiting Tropicana Field (first way back in 2004). Considering every other “domed" stadium has a retractable roof these days -- another reason why the Trop is the worst stadium in the majors -- it actually could affect a few pop flies as the Giants won't be used to it.

Rangers at Athletics Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 8/2/2013

Interesting trade deadline involving the two AL West contenders, the Texas Rangers and Oakland A's. The Rangers did their big move before the deadline in landing Matt Garza, but the offense is massively underperforming, and there was the expectation that Texas would add a bat. That was especially true with the expectation that top power hitter Nelson Cruz may be suspended in the Biogenesis mess.

Dodgers at Cubs Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Dave Schwab - 8/1/2013

The red-hot Los Angeles Dodgers kick off an eight-game road trip this Thursday night with the first of a four-game weekend set against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. This series opener is set to get underway at 8:05 p.m. (ET), and it will be available on MLB Extra Innings.

White Sox at Indians Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 7/31/2013

Am I one of those types of guys who believes he can affect the outcome of a professional game by not watching when my team is shooting the potential winning free throws in the final seconds? It's stupid, but I do, and I know I'm not alone in that. I mention this because Cleveland Indians fans have my apologies for previewing their game Wednesday night against the White Sox. You see, every time I have previewed the Tribe this year they have been on a streak, either good or bad.

Giants at Phillies Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Dave Schwab - 7/30/2013

The San Francisco Giants will head east this week for a six-game road trip starting with a stop at Citizens Bank Park to play three games against the Philadelphia Phillies. Tuesday night’s Game 1 of this National League clash is set for 7:05 p.m. (ET), and it will be available on MLB Extra Innings.

Rockies at Braves Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 7/29/2013

Certainly one of the most gruesome injuries in recent baseball history -- probably since the Giants' Buster Posey had his ankle blown up on a play at the plate in May 2011 -- happened Wednesday night when the Braves' Tim Hudson broke his right ankle. He was stepped on by the Mets' Eric Young Jr. while covering first base.

Reds at Dodgers Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 7/27/2013

Are the Dodgers just fattening up on mediocre-to-bad teams? There's certainly nothing wrong with that, and it's what good teams should do. But here are the teams against which the Dodgers have won series in winning 23 of 29 since June 21: San Francisco, Philadelphia, Colorado, San Francisco again, Arizona, Colorado again (split four games), Washington and Toronto. There probably isn't a playoff team in that group.

Cubs at Giants Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 7/26/2013

This could be one of the best weeks the Chicago Cubs have had in years, and it has squat to do with what happens on the field. On Monday, the Cubs were able to land a pretty impressive haul of prospects from the Texas Rangers for pitcher Matt Garza, who will become a free agent after this season.

Angels at Athletics Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Dave Schwab - 7/25/2013

The Los Angeles Angels and the Oakland Athletics will get an early jump on an extended four-game weekend series this Thursday night at the Oakland County Coliseum. Game 1 of this AL West clash is set to get underway at 10:05 p.m. (ET), and it will be available on MLB Extra Innings.

Yankees at Rangers Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 7/24/2013

Look for the trade market to really heat up now in advance of next Wednesday's non-waiver deadline after the Chicago Cubs traded their ace and presumably the best pitcher available, right-hander Matt Garza, to the Texas Rangers on Monday. The Cubs know they aren't likely to contend until at least 2015, and Theo Epstein did quite well in landing a batch of quality prospects for a guy who will be a free agent this offseason.

Phillies at Cardinals Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Dave Schwab - 7/23/2013

The Philadelphia Phillies continue on their nine-game road trip with the first of three games against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium this Tuesday night. Game time for this National League clash is set for 8:15 p.m. (ET), and it will be available on MLB Extra Innings.

Tigers at White Sox Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 7/22/2013

I was ready to preview Monday night's Yankees-Rangers matchup. It had some potential good storylines. The return of Texas ace Yu Darvish from the disabled list is one. The Rangers' really need Darvish to stay healthy if this Matt Garza trade does indeed fall through -- as of this writing the proposed deal with the Cubs is in limbo because of some health questions, reportedly, of Texas prospect Mike Olt, the key piece that would go back to Chicago for Garza.

Dodgers at Nationals Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 7/20/2013

If you would have told me back in the spring that this weekend's series in D.C. between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Washington Nationals was going to be a preview of the NLCS in October, I would have probably agreed. The Nats were the preseason National League favorites and should have been.

Pirates at Reds Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 7/19/2013

I am not really ready to call any series in mid-July a big series, but I guess the Pirates-Reds matchup to open the second half is fairly important. At 56-37, Pittsburgh seems a lock to finish with its first winning record since 1992 and is just a game behind St. Louis in the NL Central while leading the wild-card chase. The Pirates need to prove another second-half fade isn't coming. The Reds (53-42) have a five-game lead over disappointing Washington for the second wild-card spot.

2013 MLB All-Star Game Picks and Betting Predictions
by Dave Schwab - 7/15/2013

The best of the best in Major League Baseball will take center stage this Tuesday night when the American League squares off against the National League in the 2013 MLB All-Star Game at Citi Field in New York. Tuesday night’s Mid-Summer Classic is set to get underway at 8 p.m. (ET), and it will be broadcast nationally on FOX.

Cardinals at Cubs Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 7/13/2013

I guarantee you that Cubs management will be holding its breath on Saturday when red-hot pitcher Matt Garza takes the mound against the visiting Cardinals. Why? Garza is clearly the top pitcher available on the trade market. However, he does have a history of injury. So Theo Epstein and Co. are rolling the dice the longer they wait. No team has met the Cubs' high price yet, although many believe Texas will be Garza's eventual destination.

Red Sox at A's Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 7/12/2013

The Boston Red Sox open a three-game series in Oakland on Friday night, and it's not hard to picture the Sox visiting Oakland come October for a playoff series as well. Boston has the best record in the American League and the top run differential. The A's have the second-best record in the AL and third-best run differential.

Red Sox at Athletics Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 7/12/2013

The Boston Red Sox open a three-game series in Oakland on Friday night, and it's not hard to picture the Sox visiting Oakland come October for a playoff series as well. Boston has the best record in the American League and the top run differential. The A's have the second-best record in the AL and third-best run differential (Detroit No. 2).

Reds at Braves Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 7/11/2013

The Cincinnati Reds will spend an extended weekend at Turner Field starting this Thursday night when the face the Atlanta Braves in Game 1 of a four-game set. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. and the game will be broadcast nationally on the MLB Network for one of the best series of the weekend.

Rockies at Padres Picks and MLB Betting Odds
by Alan Matthews - 7/10/2013

Less than two weeks ago, after beating the Miami Marlins in the opener of a three-game series in south Florida, the San Diego Padres were a .500 team at 40-40 and just 2.5 games out of first place in the NL West. However, the Friars have fallen off a cliff since that night, losing 10 straight games entering Tuesday's Game 2 of their series with Colorado.