The second half of the MLB season is underway. Teams need to determine whether they are buyers or sellers at the trade deadline. There is a full slate of games for Monday, July 21. Will make picks for four of them with the Dodgers facing off against the Twins in the headlined matchup.
Minnesota Twins versus Los Angeles Dodgers
Minnesota comes in two games under .500 and 11.5 games out in the AL Central, while Los Angeles is pacing the NL West and 5.5 games up on the San Diego Padres. The Dodgers are “average up” versus “average” on the Team Strength Oscillator and +22 to +15 on the Power Ranks Indicator. Minnesota is poor on the road at just 19-29, while the Dodgers have an excellent home record of 33-17. Los Angeles has a +69 to -8 scoring differential edge, and the score prediction is 7-1 in favor of the Dodgers. Earlier in the season, the Dodgers won two of three in Minnesota with a combined run total of 20 for the three games. I like the Dodgers to take care of business at home, winning similarly in a game “under” the line.
Boston Red Sox versus Philadelphia Phillies
The Red Sox enter as the hottest team in Major League Baseball. After winning ten straight, they are just three games back in the AL East. Boston is “burning hot” on the Team Strength Oscillator and +29 on the Power Ranks Indicator. The Phillies are 5-5 over the last ten, “ice cold up” and +16 on the Power Ranks Indicator. The teams are trending in games “under” the line and a combined +124 in scoring differential. The Phillies have one of the top home records at 30-16, while the Red Sox are 21-25 on the road. Philadelphia is one of the more stable teams in the league at +28 on the Team Volatility Oscillator. I like the Phillies at home to cool off the Red Sox. Go with the Phillies but pass on the “over/under” bet.
Kansas City Royals versus Chicago Cubs
The Cubs sit on top of the NL Central while the Royals are third in the AL Central. Chicago is “burning hot” on the Team Strength Oscillator after winning three of the last four. Kansas City is “average up” and 4-2 over the last six. The teams are trending in games on opposite sides of the line, with the Cubs holding a large scoring differential edge of +119 to -28. Chicago has a +26 to +20 edge on the Power Ranks Indicator. The Royals are a game under .500 on the road, and the Cubs are 30-16 at home. The Cubs won two of three on the road against the Royals last season. I like that trend to continue at home in a game “over” the line.
Milwaukee Brewers versus Seattle Mariners
Both teams come into play “burning hot” on the Team Strength Oscillator. The Brewers are only a game behind the Cubs in the NL Central, while the Mariners are five games behind the Astros in the AL West. Milwaukee is 23-23 on the road, and Seattle is four games over .500 at home. The teams are trending in games “over” the line, but the score prediction is rather low at 5-0 in favor of the Brewers with 62 percent confidence. Milwaukee has a scoring differential edge of +81 to +32 and is the more stable team at +22 to +4 on the Team Volatility Oscillator. I like the Brewers in the road upset in a game “over” the line.
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