The MLB season is nearly 75 percent in the books, and now is the time for teams to make a serious run towards the postseason. There are several key matchups for Monday, August 18. I will examine four games, with the Detroit Tigers hosting the Houston Astros in the featured game.
Houston Astros versus Detroit Tigers
Two American League division leaders square off in this battle. The Tigers are “burning hot” versus “average up” on the Team Strength Oscillator, and Houston is +22 to +20 on the Power Ranks Indicator. The teams have been trending in games “over” the line and are a combined +122 in scoring differential. Detroit is 39-24 at home, while Houston is a solid 31-28 on the road. Detroit is the more stable team, more consistently performing in accordance to their favorite/underdog status, at +24 to -6 on the Team Volatility Oscillator. Houston won two of three against Detroit at home earlier in the season with a combined run total of 35. I like the Tigers to even the score, winning in a game “over” the line.
Baltimore Orioles versus Boston Red Sox
In this American League matchup, the Red Sox come in second to the Blue Jays, and the Orioles are a distant 15.5 games back. Boston is only 2-4 over the last six and “ice cold down” versus 3-3 and “burning hot” for Baltimore. The teams are trending on opposite sides of the “over/under” line, with a score prediction of 8-4 in favor of Baltimore, at 47 percent confidence. Boston has one of the best home records in the league at 39-22, and Baltimore is 25-36 on the road. The Red Sox have a huge advantage in scoring differential at +93 to -86. They also won four of the six games between the teams this season. I like Boston to continue their dominance over Baltimore, but pass on the “over/under” bet.
Texas Rangers versus Kansas City Royals
Both teams enter play on a downward trend. Texas is “dead” on the Team Strength Oscillator after going 1-5 over the last six, while Kansas City is “average down” following a recent 5-5 stretch. The Royals are +14 to +6 on the Power Ranks Indicator, but the Rangers have a scoring differential edge of +57 to -14. The Royals are only a game over .500 at home, while the Rangers have a poor road record of 24-35. The Royals swept the Rangers in Texas earlier in the season, allowing only five runs in the three games. With the Rangers scuffling, I like the trend to continue. Go with the Royals in a game “over” the line.
San Francisco Giants versus San Diego Padres
The Padres enter battling with the Los Angeles Dodgers for first place in the National League West, while the Giants are 4th in the division. The teams are trending in opposite directions. The Padres are “burning hot” after going 5-1 over the last six, and the Giants are “dead” after 1-5 over the same stretch. The teams are trending in games “under” the line, but the score prediction is 12 runs total with nearly 69 percent confidence. The Padres are +27 to +1 on the Power Ranks Indicator and have a scoring differential edge of +52 to -6. San Diego also has one of the top home records in the league at 38-20 and won seven of nine games between the teams this season. I like the Padres to roll in this one, but pass on the “over/under” bet.
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