Three weeks of the MLB season are in the books and there are some surprises around the league. The Tampa Bay Rays are first in the AL East with a 12-4 record. Their series against the Red Sox highlights the games for the weekend. Three other series will be examined at well. Note that all information is for games played through April 15.
Boston Red Sox versus Tampa Bay Rays
The Boston Red Sox are off to a slow start with a 6-11 record and 3-8 on the road. They are +7 on the Power Ranking Indicator and “average down” on the Team Strength Oscillator. The Rays are the hottest team in baseball with a 12-4 record and 5-2 at home. They are +26 on “burning hot” status. The Rays have been one of the most stable teams in the league according to the Team Volatility Oscillator, while the Red Sox are among the most unstable. Use caution when looking at the Red Sox favorite/underdog status this weekend. If looking at the “over/under”, it’s best to pass on that since the Red Sox games are trending over and the Rays games are trending under. Eduardo Rodriguez, Rick Porcello and David Price are scheduled for the Red Sox to pitch and they have all been very profitable according to the Pitcher Profit Oscillator. On the other hand, only Blake Snell, scheduled to pitch Friday is in the green of the three starters for the Rays this weekend. Tampa will cool off at some point and it may be this weekend. The Red Sox are due to come out of their slow start and have the firepower to do so. Look for the Red Sox take two of three games.
San Francisco Giants versus Pittsburgh Pirates
The Giants are off to a 7-10 start, fourth in the National League West. They are just 2-5 on the road, are +14 on the Power Ranking Indicator and “average” on the Team Strength Oscillator. The Pirates are off to a good start, at 8-6, second in the National League Central. They are +13 and “average” status. Neither team has been extremely stable at this point and betting on the “over/under” is not wise this series since the teams are trending on opposite sides of the line. Of the three scheduled starters for the Giants, only Derek Holland is profitable at +1208. Jordan Lyles and Chris Archer, two of the Pirates scheduled starters are -1716 and -2293 on the Pitcher Profit Oscillator. Jameson Taillon has been an excellent bet at +1348 and he faces Holland on Saturday. The Pirates have been good at home, at 4-2 so far this season. Expect a win on Saturday for the Pirates and a toss up for Friday and Sunday. The series could go two games to one, either way with each equally likely.
Arizona Diamondbacks versus Chicago Cubs
Neither team is off to a good start this season. Arizona is 7-9, +4 on the Power Ranking Indicator and “ice cold down” on the Team Strength Oscillator. The Cubs are 6-9 and already four games off the pace. They are +6 and “average down” status. Both teams are playing games that are trending “over”, so if betting the “over/under”, going “over” is a safe bet. Neither team has been very stable, so take favorite/underdog status lightly when considering who to bet on. The best bet all weekend is on the Diamondbacks on Saturday with Zack Greinke on the mound. He is +2681 on the Pitcher Profit Oscillator going against Yu Darvish, who is -1365. The best chance for the Cubs is Sunday, as Robbie Ray is -1858 for the Diamondbacks. Look for the Cubs to take two of three this series to inch closer to the .500 mark for the season.
Chicago White Sox versus Detroit Tigers
In this American League Central battle, the 6-9 White Sox take on the 8-7 Tigers. Chicago is 4-4 on the road, +5 on the Power Ranking Indicator and “burning hot”, winners of their last two. The Tigers are losers of their last three, contributing to their “ice cold down” status. They are still +18 on the Power Ranking Indicator after a hot start. Avoid the “over/under” in this series as the teams are trending on opposite sides of the line. The best bets on the mound this weekend is Carlos Rodon for the White Sox, who is +780 on the Pitcher Profit Oscillator, and Jordan Zimmerman for the Tigers, who is +1217. The White Sox should win the first game, while the Tigers are likely to take the second. Sunday’s match up features Reynaldo Lopez for the White Sox versus Matthew Boyd for the Tigers. Boyd has a +299 to -113 edge in profit. With the Tigers are home, they have the edge and should win two of three this weekend.
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