As we reach the quarter of the MLB season, the top teams in each division are starting to emerge. The featured series of the weekend of May 17-19 is the Houston Astros versus Boston Red Sox. Four other match ups will be examined as well.
Houston Astros versus Boston Red Sox
Houston enters the series first in the American League West and the Red Sox are third in the American League East. Gerrit Cole, Corbin Martin and Brad Peacock are scheduled to pitch for the Astros and Rick Porcello and Chris Sale are two of the named starters for the Red Sox. Houston is “burning hot” having won six straight and are +29 on the Power Ranking Indicator. Boston is also on a tear, winning five straight, “burning hot” and +20 on the Power Ranking Indicator. Both teams are playing games trending “over”, which is a safe bet. Houston is the more stable team, +16 to +1 on the Team Volatility Oscillator. Neither team will sweep and both teams are more than capable of taking two of three. Give the Red Sox the edge as the home team to win two in the best match up of the weekend.
Colorado Rockies versus Philadelphia Phillies
The Colorado Rockies head to Philadelphia in fourth in the National League West and the Phillies sit on top of the National League East. John Gray, Antonio Senzatela and Kyle Freeland are scheduled starters for the Rockies. The Phillies are undecided for Friday, but are slated to throw Aaron Nola on Saturday and Jared Eickhoff on Sunday. The Rockies are 6-4 over their last ten, are “average up” on the Team Strength Oscillator and +10 on the Power Ranking Indicator. The Phillies are 7-3 over their last ten, “burning hot” and +24. The teams are trending in opposite directions on the Totals Predictor, so avoid the “over/under” in this one.. The Phillies have been the more stable team and at home have the edge. Look for a series win by the Phillies, although a sweep is unlikely.
San Francisco Giants versus Arizona Diamondbacks
In this NL West battle, the last place Giants head to Arizona to take on the second place Diamondbacks. Jeff Samardzija, Madison Bumgarner and Drew Pomeranz are scheduled to start for the Giants and Merrill Kelly, Zac Godley and Robbie Ray are set to start for the Diamondbacks. Neither teams is playing great lately as indicated by the “ice cold up” status for The Giants and “average” status for Arizona. Both teams are involved in games trending “over”, so that is a very solid bet for games in this series. The Diamondbacks have a +13 to +3 advantage on the Power Ranking Indicator and are the much more stable team. Playing at home and being the better team is a huge advantage. It’s tough to sweep a divisional rival, but it’s likely the Diamondbacks take two of three in the series.
Pittsburgh Pirates versus San Diego Padres
The Pirates are fourth in the NL Central and the Padres are currently third in the NL West. Pittsburgh is 6-4 over the last ten games and are +23 on the Power Ranking Indicator and “average down”. The Padres have split their last ten games, are +19 and “average down” on the Team Strength Oscillator. Jordan Lyles, Stewart Brault and Nick Kingham are scheduled starters for the Pirates. Joey Lucchesi, Nick Margevicius, and Chris Paddock will head to the mound for the Padres. Betting the “over” is a solid bet for both teams trending in that direction. Pittsburgh has a better road record than the Padres do at home, so go with the Pirates to win the series, taking two.
Minnesota Twins versus Seattle Mariners
The Twins enter having lost two and 6-4 over their last ten. They are first in the AL Central, while the Mariners are just 3-7 over their last ten and third in the AL West. Minnesota holds a +26 to +8 advantage on the Power Ranking Indicator and “average up” versus “ice cold up” status. Avoid the “over/under” in this series as teams are heading in opposite directions on the Totals Predictor. Martin Perez, Jose Berrios and Kyle Gibson are scheduled to pitch for the Twins and Felix, Hernandez, Marco Gonzales and Yusei Kikuchi will go for the Mariners. Minnesota is the much more stable team and have played very well on the road. Go with the Twins to handle the Mariners, taking two of three.
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