Chase Burns is in the spotlight for the Cincinnati Reds tonight against the KC Royals, with Emerson Hancock starting for the Seattle Mariners
What’s topping MLB news headlines today are updates on labour negotiations, unfortunately, which doesn’t bode well for labour peace in the next year.
The owners proposed a new deal that includes a salary cap, similar to what the NHL has, and the players responded with a hard no. The MLB Players’ Association submitted a proposal that calls to advance the current system, which includes increases in luxury tax thresholds. Fears of a nasty, prolonged labour fight are very real, starting this off-season.
Philadelphia Phillies’ star Bryce Harper, a two-time MVP, talked today about how far apart the two sides are, but also how much the game is growing, and how it would be terrible to lose that momentum. Plus, as Harper accurately acknowledged – in 1994, the last time there was a work stoppage in the sport, there weren’t the entertainment alternatives that there are now.
For sports bettors, it would be an awful scenario if there were no MLB next summer. There’s no better sport to bet on – nearly 2,500 regular season games, numerous betting opportunities, a ton of player prop action, and of course opportunities to quickly recover from losses and capitalize on winning streaks.
Other news today – people are still talking about the New Yankees, who scored 13 runs in one inning against the Oakland A’s yesterday, winning 13-8, just one shy of the highest scoring inning in the franchise’s history.
The Philadelphia Phillies got good news on the J.T. Realmuto front. X-rays came back negative after the catcher took a pitch off the left wrist during the Phillies’ 9-1 loss to the L.A. Dodgers yesterday.
BEST BETS
Three on the docket for today, with action on nine fronts, overall.
Colorado Rockies (22-28, 10-22 away) at Los Angeles Angels (23-37, 12-16 home), 9:40 p.m. EST, Angel Stadium, Anaheim, California
In MLB betting at Betway, the Angels are -200 Moneyline favourites, the Rockies +175. ATS: Angels -1.5 (+100), the Rockies +1.5 (-120). Over /Under is 8.5 (O +105, U -125).
Angels -1.5 (+100)
The Angels aren’t exactly world beaters, but the Rockies are one of the worst teams in the league. A pitcher with an 8.08 ERA (Kyle Freeland) goes into Anaheim, taking on Jose Soriano (6-4, 2.65)?
The Angels are going to have a lot of opportunities to score. I also like Soriano on the 8+ strikeout prop, at +125, since he’s currently ninth in MLB with 78 SOs.
New York Mets (26-33, 11-18 away) at Seattle Mariners (31-29, 17-15 home), 9:40 p.m. EST, T-Mobile Park, Seattle, Washington
At Betway, the Mariners are -130, the Mets +110. Seattle is -1.5 on the spread (+150), with the Mets at +1.5 (-200). Over/Under is 7.5 (O +105, U -125).
Seattle Mariners To Win (-130)
Winners of six in a row now, 8-2 in their last 10, and on home field, the Mariners are awakening for their season-long slumber, and are starting to roll, now first place in a rather sad American League West.
The Mariners are even gaining in World Series Futures – now +1100 at Betway.
Seattle sends Emerson Hancock (4-2, 2.78 ERA) to the mound. Not that I am sleeping on the Mets, who’ve won four in a row.
Hancock 6+ strikeouts is a good prop (+135). He’s averaging around 5.7 per start this season. That’s good value there.
Kansas City Royals (22-37, 7-20 away) at Cincinnati Reds (30-28, 15-14 home), 7:10 p.m. EST, Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati Ohio
At Betway, the Reds are -190 on the ML, the Royals +160. ATS: Reds -1.5 (+105), Royals +1.5 (-125). The Over/Under is 8.5 (O -110, U -110).
Cincinnati Reds To Win (-190)
The Royals are coming in having lost six in a row, and face Chase Burns (7-1, 1.96 ERA, 72 SOs, tied for 17th in MLB).
That’s a big edge in pitching for the Reds (the Royals are countering with Luinder Avila (0-2, 5.06 ERA).
