MLB Games for Tuesday

Trying to focus on matchups that have relevance for both teams playing becomes increasingly difficult as the regular baseball betting season winds down. But that’s fine, since they all still count, and there’s still money to be won for the sports gamblers of the world. Let’s take a look at a couple good ones coming up for next week.

Twins at Tigers: Look at that, a game that actually does affect both teams’ playoff hopes. The Tigers are working frantically to keep the Twins off their back and get into the postseason. Can either team from the weak AL Central hope to compete with the Yankees anyway in the first round? That waits to be seen, as we all know it’s not the best team that often wins the World Series, it’s the team that’s playing the best baseball at the time. The Tigers put the ball in Justin Verlander’s hands, and he hasn’t disappointed this season, going 16-9 with a respectable 3.44 ERA. Verlander has thrown heat all year, and has around 250 strikeouts to show for it. Add a 1.18 WHIP, and the Twins hitters will have a tough time getting on base. Minnesota offers Brian Duensing, who’s 4-1 with a 3.2 ERA himself, although he’s only started 21 games this season. The Twins have won four of the last six he’s started for them. Now, the Twins can hit, they’re third in the AL with a .272 team average, but their pitching is 11th, and the challenge for them will be to limit the Tiger’s offense while putting up enough runs on the road to get the job done. They can do it, but probably not against Verlander. Tigers -135, Twins +120. Bet the Tigers and the over.

Looks like everything else only has online sports betting spoiler potential, so we’ll go to St. Louis at Cincinnati, and see if the Reds can put the brakes on the Cards’ attempt to both surpass the Dodgers record for best in the NL and at the same time hold their slim lead on Philly. Home-field and first-round matchup implications hang in the balance. The Reds, on the other hand, aren’t playing for much. Even my bet that the White Sox would finish with a better record is decided (hello bottle of vodka!). But they won’t just go through the motions, especially against a division rival. And lucky for them, they won’t be facing a Cardinals pitcher up for the Cy Young award in this one. Instead, Joel Pineiro throw for the Cards, and brings in a 15-11 record and 3.2 ERA. He’s not a K king (only 100), but he has a great WHIP at 1.15 and the team wins with consistency when he’s pitching (7 of the last 10 games). The Reds send Homer Bailey, 5-5 and 5.15 ERA – not numbers you’d want to give him 5 over, per se). Everyone knows St. Louis has studs on the mound, but the team is also 5th in the NL with a .264 average, which probably spells a blowout for the Reds in this game, and series. The Reds are at home, which might help them a little in the money line, but it won’t be enough to hold off the determined Cardinals. Cards -155, Reds +135. Bet the Cards to win.