MLB Betting Market Ends in the Bay Area

A rematch of the 2010 National League Championship Series highlights Thursday’s 10-game betting card in Major League Baseball.  The Philadelphia Phillies will be looking to gain revenge from last year’s failure to reach the World Series against the San Francisco Giants, and also dropping two of three in a series last month.

Let’s take a closer look at this game and two others from a betting perspective.

Texas Rangers (-126) at Detroit Tigers

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Alexi Ogando (10-5, 2.88 ERA) will be focused on snapping a two-game losing streak that has seen a high-powered offense supply him just two runs of support over that span.

Ogando has been absolutely brilliant in five career appearances (two starts) against the Tigers, posting a 2-0 record and 1.06 ERA, limiting them to a .177 average in the process.

Detroit is scheduled to send right-hander Brad Penny (7-8, 4.89 ERA) to the hill for his 22nd start of the year and he will look to turn things around.  He has given up 11 runs and 16 hits over 10.1 innings in back-to-back defeats to the Los Angeles Angels and Minnesota Twins.

The 33-year-old has tallied a 1-3 mark and 4.60 ERA in five lifetime outings versus the Rangers, including a no-decision effort on April 12 at Comerica Park.  He allowed three runs and seven hits over 6.2 frames in a 5-4 win.

Bettors will likely back the Tigers as a home underdog due to their 26-17 record in day games, while the Rangers have a losing 26-29 mark on the road.

Cleveland Indians at Boston Red Sox (-166)

Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Justin Masterson (8-7, 2.56 ERA) has allowed just 12 runs (eight earned) in his last 52.1 innings of work, which comes out to a 1.38 ERA over that span.

The main problem that has plagued the right-hander all season long is offensive support, receiving two runs or less in 10 of his 22 starts.

Left-hander Erik Bedard (4-7, 3.45 ERA) is set to make his first appearance in a Boston Red Sox uniform, after being acquired from the Seattle Mariners near last week's trade deadline.  He is coming off his shortest start of his career against the Tampa Bay Rays, sitting down just four batters before getting lifted.

Bedard has lost each of his last two starts against Cleveland, including an April 10 contest in Seattle, as he allowed six runs and a season-high 10 hits in four frames.

A play on the Tribe must be considered due to winning all three of Masterson's career starts versus the Red Sox.

Philadelphia Phillies (-135) at San Francisco Giants

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Cliff Lee (10-7, 3.14 ERA) came away with a 7-4 home win over the Pittsburgh Pirates last time out, as the club has now alternated wins and losses over his last four starts.

The former Cy Young winner has tallied a perfect 3-0 record and 1.13 ERA in three career starts versus the Giants, with two of those wins coming at tonight's venue.

San Francisco Giants starter Madison Bumgarner (6-10, 3.80 ERA) will be making his first regular season start versus Philadelphia tonight, after starting Game 4 of the NLCS and making a relief appearance in Game 6. 

The left-hander has tallied a losing 3-5 record and 4.60 ERA in 11 starts at pitcher-friendly AT&T Park, as opponents have hit a surprising .310 against him.

Bettors will likely back the Phillies due to their 19-9 record against left-handed starters, while the Giants are 2-5 in their last seven games as an underdog.