MLB Betting News and Trends For Friday 10/5/18

Cleveland Indians vs. Houston Astros Preview and Predictions 10-05-2018 in MLB

MLB Previews 4th October 2018 by Gracenote
Indians vs. Astros Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 10/04/2018

Two former Cy Young Award winners who finished the regular season strong prepare to face dangerous lineups when the Cleveland Indians visit the Houston Astros on Friday for Game 1 of the American League Division Series. Cleveland's Corey Kluber was unbeaten in his last six starts and went 1-0 with a 1.35 ERA against Houston this year while Justin Verlander gave up four runs across 33 innings in September for the Astros.

The Indians eased to their third straight AL Central title, stringing three 90 plus-win seasons together (91 in 2018) for the first time since 1999-2001, and defending World Series champion Houston set a franchise record with 103 victories. "They have an outstanding ball club," Cleveland outfielder-second baseman Jason Kipnis told the Plain Dealer. ". ... I think it's going to be one of the most evenly matched series in the first round. In terms of pitching staffs, we line up with them. In terms of lineup we line up with them. It's going to be a lot of fun." Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor launched 38 homers in the regular season, but went 3-for-31 against the Astros, while Cleveland slugger Edwin Encarnacion was 9-for-26 versus Houston with two of his 32 blasts. Jose Altuve, who batted .300 for the fifth straight year (.315, 2018), was a robust 15-for-32 against the Indians during the regular season and Alex Bregman went 8-for-31 with two of his career-best 31 homers.

TV: 2:05 p.m. ET, TBS

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Corey Kluber (20-7, 2.89 ERA) vs. Astros RH Justin Verlander (16-9, 2.52)

Kluber did not pitch well in the playoffs last season, giving up nine runs over 6 1/3 innings, but was outstanding in 2016 during the Indians' run to the World Series (4-1, 1.83 ERA). The 32-year-old Alabama native won his final four decisions in the regular season, recording a 2.80 ERA during that six-game stretch to reach 20 victories for the first time and strike out at 200 for the fifth straight year (222, 2018). Marwin Gonzalez is 9-for-20 with a pair of homers versus Kluber, who is 6-3 with a 2.83 ERA in 10 career appearances (nine starts) against Houston.

Verlander went 3-0 with a 1.09 ERA in five September starts after struggling a bit in August while registering a 5.29 ERA in six outings. The 35-year-old Virginia native, who struck out a career high 290 batters this season without facing the Indians, went 4-1 with a 2.21 ERA during Houston's run to the World title in 2017 and is 11-6 with a 3.07 ERA lifetime in the postseason. Jose Ramirez is 11-for-27 with three doubles and two homers against Verlander, who is 4-7 with a 2.84 ERA at home this season while giving up 19 of his 28 homers at Minute Maid Park.

WALK-OFFS

1. Houston 1B Yuli Gurriel, who batted .291 this season overall, was 23-for-56 with 15 RBIs while hitting safely in 13 of his last 14 contests.

2. Cleveland LF Michael Brantley ended the regular season with a nine-game hitting streak and batted .341 in September to finish at .309 overall.

3. The Indians lost four of the first five in the season series this year - two of three at Houston - but scored 18 runs in winning the last two in late May.

PREDICTION: Indians 4, Astros 3
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New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox Preview and Predictions 10-05-2018 in MLB

MLB Previews 4th October 2018 by Gracenote
Yankees vs. Red Sox Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 10/04/2018

The Boston Red Sox set a franchise record for wins during the regular season and ran away with the American League East, but the New York Yankees will not be intimidated. The bitter rivals will meet in the postseason for the first time since 2004 when the Yankees visit the Red Sox for Game 1 of the American League Division Series on Friday.

New York won 100 games during the regular season but still needed to survive the one-game wild card playoff on Wednesday, beating the Oakland Athletics 7-2 to earn a trip to Fenway Park. "I think they can't wait," Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters of his players. "I think they're ready and relish the opportunity to go up against the game's best this year. And obviously we're very familiar with them. We know how good they are. I mean, we know we have to play our best if we're going to have a chance to beat them." Boston (108-54), which will start ace Chris Sale opposite New York lefty J.A. Happ in Game 1, led the majors in runs scored (876) and batting average (.268) behind MVP candidates Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez but is most concerned with keeping the opposing offense off the scoreboard. "We have to keep them in the ballpark," Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters. "That's the most important thing. I think from top to bottom they can hit the ball out of the ballpark. It's a tough lineup. Like I've been saying, there's heat maps. There's red and there's blue. We have to pitch to blue. If we do that, we're going to be in good shape."

TV: 7:32 p.m. ET, TBS

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees LH J.A. Happ (17-6, 3.65 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Chris Sale (12-4, 2.11)

Happ went 7-0 with a 2.69 ERA in 11 starts after being acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays and closed strong with a 1.86 ERA in five September outings. The Northwestern product went 1-1 with a 1.99 ERA in four starts against Boston this season but was not as effective at Fenway Park, where he surrendered nine runs - four earned - and nine hits over 9 2/3 total innings. Happ last pitched in the postseason with the Blue Jays in 2016 and is 1-1 with a 3.72 ERA in 10 career playoff games - three starts.

Sale spent September trying to build up his pitch count and strengthen his shoulder after two trips to the disabled list and struggled in his last two outings, allowing a total of five runs and nine hits across eight innings. The Florida native made his postseason debut in 2017 and struggled in two appearances - one start - against Houston in the ALDS, going 0-2 while surrendering nine runs and 13 hits - four homers - over 9 2/3 total innings. Sale had little trouble against the Yankees in 2018 and struck out 19 while yielding one run in 13 innings over two starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. New York set a major league record for home runs during the regular season (267) and added two more in Wednesday's wild card win.

2. The Red Sox will start LHP David Price in Game 2 and RHP Rick Porcello in Game 3 while the Yankees counter with RHP Masahiro Tanaka in Game 2 and have yet to announce a Game 3 starter.

3. Boston lost in the Division Series in each of its last two trips to the postseason and is 1-6 in seven playoff games since winning the 2013 World Series.

PREDICTION: Red Sox 4, Yankees 2
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Colorado Rockies vs. Milwaukee Brewers Preview and Predictions 10-05-2018 in MLB

MLB Previews 5th October 2018 by Gracenote
Rockies vs. Brewers Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 10/05/2018

The Milwaukee Brewers look to continue their scorching-hot play when they host the Colorado Rockies on Friday for Game 2 of the best-of-five National League Division Series. Mike Moustakas delivered a walk-off single in Thursday's 3-2, 10-inning victory as Milwaukee posted its ninth straight victory and 24th in 31 contests.

Leading NL MVP candidate Christian Yelich hit a two-run homer and scored the winning run after the Brewers let a 2-0 lead slip away in the ninth inning. "Obviously, we would have liked to win in that situation, but you regroup as a team," Yelich told reporters. "You kind of take a deep breath. 'All right, now we've just got to find a way to push one across.' And we were able to do that and just came up with a huge hit. That's been the theme of our team all year." The Rockies recorded just one hit over the first eight innings before forging a tie, and manager Bud Black saw the rally as something on which to build entering Game 2. "That's sort of the characteristic of this group, that they play hard," Black told reporters after the contest. "I know it's overplayed a little bit, but this group truly plays hard, and it's awesome. It's awesome to see."

TV: 4:15 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies LH Tyler Anderson (7-9, 4.55 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Jhoulys Chacin (15-8, 3.50)

Anderson wasn't a lock to receive a postseason start until he scattered four hits over 7 2/3 scoreless innings against Washington on Sunday to snap a 13-start winless streak during which he went 0-6. "I went through some struggles, but everyone does at some point or another," Anderson said in his press conference. "I was just happy that I was healthy, and I knew if I felt good and I stayed healthy and strong, I could find a way to fix it." The 28-year-old Anderson was torched for seven runs and seven hits - three homers - over four innings in a loss to Milwaukee on Aug. 4 and is 1-2 with an 8.59 ERA in three career matchups.

Chacin pitched in Monday's tiebreaker game against the Chicago Cubs and allowed one run on one hit - a homer - in 5 2/3 innings before departing. The 30-year-old is 2-1 with a 3.32 ERA in four career starts against the Rockies and termed it a blessing to pitch in the postseason against the organization for which he pitched from 2009-14. "Pretty much all the guys there are all my friends still, and pretty much all the coaches, too," Chacin said in his press conference. "It's special that I'm going to have the opportunity to pitch against them in the postseason, just happy that I'm going to have a chance to pitch against the Colorado Rockies."

WALK-OFFS

1. Yelich reached base four times - homer, single and two walks - and stole a base in his postseason debut on Thursday.

2. Colorado SS Trevor Story struck out three times in four hitless at-bats in the series opener after batting .333 with seven homers and 18 RBIs in seven regular-season games against Milwaukee.

3. Moustakas has registered six home runs and 16 RBIs in 32 career postseason contests.

PREDICTION: Rockies 5, Brewers 4
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Atlanta Braves vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Preview and Predictions 10-05-2018 in MLB

MLB Previews 5th October 2018 by Gracenote
Braves vs. Dodgers Preview and Predictions

by Gracenote on 10/05/2018

The Los Angeles Dodgers led the National League and finished second in the majors in homers this season, and they enter Game 2 of the NL Division Series at home Friday against the Atlanta Braves after an impressive power display in the series opener. The Dodgers slugged homers in each of the first two innings to build a four-run lead and finished the night with three blasts, as the defending NL champions posted a 6-0 victory over Atlanta in Game 1 on Thursday.

The Braves are in the playoffs for the first time in five years and have to quickly forget a forgettable start from ace Mike Foltynewicz, who allowed a leadoff homer to Joc Pederson in the first before a hit batsman and walk set up Max Muncy's three-run shot with two outs in the second. Los Angeles, an overwhelming favorite to win the series and advance to the NL Championship Series, never was threatened as starter Hyun-Jin Ryu pitched seven innings and saved the Dodgers' bullpen. Enrique Hernandez added a solo homer as the Dodgers, who finished the regular season with 235 homers, have belted 31 in their past 16 games. About the only positive for the Braves was the performance of left-handers Sean Newcomb and Max Fried, who combined to strike out three and allow one hit in 3 1/3 scoreless innings after Foltynewicz lasted just two innings.

TV: 9:37 p.m. ET, FS1

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Anibal Sanchez (7-6, 2.83 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (9-5, 2.73)

Sanchez makes his eighth career postseason appearance (seventh start), continuing a remarkable season in which he was signed by the Braves in spring training and recovered from a hamstring injury to help anchor Atlanta's youthful rotation. The 34-year-old, who is 2-4 with a 2.79 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP in the playoffs, held left-handed batters to a .191 average in the regular season and went 5-2 with a 2.67 ERA in 13 road starts. Sanchez went 1-1 in two starts against the Dodgers, giving up two runs on three hits in 5 1/3 innings at Los Angeles to get the win on June 9.

Some were surprised when the Dodgers started Hyun-Jin Ryu in the series opener, but even though Kershaw allowed three runs or more three times in six starts in September, he finished the month 3-0 with a 3.89 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. The 30-year-old makes his 20th career postseason start, and in 24 overall games is 7-7 with a 4.35 ERA with 139 strikeouts in 122 innings. Kershaw beat the Braves in his only start against them in 2018, striking out eight with no walks and one run allowed in 7 2/3 innings on July 27 in Atlanta.

WALK-OFFS

1. Muncy, who hit five homers in 96 games across two seasons in Oakland, belted 35 this season and has three homers and nine RBIs in his past four games.

2. Atlanta 1B Freddie Freeman, the only position player left from the 2013 playoff team, singled in the first inning of Game 1.

3. Dodgers RHP Walker Buehler - who won the NL West tiebreaker Monday - will start Game 3 in Atlanta on Sunday, while the Braves have not announced a starter.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 3, Braves 1
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MLB
Long Sheet

Friday, October 5

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NY YANKEES (101 - 62) at BOSTON (108 - 54) - 7:35 PM
J.A. HAPP (L) vs. CHRIS SALE (L)
Top Trends for this game.
NY YANKEES are 15-27 (-16.0 Units) against the money line in road games when playing on Friday over the last 3 seasons.
NY YANKEES are 49-65 (-20.4 Units) against the money line in road games against division opponents over the last 3 seasons.
NY YANKEES are 59-43 (-20.0 Units) against the money line after a win this season.
BOSTON is 108-54 (+31.6 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
BOSTON is 43-12 (+19.5 Units) against the money line as a home favorite of -175 to -250 over the last 2 seasons.
BOSTON is 52-24 (+17.8 Units) against the money line against division opponents this season.
BOSTON is 73-34 (+22.5 Units) against the money line after a win this season.
NY YANKEES are 98-65 (+22.4 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
HAPP is 11-3 (+8.6 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season. (Team's Record)
BOSTON is 543-493 (-66.1 Units) against the money line against left-handed starters since 1997.
BOSTON is 457-413 (-77.6 Units) against the money line in home games when playing against a team with a winning record since 1997.
BOSTON is 239-239 (-64.9 Units) against the money line in home games when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
BOSTON is 10-9 (+1.0 Units) against NY YANKEES this season
11 of 17 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+4.6 Units)

J.A. HAPP vs. BOSTON since 1997
HAPP is 8-4 when starting against BOSTON with an ERA of 3.00 and a WHIP of 1.256.
His team's record is 13-7 (+7.2 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 12-8. (+3.0 units)

CHRIS SALE vs. NY YANKEES since 1997
SALE is 6-4 when starting against NY YANKEES with an ERA of 1.76 and a WHIP of 0.894.
His team's record is 7-7 (-3.4 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 8-6. (+1.2 units)

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CLEVELAND (91 - 71) at HOUSTON (103 - 59) - 2:05 PM
COREY KLUBER (R) vs. JUSTIN VERLANDER (R)
Top Trends for this game.
CLEVELAND is 91-71 (-24.5 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
CLEVELAND is 41-38 (-15.7 Units) against the money line in road games this season.
CLEVELAND is 11-15 (-14.2 Units) against the money line when playing on Friday this season.
CLEVELAND is 69-50 (-16.4 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
CLEVELAND is 48-42 (-20.0 Units) against the money line after a win this season.
CLEVELAND is 25-34 (-21.4 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
HOUSTON is 152-76 (+33.1 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
HOUSTON is 5-9 (-10.1 Units) against the money line when the total is 7 or less this season.
HOUSTON is 46-35 (-27.3 Units) against the money line in home games this season.
HOUSTON is 39-35 (-15.5 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
HOUSTON is 7-12 (-16.1 Units) against the money line in home games when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.
VERLANDER is 0-5 (-9.7 Units) against the money line when the total is 7 or less this season. (Team's Record)
VERLANDER is 8-11 (-19.3 Units) against the money line in home games this season. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
HOUSTON is 4-3 (+0.9 Units) against CLEVELAND this season
5 of 7 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+2.9 Units)

COREY KLUBER vs. HOUSTON since 1997
KLUBER is 5-3 when starting against HOUSTON with an ERA of 3.04 and a WHIP of 1.207.
His team's record is 5-4 (-0.6 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 5-4. (+0.5 units)

JUSTIN VERLANDER vs. CLEVELAND since 1997
VERLANDER is 20-24 when starting against CLEVELAND with an ERA of 4.68 and a WHIP of 1.315.
His team's record is 23-29 (-13.6 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 21-29. (-12.8 units)

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COLORADO (92 - 73) at MILWAUKEE (97 - 67) - 4:15 PM
TYLER ANDERSON (L) vs. JHOULYS CHACIN (R)
Top Trends for this game.
COLORADO is 260-458 (-81.3 Units) against the money line as a road underdog of +125 to +175 since 1997.
ANDERSON is 10-22 (-12.6 Units) against the money line after a loss over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
MILWAUKEE is 97-67 (+24.7 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
MILWAUKEE is 52-34 (+16.0 Units) against the money line when the total is 8 to 8.5 this season.
MILWAUKEE is 22-7 (+11.7 Units) against the money line as a home favorite of -125 to -175 this season.
MILWAUKEE is 52-30 (+14.8 Units) against the money line in home games this season.
MILWAUKEE is 31-16 (+11.1 Units) against the money line at home when the total is 8 to 8.5 this season.
MILWAUKEE is 19-8 (+11.6 Units) against the money line when playing on Friday this season.
MILWAUKEE is 71-55 (+23.6 Units) against the money line against left-handed starters over the last 3 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 98-82 (+13.2 Units) against the money line after a win over the last 2 seasons.
MILWAUKEE is 45-34 (+13.2 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
MILWAUKEE is 23-14 (+11.6 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.
CHACIN is 23-12 (+10.7 Units) against the money line in all games this season. (Team's Record)
CHACIN is 21-12 (+10.7 Units) against the money line when the total is 8 to 8.5 over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
CHACIN is 13-7 (+9.2 Units) against the money line in day games over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
CHACIN is 19-14 (+9.2 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
COLORADO is 92-73 (+19.9 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
COLORADO is 23-17 (+9.3 Units) against the money line when the total is 8 to 8.5 this season.
COLORADO is 45-39 (+15.4 Units) against the money line in road games this season.
COLORADO is 23-17 (+9.3 Units) against the money line on the road when the total is 8 to 8.5 this season.
COLORADO is 58-46 (+13.7 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
COLORADO is 54-40 (+19.8 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
COLORADO is 40-25 (+20.4 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
MILWAUKEE is 6-2 (+4.8 Units) against COLORADO this season
5 of 7 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+2.8 Units)

TYLER ANDERSON vs. MILWAUKEE since 1997
ANDERSON is 1-2 when starting against MILWAUKEE with an ERA of 8.59 and a WHIP of 1.636.
His team's record is 1-2 (-1.1 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 1-2. (-1.2 units)

JHOULYS CHACIN vs. COLORADO since 1997
CHACIN is 2-1 when starting against COLORADO with an ERA of 3.32 and a WHIP of 1.200.
His team's record is 3-1 (+3.4 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-3. (-2.3 units)

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ATLANTA (90 - 73) at LA DODGERS (93 - 71) - 9:35 PM
ANIBAL SANCHEZ (R) vs. CLAYTON KERSHAW (L)
Top Trends for this game.
ATLANTA is 45-57 (-29.8 Units) against the money line in October games since 1997.
ATLANTA is 30-42 (-25.0 Units) against the money line in playoff games since 1997.
SANCHEZ is 12-26 (-14.6 Units) against the money line after a loss over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
KERSHAW is 40-11 (+20.7 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
ATLANTA is 90-72 (+18.7 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
ATLANTA is 28-34 (+23.2 Units) against the money line as a road underdog of +175 to +250 over the last 3 seasons.
ATLANTA is 47-35 (+18.6 Units) against the money line in road games this season.
ATLANTA is 59-50 (+7.8 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
ATLANTA is 20-12 (+10.1 Units) against the money line in road games after a loss this season.
ATLANTA is 104-85 (+31.1 Units) against the money line in road games after 3 or more consecutive losses since 1997.
ATLANTA is 46-40 (+12.2 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
ATLANTA is 30-33 (+18.0 Units) against the money line in road games when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
LA DODGERS are 93-71 (-20.5 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
LA DODGERS are 46-37 (-20.1 Units) against the money line in home games this season.
LA DODGERS are 9-12 (-13.0 Units) against the money line at home when the total is 7 or less this season.
LA DODGERS are 65-53 (-18.2 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
LA DODGERS are 53-46 (-19.2 Units) against the money line against right-handed starters this season.
LA DODGERS are 12-16 (-15.5 Units) against the money line after 3 or more consecutive wins this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
LA DODGERS is 6-2 (+2.9 Units) against ATLANTA this season
4 of 8 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=-0.8 Units, Under=-0.4 Units)

ANIBAL SANCHEZ vs. LA DODGERS since 1997
SANCHEZ is 1-2 when starting against LA DODGERS with an ERA of 3.63 and a WHIP of 1.185.
His team's record is 3-4 (-0.7 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 2-5. (-3.4 units)

CLAYTON KERSHAW vs. ATLANTA since 1997
KERSHAW is 5-0 when starting against ATLANTA with an ERA of 1.32 and a WHIP of 0.915.
His team's record is 10-2 (+6.6 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 5-6. (-2.0 units)
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