This article is part of our MLB Picks series.
Previous article: 2-2, 0.60 RW Bucks
Season: 76-79-7, -8.85 RW Bucks
In a testament to how much of a rollercoaster MLB betting can be, we once again missed out on a 4-0 day by one strikeout and one run in my most recent article, yet we still came out slightly ahead for the day thanks to one 2 RWBucks bet and one plus-money wager both cashing. We'll try again for that elusive perfect day Wednesday with a couple of AL afternoon tilts featuring four contending squads.
All odds referenced are from DraftKings Sportsbook.
Tampa Bay Rays at Toronto Blue Jays, 3:07 PM ET
Starting Pitchers: Michael Wacha vs. Robbie Ray
The Pick: Blue Jays To Score First and Win (+135) for 1 RW Buck
Secondary Pick: Blue Jays -1 – first 5 innings (+105 on DraftKings Sportsbook) for 1 RW Buck
Wacha has often been catastrophic both on the road and in same-handed matchups, which spells trouble in a hitter-friendly ballpark against a righty-heavy and red-hot array of sluggers like the Blue Jays trot out. Wacha has pitched to a 6.28 ERA and 1.58 WHIP on the road, along with a 2.2 HR/9, and he's given up a .356 wOBA and 1.7 HR/9 to righty bats when traveling. Then, Toronto has a .293 average and .376 wOBA against righties at home since the start of September and is fourth in all of MLB with an average of 3.5 runs per first five innings per home game. In turn, the Rays average just 2.3 per first five per road contest.
Boston Red Sox at Seattle Mariners, 4:10 PM ET
Starting Pitchers: Tanner Houck vs. Marco Gonzales
The Pick: Red Sox -0.5 – first 5 innings (+100) for 1 RW Buck
Secondary Pick: Red Sox Over 2.5 runs – first 5 innings (+120) for 1 RW Buck
Gonzales has had no shortage of trouble against current Red Sox bats, surrendering a collective .462/.480/.881 slash line to that group over 47 career encounters. The left-hander has also given up seven homers over his last four starts and has yielded a 2.2 HR/9 at home on the season, while the Red Sox round out the top 10 in MLB with 2.6 runs per first 5 innings per road game. Conversely, the Mariners average an AL-low 2.0 runs per first 5 per home contest, while Houck, despite an 0-4 mark, has given up three earned runs or less in his 13 appearances (11 starts) and boasts a 10.6 K/9 and 0.7 HR/9 across 53.1 innings.
