The Texas Rangers are slowly perking up, and their attitude is emerging as well. On Sunday, they split a double-header in New York against the Yankees; the first game ended when Gleyber Torres hit a walkoff home run to right field. Rangers manager Chris Woodward said after the game that Torres’ home run only would have been possible in a “Little League” park. However, Torres’ home run to right traveled an estimated 369 feet – a home run in 25 of the 29 other MLB stadiums. The Rangers actually hit two shorter home runs on Sunday, one that went 355 feet and another that went 342 feet. The trash talk aside, the Rangers have had an improved week, winning six out of eight. They wrap up their series at Yankee Stadium on Monday. Read on to find our top MLB betting series for the week ahead.
MLB News: Top Betting Series of the Week
Chicago Cubs at San Diego Padres (Monday-Wednesday)
Projected Pitching Matchups:
- Kyle Hendricks (CHI) vs MacKenzie Gore (SD) (Monday, 9:40 PM ET, ESPN+)
- Undecided (CHI) vs Mike Clevinger (SD) (Tuesday, 9:40 PM ET)
- Undecided (CHI) vs Nick Martinez (SD) (Wednesday, 4:10 PM ET)
Kyle Hendricks (1-3, 5.64 ERA) has struggled to find consistency this year. He has had two strong starts (against Milwaukee and Pittsburgh), but his other four have been disappointing. In his last two starts (against Milwaukee and the White Sox) he has thrown ten combined innings, permitting ten earned runs on 14 combined hits, giving up five home runs. Finding that much of the plate will not help on Monday. He faces MacKenzie Gore (2-0, 1.71 ERA) has not permitted more than a single earned run in three straight starts. In those starts against Cincinnati (twice) and Cleveland), Gore pitched 15 ⅔ combined innings, striking out 19, walking seven and permitting two earned runs on 13 combined hits. In Monday’s game, I like the Padres to win because of the pitching matchup.
The Cubs have yet to name their other starting pitchers for the series. Mike Clevinger returned from Tommy John surgery in his last outing and delivered a dominant performance. Nick Martinez, though, has been uneven for the Padres this season. I like Clevinger to throw another strong game against the Cubs, but I think the Cub bats can get to Martinez on the getaway day, so I’m picking San Diego on Tuesday and the Cubs on Wednesday.
Boston Red Sox at Atlanta Braves (Tuesday-Wednesday)
Projected Pitching Matchups:
- Garrett Whitlock (BOS) vs Kyle Wright (ATL) (Tuesday, 7:20 PM ET, TBS)
- Nathan Eovaldi (BOS) vs Ian Anderson (ATL) (Wednesday, 7:20 PM ET, TBS)
Garrett Whitlock has transitioned from the bullpen to the starting rotation, and his 1.25 ERA took a bit of a hit in his last outing, when he threw five innings against the Angels, giving up two earned runs on two hits, including a home run, but striking out nine. The bullpen let Whitlock down as the Angels won, 10-5, in 10 innings. Kyle Wright (3-1, 1-74 ERA) gave up three earned runs on nine hits on Tuesday against the Mets – and gave up his first home run of the season. Before that, he had only given up more than one earned run once. Because Whitlock hasn’t been lasting as long in games, I see the Braves getting to the Boston bullpen and getting the win.
Nathan Eovaldi (1-1, 2.94 ERA) had a hard-luck outing on Friday, giving up three earned runs on six hits and three walks against the White Sox in a game Boston would lose, 4-2. Before that, he threw seven scoreless innings, but the bullpen and offense let him down in a 2-1 10-inning loss in Baltimore. Ian Anderson (3-1, 4.01) has an unsightly 8.22 ERA at home, based mostly on a 2 ⅔-inning outing against the Reds on April 10 when he gave up five earned runs. Against the Mets on Wednesday, he threw 5 ⅓ innings of five-hit, one-run ball despite issuing four walks. I see Eovaldi pitching well again and leading the Sox to a series split.
N.Y. Mets at Washington Nationals (Tuesday – Thursday)
Projected Pitching Matchups:
- Tylor Megill (NY) vs Patrick Corbin (WAS) (Tuesday, 7:05 PM ET)
- Taijuan Walker (NY) vs Aaron Sanchez (WAS) (Wednesday, 7:05 PM ET)
- Carlos Carrasco (NY) vs Joan Adon (WAS) (Thursday, 1:05 PM ET)
Tylor Megill gave up three earned runs on four hits in a 9-2 loss to Atlanta on Wednesday. Striking out nine and walking two. Neither the Mets’ bullpen nor the offense did him any favors in the loss. His counterpart on Tuesday is Patrick Corbin (0-5, 7.16 ERA), who is still looking to find his way this season. He had a better outing against Colorado on Wednesday, lasting eight innings but permitting vive runs (three earned) on nine hits, striking out three without issuing a walk. I see the Mets doing damage against Corbin and getting the win.
Taijuan Walker (0-0, 4.91 ERA) has a 9.00 road ERA; in his last outing, the Phillies shelled him for seven runs (six earned) on nine hits, including a pair of home runs. Philadelphia’s tight dimensions make it a tough park for pitchers, but Nationals Park is also friendly to hitters. Aaron Sanchez (1-2, 8.56 ERA) has been getting hit hard at home and on the road; in his last game, the Rockies tagged him for seven runs (six earned) on six hits over 4 ⅓ innings, and I see the Mets tagging him again in a win that will likely go over the run total prop.
Carlos Carrasco (2-1, 3.30 ERA) really has just one disappointing outing this season, a 3 ⅔-inning stint in St. Louis on April 27 when eh gave up eight earned runs on nine hits. He bounced back on Tuesday to throw eight scoreless innings against Atlanta, scattering six hits and two walks while striking out five. Joan Adon (1-5, 6.99 ERA) has given up 12 earned runs over his last three innings, only lasting 13 innings in those games – two against San FRancisco and one against the Angels. Carrasco should be able to outpitch Adon on Thursday and get the win.
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