We’ve heard about climate change and its connections to droughts and extreme weather events, so it was only a matter of time before we heard about climate change and its impact on sports. Scientists at Dartmouth College published a study on Friday connecting a surge in home runs since 2010 to air that is hotter and thinner. The study analyzed 100,000 MLB games and over 200,000 balls put in play, and it concluded that there was a 1% increase in likelihood of a home run with every degree that the air temperature increases. However, the annual average of home runs aided by global warming is just 1% of all home runs hit. More significant factors include the size of the stitches on the ball, batters elevating their launch angle with their swings, batters who are stronger, and pitchers throwing faster. Offense makes baseball more exciting, at least to the modern audience, and it can make MLB betting more exciting as well. Check out our top matchups from baseball for the weekend.
MLB Top Betting Games for the Weekend
Houston Astros at Minnesota Twins
Projected Pitching Matchup: Luis Garcia (0-1, 5.40 ERA) (HOU) vs Joe Ryan (1-0, 1.50 ERA) (MIN)
Saturday, April 8 at 2:10 pm ET | Luis Garcia started the year with a serviceable outing, but his bullpen and his offense didn’t quite cooperate. He threw five innings of seven-hit, three-run ball, giving up a home run while striking out four and walking two in what would turn into a 6-3 loss to the White Sox. The Astros (3-4) are stumbling a bit out of the gate after winning their second world championship as a franchise last fall. As the bats start to warm up, though, the Astros should start getting back to their dominant ways.
Joe Ryan held the Kansas City Royals to a run on three hits, including a solo shot, over six innings on Sunday, striking out six while walking two. The Royals don’t have nearly the lineup that the Astros do, but the Twins (4-2) are off to a solid start, just a half-game behind the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central. Ryan will have to make sure he keeps the ball down against this stiffer Houston lineup. Twins to win.
San Diego Padres at Atlanta Braves
Projected Pitching Matchup: Michael Wacha (1-0, 6.00 ERA) (SD) vs Charlie Morton (1-0, 5.06 ERA) (ATL)
Saturday, April 8 at 7:20 pm ET | The Padres are one of three teams in the National League West with 3-4 records, along with Colorado and Arizona. He began the season with six innings in an 8-4 win over Colorado on Saturday, allowing four runs on six hits, including a home run, striking out two while walking three. The Padres are still settling in as far as the new season goes, and their pitching has been a bit generous to this point.
The Braves (6-1) have gotten off to a terrific start as they look to run away from the Mets and the rest of the division, already having built a three-game lead over their closest rivals. Charlie Morton started his season on Monday in St. Louis, permitting three runs on nine hits over 5 ⅓ innings, striking out one while walking two. The Padres are still missing Fernando Tatis Jr, who is finishing out his 80-game suspension for steroid use, and frustrations are building, as we saw when Manny Machado was ejected after attempting to call time at the plate with just eight seconds remaining on the pitch clock. Braves to win.
Padres vs. Braves Game Highlights (4/6/23)
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