The calendar pages have flipped yet again. In most of the country, it is hotter than it ever is. But that heat does not always translate to the sportsbook. The New York Yankees at the St. Louis Cardinals game was postponed yesterday, which left us with only four plays. In those four, we went a whopping 1-3 to drop 1.93 units. Not down much for the week, just a measly 0.9 units. But, that all ends today. A new month brings new opportunities to win and to cash tickets. Here are our baseball bets for July 1st.
Baseball Bets for July 1st
The Headliner: Guardians @ Cubs
The Cleveland Guardians did not put up much of a fight in yesterday’s contest against the Chicago Cubs. They fell victim to an offensive onslaught and dropped the series opener 10-1. Today, the Guardians look to bounce back and are sending rookie Tanner Bibee to the hill. In 11 starts this season, Bibee has a 3.79 ERA across 59.1 innings with 58 strikeouts and a 1.30 WHIP. In his past seven starts, he carries a 4.14 ERA over 37 innings with 36 strikeouts and a 1.46 WHIP. Allowing baserunners at such a high rate could prove detrimental to Bibee and the Guardians today. The Cubs get on base at the eighth-best rate in baseball with a team OBP of .328.
The Cubs are countering Bibee with veteran enigma Marcus Stroman. At the age of 32, Stroman is currently in the midst of the best season of his career. Through 17 starts thus far, he has a 2.47 ERA across 102 innings with 85 strikeouts and a 1.08 WHIP. Over his last seven, he has an ERA of 1.76 across 46 innings with 34 strikeouts and a 1.00 WHIP. Stroman is a groundball pitcher. The major key to his success this season has been playing in front of the Cubs’ outstanding defense. While this is his second season with the Cubs, they did improve their infield defense in the off-season with the edition of Dansby Swanson at shortstop.
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The Play: Cubs ML – 1.5U
Bonus Team Total Prop: Guardians First Five Under 2.5 – 1.5U
The Heavy Favorite: Nationals @ Phillies
The Washington Nationals took game one of their weekend set against the Philadelphia Phillies 2-1. Today, they send MacKenzie Gore to the mound. The young lefty has a 3.89 ERA on the season across 16 starts and 85.2 innings. He also has 104 strikeouts and a 1.41 WHIP. Over his last seven, he has a 4.12 ERA across 39.1 innings with 46 strikeouts and a 1.37 WHIP. Gore will rack up the strikeouts today against the Phillies lineup, but he will also rack up the baserunners.
The Phightins send veteran ace Zack Wheeler to the mound. In what has so far been his worst season as a Philly, he carries a 3.86 ERA across 16 starts and 93.1 innings with 106 strikeouts and a 1.18 WHIP. Over his last seven starts, he has a 3.61 ERA over 42.1 innings with 45 strikeouts and a 1.16 WHIP. Wheeler is coming off of a start against the New York Mets in which he allowed five earned runs. Look for him to bounce back from that today in the second of our baseball bets for July 1st.
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The Play: Phillies ML – 1U
Bonus Team Total Prop: Nationals First Five Under 1.5 – 1U
Daily Dog: Astros @ Rangers
I know. We picked this same series yesterday, unsuccessfully. It will be different this time. The Houston Astros stay in Arlington for game two of their weekend series against the Texas Rangers. The Astros were victorious in game one, and look to win the three-game set in today’s contest. They will be sending rookie Hunter Brown to the mound in their quest. Across 15 starts this season, Brown holds a 3.62 ERA in 87 innings with 97 strikeouts and a 1.20 WHIP. Over his last seven, he has a 3.83 ERA across 42.1 innings with 50 strikeouts and a 1.06 WHIP. Brown is coming off of a start against the Los Angeles Dodgers in which he held them to one earned run in six innings while striking out seven and only allowing five baserunners.
The Rangers counter with their ace, Nathan Eovaldi. Another veteran pitcher today in the middle of their best season to date, Eovaldi carries a 2.82 ERA across 16 starts and 105.1 innings. He has struck out 101 batters and has a WHIP of 1.00. Over his last seven, he holds an ERA of 2.80 over 45 innings with 40 strikeouts and a 1.00 WHIP. Although yesterday’s matchup saw the total break even at eight, with the quality of arms on the mound for these two teams today, expect it to be a low-scoring affair. At least in the first five innings.
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The Play: Astros ML – 0.5U
Bonus Total Prop: First Five Under 4.5 – 0.5U
Main photo credits:
Peter van den Berg-USA TODAY Sports
Players mentioned:
Tanner Bibee, Marcus Stroman, Dansby Swanson, MacKenzie Gore, Zack Wheeler, Hunter Brown, Nathan Eovaldi
