Welcome to our daily betting series. In this series, we dive into the day’s pitching matchups to find winners. Here are our picks for the best bets on August 3rd.
Best Bets for August 3rd
The Headliner: Mariners @ Angels
The Seattle Mariners head south for the winter to begin their four-game weekend set with the Los Angeles Angels. On the mound for the Mariners will be rookie Bryan Woo. In 10 starts, Woo has a 4.96 ERA across 49 innings with 54 strikeouts and a 1.27 WHIP. Over his last seven, he carries a 4.17 ERA across 36 2/3 innings with 34 strikeouts and a 1.25 WHIP. Woo has performed better on the road. In six road starts, he carries a 4.34 ERA across 29 innings with 27 strikeouts and a 1.24 WHIP. Woo has one previous start against the Angels this season. In it, he allowed two runs (both earned) in 4 2/3 innings on four hits, one walk, and struck out seven.
The Angels will counter with free-agent-in-waiting Shohei Ohtani. In 20 starts this season, Ohtani has a 3.43 ERA across 120 2/3 innings with 156 strikeouts and a 1.07 WHIP. Over his last seven, he carries a 3.63 ERA across 44 2/3 innings with 54 strikeouts and a 1.12 WHIP. Ohtani has pitched better at home this season. In 11 home starts, he sports a 3.15 ERA across 68 2/3 innings with 95 strikeouts and a 1.06 WHIP. Today will be Ohtani’s third start against the Mariners this season. In his first two, he combined for a 3.27 ERA across 11 innings with 14 strikeouts and a 1.36 WHIP. It will be interesting to see how far into this start Ohtani can go as he has left multiple games over the past couple of weeks with cramping issues. However, it won’t affect the outcome.
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The Play: Angels ML (-155) – 1.5U
Bonus Player Prop: Ohtani Over 7.5 K’s (-145) – 0.5U
Debuting the Sixth Man: Phillies @ Marlins
In the last of their four-game set, the Philadelphia Phillies look to leave town with a series victory. In doing so, they will debut their biggest trade deadline acquisition in Michael Lorenzon. Over 18 starts this season, Lorenzon has a 3.58 ERA across 105 2/3 innings with 83 strikeouts and a 1.10 WHIP. Over his last seven, he has a 2.50 ERA across 39 2/3 innings with 36 strikeouts and a 1.11 WHIP. Lorenzon has performed better in his road starts this season. In eight road starts, he sports a 3.17 ERA across 48 1/3 innings with 37 strikeouts and a 0.95 WHIP. Lorenzon has been lights out since the All-Star break. In three starts over that span, he boasts a 1.45 ERA across 18 2/3 innings with 17 strikeouts and a 0.91 WHIP.
The Miami Marlins will counter with a veteran of their own in Johnny Cueto. In four games this season (three starts), Cueto has a 5.06 ERA across 16 innings with 14 strikeouts and a 0.88 WHIP. Over his last three games (two starts), he has an ERA of 3.00 with 14 strikeouts and a 0.67 WHIP. Cueto has done a tremendous job of limiting baserunners in his small sample size this season. However, he has not been as great at limiting the long ball. He has allowed four home runs in just 16 innings. That does not bode well for a lineup that includes the likes of Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper.
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The Play: Phillies ML (-126) – 1U
Bonus Player Prop: Schwarber Over 0.5 HRs (+280) – 0.5U
Debuting a Legend: White Sox @ Rangers
The Chicago White Sox have a tall task ahead of them in game three of their mid-week set. On the mound for the ChiSox will be Touki Toussaint. In nine games this season (five starts), Toussaint has a 3.50 ERA across 36 innings with 29 strikeouts and a 1.25 WHIP. Over his last seven games (four starts), he has a 3.81 ERA across 28 1/3 innings with 23 strikeouts and a 1.24 WHIP. Touki has not pitched well on the road. In five road games (three starts), he has a 5.14 ERA across 21 innings with 16 strikeouts and a 1.57 WHIP. He has, however, pitched slightly better since the All-Star break. In four games (two starts) since the break, he has a 3.12 ERA across 17 1/3 innings with 11 strikeouts and a 1.10 WHIP.
The Texas Rangers will counter with the debut of the surefire Hall of Famer they acquired at the deadline, Max Scherzer. In 19 starts this season, Scherzer has a 4.01 ERA across 107 2/3 innings with 121 strikeouts and a 1.19 WHIP. Over his last seven, he sports a 3.98 ERA across 43 innings with 53 strikeouts and a 1.23 WHIP. Citi Field plays much differently than Globe Life Park, but Scherzer has performed better in home starts. In seven such starts (all at Citi Field), he has a 2.18 ERA across 41 1/3 innings with 44 strikeouts and a 1.02 WHIP. In three starts since the All-Star break, Scherzer sports a 2.70 ERA across 20 innings with 20 strikeouts and a 1.00 WHIP. Expect the debut of this legend to go as the Rangers planned.
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The Play: Rangers ML (-270) – 0.5U
Bonus Player Prop: Scherzer Over 7.0 K’s (-136) – 0.5U
Main photo credits:
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Players mentioned:
Bryan Woo, Shohei Ohtani, Michael Lorenzon, Johnny Cueto, Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, Touki Toussaint, Max Scherzer
