For the 8/30 Free MLB Pick we see the Cleveland Indians wrapping up their series in New York with double-header action against the Yankees. Cleveland will be searching for their 6th win in a row while the Yankees will look to stop the bleeding as they sit 4 games behind the Red Sox in the AL East. The postseason is still a reality for New York however as they sit atop the Wild Card standings, holding a 2.5 game lead over the Twins.
Betting on a double header can be hit or miss. Do teams go all-in to capture game one or do they keep some resources in the tank for game two? The second game of a DH is often easier to wager on based off of bullpen usage in the first but there’s just too much value to pass up in the first set today.
Yankees never win the first game of a doubleheader
— Jordan (@jord0202) August 30, 2017
8/30 Free MLB Pick Pitching Matchup
The Tribe sends Trevor Bauer (13-8) looking to continue his streak of not tallying a loss since July 16. “Bauer Outage” was a bit shaky in his last start, giving up 7H and 4ER to the Red Sox but some of that could be attributed to a loss of focus after the Cleveland batters put 13R on the board for their pitcher. Bauer was solid prior to that however, allowing just 6R over 4 starts including a shutout on August 19th against the Royals.
The Yankees will counter with Jaime Garcia (5-8). New York is wondering if they kept the receipt on this trade deadline acquisition from Minnesota as Garcia has yet to record a win for the Bronx Bombers. His four Yankee starts including allowing 6, 3, 3, and 4 ER although New York is 2-2 in those games. Garcia couldn’t get past the 4th inning last time out against Detroit, giving up 4R on 5H.
Indians +114 at Yankees. Trevor Bauer shut them down on Aug 4 — 1 ER in 7 IP with 7 K's in a win. Jamie Garcia was lit up in the same game.
— Joe Osborne (@JTFOz) August 30, 2017
8/30 Free MLB Pick Betting Preview
The Yankees actually opened as -125 favorites before the line shifted to Cleveland -105 and ultimately back to New York -108. It’s a weird flip-flop on the odds that can largely be contributed to last night’s game being cancelled due to rain. It can be hard to predict how teams will respond to an unscheduled off day – especially road teams – and especially in the “city that never sleeps.”
Yankees batters are hitting .266 against Bauer although Cleveland hitters are tallying just .216 against Garcia. Fangraphs has projected Bauer pitching into the 7th but is giving Garcia only until the 5th. Capperteks’ game simulator gives Cleveland the 4-3 edge.
Obviously simulations and projections mean nothing, but we’ll go with the pitcher who hasn’t lost a game since July 16th and the team that’s rolling with 5 straight wins for the 8/30 free MLB pick. Garcia has struggled and the Yankee fans could turn on him early today.
Pick Cleveland -105
