Happy Monday RotoBallers! John, aka 'LucidMedia," back with your MLB betting picks for this Monday, July 19th! We've had a little bit of a slump right before the All-Star Break, but just like the players we're well-rested and ready to get after it in the second half. We look to get back at it today during today's slate of games, and I'm looking at a few games I see some nice value picks in to get us going this week.
I will be doing these picks for you every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday going forward this baseball season. Just to let you know, I mainly bet on FanDuel Sportsbook, and that's where the odds below will be coming from. I know not everyone is able to bet on Fanduel, so if you are betting elsewhere just make sure to shop around and find the best odds.
We have been really increasing our sports betting content at RotoBaller, and this year will be no different. Tommy Bell (@BellRoto) will be handling things over in our premium offering. Steve Janik (@stevejanik6) will be carrying the free picks on during the week throughout the season with some help from yours truly. And Kipp Heisterman (@kipppsta) brings you the Monkey Knife Fight picks. Let's make some money and have fun. but remember, please gamble responsibly! The RotoBaller team has had a great month of July on the books so far, so let's finish it out strong and make some money!
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New York Mets @ Cincinnati Reds
O/U: 11 | Moneyline: CIN -115
NYM: Jerad Eickhoff | CIN: Vladimir Gutierrez
Jerad Eickhoff will take the pill for the Mets today in what would normally be Jacob deGrom's spot in the rotation, Jerad Eickhoff will take the pill for the Mets today. Eickhoff, a career journeyman has struggled this year (0-1, 4.97 ERA). While the 4.97 ERA looks bad in and of itself, his 7.07 xFIP looks much worse. Along with deGrom, the Mets will be missing Francisco Lindor, who was just placed on the IL a few days ago. Vladimir Gutierrez will start for Cincy today. Gutierrez has been extremely hit or miss this season (4-3, 4.29 ERA), though he has put together consecutive quality starts in his last two outings.
Both of these teams have been poor since the break, with Cincy being swept by Milwaukee and New York needing late-inning heroics from Michael Conforto to steal one away from the Pirates. The Reds got shut out yesterday, which is actually a good indicator as they are 4-0 in their last four games after they scored less than two runs the previous day. I'm on the Reds.
Pick: Reds Moneyline (-115) FanDuel Sportsbook
Baltimore Orioles @ Tampa Bay Rays
O/U: 8.5 | Moneyline: TB -290
BAL: Spenser Watkins | TB: Ryan Yarbrough
I'll be running back an over that I lost yesterday when I took the Orioles and Royals to go over 9.5 runs. I and just about everyone else in the MLB DFS/Season Long Fantasy/Sports Betting space would have never thought that Matt Harvey would throw six shutout innings against Kansas City. Well, except maybe Matt Harvey. The Rays are not the Royals, though. Tampa did get shut out themselves on Saturday but scored seven runs in two of their last three games against Atlanta.
The pitching matchup with what the line is set at is why I'm really interested in this matchup. Spenser Watkins looks good at first glance (1-0, 1.74 ERA) in his first 10.2 IP this season, but he's been extremely fortunate as shown by his xFIP (6.29). Things can be skewed because of the small sample size but when you have a wide gap between your ERA and xFIP, something has to give. Ryan Yarbrough will take the hill for Tampa, and has had decent results against Baltimore this year. However, Baltimore is 7th in OPS against left-handed pitching this year, ahead of teams like Toronto, Boston, and San Diego believe it or not. The over is also 15-3 in Baltimore's last 18 games against a left-handed starter. I'm on the over.
Picks: Over 8.5 (-122), FanDuel Sportsbook
Let's get after it today! We have a long second half ahead of us, so let's have some fun and win some money!
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