With a lot of bad matchups on the docket and no more Euros or Gold Cup, Moneyline Monday has got some slim pickings today. But I thought that about three baseball games for Sunday Spreads, and all three hit in a pleasant surprise. So we’ll see what we can find for a day that’s gone very well for us to date, as Moneyline Monday has a 7-1 record over the past two weeks. Here are my picks for August 2.
PHILLIES, -115
So far, Josiah Gray hasn’t shown a lot in two starts, as he’s been roughed up by both the Giants and Rockies. Now he’s playing with a team that doesn’t have any real hope of making the playoffs, and he’s facing a team that badly needs this game. Unlike the Nats, the Phillies chose to go for the NL East title and try to catch the Mets, and with only 3.5 games separating them from New York, they need wins. Their hitters got a nice shot of confidence from roughing up Pittsburgh, and they should grab another win here.
ANGELS, -140
Here’s how little faith I have in Texas right now: the Angels haven’t even named a starter yet, and I’m still willing to take them against the Rangers. Actually, there is a bit of a method to this madness: Dane Dunning hasn’t done very well against Los Angeles (they’re still Anaheim to me) this season, giving up 11 runs in two appearances against the Angels. Dunning’s been a more effective pitcher in Arlington, but the Angels had no problems hitting him there in one of their two meetings, and I think that replicates itself here.
GIANTS -185
In 1986, Pirates manager Jim Leyland said he didn’t think the Mets were all that good, despite winning the World Series and going 17-1 against his Pirates. His reason: “If they were any (darn) good, they never would have lost the one time.” The Giants-Diamondbacks matchup has been much of the same, as San Francisco has throttled Arizona all season long and owns a 9-1 mark against the D-Backs. Anthony DeSclafani hasn’t been pitching great as of late, but there’s a massive difference between facing the Dodgers and facing the Diamondbacks, whom he just held to two runs over 8 2/3 innings.
BREWERS -250
Like I said, slim pickings for today. But there’s just not really an underdog that I can make a case for at this point in the season. Milwaukee looked excellent in its series win over Atlanta, and Pittsburgh is coming off a pounding at the hands of the Phillies. I’d play this one on the runline for a higher payout, but we’re only looking at the moneyline for today, and this one looks like the Brewers are the only choice.
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