We’re really scraping the bottom of the barrel for non-baseball bets, as the summer just isn’t all that conducive to betting outside of baseball action. On Mondays, it’s even harder because there isn’t even much available for baseball bets. In short, this isn’t the best time to try to come up with new things to write and new plays to make.
But you can’t take off forever, so it’s time to take a deep dive and come up with whatever we can find…and that probably includes baseball this time. Here are my best bets for June 20.
BEATRIZ HADDAD MAIA ML, -200
When you can beat Simona Halep on grass, you’ve figured out how to handle the surface. Haddad Maia is playing her best tennis of the season, and she’s got a score to settle with Kaia Kanepi. Kanepi was the last person to beat Haddad Maia, who is riding a 10-match winning streak and has won consecutive tournaments on grass. But that took place at the French Open, which is a totally different style of tennis. Grass happens to be Kanepi’s weakest surface, so I look for the Brazilian to turn the tables on Kanepi now that she’s free from the slow clay of Roland Garros.
TOMMY PAUL ML, -290
Don’t love this line at all, but I do love the way Paul is playing on the grass. Grass courts have always been friendly to American tennis players because we have so many hard courts in this country, and the transition from hard courts to grass courts is much easier than going from hard to clay. Paul now feels confident on the grass after working with coach Brad Stine, and I think he’ll be able to handle Francisco Cerundolo.
CARDINALS ML, +140
Yes, I’m returning to the diamond despite having sworn it off. What can I say; I’m out of options. St. Louis has played very well in Milwaukee when it’s made the trip to Wisconsin, having won six of its past eight visits to American Family Field. Plus, Miles Mikolas has delivered two straight outstanding pitching performances and already has a strong showing in Milwaukee under his belt. With Corbin Burnes a bit shaky in June, the value lies with the Cardinals.
WHITE SOX ML, +110
I’m not really sure why the Blue Jays are favorites with Jose Berrios pitching away from home. Berrios hasn’t really been great this year in Toronto, and while he’s done well the past three times out, those starts were against Baltimore, Detroit and Minnesota, with two of those being struggling lineups and the third his old team. The Pale Hose have Lance Lynn on the mound, which should start to pay dividends soon. The small home underdog makes a lot of sense here.
LIGHTNING ML, -115
Call this a last chance for the defending champs. I’m not completely buying that this series is over, even after the 7-0 whitewashing that the Avalanche put on the Bolts in Game 2. I’ve seen my Senators on the wrong side of that kind of performance, and they turned it around completely the next time out to tie the series. Tampa Bay was the better team in Game 1 and gets the second line change, so this series isn’t over yet. I think the Lightning can strike back tonight.
