MLB Free Premium Play 09/01: Tampa Bay Rays @ Toronto Blue Jays

Tampa Bay  at Toronto

MLB - 967 Tampa Bay Rays @ 968 Toronto Blue Jays (Starting Pitchers: J. Niemann vs H. Alvarez) The Rays will start Niemann today and he is coming back from injury today. He has in Toronto a good matchup, as only Lind has good numbers against him (13-29), as Encarnacion is 1-12 against him, Escobar 0-12, Rasmus 1-6, Torrealba 1-4, Johnson 3-11 and Vizquel 1-4! Therefore, I believe Niemann will comeback today at a decent level, something that should be enough to handle the current lineup of the Blue Jays. On the other hand, Alvarez is coming from an outing against the Yankees, where he had to leave the game after 3.1 innings due to injury. He has struggled in August with a 0-4 record and a 7.77 ERA. He is clearly regressing after a strong early season and he keeps being pounded on his recent outings. He allowed four runs and five hits to the Yankees in just 3.1 IP and always looked in trouble in every inning. He has already faced the Rays three times this season and he always struggled with 6, 4 and 6 runs allowed, with the Rays roster hitting .330 BA and .919 OPS in 94 AB's against him. Therefore, I expect Tampa Bay to put him in a lot of trouble today once again. With Alvarez in more than likely trouble today and with Niemann having a good matchup today, I believe that the Rays should have a comfortable win today and so, I'll take them in here. Pick: 3 units (Single Dime Play) on 967 Tampa Bay Rays ML (w/ J. Niemann) @ -146 / 1.69 on 5Dimes

MLB Premium Play 08/31: Los Angeles Angels @ Seattle Mariners

MLB - 929 Los Angeles Angels @ 930 Seattle Mariners

(Starting Pitchers: D. Haren vs K. Milwood)

The Angels will be starting Haren tonight, who is coming from a good outing against Detroit last Saturday, in a game where he allowed just two runs and eight hits in 5.2 innings. However, he had an extra rest prior to that game, as he didn't start for nine days prior to that game. He will just have five days rest for tonight and therefore, I believe he will go back to the struggling outings tonight against a team that has already pounded him hard earlier on this month with five runs and five hits in just 3.1 IP. Seattle has been hitting poorly but on a very clutch way, so I believe they will make some damage tonight.

Seattle will be starting Millwood and he is coming from allowing four runs (three earned) against the White Sox last Sunday. He has been an average pitcher this season, but August has been his worst month with a 4.85 FIP and 4.15 xFIP. With the Angels looking hot on offense after a good series against Boston, I believe Millwood won't have enough quality on his pitching to handle the Angels offense tonight.

With Haren looking to struggle again and with the Angels offense looking to be in a good moment, I believe both pitchers (especially Millwood) will have tough outings tonight and with such a low totals line, I'll be taking the Over in here.

Pick: 3 units (Single Dime Play) on 929/930 Over 7.5 (w/ D. Haren & K. Milwood) @ +100 / 2.00 on 5Dimes

MLB Premium Play 08/31: Texas Rangers @ Cleveland Indians

MLB - 917 Texas Rangers @ 918 Cleveland Indians

(Starting Pitchers: R. Dempster vs U. Jimenez)

Texas will start Dempster tonight and even though he is coming from two good outings at home against the Orioles and the Twins, he is yet to have a decent outing on the road with a Rangers uniform. He has been very inconsistent lately and with the Indians offense waking up yesterday with a good offensive day against Parker, I believe the Indians should be able to put Dempster in a bit of trouble tonight.

On the other hand, Cleveland will be starting Jimenez and he has been a beast lately at home. He allowed just 2, 0, 3 and 3 runs on his last four home games and these games were against Tampa Bay, Detroit, the Yankees and Boston respectively, so Jimenez looked really impressive in those games by limiting or even shutting down four dangerous teams. Therefore, I wouldn't be surprised at all if the same happens today since Texas is coming from a wild series against the Rays.

I trust Jimenez more than Dempster to have a good outing today and with Cleveland being such a clear home underdog on this contest, I see the Indians having a lot of value tonight, especially after a good offensive game yesterday and therefore, I'll be taking them in here for the upset.

Pick: 3 units (Single Dime Play) on 918 Cleveland Indians ML (w/ U. Jimenez) @ +138 / 2.38 on Betonline

MLB Premium Play 08/31: Pittsburgh Pirates @ Milwaukee Brewers

MLB - 911 Pittsburgh Pirates @ 912 Milwaukee Brewers

(Starting Pitchers: J. Karstens vs M. Rogers)

Pittsburgh will be starting Karstens tonight, who has won five of his last six decisions, including on his last outing against the Brewers, when he tossed seven scoreless innings. He has been very solid since his comeback, however he was in doubt to miss this start due to a groin injury and he won't be 100% comfortable for tonight's game. Milwaukee has been hitting well and I don't trust Karstens to have two huge performances in a row against such a powerful offense like the Brewers, especially when he is dealing with an injury.

Milwaukee will start Rogers, who will be facing the Pirates for the second time this week, after throwing for five scoreless innings last Sunday. He keeps having good numbers against RH batters, so he has in the Pirates a good matchup, especially when McCutchen won't be in the starting lineup today. Therefore, I expect another good performance from him against the Pirates.

With no team having a clear SP edge for tonight, I believe Milwaukee's offense will make the difference against Pittsburgh, who won't have McCutchen tonight. Therefore, I expect a comfortable win for the Brewers and I'll be taking them in here.

Pick: 3 units (Single Dime Play) on 912 Milwaukee Brewers ML (w/ M. Rogers) @ -131 / 1.76 on 5Dimes

MLB Premium Play 08/31: Cincinnati Reds @ Houston Astros

MLB - 909 Cincinnati Reds @ 910 Houston Astros

(Starting Pitchers: M. Leake vs F. Abad)

Cincinnati will be starting Leake tonight and he is coming from a bounce back game after a poor game in Pittsburgh, as he dominated the Cardinals at home last Saturday, with two runs allowed in 6.2 innings. He is coming from a domination against the Cardinals and with him being a groundball pitcher and having just allowed 2 and 1 runs on his last two outings against the lowly Astros, I believe Leake will have another quality outing tonight.

 

Houston will be starting Abad, who was lucky to face the Mets in a middle of a span of two series against the Rockies and the Astros, where they just couldn't hit the ball. He threw 71 pitches in four innings, while having a 2/4 K/BB ratio and the advanced numbers (5.85 FIP and 7.32 xFIP) show that he was far from impressive on his first outing as a starting pitcher. With the Reds being full of RH batters and having had a day off yesterday, I believe they will pound Abad tonight and have an easy win tonight. Therefore, I'll be taking Cincinnati in here.

Pick: 3 units (Single Dime Play) on 909 Cincinnati Reds RL -1 (w/ M. Leake) @ -150 / 1.67 on 5Dimes

MLB Premium Play 08/31: New York Mets @ Miami Marlins

MLB - 905 New York Mets @ 906 Miami Marlins

(Starting Pitchers: R. Dickey vs N. Eovaldi)

The Mets will start their ace Dickey tonight and he is coming from two great outings, including a total domination against the Astros on Saturday, where he allowed just one run in seven innings. He had just a poor outing against the Reds earlier on this month, but against lowly teams like Miami, he has been very dominant, with excellent advance numbers. He has already faced the Marlins three times this season and he allowed just 1, 2 and 1 runs in those outings, so I expect him to dominate Miami once again tonight.

Miami will be starting the struggling Eovaldi, who is coming from a poor outing in LA against the Dodgers, where he allowed six earned runs and seven hits in just three innings. He has allowing a lot of homeruns and his command is simply terrible. He is posting a 6.23 ERA, 6.24 FIP and 6.27 xFIP in August, so I expect him to not be as lucky as he was on his last outing against the Mets, where he didn't allow a single run to the Mets offense, even though he walked six batters and had a 5.90 FIP and 7.37 xFIP in that game. This time, I expect Eovaldi to allow some runs and that will be enough for the Mets to get the win tonight, as they'll have Dickey on the mount.

With a massive SP edge on this contest, the Mets should have no problems in scoring some runs on the struggling Eovaldi and get the win on this contest. Therefore, I'll be taking the Mets in here.

Pick: 3 units (Single Dime Play) on 905 New York Mets ML (w/ R. Dickey) @ -143 / 1.70 on 5Dimes

MLB Premium Play 08/31: St Louis Cardinals @ Washington Nationals

MLB - 903 St Louis Cardinals @ 904 Washington Nationals

(Starting Pitchers: A. Wainwright vs G. Gonzalez)

St Louis has been a disaster over their last three games, where they were outscored by a combined of 1-22! However, they will start their ace Wainwright and I believe he will help the Cardinals to have a bounce back game in here. After a complete game against Houston, Wainwright dominated the Reds on the road last Sunday, while posting a 3.18 ERA, 2.93 FIP and 3.70 xFIP. This is a good spot for him and with him being at his top form, I believe the Nationals will struggle to do anything on offense against him on this game.

The Nationals will start Gonzalez, who is coming from a 2-4 loss to the Phillies, in a game where he allowed five hits and three runs. He has been solid lately, but clearly not at the top level that Wainwright has been showing lately. The Cardinals offense had three terrible games in a row, but I believe this is a good spot for them to bounce back, as Gonzalez isn't looking unstoppable right now and Fulcral's injury yesterday may fire them up to have a good game tonight.

I believe the Cardinals will have a clear SP edge on this contest and with them finally generating a bit of run support, I expect St Louis to get out of their slump from their last three games and finally get back into the winning track. I'm taking the Cardinals tonight.

Pick: 3 units (Single Dime Play) on 903 St Louis Cardinals ML (w/ A. Wainwright) @ -105 / 1.95 on 5 Dimes